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Formal training in the bible has nothing to do with being a Christian...Most of the formal training for these crossovers consists of training about the bible, not the bible itself...

I actually see a parallel with what I discovered about myself when I was an audiophile and now see the error of my ways.

The reason hi-fi’s were invented is to listen to music with high fidelity. However, us audiophiles eventually evolved into something else. We started focusing on the hi-fi rather than the music. And I compare audiophiles to music lovers thusly (though one can be both):

Music lovers listen to the music. Audiophiles listen to the hi-fi reporoduce the music.

Same is true with some regarding the bible. They practically worship it for all of its wisdom and are very proud of their understanding of many of its subtle meanings, yet they miss the whole point of the book and have not accepted its core message.

The bible is a tool to help one understand God and His Good News in the same way a hi-fi is a tool. We need to use it for the purpose for which it was created and not focus on it and its innter workings.

I appreciate the parrallel analogy...Some folks study the languages the bible was written in...They study the history of the bible...They study the perceived errors in the bible and how to make themselves the authority to correct the bible...They study the notable people who have commented on the bible...And of course they study human wisdom which is pagan philosophy trying to make logical sense of what the bible is about...

And they spend no time in reading and learning what God is saying...

And yes, there are countless bible students striving to become scholars who focus their education on the bible, not about the bible...And thank God for those Christians...

One can clearly see the difference on these FR threads...