>To say that we come to faith by reading the Scriptures is to totally ignore much of Scripture itself, that lays out how the Apostles taught people throughout the Empire that Christ had risen - by word of mouth and deeds, not by pamphlets handed out. <
I am not saying we come to faith by reading the scripture exclusively.I do know people that have come to faith by simply reading scripture.I know people that have come to faith through a Bible study and I know people that have come to faith by hearing the word.Bottom line is we don't get to choose.The Holy Spirit does.
I do believe God communicates with believers to a large part through scripture (with the guidsance of the Holy spirit).That is why we are told:
1Jo 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
How else can we test every spirit except against a standard? That standard is scripture.I believe that is what Peter was teaching in II Peter and that is why Jesus so often quoted scripture to give authority to what he said.
"Bottom line is we don't get to choose.The Holy Spirit does."
Well, that sounds like we have no choice in the matter of conversion. I believe that God provides us with ample opportunities to repent and convert - through the actions of others or events in their lives. God is constantly drawing us, and I think WE are the ones who decide whether to come to Christ or not. I suppose it is a question of free will and God's foreknowledge of the saved.
"I do believe God communicates with believers to a large part through scripture"
God communicates with us to a large part through the events in our daily lives. It is that we are usually blind to His Providence in our lives for us to realize that we are being trained to be more like Christ. Perhaps we are learning to be more patient or to endure suffering because of an event that God places in our path. Also, we communicate through prayer in a personal manner that often excludes the use of Scripture. And finally, we communicate with God through the various sacraments (at least those who partake in a sacramental theology), visible actions of God's invisible grace.
Scripture is only one of many ways, perhaps not even the main way, that we come closer to God.
"How else can we test every spirit except against a standard?"
The Bible is not an all-inclusive standard. It is not a catechism or a systematic theological treatise. There are issues that it really doesn't touch on very much, or is vague, or even appears to contradict, to those without any guidance. Scripture is the test we apply our beliefs to, but sometimes, we have to use other methods, such as the 2000 year history of the Church's Tradition - contraception would be an example off the top of my head. It really isn't discussed much in the Scriptures. Yet, it is forbidden throughout Christianity's history.
Regards