I am a Mormon… NOT!

Indianapolis was chosen by the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (The Mormons) as one of its 12 target cities to focus their message at this time. You can see their efforts in billboards and television commercials popping up in greater metro Indy. Their catch phrase, and hence this article is stated as “I am a Mormon.” Mormons are nice people, they’re good people, they don’t drink, even coffee , or smoke. They’re sincere, good business people, and good marketers. But, do we want their religion?

Mormons claim to be a part of Christianity, and yet claim to have a later, more correct revelation about God and His will beyond the old and new testaments. Let’s explore some of the contrasts between Orthodox Christianity and Mormonism: The following is a clip from All About Religion.org

Mormonism vs. Christianity - The Differences

Mormonism (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) was birthed in 1820 by a vision in which two celestial personages appeared to Joseph Smith claiming all existing churches were wrong, all their creeds were an abomination, and all their professors were corrupt. According to these personages, Smith had been chosen to restore—not reform— a church that had disappeared from the face of the earth. The Mormon doctrines that evolved from this vision compromise confuse or contradict the nature of God, the authority of Scripture and the way of salvation.

Mormonism vs. Christianity - View of God

First, while Christians believe that God is spirit, Joseph Smith taught, “God Himself was once as we are now, and is an exalted man, and sits enthroned in yonder heavens!” Mormonism also holds to a plurality of Gods and contends that “as man is God once was; as God is man may become.” Additionally, the Latter-day Saints compromise the nature of the God-man, Jesus Christ. In Christianity, Jesus is the self-existent creator of all things. In Mormonism, he is the spirit brother of Lucifer who was conceived in heaven by a celestial Mother and came in flesh as the result of the Father having sex with the Virgin Mary.

Mormonism vs. Christianity - Revelation

Furthermore, in sharp distinction to orthodox Christian theology, Mormons do not believe that the Bible is the infallible repository for redemptive revelation. In their view, the Book of Mormon is “the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion.” Two further revelations complete the Mormon quad, namely Doctrines and Covenants and The Pearl of Great Price. Doctrines and Covenants is a compilation of divine revelations that includes the doctrine of polygamy. Not until threatened by the federal government did Mormon president Wilford Woodruff receive a revelation relegating polygamy to the afterlife. The Pearl of Great Price is no less troubling. It was this extra-biblical revelation that was used by Mormonism to prevent African Americans from entering the priesthood and from being exalted to godhood.

Mormonism vs. Christianity - Heaven

Finally, while Christians believe that they will stand before God dressed in the spotless robes of Christ’s righteousness, Mormons contend that they will appear before heavenly Father dressed in fig-leaf aprons holding good works in their hands. According to the Latter-day Saints, virtually everyone qualifies for heaven. Murderers, unrepentant whoremongers and the world’s vilest people make it into the Telestial heaven; lukewarm Mormons, religious people, and those who accept the Mormon gospel in the spirit world typically enter the Terrestrial heaven; and temple Mormons make it to the Celestial heaven. Only those who are sealed in secret temple rituals, however, will make it to the third level of the Celestial kingdom, become God’s of their own planets.

These and many other doctrinal perversions exclude Mormonism from rightly being called Christian.

Isaiah 43:10 says, "'You are my witnesses,' declares the LORD , 'and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor will there be one after me.'"

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Copyright Christian Research Institute and Hank Hanegraaff. Used by permission

WORD WATCH

I feel a little conviction right now about cleaning up my speech. I work with a bunch of guys who are very professional when talking to our clients and partners, but in our group will use the full English language. And, I have drifted down that path using some words that shouldn’t come out of my mouth. And I know words matter and can destroy or support our witness and walk. So here are some verses I’m trying to ponder.

Ephesians 4:29
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

This is the first verse that came to mind. Clearly some of my language has been less than wholesome, and not constructive. Exodus 20:7 “You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name. Here’s God on record about not damning this, or invoking the Trinity’s names on anything un-holy.

I should take it as seriously as He does.

Colossians 3:16

Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.

Don’t expect to quite hear me singing through life, but if we let The Message dwell in us, and have our mind focused on our purpose, worldly talk is less likely to leak out.

Philippians 4:8

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

Our words come from our thought life, and there is a way to positively focus our thinking. Filling our thoughts with good stuff, and as the next verse says, being willing to catch ourselves and take captive any bad thoughts leading to bad talk.

2 Corinthians 10:5

We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

Guarding our tongues (my tongue) is an ongoing battle. Let’s hold each other accountable for our walk and our talk. Here’s what brother James says:

James 3:2-10 2

We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check. 3 When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. 4 Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. 5 Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. 6 The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. 7 All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, 8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. 10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be.