Telling the old, old story?
What do we mean when we talk about Bible “stories”? How can the Bible be relevant to us if it’s a collection of stories written for other people who lived thousands of years ago? Is it even possible to draw spiritual lessons from a story, or should we focus on teaching doctrine and theology instead?
In his latest “Been Thinking About…” column, Mart De Haan talks about the “story” of the Bible, and about the challenge of using stories to communicate Gospel truths:
A growing number of scholars and church leaders believe that the unfolding drama of the Bible is at the heart of its life-changing power. Others, however, are convinced that focusing on stories, instead of teaching doctrine, has become a trend that is watering down the authority of the Bible.
So who’s right? De Haan’s analysis suggests that there’s truth in both arguments, and that we need to appreciate both the advantages and limitations of “storytelling” as a teaching tool. Read the whole thing and see if you agree with his reasoning.
