Virtual Killing

A common thing throughout the history of man is this idea of killing for entertainment. In times past we had coliseums in which gladiators would kill one another or kill helpless victims or kill or be killed by animals. All this was done for entertainment value. In other times past we had public beheadings and public hangings which would draw crowds of people. In the Aztec empire people would gather around to watch the hearts be ripped out of sacrificial victims. While much of this was a way to dispose of hard criminals, one cannot deny the obvious entertainment value that it gave. 

Many people have a mistaken belief that our modern society has become too civilized for such things. Indeed if one looks around there certainly don't appear to be any coliseums. Certainly not on the order that was once commonplace. But if we think that this blood thirst that people once had is gone we are sadly mistaken. 

In today's society's we find crowds of people that throng into movie theaters to watch films the portray some of the most heinous blood and gore. On any given night millions of Americans alone tune to television shows that depict murder and violence. 

As if that's not enough often these things are treated very very lightly. Some films will depict minions being disposed of as if it was nothing. They will portray somehow this idea that if those guys are bad guys that somehow their lives are less valuable. Often the heroes are only heroes because they happen to be good at disposing of bad guys. 

And people crave this. So let's ask ourselves has our societies desire for blood diminished over times past?  If our world today is somehow more civilized than previous generations why is it we still crave to see men killed?  

Now the obvious counter argument that comes up is that in times past this entertainment was actual people being killed. In today's civilized society we can depict it on a screen without actually killing anyone. 

Technology even take this a step further through video games which are increasing in the realism, and have become very immersive. Many of these games draw the player in in such a way that their own decisions change the outcome of the game. The player becomes an active participant. Research studies of shown that in many of these games when a choice is offered between a more noble path or a darker more violent path players consistently choose the darker more violent option. In doing so the player has to justify themselves, they have to tell themselves that this isn't real. 

And so here comes the point that I'm really driving it. If a part of our desires are towards seeing murder and bloodshed isn't that a part we need to get rid of?  If we are trying to become more like our Savior, ought we not get rid of anything that is un-Christlike in our characters and conduct?  

The simple truth is that whether we watch it in a movie or television or participate in it through a video game or other simulation, murder is still sin. One does not have to commit the actual act of murder. All we have to do is murder in our hearts. In so doing we actually kill a part of ourselves and distance ourselves from God. Understand this simple concept that life is sacred. If life is sacred and killing or murder is the opposite of life, then that makes the portrayal of killing and murder likewise evil. 

Abortion

This view is shared in common among many professing Christians, as well as many other faiths. Abortion is murder. In my view and understanding, I believe in a preexistent state, where we existed as spirit children of our Heavenly Father. We were taught and prepared and eagerly awaited our opportunities to receive mortal bodies so that we could learn and grow and become more like our Father. 

When wicked men and women here on the earth seek to prevent these precious children from coming to the earth, they are committing sin. But more especially when they destroy the bodies that those spirits need.  These beings possess an intelligence and potential all their own. God has stated that to shed innocent blood is one of the greatest sins man can commit against God. What is more innocent that an unborn child?

Because it is little known, I will share a passage from the Book of Enoch. This passage refers to the Mastema (princes of evil) by name and the wicked acts they taught to men prior to the flood. 

“The name of the fifth is Kasdeja. He showed the sons of men every wicked strike of spirits and of demons, the strike at the embryo in the womb, to miscarry it, the strike of the spirit by the bite of the serpent, and the strike which is given in the midday by the seed of the serpent, the name of which is Tabaaet”

The Mastema (Satan and his princes) seek to thwart the work of God by whatever means they can, and this is most evident in abortion where they hope to damage the missions of two or more souls in a single blow.  First to condemn the soul of the mother (and in many cases the father too) by inducing her to commit murder, and secondly to thwart the mission of the unborn by depriving them the opportunity to come into the world. 

I must speak openly and boldly on this  subject. Abortion is murder and carries the same degree of condemnation before God as any other form of murder. 

War

Some have said that it is lawful to kill your enemy in the cause of war. While it is true that in the heat of battle, one does not have to luxury of disarming or dissuading the enemy much of the time, let me lay out a few facts about wartime killing. 

Firstly, if we are called to war, what is the cause. If our nation is at war, is it to defend against an aggressor that threatens the citizens?  Has a foreign power breached our sovereignty?  Were we attacked first?  Was such an attack provoked?  Most wars we are involved in today are not to protect our lives or liberty, rather most wars are defending our standard of living and our economic interests. I could see killing an enemy in war if we are defending ourselves, our friends, and families, and our lands. But I do not think we are justified in killing to defend our lifestyles, or to defend or assert our commercial ventures.  Question the cause for which you are fighting. 

Secondly, why are we involved in the war. Did we volunteer to enlist, or are we drafted?  Are we being positioned to defend our nation, or are we occupying a foreign nation?  

The first passage that justifies killing in war is found in I Kings. The original commandments do not justify killing in warfare. 

A thing that must be understood regarding the passage in Kings is that God did not want Isreal to have a king. However Isreal didn't want God to rule them, they wanted to be like the heathen nations. So God granted them their agency and warfare is a natural consequence of such a government. Under the type of government that God wanted for his people, they would be taught correct and Godly principles, and the people would govern themselves. Under such principles, people were permitted and justified in defending themselves and their families, but not in making war. The lone exception is if the Lord commands it. When people govern themselves and submit to the leadership of judges, they are not inclined to war with their enemies. When a king or centralized rule is introduced, it creates more opportunity for corruption, and corruption often leads to aggressive warfare. 

Killing Must Be Justified

The obvious form of killing as we are aware is murder. This scripture more correctly translates as thou shalt not murder. However, the word murder can be defined differently from the commonplace use. 

In my view, murder constitutes any unjustified killing. If we are ever put in a position where we take the life of another being, it must be justified before God. We don't have to answer to society for such actions, though there will probably be legal consequences. It is God that we must give an account to. So if we take a life, can we honestly stand in the presence of God the Father and say that we took a life in righteousness?  Do we realize also that we will be held accountable to those we affect by killing?  Can we honestly stand before them and say that we took their life for a greater good, or will we be in a position where we have to confess that we murdered them. 

This applies to warfare, self defense, negligence, outbursts of anger, etc.  If we kill someone in self defense, and it is not justified, we are guilty of murder. I once heard a man state that if an intruder broke into his home, and he had to shoot that intruder to protect his home and family, that he would shoot to kill. He used the justification that they have been cases of an injured intruder suing the homeowner. Again I repeat, we are not accountable to society and the laws men above our accountability before God. 

In such a case, we could could use the treat of deadly force to neutralize the intruder and let the law handle it. If we are forced to fire to protect our family, we can often still simply wound the intruder instead of a lethal shot. Now I understand you could have a drug crazed individual, or in some cases the villain could return to be a threat again if he is ever released. I understand that. But I'm trying to demonstrate that whether we live or die, our actions must be righteous and we have give an account for our actions. If you have to kill in self defense or the defense if your family, make sure it it is really defense.

Don't Kill

The next commandment is thou shalt not kill. So what exactly is killing?  What killing is prohibited?  Does this apply to animals?  What about self defense?  What about in times of war?

This week I will cover these topics.  

Scriptures Regarding Honoring Parents

"Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee." Exodus 20:12

"Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness." Proverbs 20:20

"But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel." 1 Timothy 5:8

"Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble."  1 Peter 5:5

There are many other versus that pertain to respecting one another. 

How To Bring Dishonor

The opposite of honoring our parents is to dishonor them. 

When we do not behave in an honorable manner, it doesn't just reflect poorly on us, it reflects poorly on our parents. It sends a statement to the people around us that we must not have been taught any better. 

When we smoke, drink, live riotously, etc. it says to others that our parents must not have instilled in us a desire to do good. The worse our behavior, the more disrespect it brings on our parents. Of course this is also brought upon us.  These perceptions may or may not be true. But regardless, if we live as though our actions don't affect others, we damage more than our own reputations.   We damage the reputations of our parents, friends, siblings, etc.  We also damage more than our reputations. We also damage our character. 

Take Care of Your Parents

Another way we honor our parents is how we treat them as they grow old. 

I have met many people who claim to be good Christians, yet they have elderly parents who they have thought very little of. Often these parents feel alone and neglected. Often they have needs because of their age. 

As our parents get old, we ought to care for them. We need to help them financially. We need to help them with their errands. We need to help them with their medical needs. We need to help them emotionally.   If we don't, it shows where our heart is. If we are to busy with "ourselves", then chances are we treat our Heavenly Father the same way. How can we have time for God if we don't make time for our parents?  

If we respect our parents with our words, but not with our actions, then we are liars and hypocrites. We are fake. Our Heavenly Parents see who we really are and are not fooled. If we want to become like Christ, who is like God the Father, then we must treat those around us with kindness and respect, especially our parents. 

Honor Applied

So how do we honor our parents?   What does that mean?  

The first way in which we honor them is to respect them. We need to repect their instructions. We need to repect the position they hold.  We need to treat them the way we would like our own children to treat us. If they ask something of us we should follow through without arguing or complaining. 

The next way we honor them us by how we conduct ourselves. If we are well spoken and well mannered, and respectable in our conduct, this reflects well on our parents. By contrast if we are reckless, disrespectful, brash, ill tempered, etc. it reflects poorly on our upbringing. If we conduct ourselves well, both in the public eye and in our private lives, it reflects well on those who raised us.

Beyond that, if we can't respect our parents, we won't respect our Heavenly parents either, and we definitely won't respect ourselves.  

Honor Your Parents

The next commandment the Lord gave was to "Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee." Exodus 20:12. So what does it mean to bring honor to our parents?  How do we do these things? What are some of the ways we dishonor our parents?  

The definition of honor is to regard with great respect, pay respect to, or to fulfil an obligation or oath. 

We can honor our parents by paying them proper respect. Our parents made sacrifices to bring us into the world and raise us. This was not something we can do for ourselves. It does not matter what kind of parents we had. Whether we came from good parents that tried to raise us right, or came from parents that were selfish and ungodly, we need to respect them regardless.  If we don't learn to respect our parents, we will tend to lack respect for others. If we don't learn to respect those who raised us, we won't respect ourselves either. It's not about paying them the respect they deserve either.  It is not for us to judge what people deserve, or to judge the experiences that they go through.  Paying respect says a lot about us and shows what is in our hearts. 

Scriptures Regarding Keeping The Sabbath

"And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.  And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made." Genesis 2:2-3

"Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.

 Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:  But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:" Exodus 20:8-10

"Ye shall keep the sabbath therefore; for it is holy unto you: every one that defileth it shall surely be put to death: for whosoever doeth any work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people.  Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant." Exodus 31:14,16

"And now, behold, two hundred years had passed away, and the people of Nephi had waxed strong in the land. They observed to keep the law of Moses and the sabbath day holy unto the Lord. And they profaned not; neither did they blaspheme. And the laws of the land were exceedingly strict." Jarom 1:5

There are more scriptures in regards to the matter. 

Supporting Scriptures Regarding Profanity

I supposed if I'm going to do these religious discussions I should quote and share the supporting scripture. In this post I will address last weeks topic. 

Starting with some quotes from The Gospel of Matthew. 

"It is not that which goeth into the mouth that defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man."  Matthew 15:11

"But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.  For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned." Matthew 12:36-37

"Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be." James 3:10

"Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks." Ephesians 5:4

"But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness." 2 Timothy 2:16

"If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain." James 1:26

"Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain." Exodus 20:7

"And now, behold, two hundred years had passed away, and the people of Nephi had waxed strong in the land. They observed to keep the law of Moses and the sabbath day holy unto the Lord. And they profaned not; neither did they blaspheme. And the laws of the land were exceedingly strict." Jarom 1:5

"And they shall teach my people the difference between the holy and profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean." Ezekiel 44:23

There are many more examples to be found in the scriptures. 

Going To Church

Many people have a mistaken understanding that attending church on Sunday is the same as keeping the Sabbath. Don't get me wrong I do believe that attending church regularly is a good thing. The Lord instructs us to attend our meetings often and to encourage one another. However going to church cannot be an idle event if we want it to be effective in our lives. 

Let me ask a question. What are churches for?  Does membership in the church grant our salvation?  

A churches primary function is to teach us the word of God. Think of it as like a kindergarten or elementary class. It's purpose is to teach us some basic principles so that we can reach the next step. So a church does not grant us salvation, but it what it can do is give us the building blocks to reach a point where we can.   A church is supposed to teach us how to come before God and establish a personal relationship with Him. 

So with this in mind what do we do with the rest of our Sundays both before and after we attend church?  Our religion cannot simply exist while we are at church. When we get ready to go to church do we try to prepare ourselves mentally and spiritually so that we can learn and be taught?  Do we try to prepare ourselves spiritually so that we can teach others?  While we are at church do we question what we hear, do we attempt to determine the spirit that is there?  If someone teaches false doctrine do we recognize it?  If someone teaches true doctrine do we recognize it?  Are even paying attention, or are we busy thinking about something else?

When we go home from church do we try to maintain that same spirit?  Do we then seek out and study the Scriptures for ourselves?  Do we converse one with another about what we have heard and learned?  Do we teach our families?  

Or do we do is the world does and flip on the television and watch the latest sports program or the latest drama?  As you see there is a great contrast between what the world does and what Satan wants us to do versus what we must do if we want to obtain salvation. 

The Sabbath is a day that should be spent in prayer. It should be a day where we put aside our every day and worldly desires and pleasures and focus entirely on trying to become more like our Savior. If we can learn to do this even just one day a week, pretty soon the fruits of it begin the spill into the rest of our lives. Keep the sabbath day holy, both at church or anywhere else we are. 

Two Different People

I'll tell you a tale of two men. One man is a bit of a mess. He does lots of things he shouldn't. He cheats on his hours at work, he tells small lies to people, he rarely prays, he tries hard to fit into the world around him. He says mean and hurtful things to his spouse, he treats his parents poorly. He tries to get ahead with money, even if it means cheating people. 

There is a different man who attends his church regularly, praises those around his, pays his tithes, treats those around him with kindness and respect. Those around him look at his conduct and say he is a good neighbor and friend. 

Seems like a great contrast between these two people. What if I told you this is the same person. Many people have a "Sunday Religion" that is very different from how they actually live their lives. They somehow believe that if they put on a show, that the world will be fooled. 

But God won't be fooled. The opinions of men do not circumvent truth. The reality is that who we really are is revealed in what we do when we are not trying to impress someone.  In the above example, the first man is the real man, regardless of how unpleasant that may be. The second man is a work of fiction he created. He has turned his ideals into theory, and lives by a different standard. 

While we do need to keep the sabbath day holy, that does not mean we can put our religion away the other 6 days of the week. We must live our religion every day. 

Keep the Sabbath

My next topic is going to be on keeping the Sabbath. This commandment ought to be obvious. But I am aware that many professing Christians do not keep the sabbath day holy. 

So what does it mean to keep the sabbath?  Does it mean we occasionally go to church?  Does it mean we mean we get a day off work?

Let's be honest and ask ourselves a few questions. Do we want to develop a relationship with our Father?  If you answered yes, then is it to much to take one day out of our week and devote it to serving him?  Or do we want a lukewarm relationship?  Ok if we want a better relationship with that means that we need to set our earthly thoughts and labor aside in exchange for spiritual things. 

So do you work on the sabbath?  I know some people have to work on Sunday. I do not wish to judge or condemn those that do. The Sabbath is not necessarily on Sunday. If we have to work on Sunday then let's set aside another day of the week as our Sabbath and try to keep it. In an ideal world we wouldn't have to work on those days but in our modern society that seems to be a reality that is increasingly difficult to get away from. But that is no excuse for ourselves and if we have to set another day of the week aside as our Sabbath then let's do that. 

What about our own personal labors I know plenty of people who will go and clean the yard and mow the lawn and take care of all these other things on what should be the Sabbath. I understand peoples lives get busy but this ought not be so. I have found in my own life that if I endeavor to accomplish all my tasks so that I can keep my Sabbath free and open I am far more blessed spiritually and temporally.  I have the time to do my studies and prayers. I also end up finding more time to do my labors during the rest of the week.  

Many people enjoy watching sports and very often these events happened to land on Sunday. For other peoples they enjoy going out and watching a movie on Sunday. Other people enjoy shopping. Others go fishing. So let's again ask another question do these things draws closer towards God or they pull us away from him?  We need to spend sabbath doing things to get us closer to God.  

There of course blessings that come with the S but they are just natural consequences to the change that begins to occur in our hearts when we keep the Sabbath. Developing a relationship with our Father in heaven is a blessing. I have observed in watching others that those who consistently break the sabbath are also the same people who consistently become very different in their spiritual lives and her very often the ones that begin a path that leads to trouble. 

Debasing the Sacred

Filling along the same lines as my other recent posts, I want to share how profanity brings us down and destroys many of the basic fundamentals of family life, and directly attacks our faith.

When you think of most of the common cuss words, they are used in an angry form, though often they are connected with jokes and common gossip. All of these areas pull our minds away from things such as love and peace, kindness, friendliness, charity, etc. and instead focus our minds towards criticism, anger, dissection, greed, and other base attributes. 

Much of the harsher vocabulary takes words that could ultimately have good positive meanings, but instead reference the twisted corrupted versions of the concept. One example is the word "b***h". The word directly attacks womanhood. In my mind women need to be treated with respect and love, not degraded as trash. The word basically refers to women as nothing more than whiny, demanding, irritating, and difficult. 

Another example is "b*****d". The word references illegitimate children. As though such children are the scum of the earth. Now it can have other meanings too. While I would not speak such words, I think it's an accurate desription of someone who calls his wife or any other woman a b***h.  In my mind their are no illegitimate children, but there are certainly illegitimate parents. The children did not commit any wrongdoing, so why are they being referred to in such a manner for the alleged acts of their parents?

One that is used heavily in our society, that seems to be a substitute for just about everything is the f-bomb. Has our society's vocabulary sunk so low that some people use the word in just about every sentence?  The words original meaning is dark and twisted. It refers to an act that ought to be sacred, but instead drags it out as ugly sin and wickedness. The intimate relationship that ought to exist between a husband and wife instead becomes a low and degrading term that people allow to flow from their lips as a cursing. 

My intention was not to delve into every swear word, but rather to demonstrate that such language only serves to debase ourselves and those around us. Swearing and cursing takes things which should be handled with the uttermost care and respect, and turns them into dross. 

God ordained men and women to be united. Not for them to turn each other into representations of evil. God loves his children. He wants us to help each other, not tear each other down. In my opinion, whenever we commit acts or words which twist the beautiful creations of our God into something dark, we are taking the name of God in vain. 

Let us bless one another with our words and deeds, and cease from cursing one another, and let's stop polluting our hearts, minds, mouths, and ears with filth. 

Taking the Lords Name In Vain

This is connected with swearing and cussing. Many people do this, and God has issued a basic commandment not to. But how many of us know what this means?

I think the first meaning is obvious. People use the name of God lightly and freely. They use it in the same situations that they use other swear words. People say "Oh my G**!" all the time in the exact same way that common cursing is used. Likewise with J****, and the slang forms such as gee, gee wiz, golly, gosh, etc.

Now place yourself in God's position for a second and really think about this. If you created an Earth and put your children on it, would you appreciate it if your children referenced you in such a way?  The real problem is inward. If we treat the name of the Lord lightly, then it demonstrates that we treat Him lightly. Could you imagine treating your earthly mother and father that way?  Just as our earthly parents love us and want the best for us, our Heavenly Father loves us more than we can even comprehend. So it only makes sense that if we desire to become more like our God, we need to begin removing any traits within us that are contrary to Him. 

Using his name lightly in our speech is only one of the ways we take His name in vain.  The other ways however can make a great discussion on their own and will show it from a light and angle that many of us have never considered. 

It's not just what we say. Basically when we do things in his name and treat it lightly, we are taking his name in vain. That will be a good topic for another time. 

Profanity

The first topic I wish to discuss is the perverse language that is commonplace in our world. We hear it all around us. It's on television, in movies, in music.  It bombards us in our workplaces, in social settings etc.

So let's start with a question. What makes swearing bad?  Are there scriptural passages regarding the matter?  Can we draw closer to our Father in Heaven when we use such language?  These are serious questions that require serious answers. 

I do not swear. I was taught from my youth that it was a bad habit and the easiest way to avoid it was to never start, and to pick friends that don't swear. I understand as do you, that it is a hard habit to break, and it becomes part of who we are. 

When we pick up swearing, we make a statement about who we are, how we feel, how we think, how we view the world we live in. If we swear and cuss, we begin to choose who we want in our company. We will draw towards others who swear, and draw them towards us. We will also draw away from those who abstain from swearing and push them away. Who we associate with plays a major role in the course of our lives. In every step we take in our lives, we are either drawing towards God, or we a drawing nearer to the adversary. So if we desire to count ourselves as a friend of God, we need to speak in such a manner. 

Swearing is typically spoken in anger. When something doesn't go our way, it is often natural for people to burst out in cursing. Other times people swear when they joke and laugh. I have never heard swearing used in praising God, or in building up their fellow men. See where this is going. Swearing is directly related to light mindedness. We cannot be serious in our minds while giving way to habit. 

When I hear a man swearing the impression it leaves in my mind regarding their character is that the individual lacks self governance and control. That individual caves easily to the social pressures around them, and by connection, you can expect to see the same tendencies in other aspects of their lives. While this habit does not condemn them, nevertheless it is a weakness and it is often a stumbling block. 

An argument I have heard is that because it is so commonplace and accepted by society that it is not bad. I'm sorry, since when are we instructed to allow society to dictate morality and ethical standards?  Again, this attitude draws us towards the world and away from Christ. 

One of the worlds views is that swearing is a sign that you are tough and strong. Yet the reality is that rather than becoming stronger individuals, we are assimilating into the social collective. We are becoming a sheep among other sheep. 

I do not intend to attack or belittle those who happen to have this habit or other negative habits. Nor do I intend to place myself on s pedestal to claim I am better than someone else. I have my faults and shortcomings too. My point is, that if we want to grow, we need to have an honest look at ourselves, see where we need to improve, then DO IT. If swearing is an area you struggle with, try to improve it. Think about what you say.  Speak deliberately and purposefully. Learn how to effectively communicate. 

Introduction

I am striving to be a humble follower of Christ. I believe that we obtain salvation in accordance with our earnest efforts. I see the world we live in and the false messages it sends. These false messages must be directly countered with truth. I do not claim to be anything special, but if my words and example can help someone get closer to Christ and God, then I desire to serve. 

My faith is Mormonism, but I am not a member of the mainstream LDS church. I believe in the early organization that Joseph Smith Jr. restored, not in the hierarchal organization that the LDS church is today. The posts I share here are not radical doctrine, but rather the simple basic teachings of how we can become like our Father and like his son Jesus Christ. These are goals we should strive for regardless of what church we claim fellowship in.