prisonchaplain

I don't necessarily argue with this. However, I remember the saying, "The favorite doesn't always win but it's still the best bet." Those who give themselves over to the discipline of formal study have a higher chance of exhibiting intelligence than those who won't.

Amen. "Every member a missionary." Every disciple a representative of his/her Master. If a lost soul is to encounter Jesus it will often be through us.

i heard a podcast today of a fellow saying Trump is actually a big Ukraine supporter who said that Putin never should have been allowed to invade Ukraine. The point of the podcaster was to urge Republicans to support Ukraine now so that Trump would have a better hand when Trump was elected. I'm not sure how much of that is true, but I'll look into it. Either way, I hope the Republicans take his counsel.

I was really hoping NO LABELS would put someone up. Right now, my hope is Haley--buy even she is beyond a long shot. Still, it's great to know that sanity like the ASP exists.

It helps that my congregation can't vote. Also, I cut my teeth on federal workers not being allowed to associate politics with work (even though I'm with the state now). Plus this year my current thought is a curmudgeonly pox on both candidates.

Those who succeed in walking in holiness and offer lives and voices that praise Jesus--all while being cautious about finding fault--such folk are likely to bring many along on their coat tails.

The Democrats are becoming the Republicans. Who wants to support Ukraine? Israel? Who's attacking Anti-Communists for not loving America (Tucker Carlson)? Next thing you know, Democrats will be demonstrating to RE-fund the police. When they do, I may switch parties.

Who needs Putin when we have Tucker--claiming that anyone who support Ukraine doesn't love America and wants Tucker's kids to die in combat.

I have a fantasy that involves Trump, Biden and CONTROL-ALT-DELETE. Then I wake up to a Dystopian world in which these two are the main candidates for POTUS. I used to call myself a conservative. Now I am moderately so. I really haven't changed, but the world and the Republicans have. For example, I believe that the US should support Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan. We should counter Chinese ambitions. I used to be considered a bit of a hawk and an anti-communist. Now, Trump and Tucker label me a globalist and say that folks like me (well, Ben Shapiro to be honest) don't love America. Of course, the alternative is Biden and Harris. So, I'm at a loss. Any counsel?

In Pentecost, we sometimes talk about "dead churches." We mean those that may preach/teach truth but lack the fire of the Holy Ghost. Ironically, AW Tozer, who was not Pentecostal, wrote of ministers who "turn the crank." He meant those who know how to operate a church--to run it effectively. They preach the truth, lead committees, sing on tune, and the congregation is mostly happy. But there's no Holy Ghost power in the place. He bemoans this reality. Even Francis Chan has said that he could quickly build a mega-church. He's a dynamic and authentic-sounding speaker. He knows good music and could hire the right worship band. With some demographic mapping, he is business savvy enough to find a great location. He's not interested, though. He wants the authentic. He wants a church that is Spirit-led. Again, he's not Pentecostal. Yes, many non-LDS (especially us Evangelicals) get caught up in claims of "the only true church." To my ears, "only living church" should be just as provocative. On the other hand, if it's true own it. If it was true and now it's not as true (maybe we're catching up), then soften it or let it go.

I realize that @Maytoday may have been asking me if I believe in Creation Ex Nihilo. Yes. Without the Latter-day revelations and interpretations, creation out of nothing is almost universally accepted among Christians, Muslims, and Jews. On the other hand, I accept that the thoughts of creation were in the mind of the Creator for eternity. So, in that sense, there is an eternal nature to what is.

I suspect that most Pentecostals are Young Earth Creationists. We tend the interpret scriptures as mostly literal and mostly historical. However, some of us are a bit more moderate in our understanding. I'm not dogmatic about creation and find that the day-age theory (that the earth could be much older than 6,000 years because "day" in Genesis could mean "age" rather than 24-hours). Still, the closer to literal interpretations a theory is the more comfortable I am. Theistic Evolution (God designed the earth but it is many billions of years old, and God used the process of evolution to develop it) strikes me as too much of a compromise. Then again, I'm no scientist and could easily be wrong. It would not hurt my faith to find out the theistic evolutionists are correct.

You are, of course, correct about the LDS position on foreknowledge. Further, both of our traditions reject Predestination. Where we disagree, though we understand each other, is on Creation Ex Nihilo. I suspect that many traditional Christians have never even heard of creation out of nothing as a doctrine--we simply accept it as a given. Also, I contend that the doctrine of foreknowledge allows for free will even if creation ex nihilo is true.. Many LDS and others do not. Premortal existence does take away this controversy, but most traditional Christians are not familiar with the teaching and would likely reject it--at least on first hearing.

VERITAS. What is truth? Better to live in a dystopian reality than a faux paradise. So, is God real? Is He the one, eternal, all-knowing, everywhere-present God we've been taught about? One journey that might help is to look into the design of the world. In other words, things fit together too neatly to be chance, or unguided evolution. To learn more, see: Discovery Institute | Public policy think tank advancing a culture of purpose, creativity, and innovation.

@zil2, I understand the temptation, but offer a different take. Saints/believers do well to give honor to whom honor is due. It's great when the recognize that God has used a speaker/story/incident to encourage/strengthen their spiritual lives. If God used us to bring that encouragement, then our duty is to say, "Amen, praise God!" Most people don't express gratitude or praise enough. I'm loathe to discourage any of it. If I sense there may be misdirection, then I should redirect. However, I always want to encourage the impulse to praise. To offer a comparison, we criticize Muslims (or fundamentalist Christians) who cover women in excessively uncomfortable garb, in the name of modesty. We suggest that the males ought to have more self-control. Modesty is good, but it is my role to guard my heart and mind (or ask God to do so). I cannot blame another for being immodest--especially to an extreme. Immodesty, pride, etc. are sins. However, it is my job to walk in modesty and humility, not the role of others to not tempt me.

Suffice to say that many of us believe in Ex Nihilo creation but do not believe that we lack free will. Joseph Smith strongly opposed the doctrine of predestination. So do many of us Evangelicals. What some of us suggest is that while God foreknew all, he did not predestine all. He certainly did not predestine sin. I remember an Introduction to Religion professor arguing that if God knows something then it becomes an absolute certainty, so free will cannot exist. My retort is that just because God knows what will happen does not mean that those who partake didn't have free will. They chose what they would do and God's foreknowledge of it does not detract from their willful decision. The good news is that we are in agreement about free will. We don't agree about Ex Nihilo creation, but we agree that humanity is free to choose sin or not.

Power corrupts. It's evil and wrong--especially when done under the guise of Christianity. Dear God, guard my heart and mind!

Yes, @LDSGator. AKA the two Jimmies.

Sadly, I had to learn to deal with disappointing Christian leaders in my coming-of-age years. Both were defrocked. One went to prison. May God empower all of us to walk worthy lives 'til the time of our home-going.

Truly shameful...yes--especially given his brilliant and cogent defense of the gospel. To whom much is given much is required.

You're probably right. I'm aware that Ravi Zacharias, Evangelical apologist, spoke at the Tabernacle a few years back. When this happens it's pretty clear that a noteworthy non-LDS speaker has been invited. 😉

@Maytoday, having read several of your posts now, I suspect that you will enjoy your interactions here and learn much. You show a healthy, balanced, sincere approach that works well. Ask a few questions at a time and read the responses carefully. The posters here appreciate interacting with non-LDS like us. You will receive thoughtful answers. Welcome and blessings to you!

The doctrinal difficulties are not minor. It's not a matter of whether to drink alcohol or not. Who is God? How will we spend eternity? Who are we? I ran a post a few years back comparing my own church's Statement of Fundamental Truths (16) with the Latter-day Saint's Articles of Faith (13). There was not one point of agreement. It's fine. I'm still here--still welcome. We continue to have great conversations about important questions. To put this another way, I am welcomed to discuss beliefs here but would not likely be asked to be a speaker at a Sunday ward service. Likewise, while there have been "convicted conversations" in Evangelical churches (during which LDS and Evangelical speakers engage each other), it's unlikely that an LDS speaker would fill an Evangelical pulpit at a regular Sunday service. So, we respect each other's faith walk. We work at understanding each other's beliefs. But we know that there are some serious differences in how we understand God, the Church, the world, and even ourselves.

Greetings. The topic of this string can easily lead to difficulties. What is a Christian? Latter-day Saints have throughout their roughly 200-year history experienced opposition from Protestant Christians--especially Evangelicals. Infamously, Governor Boggs, of Missouri, ordered that they could be shot and killed without penalty, because he wanted to drive them out of his state (this happened in the 19th century). So, the seemingly innocent, "Are you really Christians?" comes across as aggressive. LDS will say they are Christians because they believe in Jesus Christ for salvation and because their fruits (godly lives) are positive. One of the common retorts are that the doctrines are different--especially concerning the Trinity and salvation by faith alone. In reality, the doctrines (teachings) are different. My own struggle, as a Pentecostal, is that Oneness Pentecostals (especially the United Pentecostal Church) deny the trinity. Nevertheless, while most Evangelicals consider them to be wrong, they would not deny their Christianity. Of course, some do. So, in trying to learn about Latter-day Saint beliefs it might be best to simply ask doctrinal questions without debating what a Christian is. This site is a good place to learn a lot. However, another great starting place might be to read The Articles of Faith: 13 Beliefs | Come unto Christ (churchofjesuschrist.org). Those 13 teachings are the foundation of Latter-day Saint belief--so much so that they are considered scripture.

I get that. Yet, skeptics ask it--a lot. Of course, some are not skeptics, they are opponents. I feel the same way about those who question God's justice because of the doctrine of hell. Nevertheless, thoughtful answers exist because even the most foolish of questions, if offered in sincerity, can be the means by which some search for God. If I am convinced that Jesus was racist, then I wouldn't ask the question. If I'm truly confused by the story and I do ask the question, might it not indicate that I want to believe. I want to be reassured that Jesus was not racist or ethnocentric--that he really was the loving, forgiving Savior that I hoped He was.