Storying to Postmoderns: Story Living…

June 4, 2007 | 8:00 AM

When asked to discuss the role of story in postmodern culture, Alex McManus, the founder of the International Mentoring Network, said the following. “Truth is too complex for propositions alone. To communicate truth also requires poetry. Poetry (as well as story telling) invites a full-bodied entrance of the intellect and heart and body into the truth being portrayed. Story telling and poetry, however, are not enough. More important than story telling is ‘story living’. We must be living the story we are telling in order for a complete and integrated communication of any message we seek to convey.” [25] It is not enough to proclaim the gospel. A true follower of Jesus must be actively living out his or her faith.

Frost and Hirsch explain why this “story living” is necessary. “We simply don’t believe that people in the ‘crap-detector’ generation, savvy people who understand what it means to be constantly targeted by hundreds of thousands of clever sales messages, are going to follow other people who don’t live out their messages. If leadership fails to embody the message, no one is going to follow. Leaders, you cannot lead where you will not go; you cannot teach what you do not know.” [26] As Towns and Stetzer pointed out previously, authenticity is one of the core values of postmodernity. There is a both/and dichotomy involved. Any transmission of the gospel must, therefore, be both verbal and nonverbal. It must be the essence of a believer’s life; likewise the gospel must be communicated through the arts and personal story.

Osei May, a church planter in Boston and graduate of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, offers a glimpse into the life of “Jack” in Boston.

Last week I just had lunch with Jack, a friend of mine with a Christian background who wants to know Christ more. At this time his girlfriend is skeptical of faith and religion. Jack doesn’t want to push her into becoming interested and doesn’t want to lose her or leave her behind if he becomes more interested in faith. So he’s in a quagmire of sorts. I told him that he wants her to experience a change of heart or enlightenment he needs to run after Christ. As she sees Christ in him and how Jack is transforming, she too will see more of the reality of Christ the Lord. I told Jack right now she will see Christ more as a concept because Jack’s see him more as a really interesting concept because he isn’t engaged in a relationship with Christ. Jack realized as his life story changes and transforms under the power of Christ so will his girlfriend. [27]

The story of Christ in Jack’s life is an example of his mini-narrative. However, this narrative is not limited to Jack, but influences his girlfriend as well. As he experiences Christ, so too, will his girlfriend experience Christ through Jack. This is “story living” illustrated.

Mark Miller summarizes the role of story to postmoderns in his book Experiential Storytelling. “What if we were to take our message and begin speaking the language of the natives? Instead of telling people Jesus is the light of the world, what if we showed them the stark difference between light and darkness? … What if we removed all of the argumentative language, replaced it with beautiful narratives, and let people feel the power of the story? Instead of trying to convince people to accept a list of spiritual laws, how about placing individuals in the story, allowing them to learn and interact with God’s character?” [28]

The story of God can be and must be communicated through diverse media outlets. Likewise, it must be transmitted through the lives of the followers of Christ as “story living.” One can have no canned presentation of the gospel to present to a postmodern; every opportunity must be a hybrid of active Christ-centered living and communicating through the narrative of the scriptures. Individuals must be approached with full respect to their mini-narratives. If Christians make a concerted effort to understand those who are not believers, being authentic and honest about their desire for friendship and love for others, then the gospel can be effectively communicated across cultures.

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[25] Alex McManus, interviewed by author, email, 30 April 2007.

[26] Frost/Hirsch, 156.

[27] Osei May, interviewed by author, email, 29 April 2007.

[28] Mark Miller, Experiential Storytelling: (Re) Discovering Narrative to Communicate God’s Message (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan, 2004), 26.
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Part 1 [05.26.07]: Introduction…
Part 2 [05.27.07]: Defining Postmodernity…
Part 3 [05.29.07]: The Gospel We Preach…
Part 4 [05.30.07]: The Story of the Gospel…
Part 5 [05.31.07]: The Celtic Way…
Part 6 [06.04.07]: Story Living…
Part 7 [06.06.07]: Bibliography…

Posted in Life, Missional, Missions, Pomo Storying Series