I had a delightful conversation last month with Dave Rowe, the author of I [heart] Mormons: A New Way to Share Christ with Latter-day Saints. Dave is among a handful of people who’ve demonstrated to me (not just talked about) an ability to set aside differences in theology to relate at a human level. My friend Jim Henderson calls this “defending the space”. This clip highlights some of Dave’s thoughts concerning Christians approaching Mormons, but beneath the surface I hope to have captured a little bit of Dave’s heart for people. I definitely felt it in person.
As I listened to Dave talk, I felt an affinity with his Mormon friends. Many of my beliefs are based more on feelings than analytical evidence. When people try to prove me wrong, it feels like we are on separate wavelengths.
Do you relate to anyone in Dave’s clip?
Updating…
Dave Rowe is the Dean of Spiritual Life at Salt Lake Theological Seminary and has written a book called I [heart] Mormons.
EXCELLENT video! EXCELLENT content…I couldn’t agree more!
I wonder how Dave would respond to a Mormon saying that Christians aren’t really interested in head-based logic, analysis, and rational argument, but rather should be spoken to with romantic heart-language?
Interesting shoe-on-the-other-foot question, Benjamin. Probably the reason I’ve never been asked that is, by and large traditional Christians (especially when they do apologetics) don’t live there, don’t make their home in that camp. We’re more likely to be at risk for being mistaken for rationalistic Stoics or something resembling modern Scribes.
BUT in the unusual event that the shoe fit, I’d say that kind of effort at cultural sensitivity and understanding is certainly commendable if it means the LDS person genuinely wishes to speak the cultural language of the Christian he or she knows; indeed, it’s no different from using highly symbolic and narrative discourse when speaking to Jews (as we see in Old Testament literature) or from Hudson Taylor adopting the attire and hair style of a Chinese teacher when he moved to inland China.
BTW there are certainly exceptions to every rule: I’ve met rational, analytical Mormons before and am fully aware there are some of them out there–and I adapt accordingly.
Dave,
thanks for your gracious reply.
The reason I asked is because while I know very little about Mormonism, the Christians in my experience, by and large, have *claimed* to have this logic, analysis, apologetics thing happening, but from inside me it looks very much like they are much more about following/believing something because they chosen it with their heart, despite contradictions, fallacies, and/or outright silliness.
I wonder what proportion of Christians became Christians because they analyzed it and made and came to the clear headed conclusion that it holds together well and makes sense logically, and what percentage of Christians became and/or are still Christians because the story works for them at the heart level?
Maybe *most* of us are the same way as you describe the Mormons? Maybe *most* of us when it comes down to the bottom line choose what we believe and who we hang out with by following our heart rather than our head?
I couldn’t agree more with Benjamin. Very few religions tend to make much sense when analyzed. Most religions are a perception based on a romantic pull to ideas we’ve formed based on little actual facts or evidence. Some may be more out-there than others, but it’s all based on romantic ideals.
On the flip side I think we (Western culturized Christians) tend to discount that God also made us emotional beings. Jesus was sad “Jesus wept”, Jesus was angry (overturning the money changers tables), etc. The difficulty is that emotions can be wrong some of the time. But our emotions reveal, if analyzed, something that is going on within or without us that can be identified intellectually. If we are intentional about our analysis and with the help of the Holy Spirit we can determine the “truthfulness” of our emotions. However, that can take time… something that we have little tolerance for in our culture.
Terry,
can you elaborate on the idea of emotions being wrong/right true/untrue? Specific examples?
I’ll use a recent example. We were giving a TV away and a single mom wanted it. In the process of delivering it I found out that her home phone, cell phone, and cable had recently been turned off because she couldn’t pay the bills. My heart broke for her and it reminded me just how hard it must be to be a single parent. My emotion caused me to act and I contacted some people in our church to help her. There is more to the story but the bottom line is that without really thinking about it my immediate emotional response was a result of a simple “truth” that we are to take care of those in need. This was an example of an emotion that was in “truth” but I can think of other times when my emotion was not based in truth, usually because I did not have all the facts or the right perspective at the time I was experiencing the emotion. I believe that God created us in his image which includes heart, soul, mind, spirit, and emotions. The Bible contains many statements about God being an emotional being including jealousy, anger, etc. I just think we tend to minimize that in our Western Christian culture.
Great Clip!
While I was in High School, my family converted to Mormonism. I too joined and went head strong into the faith. We have since left the church – yet I find a pull every now and then to Mormonism. What this video has shown me, is the pull to go back is not in my brain, but a tug in my heart. The romantic attraction is very real. Dr. Rowe hit right at the reason most people even consider converting to Mormonism – it caters to the heart.
In just 2:26, this video has helped me better understand those nagging feelings that try to pull me back to Mormonism. It is much like the romantic pull a former girlfriend might have years down the road. The reality is the relationship is over…but the romantic pull of it still tugs at the heart.
Great video!
…and isn’t that what we all really want anyways? Something that speaks into us, something that resonates through our body. Not necessarily that it makes perfect “sense”, but that it touches the deepest, truest part of us. Aren’t we all, on some level, looking for meaning and truth that is emotionally tangible and fulfilling? I definitely agree with Dave on how Christians can often be analytical and rational and leave out what is the most important part. The bible talks so much of how the relationship between man and Christ is like husband and wife. We say that, but do we think about that in a truly intimate manner? That Christ is our lover, seeking us out, tugging at our hearts and wooing us?
BTW, author John Eldredge, in my opinion, does an excellent job of speaking about Chirst in this more romantic, epic way that touches the reader at a deeper level.