Works, Faithfulness, and Perfectionism

Stephan Taeger is an assistant professor in Ancient Scripture at Brigham Young University. He received a PhD from BYU in Instructional Design and Technology. Stephan’s research focuses on Homiletics (the study of preaching), narrative instruction, and ancient scripture. He is also an author and co-host of the RVVL podcast with David Butler.

Links

Y Religion: Justification by Faith
The Science of Speaking in Sacrament Meeting | An Interview with Stephan Taeger
President Spencer W. Kimball: “Jesus the Perfect Leader”
Sermons and talks by Timothy Keller on YouTube
Stephan Taeger: “Declared Guiltless: Justification by Faith in the Latter-day Saint Classroom”
Toxic Perfectionism at Church | An Interview with Justin Dyer
Justification: God’s Plan, Paul’s Vision
N.T. Wright on YouTube
Weakness Is Not Sin: The Liberating Distinction That Awakens Our Strengths
RVVL Podcast
StephanTaeger.com
Tim Keller: Sin as Self-Deceit
Watch the video and share your thoughts in the Zion Lab community
Transcript available with the video in the Zion Lab community

Highlights

00:04:00 – Stephan Taeger’s Background and Teaching Focus
00:05:00 – Influence of Tim Keller on Understanding Justification
00:06:00 – Justification Explained
00:09:00 – The Relationship Between Justification and Works
00:10:30 – Understanding the Role of Covenants
00:11:30 – The Importance of Faithfulness
00:12:30 – The Marriage Analogy for Justification
00:13:30 – The Role of the Sacrament in Justification
00:14:30 – Defining Sanctification
00:15:30 – The Process of Becoming More Like God
00:17:00 – The Role of Obedience in Response to Grace
00:18:00 – Addressing Perfectionism in Leadership
00:19:00 – The Impact of Sin on Community
00:20:00 – The Role of Bishops in Restricting Ordinances
00:22:00 – Understanding Restrictions as Support
00:23:00 – The Nature of Punishment vs. Guidance
00:24:00 – Mental Health and Perfectionism
00:25:00 – Addressing Sexual Development and Sin
00:26:00 – The Importance of Striving for Sanctification
00:27:00 – The Role of the Bishop in Mental Health
00:28:00 – The Challenge of Perfectionism
00:29:00 – The Concept of Forgiveness
00:30:00 – The Nature of Grace in the Gospel

Key Insights

Justification Defined: Justification is described as being pardoned from sin and declared guiltless, occurring when individuals enter a covenant relationship with God through faith, repentance, baptism, and receiving the Holy Ghost.

Sanctification Explained: Sanctification is the ongoing process of becoming more like God, involving a change in one’s nature, thoughts, and desires over time, as individuals strive to live in accordance with their covenants.

The Role of Grace: Grace is central to understanding both justification and sanctification. It emphasizes that salvation is a gift from God, not solely based on individual works, and that individuals can have confidence in their justified state.

Addressing Perfectionism: Many Latter-day Saints struggle with perfectionism, often feeling unworthy despite understanding the doctrine. The conversation highlights the importance of recognizing one’s worth as inherent and not solely based on actions.

Mental Health Considerations: The discussion touches on the intersection of mental health and religious beliefs, particularly regarding OCD and scrupulosity, emphasizing the need for compassion and understanding in addressing these issues.

Leadership Applications

Fostering a Culture of Grace: Leaders can create an environment where members feel secure in their justified state, encouraging them to engage in the gospel without the burden of shame or guilt.

Understanding Individual Needs: By recognizing that unmet needs may drive certain behaviors, leaders can approach members with empathy, focusing on support rather than judgment.

Promoting Continuous Growth: Leaders should emphasize the importance of striving for sanctification, framing commandments and ordinances as opportunities for growth rather than as mere obligations, thus inspiring members to engage more fully in their spiritual journeys.

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