----- Original Message -----
Sent: Thursday, April 01, 2004 5:59
AM
Subject: [TruthTalk] FELLOWSHIP (was
Dialogue with Mormons)
He ate with them but ATST was separate from them,
fellowship
and relationship involve trust and
commitment..
"Jesus did not commit himself unto them,
because he knew all
men and needed not that any should testify of man;
for he knew
what was in man" (John 2:24) and
"For such an high priest became us, who is holy,
harmless,
undefiled, separate from sinners, and made
higher than
the heavens (Hebrews 7:26)
Jesus fellowshipped with those who had first made a
total
(left all) commitment to him. jt.
and this is not the
standard Jesus and the First Century Church left to us.
Do you mean
that Jesus did not really dine with tax collectors and harlots?
John wrote:
I don't want to speak for Blaine, but I see nothing in
Mormonism that prevents either of us to fellowship with non-LDS Christians.
Perhaps I don't understand fellowship quite the same way you do
though. Fellowship. I do think that fellowship is
bigger than denominational boundaries but limited by a true sense of
mutuality and purpose. A lexical view of koinonia reveals a
number of nuances, to wit (old guys say that a lot, "to wit"):
fellowship, association, community, communion, joint participation,
intercourse. Note the progression. It was part of the
routine of the first church (Acts 2:42).
jt: Scripture defines "fellowship" as "walking in the
light as HE is in the light" This is the only way we can have true
fellowship (light also meaning truth) and this is when the blood
of Jesus Christ cleanses us. When we compromise with the mixture
we are fellowshipping with devils and this is not the standard Jesus
and the First Century Church left to us.
john: My experience with the Mormon church has been one that is the
witness to a degree of exclusion which goes beyond sectarian or
denominational bias. It seems to me that this exclusiveness is the
surrounding halo of a world religion. If that is the case,
we have no fellowship or brotherhood. I don't like saying that.
I have only my instincts about this issue. If Blaine and I are
brothers (or Dave and I), to what eventuality can we point as
the defining factor which presents us with the same Parent? Or is there more
to brotherhood than divine genetics?
jt: The
fatherhood of God and brotherhood of man are taught by Freemasonry and the
mystic cults, it's part of the OLD religion. God created all men but today
Jesus defines the brethren. He said "who is my mother and who are my
brethren? and he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said,
Behold my mother and my brethren! For whosoever shall do the will of my
Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother"
(Matthew 12:48). This is an impossible feat if we are holding on to
'doctrines of devils'
judyt