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Evangelicals appologize to LDS for misrepresenting their faith and beliefs Richard Mouw (President of Fuller Seminary) SPOKE AT THE MORMON/CHRISTIAN CONFERENCE. He offered “a stunningly candid apology to members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and that 'friendship has not come easily between our communities.' He dubbed the evening 'historic' and apologized that evangelicals 'have often misrepresented the faith and beliefs of the Latter-day Saints” Mouw said “Let me state it clearly. We evangelicals have sinned against you,” he said, adding both camps have tended to marginalize and simplify the others' beliefs. “We've often seriously misrepresented the beliefs and practices of members of the LDS faith,” he said. “It's a terrible thing to bear false witness. . . We've told you what you believe without first asking you” (Evangelical, LDS find bit of common ground by Kristen Moulton The Salt Lake Tribune. Mouw states: “I remain convinced there are serious issues of difference that are of eternal consequence, but now we can discuss them as friends.” Mouw then noted the 200th anniversary of Joseph Smith's birthday next December and several scholarly events planned to celebrate during the coming year. “I hope many in the evangelical community will take part in those events,” he said. Mouw's apology to the members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: “Our public relations between our two communities have been-to put it mildly-decidedly unfriendly. From the very beginning, when Joseph Smith organized his church in 1830, my evangelical forebears hurled angry accusations and vehement denunciations at the Mormon community-a practice that continues from some evangelical quarters even into this present day. And I think it is fair to say that some Mormons have on occasion responded in kind. Friendship with each other has not come easily for our two communities. “But in recent times things have begun to change. Evangelicals and Mormons have worked together on important matters of public morality.” Sounds like Mouw has been hearing the Mormons complaints so long that he has become a sympathizer to those who consistently through their own history pronounced scathing attacks denouncing all of Christianity, starting from their founder and others who have followed in his footsteps. A few reminders of what Mormons stated “...orthodox Christian views of God are Pagan rather than Christian” (Mormon Doctrine of Deity by B.H. Roberts) “What! Are Christians ignorant? Yes, as ignorant of the things of God as the brute beast.” (John Taylor, Mormonism's 3rd President, Journal of Discourses 6:25 ) “When the light came to me I saw that all the so-called Christian world was grovelling in darkness” (Brigham Young, Mormonism's Second President, Journal of Discourses 53.) These are official sermons by some of their presidents Is this a good goal to disregard our religious differences and unite for moral change? What would be the purpose in doing this? What exactly do you men have in mind? Stating the Evangelicals misrepresentation of the faith and beliefs of the Latter-day Saints: “On a personal level, over the past half-dozen years I have been a member of a small group of evangelical scholars who have been engaged in lengthy closed-door discussions about spiritual and theological matters with a small group of our LDS counterparts. We have not been afraid to argue strenuously with each other, but our arguments have been conducted in a sincere desire genuinely to understand each other-and in the process we have formed some deep bonds of friendship. I know that I have learned much in this continuing dialogue, and I am now convinced that we evangelicals have often seriously misrepresented the beliefs and practices of the Mormon community. Indeed, let me state it bluntly to the LDS folks here this evening: we have sinned against you. The God of the Scriptures makes it clear that it is a terrible thing to bear false witness against our neighbors, and we have been guilty of that sort of transgression in things we have said about you. We have told you what you believe without making a sincere effort first of all to ask you what you believe. Excuse me! I think that Mr. Mouw should speak for yourself and not include us in your corporate repentance. (By the way, the body of Christ consists of more than just evangelicals.) These statements are hypocritical. Mouw didn’t consult any cult evangelism ministries that I know of before he spoke as if he represented evangelicals involved in this type of evangelism. Who has misrepresented the beliefs and practices of the LDS faith? Whom are you pointing your finger to? (We know who they are. Mouw tells us later in his letter it is Walter Martin, Dave Hunt and all things considered, others like them. Surely your Mormon friends are thrilled to hear this rhetoric) To generalize and stereotyped good ministries as doing ungodly work and presenting the Mormons as taking the higher road is shameful. We have asked them what they believe and received answers, we have discussed these things, we have read their books we have not misinterpreted what they are saying at all. They argue their case and often try and prove that the Bible is wrong and their religion is right. In fact one only needs to speak to the majority of former Mormons, they can tell you what this is really about. Doctrine and Covenants 20:8-9 calls the Book of Mormon, “the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ.” It’s not the Bible that is the fullness of the gospel because according to Mormonism it has certain things pertaining to the gospel missing. It goes on to say, “And I have sent forth the FULLNESS OF MY GOSPEL by the hand of my servant Joseph; ...And I have given unto him the keys of the mystery of those things which have been sealed, even things which were from the foundations of the world....”Doctrine and Covenants, 35:17-18 Joseph Smith, Jr., Founder and Prophet of Mormon Church said of the Bible, “because of the plain and most precious parts of the gospel of the Lamb which have been kept back by that abominable church, whose formation thou hast seen...because of the most plain and precious parts of the gospel of the Lamb which have been kept back by that abominable church, which is the mother of harlots, saith the Lamb (Book of Mormon Nephi 13:26-29, 32, 34; also see 2 Nephi 29:2-3, 6- I have just quoted their standard works. Joseph Smith, Jr., the Founder and Prophet of Mormon Church says part of the Bible lost “plain and precious things were taken away by the abominable church.” Who do you think they are talking about? They believe there are only two churches in the world. They are the true one and we are the other one. Joseph Smith jr. the founder of the Mormon religion, “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” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p.194 Deseret Book Company also Joseph Smith, Jr., History of the Church,Salt Lake City: Deseret, 1978 This statement would include the Bible wouldn’t it? How is the Mormon religion misrepresented in this statement, or is it the other way around? What about the Mormon Church bearing false witness against the Bible with their prophet’s testimony? Does Mouw Know their history? Or only what they have fed him behind closed doors. Joseph Smith even altered the Bible itself, is this is to be ignored? What Mr. Mouw has said is absurd. You can ask Mormons who have converted, become born again and agree with our assessment. It is only because of evangelicals who have taken the time to explain the differences. What does Mouw know about this? Seems very little to speak in the manner he did. To generalize those who have labored years in the harvest field for Mormons to have a relationship through the Christ of the Scriptures versus the Christ of Mormonism is an injustice. I certainly do not want to make this article a focus on Mormonism itself but it must be brought up to show how utterly amateurish Mouw is to speak on these matters. And yes, I agree, “It's a terrible thing to bear false witness,” and so what do we with the founder’s revelation “Joseph Smith was told by God when seeking what church to join: “I was answered that I must join none of them, for they were all wrong; and the Personage who addressed me said that all their creeds were and abomination in his sight, that those professors were all corrupt.... (Pearl of Great Price, Joseph Smith, History 1:19, Page 49) It was God the Father and his who appeared when Joseph, “asked the personages who stood above me in the light, which of all the sects was right, . . . I was answered that I must join none of them [churches] for they were all wrong; …that all their creeds were an abomination in his sight; that those professors were all corrupt” (from Times and Seasons, vol. 3 Joseph Smith History ) Thus Smith condemned everyone who was a Christian as an apostate, which is exactly what the Mormon Church has always taught. “Nothing less than a complete apostasy from the Christian religion would warrant the establishment of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints” (Introduction to the DHC) Even in their Book of Mormon Joseph Smith, Jr. Founder and Prophet of Mormon Church. Explains there are only two churches - church of devil, church of Lamb. “Behold there are save two churches only; the one is the Church of the Lamb of God and the other is the church of the devil; wherefore whoso belongeth not to the church of the lamb of God belongeth to that great church; which is the mother of abominations; and she is the of all the earth” The Book of Mormon, 1 Nephi 14:10 Mr. Mouw, since you do accept Doctrine of Covenants lets see elsewhere what Mormon scriptures claim. Joseph Smith stated: “This [the LDS] Church...is the only true and living church upon the face of the whole earth” Doctrine and Covenants 1:30 Mr. Mouw: “We have made much of the need to provide you with a strong defense of traditional Christian convictions, regularly quoting the Apostle Peter's mandate that we present to people like you a reasoned account of the hope that lies with in us-but we have not been careful to follow the same Apostle's counsel that immediately follows that mandate, when he tells us that we must always make our case with “gentleness and reverence” toward those with whom we are speaking. Indeed, we have even on occasion demonized you, weaving conspiracy theories about what the LDS community is “really” trying to accomplish in the world. And even at our best, we have-and this is true of both of our communities-we have talked past each other, setting forth oversimplified and distorted accounts of what the other group believes. I’m not sure about what he means by conspiracy theories but their plain teachings their own doctrine should be enough to speak on what they believe. We have tried with patience love and longsuffering reach out to Mormons for years and many can attest to its fruit, especially those Mormons who have seen the difference and came to the Jesus of the Scripture. And this could only have been done by 1 Pet. 3:15-16: “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed.” Sure there have been disagreements and even heated discussions, just as there was with Paul THE APOSTLE and even JESUS OUR LORD. We are defending the truth as well as delivering it. And our conscience is clear despite some who claim otherwise. Paul’s statement correctly reads in 2 Timothy 2:23-26: “But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife. And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.” In it Paul says they are captive of the devil, yet Mouw in his letter of explanation of his speech accuses Dave Hunt of lying in his book--bearing false witness “whose main thesis is that Mormonism is Satanic in its inspiration and practice.” If Dave Hunt is bearing false witness, so is Paul according to the 2 Timothy 2:23-26. Is not a teaching on the plurality of gods, and man becoming a god satanic in origin? And what of Paul who argued intensely at times with his own brethren the Jews, and others? An what of Paul saying “Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them” (Rom. 16:17). Paul made a distinction of how to act with the unsaved that were not claiming to be brethren and the unsaved who were claiming to be brethren and had another gospel. We are to make that distinction. Let’s not forget the apostle Paul’s counsel to “reject a divisive man after two times.” Yet Paul also said, “Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but expose them” Ephesians 5:11 Has Mouw forgotten the warnings of Paul and only adhere to the love portions of the Scripture. “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? And what communion hath light with darkness?” (2 Corinthians 6:14) You can make friends with people without compromising by standing for what you believe. Are we to be so sensitive that we cannot tell it like is! If you want to make friends on your own you are welcome to, but do not drag the church down your interfaith road or convert them to unbiblical ways of evangelism. You have no Biblical justification for what you have said. Mouw and his associates, have, in their “new way of evangelizing” purposely overlook certain guidelines to forge interfaith friendships. I can honestly say the way he is going about this is not the way the apostles would, nor is it how they instructed the church. This goes beyond twisting the Scripture to his own misunderstanding, it is ignoring it. Mouw: “I personally take great encouragement from words that Joseph Smith uttered on the occasion of the founding of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in April of 1830: “we know,” Joseph said, “that all men must repent and believe on the name of Jesus Christ, and worship the Father in his name, and endure in faith on his name to the end, or they cannot be saved in the kingdom of God.” And then he added: “And we know that justification through the grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is just and true, and we know also that sanctification through the grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is just and true, to all those who love and serve God with all their mights, minds, and strength.” So a false prophets statement that, on the surface appears to have written the right thing personally encourages you. Ignoring that he said false things hundreds of more times. Again this same book you quote states the book of Mormon is the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Which Jesus would Joseph Smith then talking about Mr. Mouw? Certainly it is not the Jesus of the Bible according to his full body of teachings. He is Jesus in name only. EXCERPS LETUS REASON MIN.  Isaiah 42:8 " I am the Lord; that is my name! And My glory I will not give to another, nor My praise to graven images." |
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THE ONE WORLD APOSTATE CHURCH IS HEREEVANGELICALS NOW ACCEPT MORMONS AS BROTHERS Isaiah 42:8 " I am the Lord; that is my name! And My glory I will not give to another, nor My praise to graven images."
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4/21/2009 7:54 am |
The Apostle John closed out the canon of scripture with the Book of Revelation. Furthermore, John closes the Book of Revelation with this warning, 18] For I testify unto every man who hears the words of the Prophecy of this Book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this Book: 19] And if any man shall take away from the words of the Book of this Prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the Book of Life, and out of the Holy City, and from the things which are written in this Book. Revelation 22:18-19 The ecumenicists are compromisers to the true Word of God. They are attempting to bring all faiths and belief systems together under one umbrella, but it is a false unity and it is not of God. It is nothing more than Babylon. The wrath of God abides on them all for in their false unity with each other they must compromise the truth of God's Word which is Jesus Christ and Him crucified. Woe unto all of these unbelievers of God's Truth and for them setting up their own so-called "truth." And woe unto these other cult churches and groups like LDS who have added to and taken away from God's Word by adding their own apostasy books. They are under the curse of Revelation 22:18-19. ~ Believe His Word and trust His grace ~
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selah62 Hey bro, keep preaching it! Isaiah 42:8 " I am the Lord; that is my name! And My glory I will not give to another, nor My praise to graven images."
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loki2007 Thanks for the prayer. Keep preaching it girl! Isaiah 42:8 " I am the Lord; that is my name! And My glory I will not give to another, nor My praise to graven images."
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