What doctrines make you blush?

You know how it is.

You're just about to sit down to dinner when the doorbell rings. There, at the door...everyone's worst "just-about-to-sit-down-to-dinner" nightmare - Mormon missionaries.

That's what happened to me last week. However I was in the mood to engage our young friends. We got into a good discussion and I raised the question...

"Do you believe that there is only one God?"

Almost without hesitation, Elder Hall (I believe that was on his nametag) replied, "Yes!" Before he could continue I said, "No, no. I know you are going to say that we have one God for this world, but do you believe that there are many more gods besides this one? Don't you believe that you too have the potential to be a god?"

His head dropped and he looked toward the ground. "Well, um, yes..."

Last week I had the opportunity of having lunch with Chip Thompson, our missionary to Mormons in Utah. He was recounting how he got tickets into the General Conference of the LDS church in Salt Lake City. He was surprised at how openly they talked about doctrines in the conference like the one which our Mormon missionary blushed at. According to Chip, Mormons are reluctant to discuss these doctrines outside Mormon circles. He explained it as them being a bit ashamed of their strange doctrines. I suppose I would be self-conscious too if I really believed that I was going to be a god with a world of my own.

As I reflected on my encounter last night, I wondered if there are any doctrines that I am ashamed of.

I finished an article recently written by Wayne Grudem. He was addressing evangelical scholars about how seriously they took the Scriptures. Sure they all professed belief that "the Bible alone, and the Bible in its entirety, is the Word of God written", but did they believe it to the degree that they recognized it as the authority source for truth in confronting many modern issues? Did they believe it to the extent they they would faithfully quote from it, refer to it, and declare its truths to the unbelieving world?

Perhaps we who subscribe to such a glorious doctrine as the doctrine of the God-breathed Scriptures feel a bit foolish saying as much to a world which will not receive those who hold such a position graciously. If we really believe we hold God's words in our hands, should we be timid? Is it right for us to blush at this doctrine? We should rather joyfully proclaim our belief without reservation or hesitation.

We have nothing to be ashamed of. Indeed, we have everything to be confident of because we have God's Word and it is sufficient to address every need. Do you believe that?