Maren forwarded this, calling it "Awesome!" I think it is very good too. It makes me appreciate how lucky Maren has been in getting the Mission President she has. - Ty
The Mighty God
Many times during the Christmas season we hear the lament that Christ has been taken out of Christmas. Indeed, much of the celebration of the birth of the Savior has been lost amongst commercialism and gift giving. But, perhaps more troubling is how Christ himself has been diminished in the eyes of many, including those professing a belief in God and Jesus Christ. Too often he is relegated to the position of teacher, philosopher, leader of a movement, or martyr. We, of course, know better. He is and was much more than this.
King Benjamin and other prophets foretold the coming of the Messiah, describing his role as the Son of God and the Savior of the world. But, they also knew he would be diminished and rejected by many.
“And he shall cast out devils, or the evil spirits which dwell in the hearts of the children of men. And lo, he shall suffer temptations, and pain of body, hunger, thirst, and fatigue, even more than man can suffer, except it be unto death; for behold, blood cometh from every pore, so great shall be his anguish for the wickedness and the abominations of his people. And he shall be called Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Father of heaven and earth, the Creator of all things from the beginning; and his mother shall be called Mary. And lo, he cometh unto his own, that salvation might come unto the children of men even through faith on his name; and even after all this they shall consider him a man, and say that he hath a devil, and shall scourge him, and shall crucify him.” (Mosiah 3:6-9)
A favorite quote of mine comes from the author and philosopher C.S. Lewis:
“I am trying to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: "I am ready to accept Jesus as the great moral teacher, but I don't accept His claim to be God." That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic … else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God: or else a madman or something worse. You can shut Him up for a fool, you can spit at Him and kill Him as demon; or you can fall at His feet and call Him Lord and God. But let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about His being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.” (C. S. Lewis, Mere Christianity)
That is how we should feel about and teach about Christ. There is no middle ground. He either was and is all that he proclaimed to be or he was a madman. We either believe everything about Christ or accept nothing. And, further, we either accept all of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ or we accept none. There is no middle ground. That has not been left open to us.
What a thrill it is to hear and contemplate the titles of the Savior as proclaimed by the prophet Isaiah as he foretold His coming to earth.
“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6)
Let us all have deep love in our hearts for the mighty God who is Jesus Christ.
Your fellow servant in Christ, President Doll
