Does a sinful person receive inspiration?

[UtahDan]

Originally Posted by SeattleUte

This really nice God we have let something like Auschwitz happen, yet reaches his mighty arm out to affect the outcome of a football game.

This has me pondering Matthew 4. I think the beginning and end of the passage to follow are well known, but the middle part is so interesting.

43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.
44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?
47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?
48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.


That is, do good to all (not the just the righteous, for example). We are told to be perfect by showing love to those who do evil to us, because this is what the Father does.



To answer SU, I am not a worshiper at the C.S. Lewis alter, but I do think he makes a good point when he says that we often imagine a pain free world would prove that God loves us when the reverse may be true. It is hard to account for all the suffering in the world.

[Brian]

Originally Posted by SeattleUte

This really nice God we have let something like Auschwitz happen, yet reaches his mighty arm out to affect the outcome of a football game.

Yes, he did let it happen, and countless other awful events. I don't know how to explain it. I haven't heard anyone who can. And it's a compelling argument for athiesm or for hating god.
Maybe one day, in the hereafter, the children will come to the cruel guard and with smiles tell him they forgive him and love him. And a stone heart will soften and weep.

Originally Posted by SeattleUte

Perhaps. But he would also be pretty darn haphazard, arbitrary, and careless. I had an old Mormon friend tell me his wife wouldn't call and console her brother as he was seriously ill with a blood condition. She said it happened to him becuase he "didn't keep the commandments." She doesn't know God very well, does she.

Yes, as your friend's wife and Brother Collie can attest, worshiping an Old Testament God is very easy indeed.

[Brian]

Originally Posted by ute4ever

That is a fair question. For the "score keeping" idea, I think of the parable of the ten virgins; some had the requisite amount of oil to earn an invitation, while others did not. It infers that there is a slippery slope of measurement somewhere.

However, I see a much larger measure of mercy in the allegory of the olive tree. How many times did the master of the vineyard try to save the branches that were not bringing forth fruit? How many times did he say, "what more can I do to save this tree?" It seems to me that, suppose the master saw a decaying branch that suddenly had a good seedling trying to sprout, that although the overall branch was decaying, he would have tried to graft that seed, add to it, save it.

I hope that makes sense.

Yes. And my favorite parable, the prodigal son. The father, ever searching the horizon, hopeful for that familiar silhouette. And the rejoicing when he shows up.

[ute4ever]

Originally Posted by UtahDan

45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

This verse caught my eye a while back too. The JST alters it a bit.

[Indy Coug]

Originally Posted by Brian

Again,
Why do "we" continue to cling to the notion of a petty, easily irritated, score keeping asshole of a God?

Your question makes absolutely no sense.

[MikeWaters]

Originally Posted by Brian

Again,
Why do "we" continue to cling to the notion of a petty, easily irritated, score keeping asshole of a God?

Brian, I take it you have never read the Old Testament.

[Brian]

Originally Posted by Indy Coug

Your question makes absolutely no sense.

Originally Posted by Indy Coug

Is it easier for that person to sense the divine than someone who already has a lot of those items removed from their lives and whose mind is more or less continually mindful of what they should be doing and seeking guidance from the Lord; someone who has the Gift of the Holy Ghost and doesn't live their lives in a way that would offend the companionship of the Spirit? Do I seriously have to answer that question?

Sorry for not being more clear, I was commenting on your point of offending God.
I do not believe it is possible to "offend" God.

[Tex]

Originally Posted by Brian

Sorry for not being more clear, I was commenting on your point of offending God.
I do not believe it is possible to "offend" God.

D&C 59:21 And in nothing doth man offend God, or against none is his wrath kindled, save those who confess not his hand in all things, and obey not his commandments.

JS-H 1:25 I had seen a vision; I knew it, and I knew that God knew it, and I could not deny it, neither dared I do it; at least I knew that by so doing I would offend God, and come under condemnation.

D&C 121: 37 [W]hen we undertake to cover our sins, or to gratify our pride, our vain ambition, or to exercise control or dominion or compulsion upon the souls of the children of men, in any degree of unrighteousness, behold, the heavens withdraw themselves; the Spirit of the Lord is grieved; and when it is withdrawn, Amen to the priesthood or the authority of that man.

Neal Maxwell, 1988: "We offend God not only by our ingratitude, brothers and sisters, but also by not confessing His competent hand in bringing to pass His transcending purposes on the earth."

Gordon Hinckley, 1978: "[A]kin to these are those vicious men and women who exploit children for pornographic purposes. I wish only to say that no man who is a professed follower of Christ and no man who is a professed member of this church can engage in such practices without offending God and repudiating the teachings of his Son."

Boyd Packer, 1981: "To willfully destroy a marriage, either your own or that of another couple, is to offend our God."

[ute4ever]

I see that we have some scriptural literalists here. Every word of scripture should be taken at face value. The fall of man literally came about because a woman bit into a piece of fruit, how awesome is that?

So here is a new question directed towards the scriptorian literalists:
-A person must be a worthy, clean vessel in order to "walk with God"
-All of mankind is fallen, yea every one
-Unless a man keeps the commandments he will offend God
-It is impossible for man to keep all of the commandments

So how does anyone, anywhere, at anytime receive the spirit, since none are worthy?

[Gidget]

Originally Posted by ute4ever

I see that we have some scriptural literalists here. Every word of scripture should be taken at face value. The fall of man literally came about because a woman bit into a piece of fruit, how awesome is that?

So here is a new question directed towards the scriptorian literalists:
-A person must be a worthy, clean vessel in order to "walk with God"
-All of mankind is fallen, yea every one
-Unless a man keeps the commandments he will offend God
-It is impossible for man to keep all of the commandments

So how does anyone, anywhere, at anytime receive the spirit, since none are worthy?

Exactly, we are ALL human, you have to believe in being inspired, and be in a place spiritually (not just a worthy place), since we are all unworthy technically. Hasn't this been said like multiple times in this thread?