In the previous blog, "Reworking the Bible to Fit Your Doctrine (Part 1)," we talked about the various religions that claim they believe in the Bible, but whose doctrines deviate greatly from what is taught by Evangelical Christians, Mainline Protestants and others who believe the Bible is inerrant and complete in and of itself. We listed four of the ways these religions rework the Bible to fit their religious beliefs:
1. They rewrite portions of, or the whole of the Bible to fit their teachings
2. They add additional verses, chapters, books or whole works of what they call "scripture"
3. They claim the Bible is either mistranslated, or the transmission process (copying the Bible by scribes through the ages) is flawed.
4. They claim portions of the Bible vindicating their doctrines have been lost from the Bible as it originally stood.
It is the fourth statement we will zero in upon in this blog. For it is the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) or Mormon church that claims portions of the Bible are missing in an effort to undermine the Bible and make it work within their perverted teachings. In fact, they say so much of the Bible is missing that they say they need modern day prophets and a "restored church" to recover these supposed lost portions of the word of God. But are Many plain and precious truths" removed from the Bible as they say? Let's examine the evidence.
What the Mormons believe about the missing "plain and precious truths" proceed from the Book of Mormon itself, in I Nephi 13:24-26 which reads, "Thou hast beheld that the book [The Bible] proceeded forth from the mouth of a Jew; and when it proceeded forth from the mouth of a Jew it contained the fulness of the gospel of the Lord, of whom the twelve apostles bear record; and they bear record according to the truth which is in the Lamb of God. Wherefore, these things go forth from the Jews IN PURITY unto the Gentiles, according to the truth which is in God. And AFTER they go forth by the hand of the twelve apostles of the Lamb, from the Jews unto the Gentiles, thou seest the formation of that great and abominable church, which is most abominable above all other churches; for behold, they have taken away from the gospel of the Lamb many parts which are plain and most precious; and also many covenants of the Lord have they taken away." (emphasis mine)
To begin with, these verses contradict both the inspired Old and New Testaments:
"The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever." -Isaiah 40:8
"Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. -Matthew 24:35
Both historical and manuscript evidence immediately show us that the quote in I Nephi is false. How? It was the Apostles of the New Testament who wrote the New Testament (Luke and John Mark were not Apostles, but wrote under the direct tutelege of Apostles Paul and Peter respectively) before 100 A.D., after which all of the Apostles had died. So if I Nephi 13 right then Mormonism admits the Bible was IN PURITY AFTER 100 A.D. As the First Century Apostles were still in charge of Christianity, something happened (directed by God) that would cause Biblical purity to be safeguarded and perpetuated. What was it?
Beginning in February and continuing through the summer of the year 70 A.D., Titus Flavius Vespasianus, future Roman emperor, destroyed Judea, Jerusalem and the Jewish Temple. This began what become known as the "Diaspora Romani," the dispersal of Jews from Israel to locations throughout the Roman Empire. This also began one of history's greatest persecutions of Christians. As they escaped from the Holy Land they took great pains to preserve their Scriptures, conscientiously hiding some of them in caverns so they would not fall into the possession of the Romans (and other possible groups) and be destroyed. They also brought scrupulously accurate copies of their Scriptures throughout remote areas of the Empire as they fled.
Fast-forward to 1946 A.D. when the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered in Qumran (in what is currently called the West Bank) about one mile inland from the northwest shore of the Dead Sea, hence the name "Dead Sea Scrolls." This finding of the Scrolls completely eradicates any chance the Old Testament could have been altered as the Book of Mormon alleges because all of the Scrolls are dated from 250 B.C. to 70 A.D. (the time of the distruction of Judea). The Scrolls contain the entire Old Testament (less the book of Esther, which is not a book containing crucial doctrine and, in fact, doesn't even mention the name of God). If anyone wanted to "monkey" with the Old Testament text, for any evil or other purpose, such manipulation could have effortlessly been distinguished by a simple comparason between the Scrolls and the Old Testament (Hebrew Tanakh) we have today. In fact, the texts as compared are virtually identical. The few extremely minor divergences alter no doctrines, commandments or truths. Furthermore, any alterations would have had to be made in the Aramaic translation of the Old Testament (Aramaic Targum, 100 B.C.) and the Greek Septuagint, Second Century B.C.) also, well before the 100 A.D date suggested by I Nephi. No such alterations have occurred -- period!
But what about the New Testament? This document is the very one that defines Christianity for both faith and practice. Has it been altered? Are their "plain and precious truths" missing from it as well? Absolutely not. Let me explain:When Christians were fleeing the persecutions of the Romans, the meticulously produced copies of the Apostolic writings (possessions cherished far greater than any earthly holdings they might have) went with them -- throughout the known world, to Europe, Asia Minor, Egypt, Ethiopia, and other remote locations. This diaspora took place prior to 100 A.D. By 200 A.D. direct copies of these writings, the entire New Testament, had been made into Latin, Syriac and the Coptic language. With this exodus of Christians and the distribution of their Apostolic writings prior to 100 A.D would have made malevolent manipulating, "monkeying" if you will, of the texts immediately observable.
Today's manuscript evidence for the New Testament is mind-blowing. The sciences of archaeology and texual criticism have revealed over 5,800 complete or fragmented Greek manuscripts, more than 10,000 Latin manuscripts and at least 9,300 manuscripts in various other ancient languages including Syriac, Slavic, Gothic, Ethiopic, Coptic and Armenian -- and all in textual and doctrinal agreement! No changes in commandment, axiom or precept.
Absolutely nothing is extant, nothing with any historical foundation, that would come even close to supporting the allegations by the LDS church that a single "plain and precious truth" has been taken out of God's Holy Word, the Bible.
What we have today is a Bible that is complete and inerrant. Nothing lost or missing, nothing changed. The perfect word of God. The same word of God which so grossly contradicts the Book of Mormon and LDS teachings.
The Eighth Article of Faith of the Mormon church says, "We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly."
Don't worry. IT IS!!!
Monday, August 11, 2014
Thursday, August 7, 2014
Reworking the Bible to Fit Your Doctrine (Part 1)
Reworking the Bible to Fit Your Doctrine (Part 1)
With all the many Christian denominations today, why do almost all of them believe the identical things about the essentials of the faith? I'm talking about the essentials now, not secondary issues. Secondary issues would include whether to have communion weekly or monthly, whether have a business meeting annually or every six months or whether to call your church leader "pastor" or "elder." No, I'm talking about ESSENTIAL doctrines such as who God is, what God's written word is and how we as human being achieve peace with God, which the Bible refers to as Salvation.
Those who agree on the Bible, and the Bible alone as the only, complete and inerrant written word of God agree also that God is triune in nature, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and that Salvation, being saved from the wrath that will someday be poured out up sin, is by the grace of God alone, through faith alone in Jesus Christ alone to the glory of God alone. This is the essence of Christianity and is believed emphatically by all Christians across an entire myriad Christian denominations, from Baptist to Lutheran, from Nazarene to Assemblies of God and uncountable others.
There are however, other religious groups who try to pass themselves off as Christian, but fail the test for Christianity in that they deny one or more of the basic tenets I listed above. A real problem arises when these groups claim to believe in the Bible and yet their religious model bears little or no resemblance to Biblical Christianity. In order to hold to their claim to believe in the Bible, they must somehow rework the Holy Scriptures in a number of ways to squeeze their teachings into a seemingly "Christian" mold, when indeed their doctrines are out of the Biblcal box to begin with.
How is this done? There are a number of ways. One is to basically rewrite the Bible itself to fit their doctrines, ignoring the Bible's actual wording. An example of this would be the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, better known as the Jehovah's Witnesses with their New World Translation (NWT). Over the course of their existence since the late 19th Century, Christians were continually pointing out to them (often in heated debate) that their teachings were way out of line with both the Old and New Testaments -- and they knew it. But rather than surrender and become orthodox in their beliefs they simply rewrote the Bible, beginning with the New Testament (which they adamantly refused to call the "New Testament" but rather renamed it the "Christian Greek Scriptures") in 1950, followed by the Old Testament in 1961 (which the also renamed the "Hebrew Scriptures"). In other words, if you don't like the rules of the game, rewrite the rules! Including the name of the rules themselves.
Another way a religion can claim to believe in the Bible and yet have doctrines that are far-flung from it, is to add to it. The Roman Catholics and other groups have done this with the Apocrypha. This work is usually found stuck between the Old and New Testament in certain Bibles. It is writings by the Jews mostly during the intertestamental period. The problem here is that the Jews themselves don't recognize Apocrypha as Scripture. So why should we? Besides when Jesus was bookending the martyrs who had come before him, he started with Abel and ended with the last martyr in the Old Testament, Zechariah, son of Barachias (Matthew 23:35; Luke 11:51). Why did he leave out the martyrs of the Apocrypha. Simple answer. To Jesus the Apocrypha wasn't Scripture. Other pseudo-Christian groups have added other works to "augment" the Bible, such as "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by the Christian Scientists and "Divine Principle" by Unification Church founder Sun Myung Moon. These augmentations certain change doctrine.
A third way orthodox Biblical doctrine is eschewed in favor of a Bible-claiming religion's teachings is to claim the Bible has been either mistranslated or perhaps mistransmitted (through the copying processes down through the ages). It is this technique that has allowed the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints or Mormons to proclaim for 184 years that, "Oh, yes, we believe in the Bible!" and yet have a teaching set that is closer to Islam than Christianity (however, that's a subject for a future blog).
Along with adding three other works of "scripture" (The Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants and the Pearl of Great Price -- which would also put them in the first category above) to the Bible (King James Version only, mind you), the Mormons have tried to successfully vindicate their beliefs by attacking the Bible's translation and transmission. If one finds a passage of Biblical scripture that contradicts Mormon doctrine, Latter-day Saints are quick to vociferate, "That's mistranslated!!" However, it has always been a mystery to me why the only places the Bible that are mistranslated (according to the LDS) are the ones the stand in contraposition of the teachings of Mormonism.
To drive home their idea of Biblical inaccuracy, Latter-day Saints have included three places in their Standard Works that act to their desired vindication. The first is the Eighth Article of Faith, which they included at the end of the Pearl of Great Price, making it the inspired word of God (in their eyes only). It states, "We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly...." (of course, what "We believe" does not constitute truth -- one could certainly believe falsehood).
The second attack upon Biblical completion and sufficiency comes in the Book of Mormon, II Nephi 29:6,10 which states, "Thou fool, that shall say: A Bible, we have got a Bible, and we need no more Bible. Have ye obtained a Bible save it were by the Jews? Wherefore, because that ye have a Bible ye need not suppose that it contains all my words; neither need ye suppose that I have not caused more to be written." This tells Mormons everywhere that we Bible-only Christians are fools. However, this is circular reasoning. In order to believe such an idea as God will add to the Bible, one must believe the Book of Mormon to be a true addition to the Bible.
The Mormons' final and most pernicious attack on the inerrancy of the Holy Bible comes also in the Book of Mormon, I Nephi 13:28-40 and 19:3. Eight times the Book of Mormon claims here that "plain and precious parts" are removed from the Bible, and therefore it follows that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has been called by God to restore them. Obviously, to the LDS, what has been restored by Mormonism and what plain and precious parts were left out are one and the same.
This is what the entire veracity of Mormonism hangs upon. If plain and precious parts have been lost from the Bible, then the LDS church may (or may not) be true. On the other hand, if the Bible is complete and inerrant, Mormonism cannot in any way be true.
Daily I hear Mormons pleading the case for their doctrines by telling me the "plain and precious parts" are missing from the Bible. But as a Christian how would one prove they have NOT been removed? It is a task that is not nearly as difficult as it sounds. And I will demonstrate how that can be accomplished in my next blog.
(Part 2 to come)
With all the many Christian denominations today, why do almost all of them believe the identical things about the essentials of the faith? I'm talking about the essentials now, not secondary issues. Secondary issues would include whether to have communion weekly or monthly, whether have a business meeting annually or every six months or whether to call your church leader "pastor" or "elder." No, I'm talking about ESSENTIAL doctrines such as who God is, what God's written word is and how we as human being achieve peace with God, which the Bible refers to as Salvation.
Those who agree on the Bible, and the Bible alone as the only, complete and inerrant written word of God agree also that God is triune in nature, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and that Salvation, being saved from the wrath that will someday be poured out up sin, is by the grace of God alone, through faith alone in Jesus Christ alone to the glory of God alone. This is the essence of Christianity and is believed emphatically by all Christians across an entire myriad Christian denominations, from Baptist to Lutheran, from Nazarene to Assemblies of God and uncountable others.
There are however, other religious groups who try to pass themselves off as Christian, but fail the test for Christianity in that they deny one or more of the basic tenets I listed above. A real problem arises when these groups claim to believe in the Bible and yet their religious model bears little or no resemblance to Biblical Christianity. In order to hold to their claim to believe in the Bible, they must somehow rework the Holy Scriptures in a number of ways to squeeze their teachings into a seemingly "Christian" mold, when indeed their doctrines are out of the Biblcal box to begin with.
How is this done? There are a number of ways. One is to basically rewrite the Bible itself to fit their doctrines, ignoring the Bible's actual wording. An example of this would be the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, better known as the Jehovah's Witnesses with their New World Translation (NWT). Over the course of their existence since the late 19th Century, Christians were continually pointing out to them (often in heated debate) that their teachings were way out of line with both the Old and New Testaments -- and they knew it. But rather than surrender and become orthodox in their beliefs they simply rewrote the Bible, beginning with the New Testament (which they adamantly refused to call the "New Testament" but rather renamed it the "Christian Greek Scriptures") in 1950, followed by the Old Testament in 1961 (which the also renamed the "Hebrew Scriptures"). In other words, if you don't like the rules of the game, rewrite the rules! Including the name of the rules themselves.
Another way a religion can claim to believe in the Bible and yet have doctrines that are far-flung from it, is to add to it. The Roman Catholics and other groups have done this with the Apocrypha. This work is usually found stuck between the Old and New Testament in certain Bibles. It is writings by the Jews mostly during the intertestamental period. The problem here is that the Jews themselves don't recognize Apocrypha as Scripture. So why should we? Besides when Jesus was bookending the martyrs who had come before him, he started with Abel and ended with the last martyr in the Old Testament, Zechariah, son of Barachias (Matthew 23:35; Luke 11:51). Why did he leave out the martyrs of the Apocrypha. Simple answer. To Jesus the Apocrypha wasn't Scripture. Other pseudo-Christian groups have added other works to "augment" the Bible, such as "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by the Christian Scientists and "Divine Principle" by Unification Church founder Sun Myung Moon. These augmentations certain change doctrine.
A third way orthodox Biblical doctrine is eschewed in favor of a Bible-claiming religion's teachings is to claim the Bible has been either mistranslated or perhaps mistransmitted (through the copying processes down through the ages). It is this technique that has allowed the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints or Mormons to proclaim for 184 years that, "Oh, yes, we believe in the Bible!" and yet have a teaching set that is closer to Islam than Christianity (however, that's a subject for a future blog).
Along with adding three other works of "scripture" (The Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants and the Pearl of Great Price -- which would also put them in the first category above) to the Bible (King James Version only, mind you), the Mormons have tried to successfully vindicate their beliefs by attacking the Bible's translation and transmission. If one finds a passage of Biblical scripture that contradicts Mormon doctrine, Latter-day Saints are quick to vociferate, "That's mistranslated!!" However, it has always been a mystery to me why the only places the Bible that are mistranslated (according to the LDS) are the ones the stand in contraposition of the teachings of Mormonism.
To drive home their idea of Biblical inaccuracy, Latter-day Saints have included three places in their Standard Works that act to their desired vindication. The first is the Eighth Article of Faith, which they included at the end of the Pearl of Great Price, making it the inspired word of God (in their eyes only). It states, "We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly...." (of course, what "We believe" does not constitute truth -- one could certainly believe falsehood).
The second attack upon Biblical completion and sufficiency comes in the Book of Mormon, II Nephi 29:6,10 which states, "Thou fool, that shall say: A Bible, we have got a Bible, and we need no more Bible. Have ye obtained a Bible save it were by the Jews? Wherefore, because that ye have a Bible ye need not suppose that it contains all my words; neither need ye suppose that I have not caused more to be written." This tells Mormons everywhere that we Bible-only Christians are fools. However, this is circular reasoning. In order to believe such an idea as God will add to the Bible, one must believe the Book of Mormon to be a true addition to the Bible.
The Mormons' final and most pernicious attack on the inerrancy of the Holy Bible comes also in the Book of Mormon, I Nephi 13:28-40 and 19:3. Eight times the Book of Mormon claims here that "plain and precious parts" are removed from the Bible, and therefore it follows that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has been called by God to restore them. Obviously, to the LDS, what has been restored by Mormonism and what plain and precious parts were left out are one and the same.
This is what the entire veracity of Mormonism hangs upon. If plain and precious parts have been lost from the Bible, then the LDS church may (or may not) be true. On the other hand, if the Bible is complete and inerrant, Mormonism cannot in any way be true.
Daily I hear Mormons pleading the case for their doctrines by telling me the "plain and precious parts" are missing from the Bible. But as a Christian how would one prove they have NOT been removed? It is a task that is not nearly as difficult as it sounds. And I will demonstrate how that can be accomplished in my next blog.
(Part 2 to come)
Monday, July 21, 2014
Take Up Your "Garden" and Follow Christ
Did the Atonement of Jesus for our sins happened in Garden of Gethsemane?
The Church of Jesus Christ of latter-day Saints does not view the atonement of Christ in the biblical and historical Christian manner. Instead of the atonement occurring on the cross, Mormonism teaches that the atonement occurred primarily in the Garden of Gethsemane when Jesus shed His blood. Please consider the following quotes from a BYU professor and the Mormon apostle Bruce McConkie.
•BYU professor Robert J. Matthews, who on page 282 of his book, A Bible! A Bible!, wrote, "It was in Gethsemane, on the slopes of the Mount of Olives, that Jesus made his perfect atonement by the shedding of his blood-more so than on the cross."
•Mormon Apostle Bruce McConkie, stated, "Where and under what circumstances was the atoning sacrifice of the Son of God made? Was it on the Cross of Calvary or in the Garden of Gethsemane? It is to the Cross of Christ that most Christians look when centering their attention upon the infinite and eternal atonement. And certainly the sacrifice of our Lord was completed when he was lifted up by men; also, that part of his life and suffering is more dramatic and, perhaps, more soul stirring. But in reality the pain and suffering, the triumph and grandeur, of the atonement took place primarily in Gethsemane," (Doctrinal New Testament Commentary, vol. 1, p. 774).
This whole line of thinking diminishes the actual Atonement of Jesus on the Cross of little or none effect. I've had Mormons say the reason you'll never see a cross on an LDS church building is because thinking the Atonement happened on the Cross is "rather foolish." Could such a statement be what the Apostle Paul was referring to in I Corinthians 1:18 when he stated, "For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God." This would certainly mean that anyone thinking the Cross is of little or no affect in the Atonement is no only missing salvation, but does not know the power of God and is perishing spiritually.
So what did happen in the Garden of Gethsemane? The narrative is found in Matthew 26:36-46, Mark 14:32-42 and Luke 22:39-46. John's gospel mentions a garden (John 18:1), but only mentions that the arrest of Jesus took place there. Only Matthew and Mark identify the garden as Gethsemane. Only Luke tells us that His perspiration fell "as it were" great drops of blood. In the original Greek text the word for "as it were" is "hosei" which means "appearing similar to." In other words, the great drops of sweat falling from His brow would be just as heavy as if he had some kind of flesh wound, perhaps in the head, and heavy drops of blood were falling. But it was sweat, not blood. He did not bleed in the garden, much less bleed for our sins there. How do we know this? Luke has the answer.
Luke was a doctor, a physician specifically (Colossians 4:14). He would certainly know the difference between sweat and bleeding. Admittedly, there is a condition in which one can actually sweat blood. It is called "Hematidrosis." It is a medical condition that is very rare, but still documented in ancient times and Dr. Luke would definitely be familiar with it. "Hematidrosis" is also a Greek word that was available to Luke (who was Greek himself). Luke, in his role as Biblical historian, continually in Scripture is careful to use the most exacting terms and descriptions, but he did not use "hematidrosis," but instead used the word "hidros" -- sweat (without the "hema" -- or blood). Luke is very careful here to tell us that Jesus perspired in the garden, but did not sweat blood there. That's because the cross is the place where he shed his blood for our sins -- regardless of the Latter-day Saints telling us just the opposite. Perhaps that's why the Cross is not seen on any Mormon building and you won't find "The Old Rugged Cross" or "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross" in there hymnbook. The Cross is perhaps foolish to them. It is the reason that the Apostle Paul wrote, "The preaching of the cross is foolishness to them who are perishing." In other words, the LDS are spiritually dying and only what Jesus did on the Cross can save them.
The Church of Jesus Christ of latter-day Saints does not view the atonement of Christ in the biblical and historical Christian manner. Instead of the atonement occurring on the cross, Mormonism teaches that the atonement occurred primarily in the Garden of Gethsemane when Jesus shed His blood. Please consider the following quotes from a BYU professor and the Mormon apostle Bruce McConkie.
•BYU professor Robert J. Matthews, who on page 282 of his book, A Bible! A Bible!, wrote, "It was in Gethsemane, on the slopes of the Mount of Olives, that Jesus made his perfect atonement by the shedding of his blood-more so than on the cross."
•Mormon Apostle Bruce McConkie, stated, "Where and under what circumstances was the atoning sacrifice of the Son of God made? Was it on the Cross of Calvary or in the Garden of Gethsemane? It is to the Cross of Christ that most Christians look when centering their attention upon the infinite and eternal atonement. And certainly the sacrifice of our Lord was completed when he was lifted up by men; also, that part of his life and suffering is more dramatic and, perhaps, more soul stirring. But in reality the pain and suffering, the triumph and grandeur, of the atonement took place primarily in Gethsemane," (Doctrinal New Testament Commentary, vol. 1, p. 774).
This whole line of thinking diminishes the actual Atonement of Jesus on the Cross of little or none effect. I've had Mormons say the reason you'll never see a cross on an LDS church building is because thinking the Atonement happened on the Cross is "rather foolish." Could such a statement be what the Apostle Paul was referring to in I Corinthians 1:18 when he stated, "For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God." This would certainly mean that anyone thinking the Cross is of little or no affect in the Atonement is no only missing salvation, but does not know the power of God and is perishing spiritually.
So what did happen in the Garden of Gethsemane? The narrative is found in Matthew 26:36-46, Mark 14:32-42 and Luke 22:39-46. John's gospel mentions a garden (John 18:1), but only mentions that the arrest of Jesus took place there. Only Matthew and Mark identify the garden as Gethsemane. Only Luke tells us that His perspiration fell "as it were" great drops of blood. In the original Greek text the word for "as it were" is "hosei" which means "appearing similar to." In other words, the great drops of sweat falling from His brow would be just as heavy as if he had some kind of flesh wound, perhaps in the head, and heavy drops of blood were falling. But it was sweat, not blood. He did not bleed in the garden, much less bleed for our sins there. How do we know this? Luke has the answer.
Luke was a doctor, a physician specifically (Colossians 4:14). He would certainly know the difference between sweat and bleeding. Admittedly, there is a condition in which one can actually sweat blood. It is called "Hematidrosis." It is a medical condition that is very rare, but still documented in ancient times and Dr. Luke would definitely be familiar with it. "Hematidrosis" is also a Greek word that was available to Luke (who was Greek himself). Luke, in his role as Biblical historian, continually in Scripture is careful to use the most exacting terms and descriptions, but he did not use "hematidrosis," but instead used the word "hidros" -- sweat (without the "hema" -- or blood). Luke is very careful here to tell us that Jesus perspired in the garden, but did not sweat blood there. That's because the cross is the place where he shed his blood for our sins -- regardless of the Latter-day Saints telling us just the opposite. Perhaps that's why the Cross is not seen on any Mormon building and you won't find "The Old Rugged Cross" or "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross" in there hymnbook. The Cross is perhaps foolish to them. It is the reason that the Apostle Paul wrote, "The preaching of the cross is foolishness to them who are perishing." In other words, the LDS are spiritually dying and only what Jesus did on the Cross can save them.
Monday, July 14, 2014
Hell is for Real (Jesus said so)
A best-selling book and recent motion picture told the story of Colton Burpo, a four-year old boy who supposedly died and went to Heaven during surgery. While am a dubious of all NDEs (Near Death Experiences) I hear about (most do not line up with Biblical theology), Colton's story particularly struck a nerve with me due to the fact that most of his story was more "Wesleyan" than straight Bible. His father is a Wesleyan pastor, and I have always had my suspicions the boy was "coached" in telling his story, much in the way very young children are coached in the Mormon church in giving their "testimony" that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the only true church, the Book of Mormon is the word of God and Joseph Smith was a true prophet of God.
In light of this, I began to search the Bible, expecially the words of Jesus -- mostly from the four Gospels -- to see exactly what Our Lord and Savior had to say on the subject of Heaven and discovered He actually said a lot more about Hell! This is significant, in that most people absolutely don't believe in Hell and that includes many Christians (mostly liberal ones) who feel that references to Hell in the Bible are actually metaphors.
Believing that something doesn't exist, however, doesn't make it go away. If I were arrested, I could tell the officer who "busted" me, "You can't take me to jail because I don't believe jail exists. I've never seen a jail, never been there, in fact I've never known anyone who has been to jail, therefore I know jail does not exist!" Once I was tossed into the "clink" and the big door slammed, I would probably quickly understand thatwhat I previously thought about jail didn't matter make jail non-existant.
It is the same for Hell. Just because a person refuses to believe in Hell doesn't make it go away. It's there, it's a real place, and all who do not put their faith and trust in Jesus to same them are headed for that final destination -- a sobering thought indeed!
Jesus certainly believed in Hell and made 32 specific statements concerning it. He was not speaing metaphorically and he wasn't calling it a "state of mind." It is a real place. And if Jesus, who was God Almighty come in human form and was sinless (which includes never telling a lie), was convinced "Hell is for real," I think we'd better wake up and take notice of all he said about the subject.
These are the 32 statements Jesus made, and where they occur in the Bible:
1. Jesus said it is a wrath to come (Mt. 3: 7)
2. Jesus said those not bringing forth good fruit would be cast into the fire (Mt. 3: 10)
3. Jesus said the chaff would be burned up with UNQUENCHABLE fire (Mt. 3: 12
4. Jesus said anyone calling his brother a fool was in danger of Hell fire (Mt. 5: 23)
5. Jesus said it was better to have a body part perish than be cast into Hell (Mt. 5: 29, 30)
6. Jesus said the way to destruction was broad (Mt. 7: 13)
7. Jesus said it was a place of outer darkness (Mt. 8: 12)
8. Jesus said it was a place of weeping and gnashing of teeth (Mt. 8: 12)
9. Jesus said to fear God who is able to destroy both body and soul in Hell (Mt. 10: 28)
10. Jesus said it was a place where tares (weeds) would be burned up (Mt. 13: 30, 38)
11. Jesus said it was a furnace of fire (Mt. 13: 42)
12. Jesus said it was worse than having a millstone tied around your neck and be cast into the sea (Mt. 18:6)
13. Jesus said it was a place of everlasting fire (Mt. 18: 8)
14. Jesus said it was a place where those who made light of His marriage to the Bride (Church) would be burned up (Mt. 22: 5, 7)
15. Jesus said it was a place of damnation (Mt. 23: 33)
16. Jesus said it was a place prepared for the devil and his angels (Mt. 25: 41)
17. Jesus said it was a place of EVERLASTING punishment (Mt. 25: 46)
(Note: Revelation 20: 10 tells us that those whose names are not found in the book of life will be tormented along with the beast, the false prophet and the devil, "day and night FOREVER AND EVER.")
18. Jesus said it was a place where one's soul would be lost (Mk. 8: 36)
19. Jesus said it was a place of shame (Mk. 8:36)
20. Jesus said it was a place where no one would cease to exist (Mk. 9: 46) [note: "Worm" in
the orginal greek refers to a constant eating away of a dead body]
21. Jesus is was better not to be born than to go there (Mk. 14: 21)
22. Jesus said he who does not believe would be condemned there (Mk. 16: 16)
23. Jesus said it was a place of mourning (Lk. 6:25)
24. Jesus said it was a place where one would be lost and cast away (Lk. 9: 25)
25. Jesus said there would be those who would be thrust down there (Lk. 10: 15)
26. Jesus said it was a place where the unrepentant would perish (Lk. 13: 5)
27. Jesus said it was a place of flames and torments (Lk. 16: 23-25)
(Note: I've heard liberals, Jehovah's Witnesses, Seventh Day Adventists and others dismiss Luke 16 as being only a parable. First of all it's not a parable. When Jesus told parables, he never used anyone's name. But here he uses Lazarus' name, because Lazarus is a real person. And this is a real event. And even if it were a parable, let me ask you this: Would Jesus tell a parable that had wrong theology? No. Indeed, Jesus used parables to explain correct theology about the Kingdom of God. You will also notice here also that the rich man was suffering even BEFORE the final Judgement, which is yet to occur.)
28. Jesus said those in Hell would recognize the righteous dead (Lk. 16: 23)
29. Jesus said there was a great gulf fixed between Hell and Heaven that could not be traversed (Lk. 16: 26)
30. Jesus said the unbelieving in Hell would never see life (Jn. 3: 36)
31. Jesus said Hell was where the unbeliever would have the wrath of God abiding on him (Jn. 3: 36)
32. Jesus said it was a place of resurrection (the unrighteous dead would experience existance) (Jn. 5: 29)
Jesus' statements on Hell are backed up by Psalm 88 in the Old Testament which gives us an
excellent description of Hell:
Verse 5 says it is a place with people who God no longer cares to remember -- who are cut off from His care.
Verse 8 describes the distancing between the righteous and the lost (see ##28 & #29 above).
Verse 8 also says those who are there, are repulsive to the righteous.
Verse 8 also says no one can leave there (#30 above).
Verse 9 describes the crying there (see #8 above).
Verse 14 describes God's rejection.
Verse 15 describes the horrors.
Verse 16 also describes the terrors (also verse 17).
Verse 18 speaks of the great gulf (#29 above).
Verse 18 also speaks of the outer darkness Jesus referred to (#7 above).
Unlike Colton Burpo, the words of Our Savior the Lord Jesus Christ can be "taken to the bank" with 100% guarantee. There is indeed a Hell. It is a real place. And you don't want to go there and suffer for all eternity. The only way to avoid this eternal damnation is trust in Jesus with all your heart. He will save you from Hell by His grace, something you cannot do for yourself by your good works (Ephesians 2: 8,9; Titus 3: 5). Hell is a coming torment which culminates God's wrath poured out upon sin (which a perfect God cannot tolerate in His site). All people whoever lived or who now live with either, upon dead, go to one of two places -- Heaven or Hell. You can avoid Hell and live an eternity of bliss with Jesus by following the simple prescription laid out by the Apostle Paul in Romans 10: 9-13:
"That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."
In light of this, I began to search the Bible, expecially the words of Jesus -- mostly from the four Gospels -- to see exactly what Our Lord and Savior had to say on the subject of Heaven and discovered He actually said a lot more about Hell! This is significant, in that most people absolutely don't believe in Hell and that includes many Christians (mostly liberal ones) who feel that references to Hell in the Bible are actually metaphors.
Believing that something doesn't exist, however, doesn't make it go away. If I were arrested, I could tell the officer who "busted" me, "You can't take me to jail because I don't believe jail exists. I've never seen a jail, never been there, in fact I've never known anyone who has been to jail, therefore I know jail does not exist!" Once I was tossed into the "clink" and the big door slammed, I would probably quickly understand thatwhat I previously thought about jail didn't matter make jail non-existant.
It is the same for Hell. Just because a person refuses to believe in Hell doesn't make it go away. It's there, it's a real place, and all who do not put their faith and trust in Jesus to same them are headed for that final destination -- a sobering thought indeed!
Jesus certainly believed in Hell and made 32 specific statements concerning it. He was not speaing metaphorically and he wasn't calling it a "state of mind." It is a real place. And if Jesus, who was God Almighty come in human form and was sinless (which includes never telling a lie), was convinced "Hell is for real," I think we'd better wake up and take notice of all he said about the subject.
These are the 32 statements Jesus made, and where they occur in the Bible:
1. Jesus said it is a wrath to come (Mt. 3: 7)
2. Jesus said those not bringing forth good fruit would be cast into the fire (Mt. 3: 10)
3. Jesus said the chaff would be burned up with UNQUENCHABLE fire (Mt. 3: 12
4. Jesus said anyone calling his brother a fool was in danger of Hell fire (Mt. 5: 23)
5. Jesus said it was better to have a body part perish than be cast into Hell (Mt. 5: 29, 30)
6. Jesus said the way to destruction was broad (Mt. 7: 13)
7. Jesus said it was a place of outer darkness (Mt. 8: 12)
8. Jesus said it was a place of weeping and gnashing of teeth (Mt. 8: 12)
9. Jesus said to fear God who is able to destroy both body and soul in Hell (Mt. 10: 28)
10. Jesus said it was a place where tares (weeds) would be burned up (Mt. 13: 30, 38)
11. Jesus said it was a furnace of fire (Mt. 13: 42)
12. Jesus said it was worse than having a millstone tied around your neck and be cast into the sea (Mt. 18:6)
13. Jesus said it was a place of everlasting fire (Mt. 18: 8)
14. Jesus said it was a place where those who made light of His marriage to the Bride (Church) would be burned up (Mt. 22: 5, 7)
15. Jesus said it was a place of damnation (Mt. 23: 33)
16. Jesus said it was a place prepared for the devil and his angels (Mt. 25: 41)
17. Jesus said it was a place of EVERLASTING punishment (Mt. 25: 46)
(Note: Revelation 20: 10 tells us that those whose names are not found in the book of life will be tormented along with the beast, the false prophet and the devil, "day and night FOREVER AND EVER.")
18. Jesus said it was a place where one's soul would be lost (Mk. 8: 36)
19. Jesus said it was a place of shame (Mk. 8:36)
20. Jesus said it was a place where no one would cease to exist (Mk. 9: 46) [note: "Worm" in
the orginal greek refers to a constant eating away of a dead body]
21. Jesus is was better not to be born than to go there (Mk. 14: 21)
22. Jesus said he who does not believe would be condemned there (Mk. 16: 16)
23. Jesus said it was a place of mourning (Lk. 6:25)
24. Jesus said it was a place where one would be lost and cast away (Lk. 9: 25)
25. Jesus said there would be those who would be thrust down there (Lk. 10: 15)
26. Jesus said it was a place where the unrepentant would perish (Lk. 13: 5)
27. Jesus said it was a place of flames and torments (Lk. 16: 23-25)
(Note: I've heard liberals, Jehovah's Witnesses, Seventh Day Adventists and others dismiss Luke 16 as being only a parable. First of all it's not a parable. When Jesus told parables, he never used anyone's name. But here he uses Lazarus' name, because Lazarus is a real person. And this is a real event. And even if it were a parable, let me ask you this: Would Jesus tell a parable that had wrong theology? No. Indeed, Jesus used parables to explain correct theology about the Kingdom of God. You will also notice here also that the rich man was suffering even BEFORE the final Judgement, which is yet to occur.)
28. Jesus said those in Hell would recognize the righteous dead (Lk. 16: 23)
29. Jesus said there was a great gulf fixed between Hell and Heaven that could not be traversed (Lk. 16: 26)
30. Jesus said the unbelieving in Hell would never see life (Jn. 3: 36)
31. Jesus said Hell was where the unbeliever would have the wrath of God abiding on him (Jn. 3: 36)
32. Jesus said it was a place of resurrection (the unrighteous dead would experience existance) (Jn. 5: 29)
Jesus' statements on Hell are backed up by Psalm 88 in the Old Testament which gives us an
excellent description of Hell:
Verse 5 says it is a place with people who God no longer cares to remember -- who are cut off from His care.
Verse 8 describes the distancing between the righteous and the lost (see ##28 & #29 above).
Verse 8 also says those who are there, are repulsive to the righteous.
Verse 8 also says no one can leave there (#30 above).
Verse 9 describes the crying there (see #8 above).
Verse 14 describes God's rejection.
Verse 15 describes the horrors.
Verse 16 also describes the terrors (also verse 17).
Verse 18 speaks of the great gulf (#29 above).
Verse 18 also speaks of the outer darkness Jesus referred to (#7 above).
Unlike Colton Burpo, the words of Our Savior the Lord Jesus Christ can be "taken to the bank" with 100% guarantee. There is indeed a Hell. It is a real place. And you don't want to go there and suffer for all eternity. The only way to avoid this eternal damnation is trust in Jesus with all your heart. He will save you from Hell by His grace, something you cannot do for yourself by your good works (Ephesians 2: 8,9; Titus 3: 5). Hell is a coming torment which culminates God's wrath poured out upon sin (which a perfect God cannot tolerate in His site). All people whoever lived or who now live with either, upon dead, go to one of two places -- Heaven or Hell. You can avoid Hell and live an eternity of bliss with Jesus by following the simple prescription laid out by the Apostle Paul in Romans 10: 9-13:
"That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."
Friday, July 11, 2014
Better than an attorney -- the LDS write great escape clauses!
When Joseph Smith (or possibly Sidney Rigdon or Oliver Cowdery) put together the Book of Mormon, it was apparently intended that when Jesus spoke of "other sheep" (John 10:16) he was speaking of the Nephites and Lamanites who supposedly migrated from Jerusalem to the western hemisphere around 600 B.C.
Then somebody (perhaps Smith, Rigdon, Cowdery or others) said, "Oops! Christians will say Jesus was speaking of the Gentiles (non-Jews). We need to stick something in here to counter that notion!"
Therefore, three verses were added to III Nephi 15 (vv. 21-23): "And verily I say unto you, that ye are they of whom I said: Other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd. And they understood me not, for they supposed it had been the Gentiles; for they understood not that the Gentiles should be converted through their preaching. And they understood me not that I said they shall hear my voice; and they understood me not that the Gentiles should not at any time hear my voice -- that I should not manifest myself unto them save it were by the Holy Ghost." Now the argument can be (falsely) made by the LDS that since Jesus never spoke to a Gentile (ridiculous, since Jesus spoke to a Roman centurian (Matthew 8:5-13), the Samaritan woman at the well (John 4:1-42), the Syrophonecian woman (Mark 7:25-30; Matthew 15:21-28) and others), the Gentiles would have to hear him through the Holy Spirit. So Jesus must have been talking about some other people group (which the LDS claim were the descendants of Lehi in the New World).
To say it another way, "Let's squelch their (Christian) arguments before they can make them!" In terms of writing legal documents, this is called an "escape clause." And if that doesn't work, use the "Great Mormon Escape Clause," Article 8 of the Articles of Faith: "We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly." In other words, Jesus may have never mentioned "other sheep" in the first place!
Because of "escape clauses," twisting Scripture, re-writing history and downright religious dishonesty, Latter-day Saints can win any and every argument. The sad thing is that although they win the argument, they have lost their souls for all eternity.
Then somebody (perhaps Smith, Rigdon, Cowdery or others) said, "Oops! Christians will say Jesus was speaking of the Gentiles (non-Jews). We need to stick something in here to counter that notion!"
Therefore, three verses were added to III Nephi 15 (vv. 21-23): "And verily I say unto you, that ye are they of whom I said: Other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd. And they understood me not, for they supposed it had been the Gentiles; for they understood not that the Gentiles should be converted through their preaching. And they understood me not that I said they shall hear my voice; and they understood me not that the Gentiles should not at any time hear my voice -- that I should not manifest myself unto them save it were by the Holy Ghost." Now the argument can be (falsely) made by the LDS that since Jesus never spoke to a Gentile (ridiculous, since Jesus spoke to a Roman centurian (Matthew 8:5-13), the Samaritan woman at the well (John 4:1-42), the Syrophonecian woman (Mark 7:25-30; Matthew 15:21-28) and others), the Gentiles would have to hear him through the Holy Spirit. So Jesus must have been talking about some other people group (which the LDS claim were the descendants of Lehi in the New World).
To say it another way, "Let's squelch their (Christian) arguments before they can make them!" In terms of writing legal documents, this is called an "escape clause." And if that doesn't work, use the "Great Mormon Escape Clause," Article 8 of the Articles of Faith: "We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly." In other words, Jesus may have never mentioned "other sheep" in the first place!
Because of "escape clauses," twisting Scripture, re-writing history and downright religious dishonesty, Latter-day Saints can win any and every argument. The sad thing is that although they win the argument, they have lost their souls for all eternity.
Thursday, December 29, 2011
The LDS Church (Mormon) has a document, which is a part of their inspired Scripture called "The Articles of Faith." Every Mormon knows these articles and knows that they are a summary of what they believe...or at least what they want the rest of the world to know they believe (you'll find nothing about their secret (they say "sacred") stuff such as the Temple Ceremony, and a few other things).
I thought it would be interesting to compare the 13 articles against Biblical Christianity and see if the LDS church passes the test for being called Christian. After the comparison, you will plainly see they fail the test MISERABLY!
In America, you have the right to believe any religious tenets you wish. I grant them this. But it really gets my dander up when they say they want to be considered as Christians when their doctrines are as far apart from Christianity as Earth is from Pluto (the planet, not the dog).
Let's take a look at the comparison:
1. We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost. This statement does not affirm the three persons of the Godhead as one God (the Trinity).
Response: The Bible teaches that not only is the Father God, the Son is God also (Ex. 3: 14 c.f. Jn. 8: 58, 59) and the Holy Spirit is God as well (Acts 5: 3, 4). Jehovah (YHVH) and Elohim and one and the same (Dt. 6: 4 (Heb.)).
2. We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam's transgression.
Response: Adam's sin was passed on to all humanity. Humans are under condemnation for his sin (Rom. 5: 12).
3. We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.
Response: The LDS definition of "saved" (resurrected to face judgment) is not the definition of the Bible (saved from the wrath to come (Mt. 3: 7; Lk. 3: 7; I Th. 1: 10). In Biblical Christianity, salvation is not according to obedience to laws and ordinances but by grace through faith in Jesus (Eph. 2: 8, 9; Rom. 4: 4, 5).
4. We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are: first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Response: Baptism, a work of righteousness, is not part of the Gospel nor salvation, nor does it remit sins (I Cor. 1: 17: Tit. 3: 5). The Holy Spirit is given in many incidents in the Bible without the laying on of hands (Acts 2: 4; 10: 44; 11: 15).
5. We believe that a man must be called of God, by prophecy, and by the laying on of hands by those who are in authority, to preach the Gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof.
Response: Many men in the Bible were called of God without hands being laid on them (Noah, Moses, Gideon, Samuel, all twelve of Jesus' apostles, plus many others). The Mormon authority to preach and administer ordinances (the Melchizedek priesthood) does not exist in actuality since Jesus Christ holds the priesthood and it cannot be passed to anyone else (Heb. 7: 24 KJV "unchangeable" = Gr.: "aparabatos" = "untransferable").
6. We believe in the same organization that existed in the Primitive Church, namely, apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists, and so forth.
Response: While pastors, evangelists and teachers exist in Biblical Christianity today, prophets (Old Testament) and apostles (New Testament) were the foundation of the church. The foundation has been laid. No one lays the foundation to a building twice (Eph. 2: 19, 20). Interestingly, the LDS do not use the term "pastor," but rather "bishop" when referring to the leader of the local congregation.
7. We believe in the gift of tongues, prophecy, revelation, visions, healing, interpretation of tongues, and so forth.
Response: Why isn't anything resembling the "gift of tongues" and the "interpretation of tongues" practiced today in the LDS church. These gifts are practiced today by Pentecostals and Charismatics (which number over 500,000,000). If these miraculous gifts exist in the LDS church, why is there a school to academically learn foreign languages at the Missionary Training Center at Brigham Young University?
8. We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God.
Response: The use of the term "as far as it is translated correctly" implies there are errors in the Bible (c.f. Prov. 30: 5; Mt. 24: 35; Mk. 13: 31; Lk. 21: 33). It is also apparently a "loophole" when LDS doctrine contradicts the Bible and also means the Bible is inferior to LDS Scripture. It is impossible to academically determine if the Book of Mormon was translated correctly since the original language document is not available. The Book of Abraham text is not translated correctedly from the source document of Egyptian hieroglyphics. Also, there are no additions to the Bible allowed (Dt. 4: 2; 12: 32; 2 Cor. 11: 4; Prov. 30: 6).
9. We believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe that He will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God.
Response: Not all that is claimed to be revealed from God is actually from God. It must must not contradict God's already known revelation, the Holy Bible.
10. We believe in the literal gathering of Israel and in the restoration of the Ten Tribes; that Zion (the New Jerusalem) will be built upon the American continent; that Christ will reign personally upon the earth; and, that the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisiacal glory.
Response: America is nowhere mentioned in Bible prophecy and Christ's return will be in modern-day Israel (Zech. 14 : 2-4; Joel 3: 1-2: 14-16; Eze 43: 7). Isaiah 9: 7 reveals that Christ will sit on David's throne which has never been anywhere but Israel. The earth will not be "renewed," but recreated (Rev. 21: 1).
11. We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may.
Response: If this is true, why did Joseph Smith claim he was told by God that all Christian churches and creeds were false and all who professed their faith in these churches were corrupt (Joseph Smith -- Hist. 1: 19)? Why does the LDS church consider themselves "the only true church" (Boyd K. Packer, 1985 (Packer is currently the president of the church's twelve apostles and in line to be the next Prophet of the church)? If I wish to join the LDS church, why will they not consider my Christian baptism to be valid?
12. We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.
Response: LDS church records show that both church leaders and members in Utah continued to practice polygamy, against United States law, after the state joined the U.S. in 1896.
13. We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul—We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.
Response: There are LDS leaders and church members who are familiar with the doctrine called "lying for the Lord." Mormon Historian and former BYU professor D. Michael Quinn called the use of deception by LDS church leaders, "theocratic ethics." (The Mormon Hierarchy: Origins of Power, p. 112) It is a recognized fact that Joseph Smith lied about polygamy to protect himself or the church; which was an extension of himself.
In our country, the LDS church has the right to believe whatever they please. They can believe in the Flying Spaghetti Monster or anything else for that matter. That's not the issue here. The issue is simple: STOP CALLING YOURSELF CHRISTIAN WHEN YOU DON'T BELIEVE WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS CHRISTIANS BELIEVE!!
Ciao for now,
Dave
I thought it would be interesting to compare the 13 articles against Biblical Christianity and see if the LDS church passes the test for being called Christian. After the comparison, you will plainly see they fail the test MISERABLY!
In America, you have the right to believe any religious tenets you wish. I grant them this. But it really gets my dander up when they say they want to be considered as Christians when their doctrines are as far apart from Christianity as Earth is from Pluto (the planet, not the dog).
Let's take a look at the comparison:
1. We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost. This statement does not affirm the three persons of the Godhead as one God (the Trinity).
Response: The Bible teaches that not only is the Father God, the Son is God also (Ex. 3: 14 c.f. Jn. 8: 58, 59) and the Holy Spirit is God as well (Acts 5: 3, 4). Jehovah (YHVH) and Elohim and one and the same (Dt. 6: 4 (Heb.)).
2. We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam's transgression.
Response: Adam's sin was passed on to all humanity. Humans are under condemnation for his sin (Rom. 5: 12).
3. We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.
Response: The LDS definition of "saved" (resurrected to face judgment) is not the definition of the Bible (saved from the wrath to come (Mt. 3: 7; Lk. 3: 7; I Th. 1: 10). In Biblical Christianity, salvation is not according to obedience to laws and ordinances but by grace through faith in Jesus (Eph. 2: 8, 9; Rom. 4: 4, 5).
4. We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are: first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Response: Baptism, a work of righteousness, is not part of the Gospel nor salvation, nor does it remit sins (I Cor. 1: 17: Tit. 3: 5). The Holy Spirit is given in many incidents in the Bible without the laying on of hands (Acts 2: 4; 10: 44; 11: 15).
5. We believe that a man must be called of God, by prophecy, and by the laying on of hands by those who are in authority, to preach the Gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof.
Response: Many men in the Bible were called of God without hands being laid on them (Noah, Moses, Gideon, Samuel, all twelve of Jesus' apostles, plus many others). The Mormon authority to preach and administer ordinances (the Melchizedek priesthood) does not exist in actuality since Jesus Christ holds the priesthood and it cannot be passed to anyone else (Heb. 7: 24 KJV "unchangeable" = Gr.: "aparabatos" = "untransferable").
6. We believe in the same organization that existed in the Primitive Church, namely, apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists, and so forth.
Response: While pastors, evangelists and teachers exist in Biblical Christianity today, prophets (Old Testament) and apostles (New Testament) were the foundation of the church. The foundation has been laid. No one lays the foundation to a building twice (Eph. 2: 19, 20). Interestingly, the LDS do not use the term "pastor," but rather "bishop" when referring to the leader of the local congregation.
7. We believe in the gift of tongues, prophecy, revelation, visions, healing, interpretation of tongues, and so forth.
Response: Why isn't anything resembling the "gift of tongues" and the "interpretation of tongues" practiced today in the LDS church. These gifts are practiced today by Pentecostals and Charismatics (which number over 500,000,000). If these miraculous gifts exist in the LDS church, why is there a school to academically learn foreign languages at the Missionary Training Center at Brigham Young University?
8. We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God.
Response: The use of the term "as far as it is translated correctly" implies there are errors in the Bible (c.f. Prov. 30: 5; Mt. 24: 35; Mk. 13: 31; Lk. 21: 33). It is also apparently a "loophole" when LDS doctrine contradicts the Bible and also means the Bible is inferior to LDS Scripture. It is impossible to academically determine if the Book of Mormon was translated correctly since the original language document is not available. The Book of Abraham text is not translated correctedly from the source document of Egyptian hieroglyphics. Also, there are no additions to the Bible allowed (Dt. 4: 2; 12: 32; 2 Cor. 11: 4; Prov. 30: 6).
9. We believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe that He will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God.
Response: Not all that is claimed to be revealed from God is actually from God. It must must not contradict God's already known revelation, the Holy Bible.
10. We believe in the literal gathering of Israel and in the restoration of the Ten Tribes; that Zion (the New Jerusalem) will be built upon the American continent; that Christ will reign personally upon the earth; and, that the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisiacal glory.
Response: America is nowhere mentioned in Bible prophecy and Christ's return will be in modern-day Israel (Zech. 14 : 2-4; Joel 3: 1-2: 14-16; Eze 43: 7). Isaiah 9: 7 reveals that Christ will sit on David's throne which has never been anywhere but Israel. The earth will not be "renewed," but recreated (Rev. 21: 1).
11. We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may.
Response: If this is true, why did Joseph Smith claim he was told by God that all Christian churches and creeds were false and all who professed their faith in these churches were corrupt (Joseph Smith -- Hist. 1: 19)? Why does the LDS church consider themselves "the only true church" (Boyd K. Packer, 1985 (Packer is currently the president of the church's twelve apostles and in line to be the next Prophet of the church)? If I wish to join the LDS church, why will they not consider my Christian baptism to be valid?
12. We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.
Response: LDS church records show that both church leaders and members in Utah continued to practice polygamy, against United States law, after the state joined the U.S. in 1896.
13. We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul—We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.
Response: There are LDS leaders and church members who are familiar with the doctrine called "lying for the Lord." Mormon Historian and former BYU professor D. Michael Quinn called the use of deception by LDS church leaders, "theocratic ethics." (The Mormon Hierarchy: Origins of Power, p. 112) It is a recognized fact that Joseph Smith lied about polygamy to protect himself or the church; which was an extension of himself.
In our country, the LDS church has the right to believe whatever they please. They can believe in the Flying Spaghetti Monster or anything else for that matter. That's not the issue here. The issue is simple: STOP CALLING YOURSELF CHRISTIAN WHEN YOU DON'T BELIEVE WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS CHRISTIANS BELIEVE!!
Ciao for now,
Dave
Monday, November 28, 2011
The 12 Signs of a true church?
I have just viewed a YouTube video that attempts to explain why the LDS (Mormon) church is the only true church. (By the way, you can view it for yourself here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCTZVh3l3ZA. The video, most likely posted by an LDS zealot (it claims not to speak officially for the church itself), lists the 12 reasons by which we will know the "true church." After viewing this video, I quickly realized the LDS church fails ON ALL 12 COUNTS!!! Let's look at them:
1. The LDS Church has a prophet and twelve apostles, as did the Savior's ancient church.
As we turn to the Bible (which the Mormons claim they believe), we find in Ephesians 2:20 that the church was built on the foundation of apostles and prophets. That foundation was laid 2,000 years ago. After the foundation of a house or other building is laid, you don't lay another one. Christian (not Mormon) churches today were indeed built on a foundation of apostles and prophets, but we don't need to lay the foundation again.
2. LDS priesthood holders can trace their authority directly to Jesus Christ.
The problem here is that no man (sorry, ladies) in the LDS church holds the Melchiszedek priesthood. Hebrews 7: 21-25 is very clear when it says that Jesus holds the priesthood forever and it cannot transferred to another person. Verse 24 uses the Greek word "aparabatos" to describe Jesus' priesthood. That word (used only once in Scripture) means "incapable of being transferred." It cannot mean anything else.
3. The LDS Church is guided by continuous revelation through its prophet, as was the New Testament church.
Jesus told us specifically that ALL Old Testament-style prophets (which the LDS claim to have) ended with John the Baptist (Matthew 11: 3 - note the word "all"). The writer of Hebrews in chapter 1, verse 1 tells us clearly that although God did speak before through prophets, He now speaks only through Jesus Christ (Christ's word, of course, is the Bible).
4. The LDS Church understands and teaches the biblical doctrine that God and Jesus are separate and distinct divine beings, who communicate with each other, who are aware of each other's existance, and who work in perfect harmony with each other.
Biblical? This is IN NO WAY a Bible doctrine. This doctrine NEVER existed in the Christian church. No one ever heard of it until the Mormons came along in the early 19th Century. Matthew closes his gospel by quoting Jesus' commandment to baptize in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit (Mt. 28: 19). "Name" NOT "names." There is ONE God who reveals himself in three persons. This is the God of the Bible.
5. The LDS Church affirms that the Savior was literally resurrected, and that he lives today.
This goes nowhere to prove the LDS is the only true church. Almost every Christian church believes this (of course, the "Savior" the LDS believe in is not the Jesus of the Bible. The Mormon Jesus was a created being. The Biblical Jesus is eternal and created all things (Colossians 1:16)).
6. The LDS Church obeys the law of tithing.
There is no "law of tithing." All Old Testament laws were nailed to the cross and fulfilled in Christ (Col. 2: 14; Romans 10: 4). Many Christians go well beyond "tithing" when it comes to giving to the Lord.
7. The LDS Church possesses the additional scripture prophesied of in the Bible.
The only thing in the Bible the LDS can REMOTELY point to as a "proof-text" for additional scripture is Ezekiel 37: 16, 19, the stick of Judah and the stick of Ephraim. If you read this portion of the Bible IN CONTEXT, you find Ezekiel is prophesying about Israel becoming a consolidated nation again. The word "stick" is never used in the Bible as a type of anything written, and especially not scripture. Actually, the Bible has strick warnings about anyone making additions (Deuteronomy 4: 2; 12: 32; Proverbs 30: 5, 6, et. al.).
8. The LDS Church is a missionary church, as was the Savior's ancient church.
This proves absolutely nothing. Almost every church has missionaries.
9. The LDS Church has a lay local clegy. Leaders are not salaried.
This an amazing smoke screen. Yes, no one in the local ward receives a paycheck, but the leaders of the church are the HIGHEST paid clergy on earth. I once worked for the Corporation of the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (now known as Deseret Management Corporation -- parent corporation of major insurance, banking and broadcasting companies, to name a few). Their board members just happen to be the First Presidency and the 12 apostles of the LDS church. Having "been there," can tell you the dividends they receive are every bit as high as those of the board of General Motors or Microsoft.
10. The LDS Church teaches that baptism is essential for salvation. As did the ancient church and Prophets.
The "ancient church and Prophets" as well as the Bible do NOT teach that baptism is essential for salvation . There is no Scripture (or even concept) in the Bible that teaches, "he who is not baptized is damned." Titus 3:5 says, "not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his own mercy has he saved us, by the washing of regeneration (new birth -- NOT baptism)...." (see also Galatians 2: 21; Ephesians 2: 8,9, et. al.)
11. The LDS Church teaches that our thoughts and actions play a role in our salvation.
Conversely, the Bible teaches that our thoughts are evil and what separates us from God (Jeremiah 17: 9); and our actions are incapable of obtaining salvation (see #10 above).
12. The LDS Church can answer the three great questions of life: "Where did I come from?" "Why am I here?" "Where am I going after death?"
Almost all Christians churches, in fact just about every religion, address these questions, so this statement provides no proof the Mormon church is the true church. In fact, the Bible actually has completely different answers to these questions from LDS doctrine.
A. Where did I come from? LDS: A pre-existance in which our station in this life was determined by how valiantly we fought in a war in heaven. Bible: Life begins at conception. God first knew us in the womb (mentioned 23 times in the Bible).
B. Why am I here? LDS: To work your way to exaltation. Bible: To glorify God.
C. Where am I going after death? LDS: To one of three heavens, depending on which one you earned in this life. Bible: Eternal life in Heaven with God or eternal death in Hell without Him, based on grace through faith and God's mercy.
Like I said at the outset, the LDS church fails on ALL 12 precepts. The real problem here is that when it comes to eternal things, the Mormons have asked the wrong question. It is not "which church is true," but rather "which plan of salvation is true." The Mormon plan of salvation is a complicated religious system involving good works and exalting yourself to godhood (if you're a guy...again, sorry ladies). The Biblical plan of salvation is recognizing that you are lost in your sins (Rom. 3:23), you need to be saved from God's wrath toward sin to come (Mt. 3: 7; Luke 3: 7; I Thessalonians 1: 10), you are under the penalty of death (Rom. 6: 23a), you can only be saved by the GIFT of eternal life through Christ (Rom. 6: 23b) and you must personally receive Christ (John 1: 12).
The question is not "which church is right," but rather which Savior is right. And that's the Biblcal Jesus, the second person of the Godhead, the very God Himself.
Ciao for now,
Dave
1. The LDS Church has a prophet and twelve apostles, as did the Savior's ancient church.
As we turn to the Bible (which the Mormons claim they believe), we find in Ephesians 2:20 that the church was built on the foundation of apostles and prophets. That foundation was laid 2,000 years ago. After the foundation of a house or other building is laid, you don't lay another one. Christian (not Mormon) churches today were indeed built on a foundation of apostles and prophets, but we don't need to lay the foundation again.
2. LDS priesthood holders can trace their authority directly to Jesus Christ.
The problem here is that no man (sorry, ladies) in the LDS church holds the Melchiszedek priesthood. Hebrews 7: 21-25 is very clear when it says that Jesus holds the priesthood forever and it cannot transferred to another person. Verse 24 uses the Greek word "aparabatos" to describe Jesus' priesthood. That word (used only once in Scripture) means "incapable of being transferred." It cannot mean anything else.
3. The LDS Church is guided by continuous revelation through its prophet, as was the New Testament church.
Jesus told us specifically that ALL Old Testament-style prophets (which the LDS claim to have) ended with John the Baptist (Matthew 11: 3 - note the word "all"). The writer of Hebrews in chapter 1, verse 1 tells us clearly that although God did speak before through prophets, He now speaks only through Jesus Christ (Christ's word, of course, is the Bible).
4. The LDS Church understands and teaches the biblical doctrine that God and Jesus are separate and distinct divine beings, who communicate with each other, who are aware of each other's existance, and who work in perfect harmony with each other.
Biblical? This is IN NO WAY a Bible doctrine. This doctrine NEVER existed in the Christian church. No one ever heard of it until the Mormons came along in the early 19th Century. Matthew closes his gospel by quoting Jesus' commandment to baptize in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit (Mt. 28: 19). "Name" NOT "names." There is ONE God who reveals himself in three persons. This is the God of the Bible.
5. The LDS Church affirms that the Savior was literally resurrected, and that he lives today.
This goes nowhere to prove the LDS is the only true church. Almost every Christian church believes this (of course, the "Savior" the LDS believe in is not the Jesus of the Bible. The Mormon Jesus was a created being. The Biblical Jesus is eternal and created all things (Colossians 1:16)).
6. The LDS Church obeys the law of tithing.
There is no "law of tithing." All Old Testament laws were nailed to the cross and fulfilled in Christ (Col. 2: 14; Romans 10: 4). Many Christians go well beyond "tithing" when it comes to giving to the Lord.
7. The LDS Church possesses the additional scripture prophesied of in the Bible.
The only thing in the Bible the LDS can REMOTELY point to as a "proof-text" for additional scripture is Ezekiel 37: 16, 19, the stick of Judah and the stick of Ephraim. If you read this portion of the Bible IN CONTEXT, you find Ezekiel is prophesying about Israel becoming a consolidated nation again. The word "stick" is never used in the Bible as a type of anything written, and especially not scripture. Actually, the Bible has strick warnings about anyone making additions (Deuteronomy 4: 2; 12: 32; Proverbs 30: 5, 6, et. al.).
8. The LDS Church is a missionary church, as was the Savior's ancient church.
This proves absolutely nothing. Almost every church has missionaries.
9. The LDS Church has a lay local clegy. Leaders are not salaried.
This an amazing smoke screen. Yes, no one in the local ward receives a paycheck, but the leaders of the church are the HIGHEST paid clergy on earth. I once worked for the Corporation of the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (now known as Deseret Management Corporation -- parent corporation of major insurance, banking and broadcasting companies, to name a few). Their board members just happen to be the First Presidency and the 12 apostles of the LDS church. Having "been there," can tell you the dividends they receive are every bit as high as those of the board of General Motors or Microsoft.
10. The LDS Church teaches that baptism is essential for salvation. As did the ancient church and Prophets.
The "ancient church and Prophets" as well as the Bible do NOT teach that baptism is essential for salvation . There is no Scripture (or even concept) in the Bible that teaches, "he who is not baptized is damned." Titus 3:5 says, "not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his own mercy has he saved us, by the washing of regeneration (new birth -- NOT baptism)...." (see also Galatians 2: 21; Ephesians 2: 8,9, et. al.)
11. The LDS Church teaches that our thoughts and actions play a role in our salvation.
Conversely, the Bible teaches that our thoughts are evil and what separates us from God (Jeremiah 17: 9); and our actions are incapable of obtaining salvation (see #10 above).
12. The LDS Church can answer the three great questions of life: "Where did I come from?" "Why am I here?" "Where am I going after death?"
Almost all Christians churches, in fact just about every religion, address these questions, so this statement provides no proof the Mormon church is the true church. In fact, the Bible actually has completely different answers to these questions from LDS doctrine.
A. Where did I come from? LDS: A pre-existance in which our station in this life was determined by how valiantly we fought in a war in heaven. Bible: Life begins at conception. God first knew us in the womb (mentioned 23 times in the Bible).
B. Why am I here? LDS: To work your way to exaltation. Bible: To glorify God.
C. Where am I going after death? LDS: To one of three heavens, depending on which one you earned in this life. Bible: Eternal life in Heaven with God or eternal death in Hell without Him, based on grace through faith and God's mercy.
Like I said at the outset, the LDS church fails on ALL 12 precepts. The real problem here is that when it comes to eternal things, the Mormons have asked the wrong question. It is not "which church is true," but rather "which plan of salvation is true." The Mormon plan of salvation is a complicated religious system involving good works and exalting yourself to godhood (if you're a guy...again, sorry ladies). The Biblical plan of salvation is recognizing that you are lost in your sins (Rom. 3:23), you need to be saved from God's wrath toward sin to come (Mt. 3: 7; Luke 3: 7; I Thessalonians 1: 10), you are under the penalty of death (Rom. 6: 23a), you can only be saved by the GIFT of eternal life through Christ (Rom. 6: 23b) and you must personally receive Christ (John 1: 12).
The question is not "which church is right," but rather which Savior is right. And that's the Biblcal Jesus, the second person of the Godhead, the very God Himself.
Ciao for now,
Dave
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