[Kolokotronis]

"After studying my Bible, I found the doctrine of the Southern Baptist Convention, as stated in the Baptist Faith and Message, to be scripturally sound."

When you studied your Bible, upon what did you base whatever conclusions you came to in determining what the Bible is saying in order to use it as a measure against the Baptist Faith and Message?

"While I do not claim that the SBC is the only denomination that is scripturally sound in their doctrine, it is the one that I am most comfortable with."

Fair enough, but might it not be more important to determine if their doctrine were true rather than if you were comfortable with it? What I mean is, if a church were to teach something that made you comfortable, but was nevertheless untrue, would that still be ok? If not, how does one tell if the doctrine being advanced is true?

I'm not trying to be a sophist here at all. Thanks for any response.

[deaconjim]

When you studied your Bible, upon what did you base whatever conclusions you came to in determining what the Bible is saying in order to use it as a measure against the Baptist Faith and Message?

I pray for guidance and understanding, and then study the Word. After making my conclusions, I then look at them to see if they are consistent with what I know to be true about God and His Word. I also compare what I learn from my study with the conclusions of others whom I have found to be knowledgeable.

Fair enough, but might it not be more important to determine if their doctrine were true rather than if you were comfortable with it? What I mean is, if a church were to teach something that made you comfortable, but was nevertheless untrue, would that still be ok? If not, how does one tell if the doctrine being advanced is true?

My first concern was to determine that the Baptist F&M was scripturally sound. My comfort level with it was entirely secondary to that. (By comfort level, I am refering to things that are more style than doctrine.) As I stated in earlier posts, if my church started teaching false doctrine, I would have to resist that teaching, and if necessary, leave that church. I use the method described above to determine if the doctrine is true.