In an age riddled with skepticism and external attacks on Christianity, a more insidious threat has emerged—one that arises not from without, but from within the Church itself. Christians, in their earnest but often misguided attempts to define or refine their faith, are increasingly engaging in a peculiar form of self-sabotage: the tearing apart of the very scriptures they claim to hold sacred. This isn’t about intellectual debate or theological nuance; it’s about a systematic, piecemeal dismissal of entire sections of the Bible, leaving behind a fragmented, anemic, and ultimately unsustainable faith.
This article will expose the various arguments used by some within Christendom to discard parts of the Bible, illustrate the profound cumulative damage this inflicts, and assert the immutable necessity of accepting the entirety of God’s inspired Word. For if we, the custodians of the truth, cannot agree on the integrity of our foundational text, what truth do we have left to proclaim?
The Old Testament Under Siege: “Done Away With”
One of the most common arguments against the full authority of scripture involves the Old Testament. The assertion is that with the advent of the New Covenant through Christ, the Law has been abolished, rendering the Old Testament (the Law, the Prophets, the Writings) largely irrelevant to contemporary believers. Proponents of this view often suggest that its narratives, commands, and prophecies are merely historical artifacts of a “past dispensation,” having no direct bearing on the modern Christian walk.
However, this perspective dangerously misunderstands both Christ’s mission and the continuity of God’s redemptive plan. Jesus Himself declared in Matthew 5:17, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.” To dismiss the Old Testament is to remove the foundational understanding of God’s character, His eternal covenants, and the very context for Christ’s arrival and sacrifice. It strips away the historical and prophetic backdrop for the New Testament, leading to a superficial understanding of sin, atonement, and the unfolding drama of redemption. A Christianity detached from its Old Testament roots is a tree without a root system, vulnerable to every passing theological gust.
Assault on the Gospels: Denying Authenticity
Even the core narratives of Jesus’ life and ministry—the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John—are not immune to internal critique. Some voices within Christian academia and progressive circles question the authorship, dating, or historical accuracy of these foundational books. Claims emerge that Mark and Luke, in particular, are late forgeries, unreliable historical documents, or not truly divinely inspired, based on various modern critical theories.
The damage here is catastrophic. To undermine the Gospels is to attack the very source of our knowledge about Jesus Christ Himself. It casts doubt on the eyewitness accounts of His life, miracles, teachings, death, and resurrection. If the Gospels are deemed unreliable, on what basis do we claim to know who Jesus was, what He taught, or the truth of His redemptive work? This approach creates an epistemological vacuum, leaving believers with a Jesus of their own making, rather than the historical, biblical Christ.
Paul’s Epistles: The “Problematic” Apostle
Perhaps no other New Testament figure has endured as much internal scrutiny and dismissal as the Apostle Paul. His epistles, which form a substantial portion of the New Testament, are frequently categorized as “problematic.” Arguments often cite specific verses, taken out of context, to paint Paul as misogynistic, culturally outdated, or even as contradicting Jesus’ teachings. The radical conclusion often drawn is that Paul’s writings should not be considered canonical or authoritative for Christian faith and practice.
To discard Paul’s epistles is to rip out the theological heart of the New Testament. It removes vast swathes of foundational Christian doctrine: the detailed explanation of justification by faith, the nature of grace, the mysteries of the Church as the body of Christ, the process of sanctification, principles of spiritual warfare, and vital eschatological insights. His letters provide comprehensive instruction on practical Christian living, church order, and the application of the Gospel message. Without Paul, the Church loses its most comprehensive theological framework, leaving believers without the clear explanation of what Christ accomplished and how it applies to our lives.
The Book of Revelation and Eschatology: “Too Complex,” “Not for Us,” or “Already Fulfilled”
The culmination of the biblical narrative, the Book of Revelation, along with other prophetic scriptures concerning the end times (eschatology), also faces significant internal resistance. While healthy interpretive debate is vital, some go beyond this to effectively nullify Revelation’s future significance. Extreme Preterism, for instance, claims that virtually all prophecies, including those in Revelation, were fulfilled in 70 AD with the destruction of Jerusalem. Others simply dismiss Revelation as too symbolic, too complex, or irrelevant to daily Christian life.
This dismissal blinds believers to the prophetic timeline and the urgency of the Lord’s return. It removes vital warnings against deception, calls to perseverance through tribulation, and the glorious hope of Christ’s final victory. When the future aspects of Christ’s return, the tribulation, and the millennium are removed or minimized, the Church loses a powerful incentive for holiness, evangelism, and vigilance. It distorts the complete picture of God’s redemptive plan and His ultimate triumph over evil, leading to a dangerous complacency and lack of preparation.
The Cumulative Damage: A Faith Without Foundation
Each discarded section, viewed in isolation, seems to remove only a part. Yet, cumulatively, these acts of internal demolition leave behind a fragmented, anemic, and ultimately subjective faith. When Christians feel free to pick and choose which parts of the Bible are “for them,” they elevate personal preference or modern sensibilities above divine revelation. The inevitable result is the loss of absolute truth and the rise of relativism, where every individual becomes their own ultimate theological authority.
The core principle here is undeniable: if we can discard parts, where does it end? Who decides what stays and what goes? If the Old Testament is irrelevant, if the Gospels are corrupted, if Paul is misogynistic, and if Revelation is past history, what remains? A whisper of moral teachings, perhaps, but certainly not the authoritative, living, and active Word of God. This piecemeal approach does not refine faith; it dismantles it, leaving behind a hollow shell that cannot withstand the spiritual storms of our age.
Conclusion: Reclaiming the Whole Word
The Apostle Paul, whose writings are so often targeted, gave us the antidote to this internal assault: 2 Timothy 3:16-17, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” The word “all” leaves no room for selective interpretation or dismissal. Every part, from Genesis to Revelation, is God-breathed, divinely inspired, and purposeful for equipping the believer.
It is time for the Church to repent of its intellectual arrogance and return to a humble, reverent acceptance of the entire canon of Scripture. We are not called to edit God’s Word but to submit to it. The richness, completeness, and power of the entire Bible are indispensable for sound doctrine, timely reproof, godly correction, and instruction in righteousness. Let us cease the self-inflicted wounds, lay down our tearing hands, and unite around the unadulterated, whole Word of God, for it alone is the unwavering foundation upon which true faith is built.