Replies

The original was addressed to all and I forgot to include all in my response..bleh

[Me] I'm curious, are you part of a paid ministry?

[You] (No, not employed by a "paid ministry")

I didn't ask if you were employed. I asked if you were a part of a "paid ministry".

Nice job at trying to make the thread all about me. Calling me by name, ranting on and on. I don't think even the nastiest Pharisee couldn't have been so condescending. Congrats.

However, despite the obvious red herring, this doesn't change the facts raised by my question to you.

I'll repost it to get us back on track.

From what I can see your post creates a false dilemma, then a straw man, and then you attack your own straw man.

You haven't addressed the "why". Why are they getting the stipend? Is the stipend for "preaching" or is it for non "preaching" related activities. This makes or breaks your whole argument.

You're trying to show the Mormon Church as "lying" about a lay clergy. Ok, then as the reader I say "prove it". You have this big frigg'n black hole in your argument which you haven't addressed.

Now, I will address some of your rant. Your conclusion is a prime example of the logical fallacy of "Cherry picking". Well, ok, that's one of several. But we'll leave it at that for now.

You rationalize your methods by cherry picking some scriptures and draw a conclusion as to the intent of the author. Then you completely ignore scriptures that would temper or even completely change your conclusion. IMO, that's intellectually dishonest.

Paul taught the gospel of Christ and then defended it. His method would have been consistent with the teaching of all the other prophets and Apostles and especially Jesus Himself.

Remember, Paul was not at war with the Pharisees. He was trying to convince them of the truthfulness of the gospel of Christ. To save them not to hate them.

Paul taught his doctrine and vigorously defended it. But he had to do it from a stand point of charity, love, brotherly kindness, long suffering, patience, and humility. Because that's what Christ commanded all men to do and in EVERY thing they did.

Paul would have had to have been doubly so because of his position in the Church. Paul went about teaching the people the doctrine of Christ, he most assuredly did not go about trying to poison the minds of the people.

So, if you're trying to be like Paul, when are we going to see some charity, love, brotherly kindness, long suffering, patience, and humility?