Reading Someone Else’s Mail

Right before Christmas, I received a devotional magazine from a ministry based in California. A letter inside started off with "Dear George." Right behind the letter was another letter. Same content, but it started off, "Dear Darlene." I don't know who Darlene is, and I wonder if she noticed that there was no letter when she opened her envelope... 

A huge portion of the New Testament is composed of letters, or "Epistles." 

The Peanuts character Linus said that he was reading one of Paul's letters but he felt guilty because he was reading someone else's mail! But, Paul encouraged letters to be read not only in one church, but also in others as well. “When this letter is read among you, have it also read in the church of the Laodiceans; and you, for your part read my letter that is coming from Laodicea.” (Colossians 4:16)

So when it comes to the letters in the new testament, it's ok to read someone else's mail!

Today, when the minister or lay person reads from an epistle, or other scripture out loud in church, he usually encourages people to "look at the screen" or "open your Bible to..."

In the early church, they didn't have that luxury. 

Someone read the scripture out loud, and all the people were to listen intently to what was being read.

Did you ever stop and think about who was in attendance? People from all walks of life, rich and poor, young and old, educated and illiterate. 

The instruction of the apostles was read to everyone!

Adolf Schlatter said: “So, with the reading of his letter out loud, he also articulates that the church is not segregated into the immature and the privileged, but is rather an integrated whole, in which each individual is precious to the apostle and called to full knowledge of the divine will."

Each individual is precious... and included. 

May we go forth today, without partiality, proclaiming the Good News with deep love for everyone.