shift.

St. Paul could be considered highly literate. His writing tends to reflect the “if/then” reasoning of an educated man. His revelation of Christ was also very ‘definite’ his experience could be considered very “dark/light”.

During the middle ages - prior to the printing press, Paul’s couldn’t be captured in stained-glass or art. The medium of art could really only capture iconic stories - like those found in the gospels. Only with the development of the printing press could theological ideas be clearly presented. Unfortunately as a result of the printing press, so too did our dependence on reason and the writings of John, Paul and Peter became the preferred texts. Anything that simple tells the story was of lesser value then writings that describe doctrine about Jesus. Matthew, Mark & Luke were narratives of Jesus rooted in the thought pattern of oral tradition.

To our relief the age of image is restoring the right brain preference for parable and story over theology and doctrine. Much of Evangelical Christianity seems to be shifting from doctrine of a believer in Christ, to ethics of a follower of Christ. Belief is something that happens in the mind, but following is what happens in daily life.