I don't know how many times the Inmans have "identified" their "doctrine"...We are Believing Christians who worship the One True God and His Son.
Brick and mortar buildings do not enclose our souls while we are worshipping, only our bodies. There may be a denominational name on the door of our building but that only serves as an invitation to like-minded believers to enter and praise Him.
We do not make the brick and mortar building the center of our relationship with Jesus, but only Jesus the Center of our hearts.
Those whose worship is of the institution seem to be unable to fathom the freedom of Christ-centered worship and make an attempt to pin us to a narrow set of rules for their own comfort, not realizing that the Comforter laid down His rule (John 6:29 29) "Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent."
What comfort Restonu, do you derive in statements like "hiding under the blanket name Christian is like hiding under the blanket name Muslim."?
One of my favorite songs is:
Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!
Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God,
Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long;
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long.
Perfect submission, perfect delight,
Visions of rapture now burst on my sight;
Angels descending bring from above,
Echoes of mercy, whispers of love.
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long;
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long.
Perfect submission, all is at rest,
I in my Savior am happy and blest;
Watching and waiting, looking above,
Filled with His goodness lost in His love.
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long;
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long.
The Body of Christ is an organism, not an organization. We are alive and active. The Body of Christ is a real extension of Jesus Christ. Breathing. Living. Moving. We are "we" -- not an "it" -- like some religious organizations based out of SLC. Our bodies together constitute a "temple" of the Holy Spirit.
The word "ecclesiastical" has come to mean "religious." But that's NOT what it meant in the early church. The Greek word "ecclesia" = "called-out ONES"
If the Mormon church was a "restoration," Resty, IT would harken back to being the flesh-and-blood church of Paul's day. It hasn't. It's not, therefore, the Body of Christ.
Those whose worship is of the institution seem to be unable to fathom the freedom of Christ-centered worship and make an attempt to pin us to a narrow set of rules for their own comfort, not realizing that the Comforter laid down His rule (John 6:29 29) "Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent."
And, I have to say, that this statement extends beyond a description of Mormonism. Some mainline Christendom has fallen into the religious trap of being "worship...of the institution."
Again, Resty, if the Mormon church was a "restoration" of the early church, then it would be meeting in homes -- not primarily buildings...worshiping in homes (or caves)...breaking bread in homes...etc.
The early church was not centered on the building. Mormonism, with its look-alike crossless church buildings and temples, is doubled on building focus than any other religious entity I can think of.
I’m not hiding.
I was raised in a Baptist Church with no affiliation. We ain’t Southern Baptist or belonging to any group.
We are Christians, worshiping in the Baptist tradition.