To Send a Sword

What do we do when we're searching for answers--or even when we're not--and we encounter something that clashes with our already established beliefs? It's very easy, natural even, to interpret these differences as a personal attack.  And of course, the natural response to an attack is to either "fight" or "flee"; to respond with hostility or fear. However, there is ample evidence that earnest truth seekers are expected to engage with opinions that differ from our own but to do so in a way that maximizes the chances of both parties coming away edified.

That we shouldn't simply shy away from conflict is hinted by the Savior's own declaration that He "came not to send peace, but a sword." How do we reconcile this with the angelic declaration, "on earth peace, good will toward men" (Luke 2:14)? We read a clarification of this saying in Luke 12:51, in which the word "sword" is replaced with "division." Clearly, the preaching of the Gospel of Christ has caused and will continue to cause division amongst those who hear it. Not merely division between believers and non-believers, but also between believers of different sects. Differences in interpretation of scripture have caused no small amount of contention. This shouldn't surprise us. We are, after all, talking about weighty matters, including the salvation of the souls of all men and women to ever be born. God does not want us to be lukewarm when it comes to the Gospel. Rather, He wants us to diligently, even zealously seek truth and then treasure it and defend it once found.

However, that doesn't mean we must consider those whose beliefs differ from our own to be our enemies. (And even if we did, we'd still be commanded to love them.) The Lord's purpose is not to stir people up to anger. How then do we engage without becoming hostile? The imagery of a sword--as opposed to another more blunt weapon like a club or staff--is instructive. In Hebrews 4:12 the word of God is described as being "sharper than any twoedged sword... to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." In this passage, the keen-edged sword appears to be an instrument of surgical precision, capable of dividing truth from error. We can and must do the same when encountering differing belief systems. Divide truth from error and good from bad, even from the same source. Nobody but Christ is ever 100% correct. But rarely, if ever, will we encounter someone who is 100% in error. Everyone has something we can learn from. It's up to us to discover what that is while also holding firm to the truth we have already received.

Let us develop the courage to wield the sword of the word of God. When we must strike down error, let us do so without striking down friends.

This is the fifth in a series of Sour Peppers on personal revelation.

Study in your Mind

At first glance, the idea that we must study for ourselves to receive wisdom may seem at odds with the principle of trusting in God to grant us the answers we seek. However, throughout the scriptures, we find reminders that we need to also put in the effort of finding what it is we're looking for. We must "prove all things" (1 Thessalonians 5:21), we must ask, seek, and knock (Matthew 7:7), we must "meditate... day and night" (Joshua 1:8). God has given us the ability to think, to study, and to reason. He expects us to exercise those abilities and to increase them through careful and deliberate use. That's not to say we need to be scholars in order to receive revelation from God. But we should make use of whatever faculties and resources are available to us, given our own unique situation and circumstance.

Of course, if we rely solely on our own faculties to find the answers we seek, we will either fail, or we will lack the surety of the truthfulness of the answers we receive. Which is why we must pray to God to ask Him if what we have found is correct. These two pieces--study and prayer--are crucial and synergistic. If we neglect either one, we may not find what we seek. However, when we do both, our ability to find answers will be increased in a virtuous cycle: our prayers will be more purposeful and focused, and we will be blessed with confidence and direction in our studies.

This is the fourth in a series of Sour Peppers on personal revelation.

Cry Day and Night

This question follows the Lord's parable of the unjust judge, who agreed to avenge a widow of her adversary, not because he cared about her or her well being, but rather because she kept asking for his help and he didn't want her bothering him anymore. The implication being, if the unjust judge would help the widow because of her persistence, how much more will God, who loves us, grant our righteous desires if we will be patient and persist in prayer unto him and if it be His will.

While this verse can apply to any righteous desire that we have, it is of particular importance when seeking knowledge in the form of personal revelation. We may not receive our answers right away. That's okay. Sometimes (often in fact) we will need to be patient. But while we are waiting to receive our answer, we should continue in earnest prayer, which will demonstrate to our Heavenly Father that the knowledge we seek is important to us, and that we trust that He is able to provide it unto us.

This is the third in a series of Sour Peppers on personal revelation.

Ask in Faith

Somewhat less well-known than the verse immediately preceding it, James 1:6 reminds us that when we ask God for wisdom, we must ask in faith. Remember that faith is a principle of action. In other words, to receive wisdom from God, we must be willing to act on the wisdom we receive. To do otherwise would be like asking an expert navigator for a map to get us through waters we've never traveled before, and then throwing the map away, instead allowing the ever changing winds and currents to take us wherever they will. God is not likely to answer a question asked out of mere curiosity, or motivated only by a desire to confirm what we already believe. But when we humble ourselves enough to acknowledge that He knows the correct path better than we do, and when we are willing to accept whatever answer He gives us (even if the answer is unexpected or unwanted), we may pray for wisdom, confident that the answer we receive will be His will.

This is the second in a series of Sour Peppers on personal revelation.

Ask of God

This is the first in a series of Sour Peppers I intend to do on personal revelation. That is, receiving guidance from God. We start with what is probably the most well known passage of scripture on the subject among Latter Day Saints: the passage from the Bible that inspired Joseph Smith to ask God which of all the churches of his day was right, and which he should join. Joseph had pondered this question for a long time before receiving his answer. He wanted to do the right thing, but in spite of all his best efforts, his studies, and seeking guidance from local ecclesiastical leaders, was unable to come to a decision on his own (see Joseph Smith History 1:5-12). During his studies however, he came across this verse, which teaches us several important things about obtaining answers from God:

• If we lack wisdom (that is, if we don't know the answer to an important question or problem) we can ask God.
• God gives wisdom to all, liberally (in great abundance).
• God does not upbraid, meaning He does not punish us for asking Him sincere questions.
• Those who ask for wisdom will receive it. We may need to be patient, but answers will come.

Joseph received his answer, and we can too. If there is a problem in your life, and worldly wisdom has failed to bring you a satisfactory solution, try going to the Source of all truth: our Heavenly Father, Himself.