Surpassing Story Part Two

Introduction

Illustration: Batman Begins — to know someone you must know where they come from

We all have a back story as it were

Illustration: losing it on Paul Pepin—there was more to the story

  In fact, there was more to my story

Last Week: Story is powerful, there is a battle raging over which story is told, yet we are given a surpassing story in the gospel.

In this part of John’s letter we are told, “Do not love the world”. What does that mean? Many Christians have taken it to mean we are to completely separate from the non-Christian world (Amish, Mennonites, etc.) 

But John is actually calling us to not separate from the world, but rather to not be conformed to the world’s narratives. 

The Reality of Nemesis Narratives

Illustration: Every good story or super hero tale has a bad guy—a nemesis. 

NEMESIS was the goddess of indignation against, and retribution for, evil deeds and undeserved good fortune. The inescapable agent of someone's or something's downfall.

Illustration: Show - Godless or Walking Dead

Here’s the thing: There really are bad guys out there. 

Illustration: Republican ad — “Hordes of [Evil] Liberal Democrats” 

We, however, do in fact have a serious enemy. — Here John calls him the “antichrist” (read verse 18)

Illustration: Left Behind Series or other End Time movies/books — antiChrist is going to be a future enigmatic but charismatic figure that leads hordes of evil people in a final battle against God

Maybe this is true? (We don’t have time to jump into that discussion right now)

But here in John’s letter, he tells us clearly who the antichrist is. (READ verse 22)

John tells us clearly that ANYONE who denies Jesus is the Christ (the story, message) is an antichrist

In other words, it is any message that denies the message of Jesus (the Word of God) is an antichrist message—it is a nemesis to the gospel. 

There are countless variations of this message—it is in fact the very first message from Satan himself.

Illustration: Matt. 16—“get behind me Satan!"

The Danger of Nemesis Narratives

We saw last week, in the Rwandan genocide, how the telling of stories/history can have a devastating effects in our world

Well the same is true for us in our personal lives as well.

"Once certain stories get embedded into the culture, they become master narratives—blueprints for people to follow when structuring their own stories, for better or worse. One such blueprint is your standard “go to school, graduate, get a job, get married, have kids.” That can be a helpful script in that it gives children a sense of the arc of a life, and shows them examples of tentpole events that could happen. But the downsides of standard narratives have been well-documented—they stigmatize anyone who doesn't follow them to a T, and provide unrealistic expectations of happiness for those who do.” (Julie Beck, The Atlantic)

But the spiritual implications are far greater and more dire.

John is getting serious and emphatic at this point in his letter. (That’s what’s going on right before our passage [vv. 12-14]—its all about emphasis—"listen up please!”) 

These nemesis narratives are like a pillow over our faces choking out the life-giving realities of the gospel.

See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ. (Col. 2:8) 

The stories that shape us determine our values. What do we want most? What do we spend our time pursuing? Where do our minds go for pleasure? If Jesus is not the answer to these questions, he is not the lord of our lives. (Lavender)

The Source of Nemesis Narratives

The enemy — Genesis 3 — the ultimate antichrist — 

The world — desires 1 John 2:16-17

Modern Cultural Narratives (From Keller)

The Identity Narrative (individualism) – ‘be yourself’

The ‘Truth’ Narrative (pluralism) – self-authorizing truth and morality – ‘only I can determine right and wrong for me’

The Freedom Narrative (liberalism) – ‘I must be free to live my life and express myself how I want’

Science and Technology Narrative (a sort of positive spin on materialism?) – ‘religion keeps you from all these good things that can help’

The History Narrative (modernism; add 1-3 in to the mix gives post-modernism) – ‘history/tradition is bad; new is good’

Our own hearts (flesh)— our core experiences, responded to in idolatry—autonomy and self-sufficiency

Conclusion

Illustration: Lord of the Rings — King of Rohan was under the spell of Wormtongue 

There is a nemesis overcoming, surpassing narrative —the gospel

1 John 2:20-21

1 John 2:20–21 ESV

But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge. I write to you, not because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and because no lie is of the truth.

1 John 2:24

1 John 2:24 ESV

Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you too will abide in the Son and in the Father.