Comments on: The Poisonwood Bible

By: timgombis

timgombis — Mon, 20 Aug 2012 14:26:14 +0000

The novel is indeed saturated in wisdom, S. It might even be called a wisdom tale, quite honestly.

By: S Wu

S Wu — Mon, 20 Aug 2012 14:10:10 +0000

Tim, I really appreciate what you’ve said in this post and in the comments. The conversation reminds me of the stories and wisdom literature in the Old Testament. The narratives in the OT do not hide human failures. The psalmists lament and protest. So does Job. Yet in all these God’s grace abounds. His redemptive purpose is found in Christ.

By: timgombis

timgombis — Mon, 20 Aug 2012 13:32:33 +0000

It seems to me that when we familiarize ourselves with good literature, good films, good art, we see that they contain trajectories that truthfully and truly render life as it is. It that such truth-telling resonates with anyone and everyone who is honest and seriously wants to understand ultimate realities.

By: timgombis

timgombis — Mon, 20 Aug 2012 13:30:30 +0000

I agree, Joey. Good sermons aren’t ‘preachy’, but rather open up aspects of life and cast a hopeful vision that fires gospel-oriented imaginations to see where redemptive pathways lie.

By: timgombis

timgombis — Mon, 20 Aug 2012 12:01:01 +0000

We all construct a god after ourselves and he usually operates according to an economics of merit and ‘get-what-you-pay-for’. It is one of the hardest things to do to let God be God, the radically ‘other’ God whose economy of grace is something it takes a lifetime to get used to.

By: joey

joey — Mon, 20 Aug 2012 10:27:09 +0000

“Good stories don’t necessarily teach tidy lessons. Lame stories and sermons do that.”
So true. The best sermons I hear don’t have a set of “take-home applications.” Rather, they are heart-shaping narratives.

By: Kelly

Kelly — Mon, 20 Aug 2012 03:38:34 +0000

As a woman, there have been times when I regret the fact that the tradition I was brought up in kept me from pursuing “full-time ministry.” But then I think back on some of the ridiculously beautiful discussions I’ve had with high school students over literature. Good stories, or any good art, I suppose, reveals the things of God like nothing else can.

By: LW

LW — Sun, 19 Aug 2012 23:05:20 +0000

Thank you for posting. I needed the reminder of the last paragraph. I am so guilty of thinking I went to church x number of times this week, did this for God, studied that in the Bible, etc. and then wonder why bad things happen when I have been so good.