Often, when I either speak directly with or listen to conservative Christians that believe in the self-serving and self-excusing ideal of being “saved,” I am attacked with quotes from the Gospels, especially John’s.  Here is an excerpt from John Buehren’s ”Understanding the Bible: An Introduction for Skeptics, Seekers, and Religious Liberals” concerning John and his very metaphoric treatment of the life of Jesus.

If ever there were a text to argue that all theology is metaphorical, it is the Gospel of John.  To be sure, in the synoptic gospels Jesus resorts to metaphors and parables (and actions that function as parables) to speak about the Kingdom.  But here Jesus is portrayed with great immediacy as using a series of metaphors and related miraculous stories of parabolic action to speak about himself and his mission: “I am the bread of life” (6:35); “I am the light of the world” (8:12); “I am the good shepherd” (10:11); “I am the resurrection and the life” (11:25); “I am the vine, you are the branches” (15:5); “I am the way and the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me” (14:6).

Theological trouble begins when such metaphors are taken too literally.  Recognize the metaphorical nature of these statements and even that last one can be read as Jesus saying something like this: “My way of living – with faith, hope, and love – is the true way of life, the way to more abundant life.  No one can come to God who does not learn the way of forgiveness, humility, and self-sacrifice.” then what is being preached is not dogma or exclusivity, but a deeper and more universal spiritual truth.”