dr.lynn

Hi, I'm glad to be back. It's been awhile. My name is Lynn Ridenhour. I live in Independence, MO--actually on the outskirts. I'm a Baptist minister who for these past 27 years has been preaching out of both the Bible and the Book of Mormon. I'm also the host of Building Bridges Conferences, an inter-faith organization dedicated to bringing together Book of Mormon Christians and Bible-believing Christians. I've held these conferences up and down the Utah valley as far south as St. George, all the way up to Salt Lake City. I've always said--it's my belief that evangelical Christians and LDS Christians have far more in common than all our differences. Are there differences? Of course. But it's time, I believe, we began celebrating our commnonalities rather than continue magnifying our differences. I have come to this forum as a friend. I have no desire to argue over our distinctive differences. I enjoy civil discourse and don't mind addressing the tough issues. As long as love and forbearance accompany our discussions. It's good to be back, Lynn Ridenhour

You ask no small question. In fact, I would say – the nature & makeup of the godhead is perhaps one of the most (if not the most) contentious disagreements that exists between evangelicals and Mormons. How do I deal with that? Here's the way I look at it. I give you four reasons why I think the way I do: 1) I'm not one hundred percent certain the "good guys" won at the Council of Nicaea. I've heard impressive arguments on both sides. I know the two camps (LDS & Evangelicals) are polarized on the issue of the godhead; i.e., trinitarian versus modalism and the god with a body. But to really take a "dug-in" position, as I see it, suggests a bit too much audacity on our part. Regardless of which side you’re on. Here’s why. 2) Can the clay say to the Potter? I’m saying—come on, we’re discussing the grandest of all theological mysteries here. The godhead! Can the creature know entirely the nature of its Creator? Without question? Beyond a shadow of a doubt? I think our position as created beings should be similar to that of Job when the Creator gave Job a pop quiz. In chapters 38 - 40 the Creator of all the universes begins asking Job some mighty grand epistemological, phenomenological, ontological, existential questions: “Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said, ‘Who is this who darkens counsel by words without knowledge [ouch!]?’” The Lord continues: “Now prepare yourself like a man. I will question you, and you shall answer me. Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding…” [ouch again!] (vs.1-4) And then it goes from bad to worse. The pop quiz gets extremely probing. The Lord asks a string of anthropology questions, moral questions, ontological questions, and epistemological questions to Job. The questions seem never-ending. Finally, Job in chapter 40 reluctantly responds. Check out his answer: “Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer you?”(vs.4). 3) I really honestly do think it’s a bit too presumptuous of us to think that we can get a finite grasp on an infinite subject such as the nature and makeup of the godhead. 4) On a more practical note, my position is,…when I get to heaven, and the Lord Jesus walks up to me and says, “Brother Lynn, I want to introduce you to our Father. Come.” And Jesus takes me by the hand, walks me into the Father’s presence and I’m standing before the Father’s throne…my eyes are closed...when I look up and see that the Father has a physical body (or doesn’t have), I guarantee you, I’m not going to slap my thigh with a tinge of arrogance and utter, “Hot damn! I knew I was right all along!” O, no! Never in a million years. I will fall before the Father’s throne with a heart swelling with mixed emotions—feelings I’m sure of dread, reverential fear and love and acceptance and joy--all wrapped up into one. Feelings of grand humility rolling over me like a tsunami, my heart swept away by the emotion that I’m home at last. Home at last. I made it. Lynn

Never lived in Alabama. I've ministered in Alabama. In Huntington, to be exact. And yes, I've attended an lds church. Lynn then i guess you aren't the Sis. Ridenhour i knew. lol I'm a guy. Lynn

Never lived in Alabama. I've ministered in Alabama. In Huntington, to be exact. And yes, I've attended an lds church. Lynn

You nailed it. Church government within the Southern Baptist Convention is always determined by local autonomy. You're 100% correct. I received my ordination from my local congregation. Not the national Southern Baptist Convention. As a matter of information, about the only thing that would get me in trouble; that is, cause me to get my ordination papers pulled is: a financial scandel or infidelity. Ironically, though Southern Baptists take a conservative theological approach to our faith, we're not as conservative lin most other matters. Lynn

Good observations. You're so right. The Book of Mormon is not a pick 'n choose smorgasbord. We don't read it cafeteria-style. What type of membership do we have? All kinds, really. We're actually somewhat difficult to profile. We have those who do not embrace the Book of Mormon. We have those who come from no religious background. We have those who come from 3 & 4 LDS staunch generations. We have RLDS, Restoration Branch, Elijah Messenger members--all Book of Mormon backgounds. We have those with Baptist, Pentecostal, Episcopalian, Methodist, Catholic, Lutheran, and even Jewish backgrounds. Yes, we have Messianic Jews who are with us and who embrace the Book of Mormon. We have the homeless and doctors and lawyers business men & women and university professors and dental hygienists and chiropractors and NDs and vegetarians and students and stay-at-home moms and old and young...and...you name it. We're a mix. No. The Book of Mormon is never an issue. Lynn

"...Thank you Lynn for sharing. My question like many what made you to decide to preach from both the Bible and the Book of Mormon? Many people claim that the Book of Mormon is made up of stories from the Bible, I of course have read the book of mormon through and most of the bible and didn't see or remember seeing any stories in the BoM read anything like the bible. Your thoughts since you're preaching from both." To begin with, the claim that the Book of Mormon is a mere redundancy of the Bible falls short. Won’t hold up. If anything, the book explains and clarifies in much more specific terms. I’m saying—I find the Bible more likely to introduce subjects in generalities, and remain in the shallow end of the pond. The Book of Mormon, however, is much more inclined to be precise and concrete, and head out into the deep. I give you but one example: The House of Israel. I find the storyline of Israel presented in much more depth in the Book of Mormon than in the Bible. Also, one of the main reasons I preach from both books is: I discovered those same “inspirational clues” in the Book of Mormon that hint of an ancient’s text’s own authenticity. I’m saying—I find both the Bible and the Book of Mormon to be reliable, to say it in layman’s terms. The same Holy Spirit wrote both. Lynn

Prisonchaplain writes, How interesting this is! You've had no negative feedback from preaching out of the BoM in Baptist churches? I wish I could say that's so. Actually, I'm like Ronald Reagan. My gang either loves me or hates me. I'm either a heel or hero to most. An apostle plowing new ground or an apostate digging my own grave. For sure, there's been no ambiguity about how my peers feel about what we do. I must say, however, that in my 22 years of doing what I do, I've never been thrown out of a pulpit. It's never come to that. I understand that some of those churches won't even hear from non-KJV Bibles. You're correct in saying that. It would be good to hear some of your stories. I do have some stories to share. And will. Lynn Sometimes I ask the same. I really don't have an answer for that. I have always tried to avoid the two extremes: 1) deliberately laying low for fear of retribution, and 2) deliberately flaunting our work. I simply go about our business of what we do: building bridges between Book of Mormon Christians and Bible-believing Christians, and, as Joseph said, let truth cut its own path. Wish I could be more specific. Lynn Prisonchaplain writes, I have heard of some non-LDS churches who use the BoM, but mainstream SBC churches...curious to hear more. We're definitely the exception, not the norm. And it's not been smooth sailing. I have had rainting SBC pastors swear they were going to have my license pulled. Thankfully, it always comes to naught. Looks like the website is just beginning. Correct. We're very excited about our blog. And we intend over the next few months to continue adding material, thereby making it more appealing. I've already added "My Statement of Repentance" I publicly read before LDS brothers and sisters in Salt Lake; also a word about our being invited to have lunch at the Lion's House, hosted by President Hinckley, and a word about our Building Bridges Ministries. Simply click on the sidebar "Ministries." Thanks for commenting. Lynn John Doe remarks, Welcome Lynn! I have run across Mr. Ridenhour on other, now-defunct message boards... That's me. ...and have found him to be very knowledgeable and interesting to read. Hope you enjoy your time here, Lynn. PLease feel free to share your background if you'd like. Thank you for your warm and kind words. Actually, Pale, I'm kind of surprised you haven't heard of him before. Ditto! I'm a Book of Mormon-believing Christian AND a Bible-believing Christian so what does that make me?BTW...your blog is....interesting. You caught me! Legitimate point you have. Actually a fair one at that. I concede. It's not totally fair to categorize the two camps the way I do; i.e., Bible-believing Christians and Book of Mormon Christians for the very distinction you make. LDS believe in both books. The problem is: my gang doesn't. That is, we're Stick of Judah Lovers only. You, on the other hand, bear an affection for both sticks -- the Stick of Joseph & the Stick of Judah. To give you a direct answer, though perhaps not a satisfactory one--I do it primarily for the sake of convenience. That is, it's so much easier to say: Book of Mormon Christians and Bible-believing Christians. Am I precisely correct? No. I pray, however, you do not sense any mean-spiritedness in the labeling. Lynn

Thank everyone for such a warm welcome! Sorry for not getting back with the questions--which, by the way, are excellent. Please forgive the delay, but pre-occupied with Christmas/family. Should have a bit of time in the next day or so to respond. Again, thanks for the warm welc ome. Lynn

Hi, My name is Lynn Ridenhour. I'm a Southern Baptist Minister who lives in Independence, MO. For the past 22 years I have been preaching out of both the Bible and the Book of Mormon, and believe that Book of Mormon Christians and Bible-believing Christians have far more in common than all our differences. Are there differences? Of course. But I believe it's time we began celebrating our commonalities rather than continue to magnify our differences. I'm interested in building bridges. If interested, my blog is: www.baptistmormonpreacher.typepad.com His Blessings, Lynn