SIMPLE OBSERVATION: Years ago, I used an illustration in a message I preached about a hymn that was written in the 1800’s. It was used by other preachers I had listened to and was in a couple of illustration books I owned. It was powerful and fascinating. But I found out later it was completely made up.
I was mortified. I had stood behind the sacred desk and used a false account to try to illustrate the truth of the Word of God. I was angry at myself and I promised I would always do my best to fact check anything that I was going to believe or try to tell others to believe. I do this because what it true towers above anything that might be substituted for the truth.
Since I began producing the Forgotten Podcast, many people have told me, “I love history! You know what they say, ‘If we don’t learn from history, we are doomed to repeat it.” This is said so many times! Over and over again. But here is what I have learned about people and histroy: If the history of the past doesn’t agree with what they want it to say in the present; or if history is more complex than what they want it to be; or if close examination of history brings to light different conclusions than what they aleady believe, then history (what is true) is completely ignored, and the fantasy of their own rendition of “truth” is waved like a flag of accuracy.
As I have tried to study historical truth, I have learned a few lessons.
1) Historical realities don’t care what I want to be true.
2) History is seldom as clear cut as I have been led to believe.
3) Where sources are limited tread lightly.
4) Always be humble enough to know that I am not omniscient and might be wrong.
5) Finally, if I am wrong or not exactly right, it’s not the end of the world, believe what is true and move on.
