Why Witness to Mormons? Response to Jared's Comment.

Got a comment from "Jared" from an article written last year by Frank Chirco, regarding a mission trip he took to Manti, Utah, to witness to people who follow The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (LDS or "Mormons"). I am going to re-post Jared's comments here for you to examine. Also, there are 2 links near the end of this article - one a video of Walter Martin - that you should check out, so drop down there and do so before leaving!

Jared writes:
"If you are so enthused about your faith, why don't you preach it rather than tear down anothers? You are clearly targeting the faith of a specific church when you should be promoting your own. The Mormon church is called The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Mormons clearly believe in Jesus Christ just like you do. I would suggest you focus on your similarities rather than your differences. You clearly don't believe what they do but they clearly don't believe what you think they believe. Would Christ have disputed with a group of people claiming to be his followers or would he have simply introduced himself to them? Your method of targeting the Mormons is sad and un christ like. There are many people that need the message of Christ in your own communities. I would suggest you start there and stop targeting any particular individual faith. Combining with other faiths that are not your own to tear down one that you all think is the weakest. That's what a group of bullies would do. Mormon's are good people that value families and serving their neighbor's and communities. Surely you can find someone better to preach your message to."

I tried to contact Jared via email, thanking him for commenting, and asking some questions (Are you LDS? What does it take to make it to Heaven?) but I got no reply. So here are my responses to Jared below, broken down into 4 points (hover your cursor over the scripture references and the verses will pop-up so you can read them):

First, let me quote a well known Mormon Apostle and Prophet, Orson Pratt:

"Convince us of our errors of doctrine, if we have any, by reason, by logical arguments, or by the Word of God, and we will be ever grateful for the information, and you will ever have the pleasing reflection that you have been instruments in the hands of God of redeeming your fellow beings from the darkness which you may see enveloping their minds."

Orson Pratt, Apostle Orson Pratt, The Seer, pp. 15‑16

Very good: exactly what Frank and his companions went to Manti to do, Jared. Orson Pratt does not seem to have a problem with it, so I'm not sure why you do. But here goes....

1.If you are so enthused about your faith, why don't you preach it rather than tear down anothers? You are clearly targeting the faith of a specific church when you should be promoting your own.

Response: I do preach Biblical Christianity and the true gospel of Jesus Christ. Contrary to your statement, the Bible exhorts us to "earnestly contend for the faith which was ONCE delivered unto the saint. For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of God into lasciviousness, and denying the ONLY Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ." (Jude 3-4). Truth by its very nature is narrow, so by declaring the one true God of the Bible, the true Jesus Christ, and the true gospel of salvation by faith in Christ alone apart from works, I exclude the false man-become-God "Heavenly Father" of the LDS faith, the false Jesus Christ who did not create all things (Colossians 1:16), and a salvation based on faith + your works. Not because I hate Mormons. On the contrary, it is an act of love to reach out to these who will perish in their sins if they stick with their LDS religion (John 17:3)

2. The Mormon church is called The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Mormons clearly believe in Jesus Christ just like you do. I would suggest you focus on your similarities rather than your differences.

Response: Jared, nothing could be further from the truth! The Jesus Christ of the LDS is NOT the Biblical Jesus Christ. Colossians 1:16-20 tell us that Jesus created all things. The Mormon Jesus did not: according to the LDS, he did not create Lucifer, he did not create the Mormon spirit babies, he did not create the planet Heaven Father was born on, etc. The Biblical Jesus claimed to be the I AM (John 8:58-59), and the reaction of the Jews proves the point: he was claiming to be the LORD. 

Your advice to focus on the similarities goes contrary to what God says in the Bible according to Ephesians 5:11 "And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them." And further, the Apostle Paul proclaims divine damnation on anyone - ANYONE - who would bring in "another gospel" than that which he first preached to the church in Galatia: "I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed." (Galatians 1:7-9) "Accursed" here means to be damned by God to Hell. That is heavy, but look at the consequences...millions or billions of people could be deceived by a false gospel and a false Christ, die still in their sins, and end up in Hell as well.

3. "Your method of targeting the Mormons is sad and un christ like. There are many people that need the message of Christ in your own communities. I would suggest you start there and stop targeting any particular individual faith."

Response: Wrong again! Jesus Christ himself commands his followers to go into all the world and preach the gospel (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15) . Last time I checked, Manti, Utah is part of "all the world." The people to go there, go with the message of the gospel, and challenge the LDS by exposing the differences between LDS and Biblical Christianity. Because the love them, and want them to be saved from their sins and the wrath of God.

I do minister the hope of the gospel in my community. Did you read nothing else on the Iowa Seed Sowers website? Did you look at the calendar of events, and see I am out at least twice a week, giving away free Bibles and gospel tracts, and offer to pray for the needs of my friends & neighbors here? Where you around last Wednesday night when I mowed the grass for the widow with 4 small children who lives across the street? Not that I need to defend myself from your accusations - God sees and God knows, and my aim is to please him....

And further, the LDS church sends MILLIONS of missionaries all over the world to proselytize their faith and repeat the lies of Joseph Smith. Why is that okay? I spoke with two LDS missionaries just this past Thursday: they like to use words that make you think we are all believing the same things, when really they are light-years apart! Know where the Mormons get most of their converts? From other religions! They pluck many Bible-illiterate professing "Christians" out of their churches and into the LDS religion. Why is that okay for the LDS but not for me?

4. "Combining with other faiths that are not your own to tear down one that you all think is the weakest. That's what a group of bullies would do. Mormon's are good people that value families and serving their neighbor's and communities. Surely you can find someone better to preach your message to."

Response: We do not combine with other religious faiths, period, so that's that. 

The LDS church is one of the richest and organized religions around, so I don't agree with your idea about them being weak. Bullies? When we do reach out the lost around us, we don't call them names. Real, Biblical, caring Christians are far from being bullies: we speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15).

But speaking of that, in areas of the country where LDS is predominant, if a person leaves Mormonism, they are the ones ostracized by their former church brethren & neighbors. Utah has one of the highest rates of divorce in the nation. Know why? Because if one of the spouses - husband or wife - decides to leave the Mormon church, it messes up the ability for the other spouse to be exalted (as they falsely believe) to become Gods, so they divorce that person & hitch their wagon to someone following the Mormon faith correctly, so they can become Gods, have spirit children on some other planet, and be worshiped by those children as their Heavenly Father or Heavenly Mother. Wow!

Biblical Christians know that our Lord Jesus told us there would be a cost to following him. Christians in Muslim countries take their life in their hands to follow Jesus. Here in the States, it is usually limited to name-calling, maybe losing the esteem of men, maybe getting the cold shoulder from family. Times are changing, and the persecution will be coming. But right now, it is worse for Mormons, or Jehovah's Witnesses, maybe some Roman Catholics. When they leave these cults, they may be cut-off from family and friends. Ultimately we who know Christ know that if we suffer for Jesus' name in this life, our eternity with him will be just that much more glorious (Matthew 5:11-12). 

You say Mormons are "good people", and this, I think, is the key issue behind the comments here. Jared, do you consider yourself to be a good person? Compare yourself to God's moral law, the Ten Commandments: if you have ever lied, you are a liar; if you've ever stolen something, however small, you are a thief; if you've looked at a woman with lust, Jesus says you are guilty of committing adultery with her already in your heart. Still think you (or anyone else) is "good" according to God's standard? (Check out this LINK for more)

So, no, Jared, I cannot think of someone better to share the Biblical God, Jesus, and gospel with than lost people. See, Mormons and everyone else fall far short of God's perfect standard. If we all got what we deserved, we'd ALL end up in Hell. That's why Jesus came to earth, lived a perfect life, and laid down his life on Calvary's cross, was buried, and rose again. He took the wrath of God upon himself, so that we could take the grace and mercy of God in him. Forgiveness, mercy, love, acceptance, and eternal life are a gift from God, paid for by the Lord Jesus Christ, and is received by faith in what he did for us, personally. Plus nothing. And because God has given us this gift, we want to share it with as many people as possible.

And to finish, here's a link to an old Dr. Walter Martin giving a talk in Brigham City, Utah, and which will answer Jared's questions and provide responses that are far better than I could come up with. Please watch it:

In Season: M'town Witnessing at the local Summer Market

View from corner of Main Street & Center Street

The Lord gave us a beautiful day, and the season for the Marshalltown Farmers Market around the Courthouse has begun. And that means witnessing for Jesus Christ to my friends & neighbors here. I got to drop by with a witnessing cross and tracts, and it was a good time. I got to have conversations with two LDS Missionaries, Grant & "Mr. Deeds" (missed his first name - I couldn't bring myself to refer to these very young men as "elder", despite their name badges) who happened to walk by. And there was Chen, an Chinese young man who is an engineering Intern from Iowa State, working at a local manufacturer for the summer.

Shadow of me & my witnessing cross

Got some gospel tracts out, and had some good conversations, especially with the Mormon lads. I am looking forward to running into them again around town. I know they do not have the correct information for what it takes to go to Heaven, and that LDS doctrine deviates severely from Biblical Christianity. We who have received the gift of eternal life have to reach out to these lost ones. I hope you will join with me in prayer, that the Lord will give more opportunities to speak truth into their lives, and that they might repent & believe on the REAL Jesus Christ before it is eternally too late.

Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest. And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together.

John 4:35-36 

Memorial Day Weekend: The Conspicuous Gallantry of Jesus Christ

Mary and I got a chance to get down to the Downtown Des Moines Farmers Market on Memorial Day weekend. The corner of 4th & Court Avenue was open, so we set up there. Many gospel tracts went out, and I was able to speak about the amazing love of God demonstrated for us on the cross of Calvary.

During our time there, Mary had a fantastic 30-40 minute conversation with Shalih, a muslim man from Iraq. She had given him a "CONTRADICT" tract (below left), and as he stopped to look at it, she asked him if he had any questions, which he did. After a while, they moved out of the street into the shade of the buildings on 4th Ave, as you can see in the picture (below right).

Shalih started with the question of who was Melchizedek - can you believe it? How would you like to get that question? Wow, talk about jumping right into deep waters! But Mary patiently had a conversation with this man, who has bought in to the misconceptions and un-truths that Islam has cast on true Biblical Christianity: that Allah and the God of the Bible are the same, Jesus was a man, and not God come in the flesh, that good works are necessary for salvation, why all the different Bible versions if Christianity is true, etc.

Now, we know that Issa, the Jesus of the Q'uran, is not the Lord Jesus Christ of the Bible; We know that God has revealed himself in his word as THE one-in-three, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost; we know that there is no other name (other than Jesus) under heaven, given among men, whereby we must be saved. Our goal is to present the true gospel of Jesus Christ to all men, so that they may be convicted by the Holy Ghost, repent towards the God of the Bible (who all men do know, according to Romans 1) and trust in Jesus Christ alone for salvation. So this is for Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs, Janes, Buddhists, Roman & Orthodox Catholics, Coptics, Protestant Christians, Pagans, Wiccans, Satanists, Atheists, Animists,...all men everywhere (Acts 17:24-31).

Overall a very good day. Pray for Shalih, and pray for Mary as she studies God's word and how to respond to the challenges & questions that come her way as she holds forth the word of truth. Praise God for his goodness and mercy towards us.

Here is the LINK to the open air preaching.
Please note there is a lot of street noise in this audio, but it's not a problem with your speakers or my recorder. This is what it is like preaching open air, and it is very different than sitting in a comfy church building with great sound systems and comfy chairs. I hope you enjoy the experience. There are a few minutes of delay as we were getting set up. You will hear us pray, and then Mary heads across the street with tracts while I get ready to preach the gospel.

Blossoms Don't Last Here

Every year, when the ornamental trees blossom in front of my office building, I bring in a few sprigs and put them in a glass in my office. I love the fragrance and the beauty of these wonderful creations of God. When I get the chance, I'll stand under a tree like this and breath deeply of the sweet perfume of springtime. And they are only in blossom for a such a short time. Before long, and the blossoms fade & dry, as you can see below.

 

Their glory is so fleeting, just like our own lives. Ever look back at pictures of yourself as a young man or woman? Oh, we spend a lot of money trying to keep our youthful looks, but time takes it's toll.

 

Another sad but true reminder that we live in a fallen creation, and that all things that may be seen are only brief and temporary. But for us, death is not the end. The unseen things of God are eternal, and death for us is just the beginning on the other side. God has promises of eternal joy or eternal sorrow, and has provided a way for all of us to escape the sorrow part: all who trust the Savior, Jesus Christ,  will experience the reality of Heaven which will never, ever, ever pass away!

 

The choice is up to you....

\\1 Peter 1:23-25

Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. 

For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away:  But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.

Drake Relays Outreach 2014

Busy

This year's Drake Relay's was one of the busiest outreaches we had.  Just getting to the Bulldog at the front gates was a chore.  I had to park almost a mile away after driving around the area for nearly a half hour.  

A New Soul-Winner

Joining us for the first time was a new soul winner named Nathan.  He is a high school teacher with a very interesting testimony, and was a great encouragement to me as we shared the gospel together.  He found us through the Way of the Master Biblical School of Evangelism where he is a student, and I am a graduate of.  We have had a few people contact us through the school over the years but have never lasted or have left the group.  Pray that Nathan will stick around for I am confident he would be a great asset to our team.  He was a bold young man eager to share and very articulate.  

The Conversations

 After getting to know each other a little bit (because we just met) we took a walk down the street away from the festivities a little to stir up some good one-on-one conversation.  Nathan gave a few million dollar bills away while we walked.  The first one we had was with a boy who was selling water on the street for $1 each.  I gave him a million dollar bill from Tract Planet and asked him if he had change for a large bill.  I asked him about the million dollar question and he proceeded to back pedal. The funny thing is that his shirt said, "I hate you", and Nathan started to ask him about that.  At that point I think he was more open to Nathan and that's when his brother came over to help him sell.  I gave him a million dollar bill and shared with him the gospel.  Upon approaching the subject on hell he said that he would go there because that he was a homosexual, and no homosexual would enter the kingdom of God (he quoted 1 Corinthians 6:9-10).  Surprised by his answer I proceeded to ask him if he ever lied, stolen, blasphemed God's name, made God #1 in his life, and he admitted he broke all them.  So leading him to a path that even despite his homosexuality that he would still be destined for hell.  He seemed concerned, but not enough to change his lifestyle.  Instead of pressing the issue, he said that he would read the tracts that I gave him, and check out the video from Living waters that shared the entire gospel.  It was a good conversation and thanked me for taking the time to talk to him.

After Nathan left I walked around a bit looking for good opportunities for a really good conversation.  I started to walk to my car from the back, when I decided I should go where the people were and take a longer route.  Good thing I did because I had a great conversation with a catholic who said he was going to heaven because he was a good person.  I took him through the law and the 10 Commandments and he was obviously guilty, but kept proclaiming his own goodness.  I should have brought my recorder because it was a perfect example of the people we come in contact here in Iowa.  People (mainly Catholics) who have just believed in Jesus, but have absolutely no fruit, or concept of the gospel.  In the end I gave him a Gideon New Testament and shared the video with him to help him understand his need for Jesus for salvation.  It was a great evening, and though we didn't have many conversations, the ones we did were seeds planted that we pray will harvest a great crop.