Evangelism is a vital component of Christian ministry. And great strides are being made in evangelism today – especially in the areas of internet evangelism and child evangelism (for example, these innovative child gospel tracts). So when a Christian ministry gives undue respect to a false gospel, it is a serious matter.
In his ever expanding crusade to preach the pseudo-gospel of universalism Billy Graham’s Evangelistic Association has taken it upon itself to redefine both Christian as well as Mormon theology.
In this segment we will consider the news, in the next we will see that according to the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association current website, Mormonism displays the characteristics of a cult.
CBS News’ Stephanie Condon reported, “Billy Graham’s organization removes Mormonism from its list of cults” (October 18, 2012 AD). To begin with, it is stated:
Influential pastor Billy Graham is signaling to evangelical Christians that they shouldn’t hesitate to vote for Mitt Romney because of his Mormon religion…
Many would say, fair enough as they are voting for a political leader and not a religious one (although for many people politics is a religion).
The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association this week removed Mormonism from its list of religious cults…Mormons consider themselves Christians, though not all of their beliefs align with mainstream Christian doctrine.
Did the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association strike a deal with Mormonism; a you remove us and we will remove you deal? That is to say that the BGEA removed Mormonism from its list of cults but did Mormonism remove Christianity from its list of cults?
You see, as is detailed in the article Mormonism is an Offensive Religion, the very founding principle, the premise, the axiom, the very first revelation allegedly received by Mormonism’s founder Joseph Smith came about when he prayed for guidance as to which demonization to join. According to Smith (that is, according to the one official version of the dozen or so different ones):
I was answered that I must join none of them, for they were all wrong; and the Personage who addressed me said that all their creeds were an abomination in his sight; that those professors were all corrupt; that: ‘they draw near to me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me, they teach for doctrines the commandments of men, having a form of godliness, but they deny the power thereof.’ He again forbade me to join with any of them…”
—Pearl of Great Price, Joseph Smith, History, 2:18-20
The CBS report continues:
…this week removed Mormonism from its list of religious cults…Mormons consider themselves Christians, though not all of their beliefs align with mainstream Christian doctrine.
This is also a change to theology as since when is a Christians a person, or religion, which considers themselves Christians? Jesus said that we would know His disciples by their fruits (Matthew 7:20) and Paul told us to watch, both, our life and doctrine (1st Timothy 4:16).
As far as life, Mormons are generally very close to traditional biblical Christianity. One notable exception is that Mormon males (in good standing, etc.) look forward to a future when they will no longer be married to their wife along but in the afterlife they will enjoy marriage and relations with numerous goddess wives.
But is it true that “not all of their beliefs align with mainstream Christian doctrine”?
The question should be, “do any of their beliefs align with mainstream Christian doctrine.” In the next segment we will detail the answer to this question but for now, consider the following as big, main, major, essentials of theology:
Christianity: there is only one true Trinitarian God; YHVH.
Mormonism: there are very many gods.
Christianity: humans come into being when YHVH creates and combines a soul and a body and will always remain human (albeit in a physically resurrected manner after death).
Mormonism: humans begin life when one of many gods and one of many goddesses give birth to them as spirit babies. The gods and goddesses create a planet on which they create human bodies into which they place the spirit baby. Human who accord to Mormon doctrines, rituals, marriage, etc. will become gods and goddesses after death. Subsequently, they will rule over a planet, produce spirit babies, and the cycle continues.
Christianity: the Bible is the inerrant word of YHVH.
Mormonism: according to Mormon article of faith number eighth, “We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God.”
So when you read the following, ask yourself just what “perfectly aligned” means:
In a column last month, Franklin Graham wrote, “So, can an evangelical Christian vote for a Mormon? My answer is yes, for if a biblically faithful evangelical could only vote for a candidate who was perfectly aligned theologically, he or she would be unable to cast a vote for president on November 6″…
This is not about being perfectly aligned but about a cult that pretends to be Christians when their theology is un-, non- and anti-biblical and un-, non- and anti-traditional, historic and biblical Christianity.
The report continues:
The association dropped the label after Romney visited Graham and his son Franklin Graham, who now runs the organization…
Theology is being scarified on the altar of politics.
Ken Barun, chief of staff for the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, told the Observer in a statement, “We removed the (cult) information from the website because we do not wish to participate in a theological debate about something that has become politicized during this campaign”…
And there is the proof: they will change the info which they provide based on politics. If they removed info based on something that has become politicized during this campaign will they remove references to abortion, same sex marriage, etc., etc., etc.?
Lastly, note that:
A Pew Research Center survey from July showed that just 60 percent of voters were aware Romney is Mormon, and the vast majority of those who were aware said it didn’t matter.
There are, at least, two reasons why it does not matter: 1) As aforementioned, some people vote based on political abilities only and disregard theology in a candidate.
2) As exemplary of our very, very low, low level of discernment as a culture (as well as manipulation by Mormons) many people claim that Mormonism is Christian because they “Believe in God, the Bible and Jesus.” They stop right there; at the point where the same words, terms, are used by Christians and Mormons. They do not, however, stop to consider that what is imperative is how those words, those terms are defined. This is important because the Moron God, Bible and Jesus are not the God, Bible and Jesus of the Bible and thus, the Christianity.
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For more info on Mormonism, see my section on Mormonism
Here are some apologetics books on Mormonism:
The 10 Most Important Things You Can Say to a Mormon by Ron Rhodes
Reasoning from the Scriptures with the Mormons by Ron Rhodes and Marian Bodine
Mormonism’s Temple of Doom by William (Bill) Schnoebelen
Also available as a DVD documentary: Mormonism’s Temple of Doom DVD
The Mormon Mirage: A Former Member Looks at the Mormon Church Today by Latayne C. Scott
One Nation Under Gods: A History of the Mormon Church by Richard Abanes
The Mormon Defenders by James Patrick Holding
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