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Message from Pastor Larry – August 2007
Dear Saints:
In the 9th chapter of John there is a story about a blind man who was cured by Jesus. He had been blind since birth, and the prevailing belief was that it must have been the result of some sin related to himself or his family. Jesus insisted that it was the result of neither but that God's works should be revealed in him. He then healed the man.
Making a mud paste by mixing his saliva with some dirt Jesus rubbed it on the man's eyes and commanded him to wash in the Pool of Siloam, which he did, and came back seeing. Yet, the interesting part of the story is yet to come.
After he was cured there arose a debate as to whether he really was the blind man, or someone else. People began to question him about this, and he replied that he was. Not satisfied with his answer they persisted, "Then how is it that your eyes were opened?" to which he responded, "The man called Jesus made a paste, daubed my eyes with it and said to me, 'Go off and wash at Siloam'; so I went, and when I washed I gained my sight." (See John 9:1-11).
About a year ago a couple in our congregation gave me a wonderful gift in a subscription to a series of interviews on CD designed specifically for pastors. Highlighting issues that pastors would be interested in one particular set dealt with the importance of "story".
When many people will be turned off by theology or other less engaging subjects, a story will usually capture their attention. That's because we can relate to stories. We all tell stories—all the time. Our children or grandchildren may want to know what life was like growing up in the dark ages, or how we fell in love and married, or any number of things.
My mother loves to tell the story of the day she gave birth to me. "It was the hottest July 2nd in recorded history," she'll begin. "It was 104 degrees—and they didn't have air-conditioning in the hospital in those days&ldots;."
Stories convey truth in ways that are interesting and non-threatening, and this is why, I think, Jesus was so fond of telling stories. He used everyday illustrations and images to reach his listeners with his message, and so can we. Just like the blind man who told his story about how Jesus had transformed his life, so we can use story—our story—our faith experiences—as a means of sharing the good news of Christ with others.
It doesn't have to be anything profound—only genuine. There's nothing more profound than a true account of how Jesus has touched our lives in a positive way. So, the next time you're in a conversation and the circumstances call for it, try this: Plant a seed of hope by telling a story of faith—a personal story—and watch the work of God be revealed through you.
Faithfully,
Pastor Larry
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