The Fear of Fear in the Fear of Christ

The Fear of Fear in the Fear of Christ  

"All thing I thought I knew; but now confess, the more I know I know, I know the less. Praying for the Holy Spirit is the most important work faith has to do in this world”

            The Honourable Senator of the United States from the great and amazing state of Utah (albeit excessive soda consumption rates, if I may so humbly posit), shared this on Twitter (Now “X”) and I felt time was right for my reflection,  given what may be a  gross display of religious fanatism related violence which followed the  passing away of President Russell M. Nelson, even though the U.S. Government’s official statements still have not declared an official motive. What follows is a textual quote of Brother Lee, speaking about his faith:

“As a lifelong member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I’m a Christian

As Latter-day Saints, we believe that:

•  Jesus Christ is the Only Begotten Son of God, born of the Virgin Mary (Luke 1:35)

•  He is the Creator and God of the Old Testament and the Savior of the New Testament (John 1:1-3)

•  He lived a sinless life, took upon Himself the sins of all mankind, and atoned for us through His suffering and death (1 Peter 2:22, Alma 7:11-12)

•  He rose on the third day, ensuring our resurrection and offering eternal life through faith in Him (1 Corinthians 15:20-22)

•  He is the only way to salvation (Acts 4:12)

We worship Jesus Christ, follow His teachings, and take upon His name through baptism and weekly sacrament

The Book of Mormon, alongside the Bible, testifies of His divinity and mission

As our Church’s name declares, Jesus Christ is at the heart of our religion

He is the author and finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2)

If that doesn’t make us Christians, I don’t know what does

You may define Christianity differently, and that’s your right

If you do, that doesn’t change my faith in Jesus Christ

Nor does it diminish my respect for your sacred beliefs

Not for a moment”

            The “Are “Mormons” real Christians?” inquiry is not something new. One could point out to the fruits President Nelson demonstrated via his exemplary life of service to both his church and humanity as a heart doctor, fruits that I believe are faith demonstrated by deeds. However, the “mormons” not being real Christians discourse seems to stand from die-hard sola fides proponents: that one is saved by faith alone, which is why said crowd also questions whether Roman Catholics are “real Christians” too, usually. Of course, when it’s “politically expedient” in the culture wars, a “blind eye” is usually “turned”, but it is not incoherence between speech and action that I want to focus. What I want to do is foster tolerance, not ignite petty quarrel and ego-driven clashes. Au contraire, I want to try to do a little, tiny bit to aid the de-escalation thereof. 

                Which is why I will flat-out state that I in no way want to "trivialize" what makes the LDS tradition different to other Christian bodies, such as Eastern Christianity, Roman Catholicism, as well as both liturgical and nonliturgical protestant bodies (both historical and more recent). I couldn’t find the source to be honest, but I think I recall, maybe after Bishop J encouraged me to study not only scriptures in the Quad, but also current church leaders’ talks, a church leader who could have been President Gordon B. Hinckley answering a media piece that encouraged the church to downplay Smith’s visions in order to grow by making itself more “palatable” to the mainstream “american religious marketplace” demand. He flat-out stated that the Church’s claims stand or fall regarding the veracity of Joseph Smith Jr’s account and that to downplay what Smith claimed in order to “become more relevant” was a denial of the church’s mission. 

                    So yeah, a special canon and bold claims regarding supernatural events. What exactly the Book of Mormon is, what exactly happened when 14 year old Joseph Smith prayed after reading James in the groves of rural, upstate New York, that I do not know for sure. But I think that the Church has grown to be a very intellectually solid organization, at least according to my experience. See, I like to question and inquire a lot. I’m naturally curious. And the missionaries I’ve met with told me my doubts are welcome, because after all, if Smith hadn’t doubted and prayed to seek guidance, the episode known as The Restoration in the official history of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints would have never come into existence.

                    And again, so yeah, the issue at the heart of the matter is, where one draws the line. All religions are equally good and valid is not something I’m going to say because I don’t think that is true but I don’t think the devout PCUSA member involved in charity needs to “up his game” and join the Full Gospel Megachurch that’s the newest craze in town. In that same tone, Mr. only independent king james only fundamentalist semi-cessasionist reformed 3-point calvinists go to heaven, but presbyterians who are PCA instead of PCUSA might get some leeway unless they voted for Obama (Ron Paul is O.K.), I don’t think he is “getting it” either. 

                    Something I have grown to believe is that faith is waaay more than intellectual assent to a list of tenets.The LDS-Holy See relationship seems to be one of growing friendship. I observe the same phenomena regarding the Holy See and Orthodoxy as well as the Anglican Communion. 

                        For some people, religion seems to be more a matter of "doctrinal accuracy" rather than a communal affair one is born into... I think that's the gist of the issue, some people care more about the Council of Trent than the Rerum Novarum encyclical. Others don’t even know what that is, and think “being a good person is enough”. Some Catholics got fed-up of conservative protestants actively proselytising their  impressionable kids, at some point in the recent past, and that is why today some are wary private devotion to Archangel Uriel could be “new age not-of-God stuff”, but most Christians in the U.S.A. haven’t heard of Patrick Madrid and James White. They care more about the Catholic pope demanding a more just economy, even if they’re not Catholic, and if you tell them a bit about “The 5 love languages”, they might recall hearing something about that at some point, but may not even know it is written by a protestant reverend.

                        So, once agains, at  the heart of the matter, I think humbleness is called for. One of the most important things I learned from missionaries who came over to grab a bite and discuss the gospel was that, maybe, when Jesus said the meek will inherit the earth (Mt 5), he didn't mean we shouldn't stand up to bullies, but that we must bow before the Almighty for he, and not we, holds more power, strength and glory. 

                So, are “Mormons” Christians? Maybe, at the heart of the matter, what lies behind that question is fear. Fear that Latter-day Saints are deceiving people and being deceived themselves. Which is valid, but like Dominican professor Juan Bosch (who studied the Bible, too) said, fear is something to be defeated!

                     And fear may be valid. Dark alley at night, you feel a bit eerie, you look for a well-lit area or you decide to adopt a different composure until you reach a place that feels safer, that’s valid and healthy. Maybe the commute could have been better planned in the first place, but I do think now is a time to up interfaith dialogue. There are maaany double standards: that must be pointed out. Jesus himself warns against worrying more about the pluck in your brother’s eye than the one in yours. And then, there are some misunderstandings which can certainly be cleared out. 

                The Church can certainly scare some people. Very bold claims. The same can be said of other Christian bodies such as the Roman Catholic Church and conservative Christian communities. So, some of the fear I do think is valid and called for, after all even the Bible says that among many other things, GOD is to be feared: Proverbs, traditionally it is said King Solomon stated while under divine inspiration that the fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom.

                 But as humans we want certainty, we don’t like being wrong, so right off the bat, this isn’t easy, but the Psalmists calls us to fear no evil for the LORD is with us. And that is an important distinction. A black widow spider in the woods is certainly something to fear and respect, but the guy wearing a mask in a 70’s Scooby Doo cartoon episode reminds us that sometimes people exploit fear in wrong places as a cruel mean for a spurious end. So again, yeah: some things we as humans are just going to have to agree to disagree in humbleness, admitting only the omniscient knows absolute truth absolutely. But I see an area of opportunity to clear some things out. Some people still believe the Church President Russell M. Nelson majestically led condones polygamy, for example. I think that says it all…