Zone1 We are the Acorn and God is the Oak Tree

[Cougarbear]

Latter-day Saints believe that we are the acorns and God is the Oak Tree. Whereas traditional Christians believe that God, is completely separate and different from what we are. The paramount quality of God is love, and that's about intimacy and connection and interrelatedness. Sovereignty is about distance, right? God is probably sovereign of the universe. But, I don't believe He thinks that's His most important attribute. Creation ex nihilo emphasizes distance. I don't see what purpose that serves. Other than a kind of abject humility and deference, which has nothing to do with paternal love.

As Jesus said twice in the Bible, we are gods in embryo. We are the acorns and can become like God. In fact, the Bible says we are to be perfect even as our Father in Heaven is perfect. Traditional Christianity runs away from the Father and Son having paternal love. I'm glad God so loved us that he sent his Son, Jehovah to become Jesus and atone for our sins and go through the resurrection after his death. So sad for those who cannot understand God better and have the fulness of the Gospel as do members of his restored church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

 

[Blackrook]

LDS can't be considered Christian because it holds to non-Christian beliefs.

 

[Cougarbear]

LDS can't be considered Christian because it holds to non-Christian beliefs.

Whew!!! I'm glad we don't! We are free to freely learn more about our relationship with our Father in Heaven and His Son, Jesus Christ than "traditional" Christians. And, because of this, we are able to progress towards exaltation rather than only salvation. The non-Christian beliefs are ordinances by authority that the rest of believers in Christ don't have and will receive a lesser glory if they don't become connected with the true Gospel of Jesus Christ.

 

[Blackrook]

Lesser glory? There's only two destinations, ultimately, heaven or hell.

 

[Cougarbear]

Lesser glory? There's only two destinations, ultimately, heaven or hell.

Read 1Corinthians chapter 15. There are 3 kinds of resurrected bodies of glory. 3 levels of heaven. Hell is not a glory. Paul was caught up in a vision or the 3rd Heaven level.

 

[luiza]

Latter-day Saints believe that we are the acorns and God is the Oak Tree.

Why are all the Oak trees susceptible to terrible disease ?
Because they have Christian branches .

Oak trees commonly face a range of diseases and issues, including Oak Wilt, a fungal disease that causes wilting and browning of leaves; Sudden Oak Death, which results in cankers and sap bleeding; Oak Anthracnose, characterized by dark spots on leaves; Bacterial Leaf Scorch, leading to scorched leaf edges; and Galls, abnormal growths caused by insects or mites.

 

[Cougarbear]

Why are all the Oak trees susceptible to terrible disease ?
Because they have Christian branches .

Oak trees commonly face a range of diseases and issues, including Oak Wilt, a fungal disease that causes wilting and browning of leaves; Sudden Oak Death, which results in cankers and sap bleeding; Oak Anthracnose, characterized by dark spots on leaves; Bacterial Leaf Scorch, leading to scorched leaf edges; and Galls, abnormal growths caused by insects or mites.

Well, then you can remain an acorn. Squirrel food. Because most people who have lived will not grow into eternal exaltation. Most will accept salvation in a lesser state of glory, terrestrial or telestial. But not celestial where we have increase in our posterity for all time and all eternity.

 

[BULLDOG]

LDS can't be considered Christian because it holds to non-Christian beliefs.

Anyone who wants to call themselves Christian is a Christian. I know of no test or other criteria where one claiming Christianity can authoritative deny another's claim.

 

[Meriweather]

Anyone who wants to call themselves Christian is a Christian. I know of no test or other criteria where one claiming Christianity can authoritative deny another's claim.

Perhaps like anyone enrolled in school can call themselves a student whether or not they attend class, do the work, and insist the opposite of the correct answer is the right answer?

 

[BULLDOG]

Perhaps like anyone enrolled in school can call themselves a student whether or not they attend class, do the work, and insist the opposite of the correct answer is the right answer?

Such an odd remark. You think the correct answer is wrong. I don't know how to respond to such absurd logic.

 

[Meriweather]

Such an odd remark. You think the correct answer is wrong. I don't know how to respond to such absurd logic.

There is no doubt that Mormons are people of faith. The issue is there are areas where the Mormon people of faith are at great odds with the rest of Christianity. I get you don't understand the analogy, and that's fine. All analogies fail at some point. I'm merely pointing out why some do not consider Mormons Christians. My best friend's father was a Presbyterian minister. Mormons turn their backs on teachings that unite all other denominations of Christians. Mormons believe there are many Gods and that many more will become Gods. They have an entirely different perspective of God than all other Christians, Jews, and Muslims.

 

[BULLDOG]

There is no doubt that Mormons are people of faith. The issue is there are areas where the Mormon people of faith are at great odds with the rest of Christianity. I get you don't understand the analogy, and that's fine. All analogies fail at some point. I'm merely pointing out why some do not consider Mormons Christians. My best friend's father was a Presbyterian minister. Mormons turn their backs on teachings that unite all other denominations of Christians. Mormons believe there are many Gods and that many more will become Gods. They have an entirely different perspective of God than all other Christians, Jews, and Muslims.

So there is disagreement in the Christian community. I already knew that.

 

[Meriweather]

So there is disagreement in the Christian community. I already knew that.

And?

 

[BULLDOG]

And?

And I acknowledge your remark. Do you agree that some who claim Christianity are not Christians? How can you tell the difference? Who is qualified to make that judgment?

 

[Meriweather]

And I acknowledge your remark. Do you agree that some who claim Christianity are not Christians? How can you tell the difference? Who is qualified to make that judgment?

I am merely explaining why some do not view Mormons as Christians as Mormons have an entirely different perspective of who God is and who humans are in relationship to God. Some Mormon beliefs, practices are considered heresies is traditional Christianity and were not taught by anyone other than Joseph Smith, founder of the LDS Church. My best friend's father considered these heresies if Presbyterians began practicing them in his church assembly as traditional Christian teachings are the opposite of Mormon teachings in certain areas.

Consider this well-known New England quote: "Just because a cat has her kittens in the oven doesn't make them biscuits." So what if some want to call kittens biscuits anyway. Shrug. Mormons call Catholics heretics. I can go into that just as easily as I have gone into why some claim Mormons are not Christians.

 

[BULLDOG]

I am merely explaining why some do not view Mormons as Christians as Mormons have an entirely different perspective of who God is and who humans are in relationship to God. Some Mormon beliefs, practices are considered heresies is traditional Christianity and were not taught by anyone other than Joseph Smith, founder of the LDS Church. My best friend's father considered these heresies if Presbyterians began practicing them in his church assembly as traditional Christian teachings are the opposite of Mormon teachings in certain areas.

Consider this well-known New England quote: "Just because a cat has her kittens in the oven doesn't make them biscuits." So what if some want to call kittens biscuits anyway. Shrug. Mormons call Catholics heretics. I can go into that just as easily as I have gone into why some claim Mormons are not Christians.

That's kinda common knowledge. Some say Mormons aren't really Christians. Others say Catholics aren't real Christians. still others say the Westborough Baptist Church isn't Christian. Seems like there is more distain from inside the Christian church than outside. All that infighting is because you can't decide what part to believe, and what part to ignore. All the self described Christians can't decide what to believe. Why would anyone want to join such a fray, especially since there is no credible reason to believe one over the other.

 

[Meriweather]

That's kinda common knowledge. Some say Mormons aren't really Christians. Others say Catholics aren't real Christians. still others say the Westborough Baptist Church isn't Christian. Seems like there is more distain from inside the Christian church than outside. All that infighting is because you can't decide what part to believe, and what part to ignore. All the self described Christians can't decide what to believe. Why would anyone want to join such a fray, especially since there is no credible reason to believe one over the other.

Seriously....Do you live in a bubble? Do you have a family, have you joined a club, become involved in community issues, be a sports fan of any team, make friends, etc., etc., etc. ? (Speaking of frays)

Some Jews have firmly stated I worship an idol. Mormons state I am a heretic. Protestants are absolutely certain, because I am Catholic, I have never read the Bible. I don't see any of this so much as a fray, but as chasms. One has to identify a chasm and measure it before it can be bridged. Without bridges, kittens may as well be identified as biscuits.

 

[BULLDOG]

Seriously....Do you live in a bubble? Do you have a family, have you joined a club, become involved in community issues, be a sports fan of any team, make friends, etc., etc., etc. ? (Speaking of frays)

Some Jews have firmly stated I worship an idol. Mormons state I am a heretic. Protestants are absolutely certain, because I am Catholic, I have never read the Bible. I don't see any of this so much as a fray, but as chasms. One has to identify a chasm and measure it before it can be bridged. Without bridges, kittens may as well be identified as biscuits.

I've never heard of a club that claimed to have the answer to the final disposition of my immortal soul. That seems a little more important than who the best 2nd baseman is. Obviously all the disparate sects are honestly striving to fulfill the requirements they think their god has demanded of them. Only a heartless and uncaring god would sit back and watch such a struggle without helping those who are sincerely devout but misunderstanding.

 

[Meriweather]

I've never heard of a club that claimed to have the answer to the final disposition of my immortal soul. That seems a little more important than who the best 2nd baseman is. Obviously all the disparate sects are honestly striving to fulfill the requirements they think their god has demanded of them. Only a heartless and uncaring god would sit back and watch such a struggle without helping those who are sincerely devout but misunderstanding.

And that is why I am adamant that people should seek and find God before studying the Bible. Meeting God removes all doubt that God is heartless and uncaring. God's love for all is amazing and has to be experienced to be understood and perhaps even to believe. Knowing God's love gives one a very different perspective of the Old Testament. I read it thinking, "Either the authors/prophets were wrong, or I'm wrong." I knew I wasn't wrong, but I couldn't accept the authors/prophets were wrong, either. That's when I got help from an atheist Jew whose first language was Hebrew, and then began studying Jewish scholars, rabbis, Biblical culture and Hebrew etymology. It's too bad King James didn't do this before writing the English version/translation of the Bible, particularly the Old Testament.

It's not God who is sitting back--it's us.

I am not one who believes everyone has to get everything right or they are out of luck. I truly believe and have experienced God meeting us where we are and drawing us closer from there. People sometimes mistake this for thinking I don't believe in hell--and I do. I firmly believe each individual chooses God or chooses separation from God (hell).

What about all the differences in faiths/denominations? So what? Understand the differences and what causes the chasms and it is not that big a deal. "Sola Scriptura--Scripture Alone" is one issue that separates Protestants and Catholics. The funny thing about this, is that Jesus didn't not write out a scripture for us. Jesus built a Church and the Church gathered accounts forming the Bible. I can't help but find hilarity in the Protestants leaving the Church Jesus built, but took the scripture the Church gathered as their own. I believe God has a great sense of humor and that he laughs at this, too. (As he shakes his head, figuratively speaking.)

 

[BULLDOG]

And that is why I am adamant that people should seek and find God before studying the Bible. Meeting God removes all doubt that God is heartless and uncaring. God's love for all is amazing and has to be experienced to be understood and perhaps even to believe. Knowing God's love gives one a very different perspective of the Old Testament. I read it thinking, "Either the authors/prophets were wrong, or I'm wrong." I knew I wasn't wrong, but I couldn't accept the authors/prophets were wrong, either. That's when I got help from an atheist Jew whose first language was Hebrew, and then began studying Jewish scholars, rabbis, Biblical culture and Hebrew etymology. It's too bad King James didn't do this before writing the English version/translation of the Bible, particularly the Old Testament.

It's not God who is sitting back--it's us.

I am not one who believes everyone has to get everything right or they are out of luck. I truly believe and have experienced God meeting us where we are and drawing us closer from there. People sometimes mistake this for thinking I don't believe in hell--and I do. I firmly believe each individual chooses God or chooses separation from God (hell).

What about all the differences in faiths/denominations? So what? Understand the differences and what causes the chasms and it is not that big a deal. "Sola Scriptura--Scripture Alone" is one issue that separates Protestants and Catholics. The funny thing about this, is that Jesus didn't not write out a scripture for us. Jesus built a Church and the Church gathered accounts forming the Bible. I can't help but find hilarity in the Protestants leaving the Church Jesus built, but took the scripture the Church gathered as their own. I believe God has a great sense of humor and that he laughs at this, too. (As he shakes his head, figuratively speaking.)

I'm perplexed. Without the Bible, how or why would anyone want to worship a god that otherwise doesn't seem to exist? Describe how you would convert anyone to Christianity without the bible to support your claims?