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In other words, the tv version isn't the full
story. Sometimes they leave out key scenes
to make the story fit.
It's sad, but that's what we do with Bible
stories. We trim and edit and
unnecessarily simplify Biblical events and principles so to run in the allotted
time or to fit what we assume is the screening capacity of our children and
even our adults.
For example, the traditional Bible story is that the
first time Jesus saw Peter and Andrew, Jesus said, "Follow Me," and
the brothers dropped everything and followed Jesus. It's a beautiful story, clear, simple, easy
to present in a short skit.
Problem is that it's not the whole except that this story has been modified and a key scene is missing.
Problem is that it's not the whole except that this story has been modified and a key scene is missing.
John 1: 40-42
tells us that John the Baptist referred Andrew to Jesus. Jesus met Andrew. Andrew brought Peter to meet Jesus, and then
Peter and Andrew went back to fishing.
While a few other disciples trailed Jesus into Nazareth and Galilee.
In Luke 5: 1-11, Jesus shrewdly commandeered Peter’s
boat to use as a floating pulpit, forcing Peter to spend hours literally
sitting under Jesus as He preached. Then
Jesus showed His power to be greater than Peter’s professional expertise by
providing a miraculous catch of
fish. Only then did Jesus ask Peter and
the other fishing disciples to “Follow Me” an become “fishers of men.”
The difference isn’t that big a deal unless a young
Christian first encounters the difference at the hands of an atheist or a
heretic who throws out the missing scene as an example of contradictions within
the Bible.
It’s not a contradiction. It’s not a conspiratorial King James
mistranslation. It’s just a missing
scene left out to make the story fit in the space allotted.
But it matters.
But it matters.
Even worse, some people like the tv version better so they fight to make it the official version.
In Luke 4, Jesus recounted the stories of Elijah and
the widow of Zarephath (from 1 Kings 17) and of Elisha and Naaman (2 Kings 5). The
traditional version of these stories moralizes that poor church members who pay
the preacher with their last dime are guaranteed prosperity and rich church
members who do exactly what the preacher says will be healed.
Jesus, however, pointed out that the full story leaves all the people in the “right” religion out of the blessing and shows God giving favor to pagans who weren’t even members in good standing. (Luke 4: 24-27)
Jesus, however, pointed out that the full story leaves all the people in the “right” religion out of the blessing and shows God giving favor to pagans who weren’t even members in good standing. (Luke 4: 24-27)
The congregation’s response to Jesus was to drag Him
out of town and try to throw Him off a cliff. (Luke 4: 28, 29)
The truth, the whole Biblical truth, does not always
make for comfortable clichés or poetic choruses in the mass choir, but we still
need to teach the whole truth.
The whole truth will make us some enemies among our
own congregations.
But we still have to tell the truth.
But we still have to tell the truth.
Cause the truth is, the tv version of the gospel is killing the church
---Anderson
T. Graves II is a writer, community organizer
and consultant for education, ministry, and rural leadership development.
Rev. Anderson T. Graves II is pastor of Hall Memorial CME Church in Montgomery, Alabama, executive director of the
Substance Abuse Youth Networking Organization (SAYNO) and director of rural leadership development for
the National Institute for Human Development (NIHD).
To hear sermons, read devotions, and learn more
about the ministry at Hall Memorial CME Church, visit www.hallmemorialcme.blogspot.com .
Mail all contributions to :
Hall Memorial CME Church
541 Seibles Road
Montgomery, AL 36116
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