So really, who is going to hell?

Ah, the Mike Huckabee supporters are just loving the “Did you know Mormons believe Jesus and Satan were brothers?” question. I’m simply not worried or offended by it. In fact I was surprised to learn that all Christians don’t hold that belief. Isaiah talks about Satan falling from heaven “Oh Lucifer, son of the Morning” right in chapter 14.

Mormons believe that everyone and everything was created by God- you, me and all the guys in maximum security. Christ is the Only Begotten in the flesh, the Prince of Peace and the Savior of Mankind.

I was running with my friend Geralyn this morning and we were griping about all this Mormon hatred (we were actually Huckabee supporters until a few weeks ago—just because Mitt is a Mormon doesn’t necessarily mean he has my vote).

Geralyn told me of a conversation she had with a good friend who is also an Evangelical minister. She asked the minister to give her honest opinion of Mormons after living in Utah and associating with them often. “You are lovely people,” she replied, “and you do all kinds of wonderful things. But really I believe you are all going to hell.”

What?!! I don’t understand that sort of thinking. Judgment is for God, not man, and I can’t imagine condemning an entire group of people simply because their beliefs are different from mine. Even my athiest friends don’t have a very good shot of brimstone for eternity.

Mormons seem strict in a lot of things but we have a pretty lenient vision of hell. Real hell is reserved only for the truly evil Hitler, Jeffrey Dahmer, wife abuser types. Others will simply spend eternity in a shopping mall or watching cable TV (and they will be happy with that) and heaven will be chock full of happy people with babies, books, chocolate, flowers and long lazy conversations. We also believe there will be lots and lots of chances to make it to heaven. So if we don’t convert you in this life we can just talk about it in the next.

Obviously, not all Evangelicals have such disdain for Mormons. But really, as far as basic beliefs go you’d think we’d be best buds. I buy Evangelical books and subscribe to their magazines– I think they are so inspiring. We both believe in chastity, strong families, honest charitable living and most importantly, the majesty, atonement and redemption of Jesus Christ.

I just finished the New Testament again yesterday and simply could not figure out why the Evans are so angry with us. There it is right in Rev. 20:12 “and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works” and then in Rev. 21:7 “He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.”

Those are the big two aren’t they? That’s why they hate us? Because we believe that our actions do matter and that we will inherit all God has? I’m not sure; but I wish we could agree. We’d have so much fun and be able to do so much good together.