I presume this topic will never be fully clear to us all ,but it is certainly clear what scripture discloses concerning other doctrines including the "triune being of God or Godhead which is manifested in three distinct, yet at the same time, individual persons.
But when there are so many opposing doctrinal teachings that contridict what scripture says concerning such topics as the nature of God, it would seem to me to make things that much more confusing and conflicting.
So I think it is the source and volitity of other doctrines, books, writings that need to be examined first and compared with the truth of scriptures....for example, if one of your books teach a certain view concerning God,
ie: "the father has a body of flesh and bone as tangible as mans" D&C 130:22 ...while scripture claims an opposing view,
Jhn 4:24God [is] a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship [him] in spirit and in truth.
2Cr 3:17Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord [is], there [is] liberty.
...now if God is flesh and bone, how can he enter his own heaven..it's contridictory.
1Cr 15:50Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.
....it must line up with what scriptures say, how else could it be considered Christian teaching if it conflicts with what Jesus or all the writer's of the bible have said,it's a double standard and God is not the author of confusion.
How difficult it must be to accurately believe something with two opposing views.
So if this is the case with minor doctrinal teachings of the bible, how can we move forward to investigate more elaborate doctrines of scripture.
Here's another,ie:
"The birth of the Saviour was as natural as are the births of our children; it was the result of natural action. He partook of flesh and blood - was begotten of his Father, as we were of our fathers." (Journal of Discourses, Vol. 8: p. 115)
"Christ was begotten by an Immortal Father in the same way that mortal men are begotten by mortal fathers" (Mormon Doctrine," by Bruce McConkie, p. 547)
Mat 1:18Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together,
she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.
Mat 1:20But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife:
for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.
I am sure you do have your convictions and beliefs of the nature of God and I appreciate your position and respect your views,but my confusion with this is that your other books don't line up with what the bible teaches, so it's understandable how opposing views we wil have
What is Christ centered mean to you?
If I say that God is like us, having flesh and bone, have I not just declared that God is mortal
1Ti 1:17Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, [be] honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
If I claim Jesus had natural intercourse to conceive, have I just made God and the prophet out to be a liar
If I claim Christ is the brother of Lucifer, is this Christ centered. This accusation or belief is no different to how Christ defended himself aginst those religious leaders who actually accused him of being of satan.
Mat 12:24But when the Pharisees heard [it], they said, This [fellow] doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils.
Saying one thing and believing things that are contrary to scripture is quite another, but I don't think you see this.
I won't make such a statement, but it begs the question, " what defines a christian"
It has gone both ways, we as well are not considered Christian by many Mormons because we don't accept the Mormon teachings.
The religious leaders looked for the Christ and obeyed the commands, but did'nt much accept what they got and therfore became enimies of Christ as is clear in scripture.
