I was born and raised a Roman Catholic. My mother attends mass probably every day. As a kid, I never thought much about church. In fact, I hated going. As I got older (I'm 26), I began to research Christianity. I began to read the Bible and read studies on certain parts of the Bible. I also listen to preachers on the radio and read a lot of articles on the web. I then realized something and that was that there are many different Christian believes and many different types of Christian churches. Some believe that Christ is not God others do, others that hell doesn't exist, some do, some believe God predestined those whom are saved, others that we are saved on a daily basis, some believe Christ is really Michael the Arch Angel, others that Michael is only an angel, some believe that God created the heavens and the earth in 6 literal days, others believe in a much longer creation time, some believe in praying to saints and the virgin Mary, others believe that that is idol worship... I can go on...
I've had JWs come to my house and speak with me, I've read and watch preachers via tv, internet and radio, I've spoken with a Catholic priest; each of which claimed that salvation was through their ministry/church alone. However, each taught contradicting each other and the frustrating thing was that they all justified their doctrines using the Bible (except the Catholic priest). I'm looking for the plain truth. I want to know what the Bible teaches. I want to know what Bible to read (currently have KJV, NIV). I want to know what church to go to (if any). I don't go to church because I fear I may start believing a false doctrine. Christ warned against false Christ's and false teachers “Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. For there shall arise false Christ's, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; in so much that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.” There are many warnings in the Bible… The parable of the Wheat and Tares, the white horse of revelation (4 horse men (I read a study that suggests this white horse is false religion)), and many other places that I don't even know about. This is the point that I'm struggling with. This point is so clear in the Bible. Was I deceived as a Roman Catholic? Was that JW lying to me unknowingly? Those articles I've read and Bible classes I heard over the radio and internet and TV, where they all false? I know that in order to verify that something is true, you would have to compare scriptures with scriptures and make sure that everything is cohesive. But how do I do that? How do I scan the Bible to verify that what I'm studying is true?
If you are not sure of what I mean, or to see exactly what I'm refering to, read this thread:
http://discussions.godandscience.org/vi ... 4594#14594
Both points of free will and no free will can be proven by the Bible. Understanding that the Bible is true and that it is the Word of God and that God is not the author of confusion, one must be true and the other false... Unless this goes beyond human comprehension of logic to some level we just can't grasp (just a thought). But that wouldn't work either becuase we can then place the blame on God for following some false doctrine...
Thanks...
Vic
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