Originally posted by Badwater
Unless the church is set up specifically as a tax shelter, there isn't a church out there that does not think it is preaching the "truth". You would seem to share something with most of those churches...it is the truth if it agrees with your position. Most churches would probably feel the same about you.
Also - what is your criteria for "knowing the Bibl ? Does that involve any theological or ancient sociological/cultural training on your part?
"Unless the church is set up specifically as a tax shelter, there isn't a church out there that does not think it is preaching the "truth". You would seem to share something with most of those churches...it is the truth if it agrees with your position. Most churches would probably feel the same about you."
Of course they all "think" they're preaching the truth, and to one degree or another they are. But the kind of reasoning you use above is typical of relativistic thinking. There is in fact "the truth", and finding a church that preaches it is not easy.
The trick is finding the one that comes the closest to preaching the truth as possible. No "church" is perfect, but most, in my opinion, don't have a clue, so they resort to preaching what feels good for the sake of filling the pews.
"Also - what is your criteria for "knowing the Bible"? Does that involve any theological or ancient sociological/cultural training on your part?"
"Knowing the Bible", that is, understanding the "word of truth", requires a number of things.
First, it requires the "indwelling" Holy Spirit. That happens when one makes a decision to trust Christ as their saviour.
Secondly, it takes study. Bible reading daily.
Third, it takes time.
It is said that knowledge plus experience equals wisdom.
Oh, I forgot. It also takes prayer, and lots of it.
As far as training is concerned, whatever it takes is ok with me, and I know some educated people that are indeed wise, but I also know folks that can barely read that demonstrate great wisdom.
God, in His wisdom, has made the Bible easy enough for a third grader to understand. The problem I have found is that some who get wonderful educations are some of the dopiest people I've ever met. They can disect an atom, but they can't comprehend the spirit.