The elements of a good story
Let’s take Adam and Eve, Genesis 2 and 3, as an example of a good story.
Characters
Every writer knows that a good story has to have certain elements. It has to have characters that we understand. It’s even better if we identify with them. If we can understand Adam and Eve, the story is good. If we identify with Adam and Eve — if we see ourselves in them — then it’s an even better story.
Conflict
And a story needs to have conflict. There has to be something not right that needs to be resolved.
Happy ending
And a really good story has a happy ending. A lesson learned. A life improved. An enemy defeated.
Unfortunately, the story of Adam and Eve doesn’t have a happy ending — not in Genesis. It’s a sad story where the “hero” and “heroine” make a mistake — a mistake that we can all identify with — I mean, who here wouldn’t have sinned just as they did?
And so they make a mistake and lose eternal life, they lose the privilege of walking in the Garden with God in the cool of the morning. They lose their innocence. They lose the ability to be naked and feel no shame. (I figure they started to age, they began to look their age, and suddenly fig leaves weren’t nearly good enough — and in his grace, God gave them clothes — but only you older members of the class will understand what I mean).
What kind of story doesn’t have a happy ending? Well, in this case, a story where we lose patience and figure the story ends in Genesis 3 when God kicks them out of the Garden. But if we see the story as stretching for thousands of years — until the coming of Jesus — and even better, until the Second Coming, then we find a happy ending — the kind of ending only God can provide.
Of course, while we identify the most with Adam and Eve, perhaps they aren’t the heroes — protagonists. Maybe God is the hero. And if he’s a hero, the conflict he has — the problem he must solve — is how to restore relationship with Adam and Eve.
He lost intimacy with the culmination of his Creation. His very images broke. Maybe it’s not even about what mankind must do to overcome the Curse and the consequences of sin. Maybe it’s about God — the true hero of the story.
You see, it really matters whom we identify as protagonist. In fact, it changes everything. Because it’s up to the hero to sort things out.
Conflict and climax
What is the conflict we read about in Genesis 1 -3 that has to be resolved to make the story a good story? If we see God as the hero, then we must ask: What will God do to fix the corruption of the world and the brokenness of humanity resulting from sin? That’s the conflict.
And what is the “climax”? According to the Wikipedia, in a story —
The climax is the turning point, which marks a change, for the better or the worse, in the protagonist’s affairs. If the story is [not a tragedy], things will have gone badly for the protagonist [hero] up to this point; now, the plot will begin to unfold in his or her favor, often requiring the protagonist to draw on hidden inner strengths.
The climax isn’t the end of the story but the moment when things turn around and head toward the ultimate happy conclusion. Things don’t necessarily become easy. They may become even harder — but the hero realizes that his efforts will ultimately be successful if he’ll just persevere.
There may be moments when we see the climax in view. We may glimpse possibilities. But when the climax comes, we finally know whether we’re reading a tragedy or a story with a happy ending.
Well, Adam and Eve were given the rule of the earth (Gen 1:26-28). They lost it, but God gives it back through Jesus. We don’t yet have the fullness of the rule of the earth. That comes later. But we are made responsible for the earth, knowing that in the end, the good, redeemed parts of what we do will survive —
(1Co 3:10-15 NET) 10 According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master-builder I laid a foundation, but someone else builds on it. And each one must be careful how he builds. 11 For no one can lay any foundation other than what is being laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 If anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, or straw, 13 each builder’s work will be plainly seen, for the Day will make it clear, because it will be revealed by fire. And the fire will test what kind of work each has done. 14 If what someone has built survives, he will receive a reward. 15 If someone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss. He himself will be saved, but only as through fire.
Adam and Eve were united as husband and wife, one flesh — in a perfect union in which God completed Adam by making Eve for him. But because of sin, marriage became difficult and broken by sin. But God heals marriages through Jesus. Marriage is still hard work, but we know that Jesus gives us what we need to make it work.
“Adam” means man, and Adam and Eve were equals. God made Eve from Adam’s rib — not his head to rule over him or his foot to be walked on by him, but his rib to be his companion.
God calls Eve Adam’s “suitable helper.” In English, “helper” implies inferiority, but in Hebrew, the word almost always refers to God as Israel’s helper. There is nothing in “suitable helper” implying inferiority!
There’s not a hint of male domination over Eve — just unity — until sin enters the world. And Jesus takes away the curse of sin and restores both male and female to God’s created order.
(Gal 3:28 ESV) There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.[1]
Of course, the world continues to treat men better than women, but we know the direction of God’s redemptive work. We know that we’re headed toward a world in which the created order will be restored.
Adam and Eve lived in perfect harmony with God, walking and talking with him in total communion, with no separation. But God heals our separation from him in Jesus — allowing us to call God “Abba, Father.”
Again, we sometimes feel separated from God. There are times we draw away. We struggle to feel close to such a perfect being. But we now know that it can happen and does happen. We know to persevere as we seek union with God.
The coming of Jesus 2,000 years ago is just the climax — the turning point — when we know things begin to change, when things begin to get better. But it’s not the denouement — the conclusion of the story. Rather, it’s the moment when we know there’s going to be a happy ending, that sin will be defeated and that our brokenness will finally be healed.
[to be continued]
[1] “Male and female” is an exact quote from Gen 1:27 —
(Gen 1:27 ESV) So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.
It’s hard to imagine why Paul would specifically negate the created order of male and female, declared in Genesis to be in the “image of God.” The likely reason is that the Jewish rabbis considered only the male to be in God’s image, because only the male could be circumcised — and Galatians is all about circumcision. To be a Jew, a male must be circumcised, and the Jews reasoned that this placed the man in God’s image, because otherwise changing the flesh from its created form would be to mar the very image of God. Hence, only the male is in God’s image.
Paul declares that circumcision is no longer required to be pleasing to God, thus removing the distinction between male and female imagined by the Jews and clearly showing that God considers both male and female to be in his image — worthy of equal honor. Both are baptized. Both are transformed into the image of Jesus.
Thus, Paul rejects the traditional sense of “male and female” as “male (in God’s image) and female (not so much).” Both are equally image bearers, with the brokenness of both redeemed in Jesus.
This story has both male and female equal since the time of Jesus Christ on earth. I see that there are still many ways in which the sexes are different, with each suited for their differing roles. Mothers are not fathers, even if sometimes they have to be the breadwinners for the family. Fathers cannot possibly BE mothers regardless of some male couples (homosexual) who attempt to form families. It simply is not true that both sexes are alike. It’s still best if the male is the “head” of the household, the breadwinner while the female cares for the children and “keeps house.”
To pronounce that both are identical and interchangeable is easy. In practice, we note differences which are continuing regardless of our words. In church leadership, I note that the apostle Paul urges that HUSBANDS of one wife be selected as elders of the congregation. Was he wrong? I note that Jesus selected males as apostles. Was he wrong? Those are saying Jesus and Paul were wrong when they suggest that the sexes are equally strong and equally capable of managing a home and caring for the young.
Men are not women, and women are not men. God recognized the differences. Jesus recognized the differences and chose men to be his apostles. The apostles recognized the differences and call for MEN to be elected as leader/teachers in each congregation. When there are no men qualified to serve as leader/teachers in any group, then women have to do what they have to do. If there ARE men able and willing to serve, should not the men be selected as leader/teachers in any congregation?
I observe that women are NOT men and men are NOT women. We do not do well to get confused in recognizing the differences.
As I believe Paul is speakjng spiritually Paul does indeed breakdown all boundaries between people. In Jesus we are all one and the rules of the flesh don’t apply, but while in the flesh we must use our differences to god’s glory. The order as mentioned in I cor.11 applies God to Jesus, Jesus to man and man to woman in headship and this headship was to be reflected by a covering by a woman while praying or prophecying and no covering by a man, as these are two methods of communication between us and God. Beyond this though man and woman are equals in Jesus when God receives our hearts and soul. Men may know more scripture (usually) and Law, but woman understand more (usually) of the love and compassion. There is much we can learn from each other.
“Men may know more scripture (usually) and Law, but woman understand more (usually) of the love and compassion.”
This is a very poor misconception that some people have who think women don’t have good knowledge of Scriptures and men don’t have compassion.
Women study the Bible just as much if not more so than a lot of men and have just as much if not more knowledge of Scripture as men. And whether you are a man or a woman, anyone who has the Holy Spirit knows the love and compassion that we pour out on others comes from God.
The young people in our small town benefited more from the teaching and example of a woman than from all the “church activities” planned by our male elders. The elders wouldn’t let this woman teach any Bible School class except the old women, but she found ways to bless and encourage all the youth of the church and their friends, of necessity apart from the church, but for Christ just the same. She opened here home to a mid-week meeting open to all young people and with the teaching actually done by a popular young man who was coached by the lady.
The youth influenced by this Christian lady included several who went on to become preachers and teachers of the Bible. One is now leading a mission to Indians in a Western state. Another has retired after teaching in a Bible college. And I keep busy trying to speak up for Jesus in publications and on the internet. I also am blessed by being able to provide transportation for several ladies who live at Spring River Christian Village in Joplin on Sunday and Wednesday evenings for Christian Bible study at neighboring churches.
Lately I have heard the sermons of some women in the cofC who have a very good knowledge of the scripture (law) and have compassion. I believe The comment to the contrary is out of line. Some of the male ministers would do well to learn from the women. It is a good thing when the two genders can learn from each other.
Grace, I think you missed my point. I didn’t say that many women aren’t knowledgable, but it is usually the men who press the point of knowldege past the points of love and compassion that men aren’t well known for. I would like to think I am compassionate, but my wife is more and though my wife knows a lot, I study the Bible much more than she does. We share in the things that we lack. My wife does do some Bible study though, but most of it doesn’t regard laws and countless hours of study, but rather story content as she converts it into a childrens bible study. Men and women think differently so we often pull different things from the scriptures and these are our gifts to each other.
I was making a general statement to be sure due to what I have seen for the time I have been alive in general, but this doesn’t mean everyone is like this, afterall Jesus was a man and very compassionate. It was just a general observation and not meant to be a hard fast rule to demean.
Notice I did say “usually”
A smart man asks his wife for answers and values her opinion.
Most women have far more heart than men.
Jesus didn’t have one as an apostle if our interpretation is correct, but women were first at His grave.
And a woman announced to the rest that “he is risen.” That might make her the first preacher or missionary.
And Anna the Prophetess told anyone(co-ed) who assembled at the temple about the baby Jesus during his circumcision!
And Deborah, Judge of Israel, was one tough military strategist who had men fighting under her lead.
That was just because back then they had no baby showers or potlucks for Deborah to organize… 😉
Perspective is good thing. When I married my wife she was, even though raised in a conservative coc, not opposed to instrumental music, but I who had read and studied was very opposed to it and I had my scriptures in a row. Years have gone by and I have come around to the the fact God allowed free-will worship along side of commanded worship and God did once command and freely allow instrumental worship and that God never un-commanded it. I had made instrumental music sinful, despite God not making it sinful. I have now come around to where my wife initially was which was done by my studying, but she had already understood this without much studying.
Many of us beleive growing in knowledge is to collect knowledge, but I think growing in knowledge is not neccessarily gaining more knowledge, but growing in the knowledge we have. We often have enough, but use it poorly.
Good for Dwight who has realized that the anti-instrument law is totally foreign to the Way of Christ. It’s of HUMAN origin, totally opposed to the unity desired by Jesus for His people. I grew up enjoying accompaniment to spiritual songs. Many of our “instrumental” churches now have replaced the piano and organ instruments with a guitar or band, and that’s replacing help with a show which when good calls for clapping by the viewers. And the children’s songs (three-word couplets) which have replaced mature thoughtful HYMNS are a disgrace to the church of God.
I wonder if any churches among the CC/CC have opted to include an acappella service like the progressive Churches of Christ have adopted an instrumental one?
I’m a member of Christian Churches who generally use that name in preference to Churches of Christ. And I have to report that I know of only one church in this area which even uses hymns now.
We have two mega-churches (2500 or more in usual attendance) and a dozen smaller congregations in this area. Most have gone to overhead projectors (words only) and a band leading the “singing.”
The church in which I’m a member decided over a year ago to quit using piano accompaniment to hymns and instead hired a guitarist to lead in what I call children’s choruses. Three word couplets instead of sentences sung. So it’s a treat to attend an anti-instrument church where HYMNALS are used.
And I’m blessed to be able to join with others at the apartment house where I live twice a month in singing a-cappella hymns. I’ve prepared song sheets of well-known hymns enlarged to fill an 8.5 x 11-inch sheet and staple the booklets together with the hymns arranged alphabetically by title, so a small group of us sing together without accompaniment. Since we’re individuals rather than a church, that doesn’t count.
Until a few weeks ago, for more than 13 years each Sunday and Wednesday afternoon (evening) just after supper until church time I led an a-cappella hymn sing at Joplin’s Spring River Christian Village with anywhere from 12 to 22 attending. We used a hymnal and each singer selected a hymn which we all then sang. But only one Christian Church in the area to my knowledge still uses hymnals and avoids guitar and band accompaniment.