Junkyard Theology

“For the time will come when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.” 2 Timothy 4:3-4

Ever drive by a wrecking yard? Ever GO to a wrecking yard…you know…one of those “Pick-and-Pull” places? You never go to one of them to get a WHOLE car. You just get the parts that will fill your need: a bumper, a side mirror, maybe an engine part, maybe even a complete engine. But…a whole car? That would be ridiculous. Why go to a wrecking yard to buy a car? Oh, they’ll sell you all of the parts, if necessary, but you’ll have to assemble it yourself!

Some of you out there are fully capable of gathering the pieces of a car and putting it together in such a way that it will not only run, but look beautiful. Maybe even win some contests…or odd looks!

Well, that is perfectly fine for cars, but LOUSY for basing one’s life decisions upon using such a method. As ridiculous as it sounds, some people approach God’s Word like that. Take this part (“I like it”)…leave that one out (I don’t like it and it doesn’t really “fit” my life anyway)…modify that one (“I’m not comfortable with the way it is but I think I can make it fit with just a few changes…”)…all to fit THEIR lifestyle or “parameters”.

That is what I call “Junkyard Theology”. Is that how YOU approach God’s Word, the Bible? Because a certain scripture is “uncomfortable” or not easily understood does not mean it should be discarded or set aside. ALL of God’s Word is meant for our life. We are to build our life upon the Bible, not try to fit the Bible into our predetermined framework. Paul said it best when he was instructing a young pastor named Timothy when he told him, “All scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16).

Either we are going to believe and follow ALL of God’s Word, or none of it. We CANNOT have it both ways.