(snip)
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."
I have no problem with this. However, this does not give us any legitimacy if we were to enlist the aid of non-believers when arguing for or against a particular Christian doctrine (this being my entire point).
We don't go and say, "See, even the Mormon's can see that Calvinism is wrong".
Because the Mormon's, even if they have come to the correct conclusion, did not get there the same way -being taught the truth by the Holy Spirit and the truth is not in them!
The opinion of the Mormon's or any other false belief system is completely irrelevant when discussing the truth of Christian doctrine.
Jean
I would still argue that you are making truth relative. But I would agree with you that the truth is not in them. However, they do have some true concepts.
The opinion of the Mormon's or any other false belief system is completely irrelevant when discussing the truth of Christian doctrine.
Thank you! That underscores my original point of the absurdity of saying Joseph Smith was a Methodist. He did not remain a Methodist. The Methodists (as well as the Wesleyan/Arminians) do not claim him.
And you further endorse my point by saying that while the Mormons have arrived at some true conclusions, they are not taught by the Holy Spirit.
So the argument of similarities between Arminianism and Mormonism is also invalid.
You do good work.