Aw fer cryin' out loud, you're not going to tell me a Disney character has converted, too?
"Shucks, I don't have a burning bosom - I was just drawn that way!"
Posted on 06/16/2003 7:51:06 PM PDT by Some hope remaining.
The Baptist Version of The Book of Mormon
Protestant Doctrines within the Book of Mormon
by Lynn Ridenhour,
Southern Baptist Minister
I’m a licensed Southern Baptist minister and I embrace the Book of Mormon.
That is, I believe the truths recorded in it. No, I’m not a convert to the Mormon faith, nor am I a member of any particular "spin-off" restoration group such as the RLDS (Reorganized Latter-day Saints), Hedrikites, or Strangites. I’m still a Baptist minister. To be exact, I’m "charismatic Baptist." That is, I still embrace the "born again" experience. I still believe you’re saved by grace. By the shed blood of Christ. Salvation is by faith alone in His finished work on Calvary. I still believe in the Baptism in the Holy Spirit and the gifts of the Spirit. I believe and embrace those cardinal doctrines of Protestantism.
And you know what?…
I still believe the Book of Mormon too!
I know. I can hear you now. "…A charismatic Baptist minister who believes the Book of Mormon?! Impossible. That’s like a Protestant Pope…" No, it’s not. It’s not a contradiction.
The two go hand in hand, really--Protestant doctrine and the Book of Mormon. They’re not at odds. The Book of Mormon is filled with Protestant cardinal doctrines, believe it or not. In fact, I discovered, the Book of Mormon is more "Baptist" than the Baptist hymnal in places. I know that’s hard to believe, but it’s so. I read the Book from cover to cover and found as a Baptist minister, there is absolutely nothing in it that contradicts the Bible.
For example, the book uplifts the blood of Christ (Mosiah 1:118), declares that salvation is only by God’s grace (2 Nephi 7:42), defends the grand theme of salvation (Mosiah 1:108), and proclaims that salvation comes only through faith on the Lord Jesus Christ (Mosiah 3:8,9). Other themes such as repentance, atonement by Christ’s blood, redemption, and forgiveness run like a scarlet thread through the book as well (Alma 3:86, Helaman 2:71, Alma 13:13, Mosiah 2:3,4). Thus, our "tongue ‘n’ cheek" title, The Baptist Version of the Book of Mormon. I’m telling you, the grand themes of Protestantism are found recorded through and through. From cover to cover.
A Word About My Background…
Reared in a small conservative Baptist church back in the hills of the Ozarks, I was taught with strong convictions that Mormons were no different from Jehovah Witnesses, Christian Scientists, or Armstrong followers. They all sooner or later knocked on your door. We were instructed by our parents to "…let none of them in the house. And don’t buy their materials…" All were cults. Certainly the Mormons were not within mainstream Christianity.
I was taught that the Book of Mormon was a lie. We have the Bible and no man was to add to the scriptures lest his soul be damned. And I was taught that the rapture could occur any minute. Establishing a literal kingdom on this earth was pure nonsense. And I believe my convictions were typical. Most protestant/pentecostal Christians today share similar sentiments.
So what are we faced with concerning the Book of Mormon? Is it…
(click on link for the rest) http://www.centerplace.org/library/bofm/baptistversionofbofm.htm
(Excerpt) Read more at centerplace.org ...
He claims his "licensing" came from his local independent congretaion before he graduated from high school, that still operates in the charismatic gifts, received a "burning bosom" testimony regarding the BoM and was baptised into the LDS church in 1996, yet claims he isn't a member of the LDS church.
He certainly has a colorful background, including involvement in securities fraud and a checkered career path...
http://www.greaterthings.com/Ridenhour/Bio/Baptist_background.htm
Frankly, nothing this guy says would surprise me. If he ran a roadside attraction, with two-headed rattlesnakes, five-legged calves, the world's largest prairie dog, and the original golden plates to the Book of Mormon, it wouldn't surprise me.
Aw fer cryin' out loud, you're not going to tell me a Disney character has converted, too?
"Shucks, I don't have a burning bosom - I was just drawn that way!"
Then he is a he-she...
Lynn, his lovely wife, Linda, and their teenage daughter, Lori, make their home in Independence, Missouri
Heavenly Mother ???
Good call! If you look at his resume, it's an endless string of broken contracts and unfulfilled commitments. I thought he'd have something to boast of by going to an actual Bible college, but it appears he never completed even an undergraduate degree there.
It's the claim of being baptised (temple baptism?) by the LDS without being a member that really does him in. Even members need temple recommends - I've never heard of a non-member being admitted, let alone baptised by the LDS. I suspect some bishop probably knocked a glass of water into his lap at the local Denny's, and Lynn took it as a sign.
Curiously, when I tried to get more information on his "baptism" via the search engine on his site, I kept coming up with no matches on anything. Finally, I just typed in "LDS" and it took me to RSICC.org - the " Remnant Saints Inter-Continental Congress". Looks like an LDS spin-off, and Ridenhour is either a member, or applied and was denied membership - anybody know anything about them?
Now, that's GOOFY!
Jessie & Rest
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