And that is really a sad state of affairs.
While St. Paul used illustrations to explain Theology, he didn’t tell lies or make up stories to illustrate his point.
He pointed out the altar “TO THE UNKNOWN GOD”, quoted Greek Philosophers, compared the body of Believers to the Body of Christ, explained Belief as analogous to Marriage, Roman Military Gear, Abraham’s two sons, Slavery, etc, but he didn’t make up stories.
Now, Jesus spoke in Parables, but He always gave an indication that it WAS a Parable.
And, of course, Jesus KNEW what He was talking about. In His illustrations concerning Nature, Crops, Seeds falling in different places, Families, Employers and Servants, etc, the stories were meant to teach Eternal Principles, not just make people feel good.
Sometimes I think preachers get their “stories” from email spam.
“Sometimes I think preachers get their ‘stories’ from email spam.”
Maybe now. When my dad and uncles did it in their sermons, email and internet weren’t even a glint in Al Gore’s eyes. Just religious urban legends that got passed around.
Sometimes when our preacher does it now - get really embarrassed.
While St. Paul used illustrations to explain Theology, he didn’t tell lies or make up stories to illustrate his point.
No One would waste seed on a rocky path. No father would give his son his inheritance before he died. etc.
Rom 11:8 as it is written, “God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that would not see and ears that would not hear, down to this very day.”
I was looking for the verse that eyes to see and ears to hear are a gift. Looks like the opposite is also true. Will have to put my Thinking Cap on and do some thinking.