Light of Christ, which is given to all men and is not a Person (“Personage”). “The light of Christ is related to man’s conscience and tells him right from wrong.” (LDS Bible Dictionary, pg. 725). Many Spirit-filled Christians would consider the LDS concept of the Light of Christ to be a person’s conscience (see Part Two: Light of Christ).
2)The Person of the Holy Spirit. Although He has no physical body, He does have His own unique personality and ministry. This includes the perceived (felt) nearness of the presence of the Holy Spirit Himself. The experience of regularly feeling the subtle presence of the Holy Spirit is cherished in the lives of both Spirit-filled Christians and Latter-day Saints (see Part Two: Holy Spirit).
3)The Power of the Holy Spirit, which is strongly felt, and can come mightily upon all men. The power of the Holy Spirit will come and go, depending on the situation. This mighty feeling is also felt by both Latter-day Saints and Spirit-filled Christians alike (see Part Two: Holy Spirit).
4)The LDS priesthood Gift of the Holy Spirit, which is given only through laying on of hands by the authorized LDS priesthood. Of course, He is the same Holy Ghost (Holy Spirit) that is regularly experienced by both Spirit-filled Christians and Latter-day Saints alike. However, with the LDS Gift of the Holy Spirit, because of the covenant, “the Spirit” (Holy Spirit) is able to go deeper and higher, and remain with a person, to never leave them, as long as they continue to walk in faith and try to live a life of integrity (“worthiness”). The LDS priesthood Gift of the Holy Spirit is much like having a marriage covenant. There is no temporal difference in a man and woman the day before their wedding, and the day after their wedding. They are still the same people. But the covenant makes all the difference in their lives. The husband and wife feel that covenant difference. They experience a covering, as long as the other also continues to honor their covenant. LDS deeply feel this priesthood covenant Gift of the Holy Spirit. It is different from the Light of Christ, the Person of the Holy Spirit and the Power of the Holy Spirit (see Part Two: Holy Spirit).
Latter-day Saints may forget that many people (both ancient and modern) have experienced the Light of Christ, as well as both the nearness of the Person of the Holy Spirit and the power of the Holy Spirit. Spirit-filled Christians regularly cherish their experience with both the Person of the Holy Spirit and the power of the Holy Spirit. Of course, because they are not members of the LDS Church, SFC do not experience the LDS priesthood Gift of the Holy Spirit. These concepts are dealt with in greater detail in Chapter Three.
Besides the language barrier, there are some basic differences in mindset and thought patterns between Spirit-filled Christians and Latter-day Saints. Three of the most prevalent differences in viewpoint are:
(1)Each group has its own church traditions and beliefs regarding the best ways to invite and encourage the presence of the Holy Spirit. Because He (“the Spirit”) will always come when honorably and sincerely invited in the name of Jesus, each group has experienced Him within the ways their church traditionally teaches and operates. By stepping outside our comfort zones, and by being willing to look beyond our personal favorite and comfortable traditions, each of us can experience the Holy Spirit in ever expanding ways. As we choose to love, to exercise faith and to trust in Him to lead us, incredible glories will be opened up to us. God has so much more for us beyond the familiar traditions of our forefathers (see Part Two: Holy Spirit).
(2)Latter-day Saints cannot imagine the Celestial Kingdom (Kingdom of Heaven) without the Priesthood and without families. Spirit-filled Christians cannot imagine the Kingdom of Heaven (Celestial Kingdom) without Holy Spirit anointed, consecrated and consummated praise and worship, and without a King. Neither of these viewpoints excludes the other. The focus of the respective groups will reflect their particular viewpoint.
(3)Spirit-filled Christians tend to focus more on the concept of the power of the Holy Spirit coming upon an individual (Acts 1:8). Latter-day Saints focus more on a believer in Christ allowing the Holy Spirit to flow out of them (John 7:38). The result is that Spirit-filled Christians tend to talk more about God’s part in the process of sanctification, whereas Latter-day Saints tend to talk more about the individual’s part in the same process. Neither of these viewpoints excludes the other. Latter-day Saints tend to focus more upon an individual’s choice to submit to and obey God’s revealed will (commandments), while Spirit-filled Christians focus more upon yielding to the Holy Spirit’s promptings, which will then inevitably keep that person in the center of God’s will.
Of course there are some doctrinal differences between SFC and LDS, besides believing whether or not Joseph Smith was a prophet and the Book of Mormon is from God. Three of these major doctrinal differences are:
(1)Whether or not Heavenly Father has a glorified body and what He looks like:
Spirit-filled Christians know that Jesus Christ has a glorified celestial body with glorified, celestial flesh and bones. Although the Bible has many verses that talk about our Heavenly Father sitting on a throne, having eyes, ears, face, back, etc., LDS beliefs go a step further. They believe Jesus’ glorified resurrected body of flesh and bones resembles that of our Heavenly Father’s, who also has a glorified body of celestial flesh and bones (see Part Two: Physical Body of God).
(2)When to accept the Gospel of Jesus Christ:
The LDS belief is that every person ever born will at some point hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ and have opportunity to repent of their sins and be saved (come unto Christ). Repentance can occur even after someone dies. Spirit-filled Christians, on the other hand, feel this belief is a terrible deception, which Satan uses to lead unsuspecting people quietly to hell. SFC feel this teaching ignores the urgent need to come to Christ during a person’s time on earth.
(3)The best ways to experience and invite the Holy Spirit:
The most significant doctrinal difference between the LDS and SFC is that although each are regularly accustomed to inviting and experiencing the presence of the Holy Spirit in both their congregational and personal worship, each group uses different methods. Each group’s favorite methods are often not shared by the other group. This perpetuates the belief that the Holy Spirit is not welcome and/or present in the other group’s personal and congregational worship, and that Satan is in fact deceiving the other group. When either group limits how the Holy Spirit is invited to manifest His presence, it grieves the Holy Spirit. He is called to be our Counselor and Teacher. When we limit Him to our traditions, this also limits our ability to grow “progress” in the Lord (see Part Two: Holy Spirit). Spirit-filled Christians may refer to this as “tying His (the Holy Spirit’s) hands behind His back.”
Chapter Two: The Brick Wall
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Does This Sound Familiar?
Setting: Cafeteria
Eve and Justin: Two acquaintances, each deeply committed to their faiths.
Eve: (softly singing) “There’s a sweet, sweet Spirit in this place, and I know that it’s the Spirit of the Lord.” That was an awesome worship service last night! The Presence of the Lord was so strong … Oh, it’s my turn. “I’ll take the chicken please, and can I have extra vegetables? Thanks.” (Eve picks up her tray and walks into the lunchroom). Now, where am I going to sit? Jesus, please direct my path, just like we talked about last night. I want to be a fisher of men for Your glory.
Justin: (looking up) “Hi, Eve. Are you waiting for someone, or would you like to join me?”
Eve:
