BSF (Bible Study Fellowship) hmm?

tparsons · #1 Mar 6, '07, 6:38 am

I have a Baptist friend who is wanting me to attend BSF (Bible Study Fellowship). He say's it's a 7 year course and they go through the entire Bible in that 7 year period.
Has anyone heard of this? My undersyanding is they break down in small groups and have assignments. Not sure as a Catholic if this is a good thing.

Any feed back is appreciated.

Please read below:

"BSF International, formerly known as Bible Study Fellowship is "an interdenominational, not-for-profit, international, lay Christian organization [which] aims to acquaint people with the truth of the Bible through classes using personal study, discussion group participation, lecture, printed notes."1 It sounds so good, but after participating in BSF for 4 years from Sept., 1991 - April, 1995, I recognized deviation from Scripture resulting in serious errors in BSF’s 1) organizational structure, 2) method of presenting the Bible study material, and 3) content of the Bible study material itself. Although BSF presents itself as a Biblically sound organization in both teaching and practice, the negative elements exposed in this article contaminate BSF and demonstrate that it simply is not faithful to the Word of God."

**puzzleannie** · #2 Mar 6, '07, 6:53 am

why would any Catholic, who has so many good Catholic bible study resources available, waste time with a non-Catholic study. go to catholicexchange.com, emmaus road through cuf.org, ignatius press for Our Father's Plan videos and study guides, Jeff Cavin's great bible adventure or any other study if you want to look at the whole bible, or any part of it with orthodox Catholic guidance. Our number one complaint as moderns is lack of time for spiritual things, yet we are so ready to waste that valuable time on unproductive and even dangerous things.

**Zooey** · #3 Mar 6, '07, 7:08 am

I'm the Friendly Neighborhood Methodist, and you could not pay me to attend a Baptist Bible study.

Well,

actually, if you

paid me enough, I might go....But they'd

throw me out mighty fast, once I started

....

Elzee · #4 Mar 6, '07, 7:36 am

Do a search on BSF - there was a thread about this not too long ago.

Subrosa · #5 Mar 6, '07, 7:41 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zooey

I'm the Friendly Neighborhood Methodist, and you could not pay me to attend a Baptist Bible study.

Well,

actually, if you

paid me enough, I might go....But they'd

throw me out mighty fast, once I started

....

Zooey -

'Tis to laff! Loudly!

I live right next door to a Baptist church. Wednesday is Bible study night. I've been trying to get there, but my Wednesdays are typically used (I'm a musician - Wed is rehearsal night)

I have to say this, however - the Catholic study groups I have been to seem as though they have no clue. The ones I've been to turn out to be coffee socials.

Anyway, I read scripture daily and add in reading the Catechism at the end of the reading. I am a lector, so the daily exposure helps greatly.

Also, I occasionally do studies with my nephew.

Subrosa

tparsons · #6 Mar 6, '07, 10:52 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by tparsons

I have a Baptist friend who is wanting me to attend BSF (Bible Study Fellowship). He say's it's a 7 year course and they go through the entire Bible in that 7 year period.
Has anyone heard of this? My undersyanding is they break down in small groups and have assignments. Not sure as a Catholic if this is a good thing.

Any feed back is appreciated.

Please read below:

"BSF International, formerly known as Bible Study Fellowship is "an interdenominational, not-for-profit, international, lay Christian organization [which] aims to acquaint people with the truth of the Bible through classes using personal study, discussion group participation, lecture, printed notes."1 It sounds so good, but after participating in BSF for 4 years from Sept., 1991 - April, 1995, I recognized deviation from Scripture resulting in serious errors in BSF’s 1) organizational structure, 2) method of presenting the Bible study material, and 3) content of the Bible study material itself. Although BSF presents itself as a Biblically sound organization in both teaching and practice, the negative elements exposed in this article contaminate BSF and demonstrate that it simply is not faithful to the Word of God."

I agree! He is doing his best to covert me even after he borrowed Karl Keatings book Catholicism and Fundamentalism. shheeeesh

Eileen T · #7 Mar 6, '07, 10:54 am

I attend a TLM some Sundays. I also have a 4 volume set The Sunday Sermons of the Great Fathers which gives the teaching of the early Church Fathers on the Gospel reading for that Sunday.

It gives me insight as to what was taught right from the beginning on any Gospel passage.

I also get teaching in the homily following the Readings at Mass, and the online homilies of Fr Larry Richards and Fr Robert Altier (although these are removed from the original website, many can be found in the Internet archives).

As far as teaching goes, we are told to"hear" the Gospel. I think the danger of BSF groups, for Catholics, is that they do not have authority to interpret Scripture and you may pick up some dodgy viewpoints that go against what the Church has taught through the centuries.

Plus...do you really think you can give the Church's interpretation of a particular controversial passage without being shot down?

Why not pray about starting a dynamic Catholic Bible Study group using Catholic material. You may find converts who are hungrey for just such a group to start up.

Cat · #8 Mar 6, '07, 12:01 pm

I lived in Raleigh, North Carolina, for ten years, and I believe that BSF was started in Raleigh by Anne Graham Lotz, who lived there. It was huge in Raleigh; I knew so many people who attended or wanted to attend.

I used to be Protestant, and I always wanted to attend BSF. But there were such strict rules! You weren't allowed to miss more than a meeting or two, or you had to start over. Even for sickness.

IMO, this group isn't especially conducive to family life. I wouldn't want to be so tied down.

If you are single with no serious relationships and no kids, I could maybe see it. But to put yourself under such strict rules when you have a family is not a real good idea IMO.

In fact, one of my friends in Raleigh felt the same way. She was a gifted Bible teacher, and started her own Ladies Bible study that met on a different night than BSF. There was homework and prep, but a woman was allowed to miss meetings without getting the boot. Her study grew to several hundred women. So apparently I'm not the only one who felt that BSF was a little too rigid.

**Church Militant** · #9 Mar 6, '07, 12:31 pm

Don't do it!

Come study with us at the CAF Bible study in my sig!

allischalmers · #10 Mar 6, '07, 1:00 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zooey

I'm the Friendly Neighborhood Methodist, and you could not pay me to attend a Baptist Bible study.

hum;; a Baptist Bible study, No better place to learn the truth of God's Word

forever Baptist
allischalmers

tparsons · #11 Mar 6, '07, 1:38 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by allischalmers

hum;; a Baptist Bible study, No better place to learn the truth of God's Word

forever Baptist
allischalmers

My friend is Baptist but it's not held at a Baptist church. The meetings are at McKinney Memorial Bible Church which they say is non-denonminational, but in my opinion denonmination means division so they can call themselves whatever they want it doesn't change the fact they are a denonmination. They invite all denonminations so I guess that leaves me out because I'm Catholic and Catholic is not a denonmination.

**Zooey** · #12 Mar 6, '07, 2:25 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by allischalmers

hum;; a Baptist Bible study, No better place to learn the truth of God's Word

forever Baptist
allischalmers

Baptist Bible study: No better place to raise my blood pressure.

aj10 · #13 Mar 7, '07, 11:30 am

You can learn alot about the Bible in a BSF group but they are strictly Protestant. I attended one for one year. The theology is often at odds with the Catholic position, and if you are not well versed in Catholic theology you might get mixed up. Worst of all, small group leaders at BSF are not allowed to be Catholic.

Tom317 · #14 Mar 7, '07, 11:33 am

I attended BSF for several years (tried getting a family member to leave it during those years) and it is extremely anti-Catholic, though they try to keep that bias low-key. They have an unwritten rule that no practicing Catholic can ever be considered for leadership roles.

I would not attend if I were you.

tparsons · #15 Mar 7, '07, 2:07 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by aj10

You can learn alot about the Bible in a BSF group but they are strictly Protestant. I attended one for one year. The theology is often at odds with the Catholic position, and if you are not well versed in Catholic theology you might get mixed up. Worst of all, small group leaders at BSF are not allowed to be Catholic.

That's what I thought!