Posted on 10/11/2011 10:27:46 AM PDT by SeanG200
Dennis Prager does an excellent job in exposing the bias in the New York Times headline about non-news... but takes the reader to the last paragraph of the article to uncover the real news the headline misses.
Take note I am a very conservative Evangelical who has written a stinging critique on Mormonism (http://www.scribd.com/doc/34407703/Infinitely-Finite-Mormon-Materialism), and I would vote for Romney if he were our nominee without a second thought!
For more clear thinking like this from Dennis Prager... I invite you to visit: http://www.dennisprager.com/
(Excerpt) Read more at vimeo.com ...
Related: The man who wants to tell you about his religion doesn’t want to hear about yours.
I live in the greatest concentration of Mormons on the globe, the very social nerve center of Mormondom. I’ve lived here 40 years.
I read and listen with some bemusement the conversations going on about Willard’s involvement in the LDS church. All kinds of non-Utah experts like to have their say.
Until the last 30 years, Mormons refused to be called Christian.
One of their own guys at BYU has said that if you define Christian in the strict biblical sense, they’re not Christians. But if your definition is any brand of religion that remotely uses the name of Jesus under a great big umbrella, they can be called Christian.
The Mormon church is not going to take over the world with some evil plan to subjugate everyone under a polygamous caliphate. Really, the next 25 years will see their membership numbers and influence decline sharply, due to the availability of church doctrine and history on the internet. It’s already happening.
Willard Romney is a bad idea not because he is LDS, but because he’s a liberal. He’s a white Obama. And he won’t apologize for Romneycare. Please not Willard, but not because he’s LDS.
I know traditional Hindus who tell me that the Hari Krishnas you used to see at the airport are “a cult”.
I think some people just generally refer to those who don’t share their theology as being in “a cult”.
I am Catholic and this pastor apparently feels that I am in “a cult” as well. And I’m sure I could find more than a few hard-core types hanging around the Vatican who would tell him he is in “a cult” too.
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Perhaps, I certainly don't know, I am inclined to think that is only wishful thinking, but, they spend more money on getting members than any other church I know of. Other churches spend money on pastors and interest on building loans, the Mormons send their kids out for 2 years to knock on our doors.
From my perspective they don't hide their theology at all, they give you the good with the bad. No, they don't talk about the rumors or unsubstantiated claims that many knowledgeable people have a tendency to make but they are proud of their theology.
Do they believe they are Christian? They do. Does that make them Christian? One’s wanting to be something does not make it so. They don't claim to sustain the Nicaean Creed, they can take all of it except for the definition of the Trinity. If the Creed is what defines Christianity then they are not. There is however another very acceptable (in many circles) definition of Christianity, a follower of Christ. Mormons do follow Christ. Their description may not be yours or mine but it is Christ they follow. If that is the definition then they are Christian. Are they “Orthodox” Christian? No. Are they a part of the Universal Church? Probably not. Do they, to the best of their knowledge follow Christ? I think the answer is yes.
Will Christ know them when they stand before him and say “we cast out devils in Your name”? I hope so. I think they are generally good people. In my community we have a council of Christian pastors that include several different Protestant and Catholic pastors. One of them invited the Mormons to attend. One of the members of the council protested during the meeting they attended saying they were not Christian. One of the Mormons was asked to defend the accusation. He got up and said something to the effect of, "I worship and love the Lord Jesus Christ, the Christ that was born of a Virgin named Mary in Bethlehem, who was accused and tried before Pilate, Herod and the Sanhedrin, who bore my sins, was crucified, dead and buried. On the third He arose from the dead and was seen by many including those who He was close to and upwards of 500 at one time just before ascending to Heaven to sit at the right hand of God The Father. To this same Christ of which I speak we will all depend on for His Grace for salvation. I testify that there is no other name or means of salvation except through the name and Grace of Jesus Christ." The Pastor who was conducting the meeting stood and said words to the effect of, "Gentlemen, his testimony of Christ is good enough for me". There was a general commotion of agreement. All sat down, the single accuser got up and left and never came back. Fortunately it is not my job to be a judge of anybody on this earth, if I was I would be calling them Christian if that is what they want.
As much as people hate Romney here on FR, they will pretty much all vote for him if nominated.
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