Ever since I started suggesting a symbolic perspective of God’s Word, the typical response from others has been to summarily dismiss my thinking as foolishness. Of course, other than Tony, no one has thoughtfully considered my argument, rather they just assume that it is impossible for someone to find a hidden wisdom in scripture that is internally logically consistent and profoundly meaningful. As such, to date, no one has provided a logical argument against my claim, presumably because they feel that there is no incentive to devote time to consider what they perceive to be the “ravings” of a whack job. So, I am providing a meaningful incentive to hopefully inspire others to consider my argument.
For the first person who posts on my Substack a logical argument against my claim that God intended all of His Word to be approached with one consistent symbolic perspective, I will donate in their honor $5,000 to a food bank that is part of the FeedingAmerica.org network. If the argument is from someone outside of the US, then we will mutually agree on a certifiable food bank or charity in that area.
Importantly, the challenge is not to dispute my perception of any particular image, rather whether a symbolic perspective reveals an internally consistent understanding. As many have already argued, presumably anyone can claim a symbolic understanding of any particular image. However, my claim is that every biblical image is to be perceived only by the inferences provided within scripture. Sure, I freely admit that my perceptions are immature and not absolutely defined, but I have not found any meaningful inconsistencies that would cause me to forego the symbolic perspective.
Please note that I have no financial or personal interest in promoting the symbolic perspective, so I am not resisting criticism. However, I am tired of people mocking a concept without truly considering it, or mocking me without considering my effort. I did not choose to perceive what I perceive, and my conclusions are not fantasies, rather they are what I believe to be the results of applying logical thinking, just as any scientist would do. My only goal is to convince you to consider similarly approaching scripture with a symbolic perspective, such that you seek to discover how God intended His images to be perceived.
So, if you are interested in either helping your community or discovering a hidden wisdom, I hope you will devote the time to thoughtfully consider my arguments. Blessings on your journey into God’s Word.