I Said: Actually, I saw a worse one in Iowa, it was ugly then too
You said: I don't believe your post about the Iowa debacle concerning the minister had anything at all to do with him changing denominations but actually had to do with the sin and pain that is caused from adultery.
Then you have no imagination, the actual adultery happened a couple of years before my family moved to town, people had left both churches over it, all you had to do to start a fight at the high school was express support for one side or the other, it was a mess, and yes, people were trying to show the other religion was "Wrong" by divulging things they should not have, I personally tried not to get involved, after all, I had not even lived there at the time this happened, but I said some thing in school one day, I don't even remember what it was I said, and BOOM you had people damning each other to hell and yelling that "it was a lie" and a fist fight before the teachers could break it up. I was completely bewildered, OK, I'm not exactly known for being the smoothest social person in the world, and you know why, but one of the teachers finally took me aside and told me the history. That experience was the most "Spectacular" and to think I got there years later, what must it have been like at the time this happened?
CC, you are free to believe whatever you want, about the church, and about me, however, I stick by my story, as it was told to me for the emotions were real, the turmoil and the people injured were real, and to be honest, I had not thought about it in years. your statement brought it to mind.
Oh, and just so fair is fair, I also know of many "Mormon debacles" of personal failures that impacted the church in negative ways, we are not "Perfect" and I at least am under no illusions that we are.
You said: Christians recognize that we all sin. It wreaks havoc on everyone in their own due time....even you Delphi.
I could not agree with this statement more, all of us sinners are dependent on Jesus' grace to get us home.
You said: There really are no "wounds" that you speak of when a Baptist girl marries and moves to a town outside her hometown then chooses to attend the local Presbyterian congregation. Your examples aren't relevant in the least.
Tell me, what do you think happens when a Methodist family has a daughter who marries a Calvnaist minister's son? That is also one I have seen where the discussions have been going on for amost twenty years, they are relatives, and I am not going to give names. The only cool thing about it is, I can always get them to stop fighting by brining up my Mormon religion, LOL!
Relevance is in the eye of the beholder, and if you shut yours, fine, you have the right to do so, I however, see the relationship, maybe I just explained it poorly, well it would not be the first time.
You said: Any Christian reading these posts knows very well that their own families or parents don't really care if they are attendind a Evangelical Free congregation or a Mennonite Brethren Church or Southern Baptist as long as their child is a follower of Christ, the flavor of denomination is really unimportant.
Um, it's a really nice version of reality you live in. I have seen many friends who's families argued about religion, and no one was Mormon. I have Non Mormon relatives who fight amongst themselves about religion. I had friends in Several different high schools (we moved a lot and I attended three) who joined the church only to be shunned by those they thought were their friends.
You said: That makes us Christian.
And the crusades never happened, the inquisition never happened, no "Christian" church ever supported segregation. CC, it's a really nice version of reality I guess because all the flaws in any religion have been transferred to us.
You said: Mormons however demand total adherence to the Prophet and to total adherence to Mormonism. If a child of Mormonism grows up to become a despised Methodist, they are ostracized from the community and the family.
It would I suppose shock you to know that I have friends and family who have left, some were even excommunicated, I have always treated them with the respect they deserve as children of my father in heaven, and at this time, all the family have returned to the fold, there are however still friends out there, I remain hopeful...
You said: We have seen that evidence on this very thread regarding me (who has left behind belief in Mormonism and now attends several different denominations and non-denominational Churches)
We have seen one person say hurtful things who I publicly asked to apologize, and have sent a couple of private FMs to asking him to apologize, and now he is all of us? That is just not a very Christian attitude you are showing there CC, forgive him and go on with your life, this is not my Doctrine, but him who sent me.
Matt. 6: 14-15 14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
Go with God CC, may he heal your wounds and comfort your soul.