About a week ago, I wrote an entry called "Explicit Truth." Since then, I have been mulling over the words of Jesus and the way that he spoke. I find it stopping me a bit in my tracks, that He, at times was explicit, but most times implicit. Why? Because the Truth can hold His own.
Have we lost the art of speaking in parables? Of sharing truth with others through the art of a creative narrative with a beautiful treasure of truth hidden inside? Do we fear that people aren't hungry enough that if they have to work to understand something they won't? Are we convinced that people have lots their curiosity and we aren't truly representing Christ if we don't make everything on the road towards him incredibly simple to understand? I'm afraid I've been guilty of this.
The idea of implicit truth is difficult for me to wrap my mind around at first. It almost feels like we're not being true to other people and not being fair to them to make them dig a little to find and uncover the actual truth. But, aren't those the only people who will receive it anyways? What does it look like for us to not "toss our pearls to swine" but to take after Jesus and enjoy the narrative and struggle through both parables and proverbs?
The Bible is filled with hidden treasures waiting to be dusted off and discovered and explored. They are there for hungry people to find. There is heart cutting truth and life giving lessons carefully compacted and crafted into two line proverbs. The meaning of life is revealed in a ten line parables. That's amazing. STOP. Re-read that for a second. It's truly amazing. It requires struggle, revelation, and hunger to discover what lies in the stories Jesus spoke. What a beautiful thing. Perhaps, us westerners could learn a few lessons from those in the east who seem to understand and respect the sage and the guru. The sage and guru don't shy away from proverbs and parables, scared their followers won't get it. They know that they must struggle through it. I can't remember the last time that I heard a pastor give a riddle, proverb, or parable to his people without immediately spelling it out for them.
Since God kinda created us...He knows the way we work. He knows that our minds best understand and remember stories, not long lists of unconnected facts and bullet points. Yet so often...we get 5 point messages in church. Sometimes great lists of points,(sometimes not) other times pretty watered down and just deep enough to satisfy those who want to feel holy and spiritual(doesn't require much...just a few big words and flowery sentences) and not deep enough to cause any response in those who are truly hungry or want to be challenged.
Maybe...we should learn the art of a parable. Maybe we should learn the art of speaking to the heart of the questioner rather than chickening out and responding straight to their question. Have you ever noticed how rarely Jesus answered people's questions? He addressed the issue behind the question. With heart cutting accuracy He pinpoints the issue and silences people with one sentence as they are left to face themselves. That, is incredible. I believe we can do this, too. We've just decided we can't.
Perhaps, if we stop spoon feeding people the bits of truth that we think that they can handle, and stop trying to gradually emerge them in truth, stop trying to shove truth in their face...maybe if we set up a stage where they hear truth and depth hinted at through the way that we speak and live...they will remember their appetite and hunger for truth and grow hungrier and more determined as the dig and dig to uncover it and come face to face with the only Truth.
I'm from the States...as are some of you. So, I can say that we pretty much suck as a whole at implicit truth. Too many want the easy way, so the pastors go along with that, the worship leaders go along with that, and the people go along with that. They go along with it to the point that Jesus...really wouldn't fit in so well with the people that are his name-sake. Perhaps, we should get ourselves firm in truth, and confident in it. It's like...so many don't actually believe it is the truth so they're scared to give it to the people in a way that they have to work for it because they're afraid it's not worth it. My friend, if it's not worth it to you...then please, stop your masquerade and leading people into a cult-like lifestyle parading under the name christian.
When we water things down...we lose the people who are truly radical and want a challenge. Have you noticed the people on the outskirts of society? The ones that talk, dress, walk differently? (you know...the ones that are still thinking and aren't satisfied with the answers they've been given?) They stand out in a strange way...almost like the prophets did in the Old Testament...weird huh? Those amazing people who are hardcore...just need to experience the presence of God...but they're so put off by christians that we have actually become a detour on their way home to their Father. How can we do that to the fatherless generation? I don't want to come between anyone and their Dad.
So, without further ado, teach us what it looks like to be brilliant in parables and implicit truth. Teach us when to be explicit and when to be implicit. May you be glorified in it all. Take us away from our flowery, watered down, feel good, spoon fed truth(so disguised the truth is barely recognizable), and lead us into a place where we speak truth.
Have we lost the art of speaking in parables? Of sharing truth with others through the art of a creative narrative with a beautiful treasure of truth hidden inside? Do we fear that people aren't hungry enough that if they have to work to understand something they won't? Are we convinced that people have lots their curiosity and we aren't truly representing Christ if we don't make everything on the road towards him incredibly simple to understand? I'm afraid I've been guilty of this.
The idea of implicit truth is difficult for me to wrap my mind around at first. It almost feels like we're not being true to other people and not being fair to them to make them dig a little to find and uncover the actual truth. But, aren't those the only people who will receive it anyways? What does it look like for us to not "toss our pearls to swine" but to take after Jesus and enjoy the narrative and struggle through both parables and proverbs?
The Bible is filled with hidden treasures waiting to be dusted off and discovered and explored. They are there for hungry people to find. There is heart cutting truth and life giving lessons carefully compacted and crafted into two line proverbs. The meaning of life is revealed in a ten line parables. That's amazing. STOP. Re-read that for a second. It's truly amazing. It requires struggle, revelation, and hunger to discover what lies in the stories Jesus spoke. What a beautiful thing. Perhaps, us westerners could learn a few lessons from those in the east who seem to understand and respect the sage and the guru. The sage and guru don't shy away from proverbs and parables, scared their followers won't get it. They know that they must struggle through it. I can't remember the last time that I heard a pastor give a riddle, proverb, or parable to his people without immediately spelling it out for them.
Since God kinda created us...He knows the way we work. He knows that our minds best understand and remember stories, not long lists of unconnected facts and bullet points. Yet so often...we get 5 point messages in church. Sometimes great lists of points,(sometimes not) other times pretty watered down and just deep enough to satisfy those who want to feel holy and spiritual(doesn't require much...just a few big words and flowery sentences) and not deep enough to cause any response in those who are truly hungry or want to be challenged.
Maybe...we should learn the art of a parable. Maybe we should learn the art of speaking to the heart of the questioner rather than chickening out and responding straight to their question. Have you ever noticed how rarely Jesus answered people's questions? He addressed the issue behind the question. With heart cutting accuracy He pinpoints the issue and silences people with one sentence as they are left to face themselves. That, is incredible. I believe we can do this, too. We've just decided we can't.
Perhaps, if we stop spoon feeding people the bits of truth that we think that they can handle, and stop trying to gradually emerge them in truth, stop trying to shove truth in their face...maybe if we set up a stage where they hear truth and depth hinted at through the way that we speak and live...they will remember their appetite and hunger for truth and grow hungrier and more determined as the dig and dig to uncover it and come face to face with the only Truth.
I'm from the States...as are some of you. So, I can say that we pretty much suck as a whole at implicit truth. Too many want the easy way, so the pastors go along with that, the worship leaders go along with that, and the people go along with that. They go along with it to the point that Jesus...really wouldn't fit in so well with the people that are his name-sake. Perhaps, we should get ourselves firm in truth, and confident in it. It's like...so many don't actually believe it is the truth so they're scared to give it to the people in a way that they have to work for it because they're afraid it's not worth it. My friend, if it's not worth it to you...then please, stop your masquerade and leading people into a cult-like lifestyle parading under the name christian.
When we water things down...we lose the people who are truly radical and want a challenge. Have you noticed the people on the outskirts of society? The ones that talk, dress, walk differently? (you know...the ones that are still thinking and aren't satisfied with the answers they've been given?) They stand out in a strange way...almost like the prophets did in the Old Testament...weird huh? Those amazing people who are hardcore...just need to experience the presence of God...but they're so put off by christians that we have actually become a detour on their way home to their Father. How can we do that to the fatherless generation? I don't want to come between anyone and their Dad.
So, without further ado, teach us what it looks like to be brilliant in parables and implicit truth. Teach us when to be explicit and when to be implicit. May you be glorified in it all. Take us away from our flowery, watered down, feel good, spoon fed truth(so disguised the truth is barely recognizable), and lead us into a place where we speak truth.
Very interesting. Though I basically agree with you, remember that some of Jesus' teachings were hidden on purpose because of the timing of His ministry and work, the fact that the Spirit had not yet been given (in the way it was on pentecost), and that His messages were intending for particular people.
ReplyDeleteThe art of meditation or "chewing the meat" definitely seems to be lacking these days and the proverb or parable certainly excite the intellect and heart into pursuing the truth, mulling over the message, and communing with God. Great post, keep it up.