Speaking Religion
Our church’s children’s group wanted to do a service project at the Elim home here in Princeton. They were going to go in and sing some fun songs and then play bingo with them. They nursing home was very excited, until the director asked “What church do you represent?” and the organization president said “The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.” And then the director said “Oh, you can’t come here, you aren’t Christian.” Luckily we found another group that either didn’t find that to be true, or didn’t care. Either way, the children and the seniors will have a fun time.
But not Christian. Seriously? Now, I am not naive to what *some* other churches think of the LDS church. I know the arguments. I’ve done the debate. I don’t have a problem with that. That’s not what this post is about. However, I have plenty of friends and family who attend other churches who don’t agree with LDS church’s dogma, history, etc. and don’t resort to saying “You aren’t Christian, you are a (whisper) c-u-l-t” (Well technically if we look at the definition, most organized religion is, eh?) Because have you seen whose name is in our title?
OK, they still just worry and want us to go to heaven and want us to see the light before it’s too late. I am grateful for their concern. Let’s say I believed them and was ready to switch. Do you honestly think that I am going to switch to THEIR brand of “Christianity”? The one that actually holds classes on Mormonism and how horrible it is and how to witness to your Mormon family and friends and neighbors? Oh yeah, I’ve seen those flyers on the bulletin boards of their churches when I’ve been in them for Pinewood Derbies, Hunter Safety Classes, Red Cross Blood Drives, etc. That is VERY un-Christlike and the antitheses of what they probably hope they appear to be. Or do you think I want to switch to a religion who has mentioned those bad, cultist Mormon’s in their Sunday Sermon? BTDT too, by the way. I actually came to see what you had to say about, uh, Christ? So no thanks. Hey, I know. Go to an LDS messageboard and troll around how wrong they are, and suggest your religion as better. Yes, that’s a way to let your light so shine!
Here’s a hint. If you want to appear Christian yourself, if you want your religion to come across in a good light, drop the classes on anti-Mormonism. Drop the sermons on the other religions and preach Christ’s gospel. Drop the worry about labeling your fellow human beings and worry about the mote/beam in your own eye. Accept service that is offered. Even by Cultist 4 year olds. Sheesh!