The Story of God

If we are going to tell the story about God, what story are we going to tell?

This is a line from a sermon given by our pastor, Rev. Sarah Wilmoth.  If we are going to tell the story of God, what story are we going to tell?

There are options, right? Our story can be of the god we make in our minds - a god that favors us, blesses us, and judges others. A god that makes us comfortable and rewards our seemingly attentive use of the word "Christian" to describe ourselves. We might tell of a god that rewards us with riches as a transaction for attending worship, or giving of our gifts. Maybe we tell of a god that judges others harshly but provides us with grace.

If we are going to tell the story about God, what story are we going to tell?

Or maybe, we tell the story of God. The God that has entered our lives to change them. A God that created everyone in God's own image so that all are blessed and sacred. Maybe we tell the story of a God that forgave us and continues to forgive us, even though we sin - a God that offers all of us grace. Maybe we tell the story of a God that loves you and loves me, and loves even those we would, in our sin, despise. Maybe we tell the story of a God that saves us from self-contempt and the contempt of others.  Maybe our story is one of love and not hate, grace and not judgement, belovedness and not rejection.

If we are going to tell the story of God, what story are we going to tell?

 

Sharing the Adventure

Thinking about stories, still:

Stories are not waiting to be molded to fit our experience.  They are waiting for us to take the risk of entering their world of the story and be changed by it.  (Peter Enns and Jared Byas)

I was moving through Facebook the other day - going down the rabbit hole - when I stumbled across a video of a sermon.  The sermon was based on the story (parable) we call the Prodigal Son.  The point the "pastor" was determined to make was that the story did not include the mother.  Where was she? Was she out getting her hair done? Why wasn't she home where she belong?

Grr.

Setting aside my disgust with this twist on a sermon, think for a moment about the story.  I wonder if the pastor had ever taken the risk of actually entering the story and allowing himself to be changed by it.  He certainly seems (to me) to be trying to mold the story to his own purposes.

If you are a preacher, this is a temptation. You have something you want to say, and you'll use the Bible to support your idea.  Instead, we are called to enter the story, and then share with those listening our adventure.

Genesis as Story

In the book Genesis for Normal People by Peter Enns and Jared Byas, the authors describe the literary style of the book of Genesis: not textbook, not a book of principles, but instead an ancient story, written in a particular time to a particular people.

That started me thinking about story.  What does it mean that Genesis is an ancient story? What role does story play in our lives?

A few weeks ago I attended the funeral of the brother of a friend.  Joel was - it was made clear that day - a storyteller.  Why did he tell stories?  His brother, our friend Jeff, related a story Joel told about an experience he had on his birthday.  Through this story, we learned about Joel's personality, his parents' reactions to him, and had a glimpse of the way life was for Joel at the time.  Jeff was able to tell the story because Joel had shared it - but it was before Jeff had been born.

Through stories we learn about the people, their relationships with each other, and we glimpse what life was like for them.  Through stories, what we didn't experience ourselves becomes clearer, in a way that a textbook or a book of principles could never accomplish.

The truth of a story isn't its factual basis, but is instead its underlying truth.  This is what I was like.  This is what life was like.  This is what it was like in my community, and with the people I loved or hated.  

In Genesis, we have the story that helps us to understand that God created the universe, the world, the animals, man and woman.  In Genesis we learn the truth that God created us.  In Genesis we hear the struggle of those following God - or trying to follow God - and what is was like to learn how to do that.  In Genesis we see how God didn't give up on his creation, even when his creation gave up on him.  In the story of Genesis, we see the Israelites beginning to learn that they are the people of God - and from that truth, we can learn that we are the people of God.  Created, loved, and never abandoned.  

Let's see a history book do that (although I do love history books).

Anything to Declare?

I will sing of your steadfast love, O Lord, forever;

with my mouth I will proclaim your faithfulness to all generations.

I declare that your steadfast love is established forever;

your faithfulness is as firm as the heavens.  (Psalm 89:1-2)

Earlier this week, in a meeting I attended, the chairperson of the committee shared a devotional. He read a scripture passage (I don't think it was the Psalm above, but it was one about declaring the works of God, so this one works, too), and then he said, "Do you have anything to declare?" 

Later that day, in an office conversation, we were talking about the worship practice of witnessing - a member of the congregation will stand and will tell the story of how God has been at work in his or her life that week.  In the church I attend, no one ever does this; no one is invited to do this. I'm not complaining, or saying one way is better than another, but the juxtaposition of the two experiences brought to mind the following question for me:

Do we have anything to declare? Does the fact that in my church we never declare the personal work of God in our lives mean that we forget how to do it? And does that make us uncomfortable when we are encountered with an opportunity to do so? Does God ever create that opportunity for us? If not, is it because we aren't prepared for it? What can we, who don't often witness in worship, do to better prepare ourselves to make a declaration of the work of God?

Do you have anything to declare? Are you prepared to do so?

Wired for Stories

River above Sandstone Falls, near Hinton

Have you ever wondered about the power of stories? If you read this blog, you know I'm reading Brene Browns' book, Rising Strong. She says we are wired for story. This quote really caught me, and I think it has implications for our lives together in faith:

Neuroeconomist Paul Zak has found that hearing a story--a narrative with a beginning, middle, and end--causes our brains to release cortisol and oxytocin. These chemicals trigger the uniquely human abilities to connect, empathize, and make meaning. Story is literally n our DNA.

1. Have you ever head the question, "Why did Jesus teach in parables?" There is your answer, in this quote. Because we are created to respond to story. Being our creator, Jesus would have understood that. It wasn't only those who were listening to him then who will respond. We respond, too. Each in a different way.
2. This quote speaks to the work of those who preach. Tell stories that engage your listeners - God has wired his children to respond. What message is God leading you to tell? What stories can you use to get the message across?
3. Listen to people's stories. In them, you will find God calling to who you are. 

Stories - it is the reason we know that relationships are important.  In them, we hear the stories.

Power of Story

Early in September I attended a Convocation at my church.  The guest speaker was Philip Gulley.  During the Sunday evening session, he was asked about the role of story in a sermon.  He responded that he loves stories, and he can sense their impact on his congregation.  A story allows him to ease into an issue (my words, not his).

For example, rather than just expressing his views about homosexuality, he will tell a story about his little brother, and his experiences.  People have friends and family who have dealt with the same issues, so approaching the issue through a story can reach more open minds.

I get that.  It is through relationship that we come closest to people, and I wonder if it is through relationship that we come closest to having the eyes of God.  When we can see an issue through our experience with it, we can see it, perhaps, the way God sees it.

Are we ever really objective?  Is God ever really objective?

Gulley reminded us that Jesus taught through story: we should take a hint from that.