The People of God as a Narrative Community

Throughout human history, the predominant way that communities have answered questions of origin and purpose has been through the communication and remembrance of stories. These stories arise out of everyday experiences and help shape a community’s identity, giving it meaning and purpose. The Church, like any other community throughout history is complete when it is able to communicate, remember, and embody its narrative identity. However, the Church at large has forgotten how to tell stories about its origin, experiences, and mission. As a result, the Church has co-­‐opted other stories, namely the story of consumerism, causing the identity of the Church to dilute and deteriorate. As reflected by its structure, this essay will (a) develop a historical understanding of the role that narrative plays within a community’s memory and identity, (b) propose that the Church should be understood as a Narrative Community (c) identify what this means for the North American Church today.