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Michael Mercer: teacher. writer. father. husband. follower.

Parables...(not your typical new year's eve, eve post)

12/30/2011

7 Comments

 
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Today I read a phenomenal common day parable written by Donald Miller.  The parable is about the way we do church and really Christianity in most ways.  You can read it here, "You'll Be a Dentist."  It is a bit lengthy and he admits to that on his blog, but I couldn't stop reading and you shouldn't if you care about the church.

After reading this parable I was able to take some quiet time and process the implications of the story, agree with what I wanted to and disagree with the things that don't match my culture or experience.  In that processing time, though, I got to thinking about parables and why we hear so few, if any, common day parables.  There was a time during my undergrad at ACU that I heard Andre Resner, a preaching professor, work a common dat (for that day) parable.  It wasn't an illustration for his sermon, it was his sermon.  I was impressed then, like I was today.

I think today people aren't telling parables for a couple of reasons:

1.  We don't understand the reason of parables in the first place.  I would imagine that if we didn't have preachers/teachers exploring the many meanings of biblical parables we might be just as dumbfounded as the disciples were.

2.  We've lost observance of our world.  We have drowned ourselves in technology, people, work, material things, and entertainment that we can't stop to smell the roses or even watch the world as it goes by.

3.  We don't like to learn through pain.  Like acupuncture, when a parable hits the right spot it can draw pain.  Sometimes we cannot learn from parables because we are too busy being defensive about the very behavior that the parable is confronting.  However, sometimes in the pain there is a message that when seen through the sear of pain can bring us to a place we haven't been before, nor could have made it to without the pain.

There may be plenty of reasons why we are telling good parables.  In fact, these reasons may be awful.  But this is what I really want us to ponder.  Can we find a way in 2012 to draw on more common day parables?  Can we write parables into our lives that help us learn today?  Are there any authors out there who want to take on the challenge?

We need some good parables for today.

7 Comments
Jeff Bingham link
12/30/2011 02:33:22 pm

Good insights. I love using analogies to make a point, and appreciate what the parables can mean for us.

Reply
Michael Mercer
12/30/2011 03:48:45 pm

Jeff,
thanks for stopping by. I agree that analogies and metaphors are a great way to move the gospel along. Good preaching these days is using narrative, metaphor, and analogies. Not much different than when Jesus taught. I'm glad we are on the journey together. -Michael

Reply
Suesanne
12/30/2011 03:07:15 pm

Michael,
loved your perspective! You are right, we do not take time to observe, reflect or even breathe deeply, quietly, and listen! I was out in the country, in 'Indiana' [smile], and was surprised that I was able to hear birds outside my window in early hours of AM on Christmas morning! It was cold out, yet, birds were out there, singing! My surprise was more to that, I live in suburban Illinois, not the city, and here, I don't hear birds outside my window! Should I say rarely hear birds sing outside my windows??

Wonder if they sing in the spring, but I miss it, because my blow dryer is going off, my Radio is on 'Christian Station'; should that be a justification for 'keeping this busy, unreflective life?'

Sad, because our Lord Jesus used parables. In fact, my father used to quote the verse that says: 'And without parables, he did not teach them' not sure which gospel, but I am assuming Luke!

Thanks for the reminder dear! will follow you now!

Reply
Michael
12/30/2011 03:57:06 pm

Suesanne,
Thank you for the flattering words of encouragement. I just said to my wife as we were visiting Houston, TX, "Listen to the sounds of the city." It was filled with horns honking, car engines, jack hammers, etc. Filling our ears with all loudness drowns out the whisper that God has for us. There is a season for everything, so claims Ecclesiastes. I guess I'm in need of a season of reflection and some real good parables for today. I don't want to just hear a parable, I want to feel it too! Look forward to hearing more from you, I appreciate the comment. -Michael

Reply
Ginger
12/30/2011 11:36:59 pm

First, thanks for pointing me to Donald's post. Good stuff.

Second, I think one reason we don't use parables anymore is because we want answers and parables really don't give us clear cut answers. Think about how much time we spend in the church explaining the parables of Jesus. We (like the dentists) have books upon books upon books explaining the cultural, contextual, spiritual and practical applications of each and everyone of Jesus' parables. One could spend their life reading and digesting these books and never 1) really be done and 2) completely miss Jesus' point of the story. But I love how Miller does exactly what Jesus does - never explains what he means. He allows the hearer/reader of his words to walk away with what they need to and is okay with the fact that some people may not get his point; some people may get his exact point and completely disagree; some people may get his point, agree and do nothing with it; some people may get his point, agree, and make great changes; and some people may get a completely different meaning out of it than he intended which also caused some great action on their part.

Personally, speaking I was raised in a Christian culture (and even a non Christian culture) that did not encourage my need, desire, or ability to think beyond the current understanding of any given teaching/parable and apply to my life and the lives of those with whom I journey. This, in my extremely humble opinion, helped kill the parable. I think back to reading things like Aesop's Fables and always being "led" to the same conclusion the author was led to (slow and steady wins the race, never trust your enemy, whatever you do, do with all your might, etc - see I can still tell you what they wanted me to learn). And yet, I also remember seeing more in some of the stories but never being free or encouraged to share those thoughts or conclusions. Actually, on more than one occasion, be it with Jesus' parables or with other stories I heard growing up as a child, I was told not only was I wrong for my observation but I was told to keep that type of thing to myself because it was not what was intended and might confuse people or make them believe in something false.

I would love to start hearing, reading and even writing more modern day parables. I look forward to what God can and will do through and for those who choose to do this.

Thanks for the post. I loved every minute of this.

Reply
Jen link
12/31/2011 03:56:56 am

this is exactly what God is whispering to me. Parables. Yes to the challenge!

Reply
Michael
12/31/2011 12:53:55 pm

Jen,
I hope you will circle back to this blog and share a parable this next year. -Michael

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