It is sad to see the spiral of human conscience as people retract from personal responsibility seek ire against their neighbor. The cancer of our species is the relinquishing of our backbone in order to pander and pamper those who claim to be offended and thereby feel entitled to a pacifier. This post is a quick reaction to rumors that President Thomas S. Monson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has been served by the courts of England.
To Be Offended
Apparently, anti-Mormon groups may have successfully turned their farce of charges into a legal action. Though I don't fear success of this lawsuit, it does announce to the heart and mind the direction we are headed as a civilization. When was the turning point in our history when someone chooses a different path at some point in their life and all of the sudden became so bitter and hateful as to seek frivolous damages against that organization or entity they once allied with? Mark my words, this path of slapping a diaper on every person who cries wolf will one day evolve into a people's beliefs being put on trial.
The case of this particular claim is that the LDS Church leadership knowingly preaches the doctrine of tithing which they know is false. Knowing a principle is false and asking people to pay into tithing constitutes fraud in their minds. Well, good luck proving that!
It all comes down to people of low worthiness striking back because they now feel naked, exposed, vulnerable, unworthy and thereby feel they can't achieve the heights they once reached for in the Church. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is among the last organizations that holds parameters of worthiness for its members. These guidelines are set in order for them to progress spiritually and temporally. These guidelines of worthiness direct the member in paths leading to self reliance, thrift, industry, compassion, love, growing devotion to God through service to others and sacrifice. Yes, part of spiritual ascension is learning to sacrifice that which we covet the most - money.
Money is not bad or good. It is neutral and its worth depends on what we use it for. The Church uses funds to build up the Kingdom of God. Funds issued from faithful members of the Church are used to erect sacred temples, build and maintain meetinghouses and a variety of other uses. God knows that these things are necessary in order to grow the influence of Jesus Christ in the lives of an ever growing population. Unfortunately many people fail to see the purity of the intent of tithing and that it is a law of God set forth in holy scripture.
Qualifications of worthiness are proven even in the former members of the Church many of whom now comprise the core of anti-Mormon groups. Just consider the fact that there is no other organization in the entire world that has as many individuals and groups who actively seek to destroy it. Why is this? It's worthiness, of course! We all have our pride pricked a little when we fail or find a journey too hard to endure. Pride is the downfall of all nations, both past and future. Pride is what we often blanket ourselves with in order to feel comfortable and important. When that get compromised in the least we strike back as a viper toward its prey.
Again, I don't fear that this case will be successful. I don't believe we are quite at the point yet where court sponsored witch hunts for Christians will take place. That time will be soon enough. Obviously, this post addresses my point that we need to keep our pride in check and move on in life when we think we are being "offended" or downtrodden. Just because we might give up choose to forsake our beliefs because of our unworthiness, doesn't mean we have to actively seek to destroy that system of faith that has proven to uplift and work for millions of other people around the world.
Update on this story in Day 2
To desire to trash the faith of millions in order to succor the mired heart of the one is a textbook definition of pride in my book.
To Be Offended
Apparently, anti-Mormon groups may have successfully turned their farce of charges into a legal action. Though I don't fear success of this lawsuit, it does announce to the heart and mind the direction we are headed as a civilization. When was the turning point in our history when someone chooses a different path at some point in their life and all of the sudden became so bitter and hateful as to seek frivolous damages against that organization or entity they once allied with? Mark my words, this path of slapping a diaper on every person who cries wolf will one day evolve into a people's beliefs being put on trial.
The case of this particular claim is that the LDS Church leadership knowingly preaches the doctrine of tithing which they know is false. Knowing a principle is false and asking people to pay into tithing constitutes fraud in their minds. Well, good luck proving that!
It all comes down to people of low worthiness striking back because they now feel naked, exposed, vulnerable, unworthy and thereby feel they can't achieve the heights they once reached for in the Church. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is among the last organizations that holds parameters of worthiness for its members. These guidelines are set in order for them to progress spiritually and temporally. These guidelines of worthiness direct the member in paths leading to self reliance, thrift, industry, compassion, love, growing devotion to God through service to others and sacrifice. Yes, part of spiritual ascension is learning to sacrifice that which we covet the most - money.
Money is not bad or good. It is neutral and its worth depends on what we use it for. The Church uses funds to build up the Kingdom of God. Funds issued from faithful members of the Church are used to erect sacred temples, build and maintain meetinghouses and a variety of other uses. God knows that these things are necessary in order to grow the influence of Jesus Christ in the lives of an ever growing population. Unfortunately many people fail to see the purity of the intent of tithing and that it is a law of God set forth in holy scripture.
Qualifications of worthiness are proven even in the former members of the Church many of whom now comprise the core of anti-Mormon groups. Just consider the fact that there is no other organization in the entire world that has as many individuals and groups who actively seek to destroy it. Why is this? It's worthiness, of course! We all have our pride pricked a little when we fail or find a journey too hard to endure. Pride is the downfall of all nations, both past and future. Pride is what we often blanket ourselves with in order to feel comfortable and important. When that get compromised in the least we strike back as a viper toward its prey.
Again, I don't fear that this case will be successful. I don't believe we are quite at the point yet where court sponsored witch hunts for Christians will take place. That time will be soon enough. Obviously, this post addresses my point that we need to keep our pride in check and move on in life when we think we are being "offended" or downtrodden. Just because we might give up choose to forsake our beliefs because of our unworthiness, doesn't mean we have to actively seek to destroy that system of faith that has proven to uplift and work for millions of other people around the world.
Update on this story in Day 2
To desire to trash the faith of millions in order to succor the mired heart of the one is a textbook definition of pride in my book.
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