Modern Storytelling

TELL ME A STORY
TELL ME A STORY

“And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.”
–Matthew 24:3-4

“Lying is storytelling, and the best liars are master storytellers…Skilled liars know people are unlikely to look for a lie if they’re hearing a story they already agree with, or want to think is true.”
—Spokeo

Modern man lives in a world chock full of stories.

Modern man is bombarded with stories every hour, every day.

When he turns on his radio, his TV, his smartphone, his computer; when he goes to the movies, listens or watches an advertisement; when he works a crossword puzzle or plays a video game; when he searches for “news“–in short, whenever modern man does almost ANY activity, he is immersed in one story or another.

The stories are so numerous; the tall tales so smooth: modern man often does not even realize the many stories he is being told.

WHY is modern man told so many stories?

The storytellers claim it is because stories are so powerful.

“Stories constitute the single most powerful weapon in a leader’s arsenal.”
—Dr. Howard Gardner

“There is no greater power on this earth than story.”
-― Libba Bray

“Storytelling is the most powerful way to put ideas into the world today.”
—Robert McAfee Brown

When man is listening to a story, he often forgets he is being fed information.  When he is hearing a story, he often feels entertained.  And when entertained, man relaxes, shuts off his critical thinking and forgets to fact check the story he is being told.

When this story is in a novel or movie or TV show, modern man actually ASSISTS the storytellers by becoming gullible.

This assistance is called the suspension of disbelief.

But modern man has learned to subconsciously suspend his disbelief whenever he listens to stories which are supposedly non-fiction as well.

And so, modern man listens to a string of one lie after another–and YET, believes those lies EVEN THOUGH, in many cases, he knows the people who are telling him the stories are known liars.

BUT many times, those who are lying feel they have a “good reason” to lie.  It matter not if the lie involves science, journalism, gossip, marketing/advertising, art, entertainment or whatever.

Those who manufacture such stories KNOW they are lying.

“It’s been unsettling to discover that every form of narrative, even one that purports to tell the truth, is a kind of lying.”
—Damon Galgut

“The moment kids start to lie is the moment storytelling begins. They are talking about things they didn’t see. It’s amazing. It’s a wonderful moment. Parents should celebrate. ‘Hurray! My boy finally started to lie!’ All right! It calls for celebration.”
—Kim Young-ha

“It’s all storytelling, you know. That’s what journalism is all about.
—Tom Brokaw

“At its very core, marketing is storytelling. The best advertising campaigns take us on an emotional journey – appealing to our wants, needs and desires – while at the same time telling us about a product or service.”
–- Melinda Partin

“Advertising is legalized lying.”
—H.G. Wells

“Artists use lies to tell the truth. Yes, I created a lie. But because you believed it, you found something true about yourself.”
—Alan Moore

“My gripe is not with lovers of the truth but with truth herself. What succor, what consolation is there in truth, compared to a story? What good is truth, at midnight, in the dark, when the wind is roaring like a bear in the chimney? When the lightning strikes shadows on the bedroom wall and the rain taps at the window with its long fingernails? No. When fear and cold make a statue of you in your bed, don’t expect hard-boned and fleshless truth to come running to your aid. What you need are the plump comforts of a story. The soothing, rocking safety of a lie.”
—Diane Setterfield

“But I’m going to try to tell the truth. Except for the parts I’m leav­ing out, because there’s still stuff I’m just not going to tell you. Get used to it.”
—Robin McKinley

“A storyteller makes up things to help other people; a liar makes up things to help himself.”
—Daniel Wallace

Modern storytelling–at its core–ALWAYS involves at least one lie.

Usually, the better and more entertaining the story, the more lies the story can hold without cracking and falling apart.

And so, modern man listens to the stories he is told, believes them and asks for more.

All the while, the only source of truth in this lost and fallen world is relentlessly mocked by those who revel in lies.

Again, in many cases, modern man KNOWS he is being lied to–but doesn’t much care because modern man values his comfort more than he values the truth.

This was all foretold centuries ago, in a book most no longer believe: the Bible.

That modern man discards the truth is the reason he is lost, deceived and lied to for his enjoyment–even if modern man thinks he is the smartest that’s EVER been.

“Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked”
–Revelation 3:17

Which was, once again all foretold centuries ago, in a book most no longer believe: the Bible.

Too bad the Bible isn’t a book of more entertaining stories.

DOES the reader believe the Bible?

DOES the reader use Scripture to guide his life’s decisions?

It is not YET too late: there is still time to change direction (repent), place your faith (hope) for the future entirely on Jesus Christ and enter the kingdom of heaven.

DOES the reader believe he is saved?

Make Your Calling and Election Sure: End Times Survival

DOES the reader believe he is NOT saved?

Time is Running Out: Today is the Day of Salvation

THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST

“Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time. ”
–1 Corinthians 15:1-8

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”
-–Romans 1:16

MORE: Eternal Salvation Through Jesus Christ: Salvation Messages from End Times Prophecy Report

[Portions of this piece appeared originally in End Times Prophecy Headlines: February 26, 2019.]

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by Jeremiah James
–with Mondo Frazier

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© Jeremiah J. Jameson and End Times Prophecy Report, 2012-19. © Mondo Frazier and End Times Prophecy Report, DBKP, 2007-2019. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s authors and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Jeremiah J. Jameson, Mondo Frazier and End Times Prophecy Report with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

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