Faith hope and charity are like the bread, butter, and jam of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. O.k., I know it's a terrible analogy, but why are these virtues so essential?
When we truly believe these virtues, they cause us to live differently. For example, when we have faith in Jesus Christ, we want to be baptized because of his commandment. When we have hope, we live life joyfully. When we have charity, we treat others kindly. These three virtues govern how we live our lives. If they don’t, we aren’t truly living the gospel of Jesus Christ.
In 1 Corinthians chapter 13 we read this
"Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels,
and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass,
or a tinkling cymbal.
And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries,
and all knowledge; and though I have all faith,
so that I could remove mountains,
and have not charity, I am nothing.
And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor,
and though I give my body to be burned,
and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not;
charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own,
is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;
Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail;
whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge,
it shall vanish away.
For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.
But when that which is perfect is come,
then that which is in part shall be done away.
When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child,
I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face:
now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
And now bideth faith, hope, charity, these three;
but the greatest of these is charity."
Since faith, hope and charity are the bread and butter of the Gospel, why does Paul praise charity more than faith or hope? Are they not just as important?
In the Book of Mormon, a second testimony of Jesus Christ which we believe to be divinely given scripture, says “But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him (Moroni 7:41).”
According to Moroni, Charity is the ‘pure love of Christ’ and it endures forever. This makes me reflect on the mission of the Savior of the World. Jesus Christ came to earth, he lived among men; preformed many miracles; completed the Atonement; died; resurrected; and lives again. In my mind, Christ’s greatest love was to perform the Atonement. The Atonement was when Christ took upon himself the sins of the world. It caused him so much pain that he dripped blood from every pour as we read in the bible. I’ve always wondered how it worked. Somehow, some way, he experienced pain—the pain that I would have to had suffered had I not believed in his Atonement.
This act freed men from the consequences of sin. When we have faith in Jesus Christ, we can repent and his pain makes up for our mistakes. Maybe this is why Charity greater than Faith and Hope. If Charity, the pure love of Christ or the Atonement had not happened, there would be nothing to have faith in. I’m grateful for my Savior—grateful He suffered for my sins that I may be saved.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Second Coming of Christ
In first Thessalonians, the early Christians were worried about the second coming of Christ. Ever since Christ promised to come back, the second coming has always been a question among followers of Christ. When will it be? How will we know?
The early Christians had similar questions. Paul answers some of their questions in his epistle to the Thessalonians. He says, “We ourselves glory in you in the churches of God your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure (2 Thess 1:4).”
They must have been wondering when it would end because Paul goes on to say that they “who are troubled rest with us, when the lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; when he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day (2 Thess 1:7-10).”
Paul is promising the early believers that rest from their tribulations will come. But when? He answers the when in 2 Thessalonians chapter 2. In verses 1-3 Paul writes, “Now we beseech you, brethren by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, that ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed the son of perdition.”
We learn a couple things from these verses. First, there were other proselytizing Christians who were sending false letter preaching that the second coming was coming near. Paul refutes this by saying, “be not…shaken...by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.” He then says, “there come a falling away first.” As a Latter-Day Saint, I believe there was a falling away, meaning that the early church of Jesus Christ, that he established with his apostles, fell into an apostasy. The early Christian church was lost in the first century of the new millennium. However, we also believe that God restored his church again, through a new prophet called Joseph Smith.
So what do we do as Christians waiting for the second coming? Paul says, “Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day; we are not of the night, nor of darkness, therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober… but let us… be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet the hope of salvation (1 Thess 5:5-8).”
We are to look forward, be faithful, hopeful of the future but not forgetful of the present. That is Paul’s call for Christians waiting for the second coming.
The early Christians had similar questions. Paul answers some of their questions in his epistle to the Thessalonians. He says, “We ourselves glory in you in the churches of God your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure (2 Thess 1:4).”
They must have been wondering when it would end because Paul goes on to say that they “who are troubled rest with us, when the lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; when he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day (2 Thess 1:7-10).”
Paul is promising the early believers that rest from their tribulations will come. But when? He answers the when in 2 Thessalonians chapter 2. In verses 1-3 Paul writes, “Now we beseech you, brethren by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, that ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed the son of perdition.”
We learn a couple things from these verses. First, there were other proselytizing Christians who were sending false letter preaching that the second coming was coming near. Paul refutes this by saying, “be not…shaken...by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.” He then says, “there come a falling away first.” As a Latter-Day Saint, I believe there was a falling away, meaning that the early church of Jesus Christ, that he established with his apostles, fell into an apostasy. The early Christian church was lost in the first century of the new millennium. However, we also believe that God restored his church again, through a new prophet called Joseph Smith.
So what do we do as Christians waiting for the second coming? Paul says, “Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day; we are not of the night, nor of darkness, therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober… but let us… be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet the hope of salvation (1 Thess 5:5-8).”
We are to look forward, be faithful, hopeful of the future but not forgetful of the present. That is Paul’s call for Christians waiting for the second coming.
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Last week, I had the opportunity to go to a Special Collections lecture in the Harold B. Lee Library at Brigham Young University. Russ Taylor, the department chair of the L. Tom Perry Special Collections, gave the lecture. He discussed the history of print starting from clay tablets in Mesopotamia to the printing press and books that have pictures painted on the edges of its pages. He showed us examples of papyrus, bronze plates, medieval manuscripts, and printed bible manuscripts. In one lecture, he showed us the entire history of print—at least 4000 years crammed into a room in Provo Utah. It is amazing to think how much information we have.
By happen-chance I’ve learned much about printing. My second semester here at BYU, I took a calligraphy class. We discussed many of the different writing styles through-out the centuries, the different writing materials such as velum and paper, also different types of ink. I am fully aware of the time and energy hand-written documents take. I spent many hours trying to correct my flourishes and my serifs. Also as a student in Jerusalem, we talked about papyrus and stone carving. Just today, I was reading about the Dead Sea Scrolls and the new knowledge which their discovery brought. I’ve also been to a printing museum where they too, show the history of the printing press.
What does this mean? Written word impacts our lives without us ever thinking about it. How easy is it for us to go online to look at blogs and newspapers? Where is the nearest library? How many books do you have in your house? We are so accustomed to printed materials that we don’t think about the historical times when print was not accessible. Even 150 years ago, printing was expensive and hard to come by, but not anymore. We live in a revolutionary world where newspapers are going bankrupt and anybody can have a worldwide audience through the internet.
I read at least 3 hours every day and that is only homework not including the newspaper, books, magazines, or email. I don’t remember when I didn’t read or couldn’t write. It has always been important and it will always be important. It is hard for me to conceive of a time when people were not able to read or when books were not available to everyone. Books are powerful because they hold knowledge. Ancient or modern, print preserves culture and history which help us understand who we are and where we are going. But how often do we use it? In another class of mine, a professor was ranting and raving, like many of them do, about the fact that we don’t access information which only 20 years ago was so difficult to discover. Of course I was disinterested as he lectured on his hobby horse, but it is true. We, the children of the information age do not use what is at our finger tips. How lucky we are to have the printed word.
By happen-chance I’ve learned much about printing. My second semester here at BYU, I took a calligraphy class. We discussed many of the different writing styles through-out the centuries, the different writing materials such as velum and paper, also different types of ink. I am fully aware of the time and energy hand-written documents take. I spent many hours trying to correct my flourishes and my serifs. Also as a student in Jerusalem, we talked about papyrus and stone carving. Just today, I was reading about the Dead Sea Scrolls and the new knowledge which their discovery brought. I’ve also been to a printing museum where they too, show the history of the printing press.
What does this mean? Written word impacts our lives without us ever thinking about it. How easy is it for us to go online to look at blogs and newspapers? Where is the nearest library? How many books do you have in your house? We are so accustomed to printed materials that we don’t think about the historical times when print was not accessible. Even 150 years ago, printing was expensive and hard to come by, but not anymore. We live in a revolutionary world where newspapers are going bankrupt and anybody can have a worldwide audience through the internet.
I read at least 3 hours every day and that is only homework not including the newspaper, books, magazines, or email. I don’t remember when I didn’t read or couldn’t write. It has always been important and it will always be important. It is hard for me to conceive of a time when people were not able to read or when books were not available to everyone. Books are powerful because they hold knowledge. Ancient or modern, print preserves culture and history which help us understand who we are and where we are going. But how often do we use it? In another class of mine, a professor was ranting and raving, like many of them do, about the fact that we don’t access information which only 20 years ago was so difficult to discover. Of course I was disinterested as he lectured on his hobby horse, but it is true. We, the children of the information age do not use what is at our finger tips. How lucky we are to have the printed word.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Circumcision or Not? That is the Question
I have been continued to read the second half of the New Testament. One of the issues at divided the early Christians centered on the conversion of Jews and non-Jews. The question was this: should a non-Jew before converting to Christianity first have to become a Jew by circumcision or can a gentile directly become a Christian bypassing circumcision?
In Acts 15:1-2 it says, “And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren and said, except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved. When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas and certain other of them should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question.” Why were Paul and Barnabas so upset?
We can find the answer in Galatians. In this epistle, Paul is writing about this very question. Other Christian proselytizers had come to the people or place of Galatia after Paul had already taught them. These other Christians, as Paul writes, “pervert the gospel of Christ” and “called... unto another gospel (Galatians 1:6-7).” Later Paul writes in chapter 4, “God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons, and because ye are sons, God hath sent forth his Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying Abba, Father. Wherefore, thou are no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.”
The other Christians were teaching that Christ was not powerful enough to make a gentile a Christian. Rather, converts first had to become a Jew then a Christian to be saved. This angered Paul. These Christians in a sense were saying that the Atonement of Jesus Christ had only power to save Jews. This is completely untrue! These teachers were cheapening and lowering the sacrifice of Christ. Paul taught that God sent forth his Son, Jesus Christ, who saves men and makes them sons of God. Paul testified and knew the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
How is this important in our lives? Do we forgive others? If we don’t, are we not in a sense saying that the Atonement of Christ is not powerful enough to make someone perfect? Do we forgive ourselves? If we don’t, are we not in a sense saying that the Atonement of Christ is not powerful enough to make us perfect? How do we feel about the Savior of the World?
In Acts 15:1-2 it says, “And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren and said, except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved. When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas and certain other of them should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question.” Why were Paul and Barnabas so upset?
We can find the answer in Galatians. In this epistle, Paul is writing about this very question. Other Christian proselytizers had come to the people or place of Galatia after Paul had already taught them. These other Christians, as Paul writes, “pervert the gospel of Christ” and “called... unto another gospel (Galatians 1:6-7).” Later Paul writes in chapter 4, “God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons, and because ye are sons, God hath sent forth his Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying Abba, Father. Wherefore, thou are no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.”
The other Christians were teaching that Christ was not powerful enough to make a gentile a Christian. Rather, converts first had to become a Jew then a Christian to be saved. This angered Paul. These Christians in a sense were saying that the Atonement of Jesus Christ had only power to save Jews. This is completely untrue! These teachers were cheapening and lowering the sacrifice of Christ. Paul taught that God sent forth his Son, Jesus Christ, who saves men and makes them sons of God. Paul testified and knew the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
How is this important in our lives? Do we forgive others? If we don’t, are we not in a sense saying that the Atonement of Christ is not powerful enough to make someone perfect? Do we forgive ourselves? If we don’t, are we not in a sense saying that the Atonement of Christ is not powerful enough to make us perfect? How do we feel about the Savior of the World?
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
The New Testament
I’ve started reading Acts. I’ve always wanted to know more about the New Testament, especially after the gospels. I hear a lot about the 4 gospels but I never hear much about Acts through Revelation. One reason why I have not studied Acts through Revelation much is because often times I don’t understand what I read. I’ve made a commitment to myself to make it through. Along with my reading, I’ve started a class at BYU that deals with these writings. I’ve very excited and here is my first blog post.
Acts Chapter 2.
First I find the parallels between Moses and the apostles cool. After the children of Israel had been released from Egypt, they wandered through the wilderness. Fifty days later, Moses went to the top of Mount Sinai and received the Ten Commandments. Much like the foreshadowing of Moses, Christ died releasing us from spiritual prison or Egypt. Exactly 50 days later, Pentecost occurred; it was an amazing spiritual outpouring much like what happened when Moses received the Ten Commandments.
I always wondered where Pentecost took place. In Acts chapter 1, all the Apostles are gathered into the upper room. I always thought that the scene carried through to chapter two. However, my professor said that Pentecost would have happened on the Temple Mount, or Al-Haram al-Sharif. In verse 1 it says, “And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.” I always took that to be the upper room with all the followers of Christ and then I was confused when so many people from all over the Mediterranean Basin were included. But now, If it were on the temple mount, all those people would have come to Jerusalem for the festival and it makes so much more sense.
What makes chapter 2 so good is Peter’s speech to all the people. I love verse 38 which says, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ of the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” We have been talking in class that most of the apostles do not fully understand the mission of Jesus Christ. Not until after the resurrection do they understand that Jesus is the Messiah. Then, when they understood, the Apostles, who were well versed Jews in the Tanahk and Jewish scriptures, were able to see the fulfillment of prophecy. And verse 38 is the climax of Peters understanding. He is saying that only through the name of Jesus Christ, meaning only through belief and faith in him, can men be saved. During this one testimony of Peter, 3000 people were baptized. What power must Peter have had in testifying of Jesus Christ.
Acts Chapter 2.
First I find the parallels between Moses and the apostles cool. After the children of Israel had been released from Egypt, they wandered through the wilderness. Fifty days later, Moses went to the top of Mount Sinai and received the Ten Commandments. Much like the foreshadowing of Moses, Christ died releasing us from spiritual prison or Egypt. Exactly 50 days later, Pentecost occurred; it was an amazing spiritual outpouring much like what happened when Moses received the Ten Commandments.
I always wondered where Pentecost took place. In Acts chapter 1, all the Apostles are gathered into the upper room. I always thought that the scene carried through to chapter two. However, my professor said that Pentecost would have happened on the Temple Mount, or Al-Haram al-Sharif. In verse 1 it says, “And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.” I always took that to be the upper room with all the followers of Christ and then I was confused when so many people from all over the Mediterranean Basin were included. But now, If it were on the temple mount, all those people would have come to Jerusalem for the festival and it makes so much more sense.
What makes chapter 2 so good is Peter’s speech to all the people. I love verse 38 which says, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ of the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” We have been talking in class that most of the apostles do not fully understand the mission of Jesus Christ. Not until after the resurrection do they understand that Jesus is the Messiah. Then, when they understood, the Apostles, who were well versed Jews in the Tanahk and Jewish scriptures, were able to see the fulfillment of prophecy. And verse 38 is the climax of Peters understanding. He is saying that only through the name of Jesus Christ, meaning only through belief and faith in him, can men be saved. During this one testimony of Peter, 3000 people were baptized. What power must Peter have had in testifying of Jesus Christ.
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
What's after Life?
I’ve been reminded twice during the past week about how different LDS theology and practices can be. My wife has a good friend who has been living in France for about six months. He is LDS and is dating a French woman who is not. Besides the fact that he does not drink, smoke, or have pre-marital relations the relationship is going well. She is exploring a completely different realm as she tries understand the membership in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Today, I was reminded again about points of LDS theology that differs from what other churches believe. While most churches believe that there is a heaven and a hell, LDS doctrine says there’s more. I’ve always thought that I as a member of the LDS Church was different because I don’t smoke or drink or party like other American young men. However, this week made me pause because I realized that some doctrines which I believe are very different compared to what others may believe.
As a Latter-day Saint, I believe that after I die, I will go to a place called the spirit world which is divided into two parts—spirit heaven and spirit paradise. It is much like the heaven and hell in which most Christians believe. However, after I been to the spirit world, for how long I don’t know, I’ll be resurrected, like all mankind, by the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Resurrection means that my body will be reunited with my spirit and they will never part again. Then I’ll be judged by God and inherit a kingdom of glory. This is where LDS theology differs from doctrine of other churches.
Mormons believe that after we have been resurrected and judged, we will inherit one of three different degrees of glory. The first we call the Celestial Kingdom; the second is called the Terrestrial Kingdom; the third is called the Telestial Kingdom. Each differs from the other in how much glory exists within each. Figuratively, one can compare the glory of the kingdoms to that of the sun, moon, and stars, each being magnificent, but the sun is the most glorious just like the Celestial Kingdom is the most glorious of the three. Each person on the Earth will be in one of these kingdoms for eternity based on what we choose, do, and desire during our life on earth and time in the spirit world.
We believe that most of this knowledge was lost from the Earth but restored through the prophet Joseph Smith. Much of what we believe about the life hereafter can be found in section 76 of the Doctrine and Covenants, a book of scripture that we believe was received as revelation by the prophet Joseph Smith. But also, the Bible also has some references about such an after-life. One may be Matt 5:12 which says, “for great is your reward in heaven.” It seems from this little fragment that heaven is not the reward but the reward is what is in heaven. Christ doesn’t elaborate further but it does leave a question. Of course, great meaning placed on a small word, although Luke in chapter 6 verse 23 has similar language. In 1st Corinthians 15: 40-42 Paul writes about resurrected bodies that differ in glory much like the sun, moon, and stars. The Book of Mormon too has many scriptures about heaven and what comes after life. All we must do is search, ponder, and pray to find if it is true.
Today, I was reminded again about points of LDS theology that differs from what other churches believe. While most churches believe that there is a heaven and a hell, LDS doctrine says there’s more. I’ve always thought that I as a member of the LDS Church was different because I don’t smoke or drink or party like other American young men. However, this week made me pause because I realized that some doctrines which I believe are very different compared to what others may believe.
As a Latter-day Saint, I believe that after I die, I will go to a place called the spirit world which is divided into two parts—spirit heaven and spirit paradise. It is much like the heaven and hell in which most Christians believe. However, after I been to the spirit world, for how long I don’t know, I’ll be resurrected, like all mankind, by the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Resurrection means that my body will be reunited with my spirit and they will never part again. Then I’ll be judged by God and inherit a kingdom of glory. This is where LDS theology differs from doctrine of other churches.
Mormons believe that after we have been resurrected and judged, we will inherit one of three different degrees of glory. The first we call the Celestial Kingdom; the second is called the Terrestrial Kingdom; the third is called the Telestial Kingdom. Each differs from the other in how much glory exists within each. Figuratively, one can compare the glory of the kingdoms to that of the sun, moon, and stars, each being magnificent, but the sun is the most glorious just like the Celestial Kingdom is the most glorious of the three. Each person on the Earth will be in one of these kingdoms for eternity based on what we choose, do, and desire during our life on earth and time in the spirit world.
We believe that most of this knowledge was lost from the Earth but restored through the prophet Joseph Smith. Much of what we believe about the life hereafter can be found in section 76 of the Doctrine and Covenants, a book of scripture that we believe was received as revelation by the prophet Joseph Smith. But also, the Bible also has some references about such an after-life. One may be Matt 5:12 which says, “for great is your reward in heaven.” It seems from this little fragment that heaven is not the reward but the reward is what is in heaven. Christ doesn’t elaborate further but it does leave a question. Of course, great meaning placed on a small word, although Luke in chapter 6 verse 23 has similar language. In 1st Corinthians 15: 40-42 Paul writes about resurrected bodies that differ in glory much like the sun, moon, and stars. The Book of Mormon too has many scriptures about heaven and what comes after life. All we must do is search, ponder, and pray to find if it is true.
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Insights to the Creation
Section 59 of the Doctrine and Covenants is great. It talks about the Sabath Day, worshiping God, and the blessings there in.
In verse 16 it says, "as ye do this, the fulness of the Earth is yours, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the air, and that which climbeth upon the trees and walketh upon the earth." But what is "this?"
This is worshiping God on his Sabath Day, offering sacraments, confessing sin, fasting, and rejoicing with thanksgiving. God explained the blessing of keeping the Sabath Day holy.
I also like verse 20 which says, "And it pleaseth God that he hath given all thses things unto man; for unto this end were they made to be used, with judgement, not to excess, neither by extortion." We will be blessed with the "fulness of the Earth" if we keep the sabath day but we are not to use it unwisely. God is pleased when we use the Earth for our benefit but it is not to "excess" or by "extortion." What does that mean to you?
To me, it means that I should not be wasteful. I should be economical in the things I buy and use. I should recycle and love nature. I'm greatful for the Earth and its beauty. I'm thankful to God, who gave us life on this Earth that we might learn, grow, and return to him through His Son, Jesus Christ.
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