I enjoyed attending the 2015 Leadership Education
Conference of the California Dental Association. It has been a privilege to
help plan and execute these biennial events.
The Pre-Conference Workshop was an inspirational
presentation on leadership skills, effective meetings, relationships and
values, presented by a skilled trainer, Jill McCrory. I had an opportunity to
visit with her the following morning. I noticed in her biography that she was a
pastor and a trainer in spiritual leadership, and so our conversation turned to
religion.
She told me that in a recent seminar, the question
was posed “What is a Christian? How would you define it?” A response was
quickly given that a Christian is “one who believes in the deity of Christ.”
This elicited quite a discussion. Someone asked if
that doesn’t leave a lot of professedly Christian groups out of the picture,
naming the Mormons and others. I happily assured her that it most definitely
doesn’t leave out the Mormons.
At that point, our conversation was interrupted,
but it stuck with me throughout the conference, and during the two weeks
following. I jotted down some notes and gave it some thought.
In response to that question, I offer four
characteristics of a Christian. I will use Scripture, both ancient and modern,
to back up my thoughts. Of course, the Bible
has much to say about this, but so does Latter-day Saint (Mormon) scripture. I
believe that the reader will find this harmonious and thought-provoking. So I
will also quote from The Book of Mormon:
Another Testament of Jesus Christ, and from The Doctrine and Covenants of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints.
I do not offer this as a definitive description,
but as a starting point for discussion and for greater understanding. And I
hope that my friends who are not Latter-day Saints will see that we do indeed
believe in Christ as our Savior and Redeemer, the literal Son of God; an
exalted being who suffered and died for our sins, and rose again, that we may overcome
our sins, and at last, overcome death and rise to our exaltation.
1. First, a
Christian believes in the divinity of Jesus Christ.
The scriptures are filled with references to
Christ as the Son of God. Perhaps best known of these references is “For God so
loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth
in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” [i]
This states the matter quite clearly. But there also other witnesses. In
response to Christ’s question, Peter testified: “Thou art the Christ, the Son of
the living God.” [ii]
John has the final word, when he describes why he wrote his gospel: “But these are
written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and
that believing ye might have life through his name.” [iii]
It
is perhaps not so commonly known that the term “Christ” comes from the ancient Greek: Χριστός, Christós,
meaning "anointed,"
and is a translation of the Hebrew מָשִׁיחַ
(Māšîaḥ) and the Syriac ܡܫܝܚܐ (M'shiha),
the Messiah.[iv]
Thus, Jesus Christ literally means “Jesus, the anointed one,” an indication
both of his divinity, and of his divine appointment.
2. Second, a
Christian accepts Jesus Christ as his or her personal Savior.
The Book of Mormon prophet Alma (ca. 74 B.C.)
urged the people to “begin to believe in the Son of God, that he will come to
redeem his people, and that he shall suffer and die to atone for their sins;
and that he shall rise again from the dead, which shall bring to pass the
resurrection, that all men shall stand before him, to be judged at the last and
judgment day, according to their works.” [v]
Here is a succinct description of Christ’s mission as our Savior.
Earlier in his ministry, Alma testified “And he
shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind;
and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the
pains and the sicknesses of his people.
“And he will take upon him death, that he may
loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their
infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh,
that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to
their infirmities.
“Now the Spirit knoweth all things; nevertheless
the Son of God suffereth according to the flesh that he might take upon him the
sins of his people, that he might blot out their transgressions according to
the power of his deliverance; and now behold, this is the testimony which is in
me.” [vi]
This is a powerful witness that brings the
Atonement of Jesus Christ to a very personal level. Because he suffered, he
understands all our suffering and will strengthen us in our trials.
Finally, the Lord testified to the prophet Isaiah;
“I, even I, am the Lord; and beside me there is no saviour.” [vii]
3. Third, a
Christian is striving to come unto Christ. An important part of that effort
is in striving to become like Christ.
Throughout the Gospels, Jesus invited his
disciples and others to follow him.
Jesus stated “My sheep hear my voice, and I know
them, and they follow me:
“And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall
never perish, neither shall any man
pluck them out of my hand.” [viii]
A central message of The Book of Mormon is to invite all to come unto Christ. Early in
the book, the prophet Nephi states: “he inviteth them all to come unto him and
partake of his goodness; and he denieth none that come unto him, black and
white, bond and free, male and female; and he remembereth the heathen; and all
are alike unto God, both Jew and Gentile.” [ix]
Christ’s invitation is to all of us, regardless of our condition or situation.
The prophet Omni
extends this invitation: “And now, my beloved brethren, I would that ye should come
unto Christ, who is the Holy One of Israel, and partake of his salvation, and
the power of his redemption. Yea, come
unto him, and offer your whole souls as an offering unto him, and continue in
fasting and praying, and endure to the end; and as the Lord liveth ye will be
saved.” [x]
So we see that some effort is required on our part.
In the final chapter of The
Book of Mormon, the prophet Moroni invites us to “come unto Christ, and be
perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny
yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and
strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be
perfect in Christ; and if by the grace of God ye are perfect in Christ, ye can
in nowise deny the power of God.” [xi]
After we develop faith in Christ, there are some additional
steps to be taken, as described by Nephi: “Wherefore, do the things which I
have told you I have seen that your Lord and your Redeemer should do; for, for
this cause have they been shown unto me, that ye might know the gate by which
ye should enter. For the gate by which
ye should enter is repentance and baptism by water; and then cometh a remission
of your sins by fire and by the Holy Ghost.” [xii]
A Christian does not merely profess Christ with his lips,
but is willing to enter into a covenant relationship with Him as an evidence of
his commitment. The third and fourth Articles of Faith of the Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints state:
“We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind
may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.
“We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the
Gospel are: first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance; third,
Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on of hands for
the gift of the Holy Ghost.” [xiii]
We understand that faith is a principle of action, and that gaining of faith in
Jesus Christ necessitates repentance, baptism, and reception of the gift of the
Holy Ghost.
Let me return to the New Testament for a statement from the Savior that ties together
the coming and the becoming: “Then
said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; and ye
shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” [xiv]
And finally the ultimate commitment that is
required of us: “he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not
worthy of me.” [xv] In becoming like Christ,
we must give our all for him and for his cause.
4. Fourth, a Christian
is not afraid to testify, or bear witness of Christ, and through his or her
testimony, invites others to come unto
Christ.
Paul, who suffered greatly for his witness of
Christ, testified to the Romans: “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ:
for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth.” [xvi]
The Savior himself commissioned his apostles to “go ye
therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and
of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things
whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.” [xvii]
The father of Alma, who was also named Alma, spoke
of our obligations thus: “as ye are desirous to come into the fold of God, and
to be called his people, and are willing to bear one another's burdens, that
they may be light; yea, and are willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea,
and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as witnesses of
God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in, even
until death, that ye may be redeemed of God, and be numbered with those of the
first resurrection, that ye may have eternal life--now I say unto you, if this
be the desire of your hearts, what have you against being baptized in the name
of the Lord, as a witness before him?” [xviii]
Please note that he mentioned standing as witnesses of God at all times and in
all things, and in all places. This is a tall order.
The prophet Nephi testified: “For we labor
diligently to write, to persuade our children, and also our brethren, to
believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace
that we are saved, after all we can do.” [xix]
We cannot deemphasize the role of grace, but grace does not eliminate the need
for action on our part.
The Prophet Joseph Smith was frequently asked what
the Latter-day Saints believe. This is his answer: “The fundamental principles
of our religion is the testimony of the apostles and prophets concerning Jesus
Christ, ‘that he died, was buried, and rose again the third day, and ascended
up into heaven;’ and all other things are only appendages to these, which
pertain to our religion.” [xx]
I add the powerful witness of Joseph Smith, a
prophet of God. He said: “And now, after the many testimonies which have been
given of him, this is the testimony, last of all, which we give of him: That he
lives! For we saw him, even on the right hand of God; and we heard the voice
bearing record that he is the Only Begotten of the Father—that by him, and
through him, and of him, the worlds are and were created, and the inhabitants
thereof are begotten sons and daughters unto God.” [xxi]
In summary, I believe that a Christian:
1. believes in the divinity of Jesus Christ;
2. accepts Jesus Christ as his or her personal
Savior;
3. is striving to come unto Christ, and in so
doing is striving to become like Christ;
4. is not afraid to testify of Christ, and invites
others to come unto Christ.
I feel that most everything else can fit into
these categories. I welcome the thoughts of my fellow believers. I would ask
you, “What think ye of Christ?” [xxii]
In closing, I must also testify that I know that
Jesus Christ is the Son of the Living God. He is our Savior: he is your Savior
and he is my Savior. He suffered and died for our sins, was crucified and rose
again. Because He lives, we will also live again after death. Of this I am
absolutely certain.
[i]
John 3:16, KJV.
[ii] Matthew 16:16, KJV.
[iii] John 20:31, KJV.
[iv] Christ. Wikipedia entry.
Referenced at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christ.
[v] Alma 33:22. The Book of
Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ.
[vi] Alma 7:11 – 13.
[vii] Isaiah 43:11, KJV.
[viii] John 10:27 – 28, KJV.
[ix] 2 Nephi 26:33.
[x] Omni 1:26.
[xi] Moroni 10:32.
[xii] 2 Nephi 31:17.
[xiii] Articles of Faith 1:3 – 4.
[xiv] John 8:31 – 32, KJV.
[xv] Matthew 10:38, KJV.
[xvi] Romans 1:16, KJV.
[xvii] Matthew 28:19 – 20,
KJV.
[xviii] Mosiah 18:8-10.
[xix] 2 Nephi 25:23.
[xx] Published in Elders’
Journal 1 (July 1838): 44, available at www.josephsmithpapers.org; republished
with punctuation changes in Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith
(2007), 49.
[xxi] Doctrine and Covenants
76:22-24.
[xxii] Matthew 22:42.
