Fanciful interpretations get great feedback, but they do great damage. Fanciful interpretations get some people very excited, but those who know their Bibles, or have been to Bible school tend to look glum in the midst of the hysteria. Is this because all who have training are killjoys? Or is it perhaps because they see through the hype like a parent watching children getting excited about excessive amounts of sugar?
You can usually spot the indications of fanciful interpretation. One big red flag is when people are saying, “I would never have got that from that passage, wow!” Or even, “That was so rich, deep, original, (you choose the description)!”
But if people are so obviously blessed and encouraged, what is wrong with it? Let me offer seven problems with fanciful interpretation:
1. Fanciful interpretation teaches listeners bad Bible study. You may have convinced yourself that that particular reference to a boat has a deeper meaning relating to postmodernism, or that the name of the valley is an anagram of a suburb of Manchester, or whatever. But let’s say, for argument’s sake, that your clever interpretation doesn’t seem to do any harm and is motivating for the listeners on a spiritual level (perhaps a spiritual theology of David’s brothers’ names, or the significance of a geographical feature for the Christian life). Surely no harm is done? It is if the listeners then copy your way of handling Scripture and come up with an application you find objectionable (the cults do this all the time).
2. Fanciful interpretation offers nutritionally empty fare. Perhaps you’ve come across the notion of empty calories? Something made with highly processed sugar and white flour and unnatural ingredients. These things tend to taste good (temporarily), but have no nutritional value. In fact, over time and in excess, they can do great harm to you. The same is true of overly sweet, overly processed Bible fancies that stir excitement but offer no nutritional value.
3. Fanciful interpretation may cause listeners to give up on their Bibles. After all, if they can’t see how you got there, maybe instead of copying your approach, perhaps they’ll just feel inadequate and give up on their Bibles. They may look forward to hearing you again (which is the motivation for some speakers), but their Bibles will gain dust in the meantime.
The rest of the list tomorrow . . .
This is the middle post in a series of three on Big Idea preaching. Specifically, I’ve been struck by how many people recommend Haddon Robinson’s book, yet seem to not have grasped what it teaches. I understand that they are impressed by the well written chapters dealing with various elements of sermon preparation and delivery (I was impressed first time through), but the powerful notion of the Big Idea is not instantly grasped (took me a while!) So yesterday we thought about The Big Idea being about communication. But more than that . . .
Over the past few years I’ve come across quite a number of people who talk about preaching and recommend Haddon Robinson’s book, but don’t really understand Robinson’s teaching on the subject. It seems that some people are impressed with aspects of the book, Biblical Preaching, but don’t really grasp some of the core teaching of it. In particular, the nature and power of the Big Idea in preaching. Today I’d like to focus on communication, but will continue the series tomorrow in respect to biblical studies, then finish with a focus on the Spirit of God. Do we really get the Big Idea?
Biblical Preaching 