In the first chapter of his last published book, Who Gets to Narrate the World? (Downers Grove, Illinois: InterVarsity Press, 2008), the late Dr. Robert E. Webber shared the following story:
I was traveling on a plane from San Francisco to Los Angeles a few years ago. I was sitting next to the window, reading a Christian book. The man next to me, obviously from the Eastern hemisphere, asked, "Are you a religious man?" "Well, yes," I said. "I am too," he responded.
We began talking about religion. In the middle of the conversation I asked, "Can you give me a one-liner that captures the essence of your faith?" "Well, yes," he said. "We are all part of the problem, and we are all part of the solution."
We talked about his one-liner, a statement I felt was very helpful. After a while I said, "Would you like a one-liner that captures the Christian faith?" "Sure," he responded.
"We are all part of the problem, but there is only one man who is the solution. His name is Jesus!"
Dr. Webber goes on to assert that those of us who are Christians must never grow weary of sharing God’s narrative. Simply put: that is our job! We must jump at every opportunity we are given, therefore, to share this narrative. If we fail to do so, others will increasingly not hear such a narrative in a world where so many other competing narratives are now vying for the world’s attention.
Do not be confused by the word “narrative” here. Dr. Webber simply means God’s story of redemption in Jesus Christ as recorded in the Bible. So then, the questions remain… If not here, then where? If not now, then when? If not us, then who?
If we do not tell the world God’s story of Jesus right here, then where will His story ever be told?! If we do not tell the world God’s story of Jesus right now, then when will His story ever be told?! If we do not tell the world God’s story of Jesus, then who will ever tell His story?!
Dr. Webber was right. Tell the story we must! Right here! Right now! With every opportunity that God gives us!
SOURCE: Robert Webber, Who Gets to Narrate the World? (Downers Grove, Illinois: InterVarsity Press, 2008), p. 26.
Robert E. Webber earned his ThD from Concordia Theological Seminary. For years, he served as Myers Professor of Ministry at Northern Seminary in Illinois. He founded the Institute for Worship Studies. He was also the author of many books, including Common Roots, Evangelicals on the Canterbury Trail, Ancient-Future Faith, Together We Worship, and Listening to the Beliefs of Emergent Churches.
NOTE: The first couple of chapters to this convicting book are available on www.amazon.com. They are well worth the short read.
I was traveling on a plane from San Francisco to Los Angeles a few years ago. I was sitting next to the window, reading a Christian book. The man next to me, obviously from the Eastern hemisphere, asked, "Are you a religious man?" "Well, yes," I said. "I am too," he responded.
We began talking about religion. In the middle of the conversation I asked, "Can you give me a one-liner that captures the essence of your faith?" "Well, yes," he said. "We are all part of the problem, and we are all part of the solution."
We talked about his one-liner, a statement I felt was very helpful. After a while I said, "Would you like a one-liner that captures the Christian faith?" "Sure," he responded.
"We are all part of the problem, but there is only one man who is the solution. His name is Jesus!"
Dr. Webber goes on to assert that those of us who are Christians must never grow weary of sharing God’s narrative. Simply put: that is our job! We must jump at every opportunity we are given, therefore, to share this narrative. If we fail to do so, others will increasingly not hear such a narrative in a world where so many other competing narratives are now vying for the world’s attention.
Do not be confused by the word “narrative” here. Dr. Webber simply means God’s story of redemption in Jesus Christ as recorded in the Bible. So then, the questions remain… If not here, then where? If not now, then when? If not us, then who?
If we do not tell the world God’s story of Jesus right here, then where will His story ever be told?! If we do not tell the world God’s story of Jesus right now, then when will His story ever be told?! If we do not tell the world God’s story of Jesus, then who will ever tell His story?!
Dr. Webber was right. Tell the story we must! Right here! Right now! With every opportunity that God gives us!
SOURCE: Robert Webber, Who Gets to Narrate the World? (Downers Grove, Illinois: InterVarsity Press, 2008), p. 26.
Robert E. Webber earned his ThD from Concordia Theological Seminary. For years, he served as Myers Professor of Ministry at Northern Seminary in Illinois. He founded the Institute for Worship Studies. He was also the author of many books, including Common Roots, Evangelicals on the Canterbury Trail, Ancient-Future Faith, Together We Worship, and Listening to the Beliefs of Emergent Churches.
NOTE: The first couple of chapters to this convicting book are available on www.amazon.com. They are well worth the short read.