Confused former pastor seeks clarity on faq

Q:Why do we need apologists to “apologize“ for the Bible? Why do we need people like William Lane Craig or Frank Turek or Cliff Knechte & others to speak in such confusing philosophical parameters, to explain to us concepts that should be crystal clear to anyone reading the Bible?

Why do we need scholars we hear about to clear up all the thousands of misconceptions and misinterpretations of the Bible?

If we put 100 people in 100 different rooms and ask them simple Christian doctrine questions like how do you get to heaven, what is the Trinity, or what is the book of Revelations about, etc. We get 100 different answers.

To me, this is why Christianity is so obviously a man-made philosophy.

A God would have no reason to be that confusing. 

Edit: My Mormon friends tell me the exact same thing. They say, “I read the book of Mormon and don’t find it confusing. It is very clear maybe read it and you will not be confused."

Muslims tell me the exact same thing about the Quran.

I was a pastor for 35 years. I read the Bible cover to cover many, many times. For you to say it’s not confusing is just … perplexing. Because it is confusing to me. Don’t you ever wonder why we have 2200+ different denominations of Christianity, all teaching something different? Is this not a red flag to you? Why the confusion? 

But since you don’t think it’s confusing, can you tell me what it takes for a person to go to heaven?

A: God isnt confusing. Likewise Youre just not understanding, so it confuses you.

You are also misunderstanding the definition of the word Apologetics, it means "defense of". It means we are showing the truth of its Truth as we speak about Christianity to the unsaved. Its educating. All Christians engage in it, not just those you noted. 

Christians have spiritual life; God caused them to be born again. Theyre restored to their original design, which was lost at the Fall. Those still fallen [in their sin nature] are spirirually dead. They need Jesus to restore them to God, by the power of the Gospel. Thus as part of Christians being commissioned by God to proclaim the truth (thru Evangelism where the above is used along with reasoning, conscience connecting to the Gospel, & educating the unsaved), they explain things to the unsaved person cuz he has no understanding, (being spiritually dead). They may think of things in a false religious way, or live out a distorted version of moralism (since they're fallen, but still made in God's image). Those who are true Christians, live out those communicable attributes right, in the new nature, having God indwelling & the Fruit of the Spirit.

The spiritually dead cant understand Scripture, which you just showed to be true.  

The reason you'll hear diff answers in the room/from professing believers is also obvious. 1. Many who claim to be Christian or of Christianity are not (and theyll eventually expose that fact, which you might not ever notice or see while crossing paths briefly; but God sees it all). God revealed this truth in Scripture several several times; so if you read it "many times" you wouldve clearly seen that. 2. True Believers [while knowing & holding to the "foundational essentials" of the Faith] will (by the indwelling Holy Spirit) "grow in the knowledge of" biblical truths in time into maturity of its contents/teaching; as like a College graduate knows more than a kindergardener or 5th grader. [So you might get not only a 60 year old those a new believer, but likewise a 20 year old whose a new believer, likewise a 90 year old whose been a believer for 50 years or a 40 year old whose been a believer since 12 years old]. Add in whether theyre studying Scripture daily for life, or at a church whose pastor is weak in what he knows of the Bible, or is a weaker denomination that never continues to learn (& ones with less educated pastors)... and you'll get a variety of Christians who are all simply maturing in what Scripture teaches (on non esesential matters), who grow to understand those topics and doctrines better in time, and [to your 100ppl Qs point] also when evangelizing (with experience & learning).

Likewise that answers the diff denominations question. 

All the Bible can do for an unsaved person is show them theyre condemned and need Jesus to save them. It presents the Gospel, in depth. For a believer its a deep deep never ending, life guiding treasure, & also is where God communicates with us and guides us into holy living, and reveals to us who He is.  

Edit:

My point is made that unsaved folk have no understanding, and that theres false converts even in pastor positions. It could be added too that its confusing how you were able to fool folk for 35 years, those listening to you weren't hearing teachings of Scripture and the Gospel, but your man made version with a distorted perspective, and very little to no substance. Maybe you moved around a lot, cuz if you were in a church that long you wouldve long been exposed as a fraud by the rest of the leadership and mature believers there, afger not too ling. Unless perhaps you were in one of those weak churches, or false churches, and that allowed you to decieve for so long. 

Islam and mormonism (which have similarities) fail the Essentials test. They were also created long long long after God gave us the complete [special revelation], the Bible; which tells of everything from Creation thru Eternity future, [it's complete start to end]. What they teach is a false religion, and have added to God's Word. They lead folk to Hell, as all false religions do. They have a diff god, jesus & gospel. When comparing, we see their religion is in opposition to what God has revealed in Scripture, thus like these and other false religions [incl RCC & orthodox, and cults] theyre easily debunked as frauds. Teaching total falsehoods. The overwhelming majority of Muslims have never even read the Koran, they just listen to little sound bites theyre fed and do ritualistic stuff, so they are clueless of its actual contents (which is contradictory and a mish mash of things, besides full on idolatry as all other false religions are). 

Your entire string of questions (and other things you noted), shows you [even with a pastor past] dont know anything...because these are things an unsaved person (who had no understanding of spiritual matters) would say. And again shows theres unsaved folk in pulpits who have no business there [and lead believers (under them) astray]. Such are part of the reason folk in that room of 100 wouldn't have proper answers or may have weak ones. Those who are shepherding them know nada, and the "professing" one there hasn't studied the Bible themselves enough to be able to properly answer. Those saved tho...will at least try, with what limited info they have to answer your Q in that room, cuz they want to share Christ and truth with you, so you can experience the transforming work of God in your life.  

I won't leave you hanging though, and want to guide you to help you, perhaps God will open your heart and eyes; drawing you to himself. I know pastors who were not saved, realized it and then truly got saved. So there is hope there for you still. Ask God to truly open your eyes and heart. 

You asked how to Get to Heaven. I'll note first that we dont actually do anything to get saved. God saves us. He does that work. 

This explains how it works to be made right with God, (which with it freely comes eternal life, thus are Heavenbound); Understand who God is, understand who you are as a fallen man, a sinner. Understand what God did for us in Jesus, (which none deserve but has been offered freely by God via His grace and love). Then with a contrite heart: Repent of your sins and Believe the Gospel, (as Jesus said in Mark 1:15). God does the converting, we respond in love and gratitude. 

Since Christ then transforms us, we have the new nature, we live pursuing righteousness. We've been made holy by Christ's work; we traded places. Only the Holy can be in God's presence. The wicked will be judged. Either Jesus paid for our sins, or we will pay for them in eternity if we dont have Christ as our Savior. 

The short video at NeedGod.com will help explain and guide you to salvation. I hope you will examine it, and surrender to God through Jesus. 

Grace and peace to you.