I'm reading Brian McLaren's book,
The Secret Message of Jesus: Uncovering the Truth that Could Change Everything (W Publishing, 2006). Some in evangelical circles have identified McLaren as a heritic. Some believe he's on to something with his "off the chart" thinking. I haven't made up my mind yet.
I read thought-provoking authors so that I can think. So that I'm challenged, so that I grow. Just because I read a certain author doesn't mean I agree with everything that flows from their keyboard.
One nugget in this book is the following quote:
"Why did Jessus speak in parables? Why was he subtle, indirect, and secretive? Because his message wasn't merely aimed at conveying information. It sought to precipitate something more iportant: the spiritual transformation of the hearers. The form of a parable helps to shape aheart that is willing to enter an ongoing, interactive, persistent relationship of trust in the teacher. It beckon the hearer to explore new territory. It helps form a heart that is humble enough to admit it doesn't already understand and is thirsty enough to ask questions. In other words, a parable renders its hearers not as experts, not as know-it-alls, not as scholars...but as children." (pg. 46)
Something about that description intrigues me as I think about our teaching style with sacrificial servants in restricted access countries. We have readily identified that most of these leaders are oral learners, and prefer story-centered learning.
But the challenge of McLaren suggests that Jesus was intentional in using parable to fill hungry hearts.
Pray for us that our methodology continue to improve in order to fill the hungry hearts of pastors and church leaders with the truth of the Word of God.
Thanks for taking this journey with us!
David
