mfbukowski wrote:
I believe of course he DID not only exist, but was the savior of mankind. But no one can "prove" that.
What makes you think Christ as Savior cannot be proven? It certainly can be and ought to be by everyone who calls him Lord.
Nothing in all the world is more proven to the human soul than God the Father, his Son Jesus Christ and the power of the Holy Ghost when you engage them according to the commandments of the gospel and receive the promise of the Father which is the baptism of fire and of the Holy Ghost. It is proven to you so well that to turn utterly from it and deny it and consider it a thing of naught is the greatest sin man can commit.
The gospel is a pure science that is repeatable by anyone willing to do the discipline required to get the promised results. The purpose of the gospel is to provide a means for mankind to have joy. This is really ingenious of God to invent a means to make peace between everyone.
Since the science freaks dog pile their specialties I too get to heap up my stack of chips. It is impossible to forgive someone who offends you without a mediator. Not really. You might forget about it but nothing will heal without a Savior.
Think of it as keeping yourself spotless from the world. Religion is about visiting the widow and the orphan in their need, sure. But it is just as much for you when you learn of Christ and by faith continually make use of his infinite utility to keep you happy from moment to moment regardless what comes at you, you keep a life filled with joy. Everything about the world will contaminate you in some way. Just like daily life clutters up your house with its living. Things need to be put away, cleansed, organized and tossed out.
Every offense and drudgery that annoys us, even the need to eat, sleep and get around all take a toll on our being aggravated, upset and miserable if we are not wise. How can you clear it all off and keep a clean palette where you experience joy unceasingly? Christ said come unto me and I will give you rest unto your souls. He is not kidding. Without a Savior we are unable to keep a joyous soul with all that defiles us daily. Every mean thought, angry reaction, out right sin and depravity mars our existence and troubles us like a cluttered house.
Once you discovered the power of Christ to cleanse you, powerfully and fully and in ways you could not expect, coming unto him in meekness and desiring to be given power to overcome the world, that wisdom experienced forever after affords the utility of a constant application of that same reliance by faith to keep ourselves unspotted from the world. Meaning all the debris that flies up to annoy us daily can be managed perfectly by faith in Jesus Christ. We will forgive every offense and refrain from every ill passion for Christ's sake. He is worthy that we forgo vengeance, wrath, justice, and unkindness of every sort. Not because other people are worthy, heaven forbid. That is like cleaning up because the dirt deserves it. No we clean up to impress the company we keep, even if the company is only God and us alone. Christ suffered to warrant our devotion and is worthy of our centering our whole soul upon his merits to keep us clean and maintain a proper upkeep that automatically furnishes us with happiness and joy.
This is an odd sort of preaching that will be lost in theory until one might actually do it. It has been said that man is that he might have joy, and I say joy right here, right now. Nothing proves something better than seeing it work continually.
Mormons who know me cannot understand how I can be happy. I have forgiven them and do so continually. By the merits of Christ and my love for him I swallow up all offense and it has nothing in me. I am filled with joy. God invented this means to provide us an escape from the madness of cruelty. People are cruel. We can be cruel right back and defile our soul or continually forgo it all for Christ's sake and live a higher state of existence.
I judge a lot and people think I am the most despicable and vile person imaginable for it. I admit that I do judge and condemn broadly. At the same time I do not keep it or own it against anyone. This you do not know. Not for the people's sake do I rid myself of the clutter of an exploded world in complete spiritual disarray, but for Christ's sake, as he has taught me how to overcome the world by faith in him and relying upon his merits to manage it all perfectly.
I certainly did not come by this at first. I had no coach nor mentor. I have only been taught of God and he never gave up on me. Through the darkest times all I could keep was my love of God alive and that was enough to bring me to spiritual reason where I became skilled in the utility of faith in Christ.
'tis proof. Really good proof.
