The Generous Soul

SPIRITED LIFE

The Best Retelling of the Jesus Story Isn't from Narnia or Harry Potter
Our culture has produced plenty of fine remakes, but nothing beats the Old Testament prequel.
Andrew Wilson
The problem with well-known stories is that they grow dull through familiarity. When narratives become part of the cultural fabric — think Romeo and Juliet, Cinderella, or Hamlet — they may retain their charm, but they will usually lose their edge. So creative people find ways of retelling them that capture the drama and basic storyline of the original, but with a twist. Move Romeo and Juliet to New York, and you get West Side Story. Turn Cinderella into a prostitute, and you get Pretty Woman. The most obvious example is the best-known story of all. No matter how well we know the gospel, we can find new perspectives: Aslan dying for Edmund, Jean Valjean's encounter with grace in Les Miserables, or Harry Potter taking the killing curse upon himself before the resurrection stone brings him back to life. But the best examples of fresh reads on the gospel come not from fiction but from Scripture itself. continue reading >>

News Why #GivingTuesday Donations Could Drop Dramatically Next Year Evangelical leaders warn of 'devastating' impact of GOP tax plan on the charitable deduction. Kate Shellnutt

Editor's Note Our December Issue: Being Shrewd Samaritans We're learning more than ever about good giving. Andy Olsen

Entertainment 'Justice League' Unites Its Heroes to Save an Erratic, Uneven World DC's answer to the MCU wants to show that surrounding darkness can only strengthen heroic light. It only kind of succeeds. E. Stephen Burnett

Science The Generous Soul Why overcoming the Scrooge in all of us begins with gratitude. Mark McMinn

Entertainment 'Wonder' Reveals the Face of True Human Strength What the box-office hit tells us about beauty, weakness, and the imago Dei. Micha Boyett

CT Pastors Sexual Addiction Destroyed My Pastorate Exposing the truth was just the first step to redemption. John Doyel

The Exchange Inclusive Leadership: What We Need to Be Effective Leaders in Today's Diverse World Are you close friends with someone who is significantly different? Christina Walker

Pivot Effective Church Leaders Do Not Treat Everyone Equally If you don't decide whose opinions carry the greatest weight, the loudest voices will win and your ministry will be reactive, not proactive. Karl Vaters