Cunningly Devised Fables

For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty.
2 Peter 1:16

How we get into some of the discussions we do in our weekly Bible study, I’m not really sure! 🙂 Last week, a question was asked about Mormonism.  I didn’t have much to say because I wasn’t very educated in their beliefs, but I was surprised the topic came up since two days before I was approached by a couple of Mormons in my neighborhood.  I spoke with the young men for about 15 minutes while we were walking our dog, but I had to leave because it was getting dark.  Hearing enough to be burdened for their souls, I requested a time to speak with them further to find out firsthand what they believed.  They were all too eager for a future opportunity to proselytize me!

When I met them yesterday, they came with reinforcements.  There was an older gentleman that I assumed was there in the event they ran into trouble pleading their case.  I brought reinforcements as well, my 15-year-old son.  I wanted him to witness his dad feeling totally overwhelmed, not knowing what to say, but trusting God to keep His promise to grant wisdom to those who ask for it. (Jam 1:5-6)  Thank you God for hearing my cry!

Here are a few things I learned about Mormon doctrine along with the verses God gave me in response.  I know I’m a little wordier today than usual, but my prayer is that these comments will help you if challenged in the future concerning these things:

They said, “All men are God’s children”.  My question was why then did Jesus respond as He did to the Jews that did not believe Him when they claimed God was their Father? (Joh 8:41) “You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do.” (v. 44) Also, in the parable of the wheat and tares, Christ said the tares represented the “sons of the wicked one”. (Mat 13:31)

They said, “Men are born innocent, not sinful”.  But the record of Psa 58:3 is that, “The wicked are estranged from the womb; They go astray as soon as they are born, speaking lies.”  David even confessed of himself, “Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin my mother conceived me.” (Psa 51:5) Paul reinforces this thought in Rom 3:23 stating, “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”.

Finally, they said the leader of the Mormon church, currently Thomas S. Monson, was God’s prophet in the earth, a man chosen by God to deliver God’s gospel message in this age.  There had been a succession of prophets since their founder Joseph Smith in the 1800’s, who also was given what they call “another testament of Jesus Christ”, aka the Book of Mormon.  They said that the apostle Peter was the first prophet after Christ (they pointed to Jesus telling Peter in Mat 16:19 that He would give him “the keys of the kingdom of heaven”, the same portion of scripture Catholics refer to when identifying Peter as the first pope); however, after the apostles died, God had been silent due to man’s disobedience, that is until Joseph Smith appeared on the scene some 1500+ years later.  They believe the leader of the Mormon church continues to give us that needed revelation from God, and though there are apostles under that prophet, he ultimately speaks the word from God to the world.

I asked these men who kept this prophet of theirs in check, making sure he was speaking truth.  Their response was that God would not leave his prophet in the earth if that prophet would say anything harmful to the church.  If that prophet were to say or do anything that would lead the church into error, God would remove him before that could happen.  Well, God took my mind to Gal 2:11-16 where Paul publicly rebuked Peter (who, remember, the Mormon’s claim as the first prophet after Christ) for his sin in shunning the Gentiles and denying through his actions justification by faith alone.  Peter’s influence was so strong that his example had pulled away others into his error, including Paul’s companion Barnabas.  If Peter was the first prophet, why then did God leave him in the earth following such gross error which initially separated the early church?  I was answered again (as I was many times during our discussion), “You ask some great questions!”

In closing, I want to emphasize our main text today.  Peter reminded his readers in 2Pe 1:16 that they weren’t following “cunningly devised fables”.  Peter and the apostles were eyewitnesses of Christ’s majesty, men validated by God according to Heb 2:4 “with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will”.  These men walked with Christ, were taught by Him, saw Him glorified, and yet fled for their lives at his crucifixion; however, after Pentecost, these same men declared boldly, even to the point of martyrdom, that they had seen Jesus risen from the dead!  They preached and exalted Jesus Christ, not themselves or any other man.  Peter continued in 2Pe 1:20 that “no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation” and warned in 2:1-3 that “there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction.”  He continues, “And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed.  By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words…”

So, “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.” (1Jo 4:1) Our understanding is not based on feeling.  I say this because the Mormon’s recommendation per their pamphlet is to read the Book of Mormon, pray about it, and the Holy Ghost will confirm it is true through “feelings, thoughts, and impressions”.  Our understanding, however, is based on the leadership of the Holy Ghost coupled with the word of God, the scripture.  The two will always agree because the Spirit is the author of the word (2Pe 1:21, 2Ti 3:16).  Remember, God put His Spirit, the Teacher, inside each of His children.  “But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you…” (1Jo 2:27) We can know the truth.  Ask of God AND study His word.  Be like the Bereans in Act 17:11 who when they heard Paul preach “received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.”  Thank you for your prayers for us that we will faithfully and boldly declare the word of God, and please pray for the precious souls of these men to whom God provided us this opportunity of ministry.

Love in Christ,

Jamie

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