Is Mormonism Christian? by Late Richard John Neuhaus

November 24, 2009

[Buck W.]

Testy and inarticulate—that’s a dangerous combination.

[Melian]

Thank you for that post. We are to teach, edify, instruct, and give example. The Catholic Church has the fulness of the faith and we want to share it with others. We don’t need to demean people or judge them to do that.

For any Mormons who are interested, I invite you to read some of Patrick Madrid or Scott Hahn’s books. They are excellent.

[Melian]

“...correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.”

Is that what you think you are doing?

[Buck W.]

Will you vote for Romney if he is the nominee?

[ejonesie22]

I have a question for you.

Am I being judgmental if I point out Buddhism is a false teaching and refute its dogma?

[Melian]

No, of course not. But if you tell Buddhists they are surely going to Hell, you are being judgmental. If you are rude and disrespectful as you try to convince them, you won’t be successful. I also believe you would not be behaving as Christ did or asked of us.

I believe that when that kind of person faces judgment day, Christ will treat him as harshly as he treated others. “Forgive our trespasses as we forgive others.”

[ejonesie22]

Perhaps.

The better question would be do you want him to be the nominee and do you honestly think he is the best (or even a passable) candidate to carry the Conservative (not necessarily republican)banner?

[Colofornian]

I repeat: judgment is reserved for God. I am repulsed by the arrogance, pride, and conceit evidenced by some of the responses on this thread.

Wow! I think you've come in second place for the fastest contradictory FReeper post! First you say "judgment is reserved for God"-- and then you turn around & judge some unknown posters for their supposed "arrogance, pride and conceit".

So which is it? Is "judgment" reserved for Him? (Or do you have a special dispensation to engage in it?)

And which standard are we supposed to believe? What you say is the standard -- not to judge? Or what you exhibit? (Where you have the temerity to look down from your self-established high post & judge inner attitudes that are sometimes hard to discern even among acquaintances -- let alone complete strangers that you have very little interaction with)

Who do you think is convinced of the error of their ways when they read the kind of “witness” they see here?

(Please tell us what kind of "witness" it is to be talking out of both sides of your mouth? -- see above)

I doubt the real goal is conversion or evangelization. I feel the goal of many is to simply spout their own beliefs and set themselves up as little Christs. In their own minds, they are the only ones who understand Scripture and they feel they are uniquely qualified to render judgment on others.

Wow! You know these strangers' "own minds" that well? Really? Which posters? You know what they "feel" on the inside? Really? And then you decide to go back to the trough a second time about accusing someone of being judgmental all the while you're judging what's supposedly going on internally in their mind & emotions!

You know, if it's your personal standard that folks shouldn't judge, maybe you ought to set the example bar a little higher, eh?

I’d say it’s fine to tell people they are wrong.

Oh, sure you do. Because you're telling us about these posters & how what they're doing is wrong religiously. But, boy, when these unnamed posters want to tell others in this thread how others are wrong religiously, you don't give them your pat on the back. Nope, it's a slap on the rear end. Note how you describe that: "I feel the goal of many is to simply spout their own beliefs and set themselves up as little Christs." (Now ya wanna tell us the big distinction between telling someone they're wrong & "spouting beliefs" that establishes them as "little Christs?") And how is it again that you know all these inner "goals" people have? Have they shared them with you? Do you have a Magic-8 ball? Have you found their crib notes? How?

[Melian]

Oh, my. I guess you jumped in in the middle and didn’t read my posts. I repeat: No one should sit in judgment of another about whether they are going to Hell or Heaven. It’s not our place. Christ alone is the judge of men.

It’s perfectly okay, however, to tell people when they’re being rude. You can even try to tactfully tell them when they’re being self-serving.

I think some posters on this thread are rude. I doubt they’ve changed one heart for Christ with their rudeness. I think Christ is disappointed in that type of “evangelization.” I don’t define it as evangelization at all. I’ve listed numerous scriptural passages that clearly illustrate my point that Christ valued charity toward others, all others, as one of the chief markers of true faith.

I have not contradicted myself. Since you asked, I’ll tell you how to tell someone they’re wrong: “I disagree with you on _______________. Here are the reasons I disagree. These are the references I used to form my opinion. Would you like to discuss them? Would you like to know more about my Church and why I’m so happy in it? Let me know if you ever want to discuss it and I’ll be happy to talk it over with you or put you in touch with someone who’s even more learned than I. God bless you.”

St. Paul did not resort to the paltry technique of sarcasm or ridicule to try to win souls for Christ. He knew it wouldn’t work— and he knew Christ wouldn’t like it. Remember Christ’s words to him? “Saul, why do you persecute me?” What Paul was doing to his fellow man, in the name of righteousness, he was doing to Christ.

I have merely stated (over and over!) on this thread my opinion about the proper way to evangelize based on my reading of sacred Scripture.

Colofornian, if you would like to know more about Catholicism, there are many wonderful Catholic posters on FR. I invite you to check it out.

[Elsie]

That’s what I said in #211.

[Elsie]

Are you deliberately trying to be obtuse?

I posted SCRIPTURE.

Have you ANYTHING written since that time that supports what YOU are saying?

[Elsie]

That’s a far cry from the type of ridicule some “Christians” on this thread heap on others.

Show an example.

[Elsie]

The Samaritans were misguided, but Christ still applauded the misguided Samaritan’s charity and was disgusted by the Pharisee who followed the Law to the letter and had such disdain for his misguided brother.

Show me the disgust from Scripture.

---

 Luke 10:25-37

 25.  On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. "Teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?"
 26.  "What is written in the Law?" he replied. "How do you read it?"
 27.  He answered: "`Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind' ; and, `Love your neighbor as yourself.' "
 28.  "You have answered correctly," Jesus replied. "Do this and you will live."
 29.  But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?"
 30.  In reply Jesus said: "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead.
 31.  A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side.
 32.  So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.
 33.  But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him.
 34.  He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him.
 35.  The next day he took out two silver coins  and gave them to the innkeeper. `Look after him,' he said, `and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.'
 36.  "Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?"
 37.  The expert in the law replied, "The one who had mercy on him."   Jesus told him, "Go and do likewise." 
 

[Elsie]

I also stated I think some of the “Christians” on this thread are exceeding their authority and judging others.

PLEASE!!

Identify these SOME so they may be corrected!

[Tennessee Nana]

Happy Thanksgiving, Elsie...

I am thankful for you and Mrs Elsie...

My turkey has been in the oven since 6am...

Potatoes peeled...

Pies cooked last night..

Nana has everything under control...

Local station playing Christmas songs...already...

Cuppa coffee and my FReepers FRiends time..

:)

[Elsie]

Am I being judgmental if I point out Buddhism is a false teaching and refute its dogma?

YES!

And demeaning; too!

(Especially if you have SCRIPTURE that shows your point!)

[Elsie]

Wow! I think you've come in second place for the fastest contradictory FReeper post! First you say "judgment is reserved for God"-- and then you turn around & judge some unknown posters for their supposed "arrogance, pride and conceit".

Only to us.

She apparently 'knows' them; but has not revealed them to us yet.

[Elsie]

It’s perfectly okay, however, to tell people when they’re being rude.

Name names...

[Elsie]

I think Christ is disappointed in that type of “evangelization.”

Let's get back on track...

The title of this thread, Is Mormonism Christian?, has attracked some MORMONs to it.

Please, in your kind and non-judgemental way, point out to them where they are wrong in what they believe.

[ejonesie22]

The irony and contradiction are delicious...