Dean writes,

"...this kind of informal Christianity, while meeting immediate
social needs, leaves out a great deal, especially in understanding
the Hebrew concept of holiness. The Christianity of the early
centuries met in homes with a bare minimum of forms and usages
not by choice but due to circumstances. It was under heavy
persecution and unable to fully express itself...."

Dean's last statement "...it [Christianity] was under persecution and unable
to fully express itself..." especially validates my point.

Point Number One: religious persecution of Christians is still as prevalent
today as it was in biblical days; it's simply changed colors. But it's just
as real. And the torture is just as painful. As believers, we're still
thrown into the Lion's den and eaten alive. If you don't believe me, next
Sunday during Sacrament's testimony service, stand up before your Bishop and
say to the congregation, ".I have a prophecy I would like to deliver." And
then begin, ".thus saith the Lord,."

Three hours later you will be eaten alive.

There are other forms of torture than physical. Most of us DO subscribers
have felt the blows.

Point Number Two: Times have not changed. Dean states, "..it was under
persecution and unable to fully express itself.."

That's exactly why we're meeting in homes! I have a friend, Tom Wood, who
for the longest time tried his best to get me into the LDS baptismal font.
"Lynn, what's holding you back?" he said with a tinge of frustration in his
voice. I finally said, "Tom, about the first time I stand up and give a
message in tongues in your worship service, I'd be canned."

"You're right. We don't do those things."

I'll say it again, we're unable to fully express ourselves in most LDS &
RLDS churches. Some of us simply want to possess what Joseph and the early
saints possessed.

".I have seen the power of God as it was on the day of Pentecost.I saw the
Lord.The angels of God rested upon the Temple and we heard their voices
singing heavenly music."
--Zebedee Coltrin, eyewitness, 1836

Lynn

----- Original Message -----
From: Sterling D. Allan <sterlingda@...>
To: Dean Mansfield <dalet_mem@...>
Cc: David's Outcasts e-group <davids_outcasts@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Tuesday, July 17, 2001 3:22 PM
Subject: Fw: [888] Re: Cathedrals v. Home Church


> And it will be the increased persecutions of the coming tribulations that
> will help foster the need for "home church." Public meetings will be
> outlawed.
>
> I actually look forward to it. But then again, we know it is better to
> choose the better way than to be coaxed into it by very uncomfortable
> circumstances. That is why I think it behooves us to be seeking to work
in
> this direction now, before we 'have to.'
>
> Sterling
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: <jared@...>
> To: <davids_outcasts@yahoogroups.com>
> Sent: Tuesday, July 17, 2001 1:36 PM
> Subject: [888] Re: Cathedrals v. Home Church
>
>
> >>The Christianity of the early centuries met in
> >>homes with a bare minimum of forms and usages not
> >>by choice but due to circumstances. It was under
> >>heavy persecution and unable to fully express itself.
>
> The persecution never ended. Nor will it end until
> Jesus Christ returns. Why else are we commended to
> endure to the end? What happened was not an easing
> of persecution, but a turnaround: Christians corrupted
> and became the persecutors! Led by political hierarchy,
> the great mass of Christians started getting involved in
> wars over land ownership, forsaking the war in heaven,
> and took control over things which belong to Caesar,
> forsaking the things which are in heaven.
>
> The Record of the Nephites is very clear on how these
> trends occur, and how God responds to such corruption,
> with prophets like Abinadi, Moroni, and others.
>
> The truest Christians are still persecuted as strongly
> as the original ones. They are harder to discern, among
> the great crowd of souls who claim Christianity but do not
> act on its principles.
>
> A premise of this website, that today's gentiles are
> like the jews of Jesus's day, holds true.
>
> -Jared
>
>
>
>
> "Would to God that all the Lord's people were prophets"
>
> www.greaterthings.com/OpenForum/Davids_Outcasts/
>
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>
>
>
>
>
> "Would to God that all the Lord's people were prophets"
>
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