Do you agree with the heretical view of Crossless extremists that the lost can be saved no matter what misconception he/she holds about Jesus?
There are lots of angles in this conversation that I don't yet know how to answer. But I just want to inquire, where is the application of John 9 in our world in this age?
Where are these people? Where are the "blind" men?
At My LDS Stuff we are talking in a couple of threads upon the differences in beliefs between me and a Lutheran and the LDS. The Lutheran ("Echo") said to the group:
I think what it all boils down to in the end is that we each need to learn who exactly is this Jesus Christ and what exactly has he done. I think all correct doctrine will naturally follow if only we can get those two things correct. And vice versa, all false doctrine is caused by our not getting something right in those 2 things.
Faith(trust) in Jesus is only Rock Solid when we understand these two things right. When we understand them wrong, even a little bit, faith is in jepardy because we are not trusting (putting faith in) the Jesus of scriptures. Instead we have put all or part of our faith (trust) in something that isn't true about Jesus. And in doing that, it has the potential to be lethal to faith. In fact it isn't faith at all. John 3:18 "Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son."
Perhaps the applied "blind men" in our world are here? Perhaps some of them are LDS. Here is what I wrote:
I agree with the overall point of what you are saying. My thought though, is this:
It does not need to be exact. That's legalism, that's being like a Pharisee.
I agree that the only way the LDS will be dissatisfied with their traditions and heritage and push toward finding eternal life is if they hear the message about what Jesus did and who He was, and then believe in it and receive the Holy Spirit which is the hub for hearing scripture and growing in a way that is pleasing in God's sight.
The problem with this is that they have already heard about Jesus and what He did. That being in their own services. And yet still some of them have not received the Holy Spirit. Getting exact upon the scriptures could have helped them toward receiving the Spirit. Unfortunately, because we ended up bible bashing them with those extra, biblical emphases, we've actually hardened them against knowing Him as we desire, not softened them. So what is there left to do in this kind of situation, which I bet is where most evangelicals have reached with nearly any LDS person?
We've just got to point them to faith. You know, trust, assurance, conviction, and reliance on God. That is what is said to save, anyway. Jesus did not command an exact doctrine of Himself as prerequisite. Look at John 9.
Do you see the beauty in Jesus' method? True experience of God causes the correct (more or less) doctrine. At least it sure can work that way; experiencing the presence of God causes fidelity to truth.
The way Jesus quietly sets his hand upon the head of that man after they have their intercourse... that's the way I see so many LDS people. "But wisdom is proved right by what becomes of it."
Have you heard, Echo, the testimony of some of the LDS people here, of their prayers and assurance of God's love?
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