My goodness. I don’t want to hurt your feelings, but you’re not Jesus, you know. Your strategy of belittling others can hardly be one that you think will convert many Mormons to Christianity, which makes it irrational.
The very word "Christian" = by definition, a "Christ one"
What Luther & others have labeled a "little christ"
The Greek word for "Christ" means anointed.
Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us... (2 Corinthians 1:21) -- wrote the apostle Paul to Christians @ the Church of Corinth who were FAR from mature & had ALL kinds of issues...
We are indeed anointed ones -- in Christ -- thru the Holy Spirit.
And if we do .000000001 % of the same thing Christ did -- and you are openly judging us for it -- then by what means you do escape judging Christ who in your opinion, was utilizing a way of witnessing that you don't think impresses that people group?
We're talking about "The philosophy of reaching legalists" -- not on Christ's omniscience of everything...the ONLY difference is I'm focusing on reach ing legalists in the 21st century...and Jesus' words apply to 2,000 years ago.
If you have trouble with somebody speaking negatively of certain legalistic religionists in the 21st century, then by categorical inclusion, you likewise have trouble with somebody speaking negatively of legalistic religionists 2,000 years ago.
strategy of belittling others
Besides... by your logic...anybody & everybody on FR who has spoken negatively of Muslims is
"irrational"...
"guilty of belittling others"
won't "impress" Muslims to reconsider Islam...
etc, etc.
Finally, if you REALLY wanted to practice all that you say...you have a funny way of showing it.
If you thought somehow that YOUR way of engaging other religionists is so enlightening, so persuasive, then why on this thread have you labeled me...
...troubled?
...being a "babbler?"?
..."irrational" (2 or 3 x)
..."belittler"
If those labels aren't belittling, not sure what is.
Obviously you haven't chosen to utilize whatever "enlightened" way you have for engaging other religionists.
So am I to listen to your lectures?; or take notice of your personal invectives hurled my way that you practice as a normal way of convo?
What makes you assume that C wants to convert a Mormon to CHRISTIANITY?
'Tis MUCH better to alert those that are NOT Mormon to the false teaching that IS Mormonism.
Like this:
Trinity: found in the Book of MORMON ----------- rejected in the Doctrines and Covenants
Now Zeezrom said: Is there more than one God? And he answered, No. (Alma 11:28-29) ...and be arraigned before the bar of Christ the Son, and God the Father, and the Holy Spirit, which is one Eternal God, to be judged according to their works, whether they be good or whether they be evil. (Alma 11:44) ...doctrine of Christ, and the only and true doctrine of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, which is one God, without end. Amen. (2 Nephi 31:21) ...praises with the choirs above, unto the Father, and unto the Son, and unto the Holy Ghost, which are one God, in a state of happiness which hath no end. (Mormon 7:7) ...power of God; and the Son, because of the flesh; thus becoming the Father and Son--And they are one God, yea, the very Eternal Father of heaven and of earth. And thus the flesh becoming subject to the Spirit, or the Son to the Father, being one God, (Mosiah 15:3-5) ...of Jared, that whoso should possess this land of promise, from that time henceforth and forever, should serve him, the true and only God, or they should be swept off when the fulness of his wrath should come upon them. (Ether 2:8) According to that which was ordained in the midst of the Council of the Eternal God of all other gods before this world was, that should be reserved unto the finishing and the end thereof, when every man shall enter into his eternal presence and into his immortal rest. (Section 121:32) And again, verily I say unto you, if a man marry a wife, and make a covenant with her for time and for all eternity, if that covenant is not by me or by my word, which is my law, and is not sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise, through him whom I have anointed and appointed unto this power, then it is not valid neither of force when they are out of the world, because they are not joined by me, saith the Lord, neither by my word; when they are out of the world it cannot be received there, because the angels and the gods are appointed there, by whom they cannot pass; they cannot, therefore, inherit my glory; for my house is a house of order, saith the Lord God. And again, verily I say unto you, if a man marry a wife by my word, which is my law, and by the new and everlasting covenant, and it is sealed unto them by the Holy Spirit of promise, by him who is anointed, unto whom I have appointed this power and the keys of this priesthood; and it shall be said unto them--Ye shall come forth in the first resurrection; and if it be after the first resurrection, in the next resurrection; and shall inherit thrones, kingdoms, principalities, and powers, dominions, all heights and depths--then shall it be written in the Lamb's Book of Life, that he shall commit no murder whereby to shed innocent blood, and if ye abide in my covenant, and commit no murder whereby to shed innocent blood, it shall be done unto them in all things whatsoever my servant hath put upon them, in time, and through all eternity; and shall be of full force when they are out of the world; and they shall pass by the angels, and the gods, which are set there, to their exaltation and glory in all things, as hath been sealed upon their heads, which glory shall be a fulness and a continuation of the seeds forever and ever. Then shall they be gods, because they have no end; therefore shall they be from everlasting to everlasting, because they continue; then shall they be above all, because all things are subject unto them. Then shall they be gods, because they have all power, and the angels are subject unto them. (Section 132:18-20) Abraham received concubines, and they bore him children; and it was accounted unto him for righteousness, because they were given unto him, and he abode in my law; as Isaac also and Jacob did none other things than that which they were commanded; and because they did none other things than that which they were commanded, they have entered into their exaltation, according to the promises, and sit upon thrones, and are not angels but are gods. (Section 132:37)
"Behold, I am Jesus Christ the Son of God. I created the heavens and the earth, and all things that in them are. I was with the Father from the beginning. I am in the Father, and the Father in me; and in me hath the Father glorified his name." (3 Nephi 9:15)
"And again the Lord called others, and said unto them likewise; and he gave unto them power to baptize. And he said unto them: On this wise shall ye baptize; and there shall be no disputations among you. Verily I say unto you, that whoso repenteth of his sins through your words and desireth to be baptized in my name, on this wise shall ye baptize them--Behold, ye shall go down and stand in the water, and in my name shall ye baptize them. And now behold, these are the words which ye shall say, calling them by name, saying: Having authority given me of Jesus Christ, I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. And then shall ye immerse them in the water, and come forth again out of the water. And after this manner shall ye baptize in my name; for behold, verily I say unto you, that the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost are one; and I am in the Father, and the Father in me, and the Father and I are one...And thus will the Father bear record of me, and the Holy Ghost will bear record unto him of the Father and me; for the Father, and I, and the Holy Ghost are one." (3 Nephi 11:22-27, 36)