Comments on: Why Jesus Will Not Save You: A Short Spiritual Autobiography

By: Curious1

Curious1 — Mon, 16 Jan 2006 03:06:04 +0000

Dear Nate~
While reading your post, I wondered to myself if you weren’t being influenced by the spirit of Satan…after all, the Devil can appear as an angel of ight, you know. I’ve read the NT for many years, and I’ve never once experienced the Holy Spirit of God scorning me for reading it. Truth be told, while in prayer time last night…I had a vision/premenition/perception of Him kissing me. It had to be the best experience in my life! Did I mention that my prayer time involves reading the New Testament for about 30 minutes to an hour each time?
I’ve never known a sweeter Person than God. Yes, He is stern when necessary…but it is never His first option. He always has my best interest at heart and I love Him for that. I’ve seen His hand of influence throughout my life and it has ALWAYS been for the positive. How can I not love ANYONE like that???!?
I encourage you to re-evaluate whether it is REALLY the Holy Spirit of God that was mad at you….or perhaps another. Make your calling sure…and be sure of who is calling.
Unending blessings,
Curious1

By: annegb

annegb — Tue, 27 Dec 2005 15:33:23 +0000

Are there two Stephens here? Because one is sort of onery, unlike the one I know, although he could be having a bad day. I remember doing that about six months ago.

By: annegb

annegb — Tue, 27 Dec 2005 15:15:05 +0000

Whenever I see Nate’s name, I know I will have to put my thinking cap on and try really hard to fathom. I mean, Nate, for crying out loud, “anti-foundational empiricist?–intricate rationalism of Thomism?–playful hermeunetics?” What small percentage of normal reasonably educated people know what those things mean? I know what playful means, but, geez. I would appreciate it if in the future you would dumb down a little, slightly. I can’t even find those words in my five pound dictionary. I would like to be a fly on the wall at your dinner table. Heather speaks English.

I think it’s George Ritchie, describing Jesus in his near death experience, as written by Raymond Moody (and I can’t find the book, which means I’ve leant it out and they haven’t returned it, bad word) who says that the Jesus he saw was not the weak feminine Jesus portrayed so often, but a strong, powerful person, more powerful than he ever experienced before his death or after his recovery.

BUT as I understood it, it was the feeling of love that was the most powerful part of His personality. I take issue with your conclusion, Nate, and those of you other young intellectuals who are also, I assume, my spiritual superior. I would like to assent and be part of the crowd, but it doesn’t strike me right. I can’t figure it out yet, but I will ponder and report back. You guys make Jesus sound mean, not strong.

An aside, Nate, sometimes God smacks me up the side of the head, as well. I actually wish He’d do it more often because I am so often blindly striking out on my own and I forget all about Him.

Also, I think the Jesus in the New Testament is a wonderful Jesus, not weak. I don’t see a conflict with the way He’s portrayed in the New Testament vs. The Book of Mormon. Not at all. Even though this particular time God wanted you to focus on the Book of Mormon, there is value in the New Testament. Great value. I love it. It’s the word of God. It’s not like it’s bad to read the bible.

By: Rob Briggs

Rob Briggs — Mon, 26 Dec 2005 22:30:08 +0000

Nate, thanks for sharing an intensely personal experience in a thoughtful way.

I’m always a bit hesitate to share because I feel like such experiences (mine at least) don’t stand up well to rational scrutiny. The fallacy, I think, is in thinking that they should. They remain experiences that are inherently personal and idiosyncratic and are “non-transferrable.” Except, I suppose, to someone who’s felt something remotely similar.

By: Kaimi Wenger

Kaimi Wenger — Thu, 22 Dec 2005 20:41:23 +0000

As our modern-day bloggernacle Paul once said, "the worst part is that there are SO MANY pricks to kick against."

By: Adam Greenwood

Adam Greenwood — Thu, 22 Dec 2005 20:09:24 +0000

Good stuff, good stuff. Got to read it metaphorically, of course, just like Bro. McConkie wrote it.

By: Kingsley

Kingsley — Thu, 22 Dec 2005 20:07:11 +0000

Good advice, Adam, in fact I’m heading home now to read the collected works of Bruce R. McConkie. Merry Xmas everyone.

By: Adam Greenwood

Adam Greenwood — Thu, 22 Dec 2005 20:04:31 +0000

Mr. Stephen,
Cool it. One more little outburst and I’m letting Mr. Censorship out of his cage.

Kingsley,
Why don’t you just ignore Mr. Stephen for a bit?

By: Stephen

Stephen — Thu, 22 Dec 2005 19:58:05 +0000

Kingsley, perhaps you should quit making false doctrinal statements.

By: Adam Greenwood

Adam Greenwood — Thu, 22 Dec 2005 19:47:23 +0000

It ain’t no more. But I’m probably more sympathetic with the Puritans who wanted to close down the theaters than you are. The filthiness of a work always diminishes with time and reverence, and so if I’m honest I have to admit that I probably wouldn’t enjoy Shakespeare as much as a contemporary as I do now.