I think the injunction to preach to all is followed very well by “The Church” and much less well by the members. I know some of the most successful contacts on my mission were with people who didn’t seem “ready” for the Gospel - and that included the punker, the man living with his girlfriend, the addict AND the rich and well-educated. Yet, in my callings, I constantly see and hear members talking about who might be “ready” to hear and accept the Gospel - as if there is a formula that can be followed. There simply isn’t.
Everyone is a potential disciple of Christ from our limited perspective. Pres. Hinckley was asked once why we send missionaries to Christian areas and countries. His answer, in essence, simply was that we can't know who is looking for more truth about Jesus until we ask them. I really love that answer. I would add that we have no idea who yearns for a better understanding of their divine nature until we ask.
3 comments:
We have a slightly different situation here. My nephew, who is bipolar and has been manic and has stopped taking medication, has decided to come back to church (he was baptized at age 8 but that was really his last and only contact with the church). Now, we certainly want to support him, and are trying to as best we can, but his ideas are a little out there right now. I won't go into any more detail, but I admit I'm feeling like I need to give my bishop a bit of warning.
Definitely talk to your Bishop, Christy. This is one situation where people should know that they might need to view him like they would someone with Ausperger's or some other condition that can affect how one acts or talks.
I don't know a better way to say it, but if everyone knows that "he's a little off in his thinking" it will be much easier to let him be himself and not take offense at what he might say.
When Jesus was criticized for eating with publicans and sinners His response was that He didn't come to call the righteous to repentance... we need to open our minds to the fact that it's often those who aren't whole (who we may see as not being "ready") that are most in need of the Healer's touch.
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