Inwardly a Christian

I love the teaching of Paul at the end of Romans 2.  Speaking in particular about circumcision and the challenges between Jew and Gentile Christians relating to the subject, he focused on what was truly important.  He wrote, “For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God” (Romans 2:28-29).  In other words, what is important is the heart and not the outward ordinances.  We could I think safely replace the word Jew with Christian here: “He is a Christian, which is one inwardly.”  We find a similar teaching from Captain Moroni when he was trying to overcome the great wickedness of the Nephite kingmen: “I would that ye should remember that God has said that the inward vessel shall be cleansed first, and then shall the outer vessel be cleansed also” (Alma 60:23).  This also reminds me of the Savior’s rebuke of the Pharisees: “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cumin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone” (Matt. 23:23).  They followed the outward commandments (which, the Savior emphasized, were still important), but in their hearts they lacked faith, mercy, and judgment.  During the Last Supper, He likewise taught the apostles, “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another” (John 13:35).  He didn’t say it was baptism or fasting or prayer or attendance at church meetings: it’s the condition of our heart that counts the most to the Lord.  The ordinances and requirements of the gospel are not to be left undone; they are to be done, but with an eye towards the ultimate goal of being filled with the love of the Savior.  That is the great challenge of mortality: to truly love all of God’s children.