Scripture Slicing at the Gerald Ford Funeral

titusonenine ^ | 1/02/007 | The Rev. Canon Kendall Harmon

[sionnsar]

For those of you watching or listening, I hope you caught the symbolically terribly significant occurrence right before the sermon in the National Cathedral started, when Robert Certain read the gospel. According to the Prayer Book, the appointed gospel chosen was John 14:1-6 (page 480).

Here is the RSV version of this passage (NOT the translation read at the service):

1: “Let not your hearts be troubled; believe in God, believe also in me.
2: In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?
3: And when I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.
4: And you know the way where I am going.”
5: Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going; how can we know the way?”

6: Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but by me.”

What, you ask, was the symbolically terribly significant occurrence? Mr. Certain left out the second half of verse 6, which is against both the way the text of Scripture is written and against the gospel text as laid out in the Book of Common Prayer. Verse 6 does not end half way through, and this seems to be another gesture of a church that cannot deal with Holy Scripture on its own terms.

[sionnsar]

Guessing: 6: Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but by me.”

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Speak the truth in love. Eph 4:15

[alnick]

That jumped out at me too.

[353FMG]

"..no one comes to the Father, but by me.”

Mentioning this would be highly "inappropriate" in today's PC atmosphere, especially considering that we are now a "diverse" society.

Wait until they rewrite the Bible in order to satisfy everybody of all religions so that none will feel offended. After that, they will do the same with the US Constitution.

You think I'm kidding? I read the new creed of the Catholic church in Holland. Seems to have been composed by a flaming liberal. No resemblance to the original document of Nicea.

[AndrewC]

6: Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; [no one comes to the Father, but by me.]”---[left out]---

They still can't hide THE fact that THE verse snippet uses THE in every case and not "A".

[AnalogReigns]

I noticed the comment in the homily that supposedly right before ECUSA GC 06 President Ford told his priest he didn't think questions about women in the priesthood, and homosexuality should be any reason for schism in the Church.

This part of the sermon seemed out of place--and the priest seemed--desperate almost to mention it, enough so to be inappropriate at a state funeral, ...very interesting.

(Isn't it also interesting how the women's issue is brought up in the news whenever the sodomite bishop is mentioned? Even though it's only the liberals who consistently connect it....)

[Alex Murphy]

Mr. Certain left out the second half of verse 6

Interesting...

[LiteKeeper]

I am glad you brought this up. This is what jumped out at me...using a dead, white President, to justify the apostate positions of the TEC.

[Wings-n-Wind]

I hope you caught the symbolically terribly significant occurrence right before the sermon in the National Cathedral started,

First -- I don't remember Dr. Harmon or anyt other bloggers being asked to officiate at President Ford's services...

In the course of homiletic debate, Prayer book readiings, theological tension, and the lively discussion of poltical correctness... I suppose he has made a point....

However -- In presiding over funeral services... Pastors are regularly committed to carefully following the instructions left by the deceased (will) or specifically requested by the widow/family in the conduct of the services.

I think this might be one case where the doctrine/conduct cops need to back off... and rejoice that a Godly man who served our nation well in uniform and inhigh office -- Was paid due tribute today--

IN the full light of the Gospel message....

That's just me.... JMHO...

[lightman]

(Isn't it also interesting how the women's issue is brought up in the news whenever the sodomite bishop is mentioned? Even though it's only the liberals who consistently connect it....)

No, many conservatives have noted the steady "progression" of revisionism:

First, allowing no-fault divorce and remarriage for the laity.

Second, allowing no fault divorce and remarriage for the clergy...almost elevating that as a criteria for ecclesial leadership and regarding that as more balanced, complete, or sympathetic to the people than a single, succesful, monogamous marriage.

Third, breaking 1900 some years of catholic tradition by ordaining females on the basis of "justice";

Finally, advocating "justice" as the basis for ordaining non celibate homosexuals.

[Esther Ruth]

Perhaps Universalism
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universalism
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universalism_in_Christianity




1Cor 3:11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

Act 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

1John 5:12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.

[hiho hiho]

"I noticed the comment in the homily that supposedly right before ECUSA GC 06 President Ford told his priest he didn't think questions about women in the priesthood, and homosexuality should be any reason for schism in the Church."

I'm going to cut President Ford a bit of slack. I remember him commenting in the late 1970's about how the church had been taken over by liberals. It has been a long time ago, but I think that his comments were directed specifically at the National Cathedral, the new "Prayerbook", and female clergy. At the same time he was supporting the completion of construction of the National Cathedral.

[MinuteGal]

Listening while in the kitchen, I abruptly stopped doing what I was doing because the verse didn't sound right at all to me.

Thanks for posting and verifying what I heard....or rather, didn't hear.

Leni

[PAR35]

In presiding over funeral services... Pastors are regularly committed to carefully following the instructions left by the deceased (will) or specifically requested by the widow/family in the conduct of the services.

If the deceased wants a non - Christian service, his next of kin should be directed to a non-Christian officiant. Perhaps that is what happened here.

[AnalogReigns]

I suspect you are correct...and the (liberal) priest was distorting Ford to beat the drum for his cause of peace...with heresy. No one wants schism in the church--but it is the heretics, not those faithful to scripture, who cause it.

I mainly thought it was significant that it was brought up in President Ford's funeral homily, as it tells me how very worried liberal Episcopalians are over the issue.

[kaehurowing]

This came straight out of the TEV translation: "Today's Episcopagan Version."

[Between the Lines]

Maybe they should be cut some slack this one time.

I heard this also and at the time I thought that possibly they did not want to appear to be proselytizing at a funeral the way we Baptists do. Many think that it is crass to proselytize at a funeral and it would seem even more so since the service was televised.

[Zack Nguyen]

I was wondering if some blogger or commentator would discuss this. My wife pointed out the fact that the second half of the verse (the "politically incorrect" half) was left out. Also, the Reverend's use of Ford's funeral as a tool to get across his "peacemaking agenda" on gay bishops was inappropriate. Where does Reverend Certain stand on the issue? Is he for homosexual bishops or not? I generally find that those who want to bring about "reconciliation" generally mean "give us what we want now and start ordaining homosexuals." But I am making an assumption; I do not know his positions.

[Zack Nguyen]

I noticed the comment in the homily that supposedly right before ECUSA GC 06 President Ford told his priest he didn't think questions about women in the priesthood, and homosexuality should be any reason for schism in the Church.

With all respect to President Ford, I think those issues are a perfect reason for schism. They are issues of right and wrong, and the identity of the church.

[aruanan]

Verse 6 does not end half way through, and this seems to be another gesture of a church that cannot deal with Holy Scripture on its own terms.

On the other hand, there is no versification in the original languages. Verse 6 happened to end wherever Robert Estienne in his 1551 edition of the Greek New testament put it.