Is Mormonism a Cult?

Truth in Action Ministries ^ | 10-14-2011 | Truth in Action Ministries

[ReformationFan]

A Statement from Truth in Action Ministries, Oct. 14, 2011

"While having the deepest respect for the moral and ethical standards of the Mormon people and their church, we must sadly reject their teachings as false and not Christian." –D. James Kennedy, Ph.D.

Texas pastor Robert Jeffress generated headlines last week when he told reporters that Mormonism is a cult—a belief system at odds with historic Christianity.

Since then he has been accused of bigotry, called a “poster boy for hatred,” and a “moron.”

Despite those harsh charges, Jeffress, who backs Texas governor Rick Perry for the GOP presidential nomination, has made it clear that his view of Mormonism is theologically grounded and not an expression of bigotry. He made it clear that he would be willing to vote for Romney in the general election if he wins the Republican nomination and said he thinks that Romney is a “fine family person.”

Dr. Jeffress, the pastor of First Baptist Church in Dallas, does, however, stand by his statement that Mormonism is a theological cult—and we stand with him.

[reaganaut]

neither are Orthodox Jews, so your point is?

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Orthodox Jews aren’t claiming they are Christians while teaching against Christ.

[reaganaut]

hey sky, we got ourselves a supposedly Messianic Jew who is defending Mormons and attacking Christians. Would you like to give your input?

[patlin]

I have read and studied the LXX, I have degrees in Biblical Studies and theology

And I am surrounded by family who also have degrees & are graduates of seminary, so what. What as institutionalized religious education got to do with studying the Scriptures from the perspective of our Messiah's Hebrew roots?

My argument is about religious doctrinal theology of any religion having any righteousness over another, especially since every one of them is so far removed from the Scriptures thereby being anything but pure in their doctrine. So why all the hyperventilating over Mormonism when it has been leaders who profess and follow Christian doctrine that have been & are destroying our nation.

There is a lot of truth to the line “Me thinks one doth protest too much”

[SkyDancer]

Sounds like it might be interesting. First to find out if in fact he/she is a Messianic Jew. Right now I’m also tweaking Vendome and his pro-Mormon nonsense. I understand he vacillates a lot, one day a Mormon, the next day a “Christian” ....

[patlin]

IOW, one can not use a Hebrew-English lexicon in order to interpret Scripture even though the Scriptures Yah’shua Messiah & the Apostles used to teach were in Hebrew/Aramaic? Only a English-Greek lexicon can be used? Therefore making my copy of the Analytical Hebrew & Chaldee lexicon as well as my Etymological Dictionary of Biblical Hebrew that I use to trace back the origins of Greek & English words to their root in Hebrew are of no value? Surely you jest.

[reaganaut]

My counter to Mormonism is that I know the difference. I was one and by the Grace of God saved out of that demonic cult and have spent most of the past 20 years helping others escape too.

[reaganaut]

Again you are claiming I have said things I haven’t. Learn to read.

[montag813]

But it won’t be and that gets back to its dogma. The membership is to never criticize its leaders (upon threat of apostasy) even if that criticism is true (that is from an actual quote by one of their apostles) Mormons do whatever their leadership tells them. Been there, done that. The reason LDS have become more pro illegal immigration and open borders is because their only gain in membership is coming from South and Central American countries (and Mexico)

But if their current Anglo members threaten to leave the LDS, won't that have any impact?

[patlin]

we got ourselves a supposedly Messianic Jew

Actually for the record...I am a non-practicing Lutheran who got fed up with the cotton candy sermons filled with antisemitic diatribe & started searching the truth on my own since my professed Christian pastors would not/could not answer simple questions about the man made religious doctrine that conflicted with the WORD of the Scriptures.

Also for the record...I would never convert to any form of Judaism as with Christianity, it too has its own form of bondage via doctrine of men over Instructions of YHVH. That is the beauty of YHVH, He doesn't require conversion to any religion(Cornelius). YHVH only requires us to have Faith in His Torah (Yah’shua Messiah in the flesh) by Completely Trusting that He knows best for HIS children and loving HIM so much that all we want to do is be obedient and follow HIS House rules, lest HIS good name be profaned or we cause chaos in HIS House.

[patlin]

My counter to Mormonism is that I know the difference. I was one

So you were one of those who went to people's homes to promote the religion? I very much enjoy when they come to my door. They are very respectful people & when they leave after having a cordial midrash about Scripture, neither of us is the lesser. You'd think they would remove our address from their list or at least highlight it as one to avoid, but yet they still come every few months for tea & midrash.

This is the example Yah’shua Messiah gave to us, not one of mockery & persecution.

[SkyDancer]

I'm not into organized religion either. I declare what I am, in this case a Messianic Jew. I follow Yashua and His teachings. Fortunately Messianic Temples (loosely termed) teach from Torah. I attend Emmaus in Redmond, WA when I'm home.

So with that in mind, this is basically what Messianic Judaism is:

Messianic Judaism states that Jesus is not merely a man, but the Jewish Messiah and "God the Son" (one person of the Trinity), and that salvation is only achieved through acceptance of Yashua as one's savior. Any Jewish laws or customs that are followed are cultural and do not contribute to attaining salvation. Belief in the Messiahship and divinity of Yashua, which Messianic Judaism shares, is viewed by Christian denominations and Jewish religious movements as being a defining distinction between Christianity and Judaism.

[patlin]

I attend Emmaus in Redmond, WA

The only organized congregations available in my area are Orthodox Jews who just accepted a homosexual Rabbi, 7th Day Adventist of the Puritan faith & a so-called Messianic congregation that pretty much follows the same doctrine that I came out of, but preaches on rapture & end times. I guess they really don't understand what Messianic means yet.

Jesus is not merely a man, but the Jewish Messiah and “God the Son” (one person of the Trinity)

This is where I have a problem, the Scriptures are not exactly clear on this point & to make it be a litmus test for membership is not Scriptural. As believers, the Holy Spirit also resides in us. That is the Spirit that returns when our flesh dies, our souls remain asleep until they are taken up when Messiah returns. So how this all connects is still mystery yet to be revealed. The hope of what is not known which is true faith.

Any Jewish laws or customs that are followed are cultural and do not contribute to attaining salvation

So you do not observe the Appointed times (Holy Convocations & Sabbaths) & days of YHVH or HIS weekly Sabbath or the personal Torah instructions? Or do you mean the oral law & customs not contained in the Torah?

[SkyDancer]

Or do you mean the oral law & customs not contained in the Torah?

That part.

People can become confused about the Trinity. It's not 1+1+1 = 3 but 1x1x1 = 1

All that YHVH can mean to us is in the person of Yashua. YHVH is Spirit (not A spirit) and must be worshiped in spirit. A believer receives YHVH the Holy Spirit when they first believe and HE never leaves them.

I'm not a Reverend or theologian but I have read and studied my faith and can defend it. Jude 3

[patlin]

People can become confused about the Trinity. It's not 1+1+1 = 3 but 1x1x1 = 1

Yet Yah’shua was also the seed of woman, thus the reason He was able to come to us in the flesh. this is why I take no hard line stance on the trinity, one way or the other. It is not a requirement for salvation nor is it to be used as a litmus to test to join any ecclesia who are called in the name of YHVH. I am completely at peace waiting for YHVH to explain it to me.

A believer receives YHVH the Holy Spirit when they first believe and HE never leaves them

This is not based on Scripture that clearly states that being grafted in is not permanent.

Romans 11:17 But if some of the branches were broken off, and you - a wild olive - were grafted in among them and have become equal sharers in the rich root of the olive tree, 18 then don't boast as if you were better than the branches! However, if you do boast, remember that you are not supporting the root, the root is supporting you. 19 So you will say, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” 20 True, but so what? They were broken off because of their lack of trust. However, you keep your place only because of your trust. So don't be arrogant; on the contrary, be terrified! 21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, he certainly won't spare you!

I also am not a member of any clergy but I also have studied independently as well as under some wonderful leaders who left main stream Christianity as well as a Messianic Levite who left Christianity adn is not willing to put himself under the doctrinal burdens of Judaism fo any sect and the motto they all profess is "do not believe what I say, look it up for yourself and if you find me wrong, I will correct it. AND THEY ALL HAVE. I am however surrounded by family who are Christian pastors. One(husband's uncle who lives nearby) told my father-in-law recently that Cain killed Abel in a fight over a woman then my fil repeated this heresy in my house. Needless to say I picked a copy of the Bible that sits on the army trunk turned coffee table & read the entire passage to him regarding Cain & Abel. He said nothing, turned around, walked out the door and didn't return for days. So much for their knowledge of the Torah.

There now seems to be an outward movement to rewrite history that expands way past America history whose foundation is in Torah. And yes, these so called professed Christians all voted for Obama. Thank heaven my spouse doesn't fall in lock step with the seed he came from and is willing to midrash with me over Scriptural interpretations without blowing a gasket or walking away as to avoid the truth.

[reaganaut]

But if their current Anglo members threaten to leave the LDS, won’t that have any impact?

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LDS members don’t leave over those kinds of things, they leave because they no longer believe in it or that their prophets speak for God. As it is, the prophets are behind open boarders and santuary cities and thus the membership at large will follow.

However, LDS membership (particularly Anglo) is in massive decline anyway, not because of political stands but because the internet and shows in Utah like Heart of the Matter are reaching them with the truth about LDS history and teachings and the Bible.

[FatherofFive]

Umm...you do realize that the Holy Mother church changed that position, right?

Not quite.. "No salvation outside the Church" is one of the most misunderstood teachings of the church.

Basing itself on Scripture and Tradition, the Council teaches that the Church, a pilgrim now on earth, is necessary for salvation: the one Christ is the mediator and the way of salvation; he is present to us in his body which is the Church. He himself explicitly asserted the necessity of faith and baptism, and thereby affirmed at the same time the necessity of the Church which men enter through baptism as through a door. Hence they could not be saved who, knowing that the Catholic Church was founded as necessary by God through Christ, would refuse either to enter it or to remain in it. (CCC 846)

[reaganaut]

Uh huh...whatever.

[reaganaut]

No, I trained for a LDS mission but ended up not serving because of health issues.

You can kiss up to them all you want but you won’t reach them and they will only see you as potential converts - they will have no respect for you. The only way to get through to them is to get them to question Mormonism. There is such a thing as tough love and with the Mormons truth above all else. That isn’t persecution, I love them enough to be honest with them and tell them the truth at all costs.

[reaganaut]

. “No salvation outside the Church” is one of the most misunderstood teachings of the church.

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That isn’t what I was referring to. Keep looking and you will find I am right.

[terycarl]

The Trinity is not in The Bible, neither is the Nicean Creed yet “Christians” ignore that fact.

The Trinity is certainly mentioned in the bible...not bu that name, but reference to the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are certainly there and to simplify referring to the three persons, Trinity came into common useage. The Nicene Creed is merely a compilation of what Christians believe....all the beliefs are in the Bible, the creed allows us to state our beliefs in an organized manner. Read it, you will learn a lot!!!