House of Prayer or Den of Thieves?
D&C 88:119; “Organize yourselves; prepare every needful thing; and establish a house, even a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God.”
Mark 11:17; “And he taught, saying unto them, Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? but ye have made it a den of thieves.”
Did you know the Kaaba in Mecca and Mormon temples have something in common? Non-believers can’t enter either place to worship God because they’re deemed unworthy.
My pastor recently preached a sermon reminding people the doors are open to everyone to come in and pray or meet with the staff or ask about Jesus, ask for help, etc, at any time – no appointment necessary! It was based on Matthew 18:11-13 & Luke 15:2.
Luke 15:2 uses the word receive and I want us to look at that word here to reflect on its meaning when we compare it to needing a pre-requisite to enter these “holy places” to worship the Lord.
This word receive in the Greek is prosdechomai. It means to look for, to await with patience, to admit…
Jesus, the King of Kings and Lord of all Lords looks for our arrival and He’s not just hanging out waiting around, He’s actively searching for us!
He offers the best of what He has right up front with no hoops to jump through or hidden meanings meant only for the elect. Everything’s front and center awaiting our arrival!
While the Pharisees were busy making their list of over 5,400 rules for qualification as an insider, Jesus gave us the parable of the good shepherd who left the flock of 99 and actively sought out the one missing from his flock.
Muslims must recognize and participate in the five pillars of Islam which make up the foundation of the Muslim life. Those pillars include;
Salat – prayer five times a day facing Kaaba
Fasting during Ramadan
Hajj – the pilgrimage to Mecca at least once during a lifetime
Charitable giving
Belief – Shahada is the belief there is only one god (Allah) and Mohammed is his messenger
Mormonism and Islam are focused on the religion and require a confession of its founder. And then of course we have Christianity – Jesus said believe in Me and be saved. The sum and total of Christianity can be found in Romans 10:9;
“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”
A reminder of what’s needed in being a Christian can be found just five verses earlier;
Romans 10:4; “For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believeth.”
Remember – we’re following Jesus, not Joseph and certainly not Mohammed so if Jesus is the end of the Law what’s going on with all the must-dos and must-haves?
In Mormonism you have to qualify to receive a temple recommend (aka live righteously and tithe ten percent of your gross income) then you must buy temple garments that must be worn 24/7. After all that you have callings to fulfill, tithing minimums that must be met, food storage, dietary laws, chastity laws, gospel laws, dress codes, secret names to remember, handshakes and oaths, the list is exhaustive!
And then if you do qualify for a temple recommend there’s a list of protocols once you’re in the door. Our example comes from the LDS website for the Albuquerque, New Mexico temple. I found their list of needed things very telling:
If you’re there to perform living ordinances you need to make an appointment with the temple for endowments, marriages or sealings. For family ordinances names must be done in proper sequence and if initiatory ordinances are being done you need to allow extra time. If baptisms for the dead are needed time on top of that must be factored in as well. There’s also a certain way to fill out the family records to ensure you’ve not missed any family member that might want salvation in Mormonism…
All these specifications! When is there time for God?! Do you really think God can’t operate without your 3×5 cards filled out properly or that He won’t hear your prayers if you’re not facing a certain direction? I can’t even remember the last time I held a compass in my hand…how would I know which way to face?
Jesus said “I am the way, the truth and the life – John 14:6. No family history cards, no hajj, no pillars, no temples; nothing but the blood of Jesus.
What can wash away my sin?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
What can make me whole again?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
Refrain:
Oh! precious is the flow
That makes me white as snow;
No other fount I know,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
For my pardon, this I see,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
For my cleansing this my plea,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
Refrain
Nothing can for sin atone,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
Naught of good that I have done,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
Refrain
This is all my hope and peace,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
This is all my righteousness,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
Refrain
Now by this I’ll overcome—
Nothing but the blood of Jesus,
Now by this I’ll reach my home—
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
Refrain
Glory! Glory! This I sing—
Nothing but the blood of Jesus,
All my praise for this I bring—
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
Refrain
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