Storytelling is potent. The stories we tell shape the way we live. Our Father feeds us, each week, with an edible story. Like the bard around an ancient king’s table would recount victories of past battles, we recount here the true myth. The promised Hero came, unlooked for, locked Himself in battle with the evil prince of darkness, and set the damsel free.
This story shapes us. It isn’t just for entertainment purposes that we retell this story each week. Rather, this story is our story. It’s the story of who we are. We are, corporately, the rescued damsel. We are the delivered slaves. We are the befriended enemies. We are the orphan children adopted by the good & gracious king.
Retelling this true myth brings light for the darkness of our individual story. Christ died in your stead, so fear not. Christ arose, so rejoice. Christ ascended, so begone unbelief. Christ sent the Comforter, so walk in His light. But this can only be your story, if you first realize that you aren’t the main character. This is the story of Christ, who brought us into His story and made His story our story.
Pagan cultures have spun their own stories, and we see it reflected in their architecture, art, and accomplishments. Their stories tell of capricious god-lings, vengeful deities, or–worst of all–stories with no divine at all, just the grinding gears of time & chance. The tales of paganism lead to despair, depravity, and starvation.
The story we retell here each week brings certitude, holiness, and nourishment. It compels us to live out our story in accordance with this story. The story told here is that the God-man died in your stead, so go take up your cross and die in order to truly live. That’s the only story worth telling and living.
So come in faith and welcome to Jesus Christ…
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