Posted on 10/30/2013 5:02:50 AM PDT by Colofornian
I was once married to a bona fide, white-shirt-and-tie, bike-riding, garment-wearing Mormon missionary. And not just any Mormon missionary—a master soul-winner for this Christianesque cult.
Of course, I had no idea when I met him that he was even a Mormon. All I knew was he had just returned from a two-year mission to Europe, he never said an unkind word about anybody and he had a sweet heart.
He seemed righteous enough—more righteous than me. But I wasn’t born-again and I didn’t know the difference between a false religion that incorporated Jesus into the mix and true Christianity. My Southern Baptist grandfather tried to warn me, but I just couldn’t see the harm in a Jesus-centered religion. So I ended up marrying a Mormon.
I learned plenty about the secret rituals that Mormons practice, but that’s not what I want to share with you. You can read about bizarre Mormon beliefs in many places on the Internet these days. What I learned being married to a Mormon—a Mormon who later abandoned his wife and baby to have an affair with a woman just more than half his age in a foreign country—was the danger of false religions.
We know that there are deceitful spirits and teachings of demons that will lead some to depart from the faith (see 1 Tim. 4:1). We know that there are false prophets and teachers who proclaim Jesus but don’t truly serve Him (see 2 Peter 2:1). We know that Satan disguises himself as an angel of light to deceive people (see 2 Cor. 11:14). And we know that some are perverting the grace of God into sensuality (see Jude 1:4).
We know all of this and yet some in the body of Christ—born-again, blood-bought and yes, even tongue-talking—are embracing aspects of false religions. It’s a subtle deception and one about which I will continue sounding the alarm until Jesus tells me not to. I’ll keep sounding the alarm and speaking this truth in love in hopes that some will avoid the great falling away.
What I learned being married to a Mormon is how these deceitful spirits work. My ex-husband used to urge me to read the Book of Mormon cover to cover and then pray about whether or not it was true. Mormons promise a “burning in the bosom” will come as a confirmation when you release that prayer.
Mormons also cite James 1:5 to back up their carnal claim with actual Scripture: “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.” Mormons teach that any positive feelings you have after that prayer are from the Holy Spirit and any negative feelings are not from the Holy Spirit. And if you don’t get the “burning in the bosom,” they suggest you pray more sincerely until you do.
This demonstrates a grave danger. We cannot base truth on how we feel, whether it’s a goose bump, an emotional high or a burning in the bosom. Proverbs clearly states, “He who trusts in his own heart is a fool, but whoever walks wisely will be delivered” (Prov. 28:26). And God warns us that the heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked (see Jer. 17:9).
I believe an unbalanced pursuit of supernatural experiences opens the door to demon-inspired encounters and emotions that validate a person’s erroneous theology. Some in the prophetic movement claim to hold regular conversations with angels, which become the source of their prophecies and sermons. Yes, angels are prophetic messengers but most often the Holy Spirit will lead us and guide us into all truth Himself. And our sermons should be based on the Word of God—and our prophecies from the Spirit of God—not mystical revelation that doesn’t line up with the Bible.
Chasing the supernatural above the God of the supernatural is not the only example of emotionalism gone amuck. The prosperity gospel can also get out of balance. I’ve read about merchandising evangelists leading people into financial devastation after a so-called supernatural promise that gave them false faith to believe their debt would be canceled in 30 days. Yes, I believe in supernatural debt cancellation but there is an abuse of this gimmick. People fall for it because they are in their emotions rather than in the Word of God. They tap into the hype and the shyster taps into their pocketbooks.
Idolatrous Prophecies Abound
If you’ve been following my work for any length of time, you know that I’m all about prophetic ministry—true prophetic ministry. It’s vital in this hour. But false prophecies that tap into the idolatry in people’s hearts may cause them to get married to the wrong person, get divorced against God’s will, quit their jobs and pursue other wrong moves because of a “feeling” they got when the heard a prophecy. Yes, God gave us emotions but our emotions should be submitted to the Word of God and, I might add, some common sense.
Above all, my concern is a greater deception that leaves people with greater troubles than just bankrupcy, divorce or talking with angels of light. My concern is that exalting “feelings” over the Word of God will lead many into eternal fire. “For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect,” Jesus said. “See, I have told you beforehand” (Matt. 24:24-25).
See, I am telling you beforehand. The New Testament is overflowing with warnings not to be deceived. Even with the Word of God, we are charged to rightly divide it (see 2 Tim. 2:15). We are in the last days. Can we really afford to let charismatic preachers tell us what the Word says? Shouldn’t we be students of the Word ourselves? We all have a responsibility to guard ourselves from deception and staying rooted in the Word of God is the best way I know to do that in this hour. It may not give you goose bumps, but it will set you free. Amen.
I was once married to a bona fide, white-shirt-and-tie, bike-riding, garment-wearing Mormon missionary. And not just any Mormon missionary—a master soul-winner for this Christianesque cult...
Cont'd:
Cont'd: We know that there are deceitful spirits and teachings of demons that will lead some to depart from the faith (see 1 Tim. 4:1)...
Cont'd:
Cont'd:
Cont'd:
* WHO WAS JOSEPH SMITH? [The OTHER World Series: Mormonism's Joseph Smith and the Occult]
* Freemasonry & occult Mormonism (LDS) [The OTHER World Series: YouTube clip]
* Doctrine and Covenants: Student Manual [Mormon pub admits Romney ancestor was demon-possessed]
* 40: Mormons, Demons, and Exorcisms [The OTHER World Series]
* The Doctrine and Covenants [132:17: Non-abiding 'angels' remain with Mormon god, said Smith]
In case you missed last week's The OTHER World Series threads, here they are!
* Reviews [The OTHER World Series: 'The eyes of the dead are upon us' - ex-LDS 'prophet']
* Teachings Concerning The Spirit World [Lds: 'unseen...visitors'...from 'world beyond' close]
* Interesting Similarities between Mormonism and Spirit Release Therapy [The OTHER World Series...]
* Do Mormons Believe in Ghosts? [The OTHER World Series: 'spirits...not far from us']
* Opinion: Mormon zombies are hard to find — is Halloween fit for LDS? [The OTHER World Series]
* Is "Ghost Hunters" host Grant Wilson a member? [of the Mormon church? Yes]
* 25 years ago today - 1988 Oct.1 [Lds complete 100 million endowments for the dead in temples]
* What Is the LDS Standard For Discerning Between Spirits? [Smith: 'some revelations of the devil']
* Mormonism started by Familiar Spirits [ Demonism ] [[The Other World Series]]
Oh, I get it.
Time to beat up on Mike Lee.
I appreciate this article. Having just read another post from BYU.edu, written by a supposed non Mormon, I realized it was more PR than informative. If a person, idea, inspiration, movement does not elevate Jesus as revealed in the written word of God, it is false. Yet many even Christians are led astray.
This is exactly what happened to me...my grandparents (SBC btw), may God rest their souls, tried to tell me but I was too smart by half and I converted to mormonism, which I eventually abandoned. I can't describe the feeling as I sat with them towards the end of their time here and told them that I had left mormonism. I'll just say it felt redeeming in a way.
The postitive side of this is that besides our differences in faith, we are still married after 23 years although the conflicts in faith are many....
It still amazes me how much mormons claim to be Christian, yet will rarely, if ever set foot in another church, rarely, if ever, interact with other faiths in Christian events, expect others to entertain their teachings, yet get their knickers in knots whenever a Christian tries the same, etc.
THX 1138
Thanks for reminding me about this film. I found reference to it once when I was looking for the meaning behind Toto’s song “99”.
+1
Szonian: This is exactly what happened to me...my grandparents (SBC btw), may God rest their souls, tried to tell me but I was too smart by half and I converted to mormonism, which I eventually abandoned. I can't describe the feeling as I sat with them towards the end of their time here and told them that I had left mormonism. I'll just say it felt redeeming in a way.
Your Southern Baptist grandparents -- and the Southern Baptist grandparent(s) of this woman -- were greatful of God's "long arm" of reaching into Mormonism to save you and her.
Apostates from Baptist churches -- even one who has become my "biggest digital 'fan'" in being an anti-'anti-Mormon'" need our prayers.
Great Movie!
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