You are so
beautiful, Shauna! There couldn't be a better example of the faith and
God's love than you and your family. Please know that I have the utmost
respect for the Mormon faith and religion.
While Trey and Matt did take extreme liberty with the subject matter, the one thing they didn't do was judge. In fact, they do a very good job at showing love, acceptance and understanding. They just have a round-about way of dong it! The two Elders that it focuses on come to grips with their own struggles and in the end realize that their message has been the same all along, even if told "slightly different" by each. But what was important was that they reached people and shared God's love.
If you've never seen the South Park episode where the Mormon family moves to town, and the SP kids are kinda confused, the ending really says it all: Gary (the new kid) tells Stan, (I'm paraphrasing here, so forgive me) "it may seem weird to you guys, heck, sometimes it's weird to me too. But it works for us, and our family. And we're a pretty good family. So if you guys can't accept it, that's fine. All I ever wanted was to be your friend."
Shauna, I hope you see it - as a thespian, and as an open-minded LDS member. PLEASE be open minded! It is rude and crude in some places but an AMAZING Broadway show. And to you, my dear sweet friend I offer you the same - if you have any questions about Trey Parker and Matt Stone, please come to ME - I have met them personally, produced an event honoring them at the TV Academy, and have followed their work since it magically appeared in front of most of Hollywood in the form of a simple little video tape. I assure you they mean no harm!
I love you, Shauna! My best to your whole family! Happy New Year to you too!!!
So I guess I got my point across without too much trouble. I was grateful for his kindness and love. He wasn't critical of my sharing my feelings, and yet isn't really interested in my faith either. And that is OK.
The second response came in the form of a comment left here yesterday, almost as soon as I published my post. It is from someone I do not know, nor have ever met in passing. I think most online folks like this are generally called "trolls" when they haunt blogs and make odd comments--but in truth this guy may just be a dry-Mormon , you know...the kind who believes what we do but hasn't been baptized. Or maybe I am just reading more into his comment than I should, but I really don't disagree with what he says, I'm just confused by the reasoning behind his posting a comment like this on my blog:
Steve Finnell said...CALLING ON THE NAME OF THE LORD?
On the Day of Pentecost Peter quoted the prophet Joel (Acts 2:21'And it shall be that everyone who call on the name of the Lord will be saved.')
To call on the name of the Lord is to acknowledge the authority and power of the Lord, and follow in obedience by meeting the terms of pardon.
The apostle Peter did not tell those on the Day of Pentecost to say the "sinner's prayer." Saying the "sinner's prayer" is not calling on the name of the Lord.
Peter preached the death, burial, and bodily resurrection of Jesus. Peter declared the Jesus was Lord and Christ. (Acts 2: 22-26) They obviously believed Peter's preaching because they asked the question(Acts 2:37 ....."Brethren what shall we do?")
Peter did not tell them to say the "sinner's prayer." What was Peter's response to their question? (Acts 2:38 Peter said to them, "Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.)
THE NARRATIVE OF CALLING ON THE NAME OF THE LORD.
1. FAITH: Believe in the death, burial, and bodily resurrection of Jesus. Accept Jesus as Lord and Savior.
2. CONFESSION: Acknowledge Jesus as the Christ and the Son of God.
3. REPENTANCE: Make the commitment to turn from sin and turn toward God.
4. WATER BAPTISM: Be immersed into Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.
HOW DID THE ETHIOPIAN EUNUCH CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD? (Acts 8:25-40
1. Philip preached Jesus to him. (Acts 8:35)
2. He confessed Jesus as The Christ the Son of God. (Acts 8:37)
3. He was baptized in water. Immersed by Philip. (Acts 8:38-39)
The Ethiopian eunuch did not say the sinner's pray nor was he asked to do so by Philip.
Romans 10:13 for "WHOEVER WILL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED."
Romans 10:9-10 that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; 10 for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.
To call on the name of the Lord is to acknowledge His power and authority and confess Him as Lord and Christ . (Acts 2:26,Acts 8:37, Romans 10:9-10) To call on the Name of the Lord is to repent and be baptized. (Acts 2:38)
WE ARE TOLD TO CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD TO BE SAVED.
We are never told we are saved by "faith only." We are never told that saying the "sinner's prayer" is calling on the name of the Lord.
IF SAYING THE "SINNER'S PRAYER" IS NOT A REQUIREMENT FOR SALVATION? THEN WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS FOR SALVATION.
THE REQUIREMENTS!
1. Faith: John 3:16
2. Belief and baptism: Mark 16:16
3. Confession and belief: Romans 10:9-10
4. Born of water and Spirit: John 3:5
5. Grace and faith: Ephesians 2:8
6. Buried through baptism: Roman 6:4-5
7. Water baptism: 1 Peter 3:20-21
8. Baptism: Acts 22:16
9. Baptized into Christ: Galatians 3:27
10. Believe: Acts 16:30-31
11. Repentance and baptism: Acts 2:38
12. God's mercy, water baptism, and the Holy Spirit: Titus 3:5
13. Water baptism: Colossians 2:12-13
14. Repentance: Acts 3:19
IF YOU HAVE COMPLETED THESE REQUIREMENTS---THEN YOU HAVE CALLED ON THE NAME OF THE LORD!
YOU ARE INVITED TO FOLLOW MY BLOG. http://steve-finnell.blogspot.com
While Trey and Matt did take extreme liberty with the subject matter, the one thing they didn't do was judge. In fact, they do a very good job at showing love, acceptance and understanding. They just have a round-about way of dong it! The two Elders that it focuses on come to grips with their own struggles and in the end realize that their message has been the same all along, even if told "slightly different" by each. But what was important was that they reached people and shared God's love.
If you've never seen the South Park episode where the Mormon family moves to town, and the SP kids are kinda confused, the ending really says it all: Gary (the new kid) tells Stan, (I'm paraphrasing here, so forgive me) "it may seem weird to you guys, heck, sometimes it's weird to me too. But it works for us, and our family. And we're a pretty good family. So if you guys can't accept it, that's fine. All I ever wanted was to be your friend."
Shauna, I hope you see it - as a thespian, and as an open-minded LDS member. PLEASE be open minded! It is rude and crude in some places but an AMAZING Broadway show. And to you, my dear sweet friend I offer you the same - if you have any questions about Trey Parker and Matt Stone, please come to ME - I have met them personally, produced an event honoring them at the TV Academy, and have followed their work since it magically appeared in front of most of Hollywood in the form of a simple little video tape. I assure you they mean no harm!
I love you, Shauna! My best to your whole family! Happy New Year to you too!!!
So I guess I got my point across without too much trouble. I was grateful for his kindness and love. He wasn't critical of my sharing my feelings, and yet isn't really interested in my faith either. And that is OK.
The second response came in the form of a comment left here yesterday, almost as soon as I published my post. It is from someone I do not know, nor have ever met in passing. I think most online folks like this are generally called "trolls" when they haunt blogs and make odd comments--but in truth this guy may just be a dry-Mormon , you know...the kind who believes what we do but hasn't been baptized. Or maybe I am just reading more into his comment than I should, but I really don't disagree with what he says, I'm just confused by the reasoning behind his posting a comment like this on my blog:
Steve Finnell said...CALLING ON THE NAME OF THE LORD?
On the Day of Pentecost Peter quoted the prophet Joel (Acts 2:21'And it shall be that everyone who call on the name of the Lord will be saved.')
To call on the name of the Lord is to acknowledge the authority and power of the Lord, and follow in obedience by meeting the terms of pardon.
The apostle Peter did not tell those on the Day of Pentecost to say the "sinner's prayer." Saying the "sinner's prayer" is not calling on the name of the Lord.
Peter preached the death, burial, and bodily resurrection of Jesus. Peter declared the Jesus was Lord and Christ. (Acts 2: 22-26) They obviously believed Peter's preaching because they asked the question(Acts 2:37 ....."Brethren what shall we do?")
Peter did not tell them to say the "sinner's prayer." What was Peter's response to their question? (Acts 2:38 Peter said to them, "Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.)
THE NARRATIVE OF CALLING ON THE NAME OF THE LORD.
1. FAITH: Believe in the death, burial, and bodily resurrection of Jesus. Accept Jesus as Lord and Savior.
2. CONFESSION: Acknowledge Jesus as the Christ and the Son of God.
3. REPENTANCE: Make the commitment to turn from sin and turn toward God.
4. WATER BAPTISM: Be immersed into Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.
HOW DID THE ETHIOPIAN EUNUCH CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD? (Acts 8:25-40
1. Philip preached Jesus to him. (Acts 8:35)
2. He confessed Jesus as The Christ the Son of God. (Acts 8:37)
3. He was baptized in water. Immersed by Philip. (Acts 8:38-39)
The Ethiopian eunuch did not say the sinner's pray nor was he asked to do so by Philip.
Romans 10:13 for "WHOEVER WILL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED."
Romans 10:9-10 that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; 10 for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.
To call on the name of the Lord is to acknowledge His power and authority and confess Him as Lord and Christ . (Acts 2:26,Acts 8:37, Romans 10:9-10) To call on the Name of the Lord is to repent and be baptized. (Acts 2:38)
WE ARE TOLD TO CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD TO BE SAVED.
We are never told we are saved by "faith only." We are never told that saying the "sinner's prayer" is calling on the name of the Lord.
IF SAYING THE "SINNER'S PRAYER" IS NOT A REQUIREMENT FOR SALVATION? THEN WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS FOR SALVATION.
THE REQUIREMENTS!
1. Faith: John 3:16
2. Belief and baptism: Mark 16:16
3. Confession and belief: Romans 10:9-10
4. Born of water and Spirit: John 3:5
5. Grace and faith: Ephesians 2:8
6. Buried through baptism: Roman 6:4-5
7. Water baptism: 1 Peter 3:20-21
8. Baptism: Acts 22:16
9. Baptized into Christ: Galatians 3:27
10. Believe: Acts 16:30-31
11. Repentance and baptism: Acts 2:38
12. God's mercy, water baptism, and the Holy Spirit: Titus 3:5
13. Water baptism: Colossians 2:12-13
14. Repentance: Acts 3:19
IF YOU HAVE COMPLETED THESE REQUIREMENTS---THEN YOU HAVE CALLED ON THE NAME OF THE LORD!
YOU ARE INVITED TO FOLLOW MY BLOG. http://steve-finnell.blogspot.com
