Bridging the Mormon/Evangelical Divide

[ama49]

I wrote a post on my website about ways Mormons and Evangelicals can get along. I'd love to hear your feedback on my site.

Check it out at:

Grace for Grace

[the Ogre]

ama:

I like your website. I think I disagree with your idea of a One-true Church. I agree that the LDS church is the only true-church on the earth today, but I do not think you work hard enough to explain that the LDS position is not exclusionary. Many people will be saved through the Atonement regardless of their physical membership in the church. I do believe they will need ordinances performed for them once dead, but my Jewish great-greats will most likely make it and having their work performed for them (it is already, they didn't die during the holocaust so no one protested the work being done). People will be judged for the works, actions, beliefs according to the Grace of G-d regardless of physical membership in any church.

One of the hardest things many of my no-mo friends have is the concept that only the mo-mos will make it, which of course is silly. My landlord is in his bishopric, but that does not stop him from being a slumlord who never follows through with promises and ignores the needs of his tenants. The members of the church who will make it are those who have deserted their "mormonism" and have completely committed to being a Latter-day Saint ignoring all cultural attachments.

[Xzain]

ama49-

Very good job! I especially like the multiple links to outside sources, such as the scriptures. I think you have hit many of the key points- heck, from my meager understanding of the situation you touched on all of them!

One comment- this may an idiosyncratic feeling, but I think it adds a little to the confusion of the 'Mormons vs. Christians' issue by referring to all non-LDS Christians as 'Christians' and all LDS Christians as 'Mormons'. I understand the difficulty in writing a short blog; maybe you could add a disclaimer saying that when you say 'Christians' you mean 'mainstream Christians'?

All in all, very good job! Two thumbs up, my friend.

[Moksha]

Good idea for a website.

[prisonchaplain]

I took a cursory glance, and as one of the evangelicals on this site, let me add my kudos for tackling this sensitive subject. Blowhards on both sides are likely to send fire your way, and your exercise leaves room for misunderstanding by the purist/ideologues on both sides.

The one theme that runs throughout your site is the need to emphasize areas of communion, and avoid discussions of our differences. Perhaps this is the sad reality of post modern society. I yearn for a place where polite, respectful, yet frank discussion, and even debate, is seen as a sign of fervent spirituality and love. To put it more simply, if I am wrong, I hope you (y'all) love me enough to tell me--even if you're afraid I might get upset. On the other hand, the practice today is to let people carry on in their ignorance for fear of offending them. sigh.

And please...again...I love the site...and believe you have approached it as you probably need to in today's reality. So, blessings to you.

[ama49]

To all of you for your comments. i'm going to copy them and paste them in on my site for those who visit the site to see. I would welcome more comments from you in the future as well!

Grace for Grace

[WANDERER]

Nice blog. Checked through backposts. Liked reading the comments and replies.

Oops. One of the backposts had a link to similar posts that took me offsite to...oops, not one of your other posts I think ; ).

[Jbs2763]

there is a book called "how wide the divide" i forget the authors but its really good

[prisonchaplain]

JBS, Robinson (BYU) and Blomberg (Denver Seminary)...excellent book.

[ama49]

JBS and PrisonChaplain,

Thanks for the references to the book...I'll have to check it out.