I find it of interest that a man who, in his statement of beliefs, says that some man will be saved and others will not, because God has already made up his mind and we can do nothing to change it, BUT I MUST CHANGE MY WAYS.
“... man became spiritually dead, totally unwilling and indeed incapable of seeking after God. God, from eternity past, having foreordained all things, joined a certain people to Christ Jesus, so that He might redeem them from their sin and in so doing bring glory to Himself. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, died in the place of this elect people...” from http://aomin.org/AOFAITH.html
Since, by James White”s own belief, I am already where God has placed me, I am already fulfilling God,s plan. I can do nothing to change, by his belief. How many of us are not among the “elect”?
>I find it of interest that a man who, in his statement of beliefs, says that some man will be saved and others will not, because God has already made up his mind and we can do nothing to change it, BUT I MUST CHANGE MY WAYS.
So the Mormon church teaches that God has no clue who is going to heaven? God has no knowledge of the future? That whole ‘Prophet Joseph Smith’ thing is just a title, and has nothing to do with ‘prophecy’?
Of course not. Just because the Mormon church runs screaming from predestination, (just like most Christian churches do), does not mean they don’t play footsie with Gods foreknowledge. The bible clearly teaches this doctrine that you disagree with (just look at Ephesians 1 for a good starter.)
I would contend that ‘revelation’ and ‘prophecy’ in the Mormon church has often had its problems with consistency. Racial issues is the biggest, easiest to see example. Mark of Cain, anyone? How about poligamy: “the only men who become Gods, even the Sons of God, are those who enter into polygamy.” ? So Mormon prophets do say that God knows the future, its just that they themselves tend not to.
As for you changing your ways, even the Mormon church teaches that.
You certainly must DO things to reach the higher goodies in heaven. Don’t tithe and see how fast the Church comes to make sure you keep up THAT good work. I have heard it described by a ‘good’ Mormon as almost as bad as the IRS.
So your complaint is that this man, who shares generally the beliefs of your church that God can know things normally out of mans reach, and that man must change to conform to God’s will, has a higher view of what God is and what He can know and a lower view of man.
The unfortunate part for the Mormon church is that James White is backed up by Scripture and the Mormon church has nothing but the slippery shifting and changing revelation of it’s prophets and apostles.
It sounds like you are not interested in being one of the elect.
But if you want eternal life in Glory it can be yours, repent and believe that Christ was nailed to a cross for your sins.
Find a church that preaches that you are saved by His death alone and through faith alone and latch onto that message and you too can count yourself among the elect.
There whole focus is built about one word predestination and the 5 points of the tulip which comes from John Knox or Calvin the Presbyterians.
Listen to the audio http://www.reformingchurches.org/
with in 6 mins of the talk you will hear it.
Now if they keep doing what they are doing on their jouney many will find The(restored)Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
Just keep praying for them!