Wow – thank you to all who were able to come out this past Sunday evening to learn about the differences between the LDS church and biblical Christianity (and the differences are many.)
NOTE: Due to repeated requests to re-teach this class, I will present it again in September.
Follow Up: Below are a couple of items I simply didn’t have time to address this past Sunday.
A GREAT POINT brought up by a Mormon: In an online debate with a Mormon, I wrote that nowhere in the Bible is there reference to “another testament of Jesus Christ” (a.k.a. “the Book of Mormon”). The anonymous individual replied, “Since the Old Testament never mentions the coming of a written New Testament, why should it be required that the New Testament mentions a successive testament?”
Hmmm. Great question. Not only had I never thought of that question, I’d never even heard this point addressed or brought up by any speaker/preacher over the years. This person’s question bothered me. I thought to myself for a moment and then God spoke clearly. Here’s my reply to my Mormon friend: “You are correct. You won’t find a verse in the Old Testament that says, ‘One day, after a 400 year gap, a New Testament will be written.’ However, read through the 39 books of the Old Testament and what you’ll find is that it is REPLETE with reference to future revelation, given to us in a multitude of messianic prophecies to be fulfilled in the person of Jesus Christ! The Old Testament screams, ‘There’s more to come!’ Furthermore, in case there’s any debate as to who these messianic prophecies were about, Jesus said, ‘These are the Scriptures that testify about Me.’ (John 5:39) On the contrary, nowhere in our New Testament will you find a single, solitary reference or prophecy about (1) future revelation to be given in any form, (2) the re-institution of God speaking through prophets rather than solely through His Word, (3) the Book of Mormon, (4) Joseph Smith, or (5) the restoration of the gospel following a 17 century period of apostasy. Read it for yourself – the New Testament nowhere screams – or whispers – ‘There’s more to come.’ What it does scream is, ‘It is finished.”
One last thing: In my study, I found that Mormons are quite adamant that they are, in every respect, Christians. The official Mormon web site states this. And Mormons i interviewed agree. I certainly don’t mind if they want to call themselves Christians. But, as I thought about this, something occurred to me. The Bible teaches clearly that those who hold to biblical Christianity are known as Christians (literally: “little Christs”) – “The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.” (Acts 11:26) Here’s my question: If Mormons like to call themselves Christians, why don’t biblical Christians like to call ourselves Mormons? Because, according to the Bible, they’re not the same.
Soli Deo Gloria, Nick