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I think another reason has something to do with the North American perception of Christian - a self-righteous judge who looks down on others and has a large list of "thou shalt nots" to follow, and is just too good to socialize with lowly sinners, else they may become tainted. While this is the image often highlighted in the media, I think we all know a few people who did act this way. I know I did and it turned me away from Christianity for years. I think htis raises the whole question of whether we can truly distinguish the religion of Jesus Christ from the religion of the Pharisees - something I've tried to address a little bit on PhariseeChurch.com. We need to remember that it was the religious establishment of his time that was the prime mover in crucifying Jesus.

I took a quick look at : http://www.settingcaptivesfree.com/home/ It's certianly possible there are things in ther that could be helpful.

Lol I am sure we agree on lots of things. You make a good point about the Ethiopian, and I am sure many people have experienced the Holy Spirit helping and teaching them especially in isolated places, or countries where their faith must remain hidden much of the time... The Church cannot do the work of grace in a Believers heart, when it is the ministry of the Holy Spirit...but we can provide an enviroment that encourages people to pursue holiness, and where they can have fellowship, ask questions, read Scripture together, learn to pray, worship and get taught the elementary principles of Kingdom Life. Yes im sure we agree on more than we dont. I love the way God worked in Finney, he was astute enough to see the error and unbelief of the christians around him before he got saved and when he did yeild to God it was unreservedly. Finney recieved such a mighty filling of the HS that he had to ask God to stop as he thought his body might give out. Those he spoke gently to as he met them in the street were often convicted of sin and saved soon after. A week later Finney cast aside a very promising lawyers career and some say likely politics future to go into fulltime ministry, saying "the Lord has given me a retainer to work for Him". The Presbyrtarian church insisted he study under a prominent man of God for one year to get licenced and Finney reluctantly yeilded to the authority of man to please God, at the end of the year it was not Finney who had been taught as much as the other, and 50 years of revivals and untainted ministry until death followed on from this. Oh that God will fill us with such a baptism as this and we too might see 80% plus remain true as opposed to the 20% and even much lower result of today. I dont mean just staying true to church attendance as man is naturally religious and gathers with the like minded, even if spiritually dead or asleep. I'm a relative newcomer to Christian discussion forums in general, but in those few short weeks I have been really shocked by some of the sorts of attitudes that get expressed. the primary rule of Jesus is to love others which means to repect their opinions even when we disagree. This so often just doesn't happen (I'm not talking about this forum, by the way, but some others.) If people are turning away from Christianity I suspect it is because Christians are not walking in love.

Yes. You say that you believe every single word of the bible. Believing the bible is a good start - the next thing is to KNOW WHAT IT SAYS. I would suggest that you read, to thoroughly acquaint yourself with the content. the best place to concentrate is on the New Testament letters, since that is where things are spelt out most clearly. forget about commentaries etc. and just try and figure out for yourself what it's actually trying to convey. this may not be easy or quick - but for you I'm guessing that's not a problem since you've been clearly wrestling with this for a long time now and have figured already that answers are not always easy or quick.