Photo by: Nathaniel Smith
I woke up this morning thinking that I need to move the conversation along to something else, as promised, because of the frustration that erupted over our last discussion. Then I read the comments posted overnight, and heard the heart and reasonableness of friends who expressed that they felt I was just making the Bible too much of a challenge to be the “daily bread” that broken and needy people need for the moment, day, and night at hand.
Such honest thoughts made me do a double take because in so many ways I am not trying to treat the Bible like “an academic” but rather like a child who is asking for a bedtime story.
I’ve written in the past about a scene in Walk the Line, a film portrayal of country singer Johnny Cash. There’s a conversation between young Johnny and his brother Jack that caught my attention. During a reflective moment, just before a tragic accident changes their lives, the boys are lying on their beds. Jack is reading his Bible when Johnny asks, “How is it that you read and remember all those stories in there?” Jack responds, “J. R., I wanna be a preacher someday, so I’ve got to know the Bible front and back. You can’t help nobody if you don’t know the right story to tell them.”
I think that’s why it is so important to know and tell, for example, the stories of the Good Shepherd, either as told by the 23 Psalm, or the shepherd stories told by Jesus.
Then I’m also reminded of what I experienced at the memorial service of a young mother, who was also the daughter of dear friends of ours. In honoring her life and requests, her pastor told of a conversation that he had with this woman a year before her home going. Knowing that she was dying, she asked him if he would be willing to do her funeral. He told her, “Sure, what do you want me to say.” She said, “Just tell them The Story.”
Looking back, it’s apparent that this young mother knew how clearly and briefly her pastor could explain the wonder of Creation, the Fall, the Rescue, and the Restoration of a future day. He honored her request. Taking just a few minutes to do so, he used a back drop of video photos that illustrated so powerfully the beauty of Creation, the ugliness of the fall, the love of our Savior, and then again the wonder of a restoration that will make all things good and beautiful again. Those of us there were deeply moved not only by the Story, but knowing it had given perspective to a young dying daughter, wife, and mother who wanted those who remain to have a chance to share her faith and anticipation.
Now, with that explanation that, in my own desperate need for daily grace, strength and hope, I am not looking for “academic answers” (as much as I respect our need for those who can do that kind of work for us and the Body of Christ). I am looking for the Story and the stories that can help us make sense of words like,
“He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.” (Revelation 22:11).
If the following conversation helps us make sense of such words, found in the last chapter of the Bible, we’ll go on to something else. Otherwise, we’ll take another look.
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