Vischer, Lewis and the Power of Story by Suzanne Hadley Gosselin on 11/03/2006 at 5:01 PM

Another interesting aspect of the interview that Denise mentioned, was Vischer's realization of the power of story. In the interview, Vischer discusses the influence C.S. Lewis, a skillful storyteller, has had on his own work. Of his first encounter with The Chronicles of Narnia, Vischer says:

I think it was encouraging to me to see a thinking Christian who wasn't just arguing a point, but was actually illustrating the gospel through story. That was inspiring because that's the path I ended up taking.  And up to that point, I was mostly listening to pastors, theologians — apologists who were just debating, keeping the gospel largely in their heads.

And what Lewis had done was take all these propositional statements — take this argument — and give it life. Give it wings and let it fly through story. Weave it into things that engaged your heart. Which is what story is.

Whether it's the fantasy of what lies just beyond the wardrobe or the whimsy of talking peas and carrots, story has the power to sneak pass defenses and deliver truth.

Leo Tolstoy wrote: "The business of art is this — to make that understood and felt which in the form of an argument, might be incomprehensible and inaccessible." Jesus did just that when He taught parables, and God also revealed the truth of redemption through a story. I hope believers like Vischer, who excel at this talent, will continue to share their gifts and inspire the next generation of great storytellers.

Vischer, Lewis and the Power of Story by Suzanne Hadley Gosselin on 11/03/2006 at 5:01 PM

Another interesting aspect of the interview that Denise mentioned, was Vischer's realization of the power of story. In the interview, Vischer discusses the influence C.S. Lewis, a skillful storyteller, has had on his own work. Of his first encounter with The Chronicles of Narnia, Vischer says:

I think it was encouraging to me to see a thinking Christian who wasn't just arguing a point, but was actually illustrating the gospel through story. That was inspiring because that's the path I ended up taking.  And up to that point, I was mostly listening to pastors, theologians — apologists who were just debating, keeping the gospel largely in their heads.

And what Lewis had done was take all these propositional statements — take this argument — and give it life. Give it wings and let it fly through story. Weave it into things that engaged your heart. Which is what story is.

Whether it's the fantasy of what lies just beyond the wardrobe or the whimsy of talking peas and carrots, story has the power to sneak pass defenses and deliver truth.

Leo Tolstoy wrote: "The business of art is this — to make that understood and felt which in the form of an argument, might be incomprehensible and inaccessible." Jesus did just that when He taught parables, and God also revealed the truth of redemption through a story. I hope believers like Vischer, who excel at this talent, will continue to share their gifts and inspire the next generation of great storytellers.