What Mormons Get Right

Although I completely disagree with the Theology and Doctrines of the LDS Church due to far too many reasons to recount here although the chief of them resides around the Person of Jesus Christ, the way of Salvation and the mountain of evidence, or lack of it regarding LDS claims.

However, I do see that there are many things about the LDS people that are certainly worth noting. For all my criticism about the Mormon church as an entity,.. they do not extend to the Mormon people as individuals. Here are some things that the Mormons not only get right, but things that Christians should aspire to as well.

FAMILY-They are deeply invested in the family- The LDS Church has worked hard to be a family friendly environment. More than that it is the backbone of the church. Few churches are as concerned with the importance of the family like the Mormons are. They set aside time weekly for Family Home Evenings to play games, talk, do devotions, etc. This is fantastic! As Christians, we should take note!

CHURCH-They are highly active in the church- Mormons are engaged in church life throughout the week. They devote significant time too all kinds of ministry- Most young men in the LDS church spend a 2 year stint in as missionaries in the church to share about their church and their beliefs. There are numerous opportunities to serve and become involved and it is expected, and although I don’t think the motivation the best, the outcome can be very positive.

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION-The church begins teaching its children from an early age and it is consistent regardless of where you go. The Ward in California will be taught the same lessons and Doctrine as the Ward in Utah. As a teenager, youth are encouraged to attend “seminary” every day BEFORE School. They are classes at the local ward or stake center. They study the Book of Mormon, the Bible, church history, and doctrine and they are rotated over a four-year period. When an LDS teen graduates from high school they are fully immersed in a systematic overview of the faith’s basic beliefs.

EVANGELISM-They care enough about you and me to send people around town, and to our door to share what they sincerely believe is the true word of God. We may not agree with their doctrine, but I cannot fault their conviction! Christians should take note. They do it in part for their “after all they can do” good works beliefs, but they are doing it. Slammed doors, rejections and all! Tens of thousands of Mormon missionaries serve each year in pairs all over the world. I do not think that Christians need to be legalistic about this, however as Christians each of us should be active in sharing our faith. The world is our mission field? Is it being harvested?

TAKING CARE OF THEIR OWN- The LDS Church is known to provide for their members in times of need and crisis. They have set up food pantries providing welfare for their members, especially when they lose a job or some other loss in their family. In turn, those receiving care volunteer time to others and are expected to continue to help when they get back on their feet.

RESPECT SUNDAYS - The practicing LDS family guards their time of worship. They are discouraged from allowing work, sports or other events from distracting them from their activities at church.

MORALITY- Generally speaking, LDS are well-known for having a high moral standard and staying away from a secular lifestyle. Members who keep a “Temple Recommend” (are in good standing with the LDS) do not to partake in drugs, alcohol, coffee or tobacco. They work to remain modest, live honest and fulfill the commandments to the quintessential LDS lifestyle.

More often than not you would be privileged to have a Mormon as a neighbor, boss, teacher, and friend. Again, the fact that I disagree with the theology and doctrine of the LDS Church does not mean that the people of the LDS Church are in any way bad, in fact they put many Christians to shame by the commitment to their works (which I believe is misplaced). Christian, we can learn a lot from the LDS People, they have a great love and commitment for God.

But it comes down to this,.. you are going to follow the Jesus of the Bible or the LDS Church. You will trust Jesus and Grace to save you or Law and Grace… you can’t have it both ways.

Here is what Joseph Smith claimed:

Joseph Smith holds the keys of this last dispensation, and is now engaged behind the vail in the great work of

the last days. I can tell our beloved brother Christians who have slain the Prophets and butchered and

otherwise caused the death of thousands of Latter−day Saints, the priests who have thanked God in their

prayers and thanksgiving from the pulpit that we have been plundered, driven, and slain, and the deacons

under the pulpit, and their brethren and sisters in their closets, who have thanked God, thinking that the

Latter−day Saints were wasted away, something that no doubt will mortify them − something that, to say the

least, is a matter of deep regret to them − namely, that no man or woman in this dispensation will ever enter

into the celestial kingdom of God without the consent of Joseph Smith. From the day that the Priesthood was

taken from the earth to the winding−up scene of all things, every man and woman must have the certificate of

Joseph Smith, junior, as a passport to their entrance into the mansion where God and Christ are − I with you

and you with me. I cannot go there without his consent. He holds the keys of that kingdom for the last

dispensation − the keys to rule in the spirit−world; and he rules there triumphantly, for he gained full power

and a glorious victory over the power of Satan while he was yet in the flesh, and was a martyr to his religion

and to the name of Christ, which gives him a most perfect victory in the spirit−world. He reigns there as

supreme a being in his sphere, capacity, and calling, as God does in heaven. Many will exclaim − “Oh, that is

very disagreeable! It is preposterous! We cannot bear the thought!” But it is true.

JD 7:289, Brigham Young, October 9, 1859

This is what Jesus claimed:

“I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6).
Only one can be right! I know I am going with the guy who actually CAME BACK FROM THE DEAD!

And paid the price for me!

² For I can testify about them that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge. ³ Since they did not know the righteousness of God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. ⁴ Christ is the culmination of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.Rom 10:2-4

LDS Church Adam God?

This is an excerpt from an ongoing dialogue with an LDS. I find it interesting that doctrines given by LDS prophets / presidents are often changed later. Called myth, unofficial, theory, or unauthorized years later.“There was Brigham Young’s Adam God Doctrine,.. that is now refute and looked down upon.” It was never fully accepted to begin with, which is why it never became doctrine. Brigham Young never attained the 100% consensus in the Twelve that he had to have for the teaching to take the next step to becoming doctrine. Over time, it lost what support it had at the beginning, and in 1904 (after Brigham Young, Jr., the last surviving member of the Twelve who supported the theory as doctrine) passed away, Adam-God Theory was officially repudiated.

MY Statement-”There was Brigham Young’s Adam God Doctrine,.. that is now refuted and looked down upon.”

HOSTS Response -It was never fully accepted to begin with, which is why it never became doctrine. Brigham Young never attained the 100% consensus in the Twelve that he had to have for the teaching to take the next step to becoming doctrine. Over time, it lost what support it had at the beginning, and in 1904 (after Brigham Young, Jr., the last surviving member of the Twelve who supported the theory as doctrine) passed away, Adam-God Theory was officially repudiated.

So when a Prophet of the LDS Church speaks for God in this manner… they vote on whether or not it is truth? Now even Israel may have heard a Prophet and rejected it that is certain,, but they didn’t get an opportunity to VETO it or alter its truth. Lucky the LDS gets the option on whether or not to accept Gods truth.

 

Let’s look at some background on this issue…

There are some things you need to know.

• Brigham Young was the Second President and Prophet of the LDS Church.
• Biblical standards for a prophet are high: Deut 18:17-22 ¹⁷ The LORD said to me: “What they say is good. ¹⁸ I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their fellow Israelites, and I will put my words in his mouth. He will tell them everything I command him. ¹⁹ I myself will call to account anyone who does not listen to my words that the prophet speaks in my name. ²⁰ But a prophet who presumes to speak in my name anything I have not commanded, or a prophet who speaks in the name of other gods, is to be put to death.” ²¹ You may say to yourselves, “How can we know when a message has not been spoken by the LORD?” ²² If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the LORD does not take place or come true, that is a message the LORD has not spoken. That prophet has spoken presumptuously, so do not be alarmed.

 

Let’s look at this. Vs 18a- God raises him up. 18b- God gives him the words to speak. 18c- He will speak to the people the words of God. 19a- God will hold account anyone who ignores the words of the Prophet (the words of God). 20- If a prophets speaks out of turn, Israel was to END HIS LIFE. 21- How to identify if a prophet is speaking for God? 22- If his the words of the prophet fail to come true. It isn’t from God! Now see verse 20.’

• Rock and a hard Place-If the LDS want to claim Young as a true prophet, he must also accept his Adam-God teaching since a true prophet must have a correct theology concerning God (Deut. 13:1-3 and Deut. 18:17-22).OR….. If Young’s teaching is not accepted, then the Mormon must conclude that Brigham Young was a false prophet. The Mormon can’t have it both ways.
• ·         HOWEVER,….Young had a high opinion of his sermons- Apparently Young was confident with his message for on January 2, 1870, he said, “I have never yet preached a sermon and sent it out to the children of men, that they may not call Scripture” (Journal of Discourses 13:95). Brigham would repeat this again in October of the same year (Journal of Discourses 13:264).

Now compare this to what the Host has written once again? Do you see any inconsistencies?

Following a long one-paragraph introduction, Young proclaimed that Adam was Michael the Archangel, and that he was also the Ancient of Days. Young went on to conclude that Adam was, in fact, “our Father and our God, and the only God with whom we have to do.

Please also know that in Mormonism,… Living Prophets hold more authority than dead prophets due to the fact that they are receiving New Revelation.

For years Mormon authorities have attempted to downplay the severity of Young’s statements. It is not uncommon to hear Latter-day Saints excuse Young’s conclusions by saying he was either misunderstood or even misquoted.

LDS Presidents Joseph Fielding Smith and Spencer W. Kimball attributed their predecessor’s ideas to being merely a “theory.” In his book Doctrines of Salvation, Smith discounted Young’s message by saying, “in all probability the sermon was erroneously transcribed!” (1:96).

SPIN and EXCUSES                                                                                                                            

It would be difficult for the Mormon to prove Young was only theorizing by the simple fact that Young, in this sermon, clearly claims his teachings to be “doctrine.”

In his journal dated February 19, 1854, Wilford Woodruff, who would later become Mormonism’s fourth president, wrote that Brigham Young “said that our God was Father Adam. He was the Father of the Savior Jesus Christ — Our God was no more or less than ADAM, Michael the Arkangel (sic).”

Apparently Young’s position on the matter was still an issue with some LDS members; otherwise he would not have had to ask, “How much unbelief exists in the minds of the Latter-day Saints in regard to one particular doctrine which is revealed to them, and which God revealed to me — namely that Adam is our father and God…Our Father Adam is the man who stands at the gate and holds the keys of everlasting life and salvation to all his children who have or ever will come upon the earth” (Sermon delivered on June 8, 1873.

Printed in the Deseret Weekly News, June 18, 1873.)

How can a Latter-day Saint maintain this was just Brigham’s opinion when he insisted God gave him the teaching?

 CANT we all just get along?

12th President Spencer W. Kimball

“We warn you against the dissemination of doctrines which are not according to the scriptures and which are alleged to have been taught by some of the General Authorities of past generations. Such, for instance, is the Adam-God theory. We denounce that theory and hope that everyone will be cautioned against this and other kinds of false doctrine” (Spencer W. Kimball, “Adam-God Theory Denounced,” Church News, October 9, 1976, p. 11).

— Note that just 10 presidents later,… 103 years later,…. It went from words spoken by a Prophet of God,.. to words “allegedly” spoken, and yet in the same quote,.. a false doctrine. So tell me who is it that speaks false doctrines. A false prophet. So yet again,…

If the LDS want to claim Young as a true prophet, he must also accept his Adam-God teaching since a true prophet must have a correct theology concerning God (Deut. 13:1-3 and Deut. 18:17-22).OR….. If Young’s teaching is not accepted, then the Mormon must conclude that Brigham Young was a false prophet. The Mormon can’t have it both ways.

But Adam is not only God,.. he is also Michael the Arch Angel it would seem… man I need a tour guide to keep this stuff straight.

Basically there is no agreement or consensus on what is or is not scripture, doctrine, official or authoritative, and this is just one of many examples!

 This sermon can be found in the Journal of Discourses 1:50-51.

 My next sermon will be to both Saint and sinner. One thing has remained a mystery in this kingdom up to this day. It is in regard to the character of the well-beloved Son of God, upon which subject the Elders of Israel have conflicting views. Our God and Father in heaven, is a being of tabernacle, or, in other words, He has a body, with parts the same as you and I have; and is capable of showing forth His works to organized beings, as, for instance, in the world in which we live, it is the result of the knowledge and infinite wisdom that dwell in His organized body. His son Jesus Christ has become a personage of tabernacle, and has a body like his father. The Holy Ghost is the Spirit of the Lord, and issues forth from Himself, and may properly be called God’s minister to execute His will in immensity; being called to govern by His influence and power; but He is not a person of tabernacle as we are, and as our Father in Heaven and Jesus Christ are. The question has been, and is often, asked, who it was that begat the Son of the Virgin Mary. The infidel world have concluded that if what the Apostles wrote about his father and mother be true, and the present marriage discipline acknowledged by Christendom be correct, then Christians must believe that God is the father of an illegitimate son, in the person of Jesus Christ! The infidel fraternity teach that to their disciples. I will tell you how it is. Our Father in Heaven begat all the spirits that ever were, or ever will be, upon this earth; and they were born spirits in the eternal world. Then the Lord by His power and wisdom organized the mortal tabernacle of man. We were made first spiritual, and afterwards temporal.

 Now hear it, O inhabitants of the earth, Jew and Gentile, Saint and sinner! When our father Adam came into the garden of Eden, he came into it with a celestial body, and brought Eve, one of his wives, with him. He helped to make and organize this world. He is MICHAEL, the Archangel, the ANCIENT OF DAYS! about whom holy men have written and spoken–HE is our FATHER and our GOD, and the only God with whom WE have to do. Every man upon the earth, professing Christians or non-professing, must hear it, and will know it sooner or later. They came here, organized the raw material, and arranged in their order the herbs of the field, the trees, the apple, the peach, the plum, the pear, and every other fruit that is desirable and good for man; the seed was brought from another sphere, and planted in this earth. The thistle, and thorn, the brier, and the obnoxious weed did not appear until after the earth was cursed. When Adam and Eve had eaten of the forbidden fruit, their bodies became mortal from its effects, and therefore their offspring were mortal. When the Virgin Mary conceived the child Jesus, the Father had begotten him in his own likeness. He was not begotten by the Holy Ghost. And who is the Father? He is the first of the human family; and when he took a tabernacle, it was begotten by his Father in heaven, after the same manner as the tabernacles of Cain, Abel, and the rest of the sons and daughters of Adam and Eve; from the fruits of the earth, the first earthly tabernacles were originated by the Father, and so on in succession. I could tell you much more about this; but were I to tell you the whole truth, blasphemy would be nothing to it, in the estimation of the superstitious and over-righteous of mankind. However, I have told you the truth as far as I have gone. I have heard men preach upon the divinity of Christ, and exhaust all the wisdom they possessed. All Scripturalists, and approved theologians who were considered exemplary for piety and education, have undertaken to expound on this subject, in every age of the Christian era; and after they have done all, they are obliged to conclude by exclaiming “great is the mystery of godliness,” and tell nothing.

 It is true that the earth was organized by three distinct characters, namely, Eloheim, Yahovah, and Michael, these three forming a quorum, as in all heavenly bodies, and in organizing element, perfectly represented in the Deity, as Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

 Again, they will try to tell how the divinity of Jesus is joined to his humanity, and exhaust all their mental faculties, and wind up with this profound language, as describing the soul of man, “it is an immaterial substance!” What a learned idea! Jesus, our elder brother, was begotten in the flesh by the same character that was in the garden of Eden, and who is our Father in Heaven. Now, let all who may hear these doctrines, pause before they make light of them, or treat them with indifference, for they will prove their salvation or damnation.

 I have given you a few leading items upon this subject, but a great deal more remains to be told. Now remember from this time forth, and forever, that Jesus Christ was not begotten by the Holy Ghost. I will repeat a little anecdote. I was in conversation with a certain learned professor upon this subject, when I replied, to this idea–”if the Son was begotten by the Holy Ghost, it would be very dangerous to baptize and confirm females, and give the Holy Ghost to them, lest he should beget children, to be palmed upon the Elders by the people, bringing the Elders into great difficulties.”

 Treasure up these things in your hearts. In the Bible, you have read the things I have told you to-night; but you have not known what you did read. I have told you no more than you are conversant with; but what do the people in Christendom, with the Bible in their hands, know about this subject? Comparatively nothing.

Campus Debate

“Professor : You are a Christian, aren’t you, son ?

Student : Yes, sir.

Professor: So, you believe in GOD ?

Student : Absolutely, sir.

Professor : Is GOD good ?

Student : Sure.

Professor: Is GOD all powerful ?

Student : Yes.

Professor: My brother died of cancer even though he prayed to GOD to heal him. Most of us would attempt to help others who are ill. But GOD didn’t. How is this GOD good then? Hmm?

(Student was silent.) Professor: You can’t answer, can you ? Let’s start again, young fella. Is GOD good?

Student : Yes.

Professor: Is satan good ?

Student : No.

Professor: Where does satan come from ?

Student : From … GOD …

Professor: That’s right. Tell me son, is there evil in this world?

Student : Yes.

Professor: Evil is everywhere, isn’t it ? And GOD did make everything. Correct?

Student : Yes.

Professor: So who created evil ?

(Student did not answer.)

Professor: Is there sickness? Immorality? Hatred? Ugliness? All these terrible things exist in the world, don’t they?

Student : Yes, sir.

Professor: So, who created them ?

(Student had no answer.)

Professor: Science says you have 5 Senses you use to identify and observe the world around you. Tell me, son, have you ever seen GOD?

Student : No, sir.

Professor: Tell us if you have ever heard your GOD?

Student : No , sir.

Professor: Have you ever felt your GOD, tasted your GOD, smelt your GOD? Have you ever had any sensory perception of GOD for that matter?

Student : No, sir. I’m afraid I haven’t.

Professor: Yet you still believe in Him?

Student : Yes.

Professor : According to Empirical, Testable, Demonstrable Protocol, Science says your GOD doesn’t exist. What do you say to that, son?

Student : Nothing. I only have my faith.

Professor: Yes, faith. And that is the problem Science has.

Student : Professor, is there such a thing as heat?

Professor: Yes.

Student : And is there such a thing as cold?

Professor: Yes.

Student : No, sir. There isn’t.

(The lecture theater became very quiet with this turn of events.)

Student : Sir, you can have lots of heat, even more heat, superheat, mega heat, white heat, a little heat or no heat. But we don’t have anything called cold. We can hit 458 degrees below zero which is no heat, but we can’t go any further after that. There is no such thing as cold. Cold is only a word we use to describe the absence of heat. We cannot measure cold. Heat is energy. Cold is not the opposite of heat, sir, just the absence of it.

(There was pin-drop silence in the lecture theater.)

Student : What about darkness, Professor? Is there such a thing as darkness?

Professor: Yes. What is night if there isn’t darkness?

Student : You’re wrong again, sir. Darkness is the absence of something. You can have low light, normal light, bright light, flashing light. But if you have no light constantly, you have nothing and its called darkness, isn’t it? In reality, darkness isn’t. If it is, well you would be able to make darkness darker, wouldn’t you?

Professor: So what is the point you are making, young man ?

Student : Sir, my point is your philosophical premise is flawed.

Professor: Flawed ? Can you explain how?

Student : Sir, you are working on the premise of duality. You argue there is life and then there is death, a good GOD and a bad GOD. You are viewing the concept of GOD as something finite, something we can measure. Sir, Science can’t even explain a thought. It uses electricity and magnetism, but has never seen, much less fully understood either one. To view death as the opposite of life is to be ignorant of the fact that death cannot exist as a substantive thing.

Death is not the opposite of life: just the absence of it. Now tell me, Professor, do you teach your students that they evolved from a monkey?

Professor: If you are referring to the natural evolutionary process, yes, of course, I do.

Student : Have you ever observed evolution with your own eyes, sir?

(The Professor shook his head with a smile, beginning to realize where the argument was going.)

Student : Since no one has ever observed the process of evolution at work and cannot even prove that this process is an on-going endeavor. Are you not teaching your opinion, sir? Are you not a scientist but a preacher?

(The class was in uproar.)

Student : Is there anyone in the class who has ever seen the Professor’s brain?

(The class broke out into laughter. )

Student : Is there anyone here who has ever heard the Professor’s brain, felt it, touched or smelt it? No one appears to have done so. So, according to the established Rules of Empirical, Stable, Demonstrable Protocol, Science says that you have no brain, sir. With all due respect, sir, how do we then trust your lectures, sir?

(The room was silent. The Professor stared at the student, his face unfathomable.)

Professor: I guess you’ll have to take them on faith, son.

Student : That is it sir … Exactly ! The link between man & GOD is FAITH. That is all that keeps things alive and moving.

P.S.

By the way, that student was EINSTEIN. “

I was informed it  WASNT good ol Albert,.. but it is funny non the less, as well as a good lesson in basic apologetic. Christians DO have a right to speak up in class and there is no reason not to do so!

Questions to ask Mormons Pt 7: Which Teachings are “Official”?

UNOFFICIALLY OFFICIAL?

In a Nut Shell, too often when talking with Mormons a topic comes up on doctrine or some issue and when it conflicts with the Bible or even the teachings of their leaders or “Standard Works” they say that it is “Not Official”. This plausible deniability gets them out of many things and it is important to get LDS to pinpoint where a CONSISTENT standard of truth, such as we have in the Bible. With Mormonism it is ever-changing feeling, vote or opinion.

Another critical question to ask members of the LDS when you engage in conversation with them lies in the area of what they hold to be authoritative? When a Mormon establishes their foundation of truth they hold to three sources truth by revelation: (1) Past Leaders, (2) Current Leaders, and (3) the “Standard Works.”

PAST LEADERS

In considering past leaders, they hold to “Open Revelation”, basically each president speaks for God. Although att their general conference they “Speak for God” what they speak about must be voted on for it to be “official”. However such past presidents such as Brigham Young said that anytime he taught it was directly from God and inspired by God.

BRIGHAM YOUNG

Brigham Young said every Sermon he gave was scripture.

“I know just as well what to teach this people and just what to say to them and what to do in order to bring them into the celestial kingdom, as I know the road to my office. It is just as plain and easy. The Lord is in our midst. He teaches the people continually. I have never yet preached a sermon and sent it out to the children of men, that they may not call Scripture. ” (Source – Journal of Discourses, Vol.13, p.95, Brigham Young, January 2, 1870)  I would assume if I were a LDS member that Youngs teaching, would be “Scripture” and therefore be counted the same as the “Standard Works”, but they are not. For example, the Adam God Doctrine that the LDS Church has rejected (Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses 1:50-51).

Think it is a fluke here is the tip of the iceberg:

Brigham Young said you are “Damned” if you deny polygamy. “Now if any of you will deny the plurality of wives, and continue to do so, I promise that you will be damned,” (Journal of Discourses, vol. 3, p. 266). Also, “The only men who become Gods, even the Sons of God, are those who enter into polygamy,” (Journal of Discourses, vol. 11, p. 269).

Brigham Young said he had never given any counsel that was wrong. ”I am here to answer. I shall be on hand to answer when I am called upon, for all the counsel and for all the instruction that I have given to this people. If there is an Elder here, or any member of this Church, called the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, who can bring up the first idea, the first sentence that I have delivered to the people as counsel that is wrong, I really wish they would do it; but they cannot do it, for the simple reason that I have never given counsel that is wrong; this is the reason.” (Journal of Discourses, vol. 16, p. 161).

Brigham Young said you can’t get to Celestial heaven unless Joseph Smith’s allows it. “…no man or woman in this dispensation will ever enter into the celestial kingdom of God without the consent of Joseph Smith,” (Journal of Discourses, vol. 7, p. 289).

Brigham Young said that there were inhabitants on the the Moon. Who can tell us of the inhabitants of this little planet that shines of an evening, called the moon? When we view its face we may see what is termed “the man in the moon,” and what some philosophers declare are the shadows of mountains. But these sayings are very vague, and amount to nothing; and when you inquire about the inhabitants of that sphere you find that the most learned are as ignorant in regard to them as the most ignorant of their fellows. So it is with regard to the inhabitants of the sun. Do you think it is inhabited? I rather think it is. Do you think there is any life there? No question of it; it was not made in vain. It was made to give light to those who dwell upon it, and to other planets; and so will this earth when it is celestialized. (Journal of Discourses/Volume 13/The Gospel—The One-man Power)

Brigham Young said that there were inhabitants on the Sun. (The History of Oliver B. Huntington, p. 10, typed copy, Marriott Library, University of Utah)

And he is just one of sixteen prophets who “speak” for God. I hope that puts it in perspective. 

CURRENT LEADERS

However today “Living Prophets” trump dead ones. You can find this on The LDS website cited below with more explanation and detail. So whatever Brigham Young said,.. you can forget it,.. if the LDS Church no longer chooses to hold to it for whatever reason, be it political, cultural, legal, historical, genetic or other reasons, they just throw it out, but they cannot really completely throw the Prophet, under the bus, as this becomes a sticky issue for the LDS Church. Neither do the consider him a false prophet,… perplexing! Here are the facts.

Living Prophets trump dead ones

“The living prophet is more important to us than a dead prophet. The living prophet has the power of TNT. By that I mean “Today’s News Today.” God’s revelations to Adam did not instruct Noah how to build the ark. Noah needed his own revelation. Therefore, the most important prophet so far as you and I are concerned is the one living in our day and age to whom the Lord is currently revealing His will for us…Beware of those who would pit the dead prophets against the living prophets, for the living prophets always take precedence.”

(Okay, can I ask the obvious question here,…if today’s living prophet Thomas S. Monson says so, say can we ignore Ezra Taft Benson?,… okay sorry for the interruption now back to the citations)

Where does this come from? 

The 14 Fundamentals in Following the Prophet  / 13th President of the LDS Church (As Stated by Ezra Taft Benson Feb 26, 1980)

1. The prophet is the only man who speaks for the Lord in everything.
2. The living prophet is more vital to us than the standard works. (This means their SCRIPTURE!)
3. The living prophet is more important to us than a dead prophet.
4. The prophet will never lead the Church astray.
5. The prophet is not required to have any particular earthly training or credentials to speak on any subject or act on any matter at any time.
6. The prophet does not have to say “Thus saith the Lord” to give us scripture.
7. The prophet tells us what we need to know, not always what we want to know.
8. The prophet is not limited by men’s reasoning.
9. The prophet can receive revelation on any matter, temporal or spiritual.
10. The prophet may be involved in civic matters.
11. The two groups who have the greatest difficulty in following the prophet are the proud who are learned and the proud who are rich.
12. The prophet will not necessarily be popular with the world or the worldly.
13. The prophet and his counselors make up the First Presidency — the highest quorum in the Church.
14. The prophet and the presidency — the living prophet and the First Presidency — follow them and be blessed; reject them and suffer.

(Taken from: http://lds.org/liahona/1981/06/fourteen-fundamentals-in-following-the-prophet?lang=eng&noLang=true&path=/liahona/1981/06/fourteen-fundamentals-in-following-the-prophet)

STANDARD WORKS

The Standard works are Scripture. That would imply that they are inspired, Holy and from God. Here is what Joseph Smith believed about these “inspired” works.

• Joseph Smith – Book of Mormon contains the “fulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles and to the Jews also” Doctrine and Covenants 20:8-9 (April 1830)
• Joseph Smith – “I told the brethren that the Book of Mormon was the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book.” History of the Church, vol. 4, p. 461 (1841)

• Joseph Smith – “Search these commandments, for they are true and faithful, and the prophecies and promises which are in them shall all be fulfilled. What I the Lord have spoken, I have spoken, and I excuse not myself; … but all shall be fulfilled, whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same.” Doctrine and Covenants 1:37-38 (November 1, 1831)

• “What Scriptures Do We Have Today — The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints accepts four books as scripture: the Bible, the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price. These books are called the standard works of the Church. The inspired words of our living prophets are also accepted as scripture.” Gospel Principles, p. 52 (1992)

Want to see spin in action check out the post on Adam God out soon!

In short, when the LDS Church does not want to deal with a real issue,.. they dodge it with plausible deniability. If they do not want to “own” a teaching they simply say it is not Official and feel that this lets them off the hook. It’s easy its common its standard and,…. well truth be told,.. it ROCKS!!!

Questions to ask Mormons Pt 6: How good is good enough?

Just how good do you have to be to be “Saved”, “After all we can do” according to the teachings of the LDS Church.

Way more than I can handle, and if you are honest, you might agree as well.

While Christians understand ‘Grace’ to be the undeserved free gift of God, Mormons expect no such free gift of Salvation. In fact ‘Grace’ is dependent upon your good works; you have to EARN it! In fact, ‘Grace’ won’t even BEGIN until you’ve exhausted yourself:

Please remember, these are LDS Leaders, Prophets etc, speaking,…

2 Nephi 25:23
For we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children, and also our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do. 

 “Grace is granted to men proportionately as they conform to the standards of personal righteousness that are part of the gospel plan.” (McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, p. 339).

“As with all other doctrines of salvation, justification is available because of the atoning sacrifice of Christ, but it becomes operative in the life of an individual only on conditions of personal righteousness” (McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, p. 408).

“…one of the untrue doctrines found in modern Christendom is the concept that man can gain salvation (meaning in the kingdom of God) by grace alone and without obedience. This soul-destroying doctrine has the obvious effect of lessening the determination of an individual to conform to all of the laws and ordinances of the gospel, such conformity being essential if the sought reward is in reality to be gained.” (McConkie, Mormon Doctrine p. 671)

“Certain saved-by-grace-alone fanatics flatter their followers into believing they can be saved through no act other than confessing Christ with their lips.” (McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, p. 287).

“One of the most pernicious doctrines ever advocated by man, is the doctrine of ‘justification by faith alone’, which has entered into, the hearts of millions since the days of the so-called ‘reformation’” (Joseph Fielding Smith, The Restoration of All Things, p.192).

“One of the most fallacious doctrines originated by Satan and propounded by man is that man is saved alone by the grace of God; that belief in Jesus Christ alone is all that is needed for salvation.” (Kimball, The Miracle of Forgiveness, pp. 206-207).

Heber C. Kimball– “I have the power to save myself, and if I do not save myself, who will save me? All have that privilege, and naught can save us but obedience to the commandments of God.” (Journal of Discourses, vol. 3, p. 269.)

“Salvation comes by grace, faith and works. Unless a man will adhere to the doctrine and walk in faith, accepting the truth and observing the commandments as they have been given, it will be impossible for him to receive eternal life, no matter how much he may confess with his lips that Jesus is the Christ, or believe that his Father sent him into the world for the redemption of man… So it is necessary, not merely that we believe, but that we repent, and in faith perform good works until the end; and then shall we receive the reward of the faithful and a place in the celestial kingdom of God.” (Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation: Sermons and Writings of Joseph Fielding Smith, 2:311).

None shall receive eternal life save it be those who keep the commandments of the Lord and are entitled thus to enter into his presence. ( Joseph Fielding Smith, Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Press, 1938), 346-47)

From the Articles of Faith

3. We believe that through the atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the gospel.

“We accept Christ’s atonement by (1) repenting of our sins, (2) being baptized, (3) receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and (4) obeying all of the commandments. In this way we are cleansed from sin and become worthy to return and live forever with our heavenly Father…Christ’s atonement makes it possible to be saved from sin if we do our part.”

WOW #4 talks about following All Commandments

Are YOU good enough to do this? Do you have enough GOOD WORKS within you to live this way? Can you really TRY hard enough?
Are you GOOD ENOUGH?
I simply believe that LDS Salvation is not attainable. Although, you may just think “Hey I just won’t be part of the Celestial Kingdome, but I will still get in somewhere.” What if,… What if you are wrong and the LDS Jesus, half-brother of Lucifer is not the Jesus of the Bible? What if it is either one Heaven or one Hell? I cannot and would not ever force you into any decision. I just believe you need to have all the cards on the table to make an INFORMED OBJECTIVE decision.

PAUL  Stated said this:

And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work” (Rom. 11:6).

Grace and works are mutually exclusive when it comes to obtaining eternal life.

If you are a memeber of the LDS Church,.. I hope that you will think about just how IMPOSSIBLE it is to live the life they expect you to live.

How to Share your Faith with Danielle the Deist

Dare 2 Share

Danielle the Deist holds to a worldview that believes there is a God, but that He’s not knowable and doesn’t involve Himself today in what happens in the world. Deists sometimes think of God as a “watchmaker.” In this analogy, the world is like a watch that is running down. Long ago, God (the watchmaker) designed the world (the watch), wound it up and then walked away.

Deists’ worldview varies some with each individual, but at the core are some commonly held beliefs that were shaped from a variety of sources such as their observations of nature, human reason, religious background, personal friends and family background.

At the heart of Danielle the Deist’s worldview is rational thought, individualism, self-expression, self-effort and self-gratification. Tolerance is important to Danielle, so she sees most all religions, lifestyles, sexual preferences, etc. as equally valuable and valid.

Many people with Deist beliefs may have never actually heard of the term “Deist.” They unknowingly hold to the basic Deist belief that there is a God, but he isn’t personal or knowable.

What Danielle Believes

About Her Typical Worldview:

Danielle believes God gave humans the ability to reason and that He wants us to be good people. She feels that by using reason she can live a moral life that will get her what she wants out of life without hurting others.

About God:

Danielle believes in God, but she sees Him as distant, unknowable and uninvolved in human affairs.

About the Trinity:

Danielle thinks the concept of the Trinity makes no sense, so she doesn’t believe in it.

About Jesus:

Danielle believes that Jesus was a nice guy who said a lot of important things. She isn’t quite sure if He is the Son of God, or even what that means.

About the Bible:

Danielle believes that the Bible is a good book that should be treated with a certain amount of respect. Danielle doesn’t take the Bible too seriously, though, because that’s what turns people into intolerant extremists. Danielle generally picks and chooses what parts of the Bible are true – like the Ten Commandments and the Golden Rule.

About the Afterlife:

Danielle may or may not believe in an afterlife where there is a heaven and hell. If she does believe in hell, the only people who go there are really bad people like murderers and rapists.

About Salvation:

Danielle may or may not believe in heaven, but if she does, she likely thinks that someone gets there by having more good deeds than bad at the end of his/her life.

What the Bible Teaches

About God:

God identified Himself as “I Am” (Exodus 20:2) – meaning He is the self-existent (never had a beginning or end) eternal Creator of the universe. He is both loving AND holy, meaning He will judge sin (2 Timothy 4:1).

About the Trinity:

There is one God and yet three Persons (Isaiah 45:5; Deuteronomy 6:4; James 2:19). The Trinity is true whether or not it makes sense.

About Jesus:

Jesus is fully God and fully man, He is the God of the universe (John 1:1, 14, 18; 8:58; 10:30. Compare Titus 2:13 and Isaiah 45:21), and His death on the cross completely paid for the sins of the world (1 John 2:2). He was ‘nice’ when He lived on earth, but He was also sad, passionate, angry, tired, loving, and yes, even righteously judgmental of the stuck up religious people.

About the Bible:

The Bible alone is the word of God and is absolute truth. It is without error. It cannot and should not be added to or subtracted from (2 Timothy 3:16-4:4; Revelation 22:18-20), and it is also the ultimate authority on spiritual matters. Every word of it is inspired by God, so you can’t just pick and choose what you ‘think’ is true.

About the Afterlife:

Those who trust in Christ alone as their only hope of salvation spend eternity in heaven; those who reject Christ spend an eternity in hell (John 5:24-30; Revelation 20:11-15). There will be many ‘bad’ people who trusted Christ and will be in heaven, and there will be many ‘good’ people who lived a great life but never trusted Christ who will be in hell.

About Salvation:

Salvation is by faith in Christ ALONE on the basis of His death on the cross. (John 3:16-17, 36; 6:29, 47; Romans 4:1-5; Galatians 2:16; Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5) Good works are a natural result of our salvation, but they have nothing to do with our salvation. Sincerity is not the qualification for salvation…truth is – and Jesus claimed He was the way, the truth, and the life, and that no one gets into heaven except through Him (John 14:6). There are other religions who are sincere, but they are sincerely wrong.

Things to Remember

The best route to take with Danielle is to first get her to see the inconsistencies and contradictions in her worldview. This is best done by asking penetrating questions like:

• Every major religion contradicts the others on major issues like who God is and how we get to heaven, so how can they all be right?
• If getting into heaven is a matter of being good and sincere, why did Jesus come to earth, die on the Cross, and come back from the dead?
• Osama Bin Laden claimed to be a strict Muslim who planned the Two Towers attack partially out of a sincere religious belief called a Jihad. Do we have a right to judge him for that? Will he be in heaven as well?
• There are many areas in the physical life where there are absolute truths, like mathematics and science, so why wouldn’t there be absolute truth in the spiritual world?

Also, your personal testimony will be helpful in helping establish the credibility of your message.

For Further Research

• Pick up a copy of Greg Stier’s book Dare 2 Share
• Check out http://www.gotquestions.org/deism.html.

B.O.O.K.

A book with a bound bookmark. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

 

Introducing the new Bio-Optical Observable Keeper, trade named B.O.O.K.

 

 

 

BOOK is a revolutionary breakthrough in technology; no wires, no electric circuits, no batteries, nothing to be connected or switched on. It’s so easy to use, even a child can operate it. Compact and portable, it can be used anywhere — even sitting in an armchair by the fire — yet it is powerful enough to hold as much information as a CD-ROM disc.

 

Here’s how it works.

BOOK is constructed of sequentially numbered sheets of paper (recyclable), each capable of holding thousands of bits of information. The pages are locked together with a custom fit device called a binder which keeps the sheets in their correct sequence. Opaque Paper Technology (OPT) allows manufacturers to use both sides of the sheet, doubling the information density and cutting costs. Experts are divided on the prospects for further increases in information density; for now, BOOKs with more information simply use more pages. Each sheet is scanned optically, registering information directly into your brain.

A flick of the finger takes you to the next sheet.

BOOK may be taken up at any time and used merely by opening it.

BOOK never crashes or requires rebooting, though like other devices, it can become damaged if coffee or soda is spilled on it, and it becomes unusable if dropped too many times on a hard surface. The browse feature allows you to move instantly to any sheet and to move forward or backward as you wish.

Many come with an index feature which pinpoints the exact location of selected information for instant retrieval.

A Manually Accessed Retrieval Knickknack (M.A.R.K.) allows users to open BOOK to the exact place they left off in a previous session – even if BOOK has been closed. BOOKmarks fit universal design standards; thus, a single BOOKmark can be used in BOOKs by various manufacturers. Conversely, numerous BOOKmarks can be used in a single BOOK if the user wants to store numerous views at once. The number is limited only by the number of pages in a BOOK.

Portable, durable, and affordable, BOOK is being hailed as a precursor of a new entertainment wave.

BOOK’s appeal seems so certain that thousands of content creators have committed to the platform and investors are reportedly flocking to invest. In some areas, entire buildings are constructed to house BOOKs for public access. Look for a flood of new titles soon.

 

How to Share your Faith with Bailey the Buddhist

Dare 2 Share

Basic Description

Buddhism is an Eastern religion which revolves primarily about suffering. Its founder is named Siddhartha Guatama (later called the ‘Buddha’ – where we get Buddhism from). He was born nearly 600 years before Christ. At some point in his young life he decided to travel the country, and when he did he became troubled by all the suffering of the common people. He desperately wanted to do something about all the pain he saw, so he studied the Hindu scriptures under their priests, but decided that was not the way to help. Eventually he stopped praying to the Hindu ‘gods’ and decided to become a homeless person and survive essentially by begging. During the years that followed, he dove completely into self-denial and meditation, and decided that this practice would lead to peace and help with suffering. He also believed that through self-denial and meditation, a person could eventually achieve a god-like state of ‘Nirvana’. He then decided that his mission in life was to spread his message wherever he went, at which point he became known as the ‘enlightened one’ or the ‘Buddha’. There are an estimated 613 million Buddhists worldwide; and 1 million in the United States. Buddhism seeks to answer the universal question about why we suffer.

Image via Wikipedia

What Bailey Believes

About Buddhism:

What Bailey believes about Buddhism can be summed up in what are called the ‘Four Noble Truths‘

• There is pain and suffering in the world. – suffering is our existence.
• Attachment to people and things causes suffering. – suffering is created by our desires.
• The suffering will stop when a person can rid him/her self of all desires. – suffering can come to an end by eliminated desire.
• There is a path to the extinguishing of all desires. – The way out of suffering is the 8 FOLD PATH

….as well as the 8 Fold Path: Right Views, aspirations, speech, conduct, mode of livelihood, effort, awareness, and concentration.

Note: It is important to remember that the Buddha never considered himself to be a god, or a divine being of any type. He basically viewed himself as a person showing others ‘the way’ to enlightenment. Bailey doesn’t consider Buddha to be a god either. Scriptures include the Tripitaka (10-11 times the size of the Bible)- the 3 baskets used primarily by the conservative Buddhists, the Theravada. The Liberal Buddhists, the Mahayana, follow much more than the Tripitaka, which contain over 5000 volumes.

About God:

Bailey does not believe in the personal, Sovereign God of the universe revealed in the Bible.

About the Trinity:

Bailey does not believe in the Trinity.

About Jesus:

Bailey believes that Jesus Christ was a good teacher, though less important than Buddha.

About the Bible:

Bailey does not believe the Bible to be the inspired word of God, because she doesn’t believe in a personal God in the first place. Bailey also rejects the notion of rigid commands.

About the Afterlife:

Bailey believes in reincarnation through the cycles of Karma, which is an afterlife driven by the law of cause and effect. This means what Bailey does in this lifetime, either good or bad, determines what will happen to her in another lifetime, on and on through time, until she has gone through enough suffering and purification to reach Nirvana.

About Salvation:

Bailey believes salvation is by self-effort only through the Four Noble Truths. Remember that ‘salvation’ to Bailey is ultimately complete extinction at death, in other words freedom from the cycle of Karma.

Image via Wikipedia

What the Bible Teaches

About God:

God identified Himself as “I Am” (Exodus 20:2) – meaning He is the self-existent (has no beginning or end) eternal Creator of the universe.

About the Trinity:

There is one God and yet three Persons (Isaiah 45:5; Deuteronomy 6:4; James 2:19).

About Jesus:

Jesus is fully God and fully man. He is not just an enlightened man. He is the God of the universe (John 1:1, 14, 18; 8:58; 10:30. Compare Titus 2:13 and Isaiah 45:21), and He is equal with God the Father and God the Holy Spirit.

About the Bible:

The Bible alone is the word of God. It is without error. It cannot and should not be added to or subtracted from (2 Timothy 3:16-4:4; Revelation 22:18-20).

About the Afterlife:

Those who trust in Christ alone as their only hope of salvation spend eternity in heaven. Those who reject Christ spend an eternity in hell. (John 5:24-30; Revelation 20:11-15). The Bible denies the concept of reincarnation (Hebrews 9:27-28).

About Salvation:

Salvation is by faith in Christ on the basis of His death on the cross. Good works or self-denial have nothing to do with being saved (John 3:16-17, 36; 6:29,47; Romans 4:1-5; Galatians 2:16; Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5).

Things to Remember

Remember that Bailey is coming from an extremely different worldview, so totally avoid ‘Christianese’ terms such as ‘new birth’, or even ‘born again’. Some good alternatives that they could better relate to would be terms like ‘endless freedom from suffering, guilt, and sin’, and ‘gift of eternal good life without suffering’. Also, focus on the uniqueness and unique claims of Jesus – especially His resurrection and teaching that He was the only way to God (John 14:6). Ultimately, you want to get the conversation to the point of sharing the gospel, so don’t get too sidetracked by arguing about Buddhist beliefs. Your goal is not win an argument, but to win the right to be heard by your friend. Try to work your own gospel journey story, especially as it relates to your freedom from guilt and assurance of heaven in the midst of suffering.

As always, remember that you are in a spiritual battle, so put on your spiritual armor (Ephesians 6) and pray without stopping!

For Further Research

• Pick up a copy of Greg Stier’s book Dare 2 Share
• Check out http://christiananswers.net/evangelism/beliefs/buddhism.html

Valentines Day

I think that this has always been about the sappiest holiday for me. Don’t get me sweet, but this is a holiday that makes you feel like you just can’t win. To be honest, it feels so,.. well forced. You are obligated by the powers of “commercialism” to go out and buy stuff to demonstrate your love for your wife, and if you forget a card or worse yet pull together something at the last-minute, that is your try to pull off as legit and she knows you forgot,.. well lets just not go there.

I mean come on, overpriced cards, chocolate, teddy bears and the pressure to buy buy buy, so unoriginal. However I do think that there are some redeeming qualities in regards to this Valentines Day. Maybe,.. it’s what we make it?

Valentines Day provides us guys a chance to tell our wives whats truly important.  It is easy to take her for granted, to forget the little things and lose touch with what brought us together in the first place.

Image via Wikipedia

No matter how long we have been married, we can always work on our marriage. Use Valentines Day as a jumpstart to I pray that each of us recalls what drew us to each other.

THOUGHTS and IDEAS

• Remember to say I love you Everyday
• Never go to bed Angry
• Find ways to show your appreciation
• Guys,.. don’t try to solve problems,.. listen first,… be there
• Remember you are in it together
• Look for ways to make her smile and feel needed
• Tell her why you love her
• If you have kids,.. they are watching….
• Take over responsibilities she doesn’t like from time to time
• Leave notes to your wife hidden around the house in places she will find
• Don’t do things like these only once a year,…

In Ephesians, Paul tells husbands to love their wives. He gives Christ’s relationship to his church as an example. He says that husbands should strive towards emulating the perfect love that Christ exhibited to us.

“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.” Eph 5:25

How did he do it,.. well ultimately,.. he died for her!

“We love because he {God} first loved us.” 1 John 4:19

Sharing your Faith with Hari the Hindu

Dare 2 Share

Basic Description

Hari’s worldview called Hinduism is a religion that actually originated in Europe over 3000 years ago with a group of people called Aryans who migrated to India and spread their religion there. Since then, it has grown to over 800 million worldwide, with over one million in the United States. While there is no ‘official’ statement of beliefs in Hinduism, Hari and other Hindus have a core of common beliefs that revolve around the impersonal nature of the universe and what impact that should have on our lives. Basically, Hari believes in a supreme but impersonal god called Brahmam, and all the other gods in Hinduism are extensions of the god Brahma. Hari also believes that the universe and all things in it (including all people) are extensions of Brahmam, which is why he also calls the universe Brahman. Because of this, the goal of existence is to eventually get to the point where you lose your ‘self’ (because that is just an illusion) and become one with Brahman.

What Hari Believes

About Hinduism:

Hari believes Hinduism is the only true religion, and his beliefs affect every part of his life from how he spends his time, what he eats, and even the types of friends he chooses. Hari is also motivated to share his ‘faith’ with others because he firmly believes Hinduism is the only true path to peace. Hari believes all people are trapped in a cycle of reincarnation and karma, which means once you die, you are born again as a plant, animal, or person, depending on how good or evil you were in the previous life. Hari believes there are three ways to break this cycle:

The first ‘way of works’ is the attempt to purify one’s soul by the careful devotion/obedience to all the laws and obligations of the Hindu scriptures (called “Vedas”).

The second way is called the ‘way of knowledge’. It is the opposite of the way of works and teaches the total rejection and denial of one’s individual life and instead seeks salvation in a mystical realization of identity with Brahman.

The third way is by far the most popular; it is the ‘way of devotion’. According to this point of view, if one commits oneself totally to the worship of a particular god or goddess, that deity will then take care of all the details as far as releasing you from the reincarnation/karma cycle. The way that works is if I devote myself completely to Krishna, then Krishna will take care of my karma problems and usher me into oneness with him when I die.

So Hari believes one is saved from karma and reincarnation by following one of the three ways, and the result will be a state of bliss in union with ‘god’.

About God:

Hari does not believe in the God of the universe revealed in the Bible as Yahweh.

About the Trinity:

Hari does not believe in the Trinity revealed in the Bible, although Brahman is a ‘three in one’ type of god.

About Jesus:

Hari believes that Jesus was just one manifestation or ‘appearance’ of his supreme god of the universe.

About the Bible:

Hari does not believe the Bible is the inspired word of God, especially since he believes the Vedas (basically the equivalent of a Hindu Bible) are the only sacred scriptures.

About the Afterlife:

Hari believes in reincarnation through the cycles of Karma, which is an afterlife driven by the law of cause and effect. This means what Hari does in this lifetime, either good or bad, determines what will happen to him in the next lifetime, on and on through time, until he successfully completes one of the three ‘ways of salvation’ and loses his individual identity to Brahman.

About Salvation:

To Hari, ‘salvation’ is breaking free of the reincarnation/Karma cycle and becoming one with Brahman.

What the Bible Teaches

About God:

God identified Himself as “I Am” (Exodus 20:2) – meaning He is the self-existent (never had a beginning or end) eternal Creator of the universe.

About the Trinity:

There is one God and yet three Persons (Isaiah 45:5; Deuteronomy 6:4; James 2:19), and He is not the same as the god of the Hindus.

About Jesus:

Jesus is fully God and fully man, and not a manifestation or appearance of the Hindu god Brahman. He is the God of the universe (John 1:1, 14, 18; 8:58 ; 10:30 . Compare Titus 2:13 and Isaiah 45:21), and He is equal with God the Father and God the Holy Spirit.

About the Bible:

The Bible alone is the word of God. It is without error. It cannot and should not be added to or subtracted from (2 Timothy 3:16-4:4; Revelation 22:18-20). The Vedas are not sacred scripture because their ‘inspiration’ comes from a false god.

About the Afterlife:

Those who trust in Christ alone as their only hope of salvation spend eternity in heaven; those who reject Christ spend an eternity in hell. (John 5:24-30; Revelation 20:11-15). The Bible denies the concept of reincarnation (Hebrews 9:27-28).

About Salvation:

Salvation is by faith in Christ on the basis of His death on the cross. Good works or self-denial have nothing to do with being saved (John 3:16 -17, 36; 6:29 ,47; Romans 4:1-5; Galatians 2:16 ; Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5), nor can a false deity get you into heaven.

Things to Remember

1. Hari is coming from a radically different way of looking at the world, so your early witnessing efforts should consist of mainly listening and getting a feel for where he is coming from. Don’t assume all Hindus believe the same thing, because they don’t. Also, it is key that you figure out which ‘way of salvation’ they have chosen, because this will help you customize your witnessing efforts.
2. Focus on Jesus being the only way to heaven, and be sure you define your terms clearly so Hari doesn’t just think of a Hindu equivalent to what you are saying (like ‘salvation’, ‘God’, etc.)
3. One thing that Hari has in common with all other Hindus is a need for peace. Since Hari believes he is stuck in a seemingly endless cycle of death and rebirth, peace seems almost impossible. A good verse to use in this area is Matthew 11:28 where Jesus makes this promise: ” Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Use your own testimony as a way to show how it is possible to have a personal relationship with the personal God of the universe.

For Further Research

• Pick up a copy of Greg Stier’s book Dare 2 Share
• Check out http://www.christiananswers.net/evangelism/beliefs/hinduism.html