Two young guys knocked my door this morning, kind of reminded me of my younger pioneer days.
Anyway i told them i have a book of mormon and they wanted me to pray to God to ask him whether it was his word. I asked them how God had answered them that it was, they said the holy spirit, but didn't elaborate.
I said to them i didn't think an organised religion is an exclusive way to God. That certainly the first century Christians weren't organised in such a way. They say that they was, that the early Christians met the first day of each week to break bread. This is news to me, they reckon it said so in Ephesians, but didn't show me the scripture.
I said to them that Jesus said, 'no one comes to the father except through me', now doesn't that mean that you don't need an organised religion to get to God, but only Jesus? They gave the usual response that i would have done all those years back. Then i said that Jesus said 'that where there are two or three of you gathered in my name, there i am also', now surely that tells me that i do not have to belong to a religion to have a relationship with God. They never really answered that.
I ended the conversation with, where i differ to you is that you feel you have a monopoly on God. They said, what? We do not believe that. I said but you believe you're way is the correct way and everyone else is wrong? They were silent, paused and said with a smile, well yes we do. So in that sense i say, do you not see how you feel you have a monopoly on God?
The conversation ended with niceties. I did actually enjoy the conversation, i think they must have thought i was just some nut or maybe a 'goat'. But i kind of got to thinking that this is not about trying to prove them wrong, but more about reasserting where i am at now. The fact that i can defend my stance and reaffirm that i do not need a religion to tell me how to think or to have a relationship with God.
They went their merry way still believing Joseph Smith is their prophet, but hey, they've made my day.
Paul