Peter identified members of the Church as “a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people.” (1 Pet. 2:9). President Hinckley referred to this frequently as president. I've become friends with a few Evangelical Christians over the past few years since I left Utah. They seem to fit this description a little better than we do as a people. Is that bad or good? They sometimes can be annoying and awkward with their...I'm not sure how to describe it other than guileless religious social norms.
This has been on my mind a lot lately. I listen to audio books on my way too and from work. I usually have a list of ones I would like to listen to, but I finished that list and randomly picked one at the library on my last visit. I don't remember the title right now, but it is definitely written for an openly Christian audience. It isn't as in your face as some of the evangelicals that I have met, but it is more so than I am in my life.
For example, I do not frequently say to my wife that I feel so blessed for all that I have and grab her hands to offer a prayer of gratitude. I do the first half, but not usually the second. I feel a little guilty about that on one hand when I think of that. On the other, it seems a little weird....is that because I'm not as much "in the world, but not of the world" as I should be? In my/our effort to be main stream have I been tainted just enough to see that as weird and awkward?
Maybe its just a different style of worshiping. Mormons are definitely more on the reverent side of the spectrum when compared to other Christian religions. In the end, it is interesting that it made me pause and think enough to motivate a post after 2 months of nothing else quite being strong enough!
This has been on my mind a lot lately. I listen to audio books on my way too and from work. I usually have a list of ones I would like to listen to, but I finished that list and randomly picked one at the library on my last visit. I don't remember the title right now, but it is definitely written for an openly Christian audience. It isn't as in your face as some of the evangelicals that I have met, but it is more so than I am in my life.
For example, I do not frequently say to my wife that I feel so blessed for all that I have and grab her hands to offer a prayer of gratitude. I do the first half, but not usually the second. I feel a little guilty about that on one hand when I think of that. On the other, it seems a little weird....is that because I'm not as much "in the world, but not of the world" as I should be? In my/our effort to be main stream have I been tainted just enough to see that as weird and awkward?
Maybe its just a different style of worshiping. Mormons are definitely more on the reverent side of the spectrum when compared to other Christian religions. In the end, it is interesting that it made me pause and think enough to motivate a post after 2 months of nothing else quite being strong enough!
1 comment:
Don't worry, you'll always be weird and peculiar to me, bro.
Seriously though, I agree with you. I noticed a lot of my friends in Colorado and Maryland who were of other Christian faiths didn't refer to themselves as lutheran, or baptist, or episcopelian. They always referred to themselves as Christians, first and foremost. I often wonder if we should be more eager to refer to ourselves as Christians first instead of Mormons. Not out of shame of my religion, but to emphasize the Christ part of our religion. Just a thought.
Post a Comment