We need to embrace that there is nothing we can do about the fact that stories mean different things to different people. The meaning of a story, as for any piece of art, is created in the observer/listener’s head. Sometimes these images (meanings) for listeners coincide, but often they will not.
Translated onto Biblical stories, Stanley Fish wrote a seminal book called: „Is There A Text In This Class“. He introduces the concept of interpretative communities and describes how each reader comes with their own bias (set of beliefs and circumstances), thus influencing the way they read7hear a particular story. We know similar concepts from communication theory, where we hear with four different ‚ears’ (a concept by Schulz von Thun): on the levels of relationship, appeal, self-revelation, and objective. The least used
ear is the objective one!
A preacher’s story as well as its interpretation will be listened to with a personal bias. In general, ‘obvious’ stories should not be explained. However, the preacher needs to know the congregation well to make this decision. If we are to embrace the different interpretations in people’s heads, stories can be taken as good starting points for discussions and intended dialogue.
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