On Stories, Words, and The Word

Verses:

Hebrews 4:12: “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged

sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and

discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”

2 Corinthians 10:5: We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the

knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, 

Philippians 4:8: “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble,

whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if

anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”

Proverbs 18:21: “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will

eat its fruits.”

Thoughts:

What do you think is one of the most important forms of communication for humans? One of them is words. You are reading words right now! So, how do we communicate well with these words? We teach others, we speak about what we have going on every day, and we tell stories.

But, words are ultimately important not just because we can communicate with them but because of their source. The first and final word is Jesus Christ the Son of God (John 1:1-2). We can communicate with reason through words because Christ is the Ultimate Word. 

When Jesus Christ used words, he often told stories, or more specifically, parables. Rather than lecturing on how people should be good or saying you should do this, Christ taught using stories.

Granted, part of the reason Jesus taught in parables was to cover the truth of what he was saying because some of the people there did not have ears to hear (Mark 4:11). 

But, nonetheless, the parables were stories that went alongside his teaching (Note: parable literally translates to: para - alongside and bole - throwing). They conveyed the truth in a way that was applicable and that stuck in his listener’s brains.

So, if stories are one of Jesus’ main ways to teach listeners the truth, what value should we place in stories? As those created in God’s image seeking to live out the truth, we should place a high value in stories and be knowledgeable of the power they hold. 

If Christ used them to speak God’s truth, the devil can certainly use them to speak his lies. And, in our culture today, our society is infused with stories. These come in the form of television shows, movies, books, and social media. Everything you see is telling you a story and pushing a worldview. There is an underlying worldview in everything. Learn to be critical. Take your mind captive. 

Summary: Christ is the ultimate Word, but the devil prowls in angel’s garb. Words can be used to build up or tear down. And, in the form of stories, words are a powerful weapon. Be vigilant. Be aware of the stories that you are daily consuming. Sharpen your mind to deflect the schemes of the world, the flesh, and the devil by the power of the True Word. 

Ask Yourself: With literature or media (social media too) you consume, ask: What is the underlying worldview? Does this work point to the lies of the serpent? What stories am I telling? What does my life tell of the truth of The Word?