A Tale of Two Stories

Our perception of reality is influenced by and cannot occur apart from (1) the effect of all our
experiences (preunderstandings) and our (2) decisions, both conscious and unconscious, about
reality (presuppositions).

In a similar way, understanding a text is controlled by the text’s genre and context. We all use
different rules to interpret different genres, whether personal letters, poetry, or newspaper
articles. In addition, one cannot adequately understand a text without knowing its context, both
the specific purpose for which an author created the text (historical context) and the text’s place
within a larger literary unit (literary context).

This comparison between reality and texts suggests that we may view reality as a kind of text.
Texts have objective meaning that exists apart from our accurate knowledge of it. Likewise,
reality has objective meaning that exists apart from our accurate knowledge of it. The knowledge
we do have of reality is controlled by our interpretation or perception of it. And this perception is
a product of our preunderstandings and presuppositions.

Furthermore, it is helpful to think of our perception of reality itself as a text, a story. This story is
the reality in which one lives and by which one interprets reality. Though this reality, this story,
is analogous to objective reality, it is not the same as objective reality—it is one’s perception of
reality, your story.

To illustrate: Why do different people (e.g., a husband and wife!) and different people-groups
interpret the same facts differently? Ignorance? Sin? Different stories?

Our stories do not function in isolation, but are part of longer stories. These longer stories,
especially their characters, shape and transform our stories, primarily through their actions, their
example. The characters in the stories closest to our own story have the most influence over our
story. For most people, these characters are one’s parents.

My civilization’s story
(The West)

My nation’s story
(USA)

My region’s story
(NW Wis)

My families’ stories
(Millimans and Sentys)

My parents’ stories
(Warren and Marge)

My story

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When we become a believer, our story becomes part of a new set of stories which influence our
perceptions.

God’s story in Christ

(Israel, the Christ, and His Kingdom)

Christ’s followers’ story

(The early church)

Your denomination’s story

(Anabaptists/Mennonites)

Your church’s story

(Southside Mennonite)

Your closest friends’

and mentors’ stories

Your story

Just like the case with the other set of stories, the longer stories, especially their characters, shape
and transform our stories, primarily through their actions, their example. The characters in the
stories closest to our own have the most influence over our story. For most people, these
characters are those in their new family, the local body of believers, especially one’s closest
friends and mentors. Therefore, the members of this new family must follow the believer’s
ultimate example, the main character of the main, overarching story, Jesus Christ.

Peter taught this truth by writing that Christ left us an example that we should follow in his steps
(1 Peter 2:21). Paul likewise wrote, “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ”
(1Cor 11:1). Furthermore, Paul taught that the most outstanding “good deed” or example of faith
and discipleship in the local assembly, the overseer of the family of God (1 Tim 3:1, 15), must
exhibit the character of an exemplary parent (1 Tim 3:2-7, Titus 1:5-9).

Living in these two sets of stories is never easy. The Christian life may be viewed as a journey
during which these two sets of stories vie for the believer’s allegiance. Therefore, those believers
closest to this traveler must practice those corporate disciplines of instruction and guidance that
will nourish the fellow believer’s faith, that is, his or her allegiance to Christ. And the
effectiveness of this instruction and guidance will depend to a large extent upon nourishing one’s
own allegiance to Christ by practicing disciplines such as meditation, prayer, praise, and those
that typify a disciple of Jesus Christ.

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