There are two things to consider when we make plans to use scripture in interfaith worship. First is what the scripture says. Second is the symbolic aspect of scripture.
Let’s take the second first. Scripture is a symbol. This is most important when we consider using a reading from the New Testament in an interfaith worship service. Many passages in the New Testament say things that all religious (or most religions) would agree about. For example, biblical scholar Leo D. Lefebure points out that many of “Jesus' parables portray the consequences of wise and foolish behavior: the wise and foolish maidens (Matt. 25: 1-13), the wise servant (Matt. 24:45-51), the wise man who built his house on rock (Matt. 7:24-27), and the rich fool who builds barns for his grain (Luke 12: 16-21).”
However, before using a New Testament reading the leader must think about the fact that a lot of people from other religions will consider the New Testament as a symbol of Christianity rather than listening to the meaning of the words. Unfortunately, in the history of Christianity, there are many instances of horrible persecutions of people from other religions by Christians, and many people of other religions cannot forget this history. This history is why reading from the New Testament is a delicate matter.
It may be appropriate to read from the New Testament as a part of interfaith worship, as long as the passage does not teach beliefs that are unique to Christianity, but before reading from the New Testament, the leader must explain why the reading has been chosen from the New Testament. This is a delicate matter. The explanation should be confident, not apologetic. There is no shame in reading from the New Testament, but the leader must recognize the symbolic issue. A leader might read from almost any other scripture without making such an explanation, but the symbolism of the New Testament is powerful enough that it can overshadow the meaning of what is read unless an interfaith explanation is given. In today’s world, a similar explanation might be necessary before reading a passage from the Qur’an (Koran) in interfaith worship.
The first issue we mentioned, what the scripture says, should be the most important. Every one of the world’s scriptures includes material that is not appropriate for Scout interfaith worship. Likewise, every one of the world’s scriptures includes material that is appropriate for Scout interfaith worship. Scripture readings should be chosen carefully.
Perhaps the most appropriate reading from any of the world’s scriptures would be from what scholars call “wisdom literature.” Wisdom literature teaches us how to live our daily lives, and there is wide agreement on its lessons throughout the world. For most BSA leaders, the most familiar piece of wisdom literature will be the biblical book of Proverbs.
Proverbs is special because it includes a large section that was copied from ancient Egyptian wisdom literature (Proverbs 22:17-24:22). Think about it. Jews and Christians consider Proverbs to be inspired by God, and if it is so inspired, the fact that it includes “pagan” (ancient Egyptian) writings, then some “pagan” writings are also inspired by God. For the leader of interfaith worship, this means that there are God-inspired truths about daily living that we can teach with confidence in Scout interfaith worship.
Wisdom literature includes much more than the book of Proverbs. For more about this, see the essay on interfaith worship (part of this web site) and its links.
NOTE ON VERSIONS OF THE BIBLE: Most available translations available in English are good or at least adequate. My experience is that Scout-age youth simply do not understand the King James Version. Most of the quotations on this web site are from the Good News Translation (American Bible Society), a good translation into “everyday” contemporary English. The prose of this translation is not always the best “literary prose,” but youth understand it.
NOTE ON EGYPTIAN WISDOM LITERATURE: Anyone wanting more information on this can check any standard commentary on Proverbs, which will be available in the public library or in the pastor’s office. There is also much about it on the internet. Search for “Wisdom of Amenemope.” Here is one link.
Go to Essay on Interfaith Worship.