This is love?

You may have noticed that my blog title changed from " .... a running blog"  to "... a mostly running blog".   This is to allow me to deviate from my original purpose as, you may have also noticed, I've been doing more of lately.  One can only say so much about running ..... but you didn't hear that from me.  So onto another non-running subject.   


I have been involved in apologetics.  The handy dictionary in my laptop defines this as "reasoned arguments or writings in justification of something, typically a theory or religious doctrine".  


IOW, I like to discuss Christianity with people who don't share my particular Christian beliefs.  I belong to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, commonly known by the nickname "Mormon", and my ties go back to my birth and beyond.  I have a fierce loyalty towards, and love for, my religion which centers on the gospel of Christ, and there are a LOT of misconceptions about us that I feel compelled to dispel.  There are misconceptions that we have about others as well and I cling to the hope that an honest, respectful conversation can help to build an understanding and even a friendship.  


I have participated in several online forums, some managed by fellow Latter-day Saints, and some not.  And I have learned some valuable lessons about other Christian faiths.  I preface my list with the important note that sometimes discussions between mainstream Christians and LDS are like ships passing in the night.  We are using the same words, but our meanings are different, which feeds the misunderstandings and tosses frustration into the mix.  So that said, here is what I have learned:


1.  Beliefs vary greatly among mainstream Christians.  Do not assume that any two professed Christians agree on doctrine --- even if they attend the same denomination.  For example, some believe that baptism is essential to salvation, and others do not.  Some believe that I am a fellow Christian and others not only think I am NOT a Christian, but that I and others like me, are going straight to hell ..... do not pass Go, do not collect $200 ....  They claim that as long as Christians agree on basic doctrine, such as the Trinity, then the other peripheral tenets don't matter ..... but I've never been able to discern exactly which tenets are basic, and who gets to decide.    


2.  Those who say that I am not a Christian, simply define the title differently than I do.  We LDS tend to chuckle, roll our eyes and say, Isn't Jesus Christ in the VERY TITLE of our church's name?  Silly people!  But to them, or at least to some of them (see #1) -- to be Christian means you have accepted Christ as your personal savior and that YOU HAVE BEEN SAVED.  Since, in their opinion, "Mormons" obviously are not saved, then we can't be Christians.   AIthough I don't agree, I can see their point.


3.  With all the disagreement in doctrine, we feel the logical option is to simply ask God.  After all, his opinion DOES matter, doesn't it?  However, some (again see #1) Christians say that asking deity is unreliable.  They say one cannot be sure if an answer truly came from God.   They say feelings cannot be trusted and that we MUST find our answers in the Bible where all is clearly written to eliminate all confusion.  However, considering the reality of #1, I am still scratching my head.   "Well," I've been told when I've pointed out a discrepancy among them, "Everyone else is wrong.  The others are NOT following the Bible." ...... Okay, but that's not what the others say .... but oh well.


4.  In the ongoing debate about grace vs works, some (#1 again) Christians don't define works as good deeds.  This is important because we LDS have misunderstood this.  They define works as ordinances.  Many Christians simply believe that belief in Christ is all one needs.  Good deeds are a natural outcome of that belief and so the deeds really don't deserve a mention.  They just are.  Ordinances ended with Christ's ministry.  (Yes, he WAS baptized but that doesn't matter .... to some ....)
    
One problem I have encountered is that it appears that the young, with their youthful zeal and computer prowess, tend to monopolize many of these forums.  With youth, naturally comes immaturity and that immaturity (on our side also) just doesn't represent anyone well.  So I have fancied myself as one of the more mature and calmer voices, that can overlook the sarcasm, and inject some reason and respect into the fray.  


Another problem with ALL online interaction is that no one can hear vocal tones, nor see facial expressions which, in a face-to-face conversation, add a tremendous amount of communication.  Without that, one can assume anger or ridicule where none was intended.  So here too, I thought my maturity and seasoned wisdom, would be helpful.   And it goes without saying that one's self-perceived wisdom and maturity is all relative.   Sometimes I've got it, and sometimes not.


Anyway, for the past several months I have been participating in a site that is managed by a Christian group, in which there are many sub-sections, one of which is devoted to cults.  And guess what.  THAT's where you can find "Mormonism".   There is also a considerable amount of biased misinformation about our church placed in a helpful resource section, in case someone needs the "facts".   So into the forum I walked and immediately was hit by an onslaught.  At first glance, one can see that the misinformation is rampant.  So I spoke up with a comment (knowing beforehand that one must step VERY lightly in such settings) like, "Um, that's not true.  That's not part of our doctrine."


With that, I was blasted with a torrent of vile comments about our past church leaders, our scriptures, our people, and just about everything that I hold dear.  


Their reasoning for such conduct, they say, is because they "love" us.  (Really?  I wonder how they treat those they hate .....  )  And because of that "love", they are trying to save us.  Okay..... I can appreciate that.  But the irony is that their version of "love" drives most of us away and as a result, very few if any, will benefit from their mission to save.  I have tried to point this out to them, but to no avail.  


But I stayed in there for a few months in the hope that I might find one reasonable, fair-thinking person.  There has to be, I thought, someone who could see that their methods were anything BUT productive to their cause.  But it wasn't to be.  I finally walked away, battered and bruised from the barrage of "love".  Add my name to the long list of LDS who will not be "saved" this week.  


All in all, I have learned quite a bit, as I have listed above.  I continue to hold firmly to the belief that the vast majority of mainstream Christians are the wonderful and generous people I've always known them to be.  And I have gained yet again, a profound appreciation for my own religion which has taught me to treat others with respect and kindness.  It has taught me who Jesus Christ is and how we can, and should, emulate him through our words and behavior.  That not only shows what love REALLY is .... it also shows class. 

The Good Samaritan