Tuesday, December 8, 2009

When Church Is Boring...

...remember this:

So is that the Church I want to join?

13 comments:

M.A.C. said...

Hello,

I hope you don't mind answering a couple of questions I am asking all believers everywhere;

Do you believe that God sent His only Son Jesus Christ to start a new religion called Christianity?

And Where is the text in the bible that supports the popular Christian belief that God sent His only Son Jesus Christ to start a new religion called Christianity?

Clean Cut said...

Hello right back at ya.

Do I believe that God sent His only Son Jesus Christ to start a new religion called Christianity?

Yes and No.

I believe that God sent His only begotten Son Jesus Christ, and that Christ came to fulfill the will of the Father--Yes. However, I don't believe he came "to establish a "new religion called Christianity", since I believe that the doctrine of Christ had been taught and lived from the beginning. So the answer to the second half of your question is no. I believe that people had faith in, believed, and lived the gospel of Christ well before Christ even came to earth, lived a perfect life, and atoned for all mankind.

M.A.C. said...

Hello Again,

I hope you don't mind continuing some dialogue on this topic.

If there is no biblical text to support Christianity as a religion. Do you think the current status quo of denominational divergence is in danger at the judgment seat of Christ?

Christ said;

"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'

Sounds like Jesus is talking about church folk here. What do you think?

Ardis E. Parshall said...

If you were to ask me what I think, I think you should stop being so coy, MAC, and make whatever point you obviously have in mind. Nobody likes watching cutesy games.

Clean Cut said...

That's exactly what I would have said, Ardis.

Just cut to the chase, MAC. Make your point, and then I'll tell you what I think.

Matt W. said...

Bruce:

Looking at your blogger ID, I see you are a person who is worried about the "apostate" status of many of the world's religions and peoples which push people away with "sanctimonious attitudes and condemnation". This is good. You have identified a real problem. This is a major teaching of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, of which Clean Cut is a member. This church holds up that denominational divergence is not God's plan and that there is a single true way which has existed from the beginning of time to now, and that Jesus came as part of this order and Joseph Smith was called to as a prophet to reestablish this truth. I would say though, be careful not to let you worry about the motes in other's eyes deceive you and leave a beam in your own.

Anyway, Clean Cut, Your only bored because you need to move to my ward...

M.A.C. said...

Ardis E. Parshall,

Coy sounds very feminine Ardis unless you are a woman. Before I dialogue with you we must get things straightened out. Are you a woman?

Cleancut,

Do you believe that God sent His only Son Jesus Christ to start a new religion called Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints/Mormons?

Matt W,

My concern is for all believers that call on Jesus Chhrist.

Consider; Matthew 7

"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'

Sounds like Jesus is talking about church folk here.

Clean Cut said...

MAC/Bruce--Dialogue is a two-way street. Sister Ardis is correct. You're being coy. No rabbit trails, please. As I already requested, just cut to the chase.

M.A.C. said...

Cleancut,

I did cut to the chase my friend, you just ignored it. Of course if you don't want to continue dialogue I understand and will peacefully move along.

Allow me to reiterate the question again!

Do you believe that God sent His only Son Jesus Christ to start a new religion called Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints/Mormons?

Or is there some type of deity put onto the man Joseph Smith?

Clean Cut said...

Forgive me, MAC. I thought that was just another question in what seemingly could have become an endless string of questions.

I actually wanted to hear what you have to say, rather than just answer a string of posturing questions which would delay arrival at your thesis statement.

But here goes:

"Do you believe that God sent His only Son Jesus Christ to start a new religion called Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints/Mormons?"

Latter-day Saints believe that God the Father and Jesus Christ appeared to the boy Joseph Smith, called him to be a prophet, and restored the Church that Jesus Christ established in the meridian of time. For Latter-day Saints, the "Church" is not only a "body of believers", but an organization with ordinances and priesthood, prophets and apostles, etc.

For Latter-day Saints (like the early Christian "Saints") it's not about belonging to a "religion" per se, but rather the covenant relationship we are thus able to enter into with Christ. It's about entering into a new life in Christ.

Alas, sometimes people allow other less important things to get in the way or even dominate their faith. Perhaps we all unwittingly do this sometimes. But I know from experience how frustrating it can be when I go to church and attend one of my priesthood quorum lessons and it begins to feel that I actually belong to the "Church of Home Teaching", or the focus seems to be on some other "program" or statistics, rather than on the gospel of Jesus Christ.

By any means, as you noted, not everyone who says "Lord, Lord" will "enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven." I think one of the commendable attributes of Latter-day Saints in general is their commitment to showing their faith by striving to "do" the will of the Father.

While that "doing" may take on different forms for different people, I hope that one day I'll be found as one who had walked the walk and not just talked the talk. I admit, I'm often much better at the latter.

M.A.C. said...

Cleancut,

Thanks for your forthright honesty and the moving away from your defensive posture. And thanks for sharing!

May...

The Lord bless and keep you;
The Lord make His face shine upon you,
And be gracious to you;
The Lord lift up his countenance upon you,
And give you peace.

Clean Cut said...

Is that really all you wanted to ask? Isn't there anything else you care to share? Anything you've learned from this brief dialogue? I appreciate your kind words, but isn't there more of an explanation you can share? At the least, why you're asking the question in the first place...

M.A.C. said...

Cleancut,

I am working on a documenary project called "Bad Christian" it is based in the gospel of Jesus Christ and is controversial as was Christ during His ministry here.

The question I asked is ridiculous in and of itself but in the asking I am developing some other questions that need asking.

Such as;

What comes first, repentance or salvation?

What denomination was Jesus Christ?