Cultural Encounters: A Journal For The Theology Of Culture Volume 14 Number 1 | Page 7
Volume 14
Number 1
2018
THE POWER OF STORY
Wm. Paul Young
What has captured our hearts if not story. Whether in song lyrics
or parables, movie scripts or tall tales told round the campfire,
family gatherings where legends are spun and bedtime rituals
where fiction reigns, poetry and prose pursue us even in the sto-
ries of our dreaming. Is it not story that gathers our attention and
lights our imagination? How many of us sat in the parking lot af-
ter a Sunday morning sermon trying to remember what was said?
If the preacher told a good story, we remember. If it was a theo-
logical concept adrift on its own merit, not so much.
Why this profound attachment to story? Personally, I believe that
it is at the heart of being human, made in the image of God. You
cannot know a person to any depth unless you spend time inside
their narrative. Every human being is a story and so each of us has
a natural affinity for story. I think this is one of the reasons that
eternity will take so long; we will spend the time to understand
how each story has been woven into our own. We will find that
thread that connects us all and it will be story.
So, rather than explore story as an intellectual exercise, worth-
while though that might be, let me instead tell you a story inside a
story and let you feel its impact for yourself.
Jesus Heals a Centurion’s Servant
When He had completed all His discourse in the hearing of
the people, He went to Capernaum.
And a centurion’s slave, who was highly regarded by him,
was sick and about to die. When he heard about Jesus, he
sent some Jewish elders asking Him to come and save the
life of his slave. When they came to Jesus, they earnestly
implored Him, saying, “He is worthy for You to grant this to
him; for he loves our nation and it was he who built us our
synagogue.” Now Jesus started on His way with them; and
when He was not far from the house, the centurion sent
Wm. Paul Young is an author and speaker who can be contact at
[email protected].
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