When we go to different countries to teach people to study the bible, we warn them of seeing the bible through their own cultural perspective or making it say what they want it to say. Instead we encourage them to try and understand it from the original reader and writer’s perspective. To demonstrate this point we often tell this funny story:
The Pope and the JewA long time ago the Pope wanted all the Jewish people to leave Rome, so he gave them three days to evacuate the city. You can imagine they were shocked and outraged, so the Pope said that he would allow them to stay if they could produce a person who could beat the Pope in a silent debate. Well, nobody wanted to face the Pope and risk losing, but one old man who lived on the streets said he would do it. The Jewish people were totally dejected because they knew this old man could never win, but no one else would volunteer so they let him go to the debate.Looking at each other the Pope began.He held up three fingers. The old man held up one.Then the Pope swung his hand around the top of his headThe old man pointed to the ground.Exasperated the Pope took out the bread and the winethe old man took out an apple.In utter disbelief the Pope through up his hands and said, this man is too good, the people can stay!When the bishops surrounded the Pope after the old man had left, they asked him what had happened. The Pope replied, "I held up three fingers to represent God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, he held up one finger to remind me that God is still one and common between us. Then I swung my hand around my head to demonstrate that God is everywhere, and he pointed to the ground to say that God is here with us too. Finally I reminded Him of the death of Jesus with the bread and the wine, and he held up an apple showing me original sin. What else could I do, he had an answer for everything!"Meanwhile, the Jewish people were celebrating but they couldn’t believe what had happened. They surrounded the old man and asked him what had happened. He said, "To begin the Pope held up three fingers to say we had to leave in 3 days, but I held up 1 finger to say not one of us was leaving. Then he swung his hand around his head to say we could go anywhere but Rome, I pointed to the ground to say we were staying right here…"The people prodded him and begged, "Yes, yes, then what happened?"The old man replied, "I really don’t know, he pulled out his lunch and I pulled out mine."
Hope you had a good laugh at the story :) It reminds me to try to see life from other people’s perspective.
Teaching Adventures 