The power of story
OK, I've finally managed to add to this - inspired by a seminar I attended today that was a reminder of the power of story. And, in the period since my last (first) post, the church I'm leading has taken large strides towards what I would term reality.
A simple statement - propositional truth is the basis of religion. Relational truth is the basis of faith. And, at least in my definition, relational truth is founded in the dynamic experience and mapping of a relationship. And relationships are defined by stories - by the tales of the growth, flowering and maturing of the relationship - and by the accurate retelling of the struggles and pitfalls of that relationship as well. The Bible, for instance, is first and foremost a story. A story about the relationship between God and humanity, that certainly encompasses those aspects of story mentioned above.
Part of the redefinition of who we are as a church includes the following understanding of how we best examine our walk of faith:
The key approach is to ask what stories, incidents or teaching from the life of Christ might apply ......
In other words - what stories about Jesus can inform our own stories, and enable us to continue our journey of following Jesus.
One problem with the Church (I'll use capitals to refer to the institution in general) is that it has distilled the stories away, and replaced them with doctrine, with beliefs, with systems of understanding that are directed towards setting "truth" in place, rather than allowing the Holy Spirit, through relationship, to actually lead us.
OK - this feels like a very incomplete bit ...... but hey, I'm tired, and it's late. Edit later .....
A simple statement - propositional truth is the basis of religion. Relational truth is the basis of faith. And, at least in my definition, relational truth is founded in the dynamic experience and mapping of a relationship. And relationships are defined by stories - by the tales of the growth, flowering and maturing of the relationship - and by the accurate retelling of the struggles and pitfalls of that relationship as well. The Bible, for instance, is first and foremost a story. A story about the relationship between God and humanity, that certainly encompasses those aspects of story mentioned above.
Part of the redefinition of who we are as a church includes the following understanding of how we best examine our walk of faith:
The key approach is to ask what stories, incidents or teaching from the life of Christ might apply ......
In other words - what stories about Jesus can inform our own stories, and enable us to continue our journey of following Jesus.
One problem with the Church (I'll use capitals to refer to the institution in general) is that it has distilled the stories away, and replaced them with doctrine, with beliefs, with systems of understanding that are directed towards setting "truth" in place, rather than allowing the Holy Spirit, through relationship, to actually lead us.
OK - this feels like a very incomplete bit ...... but hey, I'm tired, and it's late. Edit later .....
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