Volu m e II - Purdue University Calumet

that if truth exists, it exists only because of the language people use to talk about it. This is a concept that is
taken to heart in the Emergent Church Movement. Frustrated with the lack of contextual emphasis in the
modernist way of interpreting scripture, Emergents are using a “new” way of viewing scripture that
emphasizes not only a holistic reading of it, but also creates an invitation for the church to participate in its
application as part of the Christian “story” (or “play,” to use a previous analogy.) One way that Emergents
are doing this is through the use of “narrative theology.” Mars Hill’s mission statement (a staple of church
websites) is written in this narrative theology style. Here is an excerpt from Mars Hill’s “Narrative
Theology” mission statement (found on their website:)
“We believe God inspired the authors of Scripture by his Spirit to speak to all
generations of believers, including us today. God calls us to immerse ourselves in
this authoritative narrative communally and individually to faithfully interpret and
live out that story today as we are led by the Spirit of God.”
This framing paragraph of Mars Hill’s narrative theology isn’t saying anything new to Christians. However,
what may be new is the language of the document. The way that this document is written gives more
power to humanity than is sometimes granted (to “communally and individually interpret and live out” a
narrative may hearken images of hippies and liberalism for older generations of Christian conservatives.)
The document continues to outline the Bible within the context of a narrative, restating that humanity was
created in God’s image and God’s redemptive power through the Israelites, affirming the virgin birth, and
affirming Christ’s purpose as the Messiah as well as his death, burial, resurrection and expected coming
again. When one gets used to the Narrative Theology style, there is nothing new about Mar’s Hill’s mission
as a church. Rather, Bell is helping to build a bridge that both a postmodern reader and a modern reader
can understand.
Mar’s Hill’s mission statement is not the only place where Bell uses narrative theology in his
pastoral work. In his 2008 book, Jesus Wants to Save Christians: A Manifesto for the Church in Exile Bell
129