grape_nephi
13th November 2006, 04:02 PM
here is another installment on my writings about the articles of faith.
7.We believe in the gift of tongues, prophecy, revelation, visions, healing, interpretation of tongues, and so forth.
Followers of Jesus in the early church displayed gifts of the spirit. The primary example of this was at Pentacost.
Acts:2:1: And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
Acts:2:2: And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
Acts:2:3: And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
Acts:2:4: And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
Acts:2:5: And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.
Acts:2:6: Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.
Acts:2:7: And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans?
Acts:2:8: And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?
Acts:2:9: Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia,
Acts:2:10: Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes,
Acts:2:11: Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.
Acts:2:12: And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this?
Acts:2:13: Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine.
Acts:2:14: But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:
Acts:2:15: For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day.
Acts:2:16: But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;
Acts:2:17: And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:
Acts:2:18: And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:
The display of the spirit is called charismatic Christianity. The following is a definition of Charismatic Christianity from www.wordiq.com:
“Charismatic is an umbrella term used to describe those Christians who believe that the manifestations of the Holy Spirit seen in the first century Christian Church, such as glossolalia, healing and miracles, are available to contemporary Christians and ought to be experienced and practiced today.
The word charismatic is derived from the Greek word charis (meaning a grace or a gift) which is the term used in the Bible to describe a wide range of supernatural experiences (especially in 1 Corinthians 12-14).
Often confused with Pentecostalism (which it was inspired by), Charismatic Christianity tends to differ in key aspects: Charismatics reject the preeminence given by Pentecostalism to glossolalia, reject the legalism sometimes associated with Pentecostalism, and often stay in their existing denominations.
Even though the Mormon Church professes the gifts of the spirit, it has been my experience that unless display of the spiritual gifts takes specific low key exhibitions that the gifts or at least the person is rejected. This is not a new occurrence but started in Joseph Smith’s day.
“There were now about one hundred and fifty converts in Kirtland, more than twice the number that had followed him from New York state. But Joseph was disturbed by the fanaticism that possessed this people. Prayer meetings were punctuated by fits and trances. Converts would roll along the floor to the church door and out upon the frozen ground in a masochistic frenzy. Some would mount stumps to preach to imaginary congregations in unknown tongues; others, making apish grimaces, would speed across the fields, returning with revelations that they swore they had copied from pieces of parchment hanging in the night sky.
Unlike the usual evangelist, who saw the spirit of the Lord in such corybantism and mass hysteria, Joseph Smith recognized a menace to his church. He has seen enough of this revivalism in Palmyra to know that in the end it brought only cynicism and disintegration, and his first important revelation in Kirtland denounced the false spirits.”
Another aspect of theology is the topic of ecstacy and its relationship to revelation. I’m not talking about the mundane or sensual definition of this term but the theological definition from systematic theology. In this setting ecstacy (standing outside of oneself) is a state of mind where the being is able to transcend the ordinary situation. An ecstatic experience does not suspend reason but allows reason to go beyond itself. There should be no irrational in this but it allows the ecstatic individual to transcend the state of finite rationality to move into the infinite or realm of God. Mystics attempt to reach this state through ascetic practices or through meditation.
The state of ecstacy must not do away with the rational structure of the mind. True ecstatic experiences preserve and enhance reason, they do not destroy it. However, on the opposite extreme, demonic possession overcomes this rational process thus destroying not only the ethical but also the logical principles of reason. The demonic blinds the individual and does not “reveal” as does a true ecstatic event. To be under demonic possession the mind is not beside itself but is under control of that part of the mind which allows itself to be grasped and the rational self destroyed. Where ecstacy does not harm or hinder the wholeness of the mind, demonic possession weakens or even destroys it completely.
We should not confuse ecstacy with reason though. Ecstacy is not a product of reason and at the same time it does not or should not destroy reason. Ecstacy can also involve strong emotions but should not be confused with emotion. Ecstacy may also be compared to inspiration. This word comes from spirare, “to breath”. This is a life giving analogy and so cognitive reason is important to an ecstatic experience and this experience may give “inspiration” to the ecstatic.
During Christmas of 2003 I experienced an ecstatic experience. During the fall of 2003 I was struggling with many things involving the Mormon Church. I was furiously studying church history, the Journal of Discourses and other writings on the foundation of the church. I now know that at that time I was plagued with a bad case of cognitive dissonance. I had compartmentalized church teachings separate from what I knew as an anthropologist. During this time of study and reflection I also was praying earnestly for an answer to the question of “could the Mormon Church be true?” when all the evidence I was reading, from old church and other sources, said it was not. During the Christmas season as I was reading one evening, alone, at home, I sat and thought. I let reason flow and all of a sudden it was as if scales had fallen from my eyes and I was able to see and to think rationally again. I almost felt like I was sitting beside myself and was able to think rationally once more. This ecstatic experience fostered a sense of peace and comfort, I was no longer confused over my question of the truth of the Mormon Church. I knew and realized that a true Christian religion could not be based on lies and that true Christian leaders would not hide the truth from the membership. I recounted this experience to a member of the local Stake Presidency and this is the response that I received from him:
“Would you be willing to consider that your ecstatic experience (personal revelation?) last winter was just a figment of your imagination if I suggested that?”
Many Mormons would consider the source of the experience that I had to be from Satan. Because Mormons believe that they have the sole right to acting in God’s name and also in receiving revelation, no revelation short of saying the Mormon church is true is considered by them to be right.
Who’s right is it to abridge the gifts of the spirit or determine how gifts of the spirit are to be displayed. It has been my experience in the Mormon Church that if a person does not fit the normal Mormon mold that they are deemed to be in the power of Satan and so the gift that they are exhibiting is not from God but from some evil source.
7.We believe in the gift of tongues, prophecy, revelation, visions, healing, interpretation of tongues, and so forth.
Followers of Jesus in the early church displayed gifts of the spirit. The primary example of this was at Pentacost.
Acts:2:1: And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
Acts:2:2: And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
Acts:2:3: And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
Acts:2:4: And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
Acts:2:5: And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.
Acts:2:6: Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.
Acts:2:7: And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans?
Acts:2:8: And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?
Acts:2:9: Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia,
Acts:2:10: Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes,
Acts:2:11: Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.
Acts:2:12: And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this?
Acts:2:13: Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine.
Acts:2:14: But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:
Acts:2:15: For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day.
Acts:2:16: But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;
Acts:2:17: And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:
Acts:2:18: And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:
The display of the spirit is called charismatic Christianity. The following is a definition of Charismatic Christianity from www.wordiq.com:
“Charismatic is an umbrella term used to describe those Christians who believe that the manifestations of the Holy Spirit seen in the first century Christian Church, such as glossolalia, healing and miracles, are available to contemporary Christians and ought to be experienced and practiced today.
The word charismatic is derived from the Greek word charis (meaning a grace or a gift) which is the term used in the Bible to describe a wide range of supernatural experiences (especially in 1 Corinthians 12-14).
Often confused with Pentecostalism (which it was inspired by), Charismatic Christianity tends to differ in key aspects: Charismatics reject the preeminence given by Pentecostalism to glossolalia, reject the legalism sometimes associated with Pentecostalism, and often stay in their existing denominations.
Even though the Mormon Church professes the gifts of the spirit, it has been my experience that unless display of the spiritual gifts takes specific low key exhibitions that the gifts or at least the person is rejected. This is not a new occurrence but started in Joseph Smith’s day.
“There were now about one hundred and fifty converts in Kirtland, more than twice the number that had followed him from New York state. But Joseph was disturbed by the fanaticism that possessed this people. Prayer meetings were punctuated by fits and trances. Converts would roll along the floor to the church door and out upon the frozen ground in a masochistic frenzy. Some would mount stumps to preach to imaginary congregations in unknown tongues; others, making apish grimaces, would speed across the fields, returning with revelations that they swore they had copied from pieces of parchment hanging in the night sky.
Unlike the usual evangelist, who saw the spirit of the Lord in such corybantism and mass hysteria, Joseph Smith recognized a menace to his church. He has seen enough of this revivalism in Palmyra to know that in the end it brought only cynicism and disintegration, and his first important revelation in Kirtland denounced the false spirits.”
Another aspect of theology is the topic of ecstacy and its relationship to revelation. I’m not talking about the mundane or sensual definition of this term but the theological definition from systematic theology. In this setting ecstacy (standing outside of oneself) is a state of mind where the being is able to transcend the ordinary situation. An ecstatic experience does not suspend reason but allows reason to go beyond itself. There should be no irrational in this but it allows the ecstatic individual to transcend the state of finite rationality to move into the infinite or realm of God. Mystics attempt to reach this state through ascetic practices or through meditation.
The state of ecstacy must not do away with the rational structure of the mind. True ecstatic experiences preserve and enhance reason, they do not destroy it. However, on the opposite extreme, demonic possession overcomes this rational process thus destroying not only the ethical but also the logical principles of reason. The demonic blinds the individual and does not “reveal” as does a true ecstatic event. To be under demonic possession the mind is not beside itself but is under control of that part of the mind which allows itself to be grasped and the rational self destroyed. Where ecstacy does not harm or hinder the wholeness of the mind, demonic possession weakens or even destroys it completely.
We should not confuse ecstacy with reason though. Ecstacy is not a product of reason and at the same time it does not or should not destroy reason. Ecstacy can also involve strong emotions but should not be confused with emotion. Ecstacy may also be compared to inspiration. This word comes from spirare, “to breath”. This is a life giving analogy and so cognitive reason is important to an ecstatic experience and this experience may give “inspiration” to the ecstatic.
During Christmas of 2003 I experienced an ecstatic experience. During the fall of 2003 I was struggling with many things involving the Mormon Church. I was furiously studying church history, the Journal of Discourses and other writings on the foundation of the church. I now know that at that time I was plagued with a bad case of cognitive dissonance. I had compartmentalized church teachings separate from what I knew as an anthropologist. During this time of study and reflection I also was praying earnestly for an answer to the question of “could the Mormon Church be true?” when all the evidence I was reading, from old church and other sources, said it was not. During the Christmas season as I was reading one evening, alone, at home, I sat and thought. I let reason flow and all of a sudden it was as if scales had fallen from my eyes and I was able to see and to think rationally again. I almost felt like I was sitting beside myself and was able to think rationally once more. This ecstatic experience fostered a sense of peace and comfort, I was no longer confused over my question of the truth of the Mormon Church. I knew and realized that a true Christian religion could not be based on lies and that true Christian leaders would not hide the truth from the membership. I recounted this experience to a member of the local Stake Presidency and this is the response that I received from him:
“Would you be willing to consider that your ecstatic experience (personal revelation?) last winter was just a figment of your imagination if I suggested that?”
Many Mormons would consider the source of the experience that I had to be from Satan. Because Mormons believe that they have the sole right to acting in God’s name and also in receiving revelation, no revelation short of saying the Mormon church is true is considered by them to be right.
Who’s right is it to abridge the gifts of the spirit or determine how gifts of the spirit are to be displayed. It has been my experience in the Mormon Church that if a person does not fit the normal Mormon mold that they are deemed to be in the power of Satan and so the gift that they are exhibiting is not from God but from some evil source.