The Cyber Kazbá

Story in our day and age has a profound effect on us. The stories we choose to listen to and believe choreograph the story we write and tell in our own lives. I’m not just talking about the fanciful bedtime stories our parents used to act out in our bedrooms before we fell asleep. I am talking about the stories we hear and practice everyday. These are stories of importance, of life, of death.

If we listen to enough of the political stories that are going around these days, we might begin to believe and emulate a story of competition, domination and power. If we watch enough TV we might adopt a story of materialism. If we follow the news we might adopt stories of prejudice, racism and victimization. And if you try to avoid all of these mediums you probably have adopted an isolation story.

We hear stories, true or false, and they are powerful. Stories ignite nations, start revolutions, inspire Olympic athletes and direct everyday mundane lives. Stories can be very great but they can be very dangerous. What happened when people started to hear stories about the Jews in Germany? How many people changed their view on Islam after hearing the stories of 9/11? Who wanted to go for a swim after hearing the Michael Phelps story?

The gospel is also a story. It is I believe the most radical story. It is a story that goes above all other stories, not because it happens to be true, but because it actually fulfills what it promises. Stories that tend to be epic almost always promise peace and safety. If you just take this pill you will be thin and then you will be accepted. If you buy this iPhone then everything will be in control. If we just get rid of these people, then we will be secure. If I just avoid everything that is bad then I will be at peace.

Jesus usually packaged the good news with stories. His story was the Kingdom of God. He revealed the Kingdom of God in many different parables. For example: “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field” (Matt. 13:44). I like this parable because it runs in contrast to all the other stories our world tells. Here we have a picture of giving up everything. Certainly giving up everything won’t give us peace or safety. But in fact, that is exactly what Jesus is saying.

What is tragic is when the gospel gets intertwined with some of these other stories. When Jesus is holding a machine gun, or promising wealth, or giving a path of escape, then the gospel fails to be that hope and security. The result to all of these stories is the same: tragedy.

The Gospel is a power-under, for others, servant orientated, love story. It doesn’t seek peace and safety for itself but for everyone around it. It doesn’t look to intimidate, shame, or avoid others. Rather it encounters others where they are at and seeks to love them. That story is certainly worth giving everything for.

What story are you writing?

# posted by Velmer @ 3:14 PM 0 comments