Friendly Fire: When "the System" of Mormonism--not just Brother Smith--Gets You Down

As I was musing on the cosmos the other day (and musing is what I do), I was browsing a prominent blog on Mormonism where one particularly prolific poster mentioned the danger of theological "friendly fire" fatalities, even within the Church.

Friendly fire, at least in the non-military man's terms (I looked up an article on it and found it be far too complex for this late in the day), is a military attack intended for the enemy but which ultimately ends up killing a fellow soldier. Perhaps we object to such an overtly military metaphor to our faith, yet we are more than willing (indeed, I am willing) to accept military metaphors throughout 1/3 of the Book of Mormon and numerous hymns ("Onward Christian Soldiers, marching as to war"). If military metaphors so often define our plight, then is it wrong to discuss this very real element of warfare? Is it possible that in our zeal to preach, we end up killing those whom we are trying to protect?

An interesting concept indeed. And the application is not wholly novel...at least one other theologian has used the term in Christian theology. But instead of thinking about how we are the victims of friendly fire, as this author does (and we're always the victims, aren't we? *wink*), I wonder more about those of us who are the unwitting snipers, who, in the twilight of the battlefield, sometimes confuse the shadowy figure that is our brother for the shadowy figure we call "false doctrine," "moral relativism," or any other buzz-word in the Church. I know, I know...it's an old trope for folks to blather on about how we "can't force on others how we perceive things." To be a little colloquial, no freaking duh! And no, I'm not offering up some nutrition-less diet of universalism, etc. That attitude just leads to a bunch of smiling individualists who don't really know what there is to smile about.

Yet I am suggesting that even active members sometimes do not walk around with theological bullet-proof vests...nor should we always expect them to. I must admit...I have often been altogether too quick to rip out the old reliable, "The Church is perfect, but its members aren't." Has anyone ever heard of that comment actually comforting a person? If pressed, how would you define the Church? A paper chart hierarchy? A collective of individuals striving for a similar goal? How can honestly separate "the Church" from ourselves? That argument only serves to give us a false sense of self-exoneration, an excuse to mutter to ourselves when hearing about the offended: "*Harumph* Well, there's somebody who doesn't have a testimony..." or, more sympathetically, "Once they just realize the love of Gospel for them...oh well...we do what we can do..."

I can feel for the latter of the positions. Yet I suggest: "The way that Christ oftenworks is through us." And what if we are the ones who have levied the fire? How easy it is to let ourselves off because we convince ourselves that "we're just telling things as we see it...I don't sugar coat things." Unfortunately, a continued lack of sugar can cause spiritual hypoglycemia...with its attendant problems of blurred vision, weak knees. And it is our duty as Latter Day Saints to strengthen the weak knees and to help lift the scales from the eyes.

All I suggest is that when we hurt someone, let us cry over them...even if we accidentally pulled the trigger. And the beauty of the gospel is that the Atonement can give our tears a healing power that even military doctors cannot.