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Post by elizabeth on Feb 5, 2007 17:44:53 GMT -8
Originally posted 10/05:
How is everyone? I am glad that we are able to discuss the whole LDS religon. Does anyone have any ideas for opening the eyes to our neighbors whom happen to be LDS? Any ideas would be great or even just talking about it is good.
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Post by Josh on Feb 5, 2007 17:45:54 GMT -8
10/05:
Elizabeth: how close are you to your LDS friends? I mean, what kinds of activities might you do together? How intimate are your conversations about life, etc..? I'm curious, because I think the way Latter-Day Saints stay away from questioning their faith is by insulating themselves to some degree from others who disagree with them (That's often true of Christians in general, for good or for ill).
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Post by nathaniel on Feb 5, 2007 17:47:23 GMT -8
10/05:
i think sometimes the best way to "open peoples eyes" is to just get to know them and become friends with them without the "alterior" motive of evangelizing them. i think that gives a relationship room to breath and trust can be built, and then opening there eyes will just be the natural outpouring within a genuine friendship. it's also probably good to have as much knowledge as you can on the LDS faith as well as your own for when the subject comes up.
just what i was thinkin at the time.
byeeeee!!!
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Post by Josh on Feb 5, 2007 17:48:39 GMT -8
wow, nate.... it sounds like you're ready to write a book on the subject- "room to breathe" "trust can be built" "natural outpouring"- you're waxing poetic.
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Post by nathaniel on Feb 5, 2007 17:49:52 GMT -8
10/05:
i know, i know. my cup overfloweth buddy. when rachel read that her exact words were, "who are you?" i didn't have a good answer. wise beyond my years perhaps?
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Post by elizabeth on Feb 5, 2007 17:50:46 GMT -8
10/05:
LDS: I at one point had a very close relationship with our neighbors and we had a difference of opinion that ended our "closeness". I have been praying for them to see the truth. Unfortunately I think that my window of opportunity has gone (due to our differences ie:religion, president, role as wife, etc). It also gets tricky because of our children and how much the kids like to play together. Since our differences have came about, our "hanging out" has been limited and we do not talk about serious stuff anymore. I really would like to save them from the lies that they are led to believe and to see that what they call "mainstream christianity" IS the way, the truth, and the life.
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Post by christopherpdx on Oct 13, 2012 5:56:43 GMT -8
Matthew 5:14-16
I think, rather than bash someone's religion, which is their tradtion, you might just be who you are and represent your Christianity to the best of your ability so that you set a good example.
If Christians believe that all you have to do is be baptized and believe in Jesus Christ as your
Saviour, what is the problem with the way the different faiths believe?
What is a Christian in your opinion anyway? Someone who follows the teachings of Jesus Christ, correct? Someone who loves the Lord and tries to be good to everyone, who practices the teachings and tries to be exemplary in all they do?
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Post by Josh on Oct 13, 2012 9:49:07 GMT -8
Christopherpdx,
How do you define "bashing someone else's religion"? Is that disagreeing with someone, trying to change their mind on a subject, being rude or ignorant? I'm just trying to get a sense of what that phrase means to you.
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Post by christopherpdx on Oct 22, 2012 21:28:29 GMT -8
Well, Josh, clearly, you don't agree with the LDS doctrine. Making light of it to a Mormon is not going to win you a listening ear to your agenda.
I have a question for you: What is a Christian in your eyes? What makes a follower of Christianity and what does a Christian need to do here on earth to live favourably in the sight of God as well as prepare for the next life?
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Post by Josh on Oct 23, 2012 16:20:01 GMT -8
Well, Josh, clearly, you don't agree with the LDS doctrine. Making light of it to a Mormon is not going to win you a listening ear to your agenda. Are you saying that you have to agree with someone to gain their ear? What do you mean by "making light of" LDS doctrine. I take it seriously enough to disagree with much of it. And yet I can still say that I respect much of what I have experienced in Mormons (though not all) and I can definitely say that I love Latter Day Saints. I don't expect others to agree with me to gain my ear. I don't expect atheists, for instance, to withhold criticism of my faith as long as it is stated fairly and with a desire to learn. One of my biggest criticisms of much of what I see of the LDS faith is that it doesn't want to question itself and therefore interprets disagreements and challenges as threats. A Christian is someone who accepts Jesus Christ, as revealed in Scripture, as Lord and Savior. That's one way of putting it at least. Why? |
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Post by christopherpdx on Oct 27, 2012 22:32:12 GMT -8
Mormons are Christians. Mormons believe that Jesus Christ is their Saviour and Redeemer.
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Post by stevekimes on Oct 28, 2012 9:43:05 GMT -8
I am wondering if, on the final day, Jesus will look at the mass of Christians who weren't evangelical and say, "Sorry. I know you did your best to follow me. I know that you loved me and praised me and did all that you knew I asked you to do. You repented of your sin. But you were taught the wrong things about me. To hell for eternity with you."
I think not.
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Post by Josh on Oct 28, 2012 14:46:34 GMT -8
Here's my take, feel free to respond with objections:
An individual Mormon may be a Christian, but the teaching of Mormonism is at odds with Christianity. So, in other words, a Mormon who is a true disciple of Jesus is a disciple despite the false teachings of the LDS church.
A person may not understand and thus disbelieve in all sorts of truths revealed in Scripture (notably for this topic, that there is but one God) and still be a follower of Jesus, but a system that teaches polytheism cannot itself be considered Christian.
This isn't just true of the LDS faith; it's true of any religious tradition. Anyone who decides to be a disciple of Christ must investigate the degree of separation between their faith tradition and the truth of Scripture. This is going to be the case for Mormons and for Baptists, for Pentecostals and for Lutherans. However, the dissonance between LDS teaching and Scripture is exceptionally significant compared to most other Christian-related traditions.
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Post by stevekimes on Oct 28, 2012 15:45:33 GMT -8
I would agree with that take, Josh.
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Post by christopherpdx on Oct 29, 2012 15:31:48 GMT -8
I feel that the Church of Jesus Christ Of Latter Day Saints is the only one on the face of the earth that teaches the correct principles. I believe that all the other so called christian faiths have a form of Godliness but lack the authority to act in God's name for the benefit of his Church. I realize this belief of mine will stir contentions so, in that light, I will not participate on your bulletin board system anymore. I'd give some other information but all that will do is create contention and Jesus is not about contention and I don't want to stir anyone up.
christopherpdx
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Post by Josh on Oct 29, 2012 19:23:19 GMT -8
I'm sorry that's your decision. I think there is a lot to be gained in reasoning together despite differences of opinion. I wouldn't call that contention myself. To me, contention is where there is name calling and unfair or dishonest attacks on people rather than ideas.
You are free to explain your view as to why the LDS faith teaches the correct principles. I'd love to hear your reasoning behind that. But I'd also like to challenge it, as I hope others challenge mine as well.
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Post by Destroyer on Oct 31, 2012 5:04:39 GMT -8
The belief in the 'Great Apostasy' and the priesthood authority being lost is an interesting one. You had John the Baptist come to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery, giving them the Aaronic Priesthood and then Peter, James and John gave them the Melchizedek Priesthood. Now, only men in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints can gain priesthood authority, right? It (Priesthood authority) was lost, but then there was the 'restoration' and the 'authority' was given to Joseph and Oliver; now it has been passed down to pretty much any man that joins the church.
So... They are the only ones that have the authority to baptise. They will always give you this analogy of Mr. Whippy giving you a speeding ticket/parking fine and how it wouldn't be valid. Therefore, any other baptism (outside their church) isn't valid.. It's kind of arrogant, but they'll never see it that way.
You think of the beautiful, God inspired pastors/ministers that you know. They can't baptise? They haven't got the authority to baptise? It's......... Yeah.
Mormons will tell you that all churches teach some truth, but not the whole truth. The Book of Mormon is truer than any other book. The Book of Mormon holds more truth than the Holy Bible. Really? The Bible has its perfect harmony. The New Testament brings perfect fulfilment. Well, no.. More needed to be told. Jesus went to America and performed many more miracles. Do we have more evidence of Christ? A Mormon would say so.
What do I think? You look at what Christ did in the New Testament. I think he did enough and I don't think he needed to visit America a few times. How do you explain this to a Latter-Day Saint? They'll straight out tell you (some of them) that they don't understand the Old Testament (and perhaps not the New Testament either) or that they don't like reading the Bible. I've even been told that it's boring. They absolutely love their Book of Mormon and Doctrine and Covenants.. How can you reason with that?
There's obviously going to be people with incredible Biblical knowledge. Though with real, true Biblical knowledge, knowing what was fulfilled in the New Testament, what more needed to be done? It might seem like I'm repeating myself, but understand what Christ did when he died.
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