1 Thessalonians 5: 19. Don't quench the Spirit. 20. Don't despise prophesies. 21. Test all things, and hold firmly that which is good.
So I don't think it's creating doubt, it's just being responsible in testing things. I think the ability to think critically is part of the sound mind that God has given us. We don't need to be afraid of what we will find if we are honest and consistent.
As I understand it, it was an accepted practice for a disciple of a person to write a letter in the name of that person. So if we take the book of Revelation as an example, it claims to be written by someone named John and is in a similar style do the gospel and the Epistles. But was it written by John one of the 12 apostles? This is not creating doubt, it is simply thinking critically, using one's sound mind.
Of course we can simply say that Christians throughout the centuries have regarded it as scripture. But that would be an appeal to tradition, in my opinion.
Now, I am not by any means trying to pick apart your words, but I think you put it really well here
"...allow the Holy Spirit to reveal the truth God has
for me
in His word." (Emphasis added)
If you approach the Bible on your own, looking for truths that God has for you personally, then of course you're going to come up with very different ideas than a group that's looking at the Bible as a group over centuries.
So I don't think it's creating doubt, it's just being responsible in testing things. I think the ability to think critically is part of the sound mind that God has given us. We don't need to be afraid of what we will find if we are honest and consistent.
As I understand it, it was an accepted practice for a disciple of a person to write a letter in the name of that person. So if we take the book of Revelation as an example, it claims to be written by someone named John and is in a similar style do the gospel and the Epistles. But was it written by John one of the 12 apostles? This is not creating doubt, it is simply thinking critically, using one's sound mind.
Of course we can simply say that Christians throughout the centuries have regarded it as scripture. But that would be an appeal to tradition, in my opinion.
Now, I am not by any means trying to pick apart your words, but I think you put it really well here
"...allow the Holy Spirit to reveal the truth God has
for me
in His word." (Emphasis added)
If you approach the Bible on your own, looking for truths that God has for you personally, then of course you're going to come up with very different ideas than a group that's looking at the Bible as a group over centuries.
Will you rely solely on scripture or will you rely upon tradition as well as personal aspirations.
For the cause of Christ
Roger