An Apology
September 28th, 2009 by Todd JohnsonJames 3:1-2 ESV
Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. 2 For we all stumble in many ways, and if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body.
Without question the most painful part of pastoral ministry is to know that one does not always speak for God or represent God correctly. Anyone that takes the ministry of teaching and preaching as seriously as he should has lost sleep on occasion over the looseness of his tongue and the consequences when that happens in the pulpit.
It has come to my attention that I might have misspoken this past Sunday in reference to the Mormon missionaries that came to my door, and I would like to both apologize and clarify.
First, an apology. I fear that I came across as uncaring, arrogant and rude. My exchange with the missionaries was very direct but it was not in any way rude. I don’t want anyone to get the impression that I was demeaning these young men or treating them with disrespect, and I fear that I didn’t communicate that properly. Please forgive me for that.
Second, some clarification. As I attempted to make clear but probably failed to do so, we must be compassionate toward the missionaries while showing no compassion for their mission, message, and destruction they are causing. If the Bible is true and Jesus God made flesh, then there is not a worse message on planet earth than the message of the cults regardless of their sincerity or seriousness of purpose. Their message is damnable and not to be smiled at because they look and act respectably. One woman walked out of our morning service and was upset that our church does not believe that Mormons go to heaven. That is how doctrinally out of touch many in the church actually are. I couldn’t agree more that we should not ridicule such a person or treat them in a rude manner, but to treat their message with the same respect is not Biblical or loving.
All that said, I am very, very sorry that I gave the wrong impression Sunday morning.
This week has provided me another good opportunity to check my heart, attitude & words. I take my position more seriously than any will know, and I pray God’s forgiveness if I have not represented Him well.
Pastor…If it was just one person I would not sweat it. I thought that you were spot on …but of course many people are put off by directness as well. If you want to apologize then do what your conscience dictates….but as for me and my house…your words were kind compared to some of the things Jesus said.
I really enjoy talking with JW’s and Mormon’s and if ANYONE thinks you were unkind…then how about their teaching that you and I do not have the Holy Spirit and regardless what they say to us we are unregenerated until we become a Latter Day Saint. Unlike the JW’s , the Mormons are taught NOT to argue and after the initial discussion they will move on.
I would NOT lose sleep over it.
Matt. 10:32-34
I’m so glad you did this, Todd. I actually was disturbed by the story of the missionaries, not at all because of what you said, but because of the reaction of the congregation. I even talked to Tim about it last night. OK, the idea of 2 guys showing up at a theologian’s door, hoping to convert him, is slightly funny, but not hilarious. I thought you were being pretty earnest in your description, and laughter kept following it. Two men working desperately for their salvation and heading for hell is not funny at all. It’s horrible.
I don’t want to sound superior to everyone who giggled; Over-laughing in response to a story from the pulpit is something I’ve done often–and I’ve noticed others do as well. I’m not sure why things seem funnier in sermon, but they do. Do you think it’s because the content is usually so serious even the slightest levity makes our humor extremely sensitive?
Years ago we brought a young unbeliever to church with us and almost the same thing happened. He was really upset because JWs had been coming to his door and he really liked them and thought it was mean the way the Pastor had mocked them (which, in this case he did,) and the congregation laughed. Even though this kid didn’t believe, he was right. Paul said, “Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men…” Being lost and deceived is serious business. An eternity in Hell is terrifying to even consider, and if we laugh at the men going there, we’re just not thinking.
Thank you so much for the apology. Again, I don’t think what you said was wrong at all, but I’m glad you brought attention to the situation.
Um, I hope I didn’t come across as “above” everyone else–I sat with a stupid grin on my face while you told the story, looking amused as well.
Hi Michele “you said, you were disturbed by the reaction of the congregation” My self, I had a very good laugh, only because thinking, OMG they are at a home of a/our pastor. And, thinking, what will he say. It would be like me selling bibles, and I knocked on Billy Grahams door. Funny? Jeff yelling across the street, of course made us laugh more. This is sooooo Jeff!!! He does love the Lord, that man!! As for me, I was not laughing AT the young men, but the situation. As, I believe most of us were.
And YES, you are right, there is NOTHING more heart breaking, knowing people are going to hell. When these people come to my home, I pray, and tell them about Jesus and the cross.
“Because the content is usually so serious, etc. makes our humor extremely senstive?” OMG Michele, I sure hope not!! When something is funny, it’s funny.
This does not concern you, but as far as the lady leaving, I am so very sorry that happened. There are so many Christian, that do not have any knowledge, concerning the teachings of Mormans & JW. I hope that she went to one of the pastors, or someone, to get some clarification on her thinking. As, so many Christians, can be hurt by not knowing the truth about what they teach, as she did. And, that is sad. Many years ago, I thought the same as she.
I don’t think you came across as “above” everyone else. Only maybe read a little more into it, than what was really there. And, that’s o.k. that is what this blogg it all about, right?
Michele 00PS..forgot the end.
Blessings…
We do live in serious times when the Evenagelical Church has left its roots. I have been doing a lot of reading including MacArthur’s newest book, The Jesus You Can’t Ignore. Powerful. He starts the same way Todd has and that is in humility but speaking the truth in love. Before, during and after encounter we must check our heart for arrogance and pride (Holy Spirit show us) but it is plain that Jesus was bold and even, sometimes, not so nice when confronting error.
Thank you Todd for sharing. We are deep in a battle and many will be hurt. I pray that you have the opportunity to talk with the sheep that left worship. Each one is precious.
Wow, TW, great job of disagreeing with me; My feelers aren’t hurt even a little. We all must be learning from the Crabbys (Crabbies?) AKA: The Balms of the Blog.
I know, it was a smidge funny, but Gosh, you’d thought it was SNL or something. Does anyone else do that? Find that sometimes anything the pastors say is hilarious? It’s like I’m really excited about laughing or something during a sermon, like I never get out. Todd, honestly, sometimes you’re a crack-up, but our family has talked about this, we have an inclination to over-laugh in church.
Great encouragement, Mr. Crabby.
I love your candor, Michele. It makes me feel so at home! The whole laughing thing is something I’ve struggled with since my conversion. My sarcasm used to be the Bomb of Gilead.
Sometimes (and this is one of them) when I hear a funny story from the pulpit, it gives me permission to laugh at and let go of something that is troubling me. Knowing that our pastor is experiencing the same challenges out there on the street as we are is such a relief that laughter is the natural response. What makes it healing is the fact that our Todd, as any good teacher should, has humbly and wisely clarified the matter.
Why aren’t mormons going to heaven? Do they not believe Jesus is the Way?
Since you brought it up…I think we all should apologize for laughing if we were laughing at the missionaries. The situation was funny because they had made the mistake of approaching a pastor who knows the REAL truth. But you’re right that their lostness is not funny and we should not have laughed at that. It would have been tragic if there had been a visiting Mormon in our congregation that day perhaps seeking the truth and that possibility should always be in the back of our minds. We do not know everyone who is sitting in the church at a given time (maybe you can spot a newcomer from the pulpit since you know most of the congregation), but you didn’t know me the first time I came and had I been a Mormon and been visiting for the first time and heard you this past Sunday, I would not have returned because I would not have felt welcome. I think this is an important thing to consider every Sunday…who is perhaps visiting our church and seeking the truth. Jesus had the advantage of knowing who his audience was all the time. Do you? I would just say that it was a teaching moment for the congregation who obviously don’t all know what Mormons are selling. They can be very persuasive and are probably better at presenting their ‘truth’ than some of us. I hope you gave them some directions as well as rebuke. What WOULD Jesus do?
I’m coming in late and reading this.
When I heard this topic first service I thought it as a timely learning script for”what to say” when…
I also prayed to God that the woman my daughter has been bringing to church (a sweet lamb in her 80′s) would be coming for last service because the Mormon’s had been at the woman’s door all week asking if they could do something for her around her property. They then cleaned her yard. My daughter and I both were very concerned and did do some praying. After service I thought, isn’t it just like the Lord to set it straight with her theology about what the Mormon’s beleive. We both spoke afterwards how Jesus loves that 80+ year old so much to have that said. So my friend I still think you were in the Spirit of our Lord.
Shauna– When a dear Mormon friend was sharing his faith with me he shared this verse: “It is by grace you are saved, after all you can do.” (2 Nephi 25:23 in the Book of Mormon)By contrast, Paul says “I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose.” in Galations 2:21. In other words, if there were anything we could do, then Christ died for no reason.
I have several close Mormon friends and am personally hoping this little rabbit trail from Todd’s sermon might cause more of us to lift them up in prayer.
Dear Pastor Todd,
As far as it is in my power to say it, you are forgiven. I appreciate the fact that you do take seriously the “charge” God has given you. Weekly I am blessed by God through the teaching. Your commitment to speaking the truth is evident in the sermons and the direction of Crossroads Church. I believe God is pleased with this commitment and your humbleness before Him and His church.
Beth
Todd, your apology spoke so much of who you are and why we love you. As far as the laughter goes, for me anyway, it was thinking about your reaction and the look on your face as you confronted this situation. Knowing you as long as we have, we knew that in all reality you were very serious about planting seeds of the true gospel to these poor decieved victims of a cult. But at the same time you are right to apologize because who would know if these very same guys just happened to come to church that day to check out what you were teaching. It would have more than likely blown them away. We are all learning and growing and I am just happy that our pastor is teachable and can humble himself like this. This is rare.
Shauna… A wonderful book: Kingdom of the Cults – Walter Martin/author Ravi Zacharis/Editor (updated edition) Check it out on Amazon.com. I am sure our book store can get it for you. Any question you have about mormons, jw, etc. is covered in this book. It is one of the best, and well worth having.
Blessings…
My take on laughter in a sermon is that there is a time for it, just as there is a time to be serious. When it is NOT OK is when the preacher is TRYING to be funny or TRYING to be serious. Neither is OK as far as I am concerned. You need to simply be who you are. I do not tell stories for effect. If something is funny it is funny, if something is serious it is serious.. so there is a time to laugh and a time to cry.
The story I told on Sunday was not intended to be funny, although I understand that it sounded funny.
Shauna.. wrong spelling: Zacharias I always have a hard time with his last name!!!
Blessings…
Shauna – The Latter Day Saints believe in Jesus but not has God the Son. In their book, The Pearl of Great Price, they say Christ is a pre-existent spirit was a spirit brother of the devil and in another book claim the He was married to “the Marys and Martha, whereby he could see his seed before he was crucified.” Journal of Discourses, Vol. 4 pgs 259-260. Because of that they believe in a system of good works. When the bible says that “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23) it does not mean that we can’t do relative good to each other (which is what the LDS do fairly well) but our goodness is sin when compared with God’s standard…Himself. Does that answer your question?
Todd.. #18
“”"AMEN”"”
Always, my love and prayers.
Blessings…
Thanks for the suggested reading, TW…I appreciate it
Crabby, kind of answers my question. I’m just wondering what their view is on Jesus…do they believe Him to be the Savior?
My friend I appreciate your heart in the matter but I don’t think an apology was necessary.
When we come to church its one of Gods means of grace to grow us and equip us for the work he has for us (as well as worship,fellowship,sacraments.etc,).Many in our congregation don’t know that Mormons have another Jesus and preach another gospel (Gal 1:7). I’ve heard Driscoll say at his church they’ll come put on name tags as if their part of his church and invite people to a bible study trying to fleece the flock.
Mormons now are trying to say that their Christians but haven’t repented or changed their doctrine. How sad would it be if they were visiting and were made to feel comfortable in their heresy. You couldn’t have been any more strong or “offensive” than Paul was in Gal 1: 8-9 “But even if we or an angel(Moroni) from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed”. I’m sure when the Galatians read that letter to the congregation there were Judaizers sitting among them. I wonder if the pastor pre read the letter and thought well there might be some Judaizers in the congregation today I better tone it down as not to offend. Could you imagine?
All things should be done out of love and fear of the Lord and we always need to check our heart and motives. But we must not shy away from telling people the TRUTH.
You were relating a story you had and your thoughts in the midst of it. I cast my lot in for no apology needed. God knows your heart in the matter.
@Shauna: The Jesus (and other Gods) that the Mormons believe in is/are not the one true Triune God of scripture. They use language that, on the surface, sounds remarkably similar to true biblical doctrine, but when you dig deeper it’s completely different.
Joseph Smith said the following: “God himself was once as we are now, and is an exalted man…”
According to Mormon teaching, at one point in the eternities past, this man-become-God, or “Heavenly Father,” begat the spirit body of his first son (Jesus). Together with his heavenly wife, the Father raised his son in the council of the gods.
Moreover, Mormons teach that Christ is a secondary, inferior god. He does not exist from all eternity. (Nor, for that matter, does his Father.) He was first made by a union of his heavenly parents. After having been reared and taught in the heavens, he achieved a certain divine stature. Through carnal relations with her Heavenly Father, the Virgin became pregnant with this lesser god.
I could go on but bottom line they are not preaching the Christ of scripture. They are teaching a gospel of works that cannot save and following gods that do not exist. We should be diligent in prayer the Holy Spirit will reach out and rescue them.
Shauna – The LDS call Jesus “Saviour” but they do not mean that in the same way historic Christianity does. We believe His work is full, complete and satisfactory in reconciling God to us. There is nothing we can add or take from that work. However, in their eyes He is just a great example of sacrificial love but really nothing more.
They have, unfortunately, masqueraded under the Christian banner since the 60′s.
Interesting! I have a close girl friend who is mormon and I remember my parents drilling her on her beliefs…and she seemed to have very similar beliefs to getting to heaven as christians do…so I never understood why christians said they are going to hell.
Shauna, have you ever had a chance to talk to your friend about what she believes? I ask this because like Levi said on the surface the language can sound the same but the meaning that’s poured into it can make it as different as night is too day.
Hopefully the Christians you’ve heard say this are saying that God says their going too hell and not acting as if the Christians are sending them. For we have no power in and of ourselves but we must faithfully proclaim the truth of what our Lord has said.
Shauna.. the one thing you can ALWAYS count on, when in doubt: if any so called Christian, or ANYONE, that takes the diety of Christ away from who He is, you have a cult, It’s that simple. At one time, I asking the same questions, and was told about the diety of Christ, and I never forgot it. I hope this helps too.
Diety of Christ:
There is a personal God
Creator, ruler of the universe
God who is infinite, eternal and unchangeable
“Jesus Christ is God” (this is the big one)
Jesus of Nazareth existed, before He became man.
2nd person of the Holy Trinity (an other big one)
Most will agree about the cross, etc. But, most of these above, they will never agree on.
After thought on Kingdom of the Cults. There is a chart that you can purchase at most Christian book store. Showing our beliefs, then the cults beliefs. Very good also, $2-$3
Blessings…
Todd, I do commend you for the apology and sensitivity to God and His people on this matter. It is refreshing to see and hear. We do live in exceptionally difficult times concerning fundementalist christian views, in fact the very word FUNDEMENTALIST and we as such, are now considered as much of a threat as a muslim terrorist by most nonbelieving people today and the mainstream media. They will even twist your words, espeacially as a true minister of the gospel to make you appear to be a preacher of hate and divisive. I think we all need to learn to speak the truth in love and yet still be prepared to be riduculed and even persecuted. They did this to Jesus, how much more his own people. Also, your clarification on where you stand concerning mormon doctrine is right on.
Todd – If you ever do that again I’m leaving the Church!!! Oh wait, I wasn’t there that morning! Never mind
We noticed you weren’t there, Perry, first thing when we drove in. We took full advantage and spun brodies and crashed into people, and drove over the cones, and let out passengers boldly in front of the coffee shop.
We prayed for your dad in church, and will continue to do so. Please tell him I love him. He’s sort of my special pal.
Are Mormons going to heaven? I think it is important to remember that it is not our place to judge who goes and who doesn’t. I imagine that there will be many Mormons in heaven, but they will not be there because of the Mormon message, but in spite of it. What the Mormons teach, (as spelled out in the above posts) does not have the power to save anyone. Anyone, Mormon or not, who is relying on there own good works to get to heaven is lost in there sin. The Holy Spirit can reach anyone anywhere with the true saving Gospel. Our job is to speak the truth and let the Spirit do His work as only He can.
Terriann
You said “I imagine that there will be many Mormons in heaven, but they will not be there because of the Mormon message, but in spite of it.” How will they get there? If their Mormon by definition they believe another gospel in which Paul in Galatians called them accursed (going to hell).
You also said “The Holy Spirit can reach anyone anywhere with the true saving Gospel. Our job is to speak the truth and let the Spirit do His work as only He can.” God has ordained the means of the preaching of the gospel for the Holy Spirit to use to bring someone to salvation. (Rom 10). Can God save someone without the gospel being preached or by them believing in something else?
I’m asking this with all do respect and out of love. I’m not trying to pick a fight. I just wanted to know for clarification of what you said.
OK I’ll try to clarify. First, There are plenty of people attending the Mormon church who don’t have a clue what their church really teaches. It has already been pointed out that what they say sounds a lot like Christianity on the surface. They also at least acknowledge the Bible, so I don’t think that it is outside of all possibility for someone to come to Jesus within a Mormon setting. I would imagine that sooner or later any true believer would want to leave.
Secondly, I do believe that the Holy Spirit can save someone apart from the preaching of the Gospel. Look how the apostle Paul got saved. Also I have been hearing reports of people in Moslem countries having dreams which led to there salvation. There have been whole villages saved this way.
This is not to say that Christians don’t have to preach the Gospel. The teachings of the Mormon church, if followed, are a direct path to hell, good works and all. I just objected to any sweeping pronouncements of who is going to heaven. I’m so glad it is not my call.
This is way off the subject, sorry Todd, but I think it is a good discussion to have. I certainly don’t claim to have any authority on this subject. This is a great forum to try to sort out my thoughts and get some good feed back, thanks Tom S.
Thanks Terriann for the clarification and for responding. I to think this is a good forum for discussing topics and wrestling with ideas when they come up. I know Todd doesn’t like us to get to far off topic especially too beat a dead horse and being this was his apology post I’ll be brief.
The apostle Paul new the gospel and heard it preached by Stephen in act7 and new what the church he persecuted believed. In acts 9 on the road to Damascus is where the Holy Spirit regenerated him and God called him to himself. I don’t want to seem like I’m splitting hairs hear but I what to be faithful to the word.
As we all now God could have saved us another way but he chose the preaching of the gospel 1 Cor. 1:18-31. I don’t believe one can be saved apart from the preaching of the gospel I believe that’s Gods ordained means. It’s not because God can’t save another way put because He chose to save this way.(Rom 10) So I guess this is where we would respectfully disagree. Thanks for the discussion. God Bless
T and T: I love the way you guys are discussing this–like grown up brothers and sisters, not sarcasticaly, not a hint of rudeness.
I’ve thought about this topic a lot, can a person be saved without believing the gospel. I just listened to a magnificent study by John MacArthur on the salvation of babies and the mentally retarded. He does a thorough job, biblically, really does his homework, and doesn’t just rely on the scripture about King David returning to his baby. He’s convinced and convincing in the belief that they are saved, although they don’t hear and believe the gospel. He says it’s God’s grace that saves them, just as it saves those who do believe.
I wonder if we can extend this thinking to those that aren’t reached with the gospel–Romans tells us that every person is aware there’s a God, being told by their conscience and the Creation. Do you think it’s possible for a man to look at the sky and say, “I believe you’re there, that I’m morally responsible to you. I’m bad, YOU must have mercy on me.” Is it possible that God would credit this basic faith as righteousness to him, outside of the gospel, as He did Abraham? Abraham acted on the revelation given to him, put his faith in the God that was revealed and God honored it. I know in Acts we’re told that “under no other name will we be saved.” But, I wonder if, when a man puts his hope in God to save him, is it possible that the righteousness of Christ is credited to his account, so it is still the name of Jesus that has saved?
The 2 men in the temple– One stood before God, confident in his own work, pretty much said that he was fine in his works and that God was a debtor to him, and left happily believing that he was good before God, full of pride. The other guy beat on his breast and said, “Have mercy on me, a sinner.” He pretty much hoped that God could save him, somehow. He was saying, “I’m bad, I can’t do this. YOU do it.” He went home justified. He had to be justified by being clothed in Christ, right? There was no other way then as well. Yet, he’d never heard his name.
Now, this is different than rejecting the Gospel–which I believe is what you’d have to do if you’re in the Mormon church for very long. The Bible says “They perish because they refuse to love the truth and so be saved.” 2 Thess. 2:10 Jesus also said, “If you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.” (And cults teach it’s converts to believe lies about Jesus.) So, if you happen to wander in a church that preaches lies, but you’re really looking to be saved, you could easily be condemned, even though you were looking for truth. Remember how Jesus said to the Pharisees, who believed in works-righteousness, “You go over land and sea to make a single convert and then make him twice the son of hell as yourself!” So, I guess it could be possible that a true Mormon can’t be saved, one who has put their faith in their own righteousness as the Mormons direct, but someone who attends the Mormon church might be, if he’s looking to God for his salvation, but hasn’t completely understood the Gospel.
I’m sort of rambling, and possibly mixing two questions, thinking aloud. But, the question Tom asked on #33 intrigued me and always has: Can a person be saved outside of hearing and believing the Gospel? It’s not super clear-cut in scripture.
Then, we might ask, why preach the Gospel? What was the Great Commission for? Because, God loves us, and doesn’t want us to suffer in our despair and sin, He wants us to be saved and to know He sent His son to save us.
I hope you guys aren’t thinking I’m a Universalist or can be saved outside of Christ and His work. I’m just wondering if His work can be applied to a man who has faith in the God he knows exists, and knows he’s a debtor to. Maybe this is too hypothetical to even discuss.
If so, feel free to slap me or just put up a frowny-face.
That’s good stuff Michele. You raise very legitimate issues. I have bounced around in this topic as well. Sort of a “generous orthodoxy” you’re suggesting (Michele’s emerging).
Thanks for sharing.
No frowny face from me, Michele. I think there is more agreement on this subject than it might appear. Sometimes we just come at it from different sides. I like your rambling. It is so easy for me to just let words pour out of my mouth but something altogether harder to try to write it down. But I like being forced to think before I speak for a change!
On the topic of, “Can you be saved without having the Gospel being “preached” to you?…
I have some friends that are Wycliffe missionaries. They were telling of stories from Wycliffe about discovering lost tribes in the jungles, (which still happens from time to time) and in their remote search, they found carved into cave walls, pictures of the Gospel story: three crosses, depictions of heaven above and God, and a “messiah” that was to return… etc. How does this happen? No Bible. No civilized folks to preach the Word. Is God small and He MUST use us? No. But, He does tell us, where we live right now, with His printed Word in our hands, to go out and preach the Gospel.
Salvation ultimately is His responsibility…ours is to “go make disciples” out of the saved. (with His empowerment)
On to chapter #4.
Ho, ME, Emerging?!! That’s a hoot. Yes, I’ll be sporting a faux-hawk this Sunday…:)
Thanks Gals, for the encouragement, (assuming Sojourner is a “gal”,) I loved the Wycliffe story.
Hey TeriAnn,
Good thoughts and clarification. You brought up a good point about St. Paul coming to Christ. It has always astounded me that God imposed his will on Paul’s Free Will. Saul was in the act of going to kill christians and God stopped him , got his attention and then revealed himself to him. It may be that when a Mormon missionary knocks on our door we can respectfully point him to the Savior. And therefore leave no man w/o excuse.
Michele great comments this is an issue for us not to take lightly and is definitely worth pondering. I would love to hear MacArthur’s take on it. I have a lot of respect for him and he has more biblical knowledge and insight than I do in my pinky nail. But having said that I think more clarification of my position is necessary.
You said MacArthur says” its God’s grace that saves them, just as it saves those who do believe.” On infants and others not able to understand or comprehend the gospel I would agree its Gods grace that saves for His purpose and glory and I trust them to the Holy Father. But for mankind in general I believe the bibles clear. It says we wont seek God (Rom1:11) we love darkness rather than light(John3)we worship the creature rather than the creator.(Rom 1) and were dead in are sins and trespasses (Eph 2:1). So what does this have to do with our topic? I believe then that any remote people group or anyone for that matter won’t come to the realization on there own (general revelation) apart from the gospel being preached and the Holy Spirit calling and enabling them. Like with Abraham God initiated and showed Himself to him (special revelation) and called him. Abraham was saved in Christ because he believed God and looked forward to the promise (the gospel). (Heb12) Apart from God revealing Himself to Abraham he would have never known who God was.
So now God has given us the bible (His word, special revelation) and has called us to preach the gospel so men everywhere will repent and turn to Him through that preaching.
I think it all starts with the purposes of God. Before creation he elected to save a people to Himself through Christ. So he knows who will hear His voice and our Sovereign Lord will get the gospel to them.
I think where we go wrong is we believe God when He talks and tells us about who He is. But don’t like or want to fully believe Him when He tells us who we are.
God Bless
Oops
I meant to say MacArthur has more biblical knowledge and insight in his pinky nail than I do in my whole body.
My mom has worked for a mission for the last 30 years, so as a kid, I was around missionaries all the time. (And, I was an MK myself for a year.) Don Richardson, a missionary and author (and a friend of my mom’s) wrote a great book called “Eternity in Their Hearts” which addresses the work of God in those who have never known of the Gospel through the Bible or a person. It’s a great read. In general, I love to hear missionaries’ perspectives on these kinds of things as they spend their day-to-day lives working them out with real, live people…I work them out mostly in my head. And sometimes, on blogs.
(I still don’t know how to make smileys!)
Oh, I did it!
Mr. Crabby,
You should study LDS (Mormon) beliefs to a further extent before you state what “they” believe. I found the information you shared on their religion to be incorrect. The best way to get information is to speak to a well learned LDS member. I was always taught: you wouldn’t go to a Ford dealership to learn about Toyota vehicles, would you?
Tom, dear brother–I knew I wouldn’t get past your radar. We have the Naughties today, so I’ll have to answer tomorrow.
I look forward to it Michele I appreciate your thoughts and insights into the word. I also pray that your family will feel better. Tell your husband I said Hi.
God Bless
MissMeg,
If Mr. Crabby has misrepresented the Mormons, he would be happily corrected.
What did he state that was incorrect?
Ha, Tom, “the Naughties” is the name we call the darling grandchildren. I can see how you’d take that as sickness–but pray for us anyway, we always need it. Tim says hi.