Perfect Illustrations that aren’t quite … True

Excellent article, Don. Thanks for making us think.

I’ve got a number of bad illustrations that would seem to fit Don’s description. We need to turn our nonsense detectors on more consistently.

I’ve never searched in books or online for illustrations (e.g. “there once was a lady who …”). Do a lot of people do this?

[TylerR]

I’ve never searched in books or online for illustrations (e.g. “there once was a lady who …”). Do a lot of people do this?

I’m sorry, Tyler, but that first line sounds like the start of a limerick….and for various reasons, I’d heartily discourage looking too hard. :^)

Seriously, if you’ve not heard sermon illustrations of dubious authenticity often, count yourself blessed. It’s very common among pastors who aren’t terribly keen on actually doing the hard work of exegesis.

In the article, Don states:

The problem is that when we use unverifiable stories (or out and out false stories) we harm our credibility as gospel witnesses.

I agree that is the case if one is presenting the story as a true story. I also agree if one is presenting a story that can never happen as if it could have (which seems to be the case with the researched story in the article). But if a preacher presents a fictional story as an illustration, or even presents a story as likely fiction (but unverifiable), then credibility is maintained.

The parables are a good example of Jesus doing such. For example, while the places the seed fell for the sower and the results thereof are typical (i.e. generally true, Mat 13:3-7), was there actually ever an instance where such yielded a crop of exactly “some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold” (Mat 13:8)? Certainly unverifiable, and likely the numbers are given by Jesus to make a point.

Others that seem less likely “true,” and more likely fictional in order to illustrate a truth, are some of those where the kingdom of heaven “is like” the illustration given. Did a merchant ever really sell “all that he had” to buy a single “pearl of great price” (Mat 13:46)? How would he then eat (or conduct business)? More likely, Christ is simply illustrating by a fictional account how valuable the kingdom of heaven is to obtain, that it is worth giving up everything for to obtain it. Could the circumstances of the marriage feast parable (Mat 22:2-14) have actually occurred? Not impossible, but highly improbably that such a story is of an actual occurrence. Rather, it seems to be a fictional story built with details that match the reality of the kingdom that Christ is trying to convey.

As long as one makes it clear that an illustration is exactly that, something to parallel something else to be “like” it, then the illustration itself need not be true itself, because the readers/hearers have already been told it is an “illustration” for a purpose of demonstrating a truth. This is the essence of all figurative language as well. Trees really don’t clap their hands (since they have none, nor a will to do so; Isa 55:12), but people can understand that without any pre-warning of it being fiction for illustration.

A story that could be true, but isn’t, needs to be stated as a story (not as fact). And a story that could never be true, but might still illustrate a point, could be used if the preacher is upfront in stating such (though even such a statement may not be needed if the people realize it could never be true, such as an illustration taken from a fantasy or sci-fi story where things that are not real are common, but a truth can be gleaned from it).

I appreciated the article. I do believe too many “stories” are used by preachers and not verified as true, but then also not presented as fiction for purposes of an illustration. Such does indeed damage credibility if you make your audience to believe the story itself is true when it is not.

I’ve personally heard these (among many others) used as illustrations in IFB sermons over the years:

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/father-sacrifice-son-train-bridge/

https://www.truthorfiction.com/beastofbelgium/

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My current pastor is very careful to avoid any illustrations of a dubious nature. I can’t say that I’ve ever heard him use one that I haven’t been able to verify (or conversely been able to disprove). Why would a pastor risk using a sermon illustration that is demonstrably false? Particularly when virtually everyone in a congregation has the means available with them (i.e. a smartphone) to fact-check (on-the-spot) any given illustration, “pastoral embellishment” should be non-existent.

The only time I’ve heard silly illustrations used in sermons (“there was a man who went to the doctor …”) were in IFB churches. I always thought they sounded foolish.

[Bert] Seriously, if you’ve not heard sermon illustrations of dubious authenticity often, count yourself blessed. It’s very common among pastors who aren’t terribly keen on actually doing the hard work of exegesis.

I find that my time during preaching is too valuable to waste it on stories, anecdotes, and illustrations. If one comes to mind while preparing my sermon, I write it in my notes; but, I usually don’t go looking to add them in.

I am also perturbed about things that preacher friends share on Facebook, as if it is real news. Don’t miss that point.

I agree with 99% of the comments in this thread (trying to cover myself in case there is a smidgen here or there I forgot about). I generally don’t go searching out illustrations lately. spent too many fruitless hours searching for them when I was younger.

The main thing is to be sure of your sources and don’t repeat things as true without verifying them.

I suspect that what Don is trying to say between the lines (and rightly so) is that Christian leaders should be smarter than to believe (much less share) some of the outright nonsense from right-wing fake news sites on social media. I am appalled by the gullibility I see.

I read an article about one of the fake news business people (yes it is a business because fake news is all about advertising dollars). I remember him saying that when he was writing fake news, he wrote more for the right because they were more gullible than the left. I believe it.

[TylerR]

The only time I’ve heard silly illustrations used in sermons (“there was a man who went to the doctor …”) were in IFB churches. I always thought they sounded foolish.

You need to get out more. I have heard MANY messages non-IFB that not only incorporated silly illustrations, but the silly illustration was the sermon.

OTOH, I’m one who doesn’t give a rat’s rear if the illustration is made up as long as it is beneficial to the communication of the message and not presented as a true story. If it illustrates the point in a clear, appropriate way use it.

Preferably, however, is a point I heard Jack Greene state many years ago—illustrate from Scripture; scripture truth is best illustrated by scripture narrative. Hard to find a better illustration about Scripture than that which is recorded in scripture, “..,.things [given as]…our examples…” I Cor. 10:6

Lee, it’s hard to get out to other churches if you’re a pastor!

What was the perfect but untrue story Don rejected?

[Robert Byers]

What was the perfect but untrue story Don rejected?

It’s the one about the depressed diver who is on the 10 meter board at night, lights out, but enough light from the skylights to see what he is doing. Gets ready to dive, see’s his silhouette below in the shape of a cross, is convicted and gets right. The janitor comes along and turns on the lights and he realizes the pool is empty… something like that. the story I read had a name, a date, a location, etc. Turns out that it never happened.

I’m just giving bare outline from memory, don’t have access to the story at the moment.

The famous “drawbridge over crevasse illustration”

The drawbridge operation must permit his son to be crushed in the gears of the drawbridge so the train can pass safely …

Else all will careen to their deaths …

The father pulls the switch … the son is crushed.

I’ve heard this dozens of times.

Problem: why would there be a drawbridge over crevasse?!