A
CLASH OF CONVICTIONS
by
D.
E. Cunningham
A
Message for My Mormon Friends
Acknowledgements
A special note of love and
gratitude to the following people:
Pastor Frank:
Thank you for having the courage to confront me with the truth; for
being instrumental in breaking the generational curse
which held my
family captive for far too long. You are a true
warrior; battling in
the name of the Lord for the souls of men.
Pastor Kestor:
Thank you for showing me the heart of God; a heart that loves me
completely and unconditionally just the way I am.
Pastor Scarrow:
Thank you for showing me that there is so much more of God
to experience; for helping me press into a deeper
relationship with Him.
Thank you for taking God "out of the box".
Dedication:
To Jesus Christ, the Lord and love of my life. May your name be glorified
through my words until the day I have the privilege of falling at your feet and
thanking you for saving me from the fire.
Note:
Bold type is used throughout this book for emphasis. References from 'Mormon
Doctrine' are taken from the 11th printing, 1973
edition. Scriptures are taken from the King James version of the Bible.
Introduction
This book is written in love and with the hope of helping Mormons understand
why Christian and Mormon convictions clash. Haven't you ever wondered why
Christians do not consider Mormons to be Christians as well? It doesn't
seem to make sense when the title of the Mormon church
includes the name of Jesus Christ (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day
Saints) and Mormons uphold Christian values. This book seeks to answer
that question by first laying a foundation built on logic, reasoning,
information, and fact. Answering the question before laying the
foundation will lead to misunderstanding, so please read each chapter in
order.
If a
Christian friend or family member has given you this book, it is because they
love you enough to want a deeper relationship with you; one built on
understanding, not misconceptions. May this book be the catalyst for many
meaningful conversations.
Chapter 1
Perception
My grandpa
Jones was never wrong about anything; in his mind at least. If his
children made the mistake of reporting what they had learned in school, grandpa
would argue with them and tell them that their teacher didn't know what she was
talking about. It didn't matter what kind of research had been done,
Grandpa knew better. He knew more than any doctor as he frequently disregarded
their advice and did exactly what he wanted with his medications. Grandpa
made the mistake of thinking that he couldn't possibly be wrong about anything;
his perception was the only truth.
One year, when I was
teaching 6th grade, I found out that two of my students had been
involved in the theft of an item belonging to another teacher. I called
the mothers of both students. One mother said she wanted to come in and
visit with me. When she came, she began shifting the blame for her son's
behavior onto me. With her son seated beside her, she said that he didn't
think I liked him, and how was he supposed to do well in school if his teacher
didn't even like him? This student was constantly in trouble for breaking
school rules. No matter how often I would speak with him or take away
privileges, he continued his irresponsible behavior. I assured the mother
that I did indeed like her son, but there had to be consequences for his
negative behaviors. I couldn't just look the other way in regard to the
stealing incident. This mother told me that her son hadn't quot;stolen quote;
anything; he was just curious, so he took it. I was stunned by her
reasoning. I told her that he had taken something without permission that
wasn't his--which meant he had stolen something. She wouldn't agree.
The same woman had an older daughter who became upset with her volleyball coach.
While the mother watched, her daughter slapped the coach. The coach told
the girl she was off the team. The mother walked up to her daughter and
said, "It's alright, _______; I know you didn't do it." This
mother refused to believe, regardless of the evidence, that her children could
ever do anything wrong. It didn't even matter if she witnessed her
children misbehaving--she would deny it had happened. Her perception was
the only truth.
Consider the following
imaginary scenario. It begins with your neighbor's house. You
notice that there is smoke coming from one of the exterior walls of this good
man's home, and rush over to tell him. It is difficult to get him to
answer his door, as he is so busy inside. When he finally stops long
enough to listen to what you have to say, his response is, "I don't see any
smoke". You try to tell him that he could see the smoke if he would just
step outside and look. He refuses.
"This is one of the
best built homes in town, my family has lived in it for generations, and it
won't burn down. No, I won't look at the smoke because I just know there
isn't any. Stop persecuting me!" He shuts the door and you are
shocked! Why won't he look? He, his family and everything he has
ever worked for are about to go up in flames, and he won't even look! How
can he say you are persecuting him, when you are telling him the truth?
What should you do? You tried to warn him. Should you give up and
go home? You don't want to make this man your enemy, yet how can you sit
in your comfortable home while your neighbor's house is, perhaps, only minutes
away from destruction. You keep trying. You take pictures to prove
to him that his house is truly on fire.
"I don't want to look at
your pictures. I'm happy and I can't see or smell smoke." You try to
tell him that if he'd step outside and take a deep breath, he would indeed smell
the smoke. "No," he says. "Look at how well built and beautiful my
house is. I've been told all of my life by my family and important,
influential people that this house is indestructible. I like what they
say; it makes me feel good. How could all those good people be wrong?
I'm not going to believe you because what you are saying is making me feel
uncomfortable. Besides, if I were to find out that you are right, then I
might have to leave this house. I'm not willing to do that. After
all, where would I go and what would people say? I'd simply rather
believe there is no problem. I don't care what kind of proof you have, I
can't be wrong."
People like my
grandfather, the 6th grader's mother and the imaginary neighbor, are
very frustrating. Are we like them? Do we view our perceptions as
truth and refuse to look at other viewpoints or facts which may contradict our
perceptions? Do we look at other viewpoints with an open mind, or are we
like the neighbor who is so certain that he is right, that he will risk
sacrificing himself and his family to prove it--despite the facts? If you
have been taught that it is wrong or faith defeating to read or study anything
that doesn't agree with your religious views, then you have
been given some very ungodly advice.
1 Thessalonians 5:21 "Prove all things; hold fast that which is good."
2 Timothy
2:15 "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman
that
needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word
of truth."
Acts 17:11
"These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they
received the word with all readiness of mind, and
searched the
scriptures daily, whether those things were so."
God expects us to study to
find truth. The scriptures encourage us to do so. Can our religious beliefs
stand up to studying and testing? If we firmly believe that we have the
truth, then we will not be afraid to study other viewpoints or beliefs, for in
that research we will further prove that our beliefs are right, or we will find
our way out of a false conviction. It is foolish to deal with situations
in which our religious beliefs and perceptions of God are questioned by simply
getting mad, tossing aside well-researched and documented materials, and
refusing to deal with the facts. Far too many people would rather stick
their heads in the sand than to come to terms with difficult questions; they
take the coward's way out. We can't afford to have grandpa's perception and
think that we already know it all. Pride will close the door to truth,
and truth is the only way to God.
Millions of people
may agree with our religious beliefs, but that doesn't mean we are right.
If what we believe goes against God's word--it isn't God who is wrong. If
we find out that God's word contradicts our way of thinking or our lifestyle,
we must make a choice. We can ignore the truth and pretend there isn't a
problem (God is wrong and I am right) or we can step out in courage and make
the necessary changes in our lives. For me to presume that God could be
wrong is utterly absurd. Could I possibly know better than God, who is
all-seeing, all-knowing, and perfect in wisdom and love? If following God
means we risk losing family, friends, or a job, do we have the courage to do
it, or will we take the coward's way out?
"Whosoever
therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess
also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever
shall deny me
before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in
heaven
Think not that
I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send
peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at
variance against his
father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter
in law
against her mother in law. And a man's foes shall be they
of his own
household. He that loveth
father or mother more than me is not
worthy
of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more
than me is
not
worthy of me. And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth
after
me, is not worthy of me." (Matthew
10: 32-38)
I believe that into
every life there comes at least one monumental moment; a moment at which a
choice is made that will forever change the direction of life. One moment when the testing of character will determine courage or
cowardice. One appointed moment that affects an eternity.
This book is based on the
truths in God's Holy Bible. My opinions are of no consequence, but
God's words are life changing and soul saving! I believe that God waits
patiently as we approach our monumental moments; moments in which we must
choose courage or cowardice; eternal life or a comfortable life.
Chapter
2
Common Ground
Would you, without question, believe a friend who told you that eating green,
leafy lettuce is unhealthy for your body? Would you
believe it if your mother or a religious leader told you the same thing?
I would certainly hope that before you simply quit eating lettuce, you would do
a little research. Just because you love and respect your friend, your
mother and your leader, doesn't mean they couldn't be wrong. Many people
have based their acceptance or lack of acceptance of the Bible on the beliefs
of their parents, friends, or leaders, without checking out the facts.
I know that you believe the Bible to be the word of God--as far as it is
translated correctly. It is part of the "standard works" of the Mormon
Church. Christians believe the Bible to be the undisputed word of
God. I decided a few years ago to research the Bible. Just how much
of it could I believe? Were there parts that hadn't been translated or
transmitted correctly? If so, which parts? What I found was
absolutely incredible! Let me share just a few things I have learned
about our common book of scripture.
The Bible is unique in so many ways. Its theme and purpose are consistent
from Genesis to Revelations. This is quite remarkable when you consider
that the Bible was written over a 1500-year span (1400 B.C. -- 100 A.D), by 40
different men, on three continents (Europe, Asia,
The circulation and translation of the Bible are unique. This book has
been read by more people and published in more languages than any other
book. It was the first book translated, and has been translated and
retranslated more than any other book in existence. Currently, the Bible
has been translated into more than 2,200 languages!
The Bible is unique in its survival. The Jewish people preserved these
manuscripts as no other. Only certain special classes of men in their
culture were allowed to preserve and transmit these documents. These men
were expected to do so with perfection. They actually counted the
letters, syllables, words and paragraphs to make certain they had copied
everything correctly! In comparison with other ancient writings, there is
by far more manuscript evidence for the Bible than for any other piece of
classical literature. For example, there are over 24,000 manuscripts in
existence today which show how accurately the New Testament has been
transmitted--copied and recopied down through the ages. Scholars list the
accuracy of the New Testament at 98 -- 99%. The book with the next
greatest number of manuscript evidences is Homer's "Iliad", with fewer than 650
Greek manuscripts.
The problem with the Old Testament was that before 1947, the oldest complete
extant (existing) Hebrew manuscript was dated at around 900 A.D. Many
changes could have occurred during this period of time. However, with the
discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls in 1947, manuscripts were found which
scholars dated at before the time of Christ. In fact, every book of the
Old Testament has been found within the Dead Sea Scrolls except the book of
Esther. Scholar after scholar has stated that the manuscripts they have
studied show that the standard Hebrew Bible we have today lines up within 95%
to these ancient manuscript writings. The variations they found consisted
of slips of the pen and variations in spelling. What does this mean? It
means that the Old Testament we have today is the same Old Testament that Jesus
quoted from. If there had been errors in it, wouldn't He have fixed them
instead of quoting from them?
The Bible is unique in its prophecies. It is the only book in which is
found a large number of prophecies relating to individual nations, to
Archaeology has shown the Bible's history and geography to be accurate.
This book is absolutely incredible! Archaeological artifacts have never
contradicted any statement in the Bible. Not only do we have all the above
evidences (and more) for the reliability of the Bible, but we have God's
promises to preserve His word:
Isaiah 40:8 "The grass withereth, the flower fadeth:
but the word of
our God shall stand for ever."
Matthew 5:18
"For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one
jot or one tittle
shall in no wise pass from the law, till all
be fulfilled."
Matthew 16:18
"And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and
upon
this rock I will build my church; and the gates
of hell
shall not prevail against it."
Matthew 24:35
"Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall
not pass away."
Luke 16:17 "And it is easier
for heaven and earth to pass, than one
tittle of the law to
fail."
1 Peter
1:25
"But the word of the Lord endureth for ever.
And this
is the word which by the gospel is preached unto
you."
In summary, the Bible has not been mistranslated (from one language to another)
or transmitted incorrectly (taking a document from one time period to
another). All the evidences prove quite the opposite. Dr. Gleason
Archer, in his book, "Encyclopedia of Bible Difficulties," has stated:
"There is a good and sufficient answer in Scripture itself to refute every
charge
that has ever been leveled against it. But this
is only to be expected from the
kind of book the Bible asserts itself to be, the inscripturation of the infallible, inerrant Word of the
Living God."
People I have encountered who
claim the Bible has not been correctly
translated, and is, therefore, full of errors, simply have not done their
research. They have relied upon statements made by others, instead of
checking out the facts. My experience has been that people who claim the
Bible to be full of contradictions are:
a) not familiar with the Bible or historical
Christianity.