Why Parables?

  • Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.

    If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!

    To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.
breno785au

breno785au

Senior Member
#21
Jul 23, 2013
6,002
764
113
39
Australia
#21
I think He speaks in parables to draw us closer to Him. For who know He speaks the words of life we will desire to seek and draw closer to Him to understand the meaning and once this is achieved we can glorify Him as to how wise and awesome He is.

I think there's a huge difference between being taught in parables rather than outright teaching, I can't quite put it to words yet but it's like an outright teaching can be received like a law rather than through a transformation like a parable can do.. As I said I can't put to words what I'm thinking yet so I'll stop there lol
 
RedTent

RedTent

Banned
#22
Oct 31, 2011
8,200
182
0
#22
Parables were not for everyone to hear, only those whose minds were open to the Lord. Christ said to bring the little children to Him and forbid them not. They can simply accept what the Lord says without needing to add their own personal understanding.

As adults, we need to know we can trust His word. When we say that certain of God's word can't be trusted, we are closing our minds when the bible speaks of spiritual things.
 
Simona25

Simona25

Banned
#23
Sep 10, 2013
1,428
19
0
#23
breno785au said:
I think He speaks in parables to draw us closer to Him.
Click to expand...
Indeed. To make people want to know more, to make people think, to move something in them. He didn't wanted people to follow Him and receive His message uncritically.


breno785au said:
I think there's a huge difference between being taught in parables rather than outright teaching, I can't quite put it to words yet but it's like an outright teaching can be received like a law rather than through a transformation like a parable can do.
Click to expand...
Clearly! The use of the parable as a didactic method is undoubtedly superior to the dry academical demonstrations and argumentation. Why? Because the parable is not exhaustive. The parable opens the horizon of thinking.
 
Last edited:
RedTent

RedTent

Banned
#24
Oct 31, 2011
8,200
182
0
#24
Bushido8000 said:
I don't understand though. Why would He not want them to turn from their ways and be forgiven? Isn't that what God wants from Christians? The willingness and want to repent? Why would God purposely stop people who would follow Him from following Him?????

Now I'm more confused lol.
Click to expand...
People who know it all so they are not open to scripture but only how they want scripture to be are impossible. Everything they learn of God is turned into their own way they want God to be, they always twist a part of God to fit that. If they would learn enough of God's ways and thoughts they would be able to hear the parables. Giving people like this scripture is useless, but if they are open to God they would hear the parables. These are given to everyone, but what a person choses to be determines if they can hear them or not.

 
Simona25

Simona25

Banned
#25
Sep 10, 2013
1,428
19
0
#25
Simona25 said:
Clearly! The use of the parable as a didactic method is undoubtedly superior to the dry academical demonstrations and argumentation. Why? Because the parable is not exhaustive. The parable opens the horizon of thinking.
Click to expand...
When describing realities that are not of this world, the parable, the metaphor, the allegory, the poem, the art etc. are much more in handy than outright teaching.
 
crossnote

crossnote

Senior Member
#26
Nov 24, 2012
30,706
3,650
113
#26
breno785au said:
I think He speaks in parables to draw us closer to Him. For who know He speaks the words of life we will desire to seek and draw closer to Him to understand the meaning and once this is achieved we can glorify Him as to how wise and awesome He is.

I think there's a huge difference between being taught in parables rather than outright teaching, I can't quite put it to words yet but it's like an outright teaching can be received like a law rather than through a transformation like a parable can do.. As I said I can't put to words what I'm thinking yet so I'll stop there lol
Click to expand...
Simona25 said:
Indeed. To make people want to know more, to make people think, to move something in them. He didn't wanted people to follow Him and receive His message uncritically.




Clearly! The use of the parable as a didactic method is undoubtedly superior to the dry academical demonstrations and argumentation. Why? Because the parable is not exhaustive. The parable opens the horizon of thinking.
Click to expand...
It would help if both of you had some scripture backing, but I guess it's funner to play in the 'mystery' sandbox, that way imagination can mold and fashion our god.
 
KJV1611

KJV1611

Banned
#27
Nov 23, 2013
13,684
1,212
113
#27
Most of the bible is written in parables and symbolic language... that's why there are so many debates on the meaning of scripture. The milk and honey of scripture is in the parables and symbols.
 
Simona25

Simona25

Banned
#28
Sep 10, 2013
1,428
19
0
#28
crossnote said:
It would help if both of you had some scripture backing, but I guess it's funner to play in the 'mystery' sandbox, that way imagination can mold and fashion our god.
Click to expand...
What is unbiblical in what I said?
 
Simona25

Simona25

Banned
#29
Sep 10, 2013
1,428
19
0
#29
Mark ch. 10:

"Jesus then left that place and went into the region of Judea and across the Jordan. Again crowds of people came to Him, and as was His custom, He taught them."

The verse says that it was Christ custom to teach the crowd (not to un-teach :p).
​
 
Billyd

Billyd

Senior Member
#30
May 8, 2014
5,048
1,490
113
#30
If any of you have studied the memory, you know that the easiest way to remember something is to associate it with something that doesn't make sense directly. When you need it, it is easy to recall the so called nonsense and the message becomes clear. Jesus knows how our minds work, and He knew that we would remember the Parable when we needed it. The parable may appear to be nonsense, but when you need you won't have any trouble interpreting it.
 
crossnote

crossnote

Senior Member
#31
Nov 24, 2012
30,706
3,650
113
#31
Simona25 said:
What is unbiblical in what I said?
Click to expand...
I showed from Scripture why the parable was used...to hide the truth of the kingdom from those who did not believe.
Where does it say it's purpose is to , ''opens the horizon of thinking';?
 
crossnote

crossnote

Senior Member
#32
Nov 24, 2012
30,706
3,650
113
#32
My point is that if we all started speaking in parables we would bump into each other...nothing like plain speech in conveying truth unless you wanted it hid from certain groups, other than their own.
 
breno785au

breno785au

Senior Member
#33
Jul 23, 2013
6,002
764
113
39
Australia
#33
crossnote said:
It would help if both of you had some scripture backing, but I guess it's funner to play in the 'mystery' sandbox, that way imagination can mold and fashion our god.
Click to expand...
Is there a scripture that answers this question? I can't think of one right now but if you know of one please post it up. The first part of my reply is from personal experience, the second part is musing that I probably shouldn't have posted.

But please I ask you to refrain from the snide remarks, we are trying to have a decent discussion here.

Edit: I see that you did post a scripture earlier, I shall look into it.
 
Last edited:
RedTent

RedTent

Banned
#34
Oct 31, 2011
8,200
182
0
#34
crossnote said:
My point is that if we all started speaking in parables we would bump into each other...nothing like plain speech in conveying truth unless you wanted it hid from certain groups, other than their own.
Click to expand...
We don't speak in parables to each other because humans are never God. God speaks in parables. The parables God told were hidden from certain groups not His own.
 
crossnote

crossnote

Senior Member
#35
Nov 24, 2012
30,706
3,650
113
#35
breno785au said:
Is there a scripture that answers this question? I can't think of one right now but if you know of one please post it up. The first part of my reply is from personal experience, the second part is musing that I probably shouldn't have posted.

But please I ask you to refrain from the snide remarks, we are trying to have a decent discussion here.

Edit: I see that you did post a scripture earlier, I shall look into it.
Click to expand...
Sorry for the 'snidey's' but it unnerves me when I see us going 'mystical' ...one of the enemies to absolute truth.
Some of the Church has already drunk that Kool-Aid.
 
breno785au

breno785au

Senior Member
#36
Jul 23, 2013
6,002
764
113
39
Australia
#36
crossnote said:
Sorry for the 'snidey's' but it unnerves me when I see us going 'mystical' ...one of the enemies to absolute truth.
Some of the Church has already drunk that Kool-Aid.
Click to expand...
Please define mystical in this instance.. I don't think I quite understand that term in this respect. I'm asking so I could perhaps correct myself.
 
vic1980

vic1980

Senior Member
#37
Apr 25, 2013
1,653
199
63
44
#37
Proverbs 1

The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel;2To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding;
3To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity;
4To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion.
5A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:
6To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.

God Bless

7The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.


1 Corinthains 2:13-14 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
 
Last edited:
breno785au

breno785au

Senior Member
#38
Jul 23, 2013
6,002
764
113
39
Australia
#38
crossnote said:
Sorry for the 'snidey's' but it unnerves me when I see us going 'mystical' ...one of the enemies to absolute truth.
Some of the Church has already drunk that Kool-Aid.
Click to expand...
And thanks for the apology, I forgive you you are a person of good character.
 
T

Tintin

Guest
#39
#39
Simona25 said:
Ezekiel 17, for example.
Click to expand...
Okay, I'll give you that one. I've just heard some Christians say Genesis is a series of parables, especially the first 11 chapters. I say, bull-dust! Some even believe Exodus is a parable. They don't have a clue.
 
T

Tintin

Guest
#40
#40
Jesus Christ understand the power of story to reveal godly truths. Facts speak to the mind, but Story speaks to the soul.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.