The Cotton Patch Gospel – Don’t Miss the Message Amongst the Mumblings
par·a·ble –noun -
1. a short allegorical story designed to illustrate or teach some truth, religious principle, or moral lesson.
2. a statement or comment that conveys a meaning indirectly by the use of comparison, analogy, or the like.
Wow, I’m having ”Grammar 101″ flashbacks. I loved grammar, so I’m cool with that. Had it been an Algebra flashback, I’d be banging my head through the monitor right about now. Math and I have nothing at all to say about one another that doesn’t begin and end with $%.
So, why begin a post with a definition? Because I want everyone to keep this definition in mind for a minute. Jesus used parables often. Remember the good Samaritan? He knew that people understood and remembered stories. Since he was very much interested in His teachings being understood and remembered, He utilized parables quite often.
On a much, much, lesser scale – I homeschooled our three daughters. When they were in the early elementary school grades, we read extensively about the Civil War. When it was time to learn all about the Underground Railroad, one morning (while they were sleeping), I went through the house and set up “Safe Houses” – in hidden places (behind the couch, under a desk, inside an entertainment center, etc.). Fortunately, they had a great abundance of Barbies and those (combined with my own collection of Gone With the Wind dolls) made up our brave residents and bold travellers, while a few of the Ken dolls “got” to be the villains giving chase.
My Girls, our cats, and I had a ball! Years later, they still talk about our Underground Railroad. Most importantly, they learned more about this period of time than they would have just by reading or listening to me. We used this same technique throughout our years of homeschooling (though not always with barbies!).
People understand what they’re familiar with better than what they’re told. If you put a story “on their level,” using situations they’re familiar with, they simply “get it” better.
Jesus used situations, characters, and settings that his listeners would not only relate to but that people would remember for years to come. Was it effective?
What was your answer earlier when I asked you if you remembered the Good Samaritan?
The Cotton Patch Gospel begins it’s run this season today. In the past it has proven to be controversial. People apparently even got up to leave during the show. I’m not one to pass judgement on anyone (never have, never will), but how can you ever truly make your mind up about something unless you hear the whole story. Bearing in mind that it is a story, in the first place.
The Cotton Patch Gospel is a fictional retelling of the Greatest Non-fictional story ever told. A parable acted out, if you will. The writers have taken “Jesus” and brought Him to a present day setting – in the south. The idea was for people to be entertained and enlightened at the same time.
If the story sparks interest in just one person out of the thousands to ever see it, and if this one person picks up the Bible to read more about our savior, Jesus Christ - can’t we all agree that it would have been MORE than worth it?
I’ll personally be seeing the production this weekend – the whole production (wink). Im expecting to be entertained, I’m expecting to laugh, and I’m expecting to be touched by the story. I’m not expecting a word for word production taken straight from the Bible. (If that were the case, it wouldn’t be set anywhere near Deep South, USA!)
I hope everyone who sees this story will go in with an open mind and out (at the end) with a full heart. Click HERE for the schedule – and if you haven’t seen the Variety show, yet, make plans to see it as well! You can find my review for this energetic, amazing show by clicking the link .
Finally, click the blue arrow for an audio about the controversy surrounding The Cotton Patch Gospel.
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