2 Peter 1:1-21

Cleverly Invented Stories

I enjoy the writings of Stephen Lawhead. He has written a great deal of historical fiction based on Celtic legend. His dialogue is excellent. He is masterful at describing food. (Random, I know, but true.) Most of all he weaves a tight intriguing plot. There is truly good stuff here.

Some people would have us believe that the stories about Jesus are essentially the same as a good novel. They would have us believe that twenty centuries ago long before the modern novel took its form there was a group of literary giants in a small impoverished near eastern country who happened to come together and  conspire not only to write the first modern work of faux historical fiction, but that they had the genius to write four such books in order to appear more authentic. In truth, I have an easier time believing that Jesus walked on water than in believing this theory.

Who could make up such a story? God being born as a baby, apparently conceived out of wedlock, to an impoverished insignificant young couple. He basically does nothing of note until well into adulthood. He then produces the greatest teaching the world has ever know. Yes, He does some miracles, but He makes no marks politically. He is killed by His enemies then God raises Him from the dead and He leaves. Left behind is a handful of undistinguished followers who are entrusted with taking the message of life to the entire world. 

Toward the end of his career Simon Peter must have already been hearing rumblings about how these stories were just made up. His response? “We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.” Eyewitnesses! The most powerful tool in the historian’s arsenal. All they did was tell us what they witnesses. 

But in truth, they didn’t do it alone. They had help. They didn’t just decide, “Let’s write some books!” These prophetic words were not their idea. By definition prophetic words aren’t man’s idea anyway. They were carried along by the Holy Spirit. 

So, there are three options:

1. The greatest moral teachers of all time got their teaching out by means of deliberate deception. (Seems incongruous.) 
2. The Holy Spirit of God used men to perpetrate a lie. (I can’t get my mind around that idea and am not sure I want to.)
3. It’s all true.