Creation to Christ Story
Andy Smith has served in Southeast Asia since 1989. He is the International Coordinator for Evangelization with OMF International.
Several years ago I learned about Creation to Christ stories. These stories summarize the Bible. Versions range from 1 minute to 60 minutes long. I find them a wonderful way to tell others about the big story of God and how we fit in it.
I initially wrote a Creation to Christ story using ‘the purpose of life’ as its theme. Because I train people who serve in many different contexts, I have written several additional Creation to Christ stories. Each one is for a specific context. Below is a 2-minute version for honor-shame contexts. Consider trying it with your friends who were shaped by that context.
A long time ago, God made the universe. Of all that He created, people were the most special. He bestowed the highest honor on them, making them in His image.
One day, people were tempted to do disobey God. After doing the shameful deed, they became separated from Him.
More and more people were born. They, too, did shameful things. However, God chose a man and promised him, “I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you, and I will bless the whole world through your descendants.” That man believed God. In the following years, God fulfilled His promise to him.
Nevertheless, people continued to do shameful things. So, God sent them messengers. Occasionally, those messengers announced that He would send a Savior who would make it possible for people’s honor to be restored.
At the right time, God sent that Savior. His name is Jesus. He performed miracles, healed the sick, and taught with authority. Those who believed He was the Promised Savior became His followers. God gave them the right to become His children.
Others refused to believe. They had Jesus arrested and put to death. Unknown to them, God was working out His plan. He put on Jesus the shame of all people. Jesus died on their behalf. Then, to give Him the greatest honor for having done so, God raised Him from the dead.
Jesus appeared to His followers. He told them that they would receive the Spirit of God who would change them from the inside out, enabling them to become honorable.
Jesus returned to heaven. As promised, His followers received the Spirit of God who changed them from the inside out.
The same is happening today. God forgives those who believe that Jesus died for them. He removes their shame and gives them the right to become His children. His Spirit changes them from the inside out, enabling them to become honorable.
I’m one of them. I enjoy helping others have their honor restored. Is this something you and your family would be interested in?
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Very well done, the shame element makes its so direct and personal. Thanks
I find that telling the story this way also speaks deeply to me.
I just love the way you told that old and beloved story. It speaks much more to my heart. I come from South America and have been living in Asia for almost 30 years. My both cultures are shame/honor based. I just can’t wait until I can tell the Good News again to my family and friends in this new perspective. Thank you!
I often preach using this kind of language. Some long-time Christians who hear those sermons have told me how it speaks to their heart. I pray that using such language will allow you to have deeper discussions with you family and friends.
So simple and yet so profound! Thank you. Keep writing.
I appreciate an honor-shame contextualized gospel that has not redefined saving faith (i.e.,belief in Christ for eternal life) to mean faithfulness. Thank you!
These are the stories we can all tell… And I did in SEAsia in 1980s to 1992. Now I try it in The UK. We all have a story within God’s bigger story. I’ve just preached it tonight. Keep going Andy. We’d still be in SEAsia if we could have been. Meanwhile wherever we are we bring honour to Jesus as we tell His story appropriately.
I love the way these stories communicate what we believe to be the metanarrative of metanarratives and invite people into them.
Where can we get more Honor-Shame stories?
I live in Manila and would really like to use them!
Are they published in English? in Tagalog?
Thanks!
I have not published these stories. I make them available to people during training events. Several are in Tagalog. If you can call the OMF office in Quezon City and leave a message for me with your email address, I will send you what I have.
Is there a place where we can download your different versions?
I have not yet created a place. Let me talk to a friend who has a very good website on storying the Scripture. Perhaps she will be happy to post these there.
My friend has uploaded several Christ to Creation stories on her website. This link should take you to them – http://storyingthescriptures.com/creation-to-christ-stories/
I really like the way the Gospel message is given in this story. However, I worked on it a little. I would appreciate your comments on how I reworked some things. The things that I deleted are in parenthesis and the new words that I wrote are included in quotation marks, except for the quote from the Bible. I could post just how I revised the good story here, and will post it, if asked. I just wanted to try to make the whole story in the honor shame framework. I am open to other improvements as well.
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A long time ago, God made the universe. Of all that He created, people were the most special. He (bestowed) “gave” the highest honor on them, making them in His image.
One day, people were tempted to (do) disobey God. After doing (the) “a” shameful deed, they became separated from (Him)”God”.
More and more people were born. They, too, did shameful things. However, God chose a man and promised him, “I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you, and I will bless the whole world through your descendants.” That man believed God. In the following years, God fulfilled His promise to him.
Nevertheless, people continued to do shameful things. So, God sent them messengers.( Occasionally,) “T”hose messengers announced that(He)”God” would (send a Savior who) would “provide His way” to make it possible for people’s honor to be restored.
At the right time, God (sent that Savior. His name is Jesus)”became human”. (He) “Jesus” performed miracles, healed the sick, and taught with authority. (Those who believed He was the Promised Savior became His followers. God gave them the right to become His children.)”He loved and treated all with kindness regardless of their shame.”
(Others refused to believe.) “Some people in authority felt threatened by Jesus.” They had Jesus arrested and put to death. Unknown to them, God was working out His plan. (He put on) “On” Jesus “God put” the shame of all people. (Jesus died on their behalf. Then, to give Him the greatest honor for having done so, God raised Him from the dead.) “Jesus died covered in our shame. Many saw his death and then saw him raised to life as Jesus completely defeated that shame. Jesus rose from death to glory.”
Jesus appeared to “those who believed he could remove their shame.” (His followers.) He told them that they would receive the Spirit of God who would change them from the inside out, enabling them to become honorable.
Jesus returned to heaven. As promised, His followers received the Spirit of God who changed them from the inside out.
The same is happening today. God forgives those who believe that Jesus died for them. He removes their shame and gives them the right to become His children. His Spirit changes them from the inside out, enabling them to become honorable.
I’m one of them. I enjoy helping others have their honor restored. Is this something you and your family would be interested in?
Thanks for sharing this, Carol. I always encourage people to revise the story so that it better fits their context. In some contexts, it is appropriate to make the story more detailed and clear. In some contexts, it is wise to make the story more vague. In many contexts, it is powerful to mix honor-shame language with another theme that will connect powerfully with the people. I really like the changes you have made to this version.
Thanks so much. I really appreciated having your version to work from as I hadn’t been able to write one from an honor-shame language on my own.