In the past couple of days, I have watched two films. A Song for Marion and Grow Your Own. They were both moving. I think they were well acted. One is about coming to terms with loss, and the other might be about identity and discovering who you are. I am not a film critic, so you will inevitably have different views of what you like and do not like.

I was recommended both films after conversations concerning the socio-economic period that the UK currently finds itself in. I made the comment that the recession of the late 1970s/1980s, there was satire and comedy that provided a light along the way. Spitting Image was a particular favourite of mine. The Thatcher Cabinet were turned into boggarts (h/t the Harry Potter series) by the programme and made to look ridiculous. An example can be found here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jINZBOxdja8. To Spitting Image, there was Auf Wiedersehn, Pet; Boys from the Black Stuff and later films like The Full Monty and Brassed Off. Cathy, Come Home and Kes were earlier examples of films that made social comment. Where I wondered (in the conversations) were films that spoke about today’s austerity. There are some; and indeed Radio is sometimes likely to make social comment more immediately than other media. The Radio 4 6:30pm slot is a good example, from Rory Bremner to The Now Show. I suppose social network sites like Twitter have also a part to play.

Into all this, comes my own particular ‘hobby horse’ at present; how do we tell afresh the stories of the Bible. The Bible is used in churches and faith communities in many and various ways.

In a number of conversations; I have been asked; why do I want people to read the Bible? This is a legitimate question.

First, it contains the story for Christians. It is a chronicle of the beginnings of our faith. I would admit it is not the whole story, but perhaps the most pertinent parts.

Second, if, as Christians, we want to tell our story to the world around us, we need to engage with our text. This is why I am keen on developing our connections with the drama of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation, and to see ourselves as part of the story.

Third, for me the story of the Bible has been tremendously liberative. Study of the scriptures without doubt changed my life. This is in part because theology was my chosen route into Higher Education. I would have to say – and this is a political comment – I would not have gone had participation in university led to personal debt. Education for me is a basic human right. In part though, study of the scriptures has been life-changing because it makes sense of the world in which we live.

Fourth – and finally – it is the life affirming and meaning making narrative against which all lives can blossom.

Introducing Scripture is therefore an evangelistic imperative: for no one can truly read the texts withough having to answer a number of questions, the chief of which is: how do I follow Jesus as Lord today.

Having said that I leave myself open to the charge of a bible within a bible: the Jesus story being the most important. It is a golden thread, but it is only so because it fits within the wider story of God working within his world.