Do you ever finish a book and just sit there, sort of shell shocked by the way the author built the intricate world, developed an unpredictable plot, and made that tiny, seemingly insignificant detail from chapter one somehow the answer to everything? I like to joke that if a book leaves you pondering your entire existence for days afterwards, the author has succeeded.
If you’ve ever taken up the challenging task of writing a story (whether that be a novel or short form) you know the agony and joy the process brings. Crafting a well-written story with depth, detail, and good development takes talent and skill. We know when we’ve read a good book because the world the author has built blows us away with its complexities and characters; the plot and themes function flawlessly. We sit back and say, “Wow. What a story.”
I remember the first time I sat back after seeing the brilliance of God’s storytelling in the grand narrative of Scripture. I was at summer camp, and the speaker had traced the theme of redemption from Genesis all the way to Revelation. I was in awe of the fact that the canon of Scripture was written by individual authors, with unique genres and audiences, yet it flowed together so cohesively, all organized by the hand of Almighty God. All I could say was, “Wow. What a story.”
I don’t think we pause long enough to see the absolute genius of our Creator God. All of our storytelling is a dim mirror, reflecting the absolute splendor and perfection of the greatest Storyteller there ever was. God would automatically win a Nobel Prize. No competitors would even have a chance at rivaling His creative genius in the grand story that ultimately accomplished our salvation and holds our hope for coming redemption.
Our storytelling not only reflects the great Creator, but the creativity of the Son. Jesus was a Master Storyteller. He told over thirty stories recorded in Scripture, and I think it’s safe to assume there are many others that were never written down. He wove together stories with meaning and purpose to challenge His audience and help them see themselves in a different light. His stories were full of intention. Jesus used storytelling as an effective tool to communicate and reach His audience in a way that being straightforward probably wouldn’t have accomplished. His stories communicated truth through a medium of grace.
Stories have immense power. They draw people in and transport them to worlds and places they’ve never stepped foot. It’s always fascinated me that we never grow out of stories. We read picture books to children, and as adults, we read novels and the news. We sit around dinner tables and tell stories from our day or funny moments from work. Stories captivate us. They engage us and grab our attention. We pause in a public setting to eavesdrop on the interesting story shared by a random stranger next to us. Stories draw us in. They pull us with a gravity we can’t always explain outside of the fact that our partiality to story reflects a God who also loves story.
God has been using stories to communicate spiritual truth for years, and He continues to use stories today. I recently read Byzantium by Stephen Lawhead at the recommendation of a friend who said it made him cry. I was sold. What’s better than a book that makes you cry? I got my hands on a copy as soon as I could, eager for a story that would hit my heart.
My expectations were beyond met. I teared up several times as I followed the character of Aiden and his adventure across the seas. This Irish monk, so confident in what he would accomplish for God, is slowly unraveled as he encounters the brokenness of the world. His initially unwavering faith is challenged, and eventually, he decides that even if God exists, He isn’t one Aiden wants to know. I sobbed through the last two chapters as Aiden’s hardness of heart is softened as he realizes God’s good character and the truth of the Gospel.
Lawhead chose to write his book in first person, which gives the reader a front row seat to the tumult in Aiden’s heart and mind. What hit me while reading was how human Aiden was. His thoughts were so real. His thoughts were relatable and could very well have been my own. I, along with Aiden, found myself challenged by truth. Lawhead had taken me on a beautiful spiritual journey by telling a story that allowed me to see myself.
Stories hold a great power for spiritual impact and are a beautiful way of sharing truth. You and I are fashioned after the likeness of this great storyteller God; intentionally designed and created, shaped and molded, in the image of the greatest Storyteller there ever was. We are hardwired for stories.
After finishing the book, I sat down, sniffling and wet with tears. All I could say was, “Wow. What a story!” for both Byzantium and the overwhelming beauty of God’s grand story of redemption through the Gospel.