Story Shapes Life
A year of learning to see and participate in God's Story
through Scripture, history and culture.
We find ourselves in the story of our faith tradition at a moment of reprieve. Enough history as God’s people to have stories to reflect on. Enough history of faith to have struggles and successes. In the story, judgement and new life have been declared, and in short order—at least in page numbers—life will be very different. Yet here, in the in-between, we have the time and space necessary to consider, to ponder life with God and one another, what a whole and good life is or could be.
We find ourselves in the story of our faith tradition at a moment of reprieve. Enough history as God’s people to have stories to reflect on. Enough history of faith to have struggles and successes. In the story, judgement and new life have been declared, and in short order—at least in page numbers—life will be very different. Yet here, in the in-between, we have the time and space necessary to consider, to ponder life with God and one another, what a whole and good life is or could be.
We find ourselves in the story of our faith tradition at a moment of reprieve. Enough history as God’s people to have stories to reflect on. Enough history of faith to have struggles and successes. In the story, judgement and new life have been declared, and in short order—at least in page numbers—life will be very different. Yet here, in the in-between, we have the time and space necessary to consider, to ponder life with God and one another, what a whole and good life is or could be.
If I were to summarize the voice of the prophets in our story of faith thus far, it would sound something like this…[3 clashes of cymbals]
Wake up! You are in Babylon and becoming Babylon! That’s the cry of the pre-exile prophets. What this entire section of our faith history in the story of God is trying to get to us to do, to recognize. Comprehend what is going on in you and around you. Grasp what God is doing against you, against all that is in rebellion to his goodness. Appreciate what God is doing for you, and for his good world.
On a flight from Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport to Schiphol airport in Amsterdam, the first leg of a trek into northern Africa, I had an epiphany, an “ah-ha” moment. One of those moments when the way you see the world changes, where what you think and feel align, when the unidentifiable tension finds a name and thus the potential for release of bound energy awaits. On this overnight flight, as dawn was breaking on a new day over a new continent, my mind and soul awoke to a reality that continues to animate my beliefs and behaviors still today.
I remember a Wednesday night as a late elementary aged child in which Jason Delaney and I decided that we would rebel.
Like most Wednesday nights growing up, we would travel with my mom after school up to our church’s building; getting there early enough to play old arcade games, shoot pool, or a little basketball in the Christian Learning Center, or CLC as we called it. All this before the “church” events started up...
I was about 9 years old the first time I heard someone play the blues. My family and I were visiting some friends in Chicago and – as we were leaving the airport – I saw an older black man standing by a pillar with an open case – who seemed to be not so much playing his saxophone but – with his eyes closed – he was coaxing it to give up this bewitching, sorrowful tune. I don’t remember if it was right then or later on, but soon after I told my mom: “That’s what I want to play.”
In 1788, Rev. Raymund Harris published this tract: “Scriptural researches on the licitness of the slave trade[…].” And in it, he said this:
"The [Revealed] Decisions of God have positively declared that the Slave-Trade is intrinsically good and licit, [and that the holding of slaves] is perfectly consonant to the principles of the Law of Nature, the Mosaic Dispensation, and the Christian Law." Slavery has "the positive sanction of God in its support."
There was a time in my life when what I wanted in a spouse was – essentially – a female version of myself. I would never have described what I wanted this way but it caused all kinds of problems when – while in college – I was spending a lot of time with an incredible young woman who – though she liked me and I liked her – didn’t fit that picture I was carrying around of what I wanted. About a year later – after that girl finally had enough and told me to never talk to her again – I met someone who fit the image I had in my mind, this female version of myself. She was driven, spontaneous and a little bit of a troublemaker...
“Every time someone tells a story and tells it well and truly, the gospel is served.” But why? And how? Why and how does storytelling serve the gospel? The good news that God in Christ
creates, God in Christ saves, God in Christ rules? As the author of the quote would say,
“Out of the chaos of incident and accident, story-making words bring light, coherence and connection, meaning and value.” – Eugene Peterson, “Pastors and Novels”, Subversive Spirituality, 187.
