Comments on: The grand panorama of scripture http://mormonconversations.com/the-grand-panorama-of-scripture/ Discussions on faith, religion, Mormonism, and other important topics Thu, 09 Feb 2012 03:18:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1 By: Rusty Lindquist http://mormonconversations.com/the-grand-panorama-of-scripture/#comment-1207 Rusty Lindquist Fri, 10 Oct 2008 16:07:58 +0000 http://ongofu.wordpress.com/?p=404#comment-1207 I appreciate your comment. I continuously find it intriguing that those who are so familiar with the bible can take such casual approach to earning exaltation (not salvation). Reading the teachings of Christ myself, there’s not much “sit back and relax” (sit under the tree, the treasure has already been found). No, instead I read Christ’s teachings and all I read is “do”. It’s all action based, there’s nothing casual or relaxed about it. There’s nothing I read of his words that suggests “don’t worry, the treasure is found”. Instead, he gives covenants, commandments, strict commands to DO, to sacrifice and work. But the world translates that today into a message of leniency, when he tells us specifically that the path to exaltation is straight and narrow, with few who find it. It takes the astounding beauty of the message of the atonement, with its encompassing power, and uses it to put the hearts of men asleep in works. But that’s clearly contrary to the teachings of the Savior that I read in scripture. I appreciate your comment. I continuously find it intriguing that those who are so familiar with the bible can take such casual approach to earning exaltation (not salvation). Reading the teachings of Christ myself, there’s not much “sit back and relax” (sit under the tree, the treasure has already been found). No, instead I read Christ’s teachings and all I read is “do”. It’s all action based, there’s nothing casual or relaxed about it. There’s nothing I read of his words that suggests “don’t worry, the treasure is found”. Instead, he gives covenants, commandments, strict commands to DO, to sacrifice and work. But the world translates that today into a message of leniency, when he tells us specifically that the path to exaltation is straight and narrow, with few who find it. It takes the astounding beauty of the message of the atonement, with its encompassing power, and uses it to put the hearts of men asleep in works. But that’s clearly contrary to the teachings of the Savior that I read in scripture.

]]> By: hillplus http://mormonconversations.com/the-grand-panorama-of-scripture/#comment-1206 hillplus Fri, 10 Oct 2008 15:26:36 +0000 http://ongofu.wordpress.com/?p=404#comment-1206 How is it that Larry knows Rusty's heart so well as to make a judgement on Rusty's faith? How is it that Larry knows Rusty’s heart so well as to make a judgement on Rusty’s faith?

]]> By: The Spirit of the Word « Neodecaussade’s Weblog http://mormonconversations.com/the-grand-panorama-of-scripture/#comment-1205 The Spirit of the Word « Neodecaussade’s Weblog Wed, 10 Sep 2008 17:31:45 +0000 http://ongofu.wordpress.com/?p=404#comment-1205 [...] me help you out. Surf on over to review the blog Grand Panorama. The writer of the blog says you have to take it all, or nothing. No cherry-picking, [...] [...] me help you out. Surf on over to review the blog Grand Panorama. The writer of the blog says you have to take it all, or nothing. No cherry-picking, [...]

]]> By: MANINO SAVAIINAEA http://mormonconversations.com/the-grand-panorama-of-scripture/#comment-1204 MANINO SAVAIINAEA Tue, 19 Aug 2008 02:47:51 +0000 http://ongofu.wordpress.com/?p=404#comment-1204 tHIS IS THE TRUE CHURCH ON EARTH tHIS IS THE TRUE CHURCH ON EARTH

]]> By: Rusty Lindquist http://mormonconversations.com/the-grand-panorama-of-scripture/#comment-1203 Rusty Lindquist Wed, 06 Aug 2008 03:09:04 +0000 http://ongofu.wordpress.com/?p=404#comment-1203 In all honesty, while I find it regrettable that you don't yet believe in the Savior, I truly (in all sincerity) respect and appreciate the work that science invests into explaining the mechanisms that govern our physical environment. All knowledge is valuable (even when it's incomplete), for whatever principle of intelligence we attain in this life, it will rise with us in the ressurection, and a person who gains more knowledge and experience in this life, than another, shall have so much the advantage in the world to come. Understanding the laws of science helps us understand the workings of our Creator, and what's more, the physical principles that govern our environment all have spiritual shadows, and much spiritual learning can come from careful evaluation of their mechanisms. In all honesty, while I find it regrettable that you don’t yet believe in the Savior, I truly (in all sincerity) respect and appreciate the work that science invests into explaining the mechanisms that govern our physical environment.

All knowledge is valuable (even when it’s incomplete), for whatever principle of intelligence we attain in this life, it will rise with us in the ressurection, and a person who gains more knowledge and experience in this life, than another, shall have so much the advantage in the world to come.

Understanding the laws of science helps us understand the workings of our Creator, and what’s more, the physical principles that govern our environment all have spiritual shadows, and much spiritual learning can come from careful evaluation of their mechanisms.

]]> By: Rusty Lindquist http://mormonconversations.com/the-grand-panorama-of-scripture/#comment-1202 Rusty Lindquist Wed, 06 Aug 2008 00:29:14 +0000 http://ongofu.wordpress.com/?p=404#comment-1202 Well, aren't we a bit touchy. Well, aren’t we a bit touchy.

]]> By: grant czerepak http://mormonconversations.com/the-grand-panorama-of-scripture/#comment-1201 grant czerepak Tue, 05 Aug 2008 22:59:47 +0000 http://ongofu.wordpress.com/?p=404#comment-1201 Then perhaps the map was a compilation of map makers over about 5000 years or even longer if you realize that the old map makers borrowed from the maps of even older map makers and the new map makers altered their maps to make it seem their new maps were the correct extensions of the old maps. To the point where no one who used the maps really knew where the hell they were going. And it was called astrology. Then someone looked up at the stars and plotted their paths and saw that the earth and planets revolved around the sun. Then someone found that force is equal to mass multiplied by gravity. Then someone found that force is equal to mass multiplied by acceleration. Then someone found that energy is equal to mass multiplied by the speed of light squared. Then someone sent up a satellite and made a map of the earth. Then someone walked on the moon. And it was called astronomy. Yet still a bunch of fools are stumbling around with their astrology and babbling about a human sacrifice saving everybody. Then perhaps the map was a compilation of map makers over about 5000 years or even longer if you realize that the old map makers borrowed from the maps of even older map makers and the new map makers altered their maps to make it seem their new maps were the correct extensions of the old maps. To the point where no one who used the maps really knew where the hell they were going. And it was called astrology.

Then someone looked up at the stars and plotted their paths and saw that the earth and planets revolved around the sun. Then someone found that force is equal to mass multiplied by gravity. Then someone found that force is equal to mass multiplied by acceleration. Then someone found that energy is equal to mass multiplied by the speed of light squared. Then someone sent up a satellite and made a map of the earth. Then someone walked on the moon. And it was called astronomy.

Yet still a bunch of fools are stumbling around with their astrology and babbling about a human sacrifice saving everybody.

]]> By: Rusty Lindquist http://mormonconversations.com/the-grand-panorama-of-scripture/#comment-1200 Rusty Lindquist Tue, 05 Aug 2008 22:41:15 +0000 http://ongofu.wordpress.com/?p=404#comment-1200 PP, You’re absolutely right, and you’re right to call me out on it (and I appreciate the meekness in which you do it too). I do overemphasize, or at least spend more time talking about the importance of righteous living. I don’t do this because I discount mercy, or the role of Christ, but for two primary reasons. <strong>A call to action</strong> The first, is that more than anything else, I want my blog to be one that inspires people to be better, to try harder, to do more. I have grown up seeing the impact of people who could have tried harder. I read the news every day and see so many instances illustrating a decline of righteousness behavior. A deterioration of spirituality. I want my voice to be a tireless call to action, a constant call to try harder, to be just a little more obedient, that perhaps I might inspire another to do just one more good thing. I have witnessed the blessings that come from obedience, and the richness of a life lived within the boundaries the Lord has set. I want others to enjoy those same blessings. <strong>The role of righteousness</strong> More importantly, mercy is a gift. His grace is free, we don’t have to do anything to earn it. But what part of our salvation is our responsibility? In the scripture above, what part is ours… “he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven”. So I don’t spend a lot of time talking about the part that requires no effort on our part, my audience is almost entirely Christian, they get that already, instead, I want to be the one encouraging them to “do the will of my Father” so that they may enter into the kingdom of heaven. PP,

You’re absolutely right, and you’re right to call me out on it (and I appreciate the meekness in which you do it too). I do overemphasize, or at least spend more time talking about the importance of righteous living. I don’t do this because I discount mercy, or the role of Christ, but for two primary reasons.

A call to action

The first, is that more than anything else, I want my blog to be one that inspires people to be better, to try harder, to do more. I have grown up seeing the impact of people who could have tried harder. I read the news every day and see so many instances illustrating a decline of righteousness behavior. A deterioration of spirituality. I want my voice to be a tireless call to action, a constant call to try harder, to be just a little more obedient, that perhaps I might inspire another to do just one more good thing. I have witnessed the blessings that come from obedience, and the richness of a life lived within the boundaries the Lord has set. I want others to enjoy those same blessings.

The role of righteousness

More importantly, mercy is a gift. His grace is free, we don’t have to do anything to earn it. But what part of our salvation is our responsibility? In the scripture above, what part is ours… “he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven”.

So I don’t spend a lot of time talking about the part that requires no effort on our part, my audience is almost entirely Christian, they get that already, instead, I want to be the one encouraging them to “do the will of my Father” so that they may enter into the kingdom of heaven.

]]> By: ponderingpastor http://mormonconversations.com/the-grand-panorama-of-scripture/#comment-1199 ponderingpastor Tue, 05 Aug 2008 18:12:42 +0000 http://ongofu.wordpress.com/?p=404#comment-1199 Rusty, you write "...address the issue - that all scripture must be considered as a whole, and we would be mistaken to somehow abandon a verse here and a verse there, because they don’t fit within our adopted belief-system." This is so very important. It is a real challenge! All of us are guilty of this. Your learning about scripture has so significantly influenced you that you miss some real grace-filled passages, so much so that you abandon them. While you advocate for looking at all of scripture, not just the ones that focus on the path to salvation being difficult and a challenge, you tip toward the challenging without giving credit to those that say the opposite. For one simple example; (Matthew 11:29-30) "Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." Acknowledged are the "narrow path" passages. Will you acknowledge the "wide path" passages, and look at scripture as a whole without choosing sides? Pondering Pastor Rusty, you write “…address the issue – that all scripture must be considered as a whole, and we would be mistaken to somehow abandon a verse here and a verse there, because they don’t fit within our adopted belief-system.” This is so very important. It is a real challenge! All of us are guilty of this. Your learning about scripture has so significantly influenced you that you miss some real grace-filled passages, so much so that you abandon them. While you advocate for looking at all of scripture, not just the ones that focus on the path to salvation being difficult and a challenge, you tip toward the challenging without giving credit to those that say the opposite. For one simple example; (Matthew 11:29-30) “Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Acknowledged are the “narrow path” passages. Will you acknowledge the “wide path” passages, and look at scripture as a whole without choosing sides?

Pondering Pastor

]]> By: Margaret http://mormonconversations.com/the-grand-panorama-of-scripture/#comment-1198 Margaret Tue, 05 Aug 2008 18:02:12 +0000 http://ongofu.wordpress.com/?p=404#comment-1198 This thread really reminds me of how the apostasy happened. At the time of Christ and the original apostles, the Gospel was pure and complete (like the original post). Then, as others came along and made copies of the scriptures and translated them into other languages, it was changed here a little, there a little. Sometimes when someone didn't understand it as written, they either left it out or changed a few words. Sometimes the changes were just the errors of men. It was still the word of God, but no longer complete. Looking at these comments, it's easy to see how each one who came along made changes and the message is no longer the same. Clearly a correction needs to be made if the outcome is to be the intended one or many will be lost on the deviated paths. I know that the Book of Mormon, Doctrine & Covenants and Pearl of Great Price, along with the living Prophet provide that course correction. Those who will just examine the evidences (read it),ponder, pray and listen to what the Spirit tells them, can know it, too. I invite you to try it. This thread really reminds me of how the apostasy happened. At the time of Christ and the original apostles, the Gospel was pure and complete (like the original post). Then, as others came along and made copies of the scriptures and translated them into other languages, it was changed here a little, there a little. Sometimes when someone didn’t understand it as written, they either left it out or changed a few words. Sometimes the changes were just the errors of men. It was still the word of God, but no longer complete.

Looking at these comments, it’s easy to see how each one who came along made changes and the message is no longer the same. Clearly a correction needs to be made if the outcome is to be the intended one or many will be lost on the deviated paths.

I know that the Book of Mormon, Doctrine & Covenants and Pearl of Great Price, along with the living Prophet provide that course correction. Those who will just examine the evidences (read it),ponder, pray and listen to what the Spirit tells them, can know it, too. I invite you to try it.

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