Tweet
What's going on with Mormonism?
Link
-----
What's it like when Mormons come to your door? Let's plunge into the Deeper Waters and find out.
Recently for a couple of months or so, Allie and I had Mormons who agreed to come see us. I was quite impressed in some ways with these Mormons as they actually came back after the first visit even. Most of the time, they don't. We had some sisters first visiting us, but then after that, we had guys as they were switched out as one sister's mission came to an end and sometimes, they had a Mormon who lives in our apartment complex come with them.
Let's say at the start that for the most part, Mormons are very nice people. They're people that are kind and courteous and tend to be very likable. Of course, that is also a danger as when Christians meet someone like that, they tend to think that they're Christians just like them. Warning. Being a Christian is about more than just being a nice person.
In some ways, Mormons sadly seem to have a lot in common also with atheists I meet. Many times, the same arguments atheists make about Christianity are made by Mormons. These include things like the Bible being changed and all the denominations. They do come with some twists such as unique Mormon doctrines such as God having a body of flesh and bones and the importance of the Book of Mormon and the burning in the bosom.
I also noticed that the Mormons were often asking if I was reading the Book of Mormon to find out what's wrong with it. I had been challenged to read it again since I have read it before and so I did accept the challenge. I gave them a contrast by saying if they wanted to read the New Testament to pick it apart, be my guest. Try it on every area. Go ahead.
The burning in the bosom I find to be a weak argument. I can understand it's very emotionally appealing and I do know ex-Mormons have said that there is nothing like the experience of the burning in the bosom. If you pray and you get the burning in the bosom, well that confirms that the Book of Mormon is true. If you don't get it, well, you just weren't sincere or something of that sort. The test is in essence unfalsifiable.
It's also important to really know your own church history and doctrine. We got into a debate some on the Council of Nicea and how it was there decided that God didn't have a body of flesh and bones. I had to ask them where they got that from. No specifics were given. I went on to tell them the debate was really about the nature of Jesus as were the next three councils at least. No one was debating if God the Father had a body.
Remember also with Mormons, try to always build up the Bible, which is something I was making it a point to consistently do. If you just try to destroy the Book of Mormon, you could get a Mormon to throw out the baby with the bathwater. They could abandon not just Mormonism but Christianity and theism altogether.
Still, Allie and I enjoyed meeting with the elders and the sisters. They're all people we could enjoy their company with regularly. We're also still praying for them. I didn't expect a deconversion and an embrace of the gospel, but I do hope I put a rock in their shoe. The goal was to build up Jesus and the Bible. That should be our goal whenever we encounter them.
Please be remembering the Mormons that come to your door need the true Jesus and the true gospel. Be willing to give it to them. Don't slam the door in their faces. If the present time isn't convenient, arrange another time when you can get together. They're worth it.
In Christ,
Nick Peters
Link
-----
What's it like when Mormons come to your door? Let's plunge into the Deeper Waters and find out.
Recently for a couple of months or so, Allie and I had Mormons who agreed to come see us. I was quite impressed in some ways with these Mormons as they actually came back after the first visit even. Most of the time, they don't. We had some sisters first visiting us, but then after that, we had guys as they were switched out as one sister's mission came to an end and sometimes, they had a Mormon who lives in our apartment complex come with them.
Let's say at the start that for the most part, Mormons are very nice people. They're people that are kind and courteous and tend to be very likable. Of course, that is also a danger as when Christians meet someone like that, they tend to think that they're Christians just like them. Warning. Being a Christian is about more than just being a nice person.
In some ways, Mormons sadly seem to have a lot in common also with atheists I meet. Many times, the same arguments atheists make about Christianity are made by Mormons. These include things like the Bible being changed and all the denominations. They do come with some twists such as unique Mormon doctrines such as God having a body of flesh and bones and the importance of the Book of Mormon and the burning in the bosom.
I also noticed that the Mormons were often asking if I was reading the Book of Mormon to find out what's wrong with it. I had been challenged to read it again since I have read it before and so I did accept the challenge. I gave them a contrast by saying if they wanted to read the New Testament to pick it apart, be my guest. Try it on every area. Go ahead.
The burning in the bosom I find to be a weak argument. I can understand it's very emotionally appealing and I do know ex-Mormons have said that there is nothing like the experience of the burning in the bosom. If you pray and you get the burning in the bosom, well that confirms that the Book of Mormon is true. If you don't get it, well, you just weren't sincere or something of that sort. The test is in essence unfalsifiable.
It's also important to really know your own church history and doctrine. We got into a debate some on the Council of Nicea and how it was there decided that God didn't have a body of flesh and bones. I had to ask them where they got that from. No specifics were given. I went on to tell them the debate was really about the nature of Jesus as were the next three councils at least. No one was debating if God the Father had a body.
Remember also with Mormons, try to always build up the Bible, which is something I was making it a point to consistently do. If you just try to destroy the Book of Mormon, you could get a Mormon to throw out the baby with the bathwater. They could abandon not just Mormonism but Christianity and theism altogether.
Still, Allie and I enjoyed meeting with the elders and the sisters. They're all people we could enjoy their company with regularly. We're also still praying for them. I didn't expect a deconversion and an embrace of the gospel, but I do hope I put a rock in their shoe. The goal was to build up Jesus and the Bible. That should be our goal whenever we encounter them.
Please be remembering the Mormons that come to your door need the true Jesus and the true gospel. Be willing to give it to them. Don't slam the door in their faces. If the present time isn't convenient, arrange another time when you can get together. They're worth it.
In Christ,
Nick Peters
Comment