Bridging the Chasm: Abstract to Concrete

Trying to teach abstract ideas to concrete thinkers is tantamount to trying to explain the difference between red and orange to a person who was born blind. How would you seek to explain grace, mercy, redemption, or righteousness to concrete thinkers without at the same time teaching something that is not really accurate?

Bridging the Chasm: Abstract to Concrete

In order to bridge the chasm of abstraction for those who think concretely the use of examples may prove the best.  Concrete thinkers need to see and hear concrete examples.  Examples, however, can only exist on an analogical relationship between that which they attempt to represent.  For instance, an example of grace can only mirror the reality of grace.  As an example it may have some dissimilarity between the reality of grace in abstraction.  Yet, even though this analogous relationship exists I do believe that is exactly the method Scripture uses.  The Bible does not discuss grace, mercy, redemption, and righteousness in abstraction.  Instead the Bible uses concrete examples from life and history.

First, there is grace and mercy.  Grace (or mercy) in abstraction may be defined as receiving that which we do not deserve.  Yet, grace is made real and concrete when sinners who deserve death and judgment actually receive grace and mercy.  Romans 5:8 best exemplifies the concrete example of grace: “but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”  The concrete reality of the death and resurrection of Christ display the grace and mercy of God.  

Secondly, there is redemption (or ransom).  Abstractly it may be defined as being saved from something evil or bad.  Yet, here again, we see that the example of Christ brings home the abstraction of redemption.  Scripture uses a variety of metaphors and examples to explain redemption.  First, there is the idea that we are dead in trespasses and sins, yet we are made alive in Christ (Eph. 2:1; Rom. 6:11).  The Devil has captured humanity and is the king of the earth, yet Christ came in order to destroy the works of the devil and to ransom those who were once children of darkness (1 John 3:8-10).  And of course, probably the most prominent event in the Bible is that of the Exodus.  The Exodus is the paradigmatic story of redemption and ransom from out of slavery and bondage.  This event serves as a type of the redemption found in Christ.

Lastly, there is the idea of righteousness.  This concept in abstraction may be defined as holy and moral perfection.  This is even a more difficult concept to explain concretely because the examples are hard to come by – for there are none righteous (Rom. 3:10).  The examples of the cult rituals of OT Israel which prefigured Christ may serve as a helpful example differentiating between righteousness and unrighteousness.  It is probably true that unrighteousness is easier to explain than righteousness – there are more examples and illustrations to use!  

The Bible is full of examples and illustrations to help bridge the gap between abstract thought and concrete thought.  As a side not this is why chronological Bible-telling is so effective and helpful in more orally traditional cultures (non-western cultures).