CheyennePress, I’m pretty much done with this thread because I’m just repeating myself over and over again at this point. I just wanted to say one more thing.
Perhaps a Catholic could say that I have abandoned “the Church”. I, of course, would say that I never belonged to the Catholic church in the first place and do not believe it to be “the” church. However, if that is what someone believes, so be it. It certainly has no affect on me. You see, I have staked my existence in eternity on what the Bible teaches. I believe that the true Gospel is very clear and leaves no wiggle room for different paths.
It is not my pride that dictates my belief. It is my firm conviction of the truth contained in Scripture.
If I seem harsh towards Mormonism, it is because I have true grief over souls that will be lost to Hell through its false teaching. It is not a loving act to pretend that falsehoods are of no eternal consequence in order to make one feel more comfortable for a little while in the here and now.
So if anyone is of the opinion that I have left the true church, that is certainly their prerogative. It does not sway my opinion or upset me in the least. That’s because I’m convinced of the truth of Scripture and have no doubt of its trustworthiness.
I would suggest to you that the reason you find some so defensive in this thread is that the reality of the Gospel strikes a chord in them that is hard to ignore. Conviction can be uncomfortable.
Have a great week-end!
I respect your beliefs completely. I just see the gift of salvation in Christ being a little broader. None of us are worthy, and Christ merely seeks our hand and our hearts.
I read John 3:16 very broadly: “For whosoever should believeth in Him....”
I don’t know how we could possibly read in narrowly given our many, many failings in life. It is my belief that God’s love for man is both undeserved though infinite. If we turn to Him through His Son, Jesus Christ and truly accept the gift given, that is enough.
The details fade away. For none of us understands them fully, nor will we ever this lifetime. We must grow through Christ, and that is all we can do.