Posted on 10/15/2011 9:50:41 AM PDT by ReformationFan
A Statement from Truth in Action Ministries, Oct. 14, 2011
"While having the deepest respect for the moral and ethical standards of the Mormon people and their church, we must sadly reject their teachings as false and not Christian." –D. James Kennedy, Ph.D.
Texas pastor Robert Jeffress generated headlines last week when he told reporters that Mormonism is a cult—a belief system at odds with historic Christianity.
Since then he has been accused of bigotry, called a “poster boy for hatred,” and a “moron.”
Despite those harsh charges, Jeffress, who backs Texas governor Rick Perry for the GOP presidential nomination, has made it clear that his view of Mormonism is theologically grounded and not an expression of bigotry. He made it clear that he would be willing to vote for Romney in the general election if he wins the Republican nomination and said he thinks that Romney is a “fine family person.”
Dr. Jeffress, the pastor of First Baptist Church in Dallas, does, however, stand by his statement that Mormonism is a theological cult—and we stand with him.
(Excerpt) Read more at truthinaction.org ...
If the Christ, the deity, only begotten Son Of God, God incarnate is not the Christ (annointed) and ONLY way for salvstion ... it is a false Christ, thus, by definition, a cult.
I dont know if theyre a cult, but their belief system indicates they are certainly NOT Christian.
At what point is a cult a religion? Lasting 100 years? Hitting a million followers? I think LDS may not be Christian, but they are no longer a cult.
The reformed LDS chapter, or whatever they call themselves (breaking with many of the traditional/original JS doctrines) can also be classified as a “Cult of Mormonism”.
“Cult” is NOT “OCCULT”. There is a big difference.
Is Satanism or a cult?
Is Satanism a "religion" or a cult ?
Yes, they fit all 3 disciplinary definitions - anthropological, sociological, theological.
And I was one once upon a time - definitely a non-Christian cult.
Yes...it is a cult. Read “Kingdom of the Cults” for a listing of Christian Cults and why they are classified that way....Christian Cults because they are off shoots from Christianity.
I find it hard to describe a denomination that has survived multiple leadership changes as being a cult. Maybe a sect but not a cult.
(I particularly liked the ending with a newspaper stating that foreigners should settle their problems in their own lands, not bringing their troubles to England.)
As it was constituted at the time, it probably was a cult, at least from the view of ACD. Sort of a blend of cultism and crony religiousness to benefit those at the top.
This thread is one of the reasons I do not belong to any organized religion. I cannot believe what I am reading.
LDS pretty much meets every point of the definition of a cult....especially thru their recruitment bait and switch deception, and the strongholds they have on it's membership..which is fear based..... Not to mention their rituals, which on the deeper level would make most people run were it not for the fact by the time they are pre-programmed for these rituals they pretty much have lost their ability for critical thinking. Which is exactly what cults do.... Remove that ability over a period of time and with very effective means of doing so.
This is the major problem with Christianity & all other religious denominations who do not claim to be Christian but still believe in YHVH & Messiah, they think Yah’shua came to rebuke His Father's children and start over entirely with pagans. But is that what Yah’shua really said? Is that why He really came?
Jn 10:3 This is the one the gate-keeper admits, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep, each one by name, and leads them out. 4 After taking out all that are his own, he goes on ahead of them; and the sheep follow him because they recognize his voice.[CJB] (In context, Jn 10-11)
Ez 34:12 Just as a shepherd looks after his flock when he finds himself among his scattered sheep, so I will look after my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places where they were scattered when it was cloudy and dark.[CJB]
Mt 15:24 He said, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Isra’el<.b>.”[CJB]
Gen 48:19 But his father refused and said, “I know, my son, I know. He also shall become a people, and he also shall be great; but truly his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his descendants shall become a multitude of nations.” [NKJV]
In this last verse, multitude of nations in Hebrew is “melo ha goyim” which is the exact same Greek spelling used in Rm 11 for “fullness of the gentiles”. Dispersed Israelites living among the gentiles (HO 8:8); (Jer 23:27)-leaders teach them a different name for YHVH; (Gen 49:220 -they are a wealthy people; (Amos 9:9) -they will be sifted from among the gentiles; (Jn 7:35) -dispersed among the Greeks; (Rm 9:24-26, Rm 12:14-15)(Ho 1:10) -they already have the Law (Torah) written on their hearts-(Jer 31:33; Deut 29-30)
So when Yah’shua said that He ONLY came for the lost sheep of Israel, why was that?
Jer 3: 8 I saw that even though backsliding Isra’el had committed adultery, so that I had sent her away and given her a divorce document, unfaithful Y’hudah her sister was not moved to fear - instead she too went and prostituted herself. 9 The ease with which Isra’el prostituted herself defiled the land, as she committed adultery with stones and with logs. 10 Yet in spite of all this, her unfaithful sister Y’hudah has not returned to me wholeheartedly; she only makes a pretense of it,” said ADONAI. 11 Then ADONAI said to me, “Backsliding Isra’el has proved herself more righteous than unfaithful Y’hudah. 12 Go and proclaim these words toward the north: ‘”Return, backsliding Isra’el,” says ADONAI. “I will not frown on you, for I am merciful,” says ADONAI. “I will not bear a grudge forever.[CJB]
Jer 31:32 It will not be like the covenant I made with their fathers on the day I took them by their hand and brought them out of the land of Egypt; because they, for their part, violated my covenant, even though I, for my part, was a husband to them,” says ADONAI.[CJB]
This is why Paul starts out in Rm 7 by saying that he is only speaking to those that know the Law, the Torah, that defines adultery. Paul was specifically referring the law of divorce & now that the husband was dead, they are free from the law of adultery that kept them from reentering HIS House. They are now free to be married again. This is the real prophesy of the Marriage Supper of the Lamb.
But does this just include only physical seed? Absolutely not! And He addressed it straight away upon leaving Egypt when Moses asked about the Egyptians who had joined the exodus.
Ex 12:49 The same teaching is to apply equally to the citizen and to the foreigner living among you.
Nm 15:16 “The same Torah and standard of judgment will apply to both you and the foreigner living with you.”... 29 “no matter whether he is a citizen of Isra’el or a foreigner living with them. You are to have one law”
Throughout the entire Scriptures, YHVH has only made covenants with HIS people, the house if Israel & the house of Judah, who He would eventually call again just “Israel”. But should a foreigner (pagan gentile) wish to join in HIS House, they have always been required to keep & follow YHVH’s Torah.
Rm 8:6 For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against YHVH(God); for it is not subject to the Torah(law) of YHVH(God), nor indeed can be. 8 So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please YHVH(God).
Through the death & resurrection of Messiah, the Torah Law of adultery that kept the scattered sheep from entering back into the fold was no longer held against them. YHVH does not force Himself upon anyone, thus the new covenant is not for a new people, it is so that the scattered sheep who are living outside YHVH’s House because of the divorce laws, now are free to rejoin the House if they so choose. The foreigners(pagan gentiles) have always been welcome to join as long as they accept & abide by the rules of the covenant which is YHVH’s Torah.
Thus, there is a hint of truth in all denominations of all religions, but the vast majority, who claim by saying they believe in Messiah is enough & thus are not subject to Torah, are highly misled and are out of covenant(outside House but welcome to enter in anytime by accepting Moses (Torah). YHVH’s children are Israel no matter the denominational label man has attached to them. They are a lovely Green Olive Tree, full of good fruit. (Jer 11:16)
Jeremiah 31:31 [ A New Covenant ] “Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah—[NKJV]
I don't see pagan gentile anywhere in this New Covenant of Messiah. Further more, I have yet to have one clergy or parish member of any denomination under the umbrella of Christianity show me where this “new covenant” for “pagan gentiles only” is written. The entire Scriptures is about bring YHVH’s House back into order. In unity. Under One Torah. One can not claim to be of any of YHVH's Covenants if they have never accepted & followed Torah in the 1st place.
One Nation! Under YHVH! With Liberty & Justice for All!
Kinda blows a hole through Christian doctrine that teaches the NT ushered in a new set of covenant laws, banishing Jews to that of the old. The old was never old, it has always been current and if anyone is in covenant for the most part, it is the Jews. At least they still keep Torah for the most part; though they generally practice it via the Talmud(their additions to the Torah) which Yah’shua rebuked when He walked in the flesh. This is why YHVH did not divorce the house of Judah, even though they had added to Torah, they were at least preserving the basic integrity of it. Well, that and the covenant YHVH made with David that HE would never divorce the house of Judah.
Does any religion have it right? Absolutely not, not even Judaism, but it is our Jewish brethren(house of Judah)that all denominations of Christianity, Mormonism, Catholicism, et, etc need to take a lesson from lest we find ourselves at that wide gate that leads to destruction.
It's time to start reading & studying His Book - starting in the front rather than in the middle - lest we entirely miss the lesson/message HE is teaching/sending us.
I've always thought of a cult as having a mind control component to it as exercised by their leaders. Also, it usually means that the real power is vested in one person.... not always but usually as was the case with say Jim Jones. This is different than true Christianity which vests its power in Jesus Christ. Regardless of whether Mormonism fits a particular definition of cult is probably not worth exploring..... it is already a false religion and that is all that matters as far as what one needs to know.
After Romney gets the nomination Mormonism will be torn apart and ridiculed as the biggest cult in the history of the world. Every little questionable practice will be examined ad nauseam. It will make Free Republic Mormon discussions look tame. This is an obvious setup for the republicans.
I wish more people could see it.
But, If Romney gets the nomination it will be the first time we have a guy running that thinks he is going to be a God versus one that already thinks he is one.
With all the lies in the world, why would you think lying could not take place in the area of religion?
Why would you be surprised? There will always be counterfeits masqurading as the real deal, and it’s always been so.
Not just in matters of faith but pretty much anything that is good....always an opposite presentation given with just enough truth to entice the ‘uninformed’.
Additionally Christianity isn’t about being religious...it’s about a relationship with God...and that is thru His son Jesus Christ who makes that possible. All other “religions” serve dead or imagined prophets or idols but Christianity serves a risen Savior. He is alive and sits at the hand of God the Almighty.
Many false religions and occults will always use and abuse, borrow and steal, Christian verbage, language etc. becuase it works to reel people in. Without that deception people generally wouldn’t give these groups the time of day.
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