Redeeming "Story"

Last Thursday after I spoke at InterVarsity I had someone approach me and graciously question my use of the word "story" during my talk. I had referred to "the Christian story" throughout my talk and had also referenced "the Adam and Eve story." His concern was that using the word story allowed for the fictionalization of things that we hold to be true. Using "truth" instead of story seemed to him to be a better alternative.

My response to this excellent question was that if Christians give up on the word "story" it would be as catastrophic for us as if we gave up on the word "truth."

N.T. Wright points out to over-educated theologians that all theological statements are simply story told in shorthand. That is, all our summarizing and interpretating statements speaking of what we believe to be true are simply signs and pointers to the Redemptive Story that God is working out in real-time history. "Truth" is worth fighting for, but in the framework of our faith, it functions secondarily to "story." Truth statements are good only insofar as they accurately interpret and point to the most real thing of God's story--what He has done and what He is doing and what He will do.

To be sure, there is some baggage and underbrush that must be cut away from " story" in order for it to serve as a faithful word depicting the realities and enormities of grace. But that work is worth doing, particularly in a post-modern context where stories are innately more well received than truth statements. We must lead with the story and summarize with truth or we will not get much of a hearing in many circles where God has put us to be mediators of His grace.

And lest anyone think that in so doing we are "selling out," we can see a fairly impotant figure in our faith doing this all the time in his teaching. His name was Jesus.