aiki
Regular Member
I was baptised in a protestant church, so my exposure is merely protestant.
"Merely Protestant"? Why "merely"? A Protestant exposure to Christianity is as good as any other sort of exposure.
The problem with protestant is that we the bible only mindset, we are proud of our reformation in the 16th century, and that can makes us bias and willing to open up to the true christianity.
Sola Scriptura - Scripture alone - is not a problem but an answer and a very good one. There is no "true Christianity" except that Christianity described in the Bible.
The sad part about protestantism it is a mess, each denomination interpret their bible in their own way and no true unity btw them, each claim they are right and know how to read the bible best, this open up to false teaching and invite wolves into the churches.
??? I'm afraid you're speaking from ignorance, here. In the city where I live, Baptists, E-Free, Lutherans, Presbyterians, Missionary Alliance, Calvary Temple, and many non-denominations all hold to the same set of fundamental doctrines of the faith. They differ in peripherals - organizational structure, cultural heritage, eschatology, ministry focus, etc. - not in essentials. The "mess" you assert exists is more assumed than real.
so how does one find truth in Christianity. i don't deny the authority of the bible but i'm interested in the correct interpretation of the bible. that being said I've to read the early christian writings, read tons of theologian from different branch of christianity including roman catholic and eastern orthodox, study hard about church history.. right? I was an ostrich I mainly listen to whosoever pastor me in a church, I think it's time for me to do my due diligence. What are some of the advice I can get for those who have went through it?
Learn about proper biblical hermeneutics. A popular-level treatment of this topic can be found in the book, "How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth" by Gordon D. Fee and Douglas Stuart. This would be a good place to start in learning how to properly interpret Scripture.
Be discipled. Find a mature, godly man - not one who is merely knowledgeable about the faith but living it out - and have him walk with you for a time into a deeper understanding and experience of God.
Don't get all your spiritual food "pre-chewed." Study the Bible for yourself. There are excellent software packages online you can purchase for this sort of study. I would recommend WordSearch which has recently folded into Logos Faithlife Bible study website. A huge spectrum of Bible study tools is offered to any level of student of Scripture.
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