Teachers, can you do better, or worse?

[Whyme]

I believe every denomination has some error, some more than others but i wont mention names in the OP. Anyway, my question is can a person learn by themselves, without the faulty doctrine of men, and be better off than following a denomination? Certainly you could do worse than a denomination, Jim Jones comes to mind. But i think that online fellowship is profitable for learning. There are no Jim Jones on this forum im sure. What do you think?

Edited April 20, 2021 by Whyme

[Justin Adams]

22 minutes ago, Whyme said:

What do you think?

I think it is a mine field out there. Some can learn thru the pulpit up to a point, but we are all responsible for our own path. It is a very long road, though often with the occasional oasis of clarity. Whatever a believer does, should be punctuated by reading and studying for themselves until they are completely satisfied on the various points that they come across. It mainly began for me with my reading of Young's Literal translation... after that I systematically threw out most doctrines I had learned over the years.

[missmuffet]

27 minutes ago, Whyme said:

I believe every denomination has some error, some more than others but i wont mention names in the OP. Anyway, my question is can a person learn by themselves, without the faulty doctrine of men, and be better off than following a denomination? Certainly you could do worse than a denomination, Jim Jones comes to mind. But i think that online fellowship is profitable for learning. There are no Jim Jones on this forum im sure. What do you think?

That is why I am nondenominational. We have the Holy Bible to teach us the truth. The problem is that many miss interpret the words of the Bible. They manipulate the words of the Bible to give it their own meaning.

[Riverwalker]

1 hour ago, Whyme said:

I believe every denomination has some error, some more than others but i wont mention names in the OP. Anyway, my question is can a person learn by themselves, without the faulty doctrine of men, and be better off than following a denomination? Certainly you could do worse than a denomination, Jim Jones comes to mind. But i think that online fellowship is profitable for learning. There are no Jim Jones on this forum im sure. What do you think?

Christianity has no denominations.

People do

As far as God is concerned there is one church, one head (Jesus Christ) and one message (The bible)

We can learn from the bible either by ourselves or from a bible based teacher.

Remember though that Paul Commended the Bereans because they just di not take what he said as Gospel without checking instead they searched scriptures to see if what Paul said was true.

In the end there is no greater teacher than the Holy Spirit.

John 14:26

But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.

[johnthebaptist]

4 hours ago, Whyme said:

I believe every denomination has some error, some more than others but i wont mention names in the OP. Anyway, my question is can a person learn by themselves, without the faulty doctrine of men, and be better off than following a denomination? Certainly you could do worse than a denomination, Jim Jones comes to mind. But i think that online fellowship is profitable for learning. There are no Jim Jones on this forum im sure. What do you think?

 I think it's a big mistake to FOLLOW any denomination or person, other than Jesus. We should read our Bibles, get to know Jesus on a personal level (constant prayer), and follow him. Meanwhile, we should find a church and serve faithfully.

[Whyme]

6 hours ago, Justin Adams said:

I think it is a mine field out there. Some can learn thru the pulpit up to a point, but we are all responsible for our own path. It is a very long road, though often with the occasional oasis of clarity. Whatever a believer does, should be punctuated by reading and studying for themselves until they are completely satisfied on the various points that they come across. It mainly began for me with my reading of Young's Literal translation... after that I systematically threw out most doctrines I had learned over the years.

I never learned much theology growing up, still not interested in it but i listened to TV preachers and slowly came to the knowledge that they are imperfect, some even more so than others. So i guess i looked for my own answers. I feel free because of it. Free to make up my own God given mind.

[Whyme]

6 hours ago, missmuffet said:

That is why I am nondenominational. We have the Holy Bible to teach us the truth. The problem is that many miss interpret the words of the Bible. They manipulate the words of the Bible to give it their own meaning.

Some folks will never know that they are in error. But thats their choosing i guess.

[enoob57]

2 Peter 1:19-21

19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:

20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.

21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
KJV
 

[teddyv]

It comes down to what the error is I suppose. Almost every denomination and likely most non-denominations will hold to several creeds, usually the Apostle's Creed, Athanasian creed and Nicene creed.

I have grown up in a particular denomination but I'm pretty certain I don't hold the several of their key doctrines. I've learned lots of things through interacting on forums over the years, reading the Bible, reading various Christian authors, and who knows what else. Still lots to learn.

[Whyme]

13 hours ago, teddyv said:

It comes down to what the error is I suppose. Almost every denomination and likely most non-denominations will hold to several creeds, usually the Apostle's Creed, Athanasian creed and Nicene creed.

I have grown up in a particular denomination but I'm pretty certain I don't hold the several of their key doctrines. I've learned lots of things through interacting on forums over the years, reading the Bible, reading various Christian authors, and who knows what else. Still lots to learn.

I dont hold to creeds, but i dont disagree with them necessarily. Folks seem to hold a creed as if it were the scriptures themselves. People think creeds help us but how? Look at all the unsound doctrine of these churches, especially the ones holding to creeds. How does a creed help them see their error? It doesnt. The bible is my creed, not just little parts of it. 

Edited April 21, 2021 by Whyme