I can learn the Bible better on my own

     Personal Bible study is important!  2 Timothy 2:15 declares, "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."  Personal Bible study, however, needs something else.  Human beings have a way of misinterpreting Scriptures according to their own personal beliefs.  How do we keep ourselves on track?  The answer: Corporate Bible Study! Getting together with others (through a local church) to discuss and learn the Scriptures!
     I write this blog because of an awesome experience I had last Saturday.  At Anchor Landmark Baptist of Interlochen, we had a Men's Bible Study.  Five men showed up to talk about the Bible.  We didn't agree on everything, but we challenged each other to go deeper in our understanding of the Scriptures.  Personally, I had a great time, and I hope the others did too.
     Those individuals that never want to come to a small group Bible study, Sunday School, or Worship Services because they think they understand the Scriptures well enough on their own are missing out.  They are also not following the principles of Scripture.  I am reminded of Acts 8:31.  Philip asked the Ethiopian Eunuch if he understood the Scripture that he was reading.  His reply "... How can I, except some man should guide me?"  I am also reminded of Nehemiah 8:8.  Ezra reads the book of the law.  There was a group of men with Ezra and Nehemiah 8:8 explains, "So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading."  It helps to have God's Word explained.
    Now let me close with this:  I do not claim to know everything about the Bible. (If someone says they do, they are arrogant and don't really understand!) I am also human and can be wrong.  When I am wrong, I want someone to take the Bible (not their opinion or tradition) and show it to me.  Truth is more important than anything!  Especially the Truth of God's Word!  Study it by yourself, but also study it with others.  We just all may learn something!

Attend the Church of your choice

     This topic is one of the reasons I started this blog.  Many people, with good intentions, promote the idea it doesn't really matter where you worship, just as long as you worship.  Most people believe that all the different denominations are just different branches of the same tree, so just find one that suits you.  While that sounds nice, we have to dig deeper.  What are we really saying when we say that all churches are equal?  A close examination of the different denominations will find that, while they may use similar terms, what they believe is as different as night and day.  There are differences in beliefs about salvation, baptism, church authority, spiritual gifts, and many many more. Some of these ideas stand in direct opposition to each other.  Common sense will tell us that opposing ideas cannot both be right, and if both are not right, one (or both) has to be wrong.  If common reasoning lets us know that two ideas cannot both be true, shouldn't simple logic tell us that all the churches with different beliefs cannot all be right?  Funny how people want to use simple logic in every other area of their life except spirituality. (Which has eternal consequences!)  If there is anything we really need to "get right" it is that which deals with Eternity!

     More importantly, however, Jesus stated in John 4:24, "God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and truth."  How can we worship God in truth in a place that doesn't teach the truth?  Simply put, we can't!  Therefore, we must not attend the church of our choice, we need to attend the church of God's choice.

     Now the question becomes, Which one is God's choice?  This is where we have to prepare ourselves for a little work. (OK, I know work is a four letter word, especially when it comes to people's spirituality, but again our eternity may depend on it.)  To find the church that God would have us to attend, we have to know what His Word says.  If a place is teaching man's traditions, theology that conflicts with the Bible, or anything other than the truth of God's Word, it is not the place God would choose for you.  This is why the Bible encourages us in 2 Timothy 2:15 to "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."  John would add to this, "Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world." (1 John 4:1)  Can you say the church you attend preaches and teaches the truth of God's Word?  When was the last time you examined their doctrinal statement against the Scriptures?

     Is a lie as good as the truth?  NO! Then neither are all churches right. Break with the fluffy, shallow sentiment and don't attend the church of your choice, attend the one that's God's choice!