DAVEH: Is this a commonly accepted theory of Protestantism? LDS folks believe such thinking is flawed, John. IOW.....I believe Jesus founded the RIGHT CHURCH and a measured amount of legalism is important and necessary within that True Church.
What our Mormon friends do not understand and what you will not admit to, apparently, is that there was no time when the RIGHT CHURCH EXISTED except in the Mind of God and via the blood of Christ. The First Church was steeped in legalism.
Theory? Well, I wouldn't call the observation above (mine) a theory. To me, it is simply a historical fact. And, yes, I would say that most biblical historians would agree ---- if we are talking about the notion that the first church was steeped in legalism. And I would go even further than this ---- the First Church, beginning on the Day of Pentecost as recorded in Acts 2, looked nothing like any of the churches of today, near as I can see. I mean, that is something you and I should be able to agree on. It is a matter of record. When one reads through the book of Acts, a recorded history of that First Church (from it's beginnings to sometime after 62 or 63 AD), and the supporting documents of the first church (the Corinthian letters, Galatians, Ephesians, Colossians, Phillippians, Romans, the letters of Peter, the Thessalonian letters, perhaps James ), all written during the history of the Acts account, one finds a profoundly simply Doctrine and a thoroughly gracious salvation "plan."
You were born into Mormonism, I believe. I was born into the Restoration Movement Theology. Each of the two traditions have a number of similarities. They are equally legalistic in tone while giving Christ a place in its teachings. They, the two church movements, are strictly supervised. Any serious departure suffers excommunication. Independent thinking and personally held beliefs are never publicly denied, per se ----------- but, if this thinking leads to a departure from the party line, BAM, you have problems. And I emphasize that this is not a Mormon issue -- rather it has it's place in most of the Christian churches and in the Mormon Church as well (is the Mormon Church a "Christian" church, by the way.? -- and I am asking David H bec. I really do not know his view on that).
Anyway -- I do not want to get started if you are not interested in this thread. I am. One of the assignments I have given to myself, is an integrated study of the Acts of the Apostles and the teachings of its period literature (the books or letters listed above) I would suggest the same assignment to you. What you will have, at the end of that study, is a 30 year old First Church complete with the teachings of record. I think each of us would find a circumstance that is very difference from the traditions of the day. And that record would be the Mind of God in terms of His initial intentions and desires. No one that I know of, including your fellowship, really teaches a departure from the "truth" within the first 30 years of the Assemblies' beginnings. So, it seems logical that we should go there for the Revelation of Church Politic and Teaching. It makes sense to me.
The assumptions by the Mormon church that the First Church was somehow the Right Church, that the purity of religion was lost along the way, is simply not an illustrated fact in my feeble little mind and as I read the historical document (Acts) along with the recorded didache of that same church.
By the way, if you came to agree, I would not suggest that you leave the Mormon church. There is be no advantage in that -- from a "ministry of reconciliation" point of view unless you are forced out. I was. Max Lucado is a fellow Church of Christ pastor in Texas. How he remains in that fellowship is beyond me -- but he does.
You have your assignment, brother Dave, from the Bishop of Caleefornia. If you want to pursue aspects of this thread -- we can do that.
JD
