First, I have set a goal to become regular about posting...we will see if that happens.
Second, let's talk about the topic at hand, "conversations with church-going people". Why is it that many "church-going people" tend to never want to talk about doctrine that may disagree with theirs. Why is it that many Baptists, especially in my area of West Tennessee, will scream and yell at me when I ask them about things such as the doctrines of grace (Calvinism...not hyper-Calvinism), what the Bible says concerning some church traditions, and many others? Oh, and if you really want to take a tongue lashing and be called everything from blasphemous to the Devil himself, just mention the possibility that pre-millennial theology and the rapture might not be an accurate interpretation of Scripture and you will get it! Why is that?
Before I go on to my theories as to why the almost hatred comes out, let me say that I grew up in and was taught all the things mentioned above. I was told (by one youth "minister") that John Calvin was a heretic. I was told by the same person what I now know were either downright lies or perhaps things that he had been taught and honestly believed...but were lies. I learned all about pre-millenial dispensationalism (Scofield Reference Bible, etc.), the rapture, etc. So I knew all the "correct" stuff.
However, I was also taught (by accident I think) by a wonderful Southern Baptist preacher to always read the Bible myself; to search the Scriptures and see if what was being taught by some man was in line with the Scriptures. Because of that one sermon that I remember so vividly, I did that. And boy when I began to question certain things I was told everything from, "you should not question God's messengers", to "you are just to young to understand", to "you need to read this book by this man", and on and on. But, nobody would, or could, explain those passages I was questioning. The older I got, the more I read (from the Bible and concerning Calvin...I read his stuff myself to see...that's when I found out I had been told outright lies about what he had said!), the more I began to ask more questions and seek more answers...and the more I was almost yelled at for questioning "experts".
Now my theories...
First theory is probably the most accurate...people just don't know Scripture or doctrine and don't want to take the time to learn so they will just argue.
Second theory is that people have told to never discuss these things by their preachers.
Well, there are two theories. Probably some combination is most accurate. I will explore these more later.
