Marcus writes about an earlier paradigm and an emerging paradigm that shapes our understanding of the narrative of Jesus and the meaning of Christianity. I refer to this briefly in our May eNewsletter.
The emerging paradigm Marc suggests is foundational for seeing Jesus and Christianity today. It places Jesus and the stories about him within a historical-metaphorical framework.
Historical Context of Stories about Jesus
First, it is important to recognize the social and historical context of the first century. Jesus and stories about him arose in a very specific context. These stories are about what the early communities thought about Jesus. And what they wanted others to know. To borrow from the title of Marcus’s dissertation, these stories are about how these communities dealt with “conflict, holiness, and politics.” It is also important to remember that Judaism and Christianity did not part ways until late in the first century. The struggles in the New Testament were intra-Jewish struggles.
Second, the stories in the New Testament are highly metaphorical. They point to things beyond the literal meaning of the images themselves. For instance, Jesus walking on water. Did Jesus actually walk on water? (And if so, of what hope is that for us?) Or does water represent the uncertainty of life’s terrain and its underlying chaos. Life is not terra firma. Jesus stays on top of those “waves,” if you will. He is not taken out by undertow or sneaker waves. And in this light the earlier followers could also describe Jesus as going out into deep water and stilling a stormy sea. Stories about Jesus “walking on the water” reflects something the early followers experienced in Jesus. The story understood metaphorically suggests something about Jesus’s courage, sure footedness and confidence, trust in the buoyancy of God. This story then can give us encouragement in the ebbing and flowing and turbulence of our own lives. A historical-metaphorical lens allows us to see more about what Jesus might have meant to his followers and how they experienced him.
A Metaphorical Lens to View Jesus Stories
When we begin to see through a metaphorical lens the stories about Jesus take on a different dimension. And I would say importance. Not only the miracle stories but the healing stories. We hemorrhage. Literally or metaphorically. We fail to take up our mat and walk. Literally or metaphorically. Some of us feel entombed before we are dead. Like Lazarus. Or we might appear dead but we are just sleeping. So, wake up my friends. Some of us long to see again, like Bartimaeus. Some of us have been bent over from the weight of oppression for too long and wonder if we will ever stand straight again. If these stories are about particular people then and only then they have a narrative limit. But if they are stories about us and our condition they can speak to us as long as we live.
The Meaning Behind the Stories
The healing and miracle stories become remarkable illustrations of how Jesus was experienced in language poetical and suggestive and full of meaning. These stories have limited importance if reduced to a single incident 2000 years ago. For followers today, these stories suggest that there is something about Jesus that can help you navigate your life, make you feel alive again, revive you when your life blood had left you, open your eyes to what really is before you, give you fortitude and inner strength you didn’t know you had. What was it about Jesus, then and even now, that evoke such experiences? Minimally, a profound compassion and empathy for the human condition, an undying presence of love and resistance, a trust in the value and beauty of life and what we can create, a strength of nerve that stands uncompromised in the face of wrongdoing and injustice. Remarkable. And he told his followers they could do likewise. We are still telling that story today. That we have in us what it takes to do likewise. This is good news.
And what about that bright star in the night sky? No need to spend hours consulting astronomical calculations of the first century to learn if that is a “true” statement. There can be a “bright star” in our “night sky” that can lead us to where we need to go. Have you known of such a star? Such a light?
And consider the lilies of the field…
Marcus and Black Elk share the same refrain about their native stories: I am not sure that it happened this way or not but I know that this story is true. Stories about Jesus are not about factuality as much as they are about meaning. Marcus makes this point again and again. And has opened our eyes and our imaginations to see Jesus and the power of our tradition from a fresh perspective.
Re-reading Miracle Stories Through a Metaphorical Lens
For those who take the “miracle” stories more literally, as Marcus would say, “Fine.” But others of us may reject those stories outright if we think we are to see them as a once in a lifetime spectacular and even supernatural event. For those of us who find miracle stories unbelievable, I would encourage you to return to those stories and read them again. With new eyes.
The Emerging Paradigm
An historical and metaphorical approach to reading stories about Jesus is crucial. It will determine how we see the content and intention of these narratives, how we see the influence and importance of Jesus, and the interconnectedness of his life and death amidst the challenges of the socio-political-religious world of his day. The emerging paradigm, the paradigm through which Marcus suggests is most faithful and most revelatory, helps us see more not less and provides a way to deepen and broaden the conversation about Christianity in the 21st century. Through such a lens, we may even see Christianity and its value as if for the first time.
Does suggesting that the Jesus stories are largely metaphorical diminish them for you? Or strengthen them? What is at stake for you either way? And how does the way you see these stories affect what you think Christianity is about?
Marianne,
The writings of Marcus helped me tremendously in my struggle to maintain my faith and continue to practice Christianity. You are a gifted writer as well and I thank you for continuing and extending his legacy through the foundation. Thanks.
Sean
Sean. Marcus had such a clear and elegant way of helping us reframe and even recategorize our Christian faith so it not only made more sense but allowed ongoing reflection. I love his categories of first hand religion (direct experience) from second hand religion (based on what someone else tells us what to believe. ) Marcus had a way of educating us so that we could think for ourselves. And trust our own experience. I am so glad he has been instrumental in your own journey. Needless to say he has been a profound influence and immeasurable gift in mine. Thanks so much for continuing the conversation,
Thanks for the information actually if we do believe in God miracles do happen. As we live in earth miracles happen in our daily life and if we just continue to pray we will be blessed in God’s grace. As we continue to read Jesus stories we tend to learn how it affects to us.
Justin. I affirm miracles do happen. If by that we mean those remarkable moments of grace and synchronicity and creativity and healing that we find ourselves participating in even as we realize we didn’t manufacture those moments. We recognize them. I don’t think miracles are Supernatural. For me that makes them unreal. I think they are experiences of Awe and Wonder, and they abound. Thanks for being part of this conversation
I continue to seek ways to better appreciate the metaphors used by the writers in the first century. Their “mediums-of-expression,” regardless of the art form, were modest at best, but what they did with what they had is the work of creative genius. The number of words in the vocabulary of their native tongue were fewer than in a condensed Webster’s Dictionary; therefore, I think it is worth considering that their use of metaphor was not so much for the purpose of being artistically clever as it was a resourceful way of expressing their experience of Jesus. Thinking of “walking on water” as a practical “medium-of-expression” facilitates my appreciation for the stories they told.
Ken, I agree metaphor is not about clever language it is about meaning….or conveying an experience in a way no didactic way can. It se me the ancients had a better understanding of metaphor and its power than we do. We tend to think metaphor is less than. For me metaphor allows a surplus of meaning. And invites interpretation. And then we participate, Thanks always, Ken.
I grew up in a fundamentalist church. My childhood and adolescence were filled with literal interpretations of scripture. I learned to be vety quiet because I found many reasons not to accept the things I was being told. The critical points for me were the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. I could not accept that God was so incapable of forgiving human error that he had to beat up his son to satisfy his anger. Then I realized that the center of the story is rooted in this persecuted Jesus who was suffering an unjust death asking God to forgive his enemies. And I realized that this event is the cosmic collision of evil and love. And love wins by forgiving and so establishing the truth that God is love. That changes the whole message and it changes lives.
A powerful interpretation of the crucifixion that rings to me. Thanks
Edwin. Thanks so much for this thoughtful response. I am struck by your take on the story. An unjust death. A just cause. And the response of Jesus in our story is to forgive…they know not what they do. Forgiveness is a powerful notion. I continue to wonder what it is really. I so appreciate your thought that loving is the antidote to betrayal and ignorance and fear. Whatever the cost. It stops the cycle of violence. Do I understand this rightly?? I am so glad you found Marcus. He helps us break gravity with those things that try to nail us down. Stay in touch.
Thank you for sending this to me via e-mail. I have no comments except to say that my personal faith journey is such that the work of Marcus J. Borg really speaks to me. So I would like to keep being on your e-mail list. Love to attend a workshop if it is ever presented in the Ottawa area of Canada.
Tony. Marcus spoke to many. And what I hear again and again is how he spoke what was already in hearts and minds. He articulated for us our own hunches and wonderment. And continues to do so. Oh Canada. Marcus loved Canada. And Canadians. He was the road scholar, But if we ever have a conference there you are on our list!! Thanks for being part of the conversation Marc so dearly engaged.
One of the most telling sayings attributed to Jesus is “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now”. For me he is telling those who acknowledge him that our limited understanding shaped by culture and realities we can only embrace within a personal and communal framework of the cosmic reality if you will, limit our embrace of revelation. What we call in the ecclesia “the historic creeds” or if you prefer “The Catholic Creeds” are examples of how we frame that understanding and how some refuse or are unable to bear any deepening of the universal reality they reflect but do not enshrine the totality of that reality.
Andrew. How true. We come up with formulations of one kind or another in an effort to clarify or unify and then absolutize them! I agree with you. We are constantly learning. For me that is the only position we can take in a world (and cosmos) constantly in flux and dynamic and evolving and mysterious. Even unfathomable. We didn’t create this. But we sure project upon it. And then our projection becomes the thing. I think Rilke has his own take on the Jesus reference, live the Questions. Maybe one day we can live the answers. Thanks again Andrew.
I do agree that we’re being collectively led towards a better sense of what God intends to say by all this… But it doesn’t take a degree in Theology to get that meaning, only the Life within us and the lives we’re living through.
Rather than trying to reduce it to “merely metaphor” we need to appreciate the meta-factuality of God sending Jesus to live a specific human life and convey some essential messages about the nature of life & our place in it as children of God.
If there’s any new perspective people need on this, it comes down to really getting what Jesus said about God loving us all. As is. And wanting to be found.
Forrest. Always good to hear from you. As you know, for me metaphor is more than not merely. And yes God loving all of us. In other words, we are all a valued part of this creation. As Tillich says we are accepted. Without condition. Unfortunately some theology suggests otherwise! And I so appreciate your tender recognition, we all long to be found. Which hints at our concern that we are not or will not be. As you know I think Jesus was one of us. And In him I hope we see something of ourselves. A capacity for trust, compassion, courage, a profound identification with all of humanity. We are all in this together. Even as some struggles we undertake alone. I sense you get this. In your soul. Keep in touch with us, Forrest, thank you again.
Forrest. I laughed out loud! No, it doesn’t take a degree in theology to get the meaning. How right you are. You have a compassionate sense and confidence that the longings of our soul will not go unrequited. And I agree Jesus life and understanding of God identifies and calls out our own compassion and confidence. Meta-factuality. Don’t know what that is. And for me metaphor is more than not merely. Always appreciate your reflections. You prompt my own. More than this space provides. Stay in touch.
Thank you for continuing Marcus Borgs thinking and theologizing. I am a “Borg-again” Christian for sure!
Joan. Well, you and I are kin. I am Borg Again too. And what was begun through Marc let us continue! Thanks for being part of this conversation. Much more to come.
Thank you and Marc for all you have endured to bring this message. So helpful to so many.
I like your site but ask that you make the font darker. Hard to read.
Joann. thanks for the suggestion to darken the font! I am advising my great webmaster. And thank you for taking the time to respond. I am struck by your phrase “all you have endured to bring this message.” For both Marcus and myself we have been lured and attracted to the story telling of both Hebrew Bible and New Testament. And the life of Jesus. The more we have explored the more we have been changed by the classic stories of our tradition and the more we have explored these stories the more they change our understanding of the stories themselves. Fair enough the undertaking requires endurance. And perhaps not surprising the endurance now seems more like a full sail.
Thank you for the communication. An absolutely wonderful read for me. And I have a hunch also for many people.
In many ways it summarises my own experience or journey. And there is i think ‘transformations’ or ‘conversions’ along the way. And I use the plural purposefully.
Sort of milestones that are only seen in reflection. Some people have not come through the ‘experience’ yet and cannot ‘name’ what has happened or is happening to them….Sometimes I think this is related also to the ‘awakenings’ in church history. Perhaps also pietism, in a very positive sense. Usually it is seen negatively. Unfortunately. It is the same in what emerged in people who ended up founding Roman Catholic Orders etc. but I am thinking out loud.
Best wishes from Queensland, Australia.
Stephen Thank you so much for your reflections I too think transformations or conversions are part of the journey. If we are too quick to settle full stop in a moment of awakening or certitude we will miss the next dance. As the Buddhist so succinctly say, nothing is permanent. That is not a sorrow. It is the way it is. As Blake says, kiss the joy as it flies. But oh how we tend to institutionalize the moment to save it. And so often in doing so we lose it. Paradox abounds. So glad to hear from you and be in touch with Queensland. I plan to visit Sydney in 2019 at the Common Dreams conference. Thanks again.