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June 20, 2006
Metaphors and Stories
Topics: Commentary, MysticsApprising Ministries Ken Silva provides the following quote from Brennan Manning:
So Jesus comes in the way of weakness, giving us the chance to love him and making us feel that we have something to give him. Isaiah prophesied that he would be “like a lamb led to the slaughter or a sheep before the shearers”(53:7 NAB). Jesus, who understands the human heart, allowed the image of a dumb, helpless animal to be applied to himself.In addition to Rev. Silva’s insightful remarks, I would add that the paragraph above unjustly exploits and extends the metaphor presented in Isa 53 beyond justifiable limits.
Metaphors are often used in Scripture to help the reader understand an abstract concept that might otherwise be lost or to emphasize a particular element. It is dangerous, if not completely off-base, to motivate a position using an element of a metaphor that is not supported or called out by the context.
Jesus is the Lamb of God, like a sheep lead to the slaughter… The imagery is that of a blameless sacrifice who willingly, and without protest (see Isa. 5:5), takes upon Himself the wrath of a Just and Holy God in our place. The context simply does not support the proposition that Jesus wants to be viewed as a “dumb, helpless animal” or did so for the purpose of giving us a “chance to love him.” Manning uses a novel and unsupported interpretation of the metaphor to develop a point he wants the reader to accept.
In addition, Manning is a master at building an ambiguous straw man argument on the basis of feelings the reader might have, especially those of inadequacy. The fact that the reader can identify or relate to a particular story becomes the support for the proposition espoused. The methodology appeals to the reader’s experience rather than the truth contained in God’s Word.
The fact that people make us “feel unnecessary, unneeded and reluctant to receive” has nothing to do with whether or not his teaching on Jesus is accurate.
A final thought, which I intend to flush out in the future, is the use of stories in Biblical teaching. When using a fictional or actual event to illustrate a Biblical truth, the source of authority and the fundamental revelation ought to be the Word of God. The story is used to help effectively communicate the reality that is given in the Bible.
However, some authors have turned to both stories and experience as authoritative in interpreting the Word of God. Besides the obvious problem, it should be pointed out that the author controls the story – that is, what account is presented, what details are meaningful and their application.
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Posted by calvin at June 20, 2006 12:41 PM
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