@Dave Darling, I'm saying this, not for your benefit alone, but everyone else's.
Jesus said,
Go to the people of all nations and make them my disciples. Baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and teach them to do everything I have told you. I will be with you always, even until the end of the world. Matthew 28:19, 20
Jesus sent out his disciples. He commanded them to Go, and preach, and teach.
Jesus has not told us,
Don't go. Sit on the internet where you will find all kinds of different conflicting answers to one simple question.
So, if you really want to understand the truth of the Bible, Jesus disciples are available to help you.
They offer to help, and to teach.
The following is an example of God using one of his workers in the harvest. Notice that he uses a man - a harvester, to teach.
Acts 8:26-31
26 Now an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, “Arise and go toward the south along the road which goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This is desert.
27 So he arose and went. And behold, a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace the queen of the Ethiopians, who had charge of all her treasury, and had come to Jerusalem to worship,
28 was returning. And sitting in his chariot, he was reading Isaiah the prophet.
29 Then the Spirit said to Philip, “Go near and overtake this chariot.”
30 So Philip ran to him, and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and said, “Do you understand what you are reading?”
31 And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he asked Philip to come up and sit with him.
Such men are the workers Jesus said to pray to the master of the harvest for more of them.
People who sit and wait to be infused by holy spirit are already ignoring what the Bible says.
It's Jesus disciples that receive holy spirit - the ones who are actually already involved in the harvest.
So, when someone tells a thinking person who is asking a genuine question, to stay away "from people that want to "teach you"" the Bible... and then they add something on to it, like "from their perspective." is that person really interested in
you, or
themselves?
Satan wants people to remain in confusion, and the reason the churches are emptying, is because people are beginning to have their eyes opened, and realize they don't have to allow Satan's billions of ministers with their morass of conflicting teachings to continue to confuse them.
Let me assure you that you will simply be studying the Bible. Not
church doctrine and traditions that invalidate God's word. Most people claim to be Christians, and they do not love the truth.
Moreover, you are not a 2 year old that someone has to tell you, "don't listen to him", "don't accept that"... You deserve better respect than that.
You are an adult with a brain to think for yourself, and know what to accept from what not to. You have common sense, and freedom to stop the study at any time.
Also, you are not forced to study. It is your choice, and you will be determining for yourself if you are seeing what the Bible teaches.
Some of the topics you can choose from, are::
- Why is there suffering, and when will it end?
- Are the dead suffering? Is there any hope I will see my dead loved ones again?
- Can you really trust the Bible with 100% certainty?
- Who are Jesus true disciples?
- What is the kingdom of God's for which we pray? ...and many more.
There is a reason people come to religious internet forums, instead of just googling a question.
People are looking for someone, who will be able to use the Bible to teach, rather than just give an answer, which most often leaves ones with more question, and then one is wasting their time googling other question, which leaves one at the very beginning where they started, because, now their are so many confusing and conflicting answers.
It is my hope that you will study the Bible with someone who is actively involved in obeying Jesus command to go, make disciples, and teach them.
Continue praying about it though. Don't give up. It's always good too, when we are specific in our prayers about what we want. God will grant it to us, as long as we are sincere - honest, and humble.
Take good care Dave.
