For members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, the idea that we are not considered Christians by so many outside our church is difficult to comprehend. Though our focus is, and always has been, Jesus Christ and His gospel, we somehow don’t fit the rules they have established. When they explain their reasons for not allowing us to be Christians, they often rely on caricature to make our beliefs seem ridiculous. With caricature you take something ordinary and distort its features to the extreme. That ordinary thing then becomes easier to laugh at.
Do we know what manner of spirit we are of?
If I understand Luke 9:51-56 correctly, the Samaritans refused hospitality to Jesus and His disciples as they passed through the town. The Samaritans were offended because Jesus was on His way to Jerusalem. In response, James and John asked the Lord if they should command fire to come down from heaven to consume the offenders. The merciful answer from Jesus gives me comfort. Though He expects me to “sin no more”, He would rather save me than send me to a fiery death. There will be a final judgement, but until then there is time to change. I’m thankful for those who have seen through my faults and loved me with the true love of Christ. As a disciple of Christ I should have the same mission—to love His children.
Nobody is redeemed or condemned by accident. Those who find their way to the Father’s kingdom will rightly belong there, and those who are rejected will also deserve their habitation. Christ will decide. I’m comfortable with that.
LUKE 9:51-56
51 And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he steadfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem,
52 And sent messengers before his face: and they went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him.
53 And they did not receive him, because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem.
54 And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did?
55 But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of.
56 For the Son of man is not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them. And they went to another village.