From Ron Walters, Preaching Magazine (2026 Winter)
One of life’s great pleasures is sitting at the feet of a master storyteller. Through their interactive words and unclouded imagination, our senses soar to another world.
There are multiple theories on what makes a great storyteller, but I subscribe to the notion that it includes relatability, novelty, pacing and surprise. Storytelling is an art. And mystery storytelling is a fine art.
America has produced some of the world’s best storytellers – Mark Twain, John Steinbeck, and Ernest Hemingway to name a few. Perhaps the most creative, yet least appreciated, is Edgar Allen Poe, who single-handedly crafted the first who-done-it mystery. Simply put, Poe invented the fictional detective story.
In the early 1800’s, before his wellknown and disturbing short stories and poems, Poe worked as a book critic for a popular magazine. His scathing reviews became must-reads among the literary community. Authors hated being his subject, claiming he used acid instead of ink. However, they reveled in how he scorched others writers.
Poe was a sad anomaly – little in his life came easy, or made sense. Orphaned at age three, his foster family ultimately disowned him. He falsified his name and age to join the army, and subsequently received an appointment to West Point. But after seven months of cadet life, he intentionally got himself court marshaled. At age 27, he married his first cousin – she was 13. He lived in poverty all his life, and mysteriously died alone at age 40; when found, he was wearing clothes that were not his own.
Living a confused and morose life 1 played a large part in how he told stories. , Poe’s fictional detective, the brilliant C. Auguste Dupin – using only his keen observation and deductive logic – solved the most puzzling of mysteries. And, it wasn’t long before other mystery writers created similar sleuths, such as Sherlock Holmes, Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple. (Magnum PI, meet your grandparents!)
We’re two centuries removed from Poe’s groundbreaking detective. However, the hunger for who-done-it stories has never been greater. In fact, mystery is the most popular genre among today’s readers. Last year, Americans spent more than $728 million on these stories.
If you’re wondering why mysteries are ‘ so popular, Book Ad Report says, “We’re all looking for distractions in these tumultuous times.” And that’s where we pastors come in, because unraveling mysteries is what we do.
Mysteries are nothing new to those who teach the Bible – the word mystery appears over 30 times in scripture, and , never in a casual way. When the Bible uses the term, it isn’t referring to something puzzling or mystical, but rather what God has kept secret until He reveals it at the appropriate time. For example …
- In Eph 1:9, He reveals the mystery of His will.
- In Col 2:9, He reveals the mystery of showing Himself to the world through His Son Jesus Christ.
- In Col 1:27, He reveals the mystery of Christ taking residence within each believer.
- In Eph 3:4, He reveals the mystery of Jews and Gentiles becoming one in His sight.
- In 1 Tim 3:16, He reveals the mystery of how His righteousness produces holiness in believers. • In 1 Cor 15:51, He reveals the mystery of believers snatched away from this earth “at the last trumpet.
“Teaching the importance of these mysteries was a high priority for Paul. “Pray for me that I will make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador.” (Eph 6.19)
Unpacking these mysteries is our calling too. If God’s children don’t understand them, they won’t know their spiritual birthright. And without knowing their birthright, they won’t appreciate their inheritance in Christ. Spiritual knowledge always precedes practical application.
Edgar Allen Poe’s shattered life influenced his storytelling. The truth and power of God’s Word influences ours – one produces fear, the other offers hope and redemption.
We have the best story to tell in “these tumultuous times.” In fact, ours is out of this world!
