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Systematic Theologies, Doctrinal Studies, Apologetics, Spiritual Growth, Theologies, Christian Beliefs... they all discuss important parts of our beliefs.
It’s important that we know what baptism means, what Scripture says about how we are to conduct ourselves, how Scripture explains God to us, and hundreds of other things that define and instruct us.
It’s important that we study and learn. It’s also important that we know it’s only step 1. Steps 2 through 9999 are where it truly happens.
Banff, Alberta, Canada
the first step is the hardest
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You will find this different from what you’ve read before, but it’s not a conspiracy theory or mystery religion. It is the not-so-radical concept that the word of God is the word of God to you.
If we start with the idea that God is our boss and our Father, then it is not strange that he would tell us what to do. When we grant him the right to tell us how to live, then we will begin to understand. If we insist that our lives are ours, then no, we will never understand.
It’s not mysticism; it’s honesty and courage.
It’s not new; it’s the way it always has been between God and his people.
It’s not extreme; it’s straight down the center line.
The best place to start is at the beginning. On the HOME page menu is a category called “the starting point”. That's the beginning. Step 1. Our alpha. It explores basic concepts useful to understanding Scripture, and gives some reasons why the experts explain things as they do.
Starting is good but finishing is better. The classroom is step 1. Step 2 is the day you start doing it. That's great. There is still a long way to go.
By step 9999 (that's 27 years) you'll be astonished. Used up. Ready to die. You'll shake your head at the silly things you used to believe. Back then you actually believed wars were fought with Xbox controllers and fields produced crops while we watched the telly.
If you can do 9999 more, great. I can't help you with that, but my hunch is that the first 9999 probably equip you for the next 9999. The basic concept probably holds firm: the more you understand God the less people understand you.
In any case, it's all unexplored territory. Virgin snow. There's no support group. You just do it. That tells you how to do it the next day.