Telling the Old Stories A New Way

[revterry]

Folks, this is an amazing reality that I have known for years but not really explored. Most christians know "of" the stories in the Bible but the do not "know" the stories. Knowing requires understanding. How is it that people can spend so much time in church and not be able to tell the important stories in the Bible in a way that conveys the lessons to be learned from the stories.

[lynnmosher]

I think we all here aspire to tell the old, old story with fresh insights for the world today.

[pajarita_deDios]

I know I feel like I am sometimes spoon feeding new "versions" of old tales with exciting elements in order to draw the human and worldly eye. And sometimes, I feel sad that I have to go there in order to get their attention....If I even have.

[revterry]

I appreciate your input. Part of the problem is that the system of "doing church" is so engrained in itself that the traditions have become "sacred" and those who can change them are afraid to be be considered as anti-church, so they will not attempt to make changes.

[kriswrite]

Well, a lot of churches don't teach the stories of the Bible, and a lot of people don't read their Bible. That said, I think fictionalizing biblical stories has its place. First, a novel may reach an audience that a church or the Bible won't. Second, even Christians who know the Bible well may enjoy a refreshing retelling.

Kristina

[Tamera]

A lot of times, people have heard and read the stories many times but they seem unreal. It's as if the characters in the Bible weren't real people with real emotions. Sometimes retelling a story in a different way helps people to understand that the people in the Bible are just like us. It helps us to relate to them and apply the lessons from their lives.

[Lookin^Up]

What gets me most is when ministers get in the pulpit, even the radio pulpit, and read out of King James Version--which in 4 years will be 400 years old--then expound on the passage in King James-ese. BOR-ING! I like the way my pastor and my Sunday School teacher sometimes pumps up those ancient stories. One time my SS teacher spoke of Moses using GPS to find his way through the desert. That's kind of cool. (Come to think of it, maybe he's right--if GPS can stand for God's Positioning System. LOL :D)

Occasionally in my science fiction I'll retell a Bible story in a speculative context. Early in Savage Worlds, there's a scene where Iban Izeni is confronting a gang of boys, somewhat reminiscent of Lot confronting the villagers. In a later story, I have two: an alien weapon takes the place of the axhead that floated to the surface; and a contest between gods occurs as the guest character fills in for Elijah on Mt. Carmel.

[Shellbiz]

You brought up my favorite "story" in the Bible (besides Gideon and his whittled down troops storming the Midianites, Esther's appeal to Ahasuerus, Ruth's loyalty to Naomi and susequent marriage to Boaz, David and Goliath, Joseph running from Potiphar's wife) Elijah and the Baal worshipers at Mt. Carmel--what could get any better! When it comes to people in church who cannot tell the stories with vigor, I suppose it's because they ho-hum don't really believe there's much to tell. The Church is in trouble today for its apathy as well as its unbelief.
About the King James Bible. My husband's reading a book [I]In the Beginning[I] by Alistair McGrath, and he was reading a part of it to me which said that the KJV was archaic even when it first was published in 1611.

[FireFeet]

How is it that people can spend so much time in church and not be able to tell the important stories in the Bible in a way that conveys the lessons to be learned from the stories.

The Holy Spirit breathes life and inspires revelation, and it is only by revelation that one can learn the lessons hidden within the stories.