Feeding on the Word

Interesting discussion by Dr. Ben Witherington on the sacremental (grace imparting) role of Bible reading.

If a sacrament is a means of grace, by which is meant a means of divine influence and change in a person's life, then surely the Word of God and its proclamation, reading, hearing learning, memorizing is a sacrament. We just don't tend to call it that. Consider however what is said about the Word of God in the NT at various junctures. The Word of God is seen as something living which dwells richly in the believer once received, probing and changing the person inwardly.

I grew up in the Baptist tradition where we denied the existence of sacraments, and called communion and baptism "ordinances." However, we frequently talked of Bible reading and study as feeding our souls. Is that not a sacramental function?

Read the rest of the discussion at Feed on the Word - Ben Witherington on the Bible and Culture