I've been asked to lead the discussion for the Sunday School lesson #30, on the subject of God is no respecter of persons. If you can think of any contemporary examples of how/where we mess up on this, I'd appreciate your examples or suggestions.
I guess the most obvious example is that of members, including two bishops or branch presidents I heard of, who told missonaries not to bring black investigators to church. The only other example I experienced was being made to feel like a second class member for my first 10 years as a member because I was not an RM. (Even now I feel I have to explain that I was 22 when I joined the Church in 1960.)
My wife was once scheduled to translate/interpret for a visiting General Authority in Denmark, and he insisted on having a man interpret for him.
Then there are the worldly accomplishments or lack there of that influence our judgements of others.
Any ideas, including funny ones, will be appreciated. No big hurry. I've got a couple of weeks.
I like the parable of the workers and the wages. How those who work in the field at the beginning of the day and those who join at the end receive the same payment.
I see this sort of thing now more in terms of prevailing attitudes about being born in the church or being a convert, and really it rubs both ways.
We are all God's children and he would see us all succeed, but so often we try to make it so personal that we refuse to believe God cares about every man, woman and child that ever lived.
The pharisees in their day had a horrible time accepting the idea that those who didn't live outward perfection and were "sinners" would be able to achieve a salvation.
Finally I think that when we try to exclude other from the same blessings we enjoy, when they are not our blessings or we didn't merit them in the first place, taking those blessings as granted perhaps, we run the risk of losing sight of the plan of God which is to bless all his children... that we have a moral duty to share the gifts we've received.
It's why I feel the way I do about illegal immigration... I definitely think you should challenge your fellow saints with that one... :P
--Ray
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I'm not slow; I'm special. (Don't take it personally, everyone finds me offensive. Yet somehow I manage to live with myself.)
Now here's a classic example of the "respecter fo persons" type .... from page 322 of the book entitled, "Sergeant Nibley - memories of an unlikely screaming eagle" ... "When I [Hugh Nibley] came to BYU Ernest Wilkinson, the president of the university and I were very chummy. He wanted to know about my experiences in the war, and it was alot of fun exchanging stories because he had been in World War I. But then something I said came out and made it clear I wasn't an officer and from then on he was ice cold. He wouldn't speak another word to me because I hadn't been an officer. This was the attitude of Ernest Wilkinson. When Colonel Jesse Stay came to join the administration President Wilkinson announced proudly at an assembly that Colonel Stay was there and everyone who had been an officer was invited to come up and shake his hand. But anyone who had not been an officer was not invited - only officers were to come to the stand to shake Colonel Stay's hand."
I spent the first six years of my career in the military as an enlisted member. When I finished college I was selected to receive a commission and become an officer. I knew a few officers who failed to understand that without enlisted personnel, nothing would ever get done in the military. Fortunately, that attitude was pretty rare--most of the officers I knew treated enlisted members with dignity and respect.
On the "no respecter of persons" topic: Most of the scriptures with that specific or similar phrase reference "judgment" in the topical guide. This specific concept has helped me to understand why we the Lord commands us not to judge, and to forgive others.
If in truth I can receive forgiveness and mercy through the atonement of Christ (and I hope with all of my soul that I will), and if in truth God is no respecter of persons, then I must accept the conclusion that God offers that same forgiveness and mercy to all of His children who will receive it, even to those whom I would judge unworthy of the gift. Hence the commandment to judge not, and the corollary to forgive all.
Here lies, I believe, our failure to understand the concept that God is no respecter of persons: We like to pass our petty little judgments upon our sisters and brothers based on how they look or sound or smell, or how much money they have or don't have, or how educated or uneducated they are, or a million other insignificant things. We like to hold petty little grudges against our brothers and sisters for the slightest offenses--we believe our forgiveness should somehow be earned instead of freely given.
If God is no respecter of persons, what possible delusions will justify me in feeling that I have the right to be? That arrogance, those lies, can only come from one source--the very angel who wanted to establish a totalitarian system of respect of persons--God's children bound in slavery under their eternal master.
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The ability to qualify for, receive, and act on personal revelation is the single most important skill that can be acquired in this life. - Julie Beck
Roper, I remember being a missionary and how someone could tell me anything that they had done and I would have a hope for them that the Gospel could change them if they had not already changed and that they could be a good and faithful member. I wish that I did not size people up like I do now.
As far as the General Authority only wanting men to interpret that may have been a matter of feeling it was not proper to have a woman whispering in his ear during services.
As members, we need to be there to help people who may join the Church from a very different culture or background or lifestyle. We need to fellowship them and answer questions. We need to help them become good members. The Gospel does change lives.
I recall a member on my mission who must have led a wild life before his mission. I think he said that none of the members wanted to baptize him. He was a very active member. I think he spent a lot of time with the missionaries shortly after joining the Church and that probably helped his transition.
Cocobeem wrote:I think we let some women get away with bad behavior because they are physically attractive.
But that's okay when they're younger than five, right? Because l pretty much let my little princess get away with anything. She's just so darn cute and kissable!
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The ability to qualify for, receive, and act on personal revelation is the single most important skill that can be acquired in this life. - Julie Beck
Roper, as you are an expert in early childhood development, I will refrain from advice. I know about cute toddlers though as my two-year-old niece is so very cute and funny. At Easter, she had us all mesmerized as she was talking baby gibberish in different voices. Her back was towards me, but I was told she was making faces too. She takes after Grandma there!
Back on point, I did have one exception where it was hard for me to accept someone when I was a missionary. That exception was if someone was delusional. I don't mean a little depression or such. I mean someone thinking they were one of the richest people in the world and owned major companies in the same field that would not be held by one person alone and probably have multiple share holders. That was really hard for me to deal with peple that far removed from reality.
I am glad that people do not write me off due to my mental illness. It is not for me to judge if a delusional person would be able to make a good member of the Church either.
I guess not much, since that appears to be what drives certain people - outward consequences, not any kind of inner compass... (Wow, thinking of Anna Nicole and an inner compass in the same thought just about made me laugh out loud for real.) Honestly, it's sad.
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Life is tough but it's tougher if you're stupid. -John Wayne
I definitely think you should challenge your fellow saints with that one... :P
