I think I am just now beginning to understand other Christian faiths I met eariler in life...when they say salvation is thru grace and faith in Christ alone. Baptism can be healing and a symbolic reminder. An outward manifestation of faith. Is it literal? Is it necessary to perform symbolic rituals to receive that healing and to "get into heaven"? I just cannot imagine God turning people away because they didn't outwardly perform a symbolic ritual meant to give a path to healing. God of mercy and love. A change of heart, the ability to have charity, kindness and compassion. Being forgiving. Having standards. Giving your life to doing good. Making things right when we are weak and make mistakes. How does a simple ritual save you? What is more important than baptism...the after. How we live. How have we hyper focused on ritual and neglected the heart.
Oh no…it’s for them too. As long as they accept being lonely their whole life, not being themself EVER, hating themself, etc. But it’s TOTALLY for everyone. /s
The church doesn't invite everybody... There were a few of the kids on Sister Wives that wanted to be baptized but they wouldn't allow them too because their parents were too publicly polygamist. Also, if you are a child with gay parents you also can't get baptized. Seems odd for a church that is "Christs Church"...
From a non-LDS Christian with a former LDS wife (much thanks to Dr. Dehlin and all you amazing people!), I can tell you that we see the Bible in a narrative form. Meaning that there are foreshadows and typifications everywhere, like a hyperlinked document. However you can NEVER EVER read a verse in any Sacred Text like the BoM or the Upanishads! You always must first understand these things before reading: 1 Who wrote it. 2. To whom. Was it Peter, James, and John who were sent to people still stuck on the Law (Strange Mormon Coincidence? no..) Gal 2:9-10 3 or Paul whose writings were targeted to those who didn't start out as Jews. 3. Why. What is the main idea the author trying to communicate? 4. What is the literary style? (A doctrine shouldn't be derived from poems or psalms, Jesus isn't a door to knock on nor Super Chicken to cover you with His wings lol. 5. When does this happen in the time line of events, post Christ death and atonement? 6. What does the verse SAY and NOT SAY. If the BoM verse reads "God and Jesus are one" it does NOT say "in PURPOSE". That'd be a loaded phrase. In short, OBSERVE the text dispassionately, read the entire chapter and the one prior and after. 7. RESIST the temptation to draw an application or "so that we should" from the verse. For example, The Great Goddess GRADUALLY eclipsed Brahman SO THAT we should... Having an open mind and not a list of things you believe goes a long way. I always pray before I read anything sacred then sit and observe the text.
I think he's right that many Christians have a problem, if they believe that people who don't get baptized are hellbound (or if they think people who don't accept.jesus into their hearts are hellbound). Yet, earlier he was so quick to dismiss the value of tolerance and defy "political correctness" when making exclusivistic claims for Mormonism. If God is a loving heavenly parent, will she shut the doors of heaven in the face of a Hindu because she didn't accept Christ, or will he lock the gates of heaven against methodists because they didn't have the Mormon priesthood? I don't think either view reflects a conviction that God is a loving parent. Do I love my kids more than God loves his?
I think I am just now beginning to understand other Christian faiths I met eariler in life...when they say salvation is thru grace and faith in Christ alone.
Baptism can be healing and a symbolic reminder. An outward manifestation of faith.
Is it literal? Is it necessary to perform symbolic rituals to receive that healing and to "get into heaven"?
I just cannot imagine God turning people away because they didn't outwardly perform a symbolic ritual meant to give a path to healing.
God of mercy and love.
A change of heart, the ability to have charity, kindness and compassion. Being forgiving. Having standards. Giving your life to doing good. Making things right when we are weak and make mistakes.
How does a simple ritual save you?
What is more important than baptism...the after. How we live.
How have we hyper focused on ritual and neglected the heart.
Beautifully stated. I couldn't agree more! Thank you for sharing your thoughts.
And here I thought Jesus was where we found salvation.
A solution in search of a problem.
Ok but why is there like 40 minutes of just a black screen
I like being part of a solution that we created...
Nails on a chalkboard
My oh my, to state you can get the worlds historical population baptized is so obviously impossible. The numbers don’t add up.
I always had trouble with this. Still do, and don’t understand how my family doesn’t.
12 seconds in and I’m like “except gay and trans people.” I’m pretty sure they aren’t included in “Everyone.” So dumb.
Oh no…it’s for them too. As long as they accept being lonely their whole life, not being themself EVER, hating themself, etc. But it’s TOTALLY for everyone.
/s
The church doesn't invite everybody... There were a few of the kids on Sister Wives that wanted to be baptized but they wouldn't allow them too because their parents were too publicly polygamist. Also, if you are a child with gay parents you also can't get baptized. Seems odd for a church that is "Christs Church"...
Also, they don’t merely offer baptism to people who are deceased, they force it on people who are deceased.
Is it just me or are negative comments disappearing?
Yeah I can’t find some of my comments
In what way are they the only ones offering a solution?
Yeah, I didn't get that either. And a solution to what problem exactly?
From a non-LDS Christian with a former LDS wife (much thanks to Dr. Dehlin and all you amazing people!), I can tell you that we see the Bible in a narrative form. Meaning that there are foreshadows and typifications everywhere, like a hyperlinked document. However you can NEVER EVER read a verse in any Sacred Text like the BoM or the Upanishads! You always must first understand these things before reading: 1 Who wrote it. 2. To whom. Was it Peter, James, and John who were sent to people still stuck on the Law (Strange Mormon Coincidence? no..) Gal 2:9-10 3 or Paul whose writings were targeted to those who didn't start out as Jews. 3. Why. What is the main idea the author trying to communicate? 4. What is the literary style? (A doctrine shouldn't be derived from poems or psalms, Jesus isn't a door to knock on nor Super Chicken to cover you with His wings lol. 5. When does this happen in the time line of events, post Christ death and atonement? 6. What does the verse SAY and NOT SAY. If the BoM verse reads "God and Jesus are one" it does NOT say "in PURPOSE". That'd be a loaded phrase. In short, OBSERVE the text dispassionately, read the entire chapter and the one prior and after. 7. RESIST the temptation to draw an application or "so that we should" from the verse. For example, The Great Goddess GRADUALLY eclipsed Brahman SO THAT we should...
Having an open mind and not a list of things you believe goes a long way. I always pray before I read anything sacred then sit and observe the text.
Apparently far from everyone agrees with Mr. Wilcox.
Brad missed it there salvation is found in no other (JESÚS) you won’t find salvation in temples that Is done away with JESÚS rent in two?
I think he's right that many Christians have a problem, if they believe that people who don't get baptized are hellbound (or if they think people who don't accept.jesus into their hearts are hellbound).
Yet, earlier he was so quick to dismiss the value of tolerance and defy "political correctness" when making exclusivistic claims for Mormonism.
If God is a loving heavenly parent, will she shut the doors of heaven in the face of a Hindu because she didn't accept Christ, or will he lock the gates of heaven against methodists because they didn't have the Mormon priesthood?
I don't think either view reflects a conviction that God is a loving parent.
Do I love my kids more than God loves his?
MOST people in the world have never even HEARD the name of Christ? Nope
bunch of crazy people striving to be perfect and making sure everyone else is. i'll pass.