What Would Happen...
What would happen if the Church suggested that new believers read Luke first rather than John. I'm not intending to put down the Gospel of John, though it is my least favorite book in the New Testament. But I wonder how the society of the Church will change.
If Luke were the first thing they read:
-We'd have a new crop of Church members who have a preferential treatment for the poor.
-We'd hava a new crop of Church members who strive for reconciliation, redemption and extending forgiveness.
-We'd have a new crop of Church members who would not begin under Anti-semetic biases (though most probably are not Anti-semetic, the favorable discussion of the Temple lends to a positive view of the Jews).
-We'd have a new crop of Church members who see the is sent out by Jesus and began to fulfill this sending (reading Luke lends to reading to Acts afterwards).
-We'd have a new crop of Church members who do not divorce the body from the soul.
-We'd have a new crop of Church members who are more ok with questions than answers.
I wonder if Luke is not the best start for new believers. Maybe John is too easy and presumes too much theology into our scripture reading from there on out. I wonder if reading John first imposes to much Johannine theology upon our reading of the Synoptics, Acts and Pauline Epistles.
Again I ask, what would happen?