He's dead; Jim.
Reach for the bag...
Posted on 10/31/2011 8:54:35 PM PDT by delacoert
Robert Jeffress made national headlines recently with his assertion that Mormonism is a "cult" and a "false religion." Peter Wehner, a political commentator whose blog I read regularly, immediately criticized what he termed "the theological and political errors of Pastor Jeffress."
What are the facts behind the firestorm? Is Mormonism a "cult?” The answer depends on your definition of the term.
If by "cult" you mean the popular caricature of a manipulative group that practices mind control and exploits its members, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints clearly does not qualify.
However, scholars use the word differently. According to Walter Martin's definitive The Rise of the Cults, a "cult" is "a group of people polarized around someone's interpretation of the Bible and is characterized by major deviations from orthodox Christianity relative to the cardinal doctrines of the Christian faith, particularly the fact that God became man in Christ Jesus." They claim a founder other than Jesus, follow a book other than the Bible, accept beliefs outside traditional Christianity, and seek salvation in ways other than by grace through faith.
There is no question that Mormons claim to be Christians. Responding to Jeffress, the church released a statement claiming that "Christ is at the center of our worship, study, service and faith." But what do they believe about God?
Their movement was founded 1,800 years after Christ by Joseph Smith (1805-44). He taught that "God was once as we are now, and is an exalted man, and sits enthroned in yonder heavens" (King Follett Discourses). According to Smith, "The Father has a body of flesh and bones as tangible as man's" (Doctrine and Covenants 130:22). The church teaches that God the Father in his glorified physical body had sexual intercourse with the virgin Mary, resulting in the conception of the physical Christ (Journal of Discourses 1:51; 4:218).
Do they follow a book other than the Bible? In addition to Scripture, they consider the Book of Mormon to be "another testament of Jesus Christ" revealed by Jesus to descendants of Israel living in early America. They also follow Doctrine and Covenants and Pearl of Great Price, compendiums of theology and prescribed practices.
Do they accept beliefs outside traditional Christianity? Smith taught plural marriage as a "new and everlasting covenant" (Doctrine and Covenants 132:1,4). Though the church repudiated polygamy in 1890, some splinter groups still follow the practice. They baptize for the dead, believing that this action can speed the progress of the deceased in the afterlife.
Do they seek salvation in ways other than by grace through faith? Mormons believe that baptism purges their Gentile blood and replaces it with the blood of Abraham through the Holy Spirit. In this way they become the actual offspring of Abraham (History of the Church 3:380). They believe in three levels of glory: The telestial kingdom (for those who have no testimony of Christ); the terrestial kingdom (for those who fail the requirements of exaltation); and the celestial kingdom (reserved for members of the Mormon church who will become gods; Doctrine and Covenants 132:20)
Are Mormons Christians? That depends on the degree to which they accept the non-biblical teachings of their faith regarding God and salvation. I have met Mormons who assure me that they have asked the Lord Jesus Christ to forgive their sins and become their personal Savior and Lord. Many do not know as much about their church's doctrines as I do. However, I have also met Mormons who believe that their progress toward the celestial kingdom depends not on Jesus' sacrifice but on their missionary work and other church activities.
One final issue: Should the Mormon beliefs of Mitt Romney and Jon Huntsman influence Christians as they decide which candidate to support for president? Our decision should be informed by our answers to two prior questions. First, to what extent do Romney and Huntsman accept the non-Christian elements of their faith? Second, to what degree would decisions made by the president be impacted by uniquely Mormon beliefs?
Voting Republican doesn’t get you into heaven.
I was jumped upon by one of the more stealthy LDS inc defenders not long ago for posting a quote from one f the twelve dating to 1859, as if that old teaching is not the modern LDS inc religion. But wouldn't the teachings of those who were founding leadership for this smithian religion give us a better foundation of what this religion is rather than what it wants to pretend to be?
Pingalingaling, if you want to discuss this
Does Ursus Horribilus defecate in the woodland?
He's dead; Jim.
Reach for the bag...
mormonISM is not Christianity
lds teaches a created christ
lds teaches god was once a man
lds teaches women gain their salvation by the consent of their husbands
lds teaches that god had intercourse with Mary
lds has secret ceremonies
To name just a few...
mormonISM is not Christianity in any words you wish to chose.
Yeah!
Inquiring minds want to know!
The following is one of the blasphemous stealth teachings hallmarking mormonISM:
"We may talk of men being redeemed by the efficacy of his [Christ's] blood; but the truth is that that blood has no efficacy to wash away our sins. That must depend upon our own action." [ LDS Apostle Amasa M. Lyman, Journal of Discourses, Vol. 7, p. 299, 1859]And here are seven references from The Bible which show this mormonic teaching to be the anti-Christian/spirit of anti-christ:
Corinthians 10:16 The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?Ephesians 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
Hebrews 9:14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
1 Peter 1:2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.
1 Peter 1:19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
1 John 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
Revelation 1:5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,
Given this mormonic teaching that is the very essence of Antichrist, it is still amazing how much LDS inc apologists want folks to believe LDS inc is Christianity restored!
MormonISM as founded is the very essence of slick anti-Christ inveigling. Could it evolve from that beginning, turnign into another branch of Christianity, where we find God's Grace in Christ through the perfect saving blood of Jesus Christ?
The manual then was more based on the boy scout manual but could have had components with the baptist royal ambassadors - I don’t know how far back we are going here.
We’ll take boys from any or no denomination, work with them to see that they come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ and grow to become a Godly man in Christ.
All religions are cults.
HMMmm...
1,000,001 - now...
Bah!
We're TOUGH!
We dance on the POINT!
I guess you've not learned all the secrets yet.
Trouble is, JS merely CLAIMED to be a 'prophet' and history has proven him to be a FALSE prophet in many ways.
I'm SURE you know what the BIBLE says about FALSE prophets.
If having your church founded by a Money-looker, conman, psychic writer means nothing; then by all means, worship what you will.
But; you've been warned.
Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”
The things that the founder Joseph Smith, the second president Brigham Young and those who followed them actually believed about god[s] are embarrassing and indefensible.
Today, what is presented to the church is often softened to avoid embarrassment, though they would certainly conceal it if at all possible.
Perhaps YOU are the ideal person to address why SLC MORMON Headquarters ACCUSES the Flds folks of being non-MORMON.
Can you?
WILL you?
But; MORMONism 'claims' that CHRISTIANITY is false; and then demands to be called christian.
There is something WRONG with that.
But it's the OTHER stuff that gets you in trouble!
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