Ok, consider how you would go about creating a puzzle. Would you first cut one-thousand little pieces of cardboard into odd random shapes and then individually paint each piece, assuming that upon completion each piece would fit together and form one single coherent picture? Of course not, you would begin by painting a picture on one single large sheet of cardboard. You would draw lines all over your painting, forming the puzzle pieces, and then cut along those lines so that each individual piece will fit back into place with the others when the puzzle is reconstructed. In the same way a belief system must in and of itself have all of its ideas and truths cohere with one another. Each individual puzzle piece or belief must fit perfectly into place with its larger painting or its foundational system of beliefs. Contradictions or inconsistencies within a belief system would deny it of any credibility and from there we would watch it crumble.
What’s my point in all this?
That some people are redefining passages of the Bible to fit their friend’s (or sometimes complete stranger’s) very flawed belief systems. They’re deconstructing the Christian puzzle, cutting off those important connecting appendages that hold the whole picture together and throwing pieces away! All this because they aren’t comfortable with the image people will see once they’ve put our puzzle together.
We all know, nothing ticks people off more than starting a puzzle and finding they’re are missing pieces, in fact I would never try to do that puzzle again. The same is true of people who are introduced to a religion and all they find are contradictions, inconsistencies, and holes because someone isn’t giving them all the pieces.
If your finished puzzle shows you anything other than a complete picture of Christ being your one and only hope for redemption, salvation and eternal life, try a different puzzle.
