Tell Me a Story

“That is why I speak to them in parables, because looking they do not see, and hearing they do not listen or understand.” (Matt 13:13 CSB)

We have grown accustomed to clickable headlines, sharable memes, and quoteable tweets. Without researching the backstory (sometimes without reading the whole article), social media users are quick to share or comment on polarizing posts. Without context and nuance, the division between opposing sides grows.

Grant Ginder writes, “Understanding is arduous, slow; knowing—being able to parrot back a headline—easy, and happens in an instant. All it takes is a clip, a sound bite, a meme.” Storytelling, however, invites us into the slow, arduous work of understanding.

Jesus used storytelling to teach his disciples and followers. Wisdom shared through a story is a hallmark of his teachings. Skye Jethani explains, “Jesus was not a straight talker. Instead, his stories were designed to challenge his listeners’ assumptions and surprise them with unexpected, even offensive, revelations about God and his kingdom.”

Imagine Jesus’s parables as they might appear on social media today.

A tweet declaring, “God doesn’t care if you’re good; he answers prayers because he is good,” might ruffle a few legalistic feathers. Contrast that with a compelling Twitter thread taking a different approach: story.

A vendor at the farmers’ market has a reputation for generosity and kindness. He often gives free samples and throws in an extra tomato. A mother with hungry children approaches his stand. She doesn’t have money for fresh produce. Her children eye the piles of home-grown fruits. He sees their need and considers his abundance. He calls out to her, gives each child a bag, and invites them to take what they need.

This vendor is the main character in this story thread, just as God is the main character in Jesus’s parable of the neighbor who shares food in Luke 11:1-8. We learn about God through Jesus’s story. He is kind and generous, not because we are good, but because he is God.

A social justice headline like “Protestants and other faith groups join Catholics in helping immigrants at the border” might (and did) elicit polarizing comments about illegal immigration, the need for immigration reform, and Christian practices. Somewhere between the headline and the comments, the idea of loving God and loving your neighbor got lost.

Jesus used storytelling to express the core theme of loving God and loving your neighbor. He told the rich young ruler about a Samaritan traveler who aids a Jewish man lying injured in a ditch (Luke 10:25-37). Jesus’s story shows us that loving our neighbor extends beyond our neighborhood, beyond the borders of our country, and beyond the confines of our religion.

Stories are the currency of understanding. Through them, we can explore the nuances of a complex topic. Like Jesus’s parables, they invite us to sit in the discomfort, feel what others feel, and reconsider long-held assumptions or beliefs.

Healing our cultural divides will be a slow, arduous journey—a journey toward understanding that we must all walk together. Before forming an opinion, taking a side, or typing a comment, dive into the story behind the headline. Seek out the perspective of the person who shared that meme. Tell your own story so others might understand your heart better.

Father, help us to listen to the stories before we react to the premise. Give us ears to hear the other side and the courage to share our perspectives through our stories. Open our hearts to the story you are writing as your kingdom comes and your will is done. Amen.

Scripture for Reflection

The disciples came to him and asked, “Why do you speak to the people in parables?” He replied, “Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. Whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. This is why I speak to them in parables: “Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand.” (Matt. 13:1-13 NIV)

Reach for More

Do you have a strong opinion about a hot topic? Seek out a story from the other side. Find a novel written from the opposing point of view. Listen to the reason a friend or family member feels strongly about their side of the issue. Get your news from a different new outlet for a few days. Listen with soft ears and challenge your own assumptions.

Kelly Smith is a small town girl who married a small town man. They have three children. In the quiet minutes of her day, you will find her at the keyboard or curled up with a book–always with coffee. Kelly believes we are created for community and loves to find ways to connect with other women who are walking in the shadow of the cross. She blogs at mrsdisciple.com.

Photograph © Patrick Tomasso, used with permission