"Dear friend, I hope all is well with you and that you are as healthy in body as you are strong in spirit" (3 John 1:2), “‘For I will restore health to you,
and your wounds I will heal,’ declares the Lord” (Jeremiah 30:17a).
Unfortunately the 2nd one is a little out of context, as it is talking about Jerusalem, but I think the principal applies.
Well I am at the library working on my exegetical paper and Mormons got briefly mentioned at the study table. This caused me to think back to that one verse which Mormon’s used to justify the 2nd group of Israelites who went to Central America. That verse is John 10:16
16 I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.
Those other sheep are supposed to reference those people, and they have several references to this verse by Joseph Smith where he states the people “understood [Jesus] not” when he said this. But if you stop taking verses out of context and look at what Jesus is saying, you see that he is talking to Pharisees and Jews. When you look at the figurative meaning of “sheep pen” and bringing them together as “one flock”, you have to think a little. Although not necessarily a complete rock solid evaluation, I would say that logically you could say that if those other sheep being not of that pen meant a separation of distance, then by bringing them together as one flock would be removing that physical separation. On the other hand, if that was a social and spiritual separation (as was the perceived separation between Jews and Gentiles), then that would be bridged. Well, that other flock in Central America died, so that never happened, while on the other hand, Jesus did bring together the Jews and Gentiles as God’s loving grace spread unto both! Isn’t it wonderful!
But it is so so terrible how misled the Mormon’s are! The devil is so freakin crafty! Why do we keep this truth from our misled friends!?!
Listen to their sermons, probably read their books, ie. Crazy Love. I know C.S. Lewis and other people are awesome too, but I’m counting just the live people who are within my limited perspective.
http://www.cornerstonesimi.com/special/media_player.html
http://www.desiringgod.org/resource-library/
http://www.desiringgod.org/resource-library/conference-messages/why-we-all-need-the-gospel
This last link I believe I have already posted, but I just love it. It is a scripturally supported sermon, and it should be something that we could easily get from our own reading. It is so simple, yet essential, but still somehow missed by the Church, and by the church, I mean people in church, not the organization.
If you disagree, listen to Francis Chan’s sermon first, then tell me why you disagree. Do you (dis)agree?
