A while back, a person wrote our church after visiting our church's website. They were a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Mormons), and they were disturbed about the fact that I mention in my bio at the top of my page, "According to John", that I had been active in the past in Mormon outreach ministries. They were "saddened," and thought that someone claiming to be Christian should preach only love. I was asked to respond to them, and I sent the following reply. (Their name and any statements of a personal nature have been removed for confidentiality.)

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Dear Visitor;

I know my pastor intends to write to you, but he also wished that I also respond to your letter personally, since it was my page that offended. Let me first say that I am not an apostate Mormon, although I lived for many years in a Mormon household. I have a Mormon step-mother, a Mormon step-sister and two Mormon step-brothers. And I am not an "anti-Mormon." I bear no animosity toward you nor to my family nor to the Mormon people in general. You sound like a fine person, and I'm sure you are!

I can understand how you feel. I can imagine hearing someone tell me that my church is wrong, that what I've been taught to believe is false. I can imagine that it is very disheartening. I can imagine it because it's happened to me. And to countless thousands of others. You see, each year over fifty thousand young men (and women) go door to door all over the country and the world saying just that. They teach the same thing that Joseph Smith himself taught 170 years ago, that "... [the Christian churches] were all wrong ... all their creeds were an abomination in [God's] sight; that those professors were all corrupt" (Pearl of Great Price, Joseph Smith 2:19).

These young men do what they do in this country because of the blessings of religious liberty. They are perfectly free to come to my door and tell me that my church is apostate and that there is no salvation outside the LDS church -- and they do! But I am also perfectly free to defend the faith once and for all delivered to the saints (Jude 3). I am perfectly free to tell them, and as many others as will listen, that they are wrong. That they may be sincere, but they are sincerely mistaken. I am free to "speak the truth in love." And sometimes love must be tough.

Jesus spoke strongly against sin and evil -- but he also spoke against the false religion of the Pharisees and priests. The same meek Jesus who said "suffer the children to come unto me" called those who taught false doctrines a "brood of vipers." He warned his followers to beware of those who would come in his name, looking like sheep but being instead wolves in sheep's clothing. He spoke in love, but often his love was tough. And his followers did the same. Paul for example told Timothy over and over again to preach against those who taught false doctrines. False doctrine is perhaps the worst kind of evil, for it keeps people from truly understanding our Heavenly Father.

I am sorry that you were saddened when you saw my page, and saw that I had been active in reaching out to Mormons in the past. But reach out I have, because of my love for them. My intent is not to sadden or to anger, but to inform. While the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints appears on the outside to be "just another Christian denomination," as they recently have been grooming themselves to be, inside they are as different from historic Biblical Christianity as night is from day. How?

Mormonism teaches that Christianity entered a total apostasy, and had to be restored. Yet Jesus said that the very gates of hell would not prevail against his church. Did Jesus lie? Or did He make a false prophecy? I say no. Even Mormonism conflicts on this issue. It says that the apostle John (and three Nephite apostles) never saw death but lived on. And it also teaches that as long as there is one true Christian that has priesthood authority, there is no need for restoration. So why was it necessary for Joseph Smith to restore the church?

Mormonism teaches that the Bible is unreliable. "We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly" (Eighth Article of Faith). By which LDS authorities have consistently meant that the Bible has been thoroughly corrupted so that no one can know what it originally said, that "many plain and precious things" had been removed and things added, such that new scripture such as the Book of Mormon needed to be added to restore these things. And in practicality this usually means that when a Mormon teaching conflicts with the Bible, deference is given to the Mormon teaching.

But the Bible says that God will preserve His word (Psalm 12:6-7). Can God lie? Is He so weak that He cannot keep His promise and preserve His word? Even modern scientific discoveries have proven the Bible to be reliable. "Textual criticism" is the science by which scholars determine the reliability of ancient documents. By comparing the various copies (of which there are now tens of thousands, dating back to within a generation of the originals!), scholars have shown the Bible to be almost 100% reliable. The fraction of a percentage where there is question is largely related to spelling and grammar, and in no case where there is a disputed rendering is a single Christian doctrine affected. Sir Frederic Kenyon, one of the greatest authorities in the field of textual criticism, wrote, "It cannot be too strongly asserted that in substance the text of the Bible is certain. This can be said of no other ancient book in the world." Even Mormon scholars have been forced to admit this; the evidence is irrefutable.

Mormonism teaches that there are many gods, that the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are three separate gods, and that men may progress to become gods themselves. Believing that many gods exist is called polytheism. But Judaism and Christianity are strictly monotheistic. God is very plain in the Bible -- in fact, He says it about 30 times -- that there is only one God, period. (See my article "There is only one God!" for a complete list of verses.) Let everything be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses? God has provided 2˝ dozen! He also says that He is not a man (1 Samuel 15:29), and that men cannot become Gods (Isaiah 43:10).

Mormonism teaches that it was necessary for God to send a prophet, Joseph Smith, to restore the "true church." But Jesus said His church would prevail, and Hebrews 1:1-2 says that while God used to speak through prophets, Jesus is His final word. Did you know that there is another religion that also teaches that Christianity is false, that a prophet was needed to restore it, and that an angel came down and delivered a holy book to him? It is called Islam. They also have a burning testimony. And a billion adherents. The Bible warns us that false prophets would come, bringing with them false gospels, and specifically warns us against angels of light (2 Cor 11:14) delivering such gospels (Galatians 1:8-9). With a frightening curse!

And speaking of gospels, Mormon teaching is that you "may be saved by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the gospel" (Third Article of Faith). But the Bible knows nothing of laws and ordinances in its gospel, in fact it says that Christ put an end to laws and ordinances (Ephesians 2:15, Colossians 2:13-14). "Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel ... how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures" (1 Corinthians 15:1,3-4). That's the gospel, all of it, right there. That is the real good news, that Jesus did it all, he paid the full price. "It is finished!" "For by grace [God's favor that you don't deserve] are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast" (Ephesians 2:8-9).

One of the more disturbing things, to me, about the LDS church is that they discourage members to think for themselves about their religion, but rather encourage blind obedience to their Prophet and "General Authorities" (Apostles, Seventies, etc.). As one General Authority put it, "When the Prophet speaks, the thinking has been done." This is peculiar, especially coming from a church who's motto is, "The Glory of God is Intelligence," and leads to some rather disturbing positions.

For instance, did you know that General Authority LeGrande Richards, in his faith-promoting book, "A Marvelous Work And A Wonder" (page 68), said that Isaiah 29:4 ("And thou shalt be brought down, and shalt speak out of the ground, and thy speech shall be low out of the dust, and thy voice shall be, as of one that hath a familiar spirit, out of the ground, and thy speech shall whisper out of the dust") was a prophecy fulfilled in the Book of Mormon, because the Book of Mormon has a familiar spirit? Are you comfortable with this? Do you know what a familiar spirit is? Leviticus 20:27 says, "A man also or woman that hath a familiar spirit, or that is a wizard, shall surely be put to death: they shall stone them with stones: their blood shall be upon them." In the Bible, a familiar spirit is always a demonic spirit!! (See also Leviticus 19:31, 20:6; Deuteronomy 18:11; 1 Samuel 28:3,7-9; 2 Kings 21:6, 23:24; 1 Chronicles 10:13; 2 Chronicles 33:6; Isaiah 8:19, 19:3.)

It is for these reasons, and a host of others, that I teach and will continue to teach that Mormonism and Christianity are polar opposites, that they have nothing in common with each other than bearing the name of Jesus. And you know that Jesus Himself said that not everyone who called upon His name would enter His Kingdom. I bear you my testimony that by these and a host of other reasons the Mormon church is proven to be false. I say these things to you in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

I do not say any of these things to hurt, but rather to inform. I have tried to be very kind in this letter, and not say anything in a mean-spirited way. But sometimes speaking the truth hurts, no matter what you do, no matter how lovingly you sugar-coat it. The same as pouring iodine into a wound hurts; but it is meant for good, and ultimately heals. I have not given you any "anti-Mormon quotes", I have merely compared the Bible with what the plain teachings of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints are, just as the Bereans did in the book of Acts. Brigham Young once said, "Accept the truth, no matter who presents it to you. Take up the Bible, compare it to the religion of the Latter-day Saints, and see if it meets the test." This is all I have done, and by Brigham's own test, it fails.

I know it is no accident that you visited our site, nor that you zeroed in on my page on it. "God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done" (Genesis 50:20). I bear you no malice, and I would certainly look forward to meeting you in person. We have informal Bible studies on Thursdays; you are welcome to come for a visit, and we can talk. And I would like to extend a personal invitation to you, that you and your family come one Sunday and worship with us, and see what God is doing. May God bless you as you seek His face.

In His Love,
John Wilson

"To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them." (Isaiah 8:20)

-- Anonymous, April 13, 2001

Answers

Update: The person wrote me back. Their letter did not address one single point of mine, rather it was full of ad hominem attacks. A spirit of hostility. Which I kind of expected; its typical with Mormons.

One thing she wrote that struck me as funny was, "My experience has been that when any church preaches "against" another belief or people, they expend negative energy that they could have used more constructively. People exist who have never heard of Jesus and his gospel." To which I replied:

Lets have a little reality check? The LDS church now has about seventy-five thousand missionaries going door to door telling primarily Christians (not those who haven't yet heard of Jesus and his gospel) that their church is apostate and that the LDS church is the restored church and the only true church on the earth. My church has only one person semi-active in countering that claim (me).

I responded back kindly, for the most part ... and heaped burning coals on her head! She wrote back apologizing for her mean-spirited letter, and asked if we could continue our discussions! So please keep this person in your prayers.

-- Anonymous, April 13, 2001

John,

Just curious on the paragraph:

"Mormonism teaches that there are many gods, that the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are three separate gods, and that men may progress to become gods themselves. Believing that many gods exist is called polytheism. But Judaism and Christianity are strictly monotheistic. God is very plain in the Bible -- in fact, He says it about 30 times - - that there is only one God, period. (See my article "There is only one God!" for a complete list of verses.) Let everything be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses? God has provided 2˝ dozen! He also says that He is not a man (1 Samuel 15:29), and that men cannot become Gods (Isaiah 43:10). "

You say "one God". I think that even Jesus saud to the pharasies (sp)'they were gods' with a little "g". How does statemnts like this fir into the concept of "one" God?

-- Anonymous, April 13, 2001

C;

This a good question. You are right that Jesus said this. This is a verse that Mormons often use to try to make Him (and Christianity) out to be polythiestic. Unfortunately even the church has picked up on this theme with the advent of false teachers like Copeland, Hagin and Hinn. (In fact, the blasphemy of the word/faith teachers has gotten so nauseous in taking this verse too far that even the Mormons have come out with a tract against it!)

When Jesus said to the Pharisees, "Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods?" he was quoting from Psalm 82:6, where God was being sarcastic. "Elohim" is normally translated God in the Bible, but it can also be translated as judges. God was basically saying "I have appointed you as judges over the people, "elohim." And now you have got it into your heads that you actually are gods, the other meaning of "elohim." "But," he says in the next verse, "ye shall die like men, and fall like one of the princes."

Jesus is saying (also sarcastically), "God called you 'gods' in the past ... why is it you have a hard time with me calling myself God?" Making them think about just who it was who Jesus was claiming to be.

Besides, this passage doesn't fit well with Mormon theology anyway. It says, "Ye are gods," not "Ye shall become gods." But according to Mormon theology, we are only potential gods until we have perfectly kept Mormon laws and ordinances and after our resurrection.

-- Anonymous, April 13, 2001

"And what did God do? ... He selected one particular people and spent several centuries hammering into their heads the sort of God he was - that there was only one of Him ... Those people were the Jews, and the Old Testament gives an account of the hammering process.

"Then comes the real shock. Among these Jews there suddenly turns up a man who goes about talking as if He was God. ... Now let us get this clear. Among Panthiests, like the Indians, anyone might say that he was a part of God, or one with God: there would be nothing odd about it. But this man, since He was a Jew, could not mean that kind of God. God, in their language, meant the Being outside the world Who had made it and was infinitely different from anything else. And when you have grasped that, you will see that what this man said was, quite simply, the most shocking thing that has ever been uttered by human lips. ...

"And that is how Theology started. People already knew about God in a vague way. Then came a man who claimed to be God; and yet he was not the sort of man you could dismiss as a lunatic. He made them believe Him. They met Him again after they had seen Him killed. And then, after they had been formed into a little society or community, they found God somehow inside them as well: directing them, making them able to do things they could not do before. And when they worked it all out they found that they had arrived at the Christian definition of the three-personal God." – C.S. Lewis, excerpts from Mere Christianity

-- Anonymous, April 13, 2001

John, Am I correct in understanding you are saying that there are no other “gods” and only “one” god? And, if what you are saying that it should read “judges”, or at least to be understood as this, why have translators used “god” instead? Or is there some who had translated as this? (I’m asking because I’ve never heard or read this conjecture before).

Also, being what “sarcasm” is (I am guilty of using it), I seriously doubt it could be said of Jesus, and especially His Father, of using such. That would be on parallel to a Muslim (a true Muslim, not the Americanized version) who believes that God is deceitful, imho.

Just a side note, even though I have read “Mere Christainity” and even consider CS Lewis a good writer, however there are many “holes” to his theories presented in this book – such as the selection chosen above. It seems he confused his fictional writings with his non- fictional ones.

One reason, I think that Lewis’ writing portray’s his belief in there being only “one” god.

-- Anonymous, April 16, 2001

There are not just a few ambiguous Biblical passages that teach that there is only one God, but many explicit passages that clearly declare this cardinal truth. as C.S. Lewis wrote, God "selected one particular people and spent several centuries hammering into their heads the sort of God he was - that there was only one of Him". Not just "one God whom we worship," not "one god of this world" (see II Corinthians 4:3-4 - Paul says that Satan is the god of this world!), but one God, period. Since I believe this point cannot be stressed enough (and, apparently, neither does God!), I have compiled a rather exhaustive list for you. Each of the following 32 passages explicitly teach that there is one -- and only one -- God.

1. DEUTERONOMY 4:35,39 -- Unto thee it was shown, that thou mightest know that the LORD he is God; there is none else beside him. (39) Know therefore this day, and consider it in thine heart, that the LORD he is God in heaven above, and upon the earth beneath: there is none else.
2. DEUTERONOMY 6:4 -- Hear, O Israel: The LORD thy God is one LORD. [Note in Mark 12:28-34 how Jesus and a Jewish scribe he encountered understood this text.]
3. DEUTERONOMY 32:39 -- See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god with me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal: neither is there any that can deliver out of my hand.
4. 1 SAMUEL 2:2 -- There is none holy as the LORD: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God.
5. 2 SAMUEL 7:22 -- Wherefore thou art great, O LORD God; for there is none like thee, neither is there any God beside thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears.
6. 1 KINGS 8:60 -- That all the people of the earth may know that the LORD is God, and that there is none else.
7. 2 KINGS 5:15 -- And he returned to the man of God, he and all his company, and came, and stood before him: and he said, Behold, now I know that there is no God in all the earth, but in Israel; now therefore, I pray thee, take a blessing of thy servant.
8. 2 KINGS 19:15 -- And Hezekiah prayed before the LORD, and said, O LORD God of Israel, which dwellest between the cherubims, thou art the God, even thou alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; thou hast made heaven and earth.
9. 1 CHRONICLES 17:20 -- O LORD, there is none like thee, neither is there any God beside thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears.
10. NEHEMIAH 9:6 -- Thou, even thou, art LORD alone; thou has made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth, and all things that are therein, the seas, and all that is therein, and thou preservest them all; and the host of heaven worshippeth thee.
11. PSALM 18:31 -- For who is God save the LORD? or who is a rock save our God?
12. PSALM 86:10 -- For thou art great, and doest wondrous things: thou art God alone.
13. ISAIAH 37:16,20 -- O LORD of hosts, God of Israel, that dwellest between the cherubims, thou art the God, even thou alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth: thou has made heaven and earth. (20) Now therefore, O LORD our God, save us from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that thou art the LORD, even thou only.
14. ISAIAH 43:10,11 -- Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. [So much for anyone else becoming a god!] (11) I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no savior.
15. ISAIAH 44:6,8 -- Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God. (8) Fear ye not, neither be afraid; have not I told thee from that time, and have declared it? ye are even my witnesses. Is there a God beside me? yea, there is no God; I know not any.
16. ISAIAH 45:5,6 -- I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me: That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me. I am the LORD, and there is none else.
17. ISAIAH 44:24 -- Thus saith the LORD, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I am the LORD that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself [No "council of gods" here]
18. ISAIAH 45:18 -- For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God himself formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD, and there is none else.
19. ISAIAH 45:21 -- Tell ye, and bring them near; yea, let them take counsel together: who hath declared this from ancient time: who hath told it from that time? have not I the LORD? and there is no God else beside me; a just God and a Savior; there is none beside me.
20. ISAIAH 46:9 -- For I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me.
21. HOSEA 13:4 -- Yet I am the LORD thy God from the land of Egypt, and thou shalt know no god but me; for there is no savior beside me.
22. JOEL 2:27 -- And ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the LORD your God, and none else: and my people shall never be ashamed.
23. ZECHARIAH 14:9 -- And the LORD shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one Lord, and his name one.
24. MARK 12:29-34 (see DEUTERONOMY 6:4) -- And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these. And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he: And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbor as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices. And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God. And no man after that durst ask him any question.
25. JOHN 17:3 -- And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
26. ROMANS 3:30 -- Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith.
27. 1 CORINTHIANS 8:4-6 -- As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one. For though there be that are called gods [i.e. they're really demons], whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,) But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.
28. GALATIANS 3:20 -- Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one.
29. EPHESIANS 4:6 -- One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
30. 1 TIMOTHY 1:17 -- Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen. [Are all the other 'gods' foolish ones?]
31. 1 TIMOTHY 2:5 -- For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.
32. JAMES 2:19 -- Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.

-- Anonymous, April 16, 2001

Just a note on C's comment about sarcasm. Webster defines it as "a sharp and often satirical or ironic utterance designed to cut or give pain." We often use it to get back at someone. Jesus, however, did use it, as did Paul, to shake people out of their complacency or hypocrisy and get them to consider the truth. His hyperbole about getting the log out of your eye (Mat. 7:5) may be considered one example. Randal Matheny
Forthright Magazine

-- Anonymous, April 16, 2001

Am I the only one who is deeply disturbed that we are even having this discussion on whether or not there is only one God in a RM Christian forum?

-- Anonymous, April 16, 2001

I understood the discussion was about how to fit in the passage about "you are gods" into the framework of the one true God. Not necessarily that there was any doubt about how many Gods existed. Did I read through the posts too fast?

Randal

-- Anonymous, April 16, 2001

Perhaps I am mistaken, but C wrote, "John, Am I correct in understanding you are saying that there are no other “gods” and only “one” god?" which lead me to believe (s)he believes that more than one god exists. A belief incompatible with biblical Christianity.

-- Anonymous, April 16, 2001

Randel,

In the Webster’s definition you gave, the beginning of it also gives an explanation of where word’s come from. Websters says “fr GK sarkasmos, fr sarkazein ‘to tear flesh, bite the lips in rage’ “.

It’s been my experience when a person uses sarcasm it only makes the object person of the comment reject any truth that might even be in the original saying. This is reflected in the original meaning and how in most cases it is used even today. A majority of the time it does nothing to promote truth, but just the opposite – promoting animosity, bitter rejection and distain. Even in someone who may want to learn it tends to turn away. On the other hand it’s also used to raise laughter by comedians – of course this too is at someone else’s expense.

I think the more proper term used such as in the “rafter in your own eye” example would be “irony,” such as using juxtaposing elements describing two extremes such a contrasting juxtaposing elements or ‘dramatic irony.” I don’t believe that Christ meant to “tear flesh or cut,” which mostly describes sarcasm.

Even though ‘ironic’, satire and ‘sarcasm’ can be used synonymously, ‘juxtaposing irony’ is a better description, imho. For me sarcasm just doesn’t describe Jesus or His Father’s intentions, methods of correcting or teaching. The term seems to always have a negative slant to it that promotes more hatred rather than positive learning. Sort of like throwing a snowball down a steep hill, it just gets bigger – till it crashes.

John,

I don’t understand why it would disturb you that much since you initiated the discussion? Since you did begin this thread and you apparently have some background knowledge about Mormons and the concept of polytheism I thought there could be some more in-depth study of the subject to help me understand your reasoning.

As someone who would be asked by a Hindu or Mormon can be examples. We can both quote Scripture to “prove” this or that point, yet the Truth be missed. You list 32 verses that do indeed state “one god.” However, it would only be an exhaustive list from your point of view, since I’m assuming you have already thoroughly research the point and these are what you are left with from your point of view. But, as I’m sure your aware of there are hundreds more that at least imply “more than” one – and these are still the ones that asked the original questioned, which is left unanswered.

Psalms 82:6 says “gods” it doesn’t say “judges”. It might imply this from previous text, but it still doesn’t say this. You list 2 Corinthians 4:4 which also says “god of this world.” How can this be explained with “only one God?” As mentioned there are hundreds of these references.

And in Exodus 20: GOD Himself says no other “gods” (plural) before Him. Why did Jehovah feel a need to have a commandment specifically stating this? If He is the “only” one, they what’s the point – there no other any way?

This is not to promote distain for each other, not me trying to convince or covert you, just me trying to understand why this ideas could be truth beyond the point of just “exhaustive quotes”. Which is why I asked specifically to make sure that I understood you correctly.

-- Anonymous, May 01, 2001

I am not aware of "hundreds more that imply more than one." Because that simply isn't true. Its a straw man.

Galatians 4:8 reads, "Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods." In other words, there is only one "God" who is God by nature, that is, only one who has the attributes the Bible ascribes to God (Omnipotence, Omniscience, Omnipresence, Immutability, Eternality). Which explains the first commandment quite nicely: God desires we worship Him and not these demonic impostors which are not gods by nature and do not possess the powers or attributes of the one true God, and are not worthy of our worship.

In 1 Corinthians 8:4-6 we find this: "As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one. For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,) But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him."

Often Mormons use the middle verse, verse 5, to show there are "gods many, and lords many." But the context is very clear in saying just the opposite. Though these beings may be called gods, they in fact are not gods, for "there is none other God but one." Again, only one God who is God in his very nature. All the others are demonic pretenders.

Which is also what we find in 2 Corinthians 4:4. We are told that the "god of this world" has blinded men to the Gospel. Now certainly this cannot be the one whom the Mormons believe to be the "god of this world" (Heavenly Father, aka Elohim), for why would he be blinding men to the Gospel? It is plain from the passage that the "god of this world" must be none other than Satan himself. Since we know that even in Mormon theology Satan does not have godhood, he is obviously therefore just another pretender. A would-be god, but not a god by nature. That also brings up another rather big difficulty - Mormons proudly claim they only worship the "god of this world." Which "god of this world" would that be, since Biblically this title is only given to one being?

Personally, I would weigh in with what the Bible says on the subject of there being only one God, and not what some would-be prophet says.

---

With regard to the other question, of Jesus using sarcasm, you wrote, I don’t believe that Christ meant to “tear flesh or cut,” which mostly describes sarcasm. Strange, this same Jesus who called the Pharisees a brood of vipers, whitewashed tombs, and went about attacking them with a whip, wouldn't also use sarcasm. It's certainly not the first time we've seen in the Bible a man of God using sarcasm. Consider if you will Elijah, when he confronted the prophets of Baal. "Maybe your god is deaf! Yell a little louder! Maybe he went on vacation! Maybe he went to the bathroom!"

-- Anonymous, May 01, 2001

John,

Thanks for the reply. It's some somewhat reasonable with your conclusion a "pretender." How would that idea fit into the commandment at Ex 20?

About the 100's of others, there are references that are listed in Strong's concordance. The "pretender" concept would fit many of them though. They may be "strawmen" as you put it, but never the less "real" to those who followed such, even today.

As for the sarcasm, I was using, or not using, it more of a atmosphere of Jesus (and us today) using His examples to teach others who are willing to learn, not nessacary as he condemned the Pharasee's and such. Though that view would be proper and did very much occur.

-- Anonymous, May 07, 2001

Exodus 20 commands the Israelites not to worship other "gods." They may be "real" to those who followed such, but they are still not truly God, they are created beings, either created by God (fallen angels) or created by the foolish minds of men, as Romans 1 says. There is only one true God (John 17:3), and only He is to be worshipped.

-- Anonymous, May 07, 2001

Btw ... I erred earlier when I called your argument a "straw man"; it was merely an assertion without proof.

A "straw man", for the uninitiated in the discipline of logic, is a logical fallacy whereby a person misstates his opponents position in a ludicrous manner, thereby making it as easy to knock over as a straw man. We use terms of logic (straw man, begging the question, ad hominem, etc.) a lot in this forum expecting everyone to know what we mean.

-- Anonymous, May 08, 2001