Bible and the Headlines: News You Can Use

PROTECTED CONTENT

If you’re a current subscriber, log in below. If you would like to subscribe, please click the subscribe tab above.

Username

Password

Login

Lost your password?

Username and Password Help

Please enter your email and we will send you a password reset link.

Email

Submit

← Back

 Public Reading

By David Bachelor, PhD

The 250^th anniversary of our country is too big an event to be limited to July 4^th, so the celebration continues around the nation. Since the date reflects the original signing of the Declaration of Independence, the headlines contain stories about communities holding public readings of the auspicious text to commemorate the semiquincentennial of its adoption.

The museum newsletter, TheStoryofTexas.com on July 2 contained, “Bullock Museum to Celebrate America’s 250th with a Free Public Reading of the Declaration of Independence on July 8.” The museum is participating in the national initiative Sharing the Spirit of America. Its director stated, “We share this moment as an opportunity to hear the words as they were first spoken and to reflect on what they mean for us today.” The readers were selected from local chapters of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

The NBC affiliate KTVE (spanning Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi) on July 6 featured, “City of West Monroe to Host Public Reading of the Declaration of Independence and Live Strings Concert.” Taking place on the steps of City Hall, city officials said, “The event is intended to commemorate the founding principles of the United States.” The observance will also feature patriotic songs played by a local band.

On July 5^th the Pennsylvania non-profit website LancasterOnline announced, “Lancaster Residents Give Public Reading of Frederick Douglass’s Response to July 4.” This event commemorated Douglass’s 1852 speech, “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?” The recitation featured, “Dozens of orators each reading passages from the 19th-century abolitionist’s scathing analysis of how America had failed to live up to its founding principles.” It was organized by the African American Historical Society of South Central PA.

The public reading of their founding documents was also done by God’s people. In the final book of the Pentateuch it records Moses’ instruction, “When all Israel comes to appear before the LORD … you shall read this law before them in their hearing” (Deuteronomy 31:11). When the Israelites came into their inheritance it was recorded that, “Joshua read all the words of the law—the blessings and the curses—just as it is written in the Book of the Law” (Joshua 8:34).

Reading Scripture to an assembly is also found in the New Testament. The disciple Timothy was instructed to, “Devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching” (1 Timothy 4:13). Jesus regularly read Scripture to crowds. The Gospel of Luke records, “Jesus went to Nazareth … and he went into the synagogue, as was his custom, and he stood up to read” (Luke 4:16). Jesus read the original Declaration of Independence, “The Spirit of the Lord is on me … He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, and to set the oppressed free” (Luke 4:18-19).

I think this Declaration of Independence should be read and celebrated every day!