Much of the fragmentation and anxiety we moderns feel in our lives stems from failing to see life as a unified story. The machine metaphor has replaced the story metaphor as the dominant way we perceive ultimate reality.

We need to reclaim the perspective of life as a story—our lives as stories, history as one continuous story, and the Bible as a single, complete story.

Unfortunately, we often fragment the Bible as well. Modern evangelicals, in particular, tend to prioritize the New Testament over the Old Testament. But this approach is like reading only the second half of Pride and Prejudice while ignoring the first half.

The Bible is a cohesive, interconnected narrative.

For example, Northrop Frye created a chart demonstrating how story patterns in the Old Testament are mirrored in the New Testament. Here’s a simplified version (each point corresponds):

 Exodus: 

1. Massacre of Hebrew Children (Pharaoh)

2. Moses Escapes 

3. Moses Grows up in Egypt

4. Moses Organizes 12 Tribes

5. Crossing Red Sea

6. 40 Years in Desert

7. Law Received on Sinai

8. Manna

9. Brazen Serpent

Gospel:

1. Slaughter of the Innocents (Herod)

2. Jesus Escapes 

3. Jesus Taken to Egypt

4. Jesus Gathers 12 Disciples

5. Baptism in Jordon Reiver

6. 40 Days in Dessert

7. Sermon on the Mount

8. Miraculous Feedings

9. Crucifixion