Let Me Tell You a Story....

A few years back, a gentleman told me that he thought the Bible was just a bunch of stories and fables similar to the Grimm’s fairy tales.
“Let me tell you a story”. “Once upon a time”….”A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away”.

Maybe you have heard these before, or maybe you have said these words as you started to tell a story. Most likely we all heard these phrases in our childhood, probably around bedtime to get us relaxed and ready for a good night’s rest. (In the Curry family my Grandpa was known to tell stories anytime of the day or when he thought anyone would listen - now you know where I get it from) If the storyteller does a good job the listeners become involved in the tale. Many of these stories had some sound teaching behind them. Usually about being good and doing the right thing etc. Certainly nothing wrong with telling or listening to stories. As a child gets older they recognize them for what they are “just stories”. That is the part which can be dangerous.

In the church I have heard for years the phrase “Today, let’s look at the story of” (you fill in the blank). Maybe Noah, Moses, Joseph, the creation, Jesus’ birth, death, or resurrection. The point being made here is that children may not distinguish between the stories of bedtime and the true stories of the Bible. This may seem like nitpicking to some and that may be a legitimate argument. However, what if instead of calling them “stories” of the Bible. We called them “accounts”. Instead of saying “Let’s look at the story of Noah” we said “Let’s look at the account of Noah”.

You may be thinking that children would not know what you are talking about if you use this word. They will ask what it means. That would present an excellent opportunity to explain that the Bible is true and so we use that word instead of “story” which may or may not be true. Perhaps then when we teach them the Bible they will come to believe it and never doubt its validity.

John 17:17 "Sanctify them in the truth; Thy word is truth.”

Let’s stand for the truth of God’s Word in all we do and say.

--by Dan Curry