c In the New Testament, we read how Jesus taught his followers by using
parables which are story-like narratives. This method of teaching was/is effective
because people like stories and can remember story narratives well. In his
discussion of the Grand Narrative, (i.e., creation, the fall, and redemption), Wolten
(2005) explains why it is imperative for Christians to have a world view that is
based on biblical scripture. He says that one reason for this is that Christians
must make sense of topics like sexuality, science, and politics via a consideration
of structure (i.e., the essence of a creaturely item), and direction (i.e., the
deviations away from Jesus’ teachings towards secularism). Wolten (2005)
describes how knowledge of the Grand Narrative helps people make sense of
things.
c c c c For example, Christians know the story of Adam and Eve’s disobedience in The
Garden of Eden, and how it continues to reverberate down through the millennia,
to the present day. As we know, even though God told Adam not to eat the apple
from the Tree of Knowledge, he ate it anyway. For this transgression, Adam and
Eve lost their favored status as innocents and made to suffer. Unfortunately, their
punishment included all their descendants as well. Importantly, all it took for
Adam to disobey God was for Satan to tell Adam and Eve lies about how they
could obtain power equal to God’s. A key takeaway from this story is that human
nature can be weak, and human beings can be self-centered and suggestible.
Therefore, if we do not learn the lessons of the past by studying the biblical
scriptures and by comprehending the lesson of the Grand Narrative, are we not
doomed to repeat the mistakes of our forebears?
c c c c When considering research through the lens of the Grand Narrative, I gain
insight into how to approach psychological investigations in my area of study.
That is because by being aware of God’s efforts to save humankind from their
own transgressions, I get hope for the future. Also, by knowing Jesus’ narrative as
it appears in the New Testament, I can strive to make my thoughts and actions
align more with what I believe Jesus would have done in a comparable situation.
An understanding the Grand Narrative of Christianity allows me to derive a sense
of calm because I know that God loves me. For example, while a non-Christian
with a secular, blasphemous and/or humanistic perspective may see the world as
an evil, chaotic place where everyone is only out for themselves, I know in my
heart that there is a loving God, who wants me to reach my true potential. Most
importantly, my knowledge of the Grand Narrative informs my desire to have
integrity as a psychologist, because I understand that is how I can best serve God
and his children. I also am a child of God, and when I help God’s children by
practicing ethical research, I help myself to live in God’s good creation and
overcome the sin we inherited from Adam and Eve. As Mathew said in 25:40,
“Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters
of mine you did for me.”
References
Evangelical heritage version (EHV). SCA Northwestern Publishing House. (2019).
Retrieved May 15, 2022, from https://online.nph.net/ehv
Wolters, A. M. (2005). Creation regained: Biblical basics for a reformational
worldview. William B. Eerdmans Pub.
