Narrative Lectionary Key Verse for Today
NL Daily Devotion for Tuesday, July 20, 2021
by R. M. Fergus, Clergy Stuff
The wisdom of God in its rich variety. Wow do I love that phrase. Of course, for so many of us (or maybe I’ll just speak for myself) the rich variety of God’s wisdom is generally alluded to with a piece of African liturgical music. Or a prayer written by a Latinx theologian. Or a version of the Lord’s Prayer in womanist language. You know, a mainline American worship service with a little multicultural seasoning. And while newer clergy are getting lots of non-western, non-white, non-male theology to study in seminary, how much of that actually trickles down into the pews? Are we really getting the mind-boggling scope of the “wisdom of God in its rich variety?” Or are we just doing what we’ve always done and congratulating ourselves when we sing a hymn that’s partly in Swahili?
I don’t mean to be harsh. I think lots of us are trying. I just think there’s a whole lot of room to grow. To push boundaries. To expand our understanding of a God who created all, loves all, and is all in all.
How is my faith community digging into the wisdom of God in its rich variety?