Tonight my boys and I watched the Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe once again. They never get tired of it, especially the battle scenes into which they places themselves as Peter and Edward. My oldest even disappeared at one point in the movied only to return from his room with a sword. The power of the story reigns over their imaginations and draws them into the world of Aslan. As the movied started tonight I told my oldest son that the author, C.S. Lewis, intended us to see Jesus in the Aslan character. And you know what, he got it!
Even with the wonderful progress that we have experienced with the rise of the scientific age, story still reigns. The scientific theory can't hold a candle to the imagination stirring power of a good story. Lewis carefully crafted the Chronicles of Narnia during the late 1940s in Great Britian. A scholar and student of religion, one of Lewis' great accomplishments was story.
This shouldn't be a surprise to us, that story still reigns. In the late 1600s a man by the name of 
John Bunyan offered us another story intended to communicate the path of following Jesus. It was titled The Pilgrim's Progress from This World to That Which Is to Come. The story that unfolds on these masterfully written pages have drawn our minds into a journey that is other worldly, and yet oddly real. As we turn the pages we also become pilgrims travelling along on a journey that leads to our freedom. The power of story is nothing new, even though it still catches us by surprise.
John Bunyan offered us another story intended to communicate the path of following Jesus. It was titled The Pilgrim's Progress from This World to That Which Is to Come. The story that unfolds on these masterfully written pages have drawn our minds into a journey that is other worldly, and yet oddly real. As we turn the pages we also become pilgrims travelling along on a journey that leads to our freedom. The power of story is nothing new, even though it still catches us by surprise. This is what good stories do; they capture us, preoccupy our minds, and motivate us to action. We walk away from our encounter much like my sons ready to slay the White Witch and become kings in their own right. This isn't because I told them that they must become kings, or that they must take up their swords and go to battle. No, instead they were inspired by the power of a story that filled their hearts and minds with visions of things once thought impossible. One day my sons will become kings, although tonight they sleep as princes. How do I know? Because I read a story as well that filled my heart with a vision of my two boys ruling and reigning with the King. Story still reigns...the Story still reigns.
5 comments:
Indeed. My question then becomes one of praxis. What PLACE does story have in our churches?
What place does story have in a sermon? The traditional usage is short brief little tales that buttress the "scientific/expositional" point (along with jokes, statistic, etc.) But should the sermon itself actually be a story? Several (not all) of Jesus' sermons were stories, with only a one sentence "point."
What place does story have in a small group? Instead of studying the Bible or a topic together, should we actually read and tell really good stories?
What place does story have in evangelism? Instead of facts about God's existence, the Bible, the resurrection, etc. should we instead tell stories of Jesus and the lives of people He's transformed?
What place does story have in public discourse? Instead of arguing abortion, death penalty, environment, health care, helping the poor, etc. should we tell stories? What would that even look like?
What's the praxis to "story"?
REV
Hey REV,
Praxis is the rub...let me take a shot at some answers/ideas.
The demographics of the particular local church will probably guide the style and format of story being used in teaching. For example, an older demographic tends to value story as illustration, but not the main content. This is how many of our tradtional sermons/lessons use story, in the context of modernity this approach is about as much as can be expected.
As we increasingly enter into a postmodern environment that is in many ways premodern - as I understand it. Story has played such a significant role in human socities and religious traditions throughout history. And while the current postmodern mindset increasingly values stories, I have found that story can surprise sneak up on modern thinkers - but only when they aren't expecting it.
Interesting.
What effects have you seen it have?
The postmodern-premodern thing is interesting. I think one major difference in correlating the two, however, is the authority issue.
Premodern authority was rooted in the political leader, the spiritual leader, or the business leader. They knew best 'cause they were in charge. What they said was truth.
Postmodern authority questions these and deconstructs them. It assumes a highly educated populace who "think for themselves," yet not in a modernistic individualistic way. This is why we've spoken before of a postmodern "mood" rather than actual set epistemology and ontology.
So if the "mood" is for story telling, these stories will resonate as "truth" not because they can be "proven" (modernism), nor because they come from the authoratative story teller (premodernism), but rather because the educated audience "feels" a connection point in the story and thus it's "truth."
Hmmmm... this is curious to me. It radically re-shapes Christian discourse and the traditional sermon, as you've said.
But I return to praxis. At one point does a really good story motivate me to action? I might read C.S. Lewis' Narnia series to my kids (as I currently am), but none of these stories urges me to act in a fantasy world kind of way. None of them prompts me to build a boat, name it Dawn Treader, and head out onto Lake Superior. So when does story begin to move toward praxis?
Jesus' stories (as I reflect on them) also seem to rarely prompt someone to action. Most of them seem to be about judgment or what the kingdom is like. They convey knowledge without any call to praxis. Hmmmm...
YET (of course) there are stories of Jesus that prompt action. The "good samaritan" for example clearly demonstrates "how to love one's neighbor" as Jesus answers the scribe's inquiries. Hmmmm...
Where can we go with this? Help!
REV
I agree that the authority issues is one that comes into play...and as you have often noted it is a rub in this time of transition.
I do think that there is room here to make some positive strides. My "modern" congregants listen to what I have to say simply because I have the title of pastor. Whether I tell a story or provide a more scientific style lecture they give authority to my position. I believe that you have rightly pointed out that this is different with a "postmodern" person. I have to earn trust and respect in a much more intense way rather than having it given to me becuase of a positional title.
But here is where the power of story bridges these philosophical trends. Story, for the modern thinker, is more significant than we want to let on. I continue to hear from congregants about some stories that I told in messages 2-3 years ago. And they mention them, not in complimenting me, but in reference to how they are trying to live their lives. So, even though I used technically as an illustration, the story itself moved them to action - even years later.
I also want to push back a little in regards to you comment that "Jesus' stories (as I reflect on them) also seem to rarely prompt someone to action. Most of them seem to be about judgment or what the kingdom is like. They convey knowledge without any call to praxis."
I think that Jesus' stories, while illustrating the Kingdom, were much more than attempts at describing an idea. I think that Jesus was calling people to action, precisely because he was inviting them into life in the Kingdom which would require 'repentance' on their part - a reorientation of life. Jesus' stories were powerful, to the extent that the hearer allowed them in, to move hearts and minds toward and into the reality of the Kingdom.
Perhaps this is another piece for us. Jesus' stories did not move everyone to action, and neither will ours. Perhaps even only a small minority of Jesus' hearers actually responded to his stories, but that did not neuter the power of his stories. It only reflected the deadness of the hearts of those who heard. So he continued to tell stories, and teach about life in the Kingdom, and live in the reality of the Kingdom, and demonstrate the power ofthe Kingdom; and yet the reqponsding hearers of his stories ran away at the end and at best watched from teh shadows as he hung on the cross. But my, what a story he lived!
So, we need to hone our craft in using story to communicate and call people to action - especially in our postmodern context. However, we need to remember that many will not "hear and do" so that we do not loss heart and stop telling the stories of the Kingdom.
Hmmm...
Interesting push back. I'll do some digging and let you know what I find!
REV
Post a Comment