Posted on 04/21/2004 9:40:18 PM PDT by restornu
That's not how it was. Please start another thread if you have sincere and friendly questions about the IV/JST.
Yes.
>> If so, that's a good way of looking at it.
I agree.
From the "Living What We Profess" section of the article: Regarding that last point, we gain further insight and instruction in D&C 58:26-28. In this revelation we’re reminded that we should not need to be commanded in all things (a heavenly twist on “That’s Not My Job”), and that by our own free will we should be anxiously engaged in good causes.
D&C 58:26-28
26 For behold, it is not meet that I should command in all things; for he that is compelled in all things, the same is a slothful and not a wise servant; wherefore he receiveth no reward.
27 Verily I say, men should be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of their own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness;
28 For the power is in them, wherein they are agents unto themselves. And inasmuch as men do good they shall in nowise lose their reward.
Here, the Lord Jesus Christ explains why He does not predetermine everything. If He did, there would be no learning or growth.
Is your family still in the soft drink business? Royal Crown Cola, etc.?
Is that Holy Spirit God ? Is He a part of the Trinity? I think it is important to clarify our beliefs don't you?
Is the Holy Spirit a WHO in the Armstrong church? Or is He a what ?
Truth without love destroys; love without truth deceives. The two are integrally linked, for God, Himself is both in His very nature. "Love rejoices in the truth"--1 Cor. 13:6
Understanding is indeed vital: "Go on your way, Daniel, because the words are closed up and seal until the time of the end. Many will be purified, made spotless and refined, but the wicked will continue to be wicked. None of the wicked will understand, but those who are wise will understand." (Daniel 12:9-10)
Daniel 12:3: "Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever."
Those who are wisest know that God speaks both through His written Word, and that He speaks directly through His Living Word without the need of a prophet: "In the past (past: Webster: "1. Pre-1820s; 2. gone by; ended; 3. of a former time") God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various various way, but(Websters: "1. Yet; still; 2. On the contrary.") in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son...through whom he made the universe." Hebrews 1:1-2
So do the Armstrong folks. They deny a trinity and believe in a BI unity
As you know that book has no authority to Christians. You also know that we believe in a different Jesus ,that was affirmed by your own prophet. That could be why we would disagree on that .
"In bearing testimony of Jesus Christ, President Hinckley spoke of those outside the Church who say Latter-day Saints 'do not believe in the traditional Christ.' 'No, I don't. The traditional Christ of whom they speak is not the Christ of whom I speak. For the Christ of whom I speak has been revealed in this the Dispensation of the Fulness of Times. He together with His Father, appeared to the boy Joseph Smith in the year 1820, and when Joseph left the grove that day, he knew more of the nature of God than all the learned ministers of the gospel of the ages.'" (LDS Church News Week ending June 20, 1998, p.7 )
To Armstrong himself, I'm not sure. To the present Worldwide Church of God started by Armstrong, the Holy Spirit is a who. It's the only church body I know of that has repented cross-denominationally as having taught heresy and false doctrine and has moved into a historic Trinitarian position of alignment.
Even the RLDS has moved closer Biblically as a denomination; tho it still a ways off on vital doctrines.
But the WCG proves there is such a thing as corporate repentance. We may come to see a day when some church body confesses, "Lord, we recognize that we cannot be a lord, after all. As Mosiah and Isaiah both say, there is only one God--not just one God to us."
As for the RSLD.. they still hold the BOM as inspired and other questionable practices. We can all agree in prayer that those that hold false doctrine come ...
FYI
Armstrongism: The doctrines and religious movement originating with Herbert W. Armstrong (1892-1986), who founded the Worldwide Church of God (WCG). Armstrong rejected such essential doctrines of evangelical Christianity as the Trinity, the full deity of Jesus Christ, and the personality of the Holy Spirit. Armstrong taught British Israelism and believed that worthy humans could eventually “become God as God is God.” Teaches salvation by works predicated on Sabbatarianism, tithing (20-30%), and keeping the Old Testament feast days and dietary laws. Under the leadership of Armstrong’s successors, Joseph W. Tkach and his son Joe Tkach, the WCG has undergone a radical doctrinal transformation. Scores of splinter groups, such as the Global Church of God and the United Church of God, continue to teach various forms of Armstrongism. http://www.watchman.org/cat95.htm#Armstrongism
The Latter Day Saints have something vaguely similar to the nicene creed (basic declaration of faith) in the articles of faith. #1 on the list is "We believe in God the Eternal Father, and in his son Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost." I believe that there are three beings, united in purpous and equal in love and understanding (they are all infinite), but they are nonetheless individuals.
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