31 December | Youth
«If anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.» Revelation 22:19
According to Greek mythology, Procrustes was a bandit who used to host people in his house in the Eleusinian mountains. In his room, there was an iron bed that was his exact size, on which he invited all travelers to lie down. If guests were too tall, he would amputate the excess length to fit them into the bed. If they were small in stature, he would stretch them until they were big enough. Thus, a victim never exactly fit the size of the bed.
The myth of Procrustes is used in Philosophy to demonstrate human intolerance towards other people and different opinions. Furthermore, this dark story exemplifies the attitude of those who want, at all costs, to adapt knowledge to their own point of view. There are many people who think that their interpretation of things, that is, the “size of their bed” is the only right way there is.
This danger involves any area of knowledge, including Theology. When we face the horizon of the biblical text, we always bring our presuppositions, paradigms and formed concepts: our own worldview. The challenge is to allow the Bible to guide and modify our presuppositions, not the other way around.
In an attempt to contextualize the message, many people end up stretching or mutilating the biblical text. They apply it without first understanding it. As one of my teachers said, instead of reading the Bible with a highlighter, they do it with scissors, cutting out what they do not like!
To avoid this error, it is necessary to read the text carefully, humbly and honestly, without disregarding the context in all its implications nor the culture and time in which it was written. Furthermore, the study of the Scriptures must always be accompanied by prayer, so that the Holy Spirit guides the reader's mind.
In these confusing days of so many divergent views, be careful with the “lenses” you use to understand the Bible. The Bible must be its own interpreter. The text must be analyzed in its proper context –general and specific. Thus, the “Procrustes” of life will remain only in mythology.