What is a metanarrative?

Answer

A metanarrative (also known as a grand narrative) is a comprehensive story or plot that provides context, significance, and direction to all of life. It serves as the overarching theme that connects all smaller themes and individual stories. When constructing a house, various workers perform different tasks—such as plumbing, installing drywall, electrical work, and roofing—but all these contractors are working towards the same goal: completing the house. The blueprint represents the “big picture,” the metanarrative that assigns meaning to each contractor’s contribution. The plumber is not just installing pipes randomly; he is part of a larger plan.

The idea of a metanarrative is akin to a worldview—a framework that assigns meaning to life and the events that occur within it. Marxism, Freudianism, Free Market Capitalism, and Enlightenment Emancipation are examples of metanarratives, as they interpret every life event and historical occurrence through their respective perspectives. Religious worldviews also function as metanarratives. Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, and Christianity provide overarching narratives to interpret various historical events and the contemporary world. A metanarrative claims to offer a comprehensive explanation that is universally valid.

The term “metanarrative” gained prominence through Jean-François Lyotard’s 1979 work, The Postmodern Condition: A Report on Knowledge. In this book, the author describes the postmodern condition as one characterized by growing skepticism towards all metanarratives. Postmodernists, in general, do not embrace any all-encompassing narrative that assigns meaning to all of life. Instead, they emphasize individual narratives that give significance to their personal experiences. While a metanarrative asserts absolute, universal truths, an individual narrative focuses on what is “true for me” and what brings meaning to my life. Postmodern thought rejects metanarratives because it challenges the idea of universal truths.Sal truth. Postmoderns view a single narrative giving meaning to all lives as an impossibility.

The problem with postmodernism is that it quickly becomes another metanarrative. The “truth” that there is no absolute truth is the metanarrative that gives meaning to the postmodern thinker. Relativism, ironically, becomes the one assured absolute.

The Bible clearly teaches the existence of metanarrative. Paul writes, “[God] made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ” (Ephesians 1:9-10). This passage speaks of a divine will, a purpose, a timetable, a fulfillment, and a unity. The Incarnation of Christ occurred “when the set time had fully come” «but when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, », (Galatians 4:4), again suggesting an overarching plan, a metanarrative. The entire book of Hebrews traces themes begun in the Old Testament to their fulfillment in Christ.

The earthly ministry of Christ was part of a plan that extended all the way back to the protoevangelium in Genesis 3:15. Jesus’ first sermon contained this declaration: “The time has come. . . . The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!” «and saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel. », (Mark 1:15). The Lord’s reference to an anticipated time that had finally arrived is another reference to metanarrative. The prophecies of the Bible all indicate the existence of a metanarrative (see Matthew 2:15, 23; 26:56; Luke 22:37; John 19:28, 36). History unfolds like acts in a play. The lights come up and down on various scenes, and different characters tread the stage, but there is one plot always moving toward the final curtain.

In the Bible, we have the metanarrative or grand narrative that gives meaning to our lives. We are told that we were created in God’s image and were meant to live in fellowship with Him and with each other. We have sinned and broken that fellowship, but God in His grace has provided a way that we can be saved, forgiven, and restored. Jesus is God born into the human race for the express purpose of dying for us, to pay the penalty for our sins. After His death on the cross, Jesus rose again from the dead. All who trust Him for salvation will be forgiven and made new. Jesus will return to earth one day to gather His followers unto Himself. In the meantime, we are to share this good news with everyone in the world, as it applies to everyone and is true for everyone. Those who have come to know Christ recognize that this grand narrative—this overarching story of redemption—gives meaning and purpose to the world, to history, to all of life, and to each individual.