Posted on 10/08/2010 10:05:40 AM PDT by Paragon Defender
One of many easily found writings on the subject from a viewpoint other than that of an Anti-Mormon activist like those that dwell on this board - PD:
"I Have Said, 'Ye are Gods'": Concepts Conducive to the Early Christian Doctrine of Deification in Patristic Literature and the Underlying Strata of the Greek New Testament Text
Abstract: In this paper, I cite several statements of the Early Christian Fathers with respect to the doctrine of deification, giving evidence that this doctrine had wide geographical distribution among both orthodox and heretic alike from the early post-apostolic period to the end of the third century with little variance of wording and no evidence of being formulated through councils of any kind--something that could only have occurred so early in time if deification of man were actually a doctrine taught early on in the pages of Christian history presently lost to us.
(The article goes on in much detail at the link)
(Excerpt) Read more at fairlds.org ...
What if I substitute Jesus for God?
“You have got to totally massage scripture to come up with a view that says men can become like Jesus, or that Jesus of the Bible was once a man.”
Jesus is God so why do you have a problem with the above? I believe that the sticking point is that people assume that the above states that Jesus (God) was sinful. It does not say that and Mormons should not interpret it that way either. God never sinned and never will.
There are many scriptures that say things like will be “heirs with Christ,” “sit on His throne,” and if we have been faithful over a few things, he will make us ruler over many things. If we inherit “ALL” that Christ has, then we inherit ALL knowledge, ALL power, ALL glory, and everything else. (If I had more time, I would give a list of passages)
In reference to your post and another post:
The size of the gap between what we are now and what God is now is not the issue. God has the power to eliminate the Gap.
In other words, if God is 10 million miles above us or 10 million times greater than us, then it does not diminish the glory of God in the least, or elevate us in the least right now, to say that God can eliminate the gap after this life. Nothing we do in this life can narrow the gap in the least but he does have conditions such as faith and repentance for us to be eligible for Jesus to close that gap for us.
If you don’t believe that Jesus has the power to make us perfect like him and make us, his children, gods like himself then you do not understand the Bible or the power of God.
-Sorry, I have to leave now so I will not be able to respond until later today.
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As you remember you have admonished posters from posting from sites that are not official lds sites.
So I have to read the post with a very criticle eye as it is not official.
Someone get the “Ecumenical” slapped outa them ???
When I looked at this thread earlier I just shook my head in dazzed amazement...
Another quick thought.
God calls us his children and says He is our Father.
We call God our Father and call ourselves His Children.
Does being part of God’s family somehow make a low view of God and a high view of man?
What about when God compares Himself to a hen gathering her chicks? Does that diminish God to the status of a hen and elevate the chicks?
Are ants considered sons and daughters of God or any animal for that matter? Why are humans called the sons and daughters of God?
Your statement is incorrect. Mormonism is not a low view of God, and a high view of man. God says in the Bible that we are part of God’s family. If you don’t believe God’s words, then take it up with God, not Mormons.
You should watch at least a portion of the video regarding mormons accepting a "sinful god".
Have you and Resty attended the same classes??
Y’all don’t know nothin’ ‘bout ‘cuminism ‘til you’ve ridden a curelom! Yeee-hawwwwww!!!
Evidently He Who Rules thought differently; Anti-Christian!
Goats WILL keep testing the fence!
But at least goatz aint afeard of awalkin up them there ladders
;)
Evidently He Who Rules thought differently
Yes this has already been covered.
Anti-Christian!
Ummm if anyone here is Anti-Christian it’s the Mormon bashers. You’ll be figuring this out sooner or later.
if anyone here is Anti-Christian it’s the MormonS
There fixed it for ya...
Mormons are not Chrsitians...
the only non-Christian FReepers in these threads are Mormons...
(Plus a couple of Jews but we worship the same God)
Even the RM knew what GF was talking about.
There was no issue with being called Anti Mormon activist by the LDS themselves, it is something we embrace.
The issue was the tone of your words and then declaring an ecumenical thread...
You really need a class in reason and logic don't you.
On what subject?
It isn't on Mormonism, you only give links to anti Mormon materials.
Well I guess in a way you do then...
Between that and demonstrating the truth that LDS apologist of every stripe are playing games and such you do us a great service.
Thanks...
Welcome to the fray, we have heard it all before, the message is still incorrect. There are no planets waiting for us to rule as gods.
There is only one God and its not me place marker.
Good news, people:
“Beloved, now are we the children of God, and it is not yet made known what we shall become. We know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him just as he is. And everyone who has this hope upon him is purifying himself just as that (one) is pure.” (1 John 3:2-3)
In contrast to the oft-hidden Mormon maxim of: "There are many gods and I hope to personally bump the total."
THAT'S a winner...save it and use it often!
If the interpretation of early church fathers and the early Greek Orthodox church fathers was the way Mormons interpret it to be, then they would be polytheists (belief in many gods). They weren't.
They upheld one God.
Mormons don't.
And whenever we seem to call Mormons on this, they then try to vacillate between straddling advocacy of one God and many gods. They need to consistently pick one of these -- because they contradict. They cannot continue to try to have it both ways and still claim consistency.
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