“…and now, if you believe all these things see that ye do them.” Mosiah 4:10
Don’t you think the last part is the biblical version of Just Do It? There is some advertising agency out there that stumbled across this truth and found a way to market it and in some bizarre way, that sold running shoes.
Yet, this scripture isn’t trying to sell us a thing. Instead, it is trying to guide us and pull us out of our apathy by letting our belief be our motivator. Belief that we can repent and be forgiven. That humility is powerful and life changing.
And if you want to run on a lonely road while you ponder this truth…I’m sure Nike wouldn’t mind.
Good point. And yes, I agree with what you say.
It’s true, sometimes it just comes down to it, just do it. I know I have waffled about many things in my life, but really, spiritually (and in other ways)just “doing it” is what is needed to be done.
Actually you’ve missed an essential part of the verse.
if you believe …
This is really a contract.
If you believe then just do these things.
If you don’t believe, well …
Hmmm…
Bad things will happen to you.
Sounds a bit like coercion.
There’s also the fact that the audience was not really given a choice of whether or not they could believe, since in the verse preceding king Ben has said,” Believe in God; believe that he is, and that he created all things …”
Later he goes on to say,”But this much I can tell you, that if ye do not watch yourselves, and your thoughts, and your words, and your deeds, … ye must perish.”
Not much room for the skeptic really.
“If you don’t believe, well …
Hmmm…
Bad things will happen to you.”
Will they? After all, bad things happen to good people all the time. More specifically, bad things happen to believers all the time.
Can we say unequivocally that unbelievers will be punished? Perhaps those who fight against the Church, but all unbelievers across the board?
Specifically in reagrd to 1 Cor. Ben is laying down the law.
Believe, and ‘just do it’ or else you’ll perish.
That’s pretty unequivocal.
In this case, however, he is speaking to people who, for all intents and purposes, were members of the Church. In other words, “you have already been told these things, you’re supposed to believe these things, now get off your butt and do them”.
Sort of like members of the Church today.
Interesting comments Rick…
If’s are one of the great things about life. If’s remind us we have a choice. Their is no force or bullying. You are the captain of your destiny…for better or for worse. Choice does not assume that a few wrong turns will doom you. It is a scripture inviting the sinner as well as the saint.
I was used to hearing Spencer Kimball’s slogan long before Nike started using it.