Re: How and When did Church take over your "self"
Posted: Mon Feb 05, 2018 5:14 pm
So sorry. Your upbringing sounds like it was painful....alas wrote: ↑Mon Feb 05, 2018 1:28 pm
Recently I read, somewhere on the Mormon Blogernackle a really good discussion of the difference between obedience and conformity that ties in exactly to your thoughts here. I would find it and link if I could do links on my iPad. Don't own a computer. But since I can't link to the discussion, I will paraphrase. Basically, with obedience, it is based on love. I want to obey God because I love God. And I know God loves me and wants what is best for me. Conformity is based in duty, shame, and fear. I conform to the rules and culture of the church because they will reject me if I don't. I will be loved less if I am different. I obey the prophet because I will be punished with banning by my tribe if I don't. The prophet is a stand in for God and is demanding "obedience" but they are really talking about conformity. They discussed how the church has been moving more and more toward conformity and seems to have forgotten what real obedience is about. They even said things such as "step outside these parameters and leadership starts to become uncomfortable."
So, tying the two discussions together, with obedience to God, you can be your authentic self and no one is going to punish you or shame you. The church does not own your self because you are free to obey and suffer whatever consequences, or disobey and suffer consequences. You are not shamed for who you are because God made you. You are never shamed for normal feelings or behavior because God does not shame people for how he made them.
Regarding the difference between coerced conformity and the obedience that grows out of love:
I know many people see the Old Testament as being pretty harsh but even there we have glimpses of how God hopes our hearts will respond to Him.
Exodus 35 and 36:
"And Moses spake unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, saying, This is the thing which the LORD commanded, saying, Take ye from among you an offering unto the LORD: whosoever is of a willing heart, let him bring it, an offering of the LORD
And they came, every one whose heart stirred him up, and every one whom his spirit made willing, and they brought the LORD'S offering to the work of the tabernacle of the congregation...22And they came, both men and women, as many as were willing hearted, and brought bracelets, and earrings, and rings.... 23And every man, with whom was found blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen... brought them.... 25And all the women that were wise hearted did spin with their hands, and brought that which they had spun, both of blue, and of purple, and of scarlet, and of fine linen. 26And all the women whose heart stirred them up in wisdom spun goats' hair....The children of Israel brought a willing offering unto the LORD, every man and woman, whose heart made them willing to bring for all manner of work...."
Even here the request was qualified to be only from those who had a heartfelt desire to give. An offering that is subtly and psychologically coerced from the giver is no good to either the Lord or the giver....but it does help the corporation build malls, pay the bills and leadership's "stipend".
