The "Five Steps"

[stevehut]

 

I wouldn't boast about that record, saved. 

God has wired all of us to need each other.  It is not a virtue, to proudly go it alone.

[Serenity432001]

I think its good to have a healthy balance.  Its good to learn from others and be open to what they say BUT, we need to have our own faith and not our parents or our teachers.  I was taught very well as a child and am grateful for that teaching but, when I became an adult, I started questioning some of it and rightfully so.  I didn't really get a relationship with God from just being taught.  I had to seek and find for myself.   I've also seen much teaching be destructive and just plain wrong so we certainly want to be careful that we are not being dependent upon others for all our teaching but to be dependent upon God that He guide and guard us. 

[Serenity432001]

I wouldn't boast about that record, saved. 

God has wired all of us to need each other.  It is not a virtue, to proudly go it alone.

Imo, what saved did was to seek and find.  God has made it so all who seek will find so that tells me that we don't have to have someone else.  God is everywhere and speaks to us through creation and all sorts of ways including but not limited to other people.   I do agree that we are wired to need one another but if our real dependence is not first and foremost on God, others could get us in a heap of trouble.

[stevehut]

I was taught very well as a child and am grateful for that teaching but, when I became an adult, I started questioning some of it and rightfully so.  I didn't really get a relationship with God from just being taught.  I had to seek and find for myself.   

Yup   

[stevehut]

God has made it so all who seek will find so that tells me that we don't have to have someone else. 

   ?

Doesn't sound like biblical Christianity to me.

[savedbyhim]

I wouldn't boast about that record, saved. 

God has wired all of us to need each other.  It is not a virtue, to proudly go it alone.

I'm quite proud and confident of my conversion to Christ, and I do not apologize to you or anyone else for it. The word of God points to Christ and in my case it led me straight to Him (after several months of reading). I did not have to be a Bible Scholar to do it, nor did it require someone to point it all out to me in their own interpretation of things.....I was able to read the Bible and figure out what God required of me on my own. The word of God is poured out by the Holy Spirit and it does not return void. It accomplishes exactly what it is intended to accomplish when someone opens their heart to it and really wants to learn what it means.

Also, I never said that I was going it alone....I'm very involved in the body of Christ and have been for many years. And just as the word of God says, "by their fruits you shall know them," you can bet that I know who is my brother in Christ and those who just belong to some religious faction.

[savedbyhim]

I wouldn't boast about that record, saved. 

God has wired all of us to need each other.  It is not a virtue, to proudly go it alone.

Imo, what saved did was to seek and find.  God has made it so all who seek will find so that tells me that we don't have to have someone else.  God is everywhere and speaks to us through creation and all sorts of ways including but not limited to other people.   I do agree that we are wired to need one another but if our real dependence is not first and foremost on God, others could get us in a heap of trouble.

Thanks Lisa...manna to you for just being nice!

[stevehut]

I do agree that we are wired to need one another but if our real dependence is not first and foremost on God, others could get us in a heap of trouble.

I couldn't agree more, Serenity.   

And generally, I get in a bigger heap when I try to go it alone.  I tried for years.

[stevehut]

1- I do not apologize to you or anyone else for it.

2- I did not have to be a Bible Scholar to do it,

3- nor did it require someone to point it all out to me in their own interpretation of things.

4- those who just belong to some religious faction.

1- Good.  I wouldn't expect you to.

2- Me either.

3- I don't think the Bible needs to be "interpreted."  About 99% means exactly what it says.

4- ?

[Serenity432001]

God has made it so all who seek will find so that tells me that we don't have to have someone else. 

   ?

Doesn't sound like biblical Christianity to me.

If you'll read the rest of my post it should clear up the confusion.  I'm not saying we don't need other people at all but I am saying that God can be found through creation and other resources as well as other people. 

[stevehut]

I'm not confused, Serenity.     I read and understood every word.

I am well aware that many people are apprehensive about churches, because they've been burned before and don't know who to trust.  Still, the self-dependence route is not a good long-term plan.

[Serenity432001]

I'm not confused, Serenity.     I read and understood every word.

I am well aware that many people are apprehensive about churches, because they've been burned before and don't know who to trust.  Still, the self-dependence route is not a good long-term plan.

My bad.  I misunderstood this symbol  to mean you were confused.

I also understand what you are saying as far as not a good long-term plan but I think your and I discussion originated with what you said to saved and that wasn't about long term.  It was about beginnings and I just believe God has made it so if necessary He can be found even if man were on an island. I think we are all in agreement that we do need one another though and to stay on the island isn't the best way to go.

[stevehut]

your and I discussion originated with what you said to saved and that wasn't about long term.  It was about beginnings

Isn't the "beginnings" the most important part to get right?     I went through the motions of religion for most of my life, but until I received my initial salvation (not by myself), it was just rituals and words.

[marc]

If the "beginnings" are presented as ritual and words, as I've seen happen often, then what follows often will be the same.

The beginnings part that's the most vital and relevant to the rest of our lives involves a commitment to Christ, imho.

[stevehut]

The beginnings part that's the most vital and relevant to the rest of our lives involves a commitment to Christ, imho.

I don't think most people have a problem with that, in principle.  But exactly what does that mean?  This is why we need a teacher.  Especially with regard to the doctrine of salvation.  Left to my own devices, I came up with all kinds of fanciful ideas.