Good Samaritan Mormons April 28, 2008
I've learned some things about God from personal experience, that I never would have
known any other way. One of the biggest of these lessons is that pleasing God is a
whole lot easier than pleasing church folks. Hey it only took me 20 years of
service but Hey I'm not totally clueless.
People change churches all the time, often several times, for this very reason. Because
pleasing God just takes faith, but pleasing church folks, oh my. Let me see- there's
often the pastor's list, the elder's list, the deacon's list. Now where did I leave these?
Must have lost them by and by.
While earnestly searching your recycling bin you might have had this great insight-
if Jesus Christ, Yeshua the Messiah of Israel, is head of His church, why do so
many of us church attending and church serving folk feel like we're primarily
serving church folks, rather than the living God of Israel? Hmmn.
Then I heard God's voice say "Forget the lists. Get out while you still can." So after
this happened a couple-three times, I took my bible out on the front porch until
God gave me a word on a better place to worship him. So there I was having church
one day, minding my own business, studying the Hebrew Scriptures, and sure enough
two of the sweetest Mormon missionaries, not paid at all but still joyful, inched their
way down the street crowded with dog worshippers, I mean dog walkers, and
looked for a strategic place to park. They pulled up in a very sensible Toyota Corolla,
parked real nice, grabbed their handy books of Mormon, and strode directly to
a certain neighbor's door across the street.
They knocked and looked about, but their appointee seemed to have left them in the
lurch. So they dallied, and considered between themselves, strategically looked at me
from across the street, then they got an inspiration. From where I can't reckon! So
they crossed the street, boldly introduced themselves, and invited me into their world.
I first thought to myself "hey this is my church and you git" but something Godly was
going on so I rolled with it.
They don't use their first names. That would be too familiar. But their official rectangular
black pendants with white block letters announced that Miss _______ and Miss _______
(not their real names) were official missionaries for the Church of Latter Day Saints,
aka "Mormons."
Mormon was the guy who supposedly wrote the book of the same name, officially and
gently but boldly described as [just] "Another Testamant of Jesus Christ" Wow, what a
claim. Joseph Smith found this mere "other testamant" on Cumorah Hill near Palmyra
New York in September of 1823, as led by the Angel Moroni. This book was etched in
an unknown language on gold plates (since dissapeared) which Smith then translated on
paper into English to make the "Book of Mormon." Joseph Smith, as a very young man,
so the story goes, didn't know what church to go back to, because they all seemed
jealous, vain and contentious, so simultaneously people pleasing and people displeasing,
if you get what I'm saying.
So, as the story goes, he sat on his front porch, or somewhere like that, refusing
to go to church until God told him not to join any, and later, to found his own,
based on the aforesaid, and heretofore buried and updated revelation.
The Mormons have quite a fantastic story. But, I'll let them cross your street to tell
you the rest. I don't believe any of it. It's as American as Apple Pie, but quite
foreign to God's final Israel (which will include faithful Jews and Gentiles). But months
went by and all these visits and reading their stuff I sort of saw these zealous
representatives with no first names as missions work, my mission to the Mormons.
I remember one night sitting at the dining room table and asking God to come
down and baptize them in the Holy Ghost.
I know that would help. Only now do I ask Could a Mormon get baptized in the Holy
Ghost? Hey that's an interesting question. I had no idea, but I was searching for an
affirmative answer as I prayed, out of gratitude for their concern. Oh they were
having some church too, sort of a battle of missionary wills, and a non fellowship
fellowship developed.
It's been at least two years since they gave up on me, but I saw two more out and
about and was reminded God hasn't given up on them. And neither have I, grateful
as I am. (in fact I have trouble that way because from what I gather, God never has
given up on me)
So if you are reading this as a Christian, I ask you to pray that my brief mission to
the Mormons might one day bear fruit for the kingdom. If you are a Mormon, well
ask again for Jesus' baptism for yourself, and I'm trusting He'll teach you all things.
And thanks for your encouragement.
I learned a great lesson from my Mormon friends and God- that there are certain
times in our lives when it doesn't matter whether the person giving us a drink of water,
wiping our brow, or listening to our God quest is like us or not (Proverbs says a friend
close by is better than a brother far way), or is dead set in making us one of their ilk.
When it doesn't matter what we call oursleves. Times when listening and caring are
more important than running back to one's particular Temple to have another
meeting or light another candle.
It's the oddest thing- but these Mormon Missionaries were about the closest thing
to Jesus that I had experienced in a long time, after several churches, and
that's my guess why they are so successful.
I also learned that many times doctrine and where you worship misses the point,
and the grace. These Mormons and I didn't miss the grace, and we had church for
three months on my front porch. We even had a church supper, in the driveway,
owing to proprietary and all!
I'd like to think they almost got baptized in the Holy Spirit, and one day will
like that foreigner Cornelius, having experienced the living God of Israel, who shows
up wherever he chooses.
Yes, dear brothers and sisters, there are the times in our lives when the church
outsider, the pagan, the friend with the whacked out doctrine, has done way better
and been way more Godly than my brother or sister church insider. In fact I recall
that perhaps brother Jesus has a testimony Himself about this matter.
Oh Cyrus of today come rebuild the temple God's insiders destroy.
Oh Rahab today help Joshua and Caleb take the promised land while the other
ten tribes sit on their hands.
Oh Ruth remind us how much we have received from the God of Israel.
Oh Good Samaritan come today for all those left for dead on the side of the road.
Oh God would that we learn the wisdom to welcome strangers onto our front porch
and our church.
Peace Out Brothers and Sisters. The voice from Zion is calling us to a higher place
of praise, to a sanctuary that really does welcome all.
And I say to my Mormon Samaritans, thanks for the visits, I hope to fellowship with
you all one day.