And, I will still argue that when a Mormon says something that is true, it is true. Truth is not relative, it does not change."
I wholeheartedly disagree:
2 Timothy 4
1 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;
2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.
3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
I find it interesting that you claim the Mormons are advocates of the 10 Commandments for the 1st and 7th commandment do not apply to the Mormons. They most assuredly do not as they most assuredly DO have "other gods" before the Lord! Their embracing of polygamy tells us that they command to "not commit adultry" does not apply to them either. No, the 10 Commandments are not for the Mormons -they know better.
Furthermore, I will stand with the apostle John as he says that people such as this have not the truth!
1 John 2
4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.2 Corinthians 6
14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
To the extent that non-believers such as the Mormons have similar conclusions on a given matter as do true Christians -it is not accurate to say that they "agree" or that they "have (some) truth". For the fact that pagans might have similar conclusions tells us nothing of how they came to those conclusions:
1 Corinthians 2
10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
The Mormons DO NOT have the Spirit of God! If the Mormons are not taught by the Spirit -they DO NOT have the truth!
"For you guys, it's all about being right. Damn the consequences. "
2 Peter 2:2
And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.1 Timothy 6
1 Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honour, that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed.
2 And they that have believing masters, let them not despise them, because they are brethren; but rather do them service, because they are faithful and beloved, partakers of the benefit. These things teach and exhort.
3 If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;
4 He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,
5 Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.2 John 1
7 For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.
8 Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.
9 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.
10 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:
11 For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.
Jean
Touche on the 1st and 7th
And, I certainly to NOT believe that the Mormons have the Spirit of God.
To the extent that non-believers such as the Mormons have similar conclusions on a given matter as do true Christians -it is not accurate to say that they "agree" or that they "have (some) truth". For the fact that pagans might have similar conclusions tells us nothing of how they came to those conclusions:
My point, Jean, as it has always been, is that the truth is constant. Truth is not relative. In other words, regardless of how one arives at the truth, it is still the truth.
The problem is that having some truth is more dangerous than having no truth at all.
Wasn't there some truth in the Lie of Eden? When the serpent deceived Eve he said "You shall not surely die."
Eve didn't die physically. She died spiritually. Isn't that the explanation for the concept of Total Depravity?
Over on the discussions of The Institutes (Chapter 3, I think) we've briefly talked about Calvin's statement that all men have some knowledge of God.
Just because some men have only a partial understanding of God, a warped understanding of God or even deny that God exists, God does not change. And neither does the truth.