Concerning the OP ---
I asked what I did, because it's the most direct way of knowing. "Are those Jill's words ? Did Jill really say that ?"
"Well ... ask Jill. What did Jill say ?"
Placing your faith in what Jeff said, isn't the same as getting it from the source. Reading about what someone else said, that Jeff said, that Jill said ... isn't the same either.
They all require *faith*. Faith in Jeff, faith in Jeff's friend. Or maybe if you feel that Jeff is telling the truth, then you can have faith in your feeling.
But to *know* ... whether or not Jill said something, just ask Jill. And if you don't trust Jill, then find some evidence to support Jill's story lol.
Now, as far as who we are to question His authority ... I believe that God showed me personally that He loves it when I ask questions, and wants me to ask. The first time I did so, based on what I believed to be His voice .... i saw the evidence immediately. Ever since, I haven't been afraid to ask pretty much anything. Although I don't always get the answers I like to hear, my own personal experiences still rest on a faith, backed by experience ...
Concerning the Bible ... what I believe God has shown me, is "don't throw the words around". Whether every book is inspired, or there are some books left out, or this or that ... I've always gotten ambiguous responses from God, so I leave it at that. Occassionally I press for more, but I try not to go "beyond what is written" so to speak. I do believe, though, that spiritual beings recognize spiritual things ... the words of God, the moving of God in the world, etc and so forth ... and so if something is of God, and you are to see it, you'll pick up on it and recognize it. "My sheep hear my voice."
Sometimes I thrive for more though, obviously. I have had faith for a long time in what I recognize, but I have not seen God face to face yet, for example, that I know of. I have not been standing in heaven, that I know of ... I still have lots of questions I'd love answers to, and I want more. I'm not content to take other's words for it, not even my own on a lot of things. Some things ... yeah. But some things, no. The Bible question is kinda/sorta one of those things with me ... but I also don't mind ambiguity. I find ambiguity to be very powerful, actually, because it lets people choose things more freely and doesn't seal up a mystery when it's still being revealed on a personal level.
So when I asked ... I was asking to "compare notes". Whenever I've had God show me something personally, I also get "proof" eventually, and by that, I mean personal experience, revelation, and sometimes with others. I like people to be able to give proof, but I also would like to see God face to face ... so if someone has done that, I would like to know about it, for example.
As far as other generalized accusations, again ... PM. This isn't the place.
