#Gospel Doctrine

[mindfulldsliving]

3 Nephi 7: A Journey to Full Conversion

As we unravel the layers of meaning within this chapter, we find themes of faith, sacrifice, and obedience. These are the pathways to a deeper commitment to the gospel that outlasts the temporary trials of life. Together, we'll explore the text's insights

Exploring Faithfulness and Conversion in 3 Nephi 7:A Journey to Full Commitment In 3 Nephi 7, nestled within the profound pages of the Book of Mormon, we encounter a pivotal chapter that examines full conversion and unwavering faithfulness to the Gospel of Christ. This passage highlights the resilience and spiritual transformation of a people amidst societal chaos and division. At its core, 3…

[holystormfire]

[mybeautifulchristianjourney]

As You Judge, So Shall You Be Judged

1 “Stop judging, that you may not be judged. 2 For as you judge, so will you be judged, and the measure with which you measure will be measured out to you. 3 Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own eye? 4 How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove that splinter from your eye,’ while the wooden beam is in your eye? 5 You hypocrite, remove the wooden beam from your eye first; then you will see clearly to remove the splinter from your brother’s eye.

Pearls Before Swine

6 “Do not give what is holy to dogs, or throw your pearls before swine, lest they trample them underfoot, and turn and tear you to pieces.

The Answer to Prayers

7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. 9 Which one of you would hand his son a stone when he asks for a loaf of bread, 10 or a snake when he asks for a fish? 11 If you then, who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good things to those who ask him.

The Golden Rule

12 “Do to others whatever you would have them do to you. This is the law and the prophets.

The Narrow Gate

13 “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction, and those who enter through it are many. 14 How narrow the gate and constricted the road that leads to life. And those who find it are few.

False Prophets

15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but underneath are ravenous wolves. 16 By their fruits you will know them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 Just so, every good tree bears good fruit, and a rotten tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a rotten tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 So by their fruits you will know them.

The True Disciple

21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name? Did we not drive out demons in your name? Did we not do mighty deeds in your name?’ 23 Then I will declare to them solemnly, ‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you evildoers.’

The Two Foundations

24 “Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. 25 The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. But it did not collapse; it had been set solidly on rock. 26 And everyone who listens to these words of mine but does not act on them will be like a fool who built his house on sand. 27 The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. And it collapsed and was completely ruined.”

28 When Jesus finished these words, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, 29 for he taught them as one having authority, and not as their scribes. — Matthew 7 | New American Bible Revised Edition (NABRE) New American Bible, Revised Edition © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Cross References: 1 Samuel 15:33; 1 Samuel 24:13; 1 Kings 13:18; Job 22:16; Psalm 6:8; Psalm 16:11; Psalm 34:4; Psalm 37:4; Psalm 84:11; Psalm 109:17; Proverbs 9:8; Proverbs 10:8; Proverbs 10:25; Proverbs 23:9; Isaiah 35:8; Isaiah 63:7; Daniel 4:14; Matthew 5:17; Matthew 8:1; Matthew 10:15; Matthew 11:1; Matthew 12:33; Matthew 22:40; Matthew 25:10; Luke 6:37; Luke 6:41-42 and 43; Luke 11:10; Luke 13:24; John 3:14; Romans 2:1; 2 Corinthians 11:3; James 3:12

Judge Not, That You May Judge Well

Key Points in Matthew 7

1. Do Not Judge 7. Ask, Seek, Knock 13. Enter through the Narrow Gate 15. A Tree and Its Fruit 24. The Wise and the Foolish Builders 28. Jesus ends his sermon, and the people are astonished.

[idylls-of-the-divine-romance]

Those who live a religion will always know it more intimately and more real-ly than those who only know it externally or even study it academically. Because religion is a lived thing. The academic theologian who has no stakes in how a religion's orthodoxy must be lived out as orthopraxy can afford to come to conclusions about the religion and it's texts, doctrines, cultures, and etc that are unseemly and perhaps even disturbing. They can afford to take a text at it's face value as primitive or to come easily to the conclusion of a contradiction without having to look deeper.

But someone who actually lives a religion, who must conform their orthodoxy to their orthopraxy and their orthopraxy to their orthodoxy, will always be better at handling the texts, doctrines, and dogmas, because they will be forced to look beyond both and beneath texts. Whether this is cope or not is anyone's guess, but it cannot be denied that - in the same way Islamic culture's taboo around creating art of holy figures forced them to become much better at other forms of art than the other religious and ethnic traditions around them - so in the same way, a religious theologian who has an aversion to injustice and unrighteousness will be forced (for the better imo) to be more creative, innovative, and thought provoking than those who have no such stakes. And it is my belief: more accurate.

[mathmusic8]

I saw a post just now saying that members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (aka LDS or Mormons) aren't Christians. As a member of that church, posts like that always make me sad, but on the day after Easter I'm especially confused at the antagonism.

What does it takes to be counted as Christian?

Yes we have theological differences from other denominations--we don't agree with everything from the Council of Trent or Council of Nicaea etc.--but we believe in the Bible and worship the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior, Lord, and Redeemer, and we try to live according to His teachings.

As I've stated in an earlier post, I've loved seeing the outpouring of fellow Christians' faith on Tumblr this Easter season--it's a special, tender time for me in particular as I remember lost loved ones who I know I'll see again in the resurrection, and I celebrate the gift of grace that the Lord has given me and all living beings, and that becaise of Him, we have the ability to repent, be forgiven of our sins, and return to the presence of God.

If I'm not a Christian, what am I?

I'm not looking to make enemies, I'm looking to make friends, and I've found them across denominations before. Can't we all celebrate what we have in common and, when it comes up, discuss our differences directly in civil conversation? I've yet to see a call-out post describing beliefs of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints accurately--and usually they're pretty far off-base. Please just ask us (ask me!) if you have questions! We have so much more in common than you think!

[secretariatess]

"I am uncomfortable with women teaching theology or being online apologists. That's blurring the line with female pastors."

Sir, at this point, it's a conviction of pride, not the Holy Spirit.

[thrassisfras]

I think one of the more frustrating things about Mormonism was, in my experience, the tendency of teachers to just...not allow debate? Discussion? It was always a sort of "here's the truth, you need to accept it as truth" tone to every lesson.

[brianbachochin]

Were Adam and Eve married?

[drifting-knightjar]

Most American Protestantism, for all its other faults, is deeply opposed to "prosperity gospel." That being the idea that wealth, success, and power are signs of God's favor, ergo the rich and powerful are Righteous and the poor and disenfranchised are suffering because they are sinful and Deserve it.

While the basic idea of prosperity gospel is very contrary to most Christian doctrine, it is extremely useful to the powers that be. It exonerates their selfish ruthlessness and handwaves systemic issues of poverty as, at best, 'God's Plan,' and at worst 'Their own fault.'

So the void of prosperity gospel was filled with a secular version--The American Dream.

No need to support changes that might cut into your own lifestyle and comforts--just give a little money to charity and sigh and say isn't it a shame that people have to suffer. They just didn't work hard enough, so of course they're poor. They didn't live frugally enough so of course they have no savings in an emergency. They didn't stay in school so of course they have no opportunities. What a shame that nothing can be done, but that's just how The Market works.

[trberman]

Responding to Michelle Grim and Life After Ministry's Post "LDS: Jesus Prophesied of Joseph Smith"

ABSTRACT: In a recent post on Life After Ministry, Michelle Grim critiques Joseph Smith’s prophetic role and foreordination in the Restoration of the Gospel, referencing biblical passages such as 2 Corinthians 11:13-14 and Matthew 24:24. Grim questions the validity of Joseph Smith’s prophetic claims, suggesting that Jesus’ warnings about false prophets apply to him. She challenges readers to…

[holystormfire]

[mybeautifulchristianjourney]

Woe to you, Scribes and Pharisees!

1 Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to His disciples,

2 Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees have seated themselves in Moses’ seat;

3 Therefore all that they tell you, do and keep; but do not do according to their works, for they say things and do not do them.

4 And they bind burdens, heavy and hard to bear, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with their finger.

5 And all their works they do to be seen by men, for they broaden their phylacteries and enlarge the fringes of their garments,

6 And they love the place of honor at the dinners and the chief seats in the synagogues

7 And the greetings in the marketplaces and to be called by men, Rabbi.

8 But you, do not be called Rabbi, for One is your Teacher, and you are all brothers.

9 And do not call anyone on earth your father, for One is your Father, He who is in the heavens.

10 Neither be called instructors, because One is your Instructor, the Christ.

11 And the greatest among you shall be your servant.

12 And he who will exalt himself shall be humbled, and he who will humble himself shall be exalted.

13 But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you close off the kingdom of the heavens in the face of men; for you do not enter in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to enter.

14 But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour the widows’ houses, even while for a pretense you make long prayers. For this reason you shall receive greater judgment.

15 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you go about the sea and the dry land to make one proselyte; and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of Gehenna as yourselves.

16 Woe to you, blind guides, who say, Whoever swears by the temple, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound.

17 Fools and blind men, which is greater, the gold or the temple which sanctifies the gold?

18 And, Whoever swears by the altar, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gift which is upon it, he is bound.

19 Blind men, which is greater, the gift or the altar which sanctifies the gift?

20 Therefore he who swears by the altar swears by it and by all the things upon it;

21 And he who swears by the temple swears by it and by Him who dwells in it;

22 And he who swears by heaven swears by the throne of God and by Him who sits upon it.

23 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you give a tenth of the mint and the anise and the cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law — justice and mercy and faithfulness. But these you should have done and not neglected the others.

24 Blind guides, who strain out the gnat but swallow the camel!

25 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cleanse the outside of the cup and the dish, but inwardly they are full of extortion and self-indulgence.

26 Blind Pharisee, cleanse first the inside of the cup and the dish so that their outside also may become clean.

27 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you resemble whitewashed graves, which outwardly appear beautiful but inwardly are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness.

28 So you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.

29 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you build up the graves of the prophets and adorn the tombs of the righteous,

30 And say, If we had been there in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.

31 So then you testify against yourselves that you are the sons of those who murdered the prophets.

32 And you, fill up the measure of your fathers!

33 Serpents! Brood of vipers! How shall you escape the judgment of Gehenna?

34 Therefore, behold, I send to you prophets and wise men and scribes. Some of them you will kill and crucify, and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues and persecute from city to city,

35 So that upon you may come all the righteous blood shed on the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zachariah, son of Barachiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar.

36 Truly I say to you, All these things shall come upon this generation.

37 Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I desired to gather your children together, the way a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not!

38 Behold, your house is left to you desolate.

39 For I say to you, You shall by no means see Me from now on until you say, Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord. — Matthew 23 | Recovery Version (REC) The Recovery Version of the Holy Bible © 2009 Living Stream Ministry. All rights reserved. Cross References: Genesis 4:8; Exodus 13:9; Exodus 29:37; Exodus 30:29; Deuteronomy 33:3; Ruth 2:12; 1 Kings 8:13; 1 Kings 9:7; 2 Chronicles 24:21; Job 22:29; Psalm 118:26; Proverbs 26:23; Proverbs 26:26; Isaiah 9:16; Isaiah 20:6; Isaiah 28:25; Isaiah 46:1; Isaiah 66:1; Jeremiah 7:26; Lamentations 4:13; Matthew 3:7; Matthew 5:22; Matthew 6:9; Matthew 10:23; Matthew 11:16; Matthew 14:18; Matthew 15:14; Matthew 20:26; Matthew 26:25; Mark 7:4; Mark 12:38-39; Luke 11:47; Luke 20:47; Romans 2:21; 1 Corinthians 10:18

Matthew 23 Bible Commentary - Matthew Henry (concise)

Key Passages in Matthew 23

1. Jesus admonishes the people to follow good doctrine, not bad examples 5. His disciples must beware of their ambition. 13. He denounces eight woes against their hypocrisy and blindness, 34. and prophesies of the destruction of Jerusalem.

[merthwyn]

The God of the outcasts

I would like to talk a bit about the song "God help the outcasts" from the movie "The Hunchback of Notre Dame". I loved this song since I was a child. The music, the graphics, the emotion that Esmeralda showed while singing it touched my heart. However, I never actually paid attention to the lyrics up until now. And the lyrics of a secular song talk about an issue that the majority of Christians either avoid to talk about, or ignore it's existence, or worse, despise it. If they talk about any outcast, it will either be generalisations about the needy of this world or about "certain groups" promoted by the regime and only for their own merit (a.k.a. to be admired by others).

But, who talks about the outcasts that live next door or sit right next to them at church? Who cares about those crying silently at the back of their church because they suffer from mental illnesses or fight with cancer or recently lost a child? Especially if their grief and agony is expressed in an "unacceptable way" or "lasts for too long"? They only say some Christianese to them and deep inside they wish they didn't express their pain because "they are not a good example of witnessing to visitors" and they destroy the whole happy clappy and positive example of a Christian that is preached and promoted at our church. "In our church I only see happy, positive and smiling people. Don't you think that you ruin the character of the church community with your misery? Maybe it's better for you to stay home and stop and think of whether it's your weak faith that causes this misery to you. I'll pray for you brother/sister". And then the happy faces "glorify God" for their wealth and achievements and the influence they have to non-Christians, and "thank Him" for not making them weak and miserable like those second rate Christians at the back of their church. Exactly like the Pharisee from the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector.

Now, let's see the actual lyrics of the song:

I don't know if You can hear me Or if You're even there

How many people, even Christians reach a point where they cry to God wondering whether He's still here or He has abandoned them like everyone else?

I don't know if You would listen To a gypsy's prayer

The "church family" and the preachers said it themselves after all. God doesn't bother with the weak ones. They are defective products to Him.

Yes, I know I'm just an outcast I shouldn't speak to You

Having internalised all these "loving" sermons and advices from the Christian "family", they now believe it themselves that they have no right to talk to God and burden Him with their abominative weakness.

Still, I see Your face and wonder Were You once an outcast, too?

And yet, in all this misery and agony, in all these certainty that God is indeed what the Church "family" preaches, they still have the "audacity" to remind God that Jesus was also an outcast and a "troublemaker" who ruined the spotless character of the Church.

God help the outcasts Hungry from birth Show them the mercy They don't find on earth God help my people We look to You, still God help the outcasts Or nobody will

The outcasts of the Church, the Christians of dispersion, the lonely, the sick the mentally ill, the "not-good-enoughs" cry to God asking Him to not hide His face from them like everyone else did. They cry for help. Actually, they DARE to cry for help.

Parishioners: I ask for wealth I ask for fame I ask for glory to shine on my name I ask for love I can possess I ask for God and His angels to bless me

Esmeralda: I ask for nothing I can get by But I know so many Less lucky than I Please help my people The poor and downtrod I thought we all were The children of God God help the outcasts Children of God

And then you have the above dialogue.

On one side, the church "family". The happy people, the successful ones, those who are doing great things for themselves in the name of God and fill the church with butts of new believers. Those who ask for glory in Jesus name. The Pharisees.

One the other hand, the outcasts. The abominations. Those who not only have achieved nothing but they even "block" the expansion of the Kingdom by daring to be "miserable". Those who don't care for fame or materials or glory. Those who only ask for the love and the mercy they never had. Those who dare to call themselves "children of God". The tax collectors.

This secular song written for children manages to expose the Church's hypocrisy, spiritual abuse and false doctrines. This secular song written for children manages to preach what the Church repetitively and triumphantly fails to preach. That God is indeed the God of the outcasts and hears their cries and despair.

[rivenantiqnerd]

For verily, verily, I say unto you that ye are called to lift up your voices as with the sound of a trump, to declare my gospel unto a crooked and perverse generation.

Doctrine & Covenants 33:2

[artofkhaos404]

"Honesty is such a precious commodity that is seldom found in the world or the church. Honesty requires the truthfulness to admit the attachment and addictions that control our attention, dominate our consciousness and function as false gods. I can be addicted to vodka or to bring nice, marijuana or being loved, to cocaine or being right, to gambling or relationships, to golf or gossiping. Perhaps my addiction is food, performance, money, popularity, power, revenge, reading, television, tobacco, weight or winning. When we give anything more priority than we give to God, we commit idolatry. Thus we all commit idolatry countless times every day."

-Brennan Manning (Ragamuffin Gospel)

[holyspiritstandard]

For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:

1 Peter 2:21