Posted on 12/17/2014 6:04:21 AM PST by Gamecock
Youve got to be careful what you share online. Over the weekend Facebook and Twitter were suddenly inundated with links to a new recording of the Christmas hymn Angels From the Realms of Glory mashed up with Angels We Have Heard on High. It was recorded by The Piano Guys and features David Archuleta, a one-time runner up on American Idol. It is a creative recording that intersperses shots of the musicians with video taken to record the worlds largest nativity scene. The song is beautifully sung and the music is rich; it is no surprise that it quickly gained over one million views. Well and good, right? Well, except for one thing: Its purpose is to separate you from Jesus Christ.
This video was produced as a key part of a huge social media campaign called #ShareTheGifta Mormon evangelistic social media campaign. This campaign is meant to reclaim Christmas as a religious holiday but also to serve as a gateway into Mormonism. At the end of the video is a brief testimony by Steven Sharp Nelson of The Piano Guys who shares what Christmas means to him and who points to a second video titled He Is the Gift. This video, in turn, leads to a page at Mormon.org that shares why you, too, ought to become Mormon.
As I said, youve got to be careful what you share online. What looks good at a glance may harbor some deep concerns.
I thought a lot about this video over the weekend and want to offer a few reflections on its significance.
This video reminds us that Christianstrue Christians who hold to the true gospel of the Bibleare not the only ones who use biblical language and who sing the great hymns of the Christian faith. Mormons sing many of the same hymns as we do, though they often change the lyrics to remove any references to the Trinity or to otherwise make them palatable with Mormon theology. (e.g. Where in Holy, Holy, Holy we sing God in three persons blessed Trinity they sing God in his glory, blessed Deity.) Mormons claim to be Christians and to honor the Bible; they speak of Jesus as their Savior and Redeemer and claim that he is the only begotten son of the Father; they proclaim a gospel of faith in Jesus Christ, repentance, baptism, receiving the Holy Spirit, and persevering to the end. But they also deny the doctrine of the Trinity, they deny the divinity of Jesus Christ, and they deny justification by grace alone through faith alone. Though they proclaim that they are Christians, in reality they are Christ-deniers. We do not need to apologize for this and cannot over-emphasize it: Mormons are not Christians. Yet they share just enough of our beliefs that they can masquerade as Christians if we do not look deeper than the surface.
This video also reminds us why Mormonism is a quickly-growing religion. Mormons rarely win and woo converts through their theology. It has been my experience that most Mormons do not know a lot of theology and that most of them do not much care for theology. Mormons win followers through their promise of a better life and through their example of happy, clean-cut individuals and families. And sure enough, this video is full of beautiful people behaving beautifully. There is not a tattoo or body-piercing to be seen, not a hair out of place, not a frown in the crowd. Mormonism does not have to offer theology because it speaks to the realm of felt needs. The great promise of Mormonism is you can be like us or, even better, your family can be like ours. For many people that is very nearly irresistible.
This video serves as a helpful reminder that Mormons and many others use new media very well. These Mormon evangelistic efforts are always very clever and very compelling. They always give away enough information to make it seem like Mormons are just another friendly group of Christians, and they withhold the information that distinguishes them from true Christians. They speak gladly of the affirmations but tend to hide the denials. This video is powerfully effective at accomplishing its purposeto serve as an advertisement for Mormonism and to function as a gateway into Mormonism.
Finally, this video reminds us that even good songs can be dangerous. Most years I enjoy watching a performance of Handels Messiah, and it does not much bother me that few of the musicians involved are Christians. They sing the most God-glorifying words set to sublime music, and do it without a shred of faith in Christ. But there is a substantial difference between God-glorifying music sung by unbelievers and God-glorifying music sung by false teachers who intend to use that music to lead you away from Christ. This performance of Angels From the Realms of Glory is meant to turn you away from justification by grace through faith alone and meant to turn you toward the false gospel of Mormonism. The song was not intended to glorify Jesus, but to draw attention to a false representation of him. The song itself is not the problem, of course; the problem is the purpose behind the song and the campaign that generated it.
This video reminds us once again: Not all that glitters is gold.
Excellent discernment, John! indeed, when Mormons use terms like "salvation" and "redeem" -- they redefine them and basically empty them of any REAL meaning!
I went back to an April 19, 2009 FR discussion I was having with a Mormon FREEPER (Logophile, who doesn't post here anymore). [You can find the discussion here ]
...but I'll repost part of it here:
I asked Logophile, when he mentioned an "opportunity for salvation"...
..."Salvation" FROM what?
Salvation from sin? "Nope," says the Mormon, "we're already free agents."
Salvation from spiritual deadness? "What's that?" asks the Mormon.
Salvation from bondage to Satan? "You're kidding, right?" says the Mormon. "Doncha know that you, I, Jesus and Lucifer were all spiritual bros of Heavenly Father in the pre-existence? Heavenly Father is everybody's Dad. Beyond that, nope, no children of Lucifer that I know."
Salvation from generational bondage -- original sin? "Oh, we've got that angle covered," says the Mormon. "Jesus' atonement covers Adam's sin. No spiritual effects of that apply anymore. Jesus' atonement allows us all to be resurrected. Hey, just about all of us will be saved already!"
So, tell me, Logo, saved FROM what? Just this earthly soil? That's not what the Bible depicts at all. Please tell us what blacks, whites, you, me are saved from, anyway, from a Mormon perspective?
Saved via the Mormon promise that all will be resurrected? [What the fine print of the "Mormon gospel" doesn't tell you is that...]
...(a) there's a "resurrection of damnation" -- and that damnation isn't a ,i>"degree of glory." John 5:29: And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.
...and...
...(b) Jesus says in Matt. 7:13-14: ...for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
Well, these words of Jesus are not the "Mormon plan of salvation" at all!
We don't hear Jesus' words thru Mormon lips that there's a "resurrection to damnation." Instead, we hear their "false salvation" message that just about all will be resurrected in a degree of glory.
We don't hear Jesus' words thru Mormon lips that the "broadway is destruction" and the "narrow way is life." Instead, we hear their "false salvation" message that just about all will be saved.
HOW LDS IDEOLOGY SKEWS SALVATION BY IGNORING WHAT WE'RE SAVED FROM
(1) The Bible says...
...men are spiritually dead (Eph. 2:1) & in bondage to sin (see Romans 6)...
...Jesus SAVES SOME (not all) from spiritual death & bondage to sin...
...but what does Mormonism convey to natural man? "You're not dead. You're not in spiritual bondage. You have free agency."
(2) The Bible says...
...men are in bondage to Satan -- "the whole world is under the control of the evil one" (1 John 5:19) -- and Paul called Satan the "god of this world." Furthermore, Jesus clarified this in pointing out to the religious legalists of 2,000 years ago that they were children of Satan (see latter part of John 8). Jesus comes to SAVE people from this bondage. But what does Mormonism convey to natural man? You're God's automatic child of the pre-existence; you're not under Satan's thumb. Logo, men are not naturally God's children - they need to be adopted (Paul's letter to the Romans & letter to the Ephesians stresses this three times). Men need specific authority (based upon reception) to become God's children (John 1:12) -- they are NOT children by pre-existence.
(3) The Bible says...
...that original sin in the garden was a terrible, terrible, horrible thing that separated man from God -- and that it was inspired by Satan. Jesus comes to SAVE us from this generational bondage.
...but what does Mormonism convey to natural man? That Eve's act of betrayal and treachery was an "upward fall" -- something to be "celebrated" because the Serpent was "right" -- "Yup," says the Mormon, "the serpent was right 'cause thru sin and rebelliousness we can have our eyes opened and become gods, after all." So Satanic "inspiration" becomes the Mormon gospel narrative.
So Mormon salvation becomes this grand "works" & "ritualistic" scheme where just about everybody is already guaranteed a passing grade because for the Mormon, salvation is more about...
...real estate turf than dealing with the power of sin, Satan, death, and separation from God...
...a place (three degrees of glory) than God & the Person of Jesus Christ.
How can I prove this? Look @ LDS Doctrine & Covenants 76:112. Joseph Smith made up a new word -- "the telestial kingdom" which he called the lowest degree of salvation glory. Smith taught that telestial kingdom residents will be God's servants, but "where God and Christ dwell they cannot come, worlds without end".
Only in Mormon thought is living apart from God and Christ "salvation" and "glory!"
So, the only question thereby left for the Mormon to be settled then is will the Mormon god give folks an A, B, or C "degree of glory" grade?
But the true essence of what happened in the garden was not only spiritual death, generational bondage to sin and to Satan, but also outright separation from God. The very word "atonement" was coined to mean "at-one-ment" -- harmony, reconciliation. The hostility of man toward God -- the enmity -- has been bridged by Jesus the WAY (John 14:6).
Our major focus in life isn't about...
...becoming a god
...or realizing our godhood (the Mormon "gospel")
...or figuring out which post-this-life salvific real estate we'll inhabit.
Our major focus is knowing God and Jesus Christ whom He has sent. It's not our ritualistic performances tied to a religious structure. It's our relationship with God and Jesus Christ!
Jesus defines this very relational essence as eternal life (John 17:3). And it happens this side of death! LDS claim Jesus' salvation automatically accrues to just about everybody being saved. The Bible talks about salvation not just being future tense -- but present tense. John repeatedly says "he who believe HAS eternal life." (John 3:36) [Doesn't that tell you, Mormon, that "eternal life" is NOT exaltation-unto-godhood?] Salvation doesn't begin in three degrees of glory stardom. We know the Savior NOW in this life! THAT is salvation because HE is salvation!
Speaking of beautiful, uplifting, faith-promoting Mormon hymns, if this one doesn't creep you out, nothing will: If you could hie to Kolob.
Christian they ain't!
Heh...I guess so!
The other night at a Christmas party I met s Fancher who was talking about his family on a wagon train going West..
I happened to mention Utah and he said yes that Fancher family..
His ancestor was the same family but another branch..his went to Illinois and stayed there..the wagon train Fanchers who were murdered by the Mormons continued on..
He knew the whole story and it opened some eyes there at the party...
A Mormon here. If a Christian is one who believes in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, then I am a Christian.
In light of posts #11 & #21, exactly what did the Mormon Jesus-Savior "save" you FROM?
A Mormon here. If a Christian is one who believes in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, then I am a Christian.
Dear Mormon,
Do you believe in any of the following:
*If a Christian is one who believes in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, then I am a Christian.*
If you are a Mormon you are not a Christian.
Quakers on the moon?
Actually, Joseph prophesied that there are men living on the moon who dress like Quakers and live to be nearly 1000 years old.
More interestingly , Brigham Young prophesied that the sun was inhabited.
It would have been invaluable to the LDS Church if its founding fathers would have had just a little more education than the third grade in the case of Smith, and none in the case of Young.
Were there women on the moon too?
skyman hasn’t created an about page.
“Now if any of you will deny the plurality of wives, and continue to do so, I promise that you will be damned;
and I will go still further and say, take this revelation, or any other revelation that the Lord has given,
and deny it in your feelings, and I promise that you will be damned.
Brigham Young - JoD 3:266 (July 14, 1855)
1. If you could hie to Kolob In the twinkling of an eye,
And then continue onward With that same speed to fly,
Do you think that you could ever, Through all eternity,
Find out the generation Where Gods began to be?
2. Or see the grand beginning, Where space did not extend?
Or view the last creation, Where Gods and matter end?
Me thinks the Spirit whispers, No man has found pure space,
Nor seen the outside curtains, Where nothing has a place.
3. The works of God continue, And worlds and lives abound;
Improvement and progression Have one eternal round.
There is no end to matter; There is no end to space;
There is no end to spirit; There is no end to race.
4. There is no end to virtue; There is no end to might;
There is no end to wisdom; There is no end to light.
There is no end to union; There is no end to youth;
There is no end to priesthood; There is no end to truth.
5. There is no end to glory; There is no end to love;
There is no end to being; There is no death above.
There is no end to glory; There is no end to love;
There is no end to being; There is no death above.
Figure | Joseph Smith Explanation[52] | Explanation by non-Mormon and Mormon Egyptologists (quotes are from Deveria)[25][43][53] |
---|---|---|
1 | Kolob, signifying the first creation, nearest to the celestial, or the residence of God. First in government, the last pertaining to the measurement of time. The measurement according to celestial time, which celestial time signifies one day to a cubit. One day in Kolob is equal to a thousand years according to the measurement of this earth, which is called by the Egyptians Jah-oh-eh. | "The spirit of the four elements (according to Champollion), or rather of the four winds, or the four cardinal points; the soul of the terrestrial world. This god is always represented with four rams' heads, and his image has certainly been altered here. They have also evidently made a very clumsy attempt at copying the double human head of the god figured above, fig. 2, instead of the four rams' heads. The word Jah-oh-eh has nothing Egyptian in it; it resembles the Hebrew word [redacted] badly transcribed." (emphasis in original) The name hieroglyph above the central figure is Chnm-Re, the Egyptian "First Creator" god who organized everything out of the primordial chaos. |
the REST of us Christians are praying that you'll get rid of those OTHER beliefs you have.
We fear they'll destroy your soul...
They succeeded in killing Joseph, but he had finished his work.He was a servant of God, and gave us the Book of Mormon.He said the Bible was right in the main, but, through the translators and others, many precious portions were suppressed, and several other portions were wrongly translated; and now his testimony is in force, for he has sealed it with his blood.As I have frequently told them, no man in this dispensation will enter the courts of heaven, without the approbation of the Prophet Joseph Smith, Jun.Who has made this so?Have I?Have this people?Have the world?No; but the Lord Jehovah has decreed it.If I ever pass into the heavenly courts, it will be by the consent of the Prophet Joseph.If you ever pass through the gates into the Holy City, you will do so upon his certificate that you are worthy to pass.Can you pass without his inspection?No; neither can any person in this dispensation, which is the dispensation of the fulness of times.In this generation, and in all the generations that are to come, everyone will have to undergo the scrutiny of this Prophet.They say that they killed Joseph, and they will yet come with their hats under their arms and bend to him; but what good will it do them, unless they repent?They can come in a certain way and find favor, but will they?
--JOURNAL OF DISCOURSES, vol. 8, p. 224
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