john@starfire.UUCP (john) (05/30/85)
Analogies and illustrations are good, but they are generally aimed at a very specific need or point, and are not very accurate when taken from their total context and used to present or represent more than they were originally intended to do. I believe that this has happened with the elevator story. First, I accept that illustration with certain constraints. I believe that it adequately illustrates a person's own helplessness in escaping from the punishment of sin. I also believe that it demonstrates how freely the gift is given. That is where its accuracy stops. In his article <5357@ucla-cs.ARPA>, Rich Wales states: > A popular analogy of salvation used by many Protestant evangelists pic- > tures mankind at the bottom of a deep pit (symbolizing spiritual death) > -- so deep that he cannot possibly climb out. In one version of this > analogy that I have heard, the Atonement of Christ is likened to an > elevator shaft which Jesus has sunk down into the pit. All you have to > do, so the story goes, is get in the elevator (symbolizing accepting > Christ as your Saviour). You don't have to do anything more -- you > don't even need to push any buttons once you get in, because Jesus is in > the car and, in fact, is the elevator operator. Let me give you some background and definitions that may shed some light and help us to communicate better. We believe that God is eternal and unchanging. He is the source and creator of all the universe. All absolutes are in reference to Him. As creator, God is rightful owner and king. His will, his law, and his dominion are all intricately related. Though he has the power to enforce his will upon us, he has made the incredible sacrifice of giving us the choice to choose or reject him. As Jesus said, the law and the profits hinge on two commandments -- love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength; and love your neighbor as yourself. However, every single person at some time has put his own will above that of God -- chosen what he wants instead of what God wants. This is to deny God his rightful place as King and put ourselves above him. That is utter treason and punishable by death. It is by this means that the life of everyone who has ever lived has been forfeit -- with one exception, that we will deal with momentarily. Now, having forfeited your life, what will you give to redeem it? What can you trade that is of equal or greater value? Clearly nothing you have or can do equals the value of your life. It is beyond your power to redeem it. Who can help you? Would someone else give their life for yours? That would be awfully nice of them ("Greater love has no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friend"), but it won't do any good -- their life is already forfeit, they have nothing to give. This is one of the pivotal differences differences between Evangelical Christianity and the teaching of the LDS -- that all sin is mortal and hopelessly dark compared with the total purity and perfection of God. Now, when man is utterly helpless, only God can save him. He does this by sending Jesus, the Christ (or Messiah). Jesus lived a life of obedience to God. He lived without sin (disobedience), and his life was not forfeit. Here was a life to trade for ours! When Jesus died, he gave up his life, a life which could be used in exchange for someone else's. For this, he must be fully human, that he endured the trials, temptations, hurts and ills, and was yet loyal to God. However, for his life to be the redemption of many, he must also be fully God. For who but God has the power to forgive sin? Yet Jesus did that. God has given all authority in heaven and on earth to Jesus, until all things are subjected to him. Now, we have the door that we need. However, if we do not accept Jesus as King, we still have not put God first in his own universe. The time is coming when that choice will be taken from us. At that time, those who have accepted Jesus as King will join him, and those who have rejected him will perish in their disobedience, having receive the just sentence of death for treason against the throne of the universe. What does this mean, to accept Jesus? It means more than to believe. We are taught that even the demons believe in Jesus, and that they tremble in fear at the knowledge. What we need is to have faith that he has the power to save and to acknowledge him as Lord and King of the universe, and of our lives. By putting him first, we put ourselves in harmony with the coming kingdom, when God forcibly takes what is his, and we put ourselves in discord with the world which does not acknowledge God in his place. Clearly, this change of orientation, with Jesus first instead of ourselves, is a life-changing and transforming experience. We accept God's law, which Jesus declared to be love. The old testament puts it so beautifully -- "He has shown you, oh man, what is good, that you do justice, and love mercy, and walk humbly with your God." Practically the entire book of James talks about belief without a change of life being no faith at all. We are also taught that there will be chaff among the wheat, and that only God knows who has accepted Jesus and who has not. If you look for evil in the Church and its people you will find it, in the LDS and in the Evangelical community. I have a number of friends in the LDS whom I love dearly. I believe that you will find me not to be anti-Mormon, though I am opposed to some of their teaching. Now, if you want to draw some contrasts between traditional Christianity and the doctrine of the LDS, why don't you post some articles on the nature of God? Is he Spirit or is he Flesh? Is he unchanging, or progressive? Are Jesus and the Father and the Holy Spirit one God or three? How many Gods are there? I also have mailed this reply to Rich because I wanted to avoid some of the terribly long delay that the news path implied. ---- John Lind, Starfire Consulting Services E-mail: ihnp4!umn-cs!digi-g!starfire!john USnail: PO Box 13001, Mpls MN 55414