I have been thinking about
worthiness vs. worthiness. It is minor thing but worth exploring.
The Church’s modern
definition of worthiness has to do with a standard that has be set that we can
compare ourselves against. For example, if I am temple worthy I have
stated that I meet a certain standard set by the Church.
On the other hand, the word
‘worthy’ in ancient times is used differently. They would still compare
themselves to a standard but would always find themselves coming up short.
Alma the Younger taught his son, Shiblon, the following:
Do not say: O
God, I thank thee that we are better than our brethren; but rather say: O
Lord, forgive my unworthiness,
and remember my brethren in mercy—yea, acknowledge your unworthiness before God
at all times. (Alma 38:14).
So, we members
of the Church, these days, say that we are worthy members of the Church and
Alma teaches to always acknowledge our unworthiness before God at all
times. Why is there an apparent discrepancy? Or, is there?
The obvious
answer is that we are talking about two different things. One is a
standard set by the Church and the other is a set by the Atonement of Jesus
Christ. Although this is true, it can be confusing. If I am worthy
before the Church, why am I unworthy before God? Shouldn’t I be worthy before
God?
We will always
be imperfect creatures. Even if we were to get pretty close to perfection
(completion) we still have sinned and do sin. Without Christ’s atonement
those sins can never be washed away. We can never go it alone in
this life. Does this make us unworthy? Yes, because we all require
Christ’s infinite atonement to make it back. Without Him we are nothing.
We are less than the dust of the earth. (Helaman 12:7-8, Moses 1:10)
The fact is that we all sin.
So, what can we become perfect at? We can become perfect in our
faith in Jesus Christ (Jacob 9:23). To develop faith, a main requirement
is to be meek and lowly in heart (Moroni 7:39,43). Being humble and
acknowledging our unworthiness before God at all times go hand in hand. Other
prophets describe perfect faith as unshaken faith in Christ, relying wholly
upon the merits of him who is might to save (2 Nephi 31:19). Others
describe this faith in Christ as “relying alone upon the merits of Christ, who
was the author and the finisher of their faith. (Moroni 6:4). And
humility is always the prerequisite (see v.2).
It is very humbling to know
that you are nothing without Jesus Christ. This may even go against
modern thought. Here’s the kicker: when we are connected to Christ, we
become perfect in Christ (Moroni 10:32), even in our unworthy state. Of
course, because we love the Lord for what He has done for us, and we love His
ways, and we want to change. This is all implied in our Christian discipleship.
Do not make sin and shame the
center of your life. Make Christ and His merits and His grace your
center. We will always be unworthy, imperfect creatures. That is
not the focus. Letting our lives be lit up by Christ (the Light) will
show our sins in the right perspective.
Being Church worthy is a
wonderful first step on the path of being a humble follower of Christ.
Scott
