So, I've been out of Alaska for awhile now and I finally got back in Charleston Monday night. I spent all of last week road tripping across Canada and America with 16 of some of the most awesome people I was privileged to meet this summer. We had a lot of ups and downs on the road trip which consisted of sleeping on the side of the road a lot, multiple days with no showers, little sleep, losing one car, and buying another. Definitely one of those trips you only do once but when you look back on it you're glad you took part in it.
I've been home for a few days now and it's really easy to settle into complacency when you're not surrounded by a Jesus community 24/7. I'm feeling those tugs even now. But yesterday was a day where God reminded me that every single day I'm on mission with Christ even when I don't realize it. Yesterday was Wolf Tee Wednesday (you wear a wolf tee on this particular day) and because I was wearing my shirt a man I met at the gas station asked me about it which led into us talking about our mutual time spent in Alaska and the different reasons we were there. He was stationed there for a time with the Navy in the past and I got to share with him how I was there on mission with a bunch of other college students for the summer. And then if that wasn't enough, I later ran three Mormon women (Latter Day Saints) who were trying to share Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon with me. We had a wonderful conversation about religion and faith and spirituality, but there was one thing that kept nagging me while we spoke. They kept saying that they worship Jesus and believe in Jesus Christ, however all they would quote and talk about is the Book of Mormon and Joseph Smith. Never directly about Jesus. This bothered me a great deal and when I asked them why these two things were so important and why I needed them in addition to Jesus, their only response was that it testifies more to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
But here's the problem with that. Why on earth would we need any more than the Bible to believe in Jesus Christ? They said that they accept the Bible as truth and that the Book of Mormon is also spiritual truth. But they also made it clear that the bible alone isn't enough to accept as truth and that Joseph Smith is the greatest prophet who is necessary to trust in regards to my salvation and that Jesus isn't enough. And I just can't jump on board with that. Jesus said in the Gospel of John in chapter 14, verse 6 "I am the way, the truth, and the life. Nobody comes through the Father except through me." Nowhere in there is Mr. Smith mentioned. And why is the Bible not enough? 2 Timothy 3:16-17 says "All scripture is useful for teaching, correcting, rebuking, and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be equipped for every good work." According to this verse, scripture is ALL I NEED. So why are they preaching about the Book of Mormon instead of the Bible??? It just doesn't make sense to me.
And I've been thinking about it today and I had this grand conclusion. These three women believed that they had the source of spiritual truth, Joseph Smith. I also believe (and know) that I have the source of spiritual truth which is Jesus. They came into the conversation hoping to convert me and believing that they weren't going to be converted themselves. I came into the conversation with hopes of them questioning the validity of their faith and also knowing that I would not be converted. So we have this great conundrum between us. We have the same motives and drive, just both believe in a different Gospel. One of us believes in the Gospel of Jesus and the other in the Gospel of Joseph Smith (which really isn't a Gospel at all). And I realized that the only thing/person differentiating me from them was Jesus himself. And while I admired their dedication to their doctrine and knowledge of their books from such a young age, I could not help but feel some sort of sorrow for them. They were good women I could tell, but we aren't judged based on how good or bad we are. We are judged based on whether or not we accept and are with Jesus, nothing else. And it seemed to me that they just didn't get that.
But a midst all of this, I realized that I did not expect to have either of these two conversations. They just happened. Why? Because I am an ambassador of Christ and I am ALWAYS on mission, even when it's not overtly clear and looking me directly in the face. So even when I'm home and not on a summer project with Cru, I'm still on mission. There's always opportunities to share Christ and complacency is not a place I want to be in.
And if there were any room left for doubt in me (or you), we always remember the last words Jesus said. "Go now, therefore, and make disciples of all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." -Matthew 28:18-20
turnnoffyourmind
pixelskylines
jacobvanloon
blakekathryn
janainaart
origamiaround
stormborns
