Albion wrote:Jo, one or two responses to your last post. Firstly, I did read your original post but found it long and full of your own opinion rather than any appeal to specific scripture on any particular topic. Opinions which in my view are based on the false teachings of the Mormon Gospel. If I am wrong in referencing the early Mormon quote, attributed to God, that the beliefs of Christianity are an "abomination" and its believers "currupt", please show where that is inaccurate. Drifting in a follow up post gave the full text and it is clear what was said despite you accusing me of being dishonest with regard to it.
Hi Albion,
Do you not see? My comments were in response to the entire chapter of 1 John Chapter 4. Clearly, if you think that my comments were not based on any appeal to specific scripture on any particular topic, then we cannot even begin a discussion on common ground.
Not being RC I have not made, nor do I make, any defense of their position. While there is much in Catholicism that I might disagree with there are many devout Christians within that church and I think they are quite capable of defending their beliefs as Madelaine does with clarity on this very board.
However, the very issue which you are currently (through Drifting's quotations) accusing the LDS Church of, is a very specific teaching of the RCC. A reader without any biased pre-conception will read Drifting's quotations and NOT come to the same conclusion which you and Drifting have come to. Unfortunately, most posters on this site come to this site because it is specifically geared for Mormonism. As such, most already have an agenda filled with pre-conceptions as to why they come here in the first place.
I agree that there are many, many, many devout Christians who are Roman Catholics, of which Madeleine is one. However, I disagree that she has been able to defend her beliefs with clarity because she has only a surface understanding of her beliefs. She avoids more than half of the issues within the RCC belief system which have been presented to her. As such, she has completely avoided addressing them because she does not know how to. But she is on her own path. When she is ready and able to address those issues, she will.
If you have always used honesty in your posts on this board, then I think you are also devout in your belief system. Sometimes, though, and I could be way off base on this, I think that you are Drifting's sock puppet. If you are not, and your posts have been honest and sincere, then you ARE devout in your belief system. As I have previously mentioned, you are also on your own path. You and Madeleine are both at the points in your journey where you are comfortable; and they are based completely on your own choices. The same is true for where I am in my own journey.
I commend you in your declaration that you seek truth. Unfortunately, my experience is that Mormons only seek truth as they define it and when it conforms to what they have been told is truth.
I think this is true of the majority of all believers. It is the spiritually enlightened who are able to make distinctions and recognize Truth when they see or hear it. Sometimes they will discover that there is only partial Truth in what they have been taught by the religious institute they have been attending. Once they are spiritually enlightened they are able to find Truth anywhere and everywhere; and are able to filter out what is false. The more Truth that is revealed to them, the further they are able progress in their journey. These individuals exist all over the earth, and can be found in all religions. They will eventually become the "few there be that find it". And when their spirit IS completely born of the Spirit, they will be able to see the Kingdom of God; i.e., Exaltation.
A major leap is made in our journey when we begin to see the Light which allows to begin to make the distinction of seeing and hearing with spiritual eyes and ears. Just because someone else tells us that we have found that Light wherein our real spiritual journey can progress, does not mean that we HAVE found it. When we DO find it, we will know the difference.
Jesus is "the way, the truth and the life"...anyone seeking after truth begins and ends with him in a full understanding of who he is and the completeness of his atonement at Calvary. All truth resides in Christ Jesus and has been fully revealed...sufficient for our salvation. The rest is fluff and vain human reasoning and peacocking.
Jesus did reveal enough Truth sufficient for our salvation. However, Jesus did NOT reveal All Truth - only the parts of Truth which Father wanted Him to reveal. There is more than one level in Heaven where we can be saved to. In order to be in the same Heaven where God resides, we need to progress through the various lower levels of Heaven. Contrary to what you may think, this is not a uniquely LDS belief. Rather, it is an ancient belief. The Bible holds a myriad of levels of understanding, and in order see them and to be led to ALL Truth (some of which also exists outside of the Bible), we must do exactly what Jesus commanded: be perfect; which is also being completely born of the Spirit; which is also doing God's will as perfectly as Jesus did. When we have achieved this, we will have achieved Exaltation; we will be one with the Father. I believe this may also be akin to having our calling and election made sure which Peter speaks about. Also, this could be akin to be sealed by the Holy Spirit of Promise.
Where we are taught that through God's mercy we will be perfected, I think most misinterpret HOW this is achieved. I have created a post with which I am going to start a new thread. I have explained more there. It should be ready some time this evening.
Blessings,
jo