[Dr. Eckleburg]

Let's pretend you weren't as sure in your beliefs as you currently are, and that the whole thing was relatively new to you. You didn't understand anything outside of "God created everything, God loves you, and Jesus died for our sins." You were not familiar with the greater tenets, you were not familiar with the Sacramental practices, and you were operating mostly from a position of ignorance.

Would it then be right to commit your soul to ANYTHING, not fully understanding what you were doing?

None of us "fully understands" this life, God, our salvation, grace, mercy, justification, Christ's sacrifice or His resurrection.

But your question was answered by Jesus Christ 2,000 years ago...

"Be not afraid; only believe." -- Mark 5:36

The rest is all part of our post-justification sanctification by the Holy Spirit.

Who believes to the saving of their soul? Men who have received God's grace through faith in Jesus Christ. And what is grace? Grace is not anything we deserve or accomplish. Grace is God's unmerited favor, given to whom He will and ordained by Him from before the foundation of the world. Read Ephesians 1.

All the rest is epilogue.

Thus Christ tells us not to be afraid, but to run headlong into belief because our salvation by grace through faith in Christ is the will of the Father. He promises to catch us.

Therefore faith is trust in Christ and His obedience in fulfilling the Law perfectly for us and His perfect righteousness which is mercifully imputed to us, and not in our own obedience, righteousness or deserving.

"Deserve's got nothing to do with it." - Wmilliam Munny.

All this truth is predicated not on the doctrines of men nor on the efficacy of any sacraments nor rituals nor pagan superstitions, but on the perfect word of God, men's only rule of faith and practice. Read your Bible. Learn the truth.

[HushTX]

Man is a fallen creature. Since the ejection from Eden, mankind has been foul and corrupt, no matter how strong a desire for divine fellowship.

Man corrupts everything he touches.

With that in mind, I am hesitant to simply accept what is taught by man, what is said by man, what is done by man. So when something is taught about the Bible, and it is taught by Man, it is insufficient.

Language is a tool of man. God’s Word is written in language because we have no other way by which it can be communicated to us. As such, while the WORD of God is perfect, our ability to take it in is not perfect. That is where the understanding comes in.

Faith, Tradition and Reason. Together these pillars hold me up that I may live free and unafraid in my faith.

And again: Man is fallen and corrupt. With enough time, anything on Earth can be corrupted by man. Gotta use a brain to cut through the mud.