Jesus Cropped from the Picture

Jesus Cropped from the Picture

player in his drama, where knowledge is only part of the grander mystery. The Bible has far fewer propositional statements than metaphor, story, symbol, or parable. Christian faith cannot be understood without images like lambs and lions, wheat and tares, sheep and goats. The Bible takes people to places that are beyond description. Those who follow Jesus will face uncertainty, suffering, and adventure; muddled combinations of good and evil, with cosmic disorder, until he comes to set all things right. The truth of the Bible gives people the psychological means to handle hardship because Scripture does not allow the construction of clean categories where people can “figure everything out.” Scripture frees believers from such foolishness. Those who try to master their world through Rationalism will end up confused and discouraged. The Bible, especially apostolic teaching, is a witness to the unfolding Story of God in Christ. The apostles were eyewitnesses to this Story. The early Church was not so much a literate, learning community (Rationalism) as much as a “People of the Story.” They preferred to hear an apostle tell stories about Christ rather than study a theological paper about him. 33 Using Truth for Personal Gain Robert Webber describes two approaches to Truth. 34 In the first approach people recognize Truth as objective and outside of themselves. Truth is an authority under which they joyfully submit, whether it helps them or not. This is the appropriate response to God’s Word.

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