Centering on Jesus Christ
“Center Your Relationships on Jesus Christ”; “As you share online, focus on relationships and messages that bring you closer to Jesus Christ. Use the Spirit as you find ways to share the gospel online. Have courage to share your testimony of the Savior when you feel prompted by the Spirit. Try to help those you associate with online realize the power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ.
“As you participate in this conversation and utilize the tools of new media, remember who you are—Latter-day Saints. . . . There is no need to argue or contend with others regarding our beliefs. There is no need to become defensive or belligerent. Our position is solid; the Church is true. We simply need to have a conversation, as friends in the same room would have, always guided by the prompting of the Spirit and constantly remembering the Atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ, which reminds us of how precious are the children of our Father in Heaven.” — Elder M. Russell Ballard (“Sharing the Gospel Using the Internet,” Ensign, July 2008).”
Romans 12:2; “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”
You’ll notice how they lure people in with the phrase “Center…on Christ”. That all sounds well and good doesn’t it?
The real truth is found after the luring to bring people in so let’s take a look at the vocabulary this man uses. I discovered the page listed above on the Church’s website (6/21/2013) and found some things they said to be confusing and misleading, thus my posting on this today.
1.”Use the Spirit”. I’ve gotta ask…what exactly does that mean? How does one go about using the Spirit and what Spirit are you using? As Christians we have the Holy Spirit residing inside of us and because of God’s omniscient and omnipotent power the Holy Spirit guides our thoughts and lives at all times. I’ve never heard of any Christian “using” the Spirit.
2. What is the “power of the Atonement”?
3. Why is the Church true? Specifically what makes this so?
4. Why must someone always remember the Atonement? What does this specific act do? What encompasses the act of the “Atonement”?
5. How does constantly remembering the Atonement remind us we’re children of God? Mormons already believe they’re children of God because they were spiritually begotten by God and a Heavenly Mother. I don’t need someone else’s action to remind me of who my father is. I already know this.
As I stated here, when we’re saved God’s Holy Spirit takes up residence inside of us and while I think about what He did for me every single day, my focus is upon who He is, what He’s done and not just for me, but who He is as a whole.
There are no specifics when they give directions on telling people to focus on the Atonement. The Atonement for a Mormon is that Jesus paid for some, but not all sins, in the Garden of Gethsemane. The other truth is that Mormons believe in a works based salvation that has no place in the true Sacrifice Jesus made on the Cross, not in the Garden of Gethsemane.
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