Two of my friends invited me to a Beth Moore Bible Study (Breaking Free) which is going to be held very close to where I live. It was starting last Monday. I first met both these friends in a different Bible Study (BSF), which no longer meets in our local area.
I liked being in Bible studies with other women who were all working on being better wives and mothers and community members (and human beings). This why why I kept going for a while after I had a lot of doubts about the Bible. I didn’t voice my doubts, which made things go smoothly, but eventually I felt I should leave because that was dishonest of me.
I’m still working on being a better wife, mother and community member (and human being) and so I thought I’d go to the introductory session of this Beth Moore Bible Study to see if it might work for me to be in it. I called the host to ask her if it would be ok. She was very friendly and said I was welcome.
So I went on Monday. First the two leaders talked about the format, then we watched the first DVD. I hadn’t realized it was a ‘video’ Bible study where after going through questions you’ve prepared you watch a lecture (by Beth Moore) on DVD each week. That explains why each session is about 2 hours.
The women there were nice and I would be happy to get together with them for purely social reasons. However there’s no way I could do a study like this anymore. In fact it’s hard to believe I ever could.
The first problem was the authoritarian nature of it. This whole study seems to consist of Beth Moore telling me what to do in an authoritative way – which she presumably feels is justified since all she is doing (from her point of view) is declaring what the Bible teaches. And the Bible is a book about what God is telling me to do.
Now, I don’t mind people suggesting things to me. I do try to listen when they do. But I don’t like being told what to do except where I have agreed to be in a role where that’s appropriate. For example, an employer has the right to tell me what to do since he/she is paying for my time and services. And my husband can give me a list of things he’d like me to do since I have time while he’s at work. But I’m not ok with a stranger on a video telling me what to do.
Since I’ve been in studies like this, I know it’s ok to question what the lecturer or workbook says. But only if you have a Bible verse to substantiate why you think you disagree. Otherwise it’s simply your human fallible wisdom against the Word of God. Your objection needs to be based on “what the Word of God really says vs. what the workbook lecturer claims it says” for it to carry any weight. Otherwise, the rest of the group will assume the lecturer/book is right and you just don’t get it yet.
My sense is that most women – and a LOT of women have taken Beth Moore and other similar studies – don’t question what is taught at all. They just accept it as the Word of God. Which I find a little scary.
The second problem was the language/methodology. It seems so unreal to me now to talk about ‘the enemy’ (Satan) and ‘winning battles against the enemy’. I find the battle imagery distasteful. Not only that but it seems very indirect to set up and ‘train’ me in this scenario which then has to be ‘applied’ to my life. I’d rather cut straight to the chase and just look at my life: what works, what doesn’t’; what’s going fine and what I need to work harder at. Not only that but, speaking for myself, the other less direct route is now blocked by all the questions I have. I can’t talk about what God’s plan is and how Satan is trying to mess it up because of all my doubts.
Thirdly, there a couple of specific things I noticed which would be problems for me. I found these when I looked at Beth Moore’s book online this week. Near the beginning she writes that believing God is a choice. It doesn’t seem that way to me. There’s no choice I’m aware of that I can make, which would erase my doubts and questions from my memory.
There’s also a whole chapter about praying better. I don’t pray so that wouldn’t do anything for me. When I stopped praying some years ago, because praying seemed to be complicating my life more than it was helping, I reasoned that if God was real and he was kind his response would be “hey, it’s fine with me for you to stop praying, since it doesn’t work for you. I understand”. The reasons for me not to pray haven’t gone away, and I’ve also discovered that my life is indeed simpler without prayer, so I have no desire to go back to it.
A fourth thing I don’t like is the great promises the study makes. I’ve seen people go through a number of studies like this which make great promises – this one promises ‘freedom’. And the implication is always, if you do it right the promises will come true – so if they don’t, *you* didn’t do it right. When I talk to people who’ve been through studies they often say they were wonderful but, really, their life didn’t change that much. The great promises didn’t come true. And I don’t like that they blame themselves for that and don’t ask whether perhaps the claim that this or that Bible study will totally transform your life is unrealistic.
Many things in the Bible still seem wise to me and I still find many things people do in it inspirational. Including lots of things Jesus is said to have done according to the New Testament. I will happily say “I like this verse” or “it’s really neat how so-and-so did that”. It’s true that I like those things no matter who wrote them or whether a person in history really did them or not. Because of that I was wondering if I could be in a Bible study. But I couldn’t be in one like this, because I wouldn’t be able to accept that if I said I didn’t like something in the Bible, it would be considered an admission that I needed to change my fallible human thinking. Because it’s the Word of God – it’s 100% true and right.
If I ever find a small group where I can share who I am and where I’m at with honesty and freedom, then I’ll be interested. But I don’t want to join any where I can’t handle the presumptions, because that would be unfair to everyone else in it and it would only frustrate me. So I called up the two leaders today and left them messages thanking them for inviting me and saying I wouldn’t be attending the study. Not because of them but because of me and the study.
That is one of the older Beth Moore studies, more um, legalistic, than many of her others. Some of the newer ones are surprisingly open minded. B.F. is also a toughie, personally. I mean it’s tough in a personal sense.
I’ve done every Beth Moore study besides the one or two newest; I did two of her studies a year for over 5 years. I like to say I learned everything I know about the Bible from her studies, even if I interpret what I know differently than she does. She’s the reason I know anything about the journeys of Paul or the OT Tabernacle. Otherwise I never would have absorbed or understood what I read. She’s pretty smart and she has evolved quite a bit over the years.
But I agree 100% with your sentiments here about the attitudes towards doubt and questions and expectations.
You’re right to say that “doing it right” won’t make the “promises”come true. That is definitely one of the reasons I became so disillusioned with the church in general. There is no formula and God is not a magician, where if you say the right magic words, everything happens the way you expect. So yeah, then, just like you said, our lives don’t really change that much and we end up feeling bad about ourselves for it. If we were to just know that we won’t have some magical transforming experience, but that the change is slow and won’t look like much over 3 months but will look like a lot over 10 years. Know what I mean?
But you were in BSF? Wow, that surprises me.
Anyhow, good post!
Thanks Lily. Yes, I was in BSF for about 6 years and I was even a discussion leader for part of that time.
One of the things which has stayed with me from BSF is the idea of a group discussion in which people are affirmed for sharing, rather than judged according to whether they ‘got the right answer or not’.
I couldn’t be in BSF anymore, but I did get some useful experience/training there which I still use to this day. I wrote to the executive director of BSF worldwide last year and told her I use some things from my DL training on the blog I host (CatE) where people who are and aren’t Christians talk with each other. I got a nice reply back from her.
I really related to your comments, Helen. Personally, I have not participated in any structured bible studies or small groups for years for many of the reasons you stated. While I do consider myself a devoted follower of Jesus, I also have many doubts and questions about God and faith.
Previously, when I would participate in a study group and would bring up what I considered to be difficult and complex issues, I would be given a patronizing, simple pat answer or treated like I was spiritually immature or unknowledgable. I can’t handle being in an environment where there is no room for open discussion. It is so emotionally distressing to me that I do my best to avoid those situations.
Lily, WHY does it surprise you that Helen was in BSF? Just curious. 🙂
Rachel, I admit that I was surprised that Karen was in BSF so…I guess whatever Lily is guilty of, I’m guilty of too 🙂
I’m glad you understand. That probably means we could have a great small group together – if we lived closer! Oh well; at least we can discuss things on blogs 😉
My first blog entry about Bible studies was where ‘ROAA’ came from – I’m not sure you were reading the eBay atheist blog then. It’s here on eBay atheist or here on this blog.
I got through Bible study when I was in it by managing my expectations a lot.
Rachel:
Honestly, I don’t know why I said that. I guess I have preconceived ideas about BSF based on past experience, but it sounds like the one Helen was in was a lot different than the one we have here. If she says she was “affirmed for sharing”, that is very different.
I agree with what you say about pat answers. They drive me crazy. It’s like we always have to give an answer for God, to defend Him or whatever. It’s like never OK to just say we don’t know, there always has to be some justification for who God is.
Helen: Thanks for understanding. I didn’t mean anything by it. It’s just my stereotype of the personality types who are usually attracted to BSF, at least the people I know. It just didn’t seem to fit. Sorry if it seemed like I was judging. Not at all. I just tend to put my foot in my mouth a lot. (sheepish grin).
No problem, Lily, I think Rachel was just teasing you 🙂
Wow, so you weren’t affirmed for sharing at your BSF? That’s one of the basic things discussion leaders are taught to do. We were evaluated on how well we did it. Admittedly we also were supposed to make sure we got through the whole question sheet which would sometimes mean we were supposed to politely move things along. But mostly it was about giving affirming responses.
Our BSF had some great people in it – who were wonderful affirmers. It sounds like yours wasn’t like that, unfortunately.
Well that was interesting, thanks Helen. I wondered a few things as I read – for instance I found not reading the bible helpful for awhile [maybe a bit like you and prayer] as i found everytime i picked it up it had an unhelpful confusing script of how i had always read it – i read the words but in my mind i knew what they meant…
I think that is the problem sometimes with bible study it can be very dissective, very much if you understand what this means than your life will be changed – one reason i gave up was cos i thought i understood what it meant and my life was unaffected and really i didn’t want the grief of trying to reconcile why it wasn’t like what i thought the book promised :).
I’ve found different ways to shake me a little bit out my script, reading the message for instance was like reading a different book which helped me forget the script and actually enjoy the story. I’ve just started reading ‘the dust off their feet’ which i hope will be equally fun.
One of the things we talked about last night in our small group was this idea of sharing the bible together, to read it and listen to it, to be romanced by it and to let it read us… i’m quite excited by that, exploring it together in a group dynamic, rather than shooting for those ‘right answers’.
I’d be interested if you were gonna look at the bible with people now, how would you do it?
thanks for posting your thoughts, good rant 😉
Paul wrote:
I’d like to be in a mixed group where everyone is ok with each other having quite different opinions of the Bible; where the focus is on sharing personal experiences with the Bible and listening to each other rather than trying to convince each other “No, I am right in viewing the Bible my way and so you should agree with me and see it the way I do”.
I’ve never been in a book club but I imagine there is that freedom in a book club to say “I don’t like this…” The problem with saying that about the Bible is that some people are so emotionally invested in it/God and it is so connected with God in their minds that I don’t think they would enjoy a group like that, because they would find it hurtful to hear the Bible criticized.
Anyway, in general I think I’d prefer a group which was focused on being better human beings rather than just being a Bible study – and the people in it are free to say “this is how the Bible has helped me with that” or “the Bible didn’t help but this did”.
I really like the ‘exploration’ part; the ‘let it read me’ would make me nervous because it sounds too much like, the Bible is in authority over me, judging me, telling me all the things I’m doing wrong. In other words it sounds too much like traditional conservative Christian Bible study. I mean – an aspect of it. Because there is the very positive aspect of – wow, look at all these great promises from God, that give me hope and help me live my life with freedom and confidence. But as I said, those only work if you believe them, so once you don’t, all that is left is being judged and getting annoyed and thinking “What right have you to judge me?” Letting it read me sounds too close to that, to me. But that’s probably not really what you meant by it.
Anyway you are very insightful to point out how we have scripts and they can sometimes have us stuck in a place where we can’t benefit from what’s in the Bible – so we need to let go of them and move beyond them.
Sometimes I can enjoy the story but – I am so close to the problem scripts it is very hard. They are terribly distracting. It’s like…if you said “Sit on the train tracks and read your Bible, because that approaching train will stop before it gets to you – there is a station between you and the train” It doesn’t matter how true that is, the emotions get in the way and would be so distracting I couldn’t sit there and read it.
I haven’t figured out how to get off the tracks yet and find a quiet enough place I can read it and enjoy it. When I open it up there I am on the tracks again with the train approaching – as it were – and so I have to close it again. I wish I could have explained this to the pastor last April – but I don’t think he would have got it. Maybe I shouldn’t prejudge him that way – but I did try to tell him I couldn’t read it and he dismissed that out of hand.
Anyway, not reading it seems to be the easiest solution!
Yes, I can relate to that – not reading it was the easiest solution for me for awhile – besides i had better things to do with my time, lol.
I think i meant about letting the bible read me is that i often approach the bible when i want something – something to support my way of thinking for instance – i kinda think of that as calling up a friend for a favour and not actually bothering about how they are. It’s me reading the bible and I don’t want necessarily the bible to read me back. I like your point about authority and i think the problem I have with authority is that i have an old script which says ‘you must’ and i have had people study the bible and say ‘we must’ meaning ‘you must.’
I think the closest i have come is the moments not so much when i fell compelled to follow an order but when for instance I read through ephesians and heard Paul saying that love was about giving not getting – i didn’t feel ordered to do that, i felt enticed, attracted – maybe this was a way that if i started following this would make life better for others, for me – my system of me first loving didn’t seem to be working and here was this invitation to try a different way – i liked the exciting possibilities of exploring with that idea, playing with it as it were…
Remind me to sign up for one of your bible exploring groups – they sound great 🙂
Paul – I like how for you, ‘letting it read me’ means “getting beyond using it to try to validate my preconceived notions’. I think that’s a great idea.
And I understand about being challenged by what we read. How about this? I’m fine with being invited to change – in the form of a ‘gentle challenge’ (or even a playful dare, perhaps). But if someone demands that I change then my automatic reaction is to get defensive.
I will try to time one to be when you’re next in Chicago – if you remember to let me know when you’re coming!
Helen, I think you were very brave and adventurous to go to the bible study. I would have found it unbearable, I think. I went to my parent’s church a couple weeks ago and found I couldn’t fully stay in control of the old sympathetic nervous system. I knew this about myself before I went, but I thought maybe this time I’d be okay, and my dad wanted me to come. Oh well. Now I know even more surely to just avoid.
Have you seen wicker park grace? It looks bearable.
How about this one. “Becoming Fuel for His Flame” is just altogether too mockable. I find that even before I begin to formulate the mockery, I have a huge grin on my face due to the enormity and variety of the possibilities. (Oh, dear, I guess I’m not being very nice)
This one’s kind of funny strange rather than funny haha
I’ll stop now.
Thanks Benjamin.
I was ok outwardly but I think it did send me into emotional shock for a few days. It affected me more than I expected so I can well imagine that you found church got to you more than you thought it would.
I enjoyed meeting Nanette, the pastor of Wicker Park Grace, at that meeting we were both at in December. She seemed really nice. I’ve found that even when the pastor is nice I wouldn’t necessarily feel comfortable at their church service, but it’s a good first step.
“Becoming fuel for his flame” – yeah that probably wouldn’t work for me 😉
The first church of the living dead – wow, creepy site!
Helen, wouldn’t that be awesome?
I didn’t think you put your foot in your mouth at all, Lily. You made an honest comment and I was curious to learn more.
I really like Beth Moore, and have a lot of respect for her, and it’s easy to see that girlfriend loves God…but I can’t do those Bible studies either.
I feel spoon-fed, like my brain is being turned off and people are just shoving stuff in and telling me it’s okay to stop thinking, that this is “God’s way” so there’s no need to think, and I find that’s the last thing I want to do with a free evening. My questions are not allowed–sometimes ridiculed–yet they’re really not stupid questions…
Meaning, it’s admittedly a few steps better than the stuff I grew up with (in that Beth is more charismatic, more interesting), but only a few steps. It’s still that same stuff, just dressed up a little differently. Turn off your brain, memorize our answers (to what we say the questions are) and feel like you’re learning something. But I don’t feel like I”m learning. I feel like I’m being played. (I’ll add that I’m not saying this is how others feel or experience–it’s just the way it feels to me, that’s all).
It’s nice to find somewhere I can openly admit that, though. Where I come from, you don’t say anything about Beth Moore unless it’s 100% GOOD. 🙂
Thanks for your comment, Molly. You can admit whatever you like here – LOL – whatever it is I’ve probably said worse :).
Yes, I feel like that too. Also – thinking about what you’ve just written (WOW, it’s so powerful) – I feel like Shame is there, whispering “she’s right – it’s all your fault. If only you would do what God said you wouldn’t be in this big mess…(or, BE this big mess)”
It bothers me when it is so easy for Shame to stand behind the Bible teacher and say those things to people listening.
Helen, I think you really would like Nanette’s church. From what I’ve seen, it’s more in the mainline/liberal tradition, but with an emerging church bent. In other words, I think their approach to the Bible (or anything else) would likely be similar to how you describe your ideal “Bible Exploration groups” (great idea btw!)
RE: Beth Moore bible studies… I absolutely can’t stand those style of bible studies – not just for the reasons you mentioned, but because the whole format is so annoying. I hate “workbook” style studies with simplistic fill-in-blank questions that usually take complex bible narratives and twist them way out of context.
I haven’t personally done a Beth Moore study but my wife has, and she says Moore is one of the worst for taking bible passages way of out context and applying them in totally cheezy and ridiculous ways – while at the same time trying to present herself as a serious bible scholar because she does get into so much biblical detail (just with totally illegitimate applications). And her air of authority that you mentioned doesn’t help in this regard when the whole time you’re thinking “This lady is so far off base she’s sitting in the bleachers.”
Mike, why do you go to church ?
Thanks for your comments, Mike.
You may be right that I’d like Nanette’s church. I have logistical issues with any church-related events that take place in ‘family time’ because the rest of my family wouldn’t want to go. I’d have to really want to go to take time out of family time to be at a church-related event.
I did really want to go to the up/rooted meeting, but in general I’m not sure that I’d be interested enough in attending any sort of church gathering to do it in ‘family time’. Also, Nanette’s church is a bit of a drive from me, so the driving time would cut into family time too.
As for Beth Moore, yes, given how well respected she is as a Bible teacher I was surprised by the way she took Old Testament stories and used them so definitively to support a very particular framework of hers. The more I read the more I get the sense she teaches frameworks of her own devising and pulls passages to support them, rather than ‘teaching the Bible’ per se. And I’m not interested in learning Beth Moore’s frameworks so…no thanks; I’ll do something else from 11-1 on Mondays!
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I am attending my first bible study ever. It is a Beth Moore bible study. I think the target group of her study is so broad that is has to be simple. There is a church near me sponsering it and it has 90 women signed up. With that many folks the study has to be all lecture. It is worthwhile.
I sort of view it as a self-help/support group that uses the bible as its guide. I like it. For me, it is a nice soft introduction to bible study in a new town.
I have known places/folks where you really could debate parts of the bible and different faiths. They were more intellectual, high tech places that I worked as an engineer. To me it seems that Beth’s studies are meant for another great purpose. I don’t know her personally but she seems so sweet. I also love that her talks do NOT seem to have any holier than thou attitude.
well got little ones tugging at me so I have to go.
God Bless All!
Thanks for your comment, softwaremom.
Hello, I can see I am a bit late to this party! I have rated my church on the church rater site. Servant’s Community in Grand Rapids, MI. I can so understand the disillusionment with “church”. I am in a small group that has been going for two years. We started with 4 women and have grown to 6. 3 women are in their 20’s. One in her 30’s, one in her 40’s and I am in my 50’s. It is a wonderful group. Actually right now we are kind of doing a discussion of Beth Moore’s “Praying God’s Word”. I say “kind of” because really, any book we’ve chosen has just been a springboard for discussion of our lives and journey with Jesus. I am the only nontrinitarian in the group. The women love me. I do not feel they are suspicious of me. I am not there to get them to agree with my Christology. I also don’t celebrate Christmas and Easter. No problem there, either. We love each other and just encourage each other in the faith. How cool is that? I know it is unusual because, as I said, I’m in my mid 50’s and have been around the church block a time or two. There is much more I could say. We welcome anyone who is moving to our area to check out our church. Tell them “Karen sent you!”
Thanks for your comment, Karen. I’m glad you’re part of a small group with women who accept you.
My thoughts are this: the more I can learn about something/anything– the better off I am! I don’t agree with everything Beth Moore says. I don’t have to. What I don’t agree with, I let go. If I learn just one thing from her teaching, then great! The same can be said about ministers. Perhaps be a little more open to experiences! Good grief!!!!!!!!!!!!
<WHat I observe from Beth is a passion….to convey a loving God to us. What I do not see in her relationship to the James Robertson show is “no cross”…Folks at the cross and through the cross our redemption in every sense of the meaning was won….as we learn to appropriate what was done for us there we grow inChrist…..go to the cross……I love listensing to a young preacher..Joseph Prince in the early am hours…..he preaches radical grace…find your way there…sometimes I listen to shows that purport to be Christian and think I am listensing to a Jewish show….God…GOd…God…without the cross mentioned at all….thank you……Anne
I found this post as I was searching for different Beth Moore studies to do next year with a friend. I did “Breaking Free” with a group of friends my senior year of high school and I loved the study itself, but I have to admit there was some of the “simple answers” from some of my friends who seemed to think they had it all figured out. However, this didn’t stop me from getting involved in a small group when I got to college, because that wasn’t a problem with the idea of small groups, just with a few of the people in my old group. I’m now in a very small group, just four other people, and it’s a group were everyone comes from a different background and everyone does a great job of listening to people’s thoughts and opinions. I think the important thing when deciding to be a part of a small group is just to make sure it’s with just a few people who you trust to let you have your own opinion.
Also, I’d like to briefly defend Beth Moore’s studies a bit. I personally love them, but it is because she challenges me to live for Christ in ways that I do not always suceed to do. Right now I am doing a study of hers on Paul. This week, there was a quote that I thought was interesting and i think it’s the way her studies go. She says: “I can tell you God will meet your every need. I can say that you can do all things through Christ; but until you find out for yourself, it’s still a secret. I can tell you, but He can show you. Let Him.” Sure, she challenges you to live in a way that requires change, but I think that is because that is who she is writing for. People who are looking to changes their lives so that they can better follow after God.
Finally, I found it interesting that you said you don’t pray. And I was just interested, how do you maintain your relationship with God? I would imagine that would be quite like never talking to your closest friend. I think I just see it as something that is not only acceptable, but also necessary for Beth Moore to write about if she is going to write a bible study because it is generally some thing that is usually helpful for people in their relationship with Christ. However, I respect your right to have your relationship with God be the way you desire.
I can understand not liking the format for Beth Moore’s studies. I personally love that they give me a wide variety of verses on a specific topic. I also enjoy how the questions make me apply the bible to my own life and the amount of time they require me to spend in the word each week. However, I know one of my best friends does not like them as much as others, because she doesn’t like having to answer specific questions, she’d rather just read a couple chapters from the bible and sift through it on her own. It’s definately a matter of opinion.
Sandi, I’m open to experiences – that’s why I went to the intro. I decided this wasn’t an experience that I would benefit from so I didn’t sign up for the study.
Anne, I didn’t notice Beth Moore’s teaching being less Jesus (cross) centered than other Bible teachers I’ve heard.
Kari, I’d rather not have a talking relationship with God right now. As for the structure/format of Beth Moore studies, my problem with it wasn’t so much that there were specific questions; it was rather that they didn’t fit where I’m at right now.
It is very difficult to enjoy a bible study if you 1) Don’t belive in Jesus Christ 2) Don’t believe that the bible is God’s inspired word and 3)Don’t try to live your life as Jesus and the diciples did. No one is perfect but if you are just a seeker than keep looking but don’t dive into a bible study on anything other than salvation or you will just be confused. If you are still questioning wether or not God is real or the bible is real then you are a seeker, not a Christian. Being a seeker is good because it gives you time to really contemplate and compare different faiths. I was born to an atheist and agnostic and was never taught about anything other than science. I grew up a seeker because the athiest thing didn’t sit right in my soul/being. My very vigorous search lead me to Christ. You should enjoy your search and trust that God will lead you where you need to be. You might want to ask Him about it though.
Thanks for your comment, Imani.
I don’t like Beth Moore at all. I like the Precepts lady a lot more, I’m going blank on her name right now. Oh, Kay Arthur. But I’m not real big on any “women’s” bible study teachers. I do however believe in God and the power of prayer. When God has healed you and answered many prayers, some of them asking the moon, and spoken to you and then confirmed that indeed it was him speaking, through various ways it helps your trust and belief in Him tremendously. The apostle Paul says in one of the epistles that he didn’t want people’s faith to be based upon just a bunch of words but on the demonstration of the power of the Holy Spirit. God healed people and spoke to them prophetically about secrets of their hearts that could have only been known by him. In Corinthians in the section where christians are asked by god to be eager to prohesy he says that when they do the secrets of people hearts will be spoken, things that no one else knows and they will fall on their faces and say, whoa god is in you truly! Prophecy is for the purpose of edifying, comforting and encouraging. I’ve seen this so many times I no longer have any doubt about His existence and I’ve put the bible to the test many times and found it to be trustworthy. If you have doubts about God and his word it is o.k. And if you want answers and evidence about God, his existence, who he really is, what his nature is, why are we here, why is there evil in the world, how can we really know that the bible is the word of god and not just some piece of literature, you can find the answers to these kinds of things and God wants you to rather than expecting you to believe blindly. He wants a relationship with you that is healthy and respectful, not a dictatorship. He wants to relate to you directly too. He does have teachers but they don’t replace the relationship that he wants to have with you. They are not go betweens. A good website that deals with many questions a person might have about God or the bible is http://www.truthortradition.com They give evidences a person might want to consider when deciding whether the bible is the inspired word of god or not.