Friday, September 01, 2006

Are Mormon's Christians?

My next Topic is a reply to Wer62 (Ed's) Topic of, ARE MORMON'S CHRISTIAN.

First let me give the Link to Ed's topic for people to read Ed's Topic. I want people to read his topic and think for themselves. First Ed quotes
Acts 11: 26
26 And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.


Ed quotes Acts 11:26. But here is a problem Ed either was not aware of or did not address. We read in the BoM, Supposedly the Most correct Book ever Written. And According to A of F 8, it is above the Bible as being MORE ACCURATE than the Bible. Any way we read in

Alma 46: 13, 15-16
13 And he fastened on his head-plate, and his breastplate, and his shields, and girded on his armor about his loins; and he took the pole, which had on the end thereof his rent coat, (and he called it the title of liberty) and he bowed himself to the earth, and he prayed mightily unto his God for the blessings of liberty to rest upon his brethren, so long as there should a band of Christians remain to possess the land.

Alma 48: 10
10 And thus he was preparing to support their liberty, their lands, their wives, and their children, and their peace, and that they might live unto the Lord their God, and that they might maintain that which was called by their enemies the cause of Christians.


Ok, First off, notice in these verses they use the Word Christian This is a problem, if the Book of Acts is to be true, Why? In my copy of the BoM dated 1920 Down the bottom of the page, it dates these happenings to be Both BC 72 AND 73 If they were called Christians After the death and resurrection of Christ, how Could this occurrence of the Word Christian, take place before Christ was around?

Now lets look at what the word Christian first meant.
Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary - christian
The name given by the Greeks or Romans, probably in reproach, to the followers
of Jesus. It was first used at Antioch. The names by which the disciples were
known among themselves were "brethren," "the faithful," "elect," "saints,"
"believers." But as distinguishing them from the multitude without, the name
"Christian" came into use, and was universally accepted. This name occurs but
three times in the New Testament (Acts 11:26; 26:28; 1 Pet. 4:16).
Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary


And Wikipedia:

"Christian" was at first a derogatory term meaning "Christ-like ones" related to persecution, but early Christians were taught by their leaders to bear that name proudly. Previously, they had no specific name for their faith, and so they simply referred to it as "the way".


Now if we look back through the Bible, starting back in Genesis, We Find God created man and women.
Gen 1:27 So God created man in his [own] image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.


No mention of them being Christians. They are believers in God. Then we read in Genesis 17:5
Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee.
God made Abraham the father of many Nations. Now we find we have Gentiles (Non-Jewish) People, and the Jewish people. Again no mention of CHRISTIANS. Their is only Jews and Gentiles. If the Gentiles convert to Judaism they are simply followers of God, Not Christians.

Once we get into the new testament, We find, before the Death of Christ, they still are simply followers of God. Then after the Resurrection, we find only 3 times is the word Christian used. And as I stated above, it first started out as a derogatory term. The 3 times we see the word Christian used are
Acts 11: 26
26 And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.

Act 26:28 Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.

1Pe 4:16 Yet if [any man suffer] as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.
.


Wer62 (ED) States on his blog, that this is what a Christian is
So what makes a Christian today? Simple, a commitment to follow Jesus Christ! This is not disqualified in the LDS Church and in fact the LDS Church follows closer to the Early Church in its followings of Christ and his Church then most protestant Churches today.


So According to Ed's definition and the Dictionary definition is this what a Christian is? Well the bible does not define the word/term Christian. First off, we know it was a derogatory term. Then their is only 3 verses using the word Christian. Acts 26:6 Simply states they were first Called Christian. This does not define the word for us.

Acts 26:28 the King Agrippa said to paul, you almost persuadest me to be a Christian. You could take this to mean a follower of Christ. But still this does not define the word, It does not say, THIS IS THE MEANING OF A CHRISTIAN. Neither does 1 peter 4:16.

Now, lets look again ad something Ed Said:
in fact the LDS Church follows closer to the Early Church in its followings of Christ and his Church then most protestant Churches today.


First lets look at a few verse we find in the Bible.

Gal 1:6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:

Gal 1:7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.

Gal 1:8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.


Ok, Paul here states that there is ANOTHER GOSPEL, Mormonism teaches this "Other" Gospel.

I find it really funny, Mormons can call themselves "Christian" Even though we clearly have vastly different beliefes, Yet the LDS refuse to call the FLDS, RLDS or other LDS off-shoot groups Mormons. Why is that? article about FLDS not being Mormons


The FLDS and RLDS and other off shoots of LDS have closer beliefes to those of the LDS than the LDS and Christians, Example, Christians do not believe in the other 3 standerd works like the BoM, D and C or the Pearl of great price. The FLDS believe the Teaching of D and C 132 not the Christians, and the teaching of D and C 132 is in the D and C which Mormons "LDS" believe.

So why is it with such great differences in beliefes the Mormons can say they are Christians, But the FLDS and RLDS, with closer beliefes are not Mormon? I did a topic called what if On my blog. I pointed out how If I as a christian were to dress as a mormon missionary and preach my beliefes the LDS would get mad and say I am not a real LDS member, yet LDS can call them selves Christian, and teach way different views to what I believe, Why is this? Rick B

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Hi Rick, your blog is informative, and I
have always found the LDS interesting. With the new temple being built in
the Greater Vancouver area, I suppose the LDS presence will become greater.

Russ