A War of Narratives: What the PCA Can Learn from NY Times Columnist David Brooks
David Brooks, an Op-Ed writer for the New York Times, has put his finger on what I believe is the problem with most disagreements today, especially those within the PCA. While at a conference that brought together Americans and moderate Arab reformers, Brooks recognized that the two groups just “passed each other without touching.” That is to say, one group was talking about X, while the other group was talking about Y, and “never the twain met or shall meet.” Why? Brooks noticed that each side “had a different narrative.” That is, they told themselves different stories to make sense of the data.
Now, narratives make sense of reality for human-beings. We use them all the time to make sense of the data that life throws at us, especially the data that we don’t quite have categories for. Thus, we tell ourselves stories in order to fit the data into categories so we can understand the world.
Within the current debates in the PCA on the New Perspective on Paul (NPP) and the Federal Vision (FV), each side of the debate has its own narrative to make sense of the data; and if each side has its own narrative, then it also has different vocabulary; and if different vocabulary, then, never the twain shall meet!
Therefore, if we (in the PCA) first recognize that we’re talking beyond each other and that each group makes sense of what’s going on by telling itself a different story, then we might (and I say, “might”) make it beyond the (narratival) impasse.
Categories: Church Government · Creeds and Confessions · Culture · Federal Vision Theology · New Perspective (NPP) · PCA
Psalm 23: A Fresh Translation in Light of the Exodus Event (Part 1)
-1 A Psalm of David
1 YHWH my shepherd! I lack nothing!
2 He will make me lie down in green pastures;
he will lead me into calm waters;
3 he will restore my life.
He will lead me on the right path
for the sake of his reputation.
4 Even though I (currently) walk through the darkest valley,
I fear no evil,
because you are with me;
your rod and staff–they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
6 Surely goodness and loving-kindness will follow me
all the days of my life
and I will dwell in the house of YHWH
my whole life long. (v. 6 follows the LXX)
Categories: Bible Translations · Biblical Studies · Doctrine of Scripture · Psalms · Theology
PROLEGOMENA: Redeemer Presbyterian Church
Sunday, April 15, 2007
Well, just in case you forgot (or wanted to forget) what today is, I’m going to remind you: Today is April 15th. And we all know what April 15th is, right? It’s the day that Jackie Robinson played his first Major League baseball game, 60 years ago, in 1947, in the borough that Rev. Matt Brown says God loves: in Brooklyn! And on that day something special happened: People who were once separated, were now brought together; something that was once exclusive, now included all; and, the barrier that once divided, was now brought down. Sound familiar? Well, if not, then let me remind you of these words from the apostle Paul.
In Galatians 3 Paul writes: “There is no longer Jew or Greek; there is no longer slave or free; there is no longer male and female, for all of you are one in Christ Jesus.”
You see, the God we come to worship this morning, the God we come to sing praises to, has made a way for all people, all people everywhere, to worship Him as His people. So, are you ready to worship Him this morning as His people, a people that includes all people? Welcome to worship!
Categories: Biblical Studies · Ethics · Galatians · PROLEGOMENA · Paul · Redeemer Presbyterian Church · World Christianity
