Usually, in this blog, I address well-known problems, point out a different way of thinking about them and then point out solutions.
Today’s post and the series that follows is radically different.
I believe I’ve identified a problem, a significant problem in the Church. It has no proffered solution because no one seems aware of it. No one seems aware of it because it has no name. It has no name because no one seems to have zeroed in on the fact that it IS a problem even though it is.
Great, more problems we didn’t even know about.
It probably existed in the past but not to the extent that it does now. And, the key is excess because what I’m going to condemn isn’t wrong in and of itself, it’s simply being taken to excess.
So, I’m doing the following:
- Identifying the problem
- Giving it a name
- Explaining the various facets of why it’s a problem.
- Proposing solutions
I can’t do all this in one blog posting. So, this will be a series of postings unfolding over the next few days. There will be a total of 9. The series is called “Spiritual Vaunting and the Perils of the Rameumptom Syndrome”. The outline is below. Each day a new link will go live until the series is complete.
Spiritual Vaunting and the Perils of the Rameumptom Syndrome
- An Introduction to the Introduction
- Introduction: Spiritual Vaunting - Defined and Setting the Stage
- Part 1: A Tendency to Display Ourselves - Look at Me!
- Part 2: Excessive Talking About Ourselves!
- Part 3: Everything is About Me!
- Part 4: Self Congratulations for Everything!
- Part 5: What’s In It for Me?!
- Part 6: Gimme the Credit!
- Part 7: Solutions - This Needs to Stop!
“As teachers, we may speak with the tongues of angels; we may entertain, delight, amuse, astound. But if we have failed in keeping our focus on Jesus Christ, we have missed the mark and our teaching is only a shadow of what it ought to be. Always keep the focus on our Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ.” Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “Teaching in the Savior’s Way with Elder Uchtdorf”. Address given June 12, 2022. Accessed June 12, 2022 from https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/broadcasts?lang=eng&video=19634698842979671470&mode=watch
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