THE ULTIMATE CHOICE
There has been a lot of concern over the continued violation of First Amendment Rights which started with the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. This doesn’t just affect Catholics but all Christians and anyone who does not believe in birth control, sterilization, or the use of abortifacients. The recent decision by our government to force religious institution employers (universities, hospitals, and charities) to provide free birth control coverage through employer funded health insurance certainly created a huge dilemma. Should Christians obey God’s Law or Man’s Law?
After a huge public outcry over being forced to violate religious beliefs, the Obama administration attempted to correct their position. The most recent adjustment to the federal health care law allows these same religious institutions to again become exempt from providing free contraceptives due to religious convictions. But there is a catch; women must still be able to receive free contraceptives, sterilization, and abortifacients. What changed exactly?
It didn’t make sense when I first heard about it. Now with an explanation given, it is exactly what everyone thought. While faith based institutions are exempt, their insurance plans must make birth control services available privately. In other words, women will contact their insurance provider directly for free contraceptives, including abortifacients.
In the meantime, employers in non-religious institutions are still mandated to provide these “preventive services” via company insurance plans. For a number of years, laws in some states have required insurance coverage to include birth control, but not necessarily sterilization or abortifacients. No one was allowed to opt out of certain services. Many, who wished to have insurance coverage, suffered the attack on religious faith. Some faith based institutions complied without a quibble.
The problem with compromise is a loss of credibility. A small compromise always leads to a much bigger compromise later on.
Real change is needed here. This latest rule expands the types of preventive services insurance companies are required to provide. For those who do not want to participate in insurance plans that provide these types of services, there has been no recourse. Thankfully there are some Congressmen who have a plan. They are working to ensure people, i.e. employers, health care providers, and individuals can exercise their conscience. The bills are currently in Committees for review. I encourage you to read and support these bills. You can track the progress of all bills at: GovTrack and The Library of Congress Thomas.
The most current bill was introduced January 30, 2012, by Sen. Rubio. Bill #2043 is called the Religious Freedom Restoration Act and is an amendment to the Public Health Service Act. This is a must read because it provides some background about what’s going on.
Rep. Fortenberry’s Bill #1179:
Respect for Rights of Conscience Act of 2011
Senate bill #1467 sponsored by Sen. Blunt:
Respect for Rights of Conscience Act of 2011
If I were an employer I would not want to provide these kinds of extras for my employees. Health care is something all of us need. Contraceptives and preventive services do not fall into this category. Abstinence solves the problem completely.
I’ve tried to reason this through… Why isn’t the individual responsible to pay for her own choices? Why does the world have to be a part of the decision to use birth control? It’s not a health issue, so why the fuss? It’s a profitable business.
As a Christian I have strong views over doing what pleases my Lord, and to be a participant in providing drugs that induce abortion is not acceptable.
Another point to consider… Why is the federal government giving orders to private insurance companies? These are not government owned. Forcing private companies to provide free health care is ludicrous. The private individual who owns insurance as a policy holder or a stock holder is still paying the bill.
There is also the matter of violating our United States Constitution. Freedom to exercise our religion is imperative. The first amendment reads:
*Amendment I
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
To tell you the truth, I never thought our nation would come to the point where religious views are so callously dismissed. Who should be obeyed God or federal law? In this case, God's Law and the United States Constitution are being violated.
What kind of legislation forces people to choose between God and the Law? The God I am referring to here is the Lord God Jehovah, Father of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of the Bible.
Abortion rights, rights to contraception, aka reproductive rights belong to the individual, because it is a God-given right to obey or disobey God’s Law. When I talk about “choice” that’s the only choice there is. The concept of right and wrong is engraved on our hearts, so we are without excuse. We don’t have to debate the semantics. Forcing others to participate is unconscionable. This is why we must have conscience laws.
Thankfully when we make the wrong choice, the Lord God Jehovah is quick to forgive and restore the repentant one. He knows us so well. Remember He loved us before we loved Him. How it must grieve and anger Him to know we place so little value on life, particularly the life of the unborn. The unborn child isn't just something to throw away. We need to change our thinking.
The ultimate choice must always be to obey God’s Law first.
*Bill of Rights is found at http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/bill_of_rights_transcript.html
Copyright © 2012 by Linda Hull
Personhood from a Biblical Perspective
There is much controversy about the value of the unborn child. If we read the Bible, then we can understand that no controversy should even exist. The key is found in following Biblical principles. Unfortunately many people do not know what the Bible says about personhood.
What is the Biblical perspective on personhood?
Consider this verse from Exodus 21: 22 (KJV)...
“If men strive, and hurt a woman with child, so that her fruit depart from her, and yet no mischief follow: he shall be surely punished, according as the woman’s husband will lay upon him; and he shall pay as the judges determine. And if any mischief follow, then thou shalt give life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burning for burning, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.”
To me this is pretty plain given the context of this verse. If a woman is injured so that her unborn child is born and lives, the person who caused the injury is to be fined. However, the text continues to say that if there is mischief, then the person who caused the situation will forfeit his life.
The word, “mischief” in Strong’s Concordance translates to “rah” meaning bad or evil: adversity, affliction, bad, calamity, plus displease, distress, evil, plus exceedingly, multiplied by great, grief etc. This definition extends to other verses in the Bible where (taken in context) it is used to signify death. A specific case would be in the account of Genesis 42 when Jacob decides not to send Benjamin along with Joseph to find the other brothers “lest peradventure mischief befall him.”
This is a very important Bible verse because it demonstrates the penalty for killing a child. The word “depart” in the verse means “to go out” so it implies the baby came out of the womb, but it does not indicate if the baby was born alive or born stillborn. It seems to mean the baby was born prematurely because the man who hurt her caused the baby to leave the womb. The baby’s life at this point depends on its age in the womb and its development. If it was not sufficiently developed to survive a premature birth, then the man must die-one life for another.
It is clear that God values life. The penalty of death that God commands for causing the death of a baby is fitting.
Copyright © 2012 by Linda Hull
ON THE SANCTITY OF LIFE
I searched my newspaper yesterday and today for photos and articles about the Sanctity of Life marches that took place across the country on Monday, January 23rd. Guess what??? There were none! Nada.
I have read that thousands peacefully marched all over the country! Hurrah for them! I salute their faithfulness!
Instead, on Monday I read in my local paper that Governor Andrew Cuomo (NY) is promising to pass pro-choice legislation by pushing the passing of the Reproductive Health Act (Bill #A06112). This bill was submitted back in 2007, and now Gov. Cuomo has decided it needs to be passed. The bill allows abortion after 24 weeks if the baby is not viable or if the mother’s life is in danger. The worst part of the bill is the section that redefines “person” in the event of a homicide. Here’s the particulars…
This bill says:
1. EVERY INDIVIDUAL HAS THE FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT TO CHOOSE OR REFUSE
CONTRACEPTION; AND
2. EVERY FEMALE HAS THE FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT TO DETERMINE THE COURSE OF
HER PREGNANCY, WHICH INCLUDES THE RIGHT TO CARRY A PREGNANCY TO TERM OR
TO TERMINATE A PREGNANCY: (I) IN THE ABSENCE OF FETAL VIABILITY; AND
(II) AT ANY TIME IF SUCH TERMINATION IS NECESSARY TO PROTECT THE PREGNANT FEMALE'S LIFE OR HEALTH.
S 1701. AUTHORIZED PERFORMANCE OF ABORTIONS.
THE PERFORMANCE OF AN ABORTION BY A QUALIFIED, LICENSED HEALTH CARE PRACTITIONER, ACTING WITHIN THE SCOPE OF HIS OR HER PRACTICE, IS AUTHORIZED:
1. IN THE ABSENCE OF FETAL VIABILITY; AND
2. AT ANY TIME, IF IN THE GOOD FAITH MEDICAL JUDGMENT OF A PHYSICIAN,
SUCH TERMINATION IS NECESSARY TO PROTECT THE FEMALE'S LIFE OR HEALTH.
This part explains what “viability” means:
6. "FETAL VIABILITY" MEANS THE POINT IN PREGNANCY WHEN, AS DETERMINED
BY A PHYSICIAN OR OTHER QUALIFIED PRACTITIONER ACTING IN GOOD FAITH
WITHIN THE SCOPE OF HIS OR HER PRACTICE IN ACCORDANCE WITH GENERALLY
ACCEPTED MEDICAL STANDARDS APPLIED TO THE PARTICULAR FACTS OF THE CASE
BEFORE THAT PRACTITIONER: (A) THE GESTATIONAL AGE OF THE FETUS IS TWENTY-FOUR
WEEKS OR MORE, AND (B) THERE IS A REASONABLE LIKELIHOOD OF THE
FETUS'S SUSTAINED SURVIVAL OUTSIDE THE UTERUS WITHOUT THE APPLICATION OF
EXTRAORDINARY MEDICAL MEASURES.
This part explains where the abortion is to be performed...
1.[When an abortion is to be performed after the twelfth week of
pregnancy it shall be performed only in a hospital and only on an in-pa-
tient basis.] When an abortion is to be performed after [the twentieth
week of pregnancy,] FETAL VIABILITY, AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED BY SUBDIVI-
SION SIX OF SECTION SEVENTEEN HUNDRED THREE OF THIS CHAPTER, IT SHALL BE
PERFORMED BY A PHYSICIAN IN A FACILITY WHICH IS LICENSED BY THE DEPART-
MENT PURSUANT TO ARTICLE TWENTY-EIGHT OF THIS CHAPTER AND a physician
other than the physician performing the abortion shall be in attendance
to take control of and to provide immediate medical care for any live
birth that is the result of the abortion, PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT AN
ABORTION SHALL NOT BE DELAYED FOR THE PURPOSE OF SECURING SUCH SECOND
PHYSICIAN'S ATTENDANCE IF, IN THE JUDGMENT OF THE PHYSICIAN PERFORMING
THE ABORTION, SUCH DELAY WOULD POSE A RISK TO THE FEMALE'S LIFE OR
HEALTH. The commissioner [of health] is authorized to promulgate rules
and regulations to insure the health and safety of the mother and the
[viable child] LIVE BIRTH, in such instances.
Note it says that an abortion performed after the 12th week must be performed only in a hospital and only on an inpatient basis. But after fetal viability (the 20th week), it can be performed in a licensed facility by a physician and it stipulates another physician not performing the abortion must be present to provide medical care to the baby in the event of a live birth. However the abortion is not to be delayed for the purpose of getting the second physician in attendance (paraphrase) unless the mother’s life is in danger.
My concern here is if an abortion is being performed, we must assume the mother’s life is at risk or the unborn child is no longer alive in the womb. Doesn’t it make sense to perform this in a hospital rather than a "licensed facility" if the mother’s health is at risk? If the argument to abort is because the mother's life is at risk, then she must certainly need special care at a hospital equipped to deal with the life risks she is facing. Saying a licensed facility is an acceptable venue minimizes her health risks or is it merely another word for an abortion facility? The bill does not mention what health risks to the mother would warrant having an abortion.
Another important point; perhaps the worst...
This bill redefines the definition of a person. In the event of a homicide, “person” is now defined as having been born and was alive. This is terrible. This seems to mean if a woman is assaulted and her unborn child is killed as a result, the perpetrator will not be considered guilty of a homicide. Under this bill, the unborn child’s death would be irrelevant.
Thoughts...
When we as a nation devalue human life, even the life of the unborn, we have lost a bit of our humanity. When life means nothing, we have come to a place where no life is sacred. If bills such as this are passed into law, we open the door to writing more laws that allow us to acceptably snuff out a life if is convenient and good for the masses.
This a terrible bill because it devalues the life of the unborn.
Copyright 2012 Linda Hull
SANCTITY OF LIFE SUNDAY
Years ago I volunteered at a Crisis Pregnancy Center with a Christ centered philosophy. It was truly one of the best ministry experiences I’ve ever been involved with. During the years I served, I learned so much about people and about myself.
When people reveal their heart, it is easy to see why the abortion issue is so fraught with conflict. The dispute is not really about whether a baby should live or die. It’s about whether a woman has a right to allow her unborn child to be killed.
It’s very plain that sin is at the root of abortion. That sin is the demand to control. For a Christian, there is no conflict. More to the point, the struggle for control over our lives should not be a conflict. We Believers know that Jesus paid the price for our lives—heart, mind, body, and spirit. He paid with His life. If we choose Jesus and His gift of forgiveness and eternal life, the question is settled. We gave up our rights to “self”. We no longer control anything, but have yielded all to our Savior. He is our Lord and Master.
People are often yielded to the lies of Devil who asks the question, “when does life begin?” The doubt is cast when the question evolves to become, “Does life really begin at conception?” Ultrasound technology allows us to know the truth to these questions. Yes, life does begin at conception. The Devil continues to deceive women, just as he did with Eve long ago in the Garden. He plants doubt, and we fall for it. People have sought an excusable way out of an unplanned pregnancy, and thought they had found it in Roe Vs. Wade.
It is the Devil who says to the heart and mind of women, “Do you really want a baby? A baby requires so much care, time, and effort. You’ll be trapped and your life will be ruined.”
It is the Devil who casts the doubt in a woman’s mind that she is unfit to raise a child, particularly if she didn’t want it in the first place.
It is the Devil who whispers to a woman that her life is more important than that of her child.
The more we listen, the easier it is to convince ourselves that we have the right and responsibility to end a life. I heard these excuses from the Devil so many times, as women tried to convince themselves to follow through on an abortion.
One thing I learned while counseling is that women have a conscience, the one God gives to all of us so we can discern right from wrong. When we violate that conscience, we feel the guilt and the shame. Life is valuable to God. Each life has a purpose God has determined. When we cease to value life, we have violated God’s Law.
I praise our Lord for forgiveness for sin. He alone can provide the absolution so many seek. The Bible tells us that He puts our sin “as far as the east is from the west, so far hath He removed our transgressions from us.” (Psalms 103:12, KJV). He doesn’t remember our sin: “For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.” (Hebrews 8:12) Believers, this is why we can believe our sin has been taken away. He doesn’t keep a record around so He can bring it up from time to time. He frees us from that awful guilt and shame.
Unbelievers can also be forgiven and cleansed from sin by turning to Jesus in repentance, asking forgiveness and seeking Him to be your Lord and Savior. If abortion is your sin, please know that if you will accept the righteousness of Jesus, you can be saved from the punishment of your sin. He has already taken your punishment for you when He died on the cross. All you must do is receive it.
Abortion is a hideous crime against women and it is an attempt by the Devil to defeat God’s plan. Do not be fooled. There are many married couples who would be willing to adopt and love an unwanted child. There are many who will help someone in a crisis pregnancy. Seek them out. There is much knowledge available about the in uterine child. Get knowledge to know the truth. If you need to talk about this, contact me.
January 22nd is Sanctity of Life Sunday. Let us defend the life of the unborn.
Copyright © 2012 by Linda Hull
THE GIFT THAT HUMBLES
If you’ve ever received a gift then you know that not all gifts are equal. Gift giving tries our patience and our pocketbook. Yet there is on occasion a gift that humbles our heart because we know the giver sacrificed something dear in order to bless another. This kind is rare. It cannot be matched or compared because it goes beyond the ordinary. It means we are special to someone in a way that is incomprehensible. This is the kind of gift everyone wants.
I received a special gift like this in December, 1969. The funny thing about it is that I’m not that special. I wanted it, but I hesitated. Foolishly I had to think about it a little while before I actually accepted it. Thankfully, the gift was still there, waiting for me to take it for my own.
This special gift will not be in any price range we can afford. Sure, some gifts are more expensive than others, but price is not what makes this gift so special. Great thought and care is used to select some gifts, but no, this isn’t what makes this gift special, although we know care was taken to implement it. We know duty gifts aren’t particularly special. They are given because it’s expected or to make an impression that brings favor. You won’t find this gift in any store, yet it’s available to all.
I’m sure each of us would like a gift such as this. But how can one be a recipient of such a wondrous gift?
When I received this gift, I did so, knowing the giver gave everything for it. Who was the giver? Jesus Christ. He gave His life so that I might have eternal life and be forgiven of all my sin, past, present, and future. I didn’t deserve this gift, nor did I earn it in any way. This was a special gift from God to me.
To receive it, I only had to accept Him as my Savior and Lord. You see the Lord God Jehovah sent His Son, Jesus to live on this earth. We read the account of His birth to a virgin in the Book of Luke in the Bible. We celebrate His birth on Christmas and His death and resurrection on Easter.
Why is this gift so special? Under God’s Law, I am condemned because I have violated God’s Law. How so? If you’ve ever broken one of the Ten Commandments, then you are in violation of God’s Law.
I was humiliated to realize how sinful I was. I had not understood that my ways were displeasing to God. I was humbled with shame and grief that my sin alone was enough to cause Jesus to allow Himself to be crucified on a cross so that I might have forgiveness of sin and eternal life in Heaven.
Think about it...Someone else paid for my sin. Someone who knew me for what I was. I wasn’t even good enough to take responsibility for myself. Only Jesus was worthy to pay the price required by God’s Law.
Through Jesus my sin is forgiven and I have a personal relationship with Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit. Celebrating the birth of Jesus is a natural outpouring of love and thanksgiving to a Holy God who came and died for me. It is His gift to me and to all who would accept Him as their Savior and Lord.
Humbled? You bet! Without Him, I would be lost forever.
Copyright © 2011 Linda Hull, Words of Encouragement
GOD REACHED OUT!
One of my favorite verses in the Bible is found in Exodus 6:2. It says, “And God spake unto Moses and said unto him, I am the Lord...” That settles it. God has identified Himself. It is important to know the God we worship and serve is the one true God who created and rules over all things.
God went on to speak further with Moses, explaining how He would motivate Pharaoh to let the people leave. In verse 6:3, God continues, “And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob by the name of God Almighty, but by my name JEHOVAH was I not known to them.”
Earlier Moses was having some trouble with his God-given mission to deliver the Hebrew people from the oppression of the Egyptians. Moses was afraid the Hebrews wouldn’t follow his leadership. Yet God had already told Moses to tell them who He was with these words in Exodus 3:14: “And God said unto Moses I AM THAT I AM: and He said, thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.”
According to Strong’s Concordance, in the Hebrew language “Jehovah” means “eternal, the self-existent”. The words “I AM” mean “to exist” in an emphatic sense. More interesting, the Hebrew word for “I AM” and “LORD” and “JEHOVAH” are the same. God revealed His identity to Moses.
We pass people by on the street, in the mall, and at our workplace, but we don’t always know who they are. Our names do not identify our character or explain our existence. They are merely labels. Further study of the various names of God reveals His character.
When we introduce ourselves to people, we tell them our name. We usually tell a little about our self as an explanation of who we are, not just what we are called. So too did God tell us who He is and what He is called. God revealed Himself.
After God revealed Himself, centuries later, He reached out to mankind. How? He sent His Son, Jesus to be born as a man. Jesus was born. God was now flesh. Jesus reveals Himself as well. In John 10, there are several verses that begin with “I am” that tell us about Jesus:
“I am the door of the sheep” John 10:7
“I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved...” John 10:9
“I am come that they might have life…” John 10:10
“I am the good shepherd” John 10:11
All these “I am’s” mean the same thing, “to exist”. The word used here is different from the Hebrew word, for the word used in the New Testament is Greek. To me it is clear. God came down to interact with man in a physical way, demonstrating His power and His might. Jesus explained quite succinctly: “I and my Father are one.” John 10:30
As you celebrate the birth of Jesus, remember that we are celebrating far more than the birth of a baby who would one day give His life that we might have eternal life. God fulfilled His plan to redeem us and we rejoice in His forgiveness and deliverance. Let us not forget we are also celebrating God; the One who came down to be with mankind and to interact with us, to demonstrate His love for us.
God reached out to us! That's love!
Copyright © 2011 Linda Hull, Words of Encouragement
The Power of Thanksgiving!
“But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians 15:57 (KJV)
These words by the Apostle Paul are powerful words! If you're seeking the victory over trials or time of testing, these words are meant for you. We have the ability to endure through the power of thanksgiving to the Lord God Jehovah. Being thankful changes our attitude and outlook on our circumstances.
I can imagine the Separatists praising God for seeing them through that first hard year in the new land and every year afterward. These Believers who came from England to escape religious persecution, seeking a new land where they could worship freely, struggled and suffered and died. Yet they persevered. If they had not endured through that terrible first winter, and stayed in the new land, our country might not have become a nation under the banner of the Lord God Jehovah.
Learning to endure is a key element of Christian life. There are often trials and testing of our faith that we must endure. Granted it is not easy to endure sufferings and hardships alone. The true test of faith is whether or not we will seek to endure through our own strength, or surrender our fate to our loving Lord. To endure, we must rely on our Lord God Jehovah. For only He can help us when we falter.
When those trials come, we can bolster our faith by reading the Word. Remembering His faithful intervention of the Hebrews of the Old Testament, and the new covenant with the early Church fosters renewed hope. We have the testimonies of countless Believers through the centuries of God’s faithfulness to care for His children.
Singing songs of thanksgiving lift our spirits. We are buoyed by the praise of our Lord. Praising God forces us to remember His deeds. Offering our thanks for Him and all that He does for us is humbling, for it is then that we realize our own frailties. We understand as we give thanks that all that we have and are comes from Him.
Honoring and glorifying our Lord is so powerful! The enemy can’t stand it and flees I think. How could the jealous, coveting enemy withstand God’s glory? He can’t. He must gnash his teeth and beat his chest in frustration. Call upon the name of the Lord--“Jesus”. The Bible tells us there will be a time when “every knee should bow” (Philippians 2:10) at the name of Jesus. He is Lord!
Placing our trust in Jesus takes a huge amount of faith and a conscious effort of our will. It is natural for us puny humans to struggle with Him for control. But we will lose that battle. Who is greater than the Lord? When we are focused on Him, waiting for Him to act in our behalf, and watching what He will do, we will be certain of the outcome.
Let us rejoice and give thanks for our Lord who makes all things possible. There is none other worthy of our praise and worship.
© 2011 Linda Hull, Words of Encouragement
Examining the Question – Are Mormons Christians?
What a furor has been created by identifying the Church of Latter Day Saints as a cult! It is being widely reported that Mitt Romney is under attack because of his Mormon faith. What's going on?
Pastor Robert Jeffress of First Baptist Church of Dallas identified the Church of Latter Day Saints as a cult and implied that Mormons are not Christians in a recent interview after the Values Voter Summit in Washington. Is he right? Let’s find out…
Let’s begin with the definition of a cult. The website, www.dictionary.com defines a cult as “a particular system of religious worship, especially with reference to its rites and ceremonies.” Mormonism has long been considered a cult since it’s founding by Joseph Smith in 1830. Mainstream Christian denominations have never been inclusive of the Church of Latter Day Saints because their beliefs conflict with Biblical teaching.
Some background on my personal involvement with Mormons…
My family history tells the story of family members who converted to Mormonism in the early 1800’s. One particular branch lived in England when they were converted by Mormon missionaries. They immigrated to the United States in 1871, eventually making their way to Utah.
During my growing up years, I was somewhat exposed to Mormon beliefs through relatives. Fortunately, my immediate family did not embrace Mormonism because my mother was a Christian, raised in a Baptist church.
In later years, I had the opportunity to talk at length with Mormon missionaries on several occasions. I also researched Mormon beliefs to clarify things I had heard as a child. Through my conversations with Mormon missionaries, it became clear that our beliefs were very different. However, there were things I learned through my devout relatives that were never mentioned by the missionaries.
What’s the problem? Here’s what I discovered in my personal conversations…
Mormons are taught they are Christians, but they do not know that what they are taught is different from commonly held Christian beliefs. A dear Mormon friend who grew up in a devout Mormon family came face to face with the differences when she volunteered for a position in a local non-Mormon church. When the church administration became aware of her religious affiliation, she was let go. Devastated and confused, she turned to me. When I explained the Gospel message from the Bible, she was astounded. She had never heard the true message of salvation.
Mormons use Christian terms and explanations but the meanings are not the same.
For example:
*Christians’ authority is found in the Holy Bible alone. Mormons include the Bible as God’s Word, but they more commonly find their authority in the Book of Mormon and claim it is also God’s Word. They also embrace a book written by Joseph Smith called the “Pearl of Great Price.”
The Bible is complete as it is and has been for centuries. It has been preserved by God through the ages, basically intact. The Mormon Bible has been revised numerous times according to the wind of the times. In the mid-twentieth century, blacks were not allowed to become priests or participate in temple ceremonies, until the president of the church came up with a new revelation.
*Christians believe Jesus is God’s only begotten son, born of a virgin, Mary. “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16 (KJV)
Mormons believe Jesus is one of God’s many sons, the offspring of a physical, sexual relationship between Mary and God. When they say they believe Jesus is God’s Son, they do, but not in the same context.
*Mormons believe that Jesus and Lucifer are brothers. Christians believe the Bible which says that Lucifer was a created being, an angel who was cast out of Heaven because he aspired to be a god.
*When we use the term “baptism” we mean an individual is immersed in water (some denominations practice infant baptism and sprinkling rather than immersion) after having made a decision to receive Jesus as Savior and Lord. Baptism is a demonstration of a changed life through faith in Jesus and symbolizes the new spiritual birth.
Mormons are baptized by immersion as well, but they are baptized for themselves and others too. In fact, it is a common practice for Mormons to be baptized for deceased relatives and family members who do not embrace Mormonism in the hope that they will one day experience eternal life.
*When we talk about eternal life, we mean life in God’s Kingdom called Heaven with Jesus, forever worshipping and serving Him. Eternal life for Mormons in good standing is spent populating and ruling planets all over the universe.
*Christians believe in a faith based salvation. “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9
Mormons practice a works based salvation. In the Articles of Faith, it is stated that they believe in salvation through obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel. Which gospel? The Mormon gospel, not the gospel of Jesus Christ as revealed in the Bible.
*Many Mormon practices are not found in the Bible. They believe that marriage can continue into eternity, and practice a rite of sealing spouses to each other for eternity.
The Bible teaches there will be no giving in marriage in Heaven. “Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God. For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.” Matthew 22:28-30
*Christians believe accepting Jesus is the only way to receive salvation and eternal life. “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” John 14:6
*Mormons contradict their own beliefs in practice. Mormons say in their Articles of Faith that they believe everyone should worship God as they see fit. In actual practice Mormon missionaries spend a great deal of time trying to convert others to Mormonism.
Confused?
Following are my Statement of Faith as a Christian, the Mormon Articles of Faith, and the Southern Baptist Faith & Message.
Compare the teachings…
First take a look at basic Christian beliefs from my Statement of Faith. Then examine the Mormon 13 Articles of Faith, and finally examine a more comprehensive statement of Christian beliefs from the Baptist Faith & Message.
I believe you will see the differences in beliefs and come to understand the subtle differences underlying the words of the Mormon Articles of Faith.
My Statement of Faith
1. The Bible was written by men, who were divinely inspired by God. The Bible is inerrant and infallible, and is the sole authority for faith and practice.
"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works." 2 Timothy 3:16-17
2. God is triune (three persons in one): God the Father, Jesus Christ the Only Son, and the Holy Spirit. He is all loving, all wise, and all powerful. He is the one true, living God. He is the creator of all things.
"For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, The Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one." 1 John 5:7
3. Jesus Christ is God in the flesh, born of a virgin, and without sin. He was crucified on a cross and rose from the dead, purchasing, with His shed blood, a place in heaven for all believers and offering forgiveness of sin.
"But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins." Matthew 1:20-21
"For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures; and that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve; after that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time." 1 Corinthians 15:3-8 (written by Paul)
"In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace" Ephesians 1:7
4. The Holy Spirit is our Comforter, present in the heart of every believer from the moment of salvation. His presence is God's assurance of salvation to the believer. He is our teacher, guide, and our convictor of sin and righteousness.
"But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you." John 14:26
"But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God." 1 Corinthians 2:9-10
"Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God." 1 Corinthians 2:12
"Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God." Romans 8:26-27
5. Man is created by God in His image. Man sinned against God and came under condemnation by God. Man as a result has a sinful nature that is inherited by all generations.
"Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: in whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: for by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him." Colossians 1:12-17
"For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God, being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; to declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus." Romans 3:23-26
"For it pleased the Father that in him should all fullness dwell; and, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight" Colossians 1:19-22
"For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive." 1 Corinthians 15:21-22
6. Salvation is by God's grace not by good works. It is offered as a free gift to all who will confess themselves as sinners, repent, and accept the substitutionary death of Jesus Christ on the cross as payment for the penalty of their sin as required by God's law. Salvation restores a personal relationship between man and God through Jesus. Salvation is received through faith.
"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast." Ephesians 2:8-9
"That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed." Romans 10:9-11
Mormon Articles of Faith (from http://mormon.org/articles-of-faith/ )
13 Articles of Faith
1. We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.
2. We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam’s transgression.
3. We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.
4. We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are: first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.
5. We believe that a man must be called of God, by prophecy, and by the laying on of hands by those who are in authority, to preach the Gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof.
6. We believe in the same organization that existed in the Primitive Church, namely, apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists, and so forth.
7. We believe in the gift of tongues, prophecy, revelation, visions, healing, interpretation of tongues, and so forth.
8. We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God.
9. We believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe that He will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God.
10. We believe in the literal gathering of Israel and in the restoration of the Ten Tribes; that Zion (the New Jerusalem) will be built upon the American continent; that Christ will reign personally upon the earth; and, that the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisiacal glory.
11. We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may.
12. We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.
13. We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul-We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.
The Baptist Faith & Message (from http://www.sbc.net/bfm/bfmcomparison.asp)
I. The Scriptures
The Holy Bible was written by men divinely inspired and is God's revelation of Himself to man. It is a perfect treasure of divine instruction. It has God for its author, salvation for its end, and truth, without any mixture of error, for its matter. Therefore, all Scripture is totally true and trustworthy. It reveals the principles by which God judges us, and therefore is, and will remain to the end of the world, the true center of Christian union, and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and religious opinions should be tried. All Scripture is a testimony to Christ, who is Himself the focus of divine revelation.
Exodus 24:4; Deuteronomy 4:1-2; 17:19; Joshua 8:34; Psalms 19:7-10; 119:11,89,105,140; Isaiah 34:16; 40:8; Jeremiah 15:16; 36:1-32; Matthew 5:17-18; 22:29; Luke 21:33; 24:44-46; John 5:39; 16:13-15; 17:17; Acts 2:16ff.; 17:11; Romans 15:4; 16:25-26; 2 Timothy 3:15-17; Hebrews 1:1-2; 4:12; 1 Peter 1:25; 2 Peter 1:19-21.
II. God
There is one and only one living and true God. He is an intelligent, spiritual, and personal Being, the Creator, Redeemer, Preserver, and Ruler of the universe. God is infinite in holiness and all other perfections. God is all powerful and all knowing; and His perfect knowledge extends to all things, past, present, and future, including the future decisions of His free creatures. To Him we owe the highest love, reverence, and obedience. The eternal triune God reveals Himself to us as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, with distinct personal attributes, but without division of nature, essence, or being.
A. God the Father
God as Father reigns with providential care over His universe, His creatures, and the flow of the stream of human history according to the purposes of His grace. He is all powerful, all knowing, all loving, and all wise. God is Father in truth to those who become children of God through faith in Jesus Christ. He is fatherly in His attitude toward all men.
Genesis 1:1; 2:7; Exodus 3:14; 6:2-3; 15:11ff.; 20:1ff.; Leviticus 22:2; Deuteronomy 6:4; 32:6; 1 Chronicles 29:10; Psalm 19:1-3; Isaiah 43:3,15; 64:8; Jeremiah 10:10; 17:13; Matthew 6:9ff.; 7:11; 23:9; 28:19; Mark 1:9-11; John 4:24; 5:26; 14:6-13; 17:1-8; Acts 1:7; Romans 8:14-15; 1 Corinthians 8:6; Galatians 4:6; Ephesians 4:6; Colossians 1:15; 1 Timothy 1:17; Hebrews 11:6; 12:9; 1 Peter 1:17; 1 John 5:7.
B. God the Son
Christ is the eternal Son of God. In His incarnation as Jesus Christ He was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. Jesus perfectly revealed and did the will of God, taking upon Himself human nature with its demands and necessities and identifying Himself completely with mankind yet without sin. He honored the divine law by His personal obedience, and in His substitutionary death on the cross He made provision for the redemption of men from sin. He was raised from the dead with a glorified body and appeared to His disciples as the person who was with them before His crucifixion. He ascended into heaven and is now exalted at the right hand of God where He is the One Mediator, fully God, fully man, in whose Person is effected the reconciliation between God and man. He will return in power and glory to judge the world and to consummate His redemptive mission. He now dwells in all believers as the living and ever present Lord.
Genesis 18:1ff.; Psalms 2:7ff.; 110:1ff.; Isaiah 7:14; 53; Matthew 1:18-23; 3:17; 8:29; 11:27; 14:33; 16:16,27; 17:5; 27; 28:1-6,19; Mark 1:1; 3:11; Luke 1:35; 4:41; 22:70; 24:46; John 1:1-18,29; 10:30,38; 11:25-27; 12:44-50; 14:7-11; 16:15-16,28; 17:1-5, 21-22; 20:1-20,28; Acts 1:9; 2:22-24; 7:55-56; 9:4-5,20; Romans 1:3-4; 3:23-26; 5:6-21; 8:1-3,34; 10:4; 1 Corinthians 1:30; 2:2; 8:6; 15:1-8,24-28; 2 Corinthians 5:19-21; 8:9; Galatians 4:4-5; Ephesians 1:20; 3:11; 4:7-10; Philippians 2:5-11; Colossians 1:13-22; 2:9; 1 Thessalonians 4:14-18; 1 Timothy 2:5-6; 3:16; Titus 2:13-14; Hebrews 1:1-3; 4:14-15; 7:14-28; 9:12-15,24-28; 12:2; 13:8; 1 Peter 2:21-25; 3:22; 1 John 1:7-9; 3:2; 4:14-15; 5:9; 2 John 7-9; Revelation 1:13-16; 5:9-14; 12:10-11; 13:8; 19:16.
C. God the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God, fully divine. He inspired holy men of old to write the Scriptures. Through illumination He enables men to understand truth. He exalts Christ. He convicts men of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment. He calls men to the Saviour, and effects regeneration. At the moment of regeneration He baptizes every believer into the Body of Christ. He cultivates Christian character, comforts believers, and bestows the spiritual gifts by which they serve God through His church. He seals the believer unto the day of final redemption. His presence in the Christian is the guarantee that God will bring the believer into the fullness of the stature of Christ. He enlightens and empowers the believer and the church in worship, evangelism, and service.
Genesis 1:2; Judges 14:6; Job 26:13; Psalms 51:11; 139:7ff.; Isaiah 61:1-3; Joel 2:28-32; Matthew 1:18; 3:16; 4:1; 12:28-32; 28:19; Mark 1:10,12; Luke 1:35; 4:1,18-19; 11:13; 12:12; 24:49; John 4:24; 14:16-17,26; 15:26; 16:7-14; Acts 1:8; 2:1-4,38; 4:31; 5:3; 6:3; 7:55; 8:17,39; 10:44; 13:2; 15:28; 16:6; 19:1-6; Romans 8:9-11,14-16,26-27; 1 Corinthians 2:10-14; 3:16; 12:3-11,13; Galatians 4:6; Ephesians 1:13-14; 4:30; 5:18; 1 Thessalonians 5:19; 1 Timothy 3:16; 4:1; 2 Timothy 1:14; 3:16; Hebrews 9:8,14; 2 Peter 1:21; 1 John 4:13; 5:6-7; Revelation 1:10; 22:17.
III. Man
Man is the special creation of God, made in His own image. He created them male and female as the crowning work of His creation. The gift of gender is thus part of the goodness of God's creation. In the beginning man was innocent of sin and was endowed by his Creator with freedom of choice. By his free choice man sinned against God and brought sin into the human race. Through the temptation of Satan man transgressed the command of God, and fell from his original innocence whereby his posterity inherit a nature and an environment inclined toward sin. Therefore, as soon as they are capable of moral action, they become transgressors and are under condemnation. Only the grace of God can bring man into His holy fellowship and enable man to fulfill the creative purpose of God. The sacredness of human personality is evident in that God created man in His own image, and in that Christ died for man; therefore, every person of every race possesses full dignity and is worthy of respect and Christian love.
Genesis 1:26-30; 2:5,7,18-22; 3; 9:6; Psalms 1; 8:3-6; 32:1-5; 51:5; Isaiah 6:5; Jeremiah 17:5; Matthew 16:26; Acts 17:26-31; Romans 1:19-32; 3:10-18,23; 5:6,12,19; 6:6; 7:14-25; 8:14-18,29; 1 Corinthians 1:21-31; 15:19,21-22; Ephesians 2:1-22; Colossians 1:21-22; 3:9-11.
IV. Salvation
Salvation involves the redemption of the whole man, and is offered freely to all who accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour, who by His own blood obtained eternal redemption for the believer. In its broadest sense salvation includes regeneration, justification, sanctification, and glorification. There is no salvation apart from personal faith in Jesus Christ as Lord.
A. Regeneration, or the new birth, is a work of God's grace whereby believers become new creatures in Christ Jesus. It is a change of heart wrought by the Holy Spirit through conviction of sin, to which the sinner responds in repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Repentance and faith are inseparable experiences of grace.
Repentance is a genuine turning from sin toward God. Faith is the acceptance of Jesus Christ and commitment of the entire personality to Him as Lord and Saviour.
B. Justification is God's gracious and full acquittal upon principles of His righteousness of all sinners who repent and believe in Christ. Justification brings the believer unto a relationship of peace and favor with God.
C. Sanctification is the experience, beginning in regeneration, by which the believer is set apart to God's purposes, and is enabled to progress toward moral and spiritual maturity through the presence and power of the Holy Spirit dwelling in him. Growth in grace should continue throughout the regenerate person's life.
D. Glorification is the culmination of salvation and is the final blessed and abiding state of the redeemed.
Genesis 3:15; Exodus 3:14-17; 6:2-8; Matthew 1:21; 4:17; 16:21-26; 27:22-28:6; Luke 1:68-69; 2:28-32; John 1:11-14,29; 3:3-21,36; 5:24; 10:9,28-29; 15:1-16; 17:17; Acts 2:21; 4:12; 15:11; 16:30-31; 17:30-31; 20:32; Romans 1:16-18; 2:4; 3:23-25; 4:3ff.; 5:8-10; 6:1-23; 8:1-18,29-39; 10:9-10,13; 13:11-14; 1 Corinthians 1:18,30; 6:19-20; 15:10; 2 Corinthians 5:17-20; Galatians 2:20; 3:13; 5:22-25; 6:15; Ephesians 1:7; 2:8-22; 4:11-16; Philippians 2:12-13; Colossians 1:9-22; 3:1ff.; 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24; 2 Timothy 1:12; Titus 2:11-14; Hebrews 2:1-3; 5:8-9; 9:24-28; 11:1-12:8,14; James 2:14-26; 1 Peter 1:2-23; 1 John 1:6-2:11; Revelation 3:20; 21:1-22:5.
V. God's Purpose of Grace
Election is the gracious purpose of God, according to which He regenerates, justifies, sanctifies, and glorifies sinners. It is consistent with the free agency of man, and comprehends all the means in connection with the end. It is the glorious display of God's sovereign goodness, and is infinitely wise, holy, and unchangeable. It excludes boasting and promotes humility.
All true believers endure to the end. Those whom God has accepted in Christ, and sanctified by His Spirit, will never fall away from the state of grace, but shall persevere to the end. Believers may fall into sin through neglect and temptation, whereby they grieve the Spirit, impair their graces and comforts, and bring reproach on the cause of Christ and temporal judgments on themselves; yet they shall be kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation.
Genesis 12:1-3; Exodus 19:5-8; 1 Samuel 8:4-7,19-22; Isaiah 5:1-7; Jeremiah 31:31ff.; Matthew 16:18-19; 21:28-45; 24:22,31; 25:34; Luke 1:68-79; 2:29-32; 19:41-44; 24:44-48; John 1:12-14; 3:16; 5:24; 6:44-45,65; 10:27-29; 15:16; 17:6, 12, 17-18; Acts 20:32; Romans 5:9-10; 8:28-39; 10:12-15; 11:5-7,26-36; 1 Corinthians 1:1-2; 15:24-28; Ephesians 1:4-23; 2:1-10; 3:1-11; Colossians 1:12-14; 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14; 2 Timothy 1:12; 2:10,19; Hebrews 11:39-12:2; James 1:12; 1 Peter 1:2-5,13; 2:4-10; 1 John 1:7-9; 2:19; 3:2.
VI. The Church
A New Testament church of the Lord Jesus Christ is an autonomous local congregation of baptized believers, associated by covenant in the faith and fellowship of the gospel; observing the two ordinances of Christ, governed by His laws, exercising the gifts, rights, and privileges invested in them by His Word, and seeking to extend the gospel to the ends of the earth. Each congregation operates under the Lordship of Christ through democratic processes. In such a congregation each member is responsible and accountable to Christ as Lord. Its scriptural officers are pastors and deacons. While both men and women are gifted for service in the church, the office of pastor is limited to men as qualified by Scripture.
The New Testament speaks also of the church as the Body of Christ which includes all of the redeemed of all the ages, believers from every tribe, and tongue, and people, and nation.
Matthew 16:15-19; 18:15-20; Acts 2:41-42,47; 5:11-14; 6:3-6; 13:1-3; 14:23,27; 15:1-30; 16:5; 20:28; Romans 1:7; 1 Corinthians 1:2; 3:16; 5:4-5; 7:17; 9:13-14; 12; Ephesians 1:22-23; 2:19-22; 3:8-11,21; 5:22-32; Philippians 1:1; Colossians 1:18; 1 Timothy 2:9-14; 3:1-15; 4:14; Hebrews 11:39-40; 1 Peter 5:1-4; Revelation 2-3; 21:2-3.
VII. Baptism and the Lord's Supper
Christian baptism is the immersion of a believer in water in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. It is an act of obedience symbolizing the believer's faith in a crucified, buried, and risen Saviour, the believer's death to sin, the burial of the old life, and the resurrection to walk in newness of life in Christ Jesus. It is a testimony to his faith in the final resurrection of the dead. Being a church ordinance, it is prerequisite to the privileges of church membership and to the Lord's Supper.
The Lord's Supper is a symbolic act of obedience whereby members of the church, through partaking of the bread and the fruit of the vine, memorialize the death of the Redeemer and anticipate His second coming.
Matthew 3:13-17; 26:26-30; 28:19-20; Mark 1:9-11; 14:22-26; Luke 3:21-22; 22:19-20; John 3:23; Acts 2:41-42; 8:35-39; 16:30-33; 20:7; Romans 6:3-5; 1 Corinthians 10:16,21; 11:23-29; Colossians 2:12.
VIII. The Lord's Day
The first day of the week is the Lord's Day. It is a Christian institution for regular observance. It commemorates the resurrection of Christ from the dead and should include exercises of worship and spiritual devotion, both public and private. Activities on the Lord's Day should be commensurate with the Christian's conscience under the Lordship of Jesus Christ.
Exodus 20:8-11; Matthew 12:1-12; 28:1ff.; Mark 2:27-28; 16:1-7; Luke 24:1-3,33-36; John 4:21-24; 20:1,19-28; Acts 20:7; Romans 14:5-10; I Corinthians 16:1-2; Colossians 2:16; 3:16; Revelation 1:10.
IX. The Kingdom
The Kingdom of God includes both His general sovereignty over the universe and His particular kingship over men who willfully acknowledge Him as King. Particularly the Kingdom is the realm of salvation into which men enter by trustful, childlike commitment to Jesus Christ. Christians ought to pray and to labor that the Kingdom may come and God's will be done on earth. The full consummation of the Kingdom awaits the return of Jesus Christ and the end of this age.
Genesis 1:1; Isaiah 9:6-7; Jeremiah 23:5-6; Matthew 3:2; 4:8-10,23; 12:25-28; 13:1-52; 25:31-46; 26:29; Mark 1:14-15; 9:1; Luke 4:43; 8:1; 9:2; 12:31-32; 17:20-21; 23:42; John 3:3; 18:36; Acts 1:6-7; 17:22-31; Romans 5:17; 8:19; 1 Corinthians 15:24-28; Colossians 1:13; Hebrews 11:10,16; 12:28; 1 Peter 2:4-10; 4:13; Revelation 1:6,9; 5:10; 11:15; 21-22.
X. Last Things
God, in His own time and in His own way, will bring the world to its appropriate end. According to His promise, Jesus Christ will return personally and visibly in glory to the earth; the dead will be raised; and Christ will judge all men in righteousness. The unrighteous will be consigned to Hell, the place of everlasting punishment. The righteous in their resurrected and glorified bodies will receive their reward and will dwell forever in Heaven with the Lord.
Isaiah 2:4; 11:9; Matthew 16:27; 18:8-9; 19:28; 24:27,30,36,44; 25:31-46; 26:64; Mark 8:38; 9:43-48; Luke 12:40,48; 16:19-26; 17:22-37; 21:27-28; John 14:1-3; Acts 1:11; 17:31; Romans 14:10; 1 Corinthians 4:5; 15:24-28,35-58; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Philippians 3:20-21; Colossians 1:5; 3:4; 1 Thessalonians 4:14-18; 5:1ff.; 2 Thessalonians 1:7ff.; 2; 1 Timothy 6:14; 2 Timothy 4:1,8; Titus 2:13; Hebrews 9:27-28; James 5:8; 2 Peter 3:7ff.; 1 John 2:28; 3:2; Jude 14; Revelation 1:18; 3:11; 20:1-22:13.
Conclusion….
It is clear to many Christians that Mormonism is not Christian. While the terminology may seem the same, the meanings are different. The Church of Latter Day Saints aka Mormons are not following the tenets of the Holy Bible. They cannot be called Christians because they do not believe Jesus is God’s only begotten Son. They are not saved and are not going to spend eternity with Jesus in God’s Kingdom, because they do not believe God when He says Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6).
Unfortunately many people are being deceived into believing they will have a place in God’s eternal kingdom. They have taken up the label that belongs to the people who place their trust in Christ and Christ alone. By using terminology frequently associated with evangelical Christians, they have deceived the ignorant into accepting their beliefs as Christian. Few have taken the time and trouble to check to see if they are in keeping with mainstream evangelical Christian doctrine.
Be careful about aligning yourself with the false teaching of the Church of Latter Day Saints. Remember many people do live out their values based on their religious beliefs and will seek to promote their religious views.
The 3 Colors of Love
The 3 Colors of Love by Christian A. Schwarz
I heard about this booklet from a dear friend. Her church was using this as a church growth tool in a small group setting. After hearing about her experience I became determined to write a review. While the initial concept sounds good and has a measure of truth behind it, there are some red flags that need to be revealed.
About the author…
Christian A. Schwarz is not someone I’m familiar with in Christian circles, but he isn’t a newcomer either. He is the founder and president of the Institute for Natural Church Development in Germany. Interviewed in 2004, by Christianity Today on the topic of natural church development, he explains his approach to church growth in an article called "The Strong Little Church". He says the smaller church has a lot going for it, particularly in the area of providing a quality experience, usually outperforming a larger church in many areas.
Mr. Schwarz is right on target since experts have been trying to predict church growth trends for several years. Fearing perhaps the demise of the mega-church and the mid-size church, research comes down in favor of smaller churches because the younger generations are looking for meaningful relationships.
About the concept…
In “The Strong Little Church,” Mr. Schwarz has identified eight quality characteristics of a healthy church. These are: “empowering leadership, gift-oriented ministry, passionate spirituality, functional structures, inspiring worship services, holistic small groups, need-oriented evangelism, and loving relationships.” His focus is helping churches identify and strengthen their weak areas among the eight quality characteristics of a healthy church. Then individuals do the same.
Consequently, Mr. Schwarz developed a series of discipleship booklets based on these eight quality characteristics. “The 3 Colors of Love” is one of these booklets. It has a companion study resource titled, “How to Implement the 3 Colors of Love in Your World” by Adam Johnstone.
About “The 3 Colors of Love” booklet…
It’s about the “biblical principles of Christian love” and how to apply these principles to develop loving relationships within the church. According to the book synopsis, this booklet “focuses on the three fundamental dimensions of God’s love:” justice, truth, and grace. Mr. Schwarz’s goal in this booklet is to help individuals all over the world “experience the revolutionary power of God’s unconventional love.” Why? Developing our love capability, we will be able to extend love to others, thus providing the relationships outsiders seek.
Does the Bible support the concept?
Mr. Schwarz says God’s love is a combination of justice, truth, and grace. This concept is expressed throughout the Bible. It is specifically demonstrated in the Book of Exodus in the account of the Israelites and their deliverance from slavery in Egypt. Evidence of God’s love for the Israelites is demonstrated repeatedly, but is so often misunderstood. Unfortunately we often fail to understand that justice, truth, and grace are essential in expressing love. I explained it to my Sunday School class this way…
We often think God was horrible in asking the Israelites to go into the land promised to Abraham and kill all the inhabitants-men, women, children, and often animals. To our modern thinking minds, we find this to be an atrocity against mankind. What gave them the right to annihilate a people group? The key is in understanding the difference between murder and execution.
In the Biblical account of the Israelites moving into the Promised Land, they were commanded by God to destroy the inhabitants. Some would say this was murder, but I contend that it was justice. These wicked ones had rejected the Lord God Jehovah. It was His decision to destroy them as a demonstration of His justice. We know that without faith it is impossible to please God. These were without faith in God. The Israelites were the executioners-carrying out God’s justice.
These people were wicked and hated the Lord God Jehovah. Many would suggest these people groups never had a chance to accept God, but I contend that as descendents of Noah, the testimonies of Noah and his family were handed down to all generations so they were without excuse. How do we know this? Most people groups have historic knowledge of a flood that destroyed the earth. Secular history bears this out.
What is the penalty for unbelief? Death. Let me say again, they were not murdered, but executed. Since God is just, He must carry out the tenets of His law. His law requires that sin be punished. His Law is truth because it exposes sin i.e. the wickedness of man’s heart.
What is the first commandment? It’s written in Exodus 20:3, “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” (KJV) Matthew 22:37-38 expresses it a little more succinctly: “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment.”
Grace was expressed when God sent His Son Jesus to be the propitiation for our sin. Jesus was without sin, yet He died on a cross to pay the penalty for our sin. Then He rose from the grave, forever settling the question of life after death. All who will accept Him as their personal Savior and Lord will be with Him for eternity.
Justice, truth, and grace are the elements of love. Without truth, there can be no justice. Justice without grace is surely not just. The three must go together to be genuine love.
Teaching the concept…
Mr. Schwarz introduces his concept using a trinitarian compass consisting of three colors on a color wheel to demonstrate the positive (justice, truth, and grace) and the negative side (deception, mercilessness, and injustice). He uses James, John, and Paul as examples, assigning one aspect of the color wheel to each. James is a model for justice, John for truth, and Paul models grace.
First he lays the foundation of his theoretical paradigm by defining love, the light and darkness, and the fruits of the spirit. These are used to explain how God’s love can be expressed in three ways.
Next comes a discussion on how to reflect God’s love, culminating with the “Fruit of the Spirit Test” to determine areas of weakness and strength. Based on the test results, participants are encouraged to study the areas where they are weakest. This was actually very helpful. I took the test and found it to be right on in identifying strengths and weaknesses.
Practical exercises found in the last chapters in the booklet provide opportunities to strengthen the weak areas so the individual can more effectively reflect God’s light and love to others. Why is this important? Mr. Schwarz favors a gift-oriented ministry where individuals exercise their specific spiritual gifts to others thus becoming the Christian God intended which allows people to find their God-given identity.
My thoughts…
It took me several reads through the first chapter to understand what he was talking about. His ideas are based on assumptions about people from all over the world. Are his assumptions correct? Is it man’s responsibility to make himself an acceptable receptacle of God’s love? Think about it… God’s Word does not support the concept. If it were true, then why would we need Jesus? Man is unable to make himself a suitable vessel from which God’s love can be reflected. Only when God changes the heart is this possible.
I believe that man must come to the place in life where he sees himself as God sees him in light of God’s Law. Remember the Law exposes sin. I believe that man is unable to change himself from being the sinner he is by nature. We cannot change our nature. God changes us when we accept Jesus as our Savior and Lord by sending the indwelling Holy Spirit to bring about conviction and repentance.
We learn new behaviors through our obedience to God’s Word. However, our original sin nature is still present within each of us. We continually war against it, struggling to do the righteous deeds of the spirit rather than the unrighteous deeds of the sin nature. We must be in constant vigilance to put off the old nature. Consider these words from Paul, the model for grace:
“And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.” Romans 5:5
“For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.” Romans 8:15-20
“That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God.” Ephesians 3:16-19
“If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: that ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; and be renewed in the spirit of your mind; and that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.” Ephesians 4:20-24
Red Flags…
My problem with Mr. Schwarz is rooted in his understanding of who God is, his terminology, his implementation, and his global world view.
Problem #1: Mr. Schwarz believes God’s nature is love based on 1 John 4:8.
My thoughts: I disagree. Love is a characteristic of God as explained in 1 John, but God’s nature is spirit. God is three (triune): God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Problem #2: Early in the booklet, Mr. Schwarz shares his belief that believers are to become “open channels for the love of God”.
My thoughts: Channels? Does God need channels in which to express his love? I don’t think so. In this context, it comes across as the task of believers to be love or to exhibit love on behalf of God. God doesn’t need us in order to express His love. He already demonstrated His love for us by sacrificing His Son Jesus so that believers could have eternal life. Check out Romans 5:8:
“But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
The message we are to carry to the world is not that God loves us (yes, He does), but we are to tell the message that God has reconciled us to Himself through His Son Jesus.
Problem #3:
Mr. Schwarz would like the three main areas of the world to find balance with each other. Let me explain his concept…he has decided the three main areas of the world (the western world, the eastern world, and the southern world) all have specific cultural tendencies. These are:
- The tendency to imperialism and truth in the western world (North America, Europe, and Australia)
- The tendency to hypocrisy and grace in the Eastern world (mostly Asia)
- The tendency to anarchy and justice in the Southern world (mostly Latin America, Africa, and Southeast Asia).
Of course, he stresses all three tendencies are evident in some way in each world zone.
The idea in identifying each zone’s tendency is to recognize each as a strength, but at the same time to realize the other two tendencies are lacking. He advocates achieving some sort of balance between the three identified tendencies in order to reflect God’s love and character to others.
My thoughts: In cross cultural ministry it is obvious there are differences. To label these differences with stereotypical behaviors is offensive. He is right in saying all hold true of each to some degree, but I would hardly say anarchy and hypocrisy and imperialism are positive strengths.
The concept of being different but alike smacks of a one world religious view concept. Each has a piece of the puzzle, put together, they become one. He says all of us have a different starting point and a different path to follow. Again his concept of all roads lead to the same place is false.
The Bible says Jesus is the only way of salvation (John 1). Jesus reflects God’s love perfectly; we cannot be a true reflection of God’s love no matter how much effort we put into it because we are imperfect. The Bible says we are all sinners (Romans 3:23). We cannot work enough to make ourselves good enough. We cannot demonstrate God’s love perfectly, no matter how hard we try. Instead we are to point others to God and to His love. There is a difference here.
Mr. Schwarz is trying to address the issue of unfriendly and unloving churches. We can certainly extend friendship and perform all the acts of love and have the feelings of agape love, but we will never be substitutes for God’s love.
Problem #4
The entire purpose behind Mr. Schwarz’s discipleship resources, including the 3 Colors of Love is to correct the problems of the church that keeps people away. That correction is to identify the failures of the church by identifying the failures of the individuals. He makes the assumption that lost people will be willing to come to church if the church would just make itself more appealing. If church people would learn to be more loving, people would experience that love and would want to join in.
My thoughts: There is a terrible fallacy floating among church growth experts today. That is the idea that the church should be geared to the lost-those without Jesus as their Savior and Lord. I’ve studied church growth principles for years and experienced many sizes of churches, from the mega-church to the smallest of church congregations. These popular approaches work for a time, but the church still has a revolving door.
Why? First of all many churches promote an easy believe-ism concept that requires nothing but assent to accepting Jesus and praying. Unfortunately, many new “converts” demonstrate their lack of understanding and lack of faith by refusing to obey His commands, by a distinct worldliness, no repentance, and a desire to be pleased, just to name a few characteristics I have witnessed. We label them “carnal” Christians.
I do not believe in the concept of “carnal Christians”. I used to, and was taught that concept in churches I have attended. Yet, I have found the concept of being a “carnal” Christian does not line up with Scripture. Consider these verses as evidence that condemns the behavior of a “carnal” Christian:
John 10:27-29 says, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them and they follow me: and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. I and my Father are one.”
John 13:35 says, “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”
John 14:15 says, “If ye love me, keep my commandments.”
John 14:21 says, “He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.”
Matthew12:50 says, “For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.”
You might also read Matthew 13 about the parable of the sower to understand how easily some will want to receive Jesus as Savior and Lord, but ultimately do not. If one has received Jesus as Savior and Lord, it stands to reason there would be a true desire to repent and turn away from sin, not a half-hearted attempt. Sin would be grievous, not something to shrug off. Obeying God’s commands would be foremost in thought, not looking for a loophole to excuse disobedience.
The next aspect to this problem is the idea that God’s Word is insufficient to hold people’s attention. They need worldly entertainment, fun things to do, and opportunities for fellowship to get them inside a church. We are called to be a holy and separated people according to 1 Peter 2:9-10, “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvellous light: which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.”
The church is for the Believers. Believers are to go out and witness to the lost the message of Christ. Discipleship follows through a mentoring relationship within the church. Didn’t Jesus command the disciples to go out? Consider the words of the great commission: “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” (Matthew 28:19-20)
I remember how popular bus ministries were years ago. Buses would travel the neighborhoods around the church to pick up kids and take them to church. On Saturdays, workers would go out door to door to invite the kids to come with promises of fun. Candy was distributed freely. It was the latest method to win the lost at that time.
The hope was for parents to become interested and come too, but parents enjoyed the free babysitting. In the meantime without adult supervision, the kids were unruly and disruptive in the mainstream worship service. So children’s church was established to be a training ground for bus kids, so they could be assimilated into mainstream church worship. It never worked. Instead children’s church became the place for all kids from babies to 6th grade to go during worship service. Then when they were teens, they chose not to attend, and we lost them. What should have happened is for children to be included in worship service under their parents’ supervision. Lessons would have been reinforced at home. By the way, more and more families are opting for a family style worship time.
Problem #5
I have a difficult time with Mr. Schwarz’s terminology. It smacks of New Age philosophy and Emergent church mysticism. I’m not sure of his doctrinal stand on these issues, but he has certainly embraced some of the buzz words.
I also had a difficult time with the “How to Implement” booklet by Adam Johnstone. He uses a variety of techniques to engage the student. These include visualization, prayer, discussion, daily readings, Scripture verses, an Implementation guide, a mutual mentoring partner, and exercises consisting of questions and answers to name a few. This booklet takes the concepts outlined in 3 Colors of Love to another level by identifying a growth cycle as a spiral. Individuals can find their own starting point on the spiral as they progress in their continual growth process. The process itself is likened to breathing in and breathing out. On the inside cover is a picture of the growth cycle as it relates to the 3 colors of love. Also is a short explanation of the growth cycle:
“God is love, and created the world to grow in countless cycles that surround us. While the cycle remains unchanged, it will take you to a different place in your life with every revolution. Start where you are and return any time you ever stray on the journey. Feel the breath of love from God and others fill your soul, and watch your world change as you breathe it out again. So, will the passing of time just make you older, or more loving as well?”
My thoughts: The concept about the growth cycle is clearly unbiblical. A cycle of growth is reasonable, but this again has an undertone of man in control versus God in control. It leads one to believe we have the power to free ourselves from our sin. If that were true, why did Jesus die on a cross?
This book fosters the idea that man can identify what he needs to become more like God. The Biblical understanding is that the Holy Spirit brings conviction of sin which leads to repentance on the part of man. God is in control of personal growth; we have only to obey His commands. He makes them plain to us. I find the concepts to be in direct opposition to Biblical wisdom.
Conclusion…
I do not recommend this book, and in fact, I find it to contain false teaching according to my perspective and understanding of God’s Word. I do not believe these concepts are solidly based on God’s Word. The booklets contain too much of man’s wisdom.
Folks, read the Bible before you attempt to read any self-help books, church growth books, etc. Know what God says first. Know God’s word so well, you can see the fallacy behind much of what is written today.
I personally encourage you to be selective in your reading and Bible study materials. Make sure they line up with God’s Word. Do not be deceived.
Thoughts on Independence Day…
I used to take the annual celebration of the 4th of July for granted. It never occurred to me that the United States of America might one day be lost.
Our people have lost their Judeo-Christian foundation, thus opening the door to an extreme makeover that would leave us under the domination of philosophies that would destroy our American and Christian heritage.
Over the last several years, the horrifying changes that have taken place in the land of the free have moved us ever closer to a land dominated by evil.
So on this Independence Day, I think it is important to remember where we came from…
Excerpt of the Mayflower Compact, November 11, 1620
“In the name of God, Amen. We, whose names are underwritten, the Loyal Subjects of our dread Sovereign Lord King James, by the grace of God, of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, etc. Having undertaken for the glory of God, and advancement of the Christian faith, and the honour of our King and country, a voyage to plant the first colony in the northern parts of Virginia; do by these presents, solemnly and mutually in the presence of God and one another, covenant and combine ourselves together into a civil body politick, for our better ordering and preservation, and furtherance of the ends aforesaid; and by virtue hereof do enact, constitute, and frame, such just and equal laws, ordinances, acts, constitutions, and offices, from time to time, as shall be thought most meet and convenient for the general good of the Colony; unto which we promise all due submission and obedience.”
Excerpt of The Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776
(Unanimously approved by the thirteen United States of America which consisted of New Hampshire, New York, Massachusetts-Bay, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, North Carolina, Maryland, South Carolina, Virginia, and New Jersey.)
“When in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the Powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, that whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shown, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such government, and to provide new guards for their future security. Such has been the patient sufferance of these colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former systems of government. The history of the present Kind of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute tyranny over these states.”
These serve to remind us that we as a people have come out of bondage into the precious tenets of liberty. These people had experienced bondage, and chose another way. They chose to unite as a republic.
What is a republic?
It is characterized by a government of the people, rather than a monarch or hereditary head of state. The people have the supreme rule over the land exercised by their vote and through their elected representatives.
Excerpt of the Constitution of the United States
“We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
Our independence came at great cost. People were willing to stand for this just cause and to ensure its perpetuation to this time.
Will our generation be the one to allow our liberty to slip away? This is a question each generation must decide.