Less bibliolatry

Once up on a time... These words at once bring to mind everything about childhood because that is when that phrase was stamped on our minds. Later we passed through puberty and learned that reality was different from the stories that followed this childish phrase.

I wonder, some days, whether or not the Christianity that was learned as a child should inhabit our older lives. When we pass through puberty, the stories so indelibly imprinted from younger days stay put without a further comment. In fact, the sermons heard in our twenties only corroborate what we heard as youngsters. Since we have hired mercenaries as ministers, that never really work in the marketplace, they corroborate only further the stories heard from our youths.

Perhaps, I am wondering, we learn the stories of the New Testament so that when we see people hurting around us we think of the story. That misses the point, of course. Older adults know it does. But, I am thinking that teenage activities and groups on up until mature adulthood is reached need not to think of stories, childish stuff. They need to be under the active tutelage of life. If so, maybe maturity levels would begin earlier, authentic Christianity would be practiced sooner. Stories would be authentic, not contrived. The story wouldn't start, "A certain man went on a journey from Jericho to Jerusalem." Instead, the story would begin, "James was at school on Monday when..."

I think we need more active duty for young people, less bibliolatry.