I as an Italian in ancestry, American, by birth, raised by an Atheist father, and a Roman Catholic mother, became an Apostolic Pentecostal because of study and research encouraged by my atheist father, who once said to me that if I was going to believe the scriptures I better make sure I looked into it far further than those who claimed to be the defenders of the faith.
I dedicated my life to not only teach my children to evaluate the evidence critically, but be able to understand where the opposition is coming from, and why they choose the paths they have chosen.
We have family friends who are part off different religions, and religions which are not Christian, they too say they have studied to know why they believe the way they believe.
Not everyone is like our (as Barb aptly stated "poser") PreacherME, they're Hindus who have studied out the Mahabharata in the original Sanskrit, Modern Jews who have studied out the Talmud and Torah in the original Hebrew, and Aramaic, LDS, and Jehovah Witnesses who have gone painstakingly through their own teachings and found what they believe to be as correct as what you and I claim to be as correct.
A person who is SINCERE in a religion would have to be dog barking mad to say they never really studied it out after being in it for over 40 years.
Yet, people have all sorts of reasons for being in their cults, cultures, and religions, even those who we think are blatantly wrong are usually sincere about their wrongness.
I don't doubt your sincerity in whatever you claim to be your religious truth, but whether its you or I, saying that we study doesn't mean anything in the grander scheme of things.
One of us is wrong, and the WRONG is what will put one of us in a burning lake of fire.
While we may want this truth to allow all who claim to have a burning in the bosom, and believe in Jesus Christ all to be saved, the Bible gives a different story.
While we all roll around the floor having a hair pulling contest on Calvinism, Arianism, or Molinism, we can't deny that there is ONLY ONE TRUTH. While I go round and round with Muslims, Hindus, Jehovah Witnesses, Mormons, Presbyterians, Eastern and Western Catholics, on doctrines, we all agree on one thing. We agree that there is only ONE TRUTH. You and I just better be sure we are in that one truth, others get around it by saying that God in His mercy will circumvent His word and allow everyone to gain access to eternal life. While they may gain some a sigh of relief that isn't what is obviously found within the pages of the Bible.
I've never heard anyone say God in His mercy will circumvent His word. Who said that, EB?
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Hebrews 13:23 Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty
PM, these are not the questions you posed at the outset...
YOU said you were not versed in the matters of holiness. After lo those many years of 'ministry', and you still couldn't give an answer...something is amiss.
I'm sorry, but my gift of suspicion leads me to still think you are a poser... but that is your business and JMHO. Carry on...
couldn't answer the questions eh? Don't worry about it, neither could I.
I've never heard anyone say God in His mercy will circumvent His word. Who said that, EB?
Get out of the house more.
__________________ "all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed."
~Declaration of Independence
"God will circumvent His word." People have said that. OK. If you say so.
I, by the way, do not believe that. I believe everything God has said is true, and He will never do anything contrary to what He has said. He never has broken a promise and never will.
IMO.
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Hebrews 13:23 Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty
"God will circumvent His word." People have said that. OK. If you say so.
I, by the way, do not believe that. I believe everything God has said is true, and He will never do anything contrary to what He has said. He never has broken a promise and never will.
While you and I disagree on somethings, we do agree where it is most important and that is Christ and Him crucified.
I am telling you when I really started to see who Christ when I took off my doctrinal glasses and read the Word like a babe.
It is Christ Who taught me that I am justified by faith and it was Paul who confirmed it.
NG, with all due respect, please I mean no offense when I post this, you would find that most, if not all Christians would say the same as you have posted above.
Taking off doctrinal glasses means what to who?
If I'm a Arminian I'm told by the Calvinists to take off doctrinal glasses to see his truth, and visa versa.
Isn't that the tried a true mantra?
The Jehovah Witness is told by the Baptist to take off his doctrinal glasses so he can see the Baptist truth, or the Pentecostal truth?
Just think about the plethora of doctrinal teachings out there? Each group uses the same Bible, and Greek dictionary we use, and they all with one accord say that they believe that it is all about Christ and Him crucified, and justification by faith, but just happen to see it at slightly a different angle?
Yes, you do have faithful followers of Brother John Birch who will never question, or search, but we also have those who took off their "doctrinal glasses" put on another set of "doctrinal glasses" and end back where they started, yet, feel they have come to an enlightenment which the cave dwellers they use to be affiliated with don't have yet.
Jesus said that the well need no physician.
I do believe Internet Forum Land has proved that to be very true.
May the force be with you.
__________________ "all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed."
~Declaration of Independence
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