THE FACTS OR THE STORY?

FACTS ARE SEEMINGLY FACTS. THERE SHOULD BE SOME WAY TO BACK THEM UP. BE IT SCIENTIFIC, OR HISTORICAL, SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE THERE THAT CAN BE RELIED ON. THE STORY OF JESUS' LIFE WOULD NOT QUALIFY BY MOST ACCEPTABLE STANDARDS AS FACTUAL. IT IS A NARRATIVE STORY USING AVAILABLE HISTORICAL REPORTING. THERE IS NO EYEWITNESS ACCOUNT OF JESUS OR HIS MINISTRY. EVERYTHING COLLECTED ARE STORIES ABOUT JESUS FROM OTHERS. THIS INCLUDES THE GOSPEL WRITERS. THEY ARE CONCERNED ABOUT JESUS AND HIS LIFE, WITH LITTLE MENTION TO THE POLITICAL ATMOSPHERE OF THE TIME. THEY WERE WRITING FOR A COMMUNITY OF BELIEVERS THAT THEY WERE HOPING TO GATHER. LITTLE ATTENTION IS PLACED ON THE GROWING TENSION BETWEEN JESUS, THE JEWISH COMMUNITY, AND THE ROMAN GOVERNMENT, IN A SETTING MUCH MORE CONDUCIVE TO JESUS' APOCALYPTIC CHALLENGE OF ACCEPTING A GOD OF COMPASSION AND CARING, WHILE NOT DISMISSING THE CHALLENGE OF BEING AN ACTIVE SEEKER OF JUSTICE.
FACTS CAN BE DISCUSSED IN AN ENDLESS PROCLAMATION OF WHO'S RIGHT AND WHO'S WRONG. THE FINAL LINE WOULD NEVER BE SETTLED. BUT THE NARRATIVE STORY PUTS US IN TOUCH WITH EVERYDAY PEOPLE LIKE OURSELVES. IT ASKS US HOW WE WOULD LIKE TO BE TREATED; HOW WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE OUR CHILDREN BE ABLE TO IMPROVE THEIR LIVES; THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO BE TREATED FAIRLY BY THE GOVERNMENT AND OUR NEIGHBORS; THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO BE HEALED BOTH PHYSICALLY AND SPIRITUALLY; THAT EACH OF US SHOULD BE TREATED WITH JUSTICE, COMPASSION, AND EQUALITY. PERHAPS DETAILING JESUS' LIFE IS NOT THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF THE STORY. IN THESE TIMES, WHERE RELIGION IS BEING USED TO PROMOTE FURTHER DIVIDE BETWEEN THE HAVE'S AND THE HAVE NOT'S, PERHAPS IT IS THE POLITICAL JESUS THAT SHOULD GIVE US THE MOST HOPE. PERHAPS FOR EACH OF US, AND THE CHRISTIAN  COMMUNITY, WHAT IS MOST IMPORTANT IS HOW JESUS MAKES US FEEL INSIDE ABOUT WHO WE ARE AND HOW WE WANT GOD AND JESUS TO INFLUENCE OUR LIVES ON A DAILY BASIS. MAYBE IT IS NOT THE DETAILS WE SHOULD BE CONCERNED WITH, BUT THE HOPE THAT THE STORY GIVES US.