We've probably all seen by now the massive campaign that the Mormon church has been waging via the TV commercials. Their tagline is "After centuries of confusion the truth has been restored." I've got to hand it to them from the standpoint of their marketing and enthusiasm. Of course the only problem is that they are preaching another gospel. This is exactly what we are warned about in Galatians 1:8-9,
"8But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. 9As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed."
Joseph Smith, the founder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (the Mormon church), claimed that an angel did appear to him. And if Joseph Smith had been a Bible believing Christian, and this were to have actually happened (which is more than questionable), he would have known to reject the message of this angel. Eventually Joseph Smith would found a religion that would exalt men to gods and lower God to man.
Christians need to be very aware about what Mormon's believe and its incompatibility with Scripture. Here is a ----> "link" <---- that should make anyone who knows and loves the gospel of Christ shudder. In this link you will see a video of a person talking about how unfair and unloving it would be for God to send to Hell people who have not heard about Jesus, and people who have done "good things" (Rom 3:10-12) but are not Christians.
Hello! What about the fact that the Bible says we are all sinners and deserve HELL! (Romans 1-3) It's not unfair that people go to Hell! It's unfair that God had to die in the place of sinners because we rebelled against Him! But how wonderful is His grace that He would do it anyway! You must repent of your sin and trust in Christ alone for salvation! If you do not, you go to Hell, and you deserve to. I deserve to, and I praise God that I'm notgetting what I deserve because Christ has saved me! There is only one way to Heaven (John 14:6, Eph. 2:8-9). But this is just a small part of the dangerous message that is being preached by the Mormon church.
It is because of cult groups like this that deceive people and pull them away from the true Jesus and His gospel that I am an apologist. This is why I am creating a new "site" that will be a resource for defending the Biblical Christian faith. But since my site has a long way to go, I suggest that you check out "Alpha and Omega Ministries" and James White's book's, "Is the Mormon My Brother" and "Letters to a Mormon Elder" for more information on the Latter Day Saints.
Know what you believe and why. Don't be silent about the truth! If you don't share Christ with your neighbor, someone else might share a pseudo Christ with them instead.
-Jacob
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8 comments:
That >>>>LINK<<<< you posted made me cringe. Mostly because from that video I would not have known it was Mormon...so many in the "church" speak just like that today...
I live in Australia so I have not seen the LDS marketing, and we don't get it on our televisions here. Can you expand more on what they are doing?
This is so great. Amen Jacob.
I had my first comment by a Mormon the other day. They complemented me on my blog site and then stated that I might be interested in other testaments of our Savior at a web site. He left a link to his site. I checked it out and the first thing I saw was the sub header "The book of Mormon another testament of Jesus Christ". (you can see how I responded to him if you go to my blog and the posting "Questions of Unity and Context") This on the heals of a study Pastor Pat did a couple of Sunday evenings ago on "Unity That God Forbids". You can find at the OBC audio page.
These folks do not teach the same gospel or even close to it. I listen to Glenn Beck on the radio and I know he is Mormon. But the other day he went on this monologue about man coming from a previous existence and wrapping ourselves in this cumbersome flesh and came to earth to learn stuff. I realized just how (to use your words.. confused) led astray they are by the revelation of an angel to Joseph Smith who was probably high on peyote. ;-)
nath,
The LDS have been really good for a long time at doing commercials. They have had some very moral, family friendly type commercials on TV for years that encourage family values and then of course advertise their religion.
Lately however they have had some commercials that are kind of like on the street interviews, I don't know if they are real or if they are actors, but nonetheless, asking questions like "can I be with my family forever" and "does God really care about me" and various other things.
They then claim that after centuries of confusion (like everyone has been wondering what truth really is since the second century or something) that the truth has been restored. Of course their religion is the one that has restored this truth through the prophet Joseph Smith.
They then give a web site www.mormon.org. It's all real slick and they have put a lot of money and work into this campaign. I'm sure it will effectively draw a lot of lost people into even deeper deception.
Barry,
Yeah I'll check it out bro. I'll say this for mormons, they are confident. They think they can convert anyone. I guess I can't blame them for that, they think they truly know God.
Of course you and I know that they have no hope of actually converting an actual born again beleiver. But you can't blaim them for sharing what they genuinely believe. You and I do the same. The good news is, they cannot convert a true Christian, but God can convert anyone by drawing them to himself. So you and I are safe when we share with them, but we just might get them if God is calling them home.
Jacob,
As the only cult member that visits your site I'm gonna have to speak up. I'm sure you knew I would.
Why do we advertise our faith? Is it to build a cult? Is it selfish desire? How many scandals have you heard of where a Mormon leader has run off with millions in the chruch's money? How many times have you ever heard of one even living in the lap of luxury with limos and mansions? You make it sound as if Mormons are out to decieve, plunder, and pillage.
Why does the world call the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints a cult? Because we are a people. We are united in faith, doctrine, community, and family. That is where our similarity to a cult ends. Every christian church strives for this ideal. Some do better than others. Do we lead people away from Christ? Do we deny the power of Christ over us?
In all of our discussions you have listed your doctrinal differences and I have listed mine. Can you honestly conclude that I do not believe in Christ? That I reject his grace?
Joseph Smith is not my God. He is an instrument. Like Moses, Peter, and Paul. If he hadn't restored Christ's church someone else would have been the instrument.
An angel did deliver the scriptures to Jospeh Smith.
It was not a new Gospel though. It was Christ's gospel restored. "ANOTHER Testament of Jesus Christ." We do not seek to supplant the Bible.
If you dislike what is taught you must accept the challenge that the scriptures give you to test truth.
James 1:5 "If any man lacks wisdom, let him ask of god who giveth to all men liberally and upbraideth not."
And how does God respond to his creations? Through the spirit. You ask and he answers by feelings of: love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith meekness, temperance. Gal 5:22
In our discussions we go around and around the scriptures trying to unite their meanings. Logic will only take you partway. The spirit must be the uniting force in Christ's church. John 14:16-17"...he shall give you another comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; even the spirt of truth; whom the world cannot receive...but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you,..."
Men try and try to wrest the scriptures to get understanding and miss this one vital point. God would have us get understanding directly from him. Pillipians 4:6-7 "...let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."
Notice how this scripture describes God's answer: Peace of God in our hearts and minds.
A child who has received the spirit and listens to its voice as Samuel listened when God called him, would know more about God than men that spend their entire life reading about God and the various OPINIONS that other men have formed across the centuries.
I challenge you to pray and ask God what is HIS truth. Take him your opinion and ask him if it is correct. Make sure you, "ask in faith, nothing wavering..." James 1:6. Then listen.
I know he has answered me. I have heard his spirit in my heart. I know he will answer you.
I'll be anxiously awaiting your report.
In him,
Pat
Pat,
Don't worry, your not the only cult member that visits my site from time to time. You may be the only Mormon, but not the only cult member.
We may not have heard of mormons doing stupid things like stealing money, scamming people, and being involved in sex scandals, but so what. I'm not sure that you've ever heard of any actual Christians involved in such things either. Sure it's not beyond possibility, Christians are still sinners. But a real Christian is going to live differently than an unregenerate person. So in all likelyhood, those in a sinful lifestyle, not just an occasional sin, but lifestyle, are probably not Christians.
I don't think mormons are out to deceive in the sense that they know they are, but that doesn't mean that they aren't deceiving people.
If I say you have to do good works and have faith in Jesus both to be justified before God and believe it and preach it, I preach it not to deceive but because I believe it. But if someone believes such a message I have deceived them from the true gospel, and I myself am deceived. Because it is faith alone in Christ alone that saves.
The world calls you a cult? Well I think the world doesn't care what mormons are, but as a Christian I call the teaching of your religion a cult. Why? Because you do indeed preach a false gospel and another Jesus.
I know you believe that you believe in the Jesus of the bible but clearly you do not. The Jesus of the Bible as I have shown is the same God as the Father and the Spirit and yet His own person. He is eternal. The Father was never a human man, He is the creator and is not created. There is one God not many. All of this I have sited clear Scriptural proof of time and again.
I have already taken the mormon challenge, I have read the account of the witnesses in the beginning of the book of mormon and have prayed and asked God. I was more than willing to do so, because I want the truth. But the truth is, mormonism is false. It makes a mockery out of the true and living God. And I will not follow it.
You can say that the book of mormom and D&C and Pearl of great price are just another testament of Jesus Christ, but it is indeed another, false, gospel. It has teaching that directly is in opposition to Scripture.
You use James 1 wrongly. I suggest you read my post from today 5/29/07. Wisdom and knowledge are different. God has revealed his truth in the Scripture and He has shown Himself clearly in it. People spend to much time listening to hear the voice of God, but His word is written in the Scripture. I need look no further for truth.
You challenge me, I challenge you. Set aside your mormon presuppositions, go to the Bible and read what God says about Himself and the gospel and ask, sincerely, is this the God of mormonism?
Jacob,
I read the bible daily. Right now. When I finish the bible I will continue reading through the mormon cannon. I'm currently reading Isaiah. I don't just read the scriptures either. I study them. If I ever come across scriptural teachings that seem inconsistant with my beliefs I study those scriptures even more.
I take your scripture challenge every day. My faith is my own. A gift from God.
Are you denying the spirit? What else would you call it when you take the power of the spirit out of the gospel?
Believe me Pat, I am not denying the Spirit of God. I believe that it is the Spirit that gives life and faith to Christians.
I'm glad you are reading the Bible, I will continue to pray for you as you do.
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