Mat 4:4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
Mat 4:6 And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in [their] hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.
Mat 4:7 Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.
Mat 4:10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
Here we see the Savior and our common enemy Satan in dialogue using the phrase "it is written" to reference scripture. This phrase is found all throughout the old testament and is used in much the same way.
What has always fascinated me is that according to Satan's own interpretation he is able to use scripture to suit his own needs and support is own agenda. Likewise, many men and women will use the word of God to further their own evil designs.
Scripture can mean whatever we claim or interpret it to mean. Going back to the early Church and the Patristic Fathers we see that without Prophets, Apostles, and especially personal revelation things quickly become clouded and susceptible to the philosophies of men. Near the end of the Jewish second temple period we see how quickly Hellenization took place as a result of Greek philosophies being off as divine.
Anyway that leads me to then ask the question; how is it that we correctly interpret scripture and come to a knowledge of the truth? I would answer that even with Prophets and Apostles we must come to know the truth ourselves through personal and continuous communion with God by and through the Holy Ghost.
And now the dilemma, How do I hear, recognize, and interpret the communications of the Spirit? To illustrate I quote from Gerald Lunds book "Hearing the voice of the Lord":
"I was so Sure! A young Bishop...received a call in the middle of the night to go to the hospital. A woman in the ward had colapsed into unconsciousness as she was preparing for bed. Now she lay in a coma. The desperate husband asked the bishop to come and help administer to her. When the bishop arrived, the man was so distraught he asked the bishop to give the blessing. "It was a deeply emotional moment", my friend said...As I began the blessing, suddenly I had this overwhelming feeling of peace and light come over me. I stopped for a moment and looked into my heart. Was this really from the Lord or just me, I wondered. I had never experienced anything so powerful before, and I decided the feeling was truly from the Lord."
Relived to have such clear direction, he proceeded with the blessing. "I promised her that she would be healed, that she would be raised from the bed of her afflictions, that she would have the privilege of raising her children to adulthood in this life...It was a wonderful experience. I wept for joy. The husband did as well...But I had been home for only a few hours when the husband called to tell me that his wife had passed away without regaining consciousness."
The questions about personal revelation roll on and on.
What does it feel like when the Lord is speaking to me?
What is a stupor of thought, and what does it feel like? Can I really just forget something I have been strugglingg over for months?
What is the burning in the bosom? What does it feel like when it comes?
And how do I interpret those feelings when they are wonderful in expression but so ambiguous like in the case of the bishop above?
Interested in any responses,
Lamanite
8 comments:
We do the best we can. Is that the right answer? I'm sure it's not what you're looking for.
This is a difficult thing to interpret because it's so personal and in many cases private. I know that I've had experiences where I've had my own personal interest get in the way of listening to the will of the Lord. I don't have the smoking gun for separating the two. I know this, the answer lies somewhere within our obedience to the fundamental principles of the gospel. I once read "quiet reverence and obedience are the keys to personal revelation." Putting that consistently into action is the real trick.
I know this may be too simplistic for what you are looking for, but I believe it to be true. By the way I hope that young Bishop is OK after an experience like that.
"We do the best we can..."
I believe that is the right answer to pretty much any question asked!
If we are asking those questions listed at the end of my post then we are probably doing just fine. If we are asking the Lord to tutor us in the language of revelation, then I'm sure we are doing just fine. However, in not asking, and in not analyzing we are not doing. And complacency erodes the Spirit. Not doing is not becoming. And the Adversary loves that.
Big UP
Lamanite
Go back and read the 2nd paragraph of my response.
"I know this, the answer lies somewhere within our obedience to the fundamental principles of the gospel. I once read "quiet reverence and obedience are the keys to personal revelation." Putting that consistently into action is the real trick."
There is no room for complacency there. It never says "fine" or "don't ask" or to "not analyze." It says, stay grounded in that which never varies and the rest will work itself out. Do your best! You can beat yourself up by trying to unravel the mysteries of God, in fact you won't have to, eventually the adversary will. I've witnessed this happen to a dear friend who thought his way right out of living the gospel.
It is good to question and analyze. Without doing so, you will NEVER have a firm testimony. But don't lose sight, don't strain at gnats.
That is the beauty of the gospel, it's so simple. Simple never means EASE with respect to the gospel. In fact it makes things more difficult. You go to church don't you? Tell me that it doesn't get redundant at times. I believe it is redundant and simple for a purpose.
Die for the Gospel and become a martyr. Sounds grandiose, but wouldn't you do it if asked? One act of obedience and boom you're done. Great right? Aint gonna happen.
Now, try to persevere to the end in loving the Lord thy god (whom we never see) with all thy heart might mind and soul and CONSISTENTLY PROVE IT by quiet, selfless daily charitable service to our neighbor with whom we are in daily contact. For how can we say "we love thee Lord" unless we first love those we actually live among. The latter is so simple, but so difficult to accomplish 100% of the time.
As an academian your response was perfect. That's great if that's what you're trying to become.
However, in my opinion the adversary would love to have us stray from that which is fundamental and sound. Our pride in maintaining a hobby such as searching out tangential information, rather than focusing on faith, obedience, love and charity is that which disrupts the ability to discern that which is real from the spirit from that which is our own thinking.
What does "Big Up" mean?
It's difficult to extrapolate a "tone" or "attitude" from written text, but I'd like to treat your comment as "challenging" and not "adversarial" and turn it into a post.
Several items brought up in your response have been typical of former GA's and Apostles like Joseph Fielding Smith and Boyd K. Packer. Some I agree with and some I think are motivated by fear. Conversely, there have been others among the Brethren who I feel have embraced the idea the we should seek learning by "study" and also by "faith".
I should be done by tomorrow.
I'm glad you chose "challenging." If I'm coming across adversarial then I'm sorry. Nobody likes to be misunderstood.
I agree with your searching fancy. I enjoy reading and analyzing. I enjoy talking with you because of your obvious talent in seeking the truth. My good freinds have told me about your booming charisma in church and your ability to share your ideas in a very eloquent and clear way. This is why they referred me to your site. They thought it would be of interest to me. Positively it has. I grow so tired of other subjects and negativity in other chat rooms.
I see where you're going and I'm happy to follow. Fear of getting lost along the way won't bother me because I'm situated firmly on the Rock of my salvation. However, that type of loose confidence in myself is what I should fear in me and you. Pride or overconfidence in not thinking you can falter is the first step in falling.
Indeed, pride cometh before the fall!
You never told me whether or not the bishop was ok.
The story was related in Gerald Lunds book, and he never gave any details as to how the bishop faired...
Big UP
Lamanite
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