I’ll give you the premise, but I find it to be more worthwhile, and bit harder, to articulate my reservations in the context of why I reject the one and embrace the other:
I have studied Mormonism carefully, for myself and unguided by its detractors and I find much to question, not the least of which is the unsustainable alternating claims of “restoring the Gospel” and relying on it for legitimacy. It’s a very pick-and-choose sort of amalgam that brings to me no light, no warmth, no hint of the truth that is eternally reflected by the very laws of nature and existence. The incongruency of its reason for being and its show of provenance is beyond good sense.
In turn, my own Christian faith is based on no leap into the darkness of doubt, no transitory feeling or warmth, but it is a light of wisdom that shines brighter and brighter the more I question, investigate, and demand that the Truth be more worthy and higher than myself. I seek to let it conform me to all things that are true.
The hard work is within my own journey of faith, not in mounting a defense of it. I trust it because it tells me what I know in my heart to be true: that I am desperately unable to keep it all together, to think my way into peace and salvation. If I could, why would I need a God? Or even a pretty story?
Conversely I know that if salvation is merely deemed to be “correct thinking” about God, then who will arbitrate such thought? Why not the next man who says, “god told me”? This is a deadly fallacy for any civilization, and one we are rapidly descending into.
Moreover, the entire arc of the OT and NT are of a perfect, unified story of how we come to find God. And how He came to find us. To pretend that it was somehow “lost” after our own liberty as humans was founded on its abiding principles [truth] is to set oneself up on shifting sands. And to set up one’s neighbor to say, “what’s the difference?” because non-believers are very astute in their skepticism. No wonder Jesus went to the lost sheep.
“It’s a very pick-and-choose sort of amalgam that brings to me no light, no warmth, no hint of the truth that is eternally reflected by the very laws of nature and existence.”
No “burning in the breast”, then? Related, to have Rick Warren say that the rejection of the trinitarian nature of God is a “sticking point” for acceptance of Mormonism as Christian just points out the vacuum that is much of the contemporary feel-good church. Discernment is not condemnation, but too many feel they’re condemning by pointing out the irreconcilable conflicts between Mormon doctrine and orthodox (in its classic sense) Christianity. Never met a Mormon I didn’t like, but I pray for the salvation of my Mormon friends.
Moreover, the entire arc of the OT and NT are of a perfect, unified story of how we come to find God. And how He came to find us. To pretend that it was somehow “lost” after our own liberty as humans was founded on its abiding principles [truth] is to set oneself up on shifting sands
I think what I bold-faced above is the "better version" of what you wrote -- How he came to find us ... especially how God in Christ...vs. how we "find God." After all, if 'twas left up to us to merely try to find & fathom God, who could do it?
Not sure what you're referencing as "lost"...Because indeed, the Bible presents man-upon-natural birth as spiritually in bondage; spiritually dead; in sin; subject to darkness, death & the devil. Those are hardly "neutral" spiritually enlightened conditions to begin a "trek" toward God.
In turn, my own Christian faith is based on no leap into the darkness of doubt, no transitory feeling or warmth, but IT is a light of wisdom that shines brighter and brighter the more I question, investigate, and demand that the Truth be more worthy and higher than myself. I seek to let IT conform me to all things that are true.
I don't know you...I may be off-base in this assessment...but having read many others' comments about their "spirituality" makes me ask you: do you have any New Age tinges in your "faith?"
Why do I ask? Because those who integrate some New Age leanings into their spirituality tend toward the impersonal in describing their relationship with divinity. And, in this graph, you twice reference an impersonal "it" -- first in reference to your "faith" -- and then to "wisdom/Truth."
Our Lord Jesus has shown that Truth is Personal...a Living Person. "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life," says Jesus. (John 14:6). Likewise, if I was to ask about your trust relationship with your spouse or key other person in your life, would you describe the relationship as an "it?" (I think of a trust relationship as deeply more personal than that).
Conversely I know that if salvation is merely deemed to be “correct thinking” about God, then who will arbitrate such thought?
Good reminder. There is such a thing as "dead orthodoxy."
But that gets back to my previous graph...that Jesus defined eternal life as follows: 3 Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent." (John 17:3)
Notice ALL key components here: An intimate relationship ("knowing" -- going beyond dead orthodoxy); it also includes not only knowing Jesus...but knowing "the ONLY true God."
In the context of your comments, knowing "any ole god" won't do...You may have given a nice counterbalance to relying only upon dead orthodoxy, but knowing any ole god won't do, either. You may think you might have a "wonderful" online relationship with someone you've never met face to face, but if that person has either misrepresented themself -- or if others have done that on his/her behalf -- you don't really know that true person, do you.
People can be counterfeited...
...$ can...
...Goods can...services...products...currency...
However much the temptation exists to downgrade "correct thinking about God," the opposite error is to neglect the sad reality of counterfeit spirituality...counterfeit knowledge...counterfeit relationships...counterfeit presentations about who the "only true God is.
In the context of this thread, there is really no way Mormons can properly honor Jesus' words in John 17:3. Why? Because Lds theology doesn't teach that there's "only ONE TRUE God."
They teach many!!! God the Father had a father & a grandfather. A "council of Gods" appointed him to become a god. This god had a wife or wives...apparently also divine. Mormons deem their "jesus" and their "holy ghost" as separate gods. And then they teach that males can become gods & add to the great god count.
Such theology makes a mockery of many straightforward statements by Jesus and by writers of the Bible.