Catholic-RCIA,
I think the tone of those writings is similar to the tone of the Old Testament writings where Jehovah told the house of Israel, in no uncertain terms and sometimes in very descriptive language that could be regarded as offensive, that they were no longer worshiping the true God of Israel and that is why they were being scattered.
The tone can be regarded as offensive if one is not familiar with those Old Testament “calls to repentance”, but if one is familiar with those Old Testament passages, then they will be able to understand the context of the challenges to the “conventional wisdom” of the day and time in which those words were being used.
Bear in mind that “salvation” in the context used by BRM in the last quote, means “exaltation” since that is really what Christ wants for all of humanity, but yet they are allowed to choose what it is they deep-down want.
As far as the “influence of the devil”, then it seems to me that the “original sin” concept and the “pride” concept that are attributed to Adam and Eve, are definitely influenced by Satan since those concepts mean that a person will reject seeking to “be ye therefore perfect” or “become like Christ (which means literally to do that)”.
So there’s my take on what you asked. It really is a difference in approach to what Christ and John taught about what it means to follow Him and become like Him, through being sanctified as a person repents of all their sins and thus becomes more like Him by how they act day by day.
Ok
Lets take the following Parker. Give me a parallel from the Old Testament
Then explain it. Make the comparison as clear as you possibly can.
In Christ. But most of all what were these false teachers teaching?
Rich
Both Catholics and Protestants are nothing less than the “whore of Babylon” whom the Lord denounces… as having corrupted all the earth by their fornications and wickedness. And any person who shall be so wicked as to receive a holy ordinance of the gospel from the ministers of any of these apostate churches will be sent down to hell with them, unless they repent of the unholy and impious act. If any penitent believer desires to obtain forgiveness of sins through baptism, let him beware of having any thing to do with the churches of apostate Christendom, lest he perish in the awful plagues and judgments, denounced against them.
The only persons among all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people who have authority from Jesus Christ to administer any gospel ordinance are those called and authorized among the Latter-day Saints. Before the restoration of the church of Christ to the earth in the year 1830, there have been no people on the earth for many generations possessing authority from God to minister gospel ordinances. We again repeat. Beware of the hypocritical false teachers and imposters of Babylon!
- Apostle Orson Pratt The Seer, Vol.2, No.4, p.255
St. Polycarp was one of the immediate disciples of the Apostles, in particular St. John the Evangelist. He embraced Christianity very young and was named bishop of Smyrna. He was greatly respected by the faithful, wrote many letters and formed many holy disciples. His epistle to the Philippians - the only one to be preserved - demonstrates his apostolic spirit, his profound humility and meekness, and his great charity.
St. Polycarp fought against heresy. He also taught that Christians must walk in truth, do God’s will, keep all of His commandments, and love whatever He loved. Christians must refrain from all fraud, avarice, detraction, and rash judgment. They must repay evil with forgiveness and mercy. He taught that one must pray all the time, so as not to be led into temptation, fast, persevere and be joyful.
During his episcopate, a violent persecution broke out in Smyrna against the Christians. During this time, though fearless, the bishop retreated to a neighboring village, spending most of his time in prayer.
A boy betrayed the bishop, and horsemen came by night to arrest him. He met his captors at the door, ordered them a supper, and prayed for two hours before he went with them.
He was led directly to the proconsul, who ordered him to blaspheme Christ. St. Polycarp refused and he was to be burned alive.
The executioners would have nailed him to the stake, but he convinced them that it wasn’t necessary. So they simple tied his hands behind his back. At the end of his prayer, the executioners set the fire, but the large flames formed into an arch, gently encircling but not burning his body. Exasperated, officials ordered a spearman to pierce him. Such a quantity of blood flowed from his left side that it put out the fire. The Christians wanted St. Polycarp’s body but the centurion burnt it to ashes.
