Agree to disagree

Pastor, we are going to have to agree to disagree. The only thing I was sorry to see in your letter was at the end when you said Mormonism is a cult.

Cult: A system of religious veneration and devotion directed toward a particular figure or object. (Catholics with the saints,scapular,Tabernacle, Eucharistic adoration?)
2. A relatively small group of people having religious beliefs or practices regarded by others as strange or sinister is a cult.
The word cult pejoratively (contempt or disapproval) refers to a group whose beliefs or practices are considered abnormal or bizarre.

As one observer explained why people use the term:  “Because it’s a neat, shorthand and rather lazy way of putting a whole group into a box.”   

“cult” – a harsh, cold, four-letter word used to summarily dismiss religious competitors and avoid civil discourse.  If a group is a cult, as 26% actually believe about Mormons (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints), then obviously an open-minded investigation of such inferiors is out of the question."

This word seems to be used in a derogatory sense, like the cults associated with, Jones town, Manson Family.   Most sociologists and scholars of religion also began to reject the word "cult" altogether because of its negative connotations in mass culture.

     I do not think the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is sinister, small, bizarre or a cult.   (There are 14 million members in 132 countries.  In America, there are more Mormons than there are Presbyterians or Jews.)
      I hope people do not show me contempt just because of my beliefs.
Jesus was persecuted, the Christians, the Jews. Why do "men" continue to judge.  I try to understand others in their beliefs.  Good "Christian" people have not wanted to live next to blacks,  Jews or "Mormons".  I can not understand theses feelings.  I just can not.  My mind can not "get" it.  I see people, God's children.  I know He loves them as His children and His Son was the one who came to earth and did what He did for us!  Others might not believe this.  Others will have their spirituality, their beliefs different from mine and Christianity and yet be the most "Christian" people I know.  How can a loving father throw them by the wayside?  How can He not love all His children.



I have been blessed by the Lord.  You too are blessed and again I am glad to have met you and our paths have crossed for a reason.  Yours in Christ, Laurie

Reply from the Pastor

Hi Laurie,

Mormonism and Historic Christianity are very different. I hope I can be respectful to your beliefs and from this e-mail your concerns revolve around our different view of God in regards to the Trinity and in particular Jesus Christ as God the Son co-equal with the Father. Here is a my attempt to explain the difference to show that we are worshipping a totally different God.
Scripture teaches monotheism (Only one God).
The Theme of one God is carried on throughout the Bible (Deut. 32:39, Ps 86:10, Isa 43:10, 44:6, 45:21).
The Bible teaches that ALL other gods are a product of human imagination.
Mormons will argue correctly that these are idols. However, the Mormon church paints pictures of the First Vision of Joseph Smith with two human-gods appearing in light, these are no less images. Thus, both the Romans and Mormons have exchanged God’s heavenly likeness for an earthly likeness. No Man can be compared to the likeness of God, not Adam – no one.
The Bible teaches that God is Spirit then, he cannot be made of material substance. God is a personal, infinite, self-existent, immaterial, transcendent being who drives no attribute from another source. God does not have a Spirit – He is pure Spirit
Jesus has Always pre-existed as God. (John 1:1; Micah 5:2;Col. 1:17-19; Heb. 1:8;13:8 and 1John 1:1) He was not Jehovah one of the many god’s.
The Bible teaches explicitly the vicarious atonement of Jesus Christ for the sins of the world.
Jesus is God come in human form to reconcile the world to himself (2 Cor. 5:18; Phil. 2:6-8)
This is accomplished through the shed blood of Jesus (Rom. 5:10).
The atonement was accomplished on the cross – not the Garden – Christ bore our sin on the cross.

Laurie I hope this helps clarify some of the doctrinal difference. The Mormon God and Jesus are not the same as the Christian God and Jesus – So we do not worship the same God.

I am confident after years of study and the reliability of the only true Scriptures (the Bible) that the Historic view is the correct one and the Mormon religion is a Cult.
Pastor

A Letter to the Pastor

Dear Pastor, I wanted to comment on a statement you made when you speaking at the end of class. I am so respectful of all religions and try to get to know beliefs and understand where people are coming from in their faith especially when I am helping others or in different countries. You mentioned tonight the Jesus of other faiths and brought up Mormonism and how they believe in a "different" Jesus, a Jesus who is one of many Gods. I am "Mormon" and I thought I believed in the same Jesus everyone else does. Taken from Mormon.org site:
But what do we mean when we say He is the Savior of the world? The Redeemer? Each of these titles point to the truth that Jesus Christ is the only way by which we can return to live with our Heavenly Father. Jesus suffered and was crucified for the sins of the world, giving each of God’s children the gift of repentance and forgiveness. Only by His mercy and grace can anyone be saved. His subsequent resurrection prepared the way for every person to overcome physical death as well. These events are called the Atonement. In short, Jesus Christ saves us from sin and death. For that, he is very literally our Savior and Redeemer. In the future Jesus Christ will return to reign on earth in peace for a thousand years. Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and He will be our Lord forever.

Jesus IS the Son of God. Jesus lived, was born to a virgin, Mary ,was crucified, died and rose on the third day. Is that not the Jesus others believe in? I know in the Catholic church that the God head consists of God, His Son and the Holy Spirit. One God. Growing up I never understood how this could be. How can three be one.

The Nicene Creed was first adopted in A.D. 325 at the Council of Nicea. The Roman Emperor Constantine had convened the Council of Nicea in an attempt to unify the Christian church with one doctrine, especially on the issues of the Trinity and the deity / humanity of Jesus Christ. The Nicene Creed reads as follows:

We believe in one God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible.
And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light, Very God of Very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father by whom all things were made; who for us men, and for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate by theHoly Spirit of the Virgin Mary, and was made man, and was crucified also for us underPontius Pilate. He suffered and was buried, and the third day he rose again according to the Scriptures, and ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of the Father. And he shall come again with glory to judge both the quick and the dead, whose kingdom shall have no end.

And we believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and Giver of Life, who proceedeth from the Father, who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified, who spoke by the prophets. And we believe one holy catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins. And we look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.
This I have said so many times in church (born and raised Catholic) From this, to me they were separate beings. How could you sit at the right hand of the father and you are the father. It just did not make sense to me. I see Heavenly Father as a person, Jesus His Son as a person and the Holy Spirit as a spirit separate from the Father and the Son. Because I see them as separate, am I believing in more than one God? I grew up in my spirituality knowing that there was my Heavenly Father, a father who loved me as His child, Jesus his Son, who was the ultimate sacrifice for me, for my sins, and the Holy Spirit who helps me and protects me through my life. I have known these to be three separate entities my whole life no matter what church I attended. To say in the Mormon beliefs that we, they, believe in one of many gods, Jesus, a different Jesus, I do not understand. I know He is the same one you know about, who came to earth and through His ministry here, did many marvelous works. He prayed to His father. The Holy Spirit came to Him.
I guess you made me think, "what, a different Jesus?" "How can that be?" I wanted to let you know how I see my Savior and my Heavenly Father in my life. I am grateful for all that I have, for meeting you and attending the class. Thank you for reading my thoughts. Thank you for leading the class. I hope our paths will cross again.
Warmest and most sincere regards,
Laurie

A Time To Remember..