I was saddened to see an attack of thoughtless malicious name-calling on the members of the LDS church on this very website a few days ago. Not only was this attack poorly worded, but also written from a base of total ignorance, with total disregard or knowledge of The Book of Mormon and the Holy Bible.  Mam/Sir, if you want to air your opinion or launch an attack, may I suggest you do so from a foundation of written and understood knowledge, reality and fact, and not from a base of what you perceive reality is, or what others have told you. Keeping that in mind, those who signed and accepted the rules, spirit and intention of this site, and became members of this website, in so-ding are to abide by their word, or look for another place to air their “opinions”. 

Yes many Christians from many denominations have been persecuted, mostly in a very “Un-Christian” manner. And many world populations have been persecuted in barbaric fashion in the name of Christianity. Baring this in mind, I have been lead to share a few thoughts.  

Just to clarify, no I'm not a member of the LDS church, however I am a child of God.

I grew up knowing God and giving my heart to Jesus at a young age. I was baptised and confirmed in the Methodist Church. I have very fond memories of our Sunday School classes and Guild Meetings every Wednesday. Throughout my life despite the heartache, turmoil and accepting myself the way He created me, I have tried to walk a close path with Him.  There have been many life lessons in between and I strive to learn from them through God's guidance as much as I can. My goal is to internalise and live the fruits of the spirit through Him.  I have also come to believe that we are all on our own Journey's and that God reveals to us previously unknown parts of ourselves in His own perfect timing. It is up to us to choose to deal with this in an effective manner or not. I also believe that God created man to be happy and intended us to live the life to the full in His strength, despite challenges, disappointments, mistakes, tragedies and traumas. I believe that these challenges were brought on our paths to learn from, keep the good, build character and to teach us perseverance.

I believe God loves all His children unconditionally and whosoever believes in Jesus Christ (irrespective of race, sexual orientation, gender etc), and believes He died for our sins and rose on the 3rd day to be victorious over the world and whosoever accepts Him as their Saviour and Redeemer will receive eternal life.

"For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God sent the Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him. He (She) who believes in him is not condemned; he who does not believe is condemned already because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God." --John 3:16-18

 I believe it is by the grace of God that we are all alive and by His grace only that we are saved.

"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." --Ephesians 2:8-9

I too believe that God's greatest commandment was to love Him first and foremost, and then to Love our neighbours as ourselves.

 "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the law and the prophets." --Matthew 22:37-40

And with that, I believe God clearly states that we are not to Judge anyone, only He has that authority...

"Do not Judge, or you to will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged and with the same measure you use it, it will be measured unto you. Why do you you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, Let me take the speck out of your eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye."

Matthew 7:1-5

 In writing this, judgement includes rude name calling, prejudice against others and breaking down of other's spirits or beliefs.

 I believe with all my heart that the Bible is God's Holy, Divinely-inspired, inerrant Word. It is the foundation of our faith and we must strive to understand it in its fullest, so that we may live the life that God would have us live, to bring honor and glory to God!

 There was a time when I felt it was blasphemous to question the "truths" of the Church, but II Tim 3:16 tells us that:- "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, reproof and instruction in righteousness."

 I understand from this God WANTS us to examine the Scriptures with an open mind, a mind that will question, a mind that will seek the answers of what it really means to live a holy life. We have an OBLIGATION to challenge what we have been taught when it doesn't fit with other parts of Scripture.I believe that his is open to everyone who believes that Jesus Christ is our saviour, not only the clergy or leaders of churches.I believe prejudice against anyone is contrary to Christ's example of inclusiveness, acceptance and love for all. Aforentioned is not however an approval of "sin".

 I believe we are called by God to never return evil for evil, and to turn the other cheek. We can expect persecution from all sides by those who are ignorant. But we are warned not to stoop to the level of our persecutors.

"Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. To those who strike you on the cheek, offer the other also." --Luke 6:27-29 "

 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them." --Romans 12:14

"If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you of the world, therefore the world hates you." --John 15:18-19

I believe too, that if someone is persecuting you, in most instances it is because you are doing something right, as you are disagreeing with the way of the “world.

In all the above, the truth of God is so simple, and is meant for everyone, it is man who tries to make it complicated or only available to the select few. Use the spirit God put in you to discern the false and the true.

In Conclusion, Love Life, God gives us trials and tribulations so we may grow, grow tolerant, grow-up spiritually and be a blessing to those around us.

 May God Bless All Today.

Tags: Judgement Persecution Truth