Out differences are microscopically insignificant compared to the differences we have with individuals/collectives who want to deceive, enslave, kill YOU. Know your crucifier.
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Out differences are ETENALLY significant compared to the differences we have with individuals/collectives who want to rule, enslave, kill YOU. They can only hurt your body.
Know from where your SALVATION comes.
(It'll be a LONG time...)
Don't we take our cultural cue from a certain "Lord" named Jesus Christ? Who are we to follow when it comes to setting cultural priorities? Jesus and the apostle Paul? or PGalt?
Here's Jesus:
"I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after the killing of the body, has power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him." (Luke 12:4-5)
So does Jesus say, "fear the 'enslavers?'" (No)
Does Jesus say "fear the 'crucifiers'??" (Hardly! Jesus Himself subjected Himself to the crucifixion to save your soul and my soul from our sin)
Instead, does He say to exercise fear of the One who has authority to cast somebody into hell? (Yes)
So, indeed, our "fear" is on behalf of those who are placing their eternal spiritual lives at risk. As for somehow treating our "differences" as "microscopically insignificant" ...
(a) Mormon missionaries don't do that...and there may be 100,000 of them out & about by 2014...
and (b) I could probably guess that the folks who the apostle Paul warned the church @ Ephesus about had the bulk in common with the sheep there. Both groups were "religious."
So, did Paul play the "allies"-game-don't-divide-us-you're playing? (No)
As Paul was leaving the church of Ephesus, he warned them with this high-priority alert:
"I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears." (Acts 20:29-31)
Paul's cultural priority? (Defend against the false disciples who will proselytize the flock and draw away men unto themselves!)
Tell me something, PGalt: If you did something tearfully night and day for three years, do you think it's rather important? So what? We're just to conclude, "Oh, the man who contributed a good chunk to the New Testament -- what does he know about cultural priorities?"
Insignificant? That’s a new one.
lds god - man who worked his way to godhood
Biblical God - Eternal
(hardly insignificant differences)
lds jesus - once a man worked his way to sort of a god status
Biblical Jesus - Eternal
(hardly insignificant differences)
lds salvation - must be worked for
Biblical Salvation - Grace
(hardly insignificant differences)