photo by Erik Johansson
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An observation: when we talk of God to the unbeliever we most times talk of a formula in which a relationship can be rationally deduced to a repeated prayer and a assigned text. Hear me, I am NOT under emphasizing the importance of the reading Bible and spending time in prayer, but I am pleading with the proponents of a linear gospel to stop preaching Christ as a solution to the problems of this world. Rather, Jesus invites us to be in relationship with him, a relationship that brings peace amidst the worries of today… Letʼs begin to recapture our imagination, using stories of relationship to invigorate the senses that have become rusty from inactivity.
Tell it like Jesus, who didn’t leave out the parts that seemed unreal or unbelievable. Tell of the darkness and decay that has overrun the beauty of our world, donʼt omit the mystery of winged gods that do battle for our souls in the invisible night, and please donʼt exclude the promise that we are prince and princesses with access to the majestic throne of grace. Proclaim that in a world of tribulation and adversity, there is joy to be found and a lasting hope that darkness will be overridden and the blood from our wars will water the flowers of the field and produce a harvest of souls that float on the wind like dandelion seeds into eternities bosom. Jesus spoke parables as fantasy and fairy tale:
Barren Fig Tree
Luke 13:6-9
Bread of Life
Luke 6:31-38
Budding Fig Tree
Matthew 24:32-35
Mark 13:28-32
Luke 21:29-33
Christian Light
Matthew 5:14-16
Mark 4:21-23
Luke 8:16-18
Divided Kingdom (also a Tragedy)
Matthew 12:24-30
Mark 3:22-27
Luke 11:14-23
Prodigal Son (also a Tragedy)
Luke 15:11-32
Sheep and Goats
Matthew 25:31-46
Hidden Treasure (also a Metaphor)
Matthew 13:44-46
Net of Fish (also a Metaphor)
Matthew 13:47-52
Pearl of Great Price (also a Metaphor)
Matthew 13:45-46
Sign of Jonah
Matthew 12:38-42
Luke 11:29-32
The Sower
Matthew 13:3-9;18-23
Mark 4:3-20
Luke 8:4-15
Unclean Spirit
Matthew 12:43-45
Luke 11:24-26
Vine and Branches (also a Metaphor)
Luke 15:1-17
What do you think? Are there any that I am missing?
*The third of four posts on parables… parables as tragedy, comedy, fairy tale, and metaphor.
