Replies

Sentis wrote (in post 4292) "Having been brought up a Southern Baptist which means i have read that...Book More times than I like to think of before my 18th birthday...."

It's funny, I was brought up Catholic and, while many Catholics are true Christians and generally the Catholic church is to be commended for its good works, I broke with them because I believe their doctrine is seriously flawed; yet another case of hijacking the original into a counterfeit (you can read one small and recent proof of this, which I think shows the leftie liberalism that has invaded the Catholic Church and is only the tip of the iceberg, in the headlines of 2002).

Since then, I studied many of the world's religions and almost all the Christian denominations. I think the So. Baptists have their doctrine down as close as it gets to Biblically sound. I do have problems with some of the So. Baptists' application with that doctrine.

I generally prefer the non-denominational, expository-type teaching. I'm not a member of any church because there is no Biblical mandate to join a particular church -- I'm a member of the worldwide Church of Jesus Christ by virtue of my belief and have been blessed with several good Christian friends with whom I fellowship on a regular basis. I do attend church most every Sunday and read the Bible regularly.

I wondered if, since you said you read the Bible apparently several times before your 18th birthday, if you can really say that you actually read it. I only wonder because I, too, said I read it, but what that actually meant was that I read bits and pieces, I listened to the priests' sermons, I observed people who professed to be Christians, etc., forming my own doctrine and opinion of Christianity based on these bits and pieces. I never read it cover to cover for myself as an adult.

When I finally decided it was important to read this Book that has made such an impact on world history from day one, I bought the Life Application Study Bible and read every single word of the commentary. I then read the Bible, Genesis to Revelation, AND the commentary. To say it was an eye-opener is an understatement. I was stunned at the amount of mis-information and strange interpretations and counterfeit Christianity to which I'd been subjected for years!! I'm just asking that you re-look at your statement that you've read the Bible.

I urge you to look to Jesus Christ only for the Truth; His followers will only disappoint you as we are human. Don't take anyone's word for it; read it for yourself. Don't take bits and pieces of it; read it cover to cover.