Thought of the Day about Mormonism and Facebook
Today Melissa sent me an e-mail with the picture that’s at the end of this article. She found it on the LDS’ Facebook page under other miscellaneous photos they provided for members to attach to their FB pages.
Melissa was telling me the first thing she thought of was how she couldn’t get the words “obey” and “law” out of her head. She said they make it sound like God is some sort of dictator and I couldn’t agree more!
The FB sign said “obey the laws of God – they were given to us by a loving Heavenly Father”. I find it to be odd considering the Bible says God sent His Only Son to die for us because He loves us. Why would He then beset us with more laws if He loved us and Jesus came to fulfill those laws?
As I read some of the posts that went along with this particular picture I found it deeply sad how each person’s insight was bereft of grace.
Melissa’s response to the picture is indicative of those who’ve accepted the free gift of salvation after living in the shadows of the Mormon “gospel law”. After trying to earn your way to salvation, the grace believers have in Jesus is a welcome reprieve finding out Jesus has truly provided a sure way instead of having to rely upon their own strength!
I want to make it clear that as Christians we need to be obedient to living righteously. The New Testament is replete with instructions for us on how to live.
James 2:17 – Be doers of the word
Hebrews 13:18 – Desire to act honorably
James 1:19-20 – Be slow to speak, quick to hear
Philippians 4:8-9 – practice good, honorable, just, commendable things
Colossians 3:7-8 – put away anger, malice, and wrath
1 John 1:9 – confess our sins
There’s a lot we can do, but it’s impossible to do any of these things without the Holy Spirit living inside of us, enabling us to do so! These things are manifestations of the works of God and fruits of the Holy Spirit as it says in Galatians 5:22.
Our works are but filthy rags as Isaiah tells us (64:6). Furthermore, we need to remember what Jesus told us about the two greatest commandments – love God with all your heart and love your neighbor as yourself. (Matthew 22:36-40)
If you’d like to hone in on the words ordinances, Jesus gave us two ordinances to observe – baptism and communion. (Acts 2:41-42), but works for salvation were taken care of on the cross!
Ephesians 2:14-16 – Jesus abolished the law of commandments
Colossians 2:14 – Jesus blotted out the handwriting of ordinances against us
Our list could go on forever, but you get the idea I’m sure. We’re not the one doing the works for our salvation, He is!
The other problem with the picture on their FB page is the deafening silence on how we do any of the “works”. For the Mormon it’s something done on their own because they don’t have the Holy Spirit residing inside of them as Christians do.
Compare this with what it says in D&C 130:23 where the Holy Ghost may come upon someone and not stay. That’s completely opposite of what Jesus told us in John 14:23!
The Church has convinced its members to go to the temple to do ordinances and endowments for dead people, pay your 10% to get into the temple, answer and submit to all church callings, have a family, wear the appropriate clothing, store a year’s supply of food (or 3 months nowadays), go to church in a certain congregational ward building at a certain time, and on it goes.
These paltry things have nothing to do with the Mosaic Law in the Old Testament and having a covenant relationship with God.
Pray for the Mormons today won’t you? Here’s the link to the photo on the LDS website.
With Love in Christ;
Michelle
1 Cor 1:18
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