The First Stone - A Very Tangible Reminder

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A Reminder of Mormon Teaching

A "political saviour" is nothing compared to the Saviour of our hearts and souls....

I do not wish to attack any individual Mormons 

or to stir up any political "pots".  

However, in light of a disturbing trend among some Christian organizations (in the U.S.A. particularly), I am posting this blog, not to attack individual Mormons, but to remind us what the Mormon Church (Latter Day Saints) actually teaches and how that differs radically from the Bible and the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is also noted that the Mormon Church does not have much to rely on in way of outside evidence or archaeology.

The following portion has been taken from gotquestions.org

What is Mormonism? What do Mormons believe?

The Mormon Church (also called the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints or the LDS Church) was founded less than 200 years ago by Joseph Smith. It began with an alleged vision he claimed to receive telling him all churches and creeds were an abomination and that he was to begin a new church. Through this and other “visions,” Smith’s theology developed into a movement that spread from the northeastern United States to Illinois and eventually to Salt Lake City, Utah, home of the current headquarters of the Mormon Church.

The Mormon Church has quickly grown in size and influence. It now reaches more than 200 nations and territories with millions of followers worldwide. Millions of copies of its key book, The Book of Mormon, are distributed each year in multiple languages. Mormons are found in all levels of society and are becoming more prominent in politics. In 2012, the Senate majority leader in the U.S. was a Mormon, as were two Presidential candidates.

While Mormonism shares some beliefs with traditional Christianity, its main teachings depart from biblical truth. For example: 

> Mormonism rejects the idea of a Triune God. Why? Because LDS theology says Jesus was a created being, the result of a “heavenly father” and a “heavenly mother.” 

> In addition, Mormon doctrine says that God has a physical body and was a man like anyone else at one time. 

> Further, the Mormon Church teaches eternal progression, through which a man can himself become a god, be “sealed” to a wife (or wives) in a “celestial marriage,” and produce spirit children to populate another planet. 

> Mormonism is fundamentally a system of multiple gods, not a single, Triune God as held in biblical Christianity.

> Salvation is also much different in Mormon teachings. The Bible presents salvation as a free gift of God obtained by grace through faith. Human works do not contribute to our salvation (Ephesians 2:8-9). Mormon salvation includes both faith and a series of works. Eternal security (the belief that a person cannot lose his or her salvation) is rejected, since Mormon salvation is based in large part on acts of obedience after an initial faith experience.

> Mormons also view Scripture differently. Mormons accept the Bible as inspired (particularly the King James Version), yet they also claim that The Book of Mormon is the Word of God, along with other writings from early Mormonism such as The Pearl of Great Price and Doctrines and Covenants. These books redefine or contradict key biblical doctrines yet are considered authoritative by Mormons.

> Finally, Mormonism teaches a view of heaven that differs from what the Bible presents. According to LDS theology, three eternal options exist: the celestial, telestial, and terrestrial kingdoms. Two are based on good works, with the top level (the celestial kingdom) reserved for the most faithful Mormons.

Despite the Mormon Church’s rapid growth and influential members, its beliefs are incompatible with historic biblical teaching. As we have seen, Mormonism’s core beliefs are far afield of the orthodox Christian faith. The Mormon error affects their view of God, Jesus, salvation, Scripture, and the afterlife.

> No archaeological evidence has ever been found in America to substantiate Mormon teachings of ancient civilizations being present  robin Schumacher

> Critics say the LDS Church is academically dishonest, because it supports biased research conducted by the church-owned Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies (FARMS). FARMS is a research institute within church-owned Brigham Young University that publishes Mormon scholarship. Critic Matthew Paulsen faults FARMS for limiting peer review to members of the LDS Church. He states that FARMS's primary goal is to defend the LDS faith rather than to promote truthful scholarship.^[97] Molecular biologist Simon Southerton, a former LDS bishop and author of Losing a Lost Tribe: Native Americans, DNA, and the Mormon Church said, "I was amazed at the lengths that FARMS went to in order to prop up faith in the Book of Mormon. I felt that the only way I could be satisfied with FARMS explanations was to stop thinking.... The explanations of the FARMS researchers stretched the bounds of credibility to breaking point on almost every critical issue".^[98]

^Wikipedia

Remembrance Day - So You Refuse to Wear a Poppy?

I don't wear a poppy to "glorify war". I quite dislike war.

I wear a poppy to honour the men and women who were forced to go to war so that I (and you) could have the basic rights and freedoms we enjoy today.

The Widow’s Joules : The Principle of Proportion in Giving

There is a short passage in the 21^st chapter of Luke where Jesus observes the people giving their monetary offerings in the Jewish Temple.

And He looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury, and He saw also a certain poor widow putting in two mites. So He said, "Truly I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all; "for all these out of their abundance have put in offerings for God, but she out of her poverty put in all the livelihood that she had." Luke 21:1-4

He uses this opportunity to teach His disciples an important principle of God – the principle of proportion, as I like to prefer to it.  Although the rich gave a large quantity and the widow gave a tiny quantity ( a mite is equivalent to 1/5 of a cent!) , He gives the greater honour to the widow.

Why? Because in proportion to what the rich had they gave some but in proportion to what the widow had she gave ALL. The Lord goes so far as to say that what she gave was more than all the others combined. Not in a mathematical sense of course, but in a spiritual one.

As Dr. Warren Weirsbe notes:

“Men see what is given, but God sees what is left, and by that He measures the gift and the condition of our hearts.” 

Ahh God looks on the heart – how refreshing, how comforting …and how convicting. 

Now I don’t take this to mean that we should all give every cent we have away or that God wants all of our finances (although some may be called to that)  - but rather, God wants all of our hearts! Nothing should be withheld from Him in our hearts. At the end of the day God does not need our paltry sum of money, He wants our heart and every last bit of it.

So you may be wondering why the title says “Joules” instead of jewels or money. It is because what we have to give to God includes not just money, but time, energy and other things as well. And as you may have guessed I want to now focus on the area of “energy”  - which (scientifically) is measured in the unit of Joules.

The reason I want to talk about giving of energy is because it is a topic close to my heart. Energy or “work” is sometimes a difficult thing to measure so far as how much someone has or does not have… what proportion is given and what proportion is left behind as Weirsbe would say.

My mother has Multiple Sclerosis , a disease where one’s own immune system attacks a substance in the body called myelin which in turn affects the ability of the nerves cells of the brain and spinal cord to communicate properly.  This manifests itself in many types of symptoms both cognitively and physically – and it takes a real toll on one’s energy level.

Mom finds it very difficult to do even the most routine things she used to be able to do when younger. As you can imagine this can be intensely frustrating and that is only exacerbated by the fact that it is hard for others to understand , and compared to something more obvious like a broken leg, is next to impossible to literally see.

But God sees - and He knows the proportion of her energy that she gives to His work (maybe you have been blessed with some of her cards, bookmarks or other handmade items with the word of God emblazoned on them.)

I also have an “invisible” disease so to speak. Clinical Depression and severe Obsessive Compulsive Disorder make even the simplest of things intensely difficult for me.  And what I find to be one of the most frustrating things is that I cannot easily explain to the people I love why I am unable to do something that I would normally do in a heartbeat – go to an event, take on leadership or responsibility, commit to something.

I want to be clear that this article is not about a pity party. It is about helping us all understand ourselves and each other better. It is about finding comfort in the fact that God knows our heart and what we want to do for Him and it is about being much slower to judge others and their apparent lack of __________ (fill in the blank).

To paraphrase something I once heard on the T.V. program, “The Doctors” :

“Laziness is a character flaw; Lethargy is a medical condition”

And we need to know the difference!

Not long ago I had to have a difficult conversation with a former boss of mine.  I had recently been promoted to a management position and soon found that I was unable to sustain the stress and “psychological energy” that it called for. She was very gracious and understanding and I was, in effect,  apologizing for being so “weak” and “lazy” and “incapable” all the while trying to explain a bit about my disease and the validity of it. I’ll never forget what she said to me – she said “Joe, you can tell the people who are sincere and for real from the phonies a mile away.”

She was looking on the heart there…. Just as God does and it was very comforting to me in a very difficult time. 

So let us learn to distinguish between things like laziness and lethargy, phoniness and sincerity,  a couple of cents given with sacrifice and 6 figures given simply for a tax credit…

And, metaphorically speaking, Let us ask God to “give us His eyes” and see as He does.

“But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." 1 Samuel 16:7

Job's Friends: Dangers of the ‘Health and Wealth’ or ‘Prosperity’ Gospel

I’m writing this article on the topic of the fast-spreading pseudo-theology going around these days known as “Health and Wealth” or “Prosperity” Gospel. The idea behind it being that if you are doing well spiritually then you will be doing well financially and in your health -  and if you aren't doing well financially or health wise then it is because of a lack of faith on your part or even hidden sin.

Nothing could be further from what the Bible teaches and I hope this article will help us began to understand this very obvious truth. For the purposes of this project we will focus primarily on the “health” part of this lie but will also take a quick look at what the Bible says about the “wealth” part at the very end.

I recognize that some illnesses or even deaths could be the result of sin in a person’s life – but much discernment, wisdom and compassion is needed before jumping to such a conclusion. And though this might be one answer, it is only one of many possible reasons and is usually the rarest.

My motives for writing this at this time are 1) because it is unbiblical ( actually anti-Biblical) and 2) because lives and families are, to varying degrees,  literally being destroyed by this lie ( I know of some personally).

I would say that the first point where this kind of thinking goes radically wrong is by not properly differentiating the Old Testament (OT) from the New Testament (NT).  It is true that both are the Word of God, but it is also true that we are dealing with a new covenant between God and man differing than we were in the OT. It has been rightly said the New Testament was written TO us and the Old Testament was written FOR us. One must interpret the OT through the lens of the NT.   

It is apparent that wealth and health were often a sign of success and good standing with God in the OT but the NT is radically different in this respect.  As Francis Bacon noted:

“Prosperity is the blessing of the Old Testament; adversity is the blessing of the New.”  Sir Francis Bacon

There is a lot of Biblical theology summed up in that short quote.

In addition to this, even if we looked at the OT as an example we would need only to read the book of Job to realize how contrary this Health and Wealth / Prosperity gospel is to Scripture.  Job suffered much . He lost his family (except for his wife who told him to curse God), his wealth and his health but not because he was sinning – it was in fact the opposite. It was because he was so righteous.   The book opens:

Job 1:1 There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was blameless and upright, and one who feared God and shunned evil.

When Satan suggested to God that Job was only righteous because God gave him all this wonderful stuff God basically said –go ahead and test him.  So you see this was a testing of Job’s faith because he was righteous. Not a punishment for sin but a testing of faith due to already existing faith and  righteousness.

Job 1:22 In all this Job did not sin nor charge God with wrong.

If this wasn’t enough to convince a person of the reality of righteous suffering then enter Job’s three friends who were sorely scolded by God at the end of the book. Why? Because they had told Job that he had lost everything because of sin in his life. As it was, Job did learn many lessons through this experience and became closer to God – but no thanks to his friends.

Job 42:7 And so it was, after the LORD had spoken these words to Job, that the LORD said to Eliphaz the Temanite, "My wrath is aroused against you and your two friends, for you have not spoken of Me what is right, as My servant Job has.

Before leaving the OT, there is a very poignant and relevant passage in Exodus we should look at where the Lord asks Moses to represent his people before Pharoah.

Exd 4:10 Then Moses said to the LORD, "O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither before nor since You have spoken to Your servant; but I [am] slow of speech and slow of tongue."
Exd 4:11 So the LORD said to him, "Who has made man's mouth? Or who makes the mute, the deaf, the seeing, or the blind? Have not I, the LORD?

The mute, the deaf, the seeing and the blind –God declares that He has made them. They are not a curse but a blessing – a way for God’s strength to be made perfect in our weakness.

But now lets take a look at the New Testament that was written “to” us directly.

First of all let’s look at the New Testament verse that proponents of this false gospel often use to support their propaganda  - III John 2

3Jo 1:2 Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.

The ironic thing is that this verse can be used to argue the exact opposite of the HWPG. John is here talking to a very godly man named Gaius ( we know he is godly  by the context of the book). So when he wishes that Gaius may prosper in his health just as much as he does in in soul – it would be an  example of being spiritually well yet physically ill.

And there are so many examples of suffering within the will of God in the NT.

We begin with Jesus who, of course is the ultimate example. When Jesus and His disciples encountered a grown man born blind this is what played out:

Jhn 9:1 Now as [Jesus] passed by, He saw a man who was blind from birth

Jhn 9:2 And His disciples asked Him, saying, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?"

Jhn 9:3 Jesus answered, "Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him.

 Jhn 9:4 "I  must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work

Jhn 9:5 "As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world."

Jhn 9:6 When He had said these things, He spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva; and He anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay.
Jhn 9:7 And He said to him, "Go, wash in the pool of Siloam" (which is translated, Sent). So he went and washed, and came back seeing.

In other words, this man spent his entire life blind because one day, when the time was right and it was the will of God, he would be healed by Jesus – and God would be glorified and the man would find even more than just physical sight!

Other examples in the NT of devout believers suffering physically were Trophimus ( a follower of Paul) and Timothy (Paul’s foremost disciple and leader of a local church). From the context it is obvious ( especially with regards to Timothy) that they were righteous, faithful Christians who were simply suffering   - perhaps for the glory of God, perhaps as opposition from the enemy who knew how effective they were, perhaps just because “the rain falls on the just and the unjust”  , or perhaps even to learn lessons they would never learn otherwise – but not because of sin or a lack of faith!

1Ti 5:23 (Timothy, ) No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for your stomach's sake and your frequent infirmities.

2Ti 4:20 Erastus stayed in Corinth, but Trophimus I have left in Miletus sick.

Then, no less than Paul the apostle, who healed many people wrote this passage in regards to his own suffering:

2Cr 12:7 And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure.

2Cr 12:8 Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me

2Cr 12:9 And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me

2Cr 12:10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

My Grace is sufficient for you - Ahh, how sweet this sounds to the desperate heart.

  “For My strength is made perfect in weakness” - this echoes God’s declaration to Moses that we read earlier.

No one is saying that miracles and healing cannot happen today – but we must use the Scriptures to discern what is of God and what is God’s will.

Can you imagine promising people that if they become Christians everything will become perfect in their lives? What happens when this lie is undone and they walk away from God?

Can you imagine looking at a young couple who just lost their baby to a miscarriage and telling them its because they weren’t good enough?

Beholding the joy a downs syndrome child brings to their family and calling it a curse?

Hearing the news that a Christian brother has been diagnosed with cancer and, instead of comforting, offering only accusations?

Or encountering a devout Christian who is suffering from a mental illness or epilepsy, and because of your ignorance, telling them they are demon possessed?

To a confused, suffering Christian trying to make sense of it all - these types of reactions  could push them further away from God and bring God’s wrath upon you (as it did with job’s friends). Where there is sin, God knows -  it is primarily our job to hold them, comfort them and be Jesus to them. God will work the rest out.

2Cr 1:3 Blessed [be] the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort

2Cr 1:4 who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God

2Cr 1:5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ.

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To briefly touch on the “Wealth” aspect:

 There is certainly nothing wrong with being rich – many wealthy Christians are used by the Lord in great ways. However it is when the wealth (just as with the health) becomes an idol – something that replaces God, something you lust after – that it is sin.

It is often misquoted that money is the root of all evil – the Bible actually says that it is the LOVE of money that is the root.

1Ti 6:9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. 1Ti 6:10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

Jesus also said the following:

Mat 6:24 "No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon (money).

Luk 18:25 "For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."

Finally from the book of James:

Jam 1:9 Let the lowly brother glory in his exaltation,
Jam 1:10 but the rich in his humiliation, because as a flower of the field he will pass away.
Jam 1:11 For no sooner has the sun risen with a burning heat than it withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beautiful appearance perishes. So the rich man also will fade away in his pursuits.