Your metaphor about temple repair is thoughtful, but misses a key point. I'm not suggesting we abandon the Bible - I'm arguing we should understand it as what it actually is: a collection of historically-situated writings that require careful interpretation. We can acknowledge its profound wisdom and importance while also recognizing that it contains multiple, sometimes conflicting viewpoints. The goal isn't to pick and choose what "suits our opinion," but to understand what Jesus himself actually taught and lived. That requires rigorous historical and textual analysis, which scholars have been doing for centuries. The historical Jesus's message was actually quite clear and consistent: love God, love your neighbors, work for justice, create beloved community. That's not a "short" message - it's a revolutionary way of life that challenges everything about how our world operates.