But is the Old Testament really dying, and is there more than anecdotal evidence to prove its demise?<\/p>\n
Yes, says Strawn, whose book examines sermons, hymns and weekly lectionary readings in mainline Protestant as well as Catholic churches.<\/p>\n
Strawn analyzed 879 sermons published in collections called \u201cBest Sermons,\u201d and found that only 21 percent of those sermons were devoted to lessons from the Old Testament. As for lectionaries, heard in many churches each Sunday morning, the Revised Common Lectionary omits seven books of the Old Testament and severely underrepresents 13 others, Strawn writes. Contemporary worship songs fare no better at inculcating scriptural knowledge.<\/p>\n
His conclusion? The patient is experiencing death throes, and churches and church leaders are largely to blame.<\/p>\n