Mathematics have never been a strength in my abilities. Algebra was the only class in high school in which I ever received a D. I am not sure if I missed the day they explained the basic concept of letters instead of numbers in equations, but for the longest time I did not have a clue what we were doing in class. It could be that I was just more interested in reading my history and literature textbooks than I was in math, so I did not pay much attention.
With that said, I have now figured out this multiplying of letters instead of numbers. A is the the first letter of the alphabet so it must equal 1. B is the second letter so it must equal 2. C follows, so it must always represent 3, and so on until Z equals 26. That would mean the formula of a2 + b2 = c2 is actually 1 + 4 = 9.
Of course, that answer is totally wrong because the whole concept I based the conclusion on is wrong. You can argue that it follows the system of A = 1, etc. You can argue that it makes sense when you see the algebraic formulas that have no numbers and you may find a case where said substitutions actually work. You may even find others who have no concept of algebra and get a group to believe you. But regardless, it is wrong. If one starts out with the wrong definitions, the wrong rationale, the wrong preconceptions, or even the wrong purpose, then everything built on those wrong suppositions will also be wrong.
And here is the comparison. Often on social media you will run across spiritual or theological memes that state what they assume is a logical conclusion to cherry picked verses. The one I read today says that “no rightly dividing of the word of God will deny the Torah.” Rightly dividing, which is a command in II Timothy 2:15, is not denying any Scripture. It is understanding the place in God’s plan that Scripture fits. Does the author of that meme really believe we should be living by the Torah? Even the Apostle Peter said that the Jews before Christ were not able to live up to that standard [Acts 15:5-10]. Whoever wrote that meme has no actual concept of the whole narrative of the Bible. Jesus Christ did not come to destroy the Old Testament Law. He came to fulfill the Law because we could not do it ourselves [Matthew 5:17]. So, we trust Christ and Christ fulfills the law for us. That is why we are saved by faith without the works of the Law [Galatians 2:16].
We are commanded to study the Bible [II Timothy 2:15] and that study is to know the context of the passage. To know who God is speaking to and in regard to what. Studying the Bible is to know the definitions by how God uses the words. It is to understand not only the verses that support the argument but also to understand why God stated something different in other places. To study the Scripture is to be able to see the narrative of the Bible from Genesis to the Revelation. It is to view the Bible as the final authority of our faith and not just a textbook we use to try to prove a point.
I am not against social media. It is a great way to stay in touch with family and friends, and get connected with people who have the same general interests. But I do not try to learn Bible from social media no more than I would try to learn medicine from Dr. Google. My “logical” conclusion of using letters in mathematics was silly and juvenile at the least. The same can be said for much of what passes as theological memes.
Satan’s first words to a human were to ask Eve, “Yea, hath God said …” and his tactics have never changed. If he can succeed in getting Christians to lay down their Bible and just rely on social media blurbs instead, then he continues the downfall of humanity. Ignorance and confusion never helped anyone. Pick your Bible up again.
