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Subscribe!Mon - Mar 24, 2008 : 11:34 pm
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2nd Nephi : 31 - Language
All the other times I've read this chapter, it's been mostly about the whole baptism thing. Now, I don't discredit the sermon given about Christ being baptised, and the necessity for our being baptized to make it to heaven...
...But this time, something else struck me.
Ya know... I love having chats with people about the Gospel. I can't have these chats with just anyone. I'm not 100% sure why I can't, but some people either find reason for contention, or disagree based on pure opinion, or aren't able to speak unto mutual understanding.
I'm sure I am guilty of that from time to time, too.
But... The few people here with whom I can converse on a level which allows the Spirit to testify of pure truth, I hold on to - as if my life depended on it.
One of those people is my good friend Scott. He happens to also be a person with whom I can do things which would be well beyond the capability of certifiably insane people to do, as well, but for some reason.... It just clicks.
Anyway... I was having a conversation with him, I don't remember when, but he mentioned something about what it means when scripture says, "For the Lord God giveth light unto the undersatnding; for he speaketh unto men according to their language, unto their understanding." (verse 3)
I really need to thank Scott for mentioning that, because I just read the chapter which talks about this.
I used to think that this meant something along the lines of, "if I speak German, then that's the language the Spirit will use to speak to me."
Makes sense, doesn't it? Yeah, but I believe it goes way beyond that.
An example using two people from completely different worlds:
Of course, it's an extreme example, but it's a great illustration to the point that God speaks our language "unto our understanding".
Do you think those two people would understand life the same? Do you think their concept of reality would be anything but polar opposites? How is God going to reach one and the other?
Well... He speaks to us in the best way possible, in order for the communication to be plain and easy to understand. Yes, this includes the actual language (English vs. Spanish vs. the thoughts of a deaf-mute), but it also includes methods of communication which we are prone to understand.
Take, for instance, the action of the opening of one's arms as a signal to embrace. If I, my whole life, had been trained that this was a gesture of violence, which always preceeded a sprint to attack me, it might not be a good idea to greet me that way.
I'm 100% certain that if the Lord presented himself to that person, he would not open his arms as a sign of embrace. He would do whatever would be communicated as simple, plain, and easy to understand for that person.
And since the Lord knows us better than we know ourselves, He would know exactly what to do.
Anyway... Good thoughts on what the language of the Spirit could really mean.
Now, on to verse 14.
I believe this verse could be a lead into what is required to reconcile the whole "justice vs. mercy" battle between people who have heard and rejected the Gospel during this life, and those who will still have the chance to hear and accept it in the next life.
The line, "and after this should deny me, it would have been better for you that ye had not known me" caught my attention greatly.
It seems there is a list given in order for this to apply:
Huh... I don't really have too much energy left in me to process that thoroughly, but it's interesting nonetheless to have a list of what might be required to have been given "the chance" of accepting / rejecting the Gospel.
Not sure. Anyway... Hope ya enjoyed this study. It sure helped me feel the Spirit.
...But this time, something else struck me.
Ya know... I love having chats with people about the Gospel. I can't have these chats with just anyone. I'm not 100% sure why I can't, but some people either find reason for contention, or disagree based on pure opinion, or aren't able to speak unto mutual understanding.
I'm sure I am guilty of that from time to time, too.
But... The few people here with whom I can converse on a level which allows the Spirit to testify of pure truth, I hold on to - as if my life depended on it.
One of those people is my good friend Scott. He happens to also be a person with whom I can do things which would be well beyond the capability of certifiably insane people to do, as well, but for some reason.... It just clicks.
Anyway... I was having a conversation with him, I don't remember when, but he mentioned something about what it means when scripture says, "For the Lord God giveth light unto the undersatnding; for he speaketh unto men according to their language, unto their understanding." (verse 3)
I really need to thank Scott for mentioning that, because I just read the chapter which talks about this.
I used to think that this meant something along the lines of, "if I speak German, then that's the language the Spirit will use to speak to me."
Makes sense, doesn't it? Yeah, but I believe it goes way beyond that.
An example using two people from completely different worlds:
- An abused child who never learned to trust anyone. Grew up doing drugs and prostituting herself to keep the habit alive. One day, she finds a Book of Mormon and decides to read it (or have someone read it to her).
- A child born into the covenant, raised by loving parents who loved her. Started reading the Book of Mormon as a child and grew up studying, praying, pondering, and living the Gospel.
Of course, it's an extreme example, but it's a great illustration to the point that God speaks our language "unto our understanding".
Do you think those two people would understand life the same? Do you think their concept of reality would be anything but polar opposites? How is God going to reach one and the other?
Well... He speaks to us in the best way possible, in order for the communication to be plain and easy to understand. Yes, this includes the actual language (English vs. Spanish vs. the thoughts of a deaf-mute), but it also includes methods of communication which we are prone to understand.
Take, for instance, the action of the opening of one's arms as a signal to embrace. If I, my whole life, had been trained that this was a gesture of violence, which always preceeded a sprint to attack me, it might not be a good idea to greet me that way.
I'm 100% certain that if the Lord presented himself to that person, he would not open his arms as a sign of embrace. He would do whatever would be communicated as simple, plain, and easy to understand for that person.
And since the Lord knows us better than we know ourselves, He would know exactly what to do.
Anyway... Good thoughts on what the language of the Spirit could really mean.
Now, on to verse 14.
I believe this verse could be a lead into what is required to reconcile the whole "justice vs. mercy" battle between people who have heard and rejected the Gospel during this life, and those who will still have the chance to hear and accept it in the next life.
The line, "and after this should deny me, it would have been better for you that ye had not known me" caught my attention greatly.
It seems there is a list given in order for this to apply:
- Repent of sins
- Witness unto God willingness to keep His commandments, by being baptized.
- Being baptized with fire and Holy Ghost.
- Speak with the tongue of angels.
Huh... I don't really have too much energy left in me to process that thoroughly, but it's interesting nonetheless to have a list of what might be required to have been given "the chance" of accepting / rejecting the Gospel.
Not sure. Anyway... Hope ya enjoyed this study. It sure helped me feel the Spirit.