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The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
prints a small card that is normally entitled "Seventeen
points of the True Church." At times the front of the card
will read "Does it meet the Test?" Whatever the form,
many Christians have been handed this card. What of its claims?
Are the 17 listed points true? Do the claims made by the LDS
Church stand the test of the Bible?
This article will examine, briefly, the claims
made by this little card. It is not intended to be an in-depth
doctrinal treatise on each point, as the card hardly attempts to
be, either. Instead, it is meant to give the Christian reader
more background into just what the Mormon Church is claiming, and
how this does not in any way reflect the teachings of the Lord
Jesus Christ and the Apostles as recorded in the Word of God, the
Bible. We will follow the outline of the card itself. (Some cards
list more or fewer points. This card seems to be the most
prevalent).
#1. Christ organized the Church. Ephesians
4:11-14. This is true. However, we might ask our
Mormon friends, since Ephesians 4:11 lists evangelists and
pastors, where are these "offices" in the LDS Church?
Since "apostles" in the original Greek language refers
simply to a "sent one," does it not make sense to
understand this to refer to missionaries, the very ones who, like
Paul and Apollos, spread the word concerning Christ throughout
the entire known world? Should we not also point out that the
very same book here quoted (Ephesians) also says in chapter 3,
verse 21, that God would receive glory "in the church by
Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without
end"? How does this square with the Mormon teaching that the
Church of Jesus Christ disappeared after only a few years?
#2. The true church must bear the name of
Jesus Christ. Ephesians 5:23. Exactly how Ephesians
5:23 relates to this is difficult to say. At any rate, the point
normally made by Mormons in regard to this is that the name on
the letterhead of your church must include the phrase "Jesus
Christ." Just how official names are involved in saving
someone is again not clear. Biblically, the Church is called the
Church of Christ. It is also called the Body of Christ. Does that
mean we should make sure the phrase "Body of Christ" is
on our letterheads, also? Or is it more consistent to see that
the Church as it is expressed universally is the Church of
Christ, and the local assembly takes the name that would best
describe it - such as the Church at Rome, the Church of the
Thessalonians, the Church at Philippi? The Bible nowhere commands
us to attach a specific name to our local congregation.
Christians are Christians whether they worship in the same
building and in the exact same manner or not.
#3. The true church must have a foundation
of Apostles and Prophets. Ephesians 2:19-20. This, again, is
true, as far as it goes. Unfortunately, the LDS Church takes it
too far. The Mormons take this to mean that the true church must
have official positions entitled "Apostle" and
"Prophet," which, of course, they have. This is not
what Ephesians 2:19-20 teaches. First, the context includes
verses 21 and 22, and these must be read also. The text actually
says that the church is built on a foundation. Stop there.
The word "built" as translated in the King James
Version translates the Greek participle epoikodomethentes,
which, properly syntaxed is translated "having been
built." It is an aorist passive participle. It refers to a
past action, one that (in this case) has been completed. To say
that today we must continue to build the foundation of
apostles and prophets is to misunderstand the text. Next, we
would like to point out that the Bible identifies Jesus Christ as
the foundation (1 Corinthians 3:10-11). The Church is built upon
this foundation, and is continually growing unto an
"holy temple in the Lord." The question must be asked,
how many times does one lay a foundation? If one is continually
laying a foundation, how will the house be built? The answer is
obvious. The Mormon Church is still trying to lay a foundation
that was laid two thousand years ago. Since this is so, it is
obvious to see that in this passage Paul is referring to
something other than a continuing office of apostle and Prophet.
The phrase "of the apostles and
prophets" is in a genitive construction that can easily give
the sense that the foundation of the apostles and prophets is
Jesus Christ Himself. This would be completely consistent with
Paul's use of themelios (foundation) in other letters.
Again we see how examining the actual text of the Bible we can
avoid errors such as the kind propagated by the Mormon Church.
One final thing. In the lists of
"offices" in the church (e.g., 1 Corinthians 12:28),
the apostles" are placed before the "prophets."
Aside from the fact that there were obviously many
"prophets" in the Church (rather than the one of the
LDS Church), it is clear that the Mormon hierarchy of Prophet
then Apostles is backwards, at least Biblically speaking. It is
also plain to see that "apostles" (literally,
"sent ones") and "prophets" functioned quite
differently than the LDS Church believes they did.
#4. The true church must have the same
organization as Christ's Church. Ephesians 4:11-14. This
point overlaps with the discussion given above. We have already
pointed out that the organization the Mormon Church has forced
upon the Bible is not an accurate understanding of just how the
ancient church was organized. As examples of this have already
been brought up, we will move on to the next point.
#5. The true church must claim divine
authority. Hebrews 5:4-10. The Christian Church does claim
divine authority, for each and every believer, male or female, is
a king and priest unto God (Revelation 1:6). However, again the
LDS Church has forced its own theology upon the Scriptures
instead of allowing the Bible to be the guide. Mormon leaders
claim to have divine authority in that they have the
"Melchizedek Priesthood." Younger men are called to the
"Aaronic Priesthood," and at age 18 they can received
the Melchizedek Priesthood. Though space does not allow a
complete discussion of the topic of the priesthoods, it should be
pointed out that the Mormon doctrine falls short of the truth at
a number of points:
1) It ignores the fact that there is no
distinction made between male and female in their relationship
with Christ. This is not to say that in the home God does not
ordain a certain order, as He obviously does. However, to claim
the stupendous things that the Mormon Church does for its
"priesthood" and yet deny those privileges to women
(and blacks for 148 years) is certainly outside Biblical
teaching.
2) It ignores the fact that the Aaronic
priesthood was fulfilled and done away with at the cross of
Calvary. When Christ died, the veil in the Temple was torn in
two, from top to bottom. The function of Aaronic priests, that of
making animal sacrifices and, once a year, going through the veil
to offer the atonement for the nation, was finished for all time.
The intermediacy of a priesthood was done away with because of
the immediate access each believer has to the throne of grace
through the shed blood of Jesus Christ. To re-establish an
organized, intermediate priesthood as the LDS Church has done,
when God has done away with it at the cross, is nothing short of
blasphemous! Though it is truly amazing to anyone who has studied
the New Testament book of Hebrews, Joseph Smith once wrote,
"...it is generally supposed that sacrifice was entirely
done away when the Great Sacrifice [i.e., the sacrifice of the
Lord Jesus] was offered up, and that there will be no necessity
for the ordinance of sacrifice in the future: but those who
assert this are certainly not acquainted with the duties,
privileges and authority of the priesthood ... These sacrifices,
as well as every ordinance belonging to the Priesthood, will,
when the Temple of the Lord shall be built, and the sons of Levi
purified, be fully restored and attended to in all their powers,
ramifications, and blessings." (Documentary History of
the Church, volume 4, page 211). Again we see the depth of
error that can be attained by ignoring the Biblical teachings on
a subject.
3) It ignores the Biblical fact that there is
but one High Priest (the Mormon Church has many), and only one
worthy to hold the Melchizedek Priesthood, that being Jesus
Christ (Hebrews 7:24-25). To claim to hold that priesthood is an
affront to the person of the Son of God.
#6. The true church must have no paid
ministry. Isaiah 45:13, 1 Peter 5:2. The reader is asked to
examine the two references given to gain yet another example of
out-of-context reading. Neither passage has anything to do with
paid or unpaid ministers. One has to do with Cyrus, king of
Persia, and the other with the motivation of the heart of the
minister. Also, note that the sections of the New Testament that
directly address this issue are ignored. Paul clearly taught that
a minister had the right to pay in return for his work (1
Corinthians 9:1-14). Paul calls it a "right" of the
minister to reap material benefit from those who receive
spiritual leadership. It might be pointed out that the leadership
of the LDS Church in Salt Lake certainly do not live unrewarded.
How does this square with their teaching?
#7. The true church must baptize by
immersion. Matthew 3:13-16. We agree. Again, however, the LDS
Church goes beyond what is written and adds to this the ideas
that 1) baptism is for remission of sins (when Jesus was
baptized, was it for remission of sins? We are forgiven of our
sins because of the blood of Christ, not the water of a baptistry
(1 Peter 1:18-21), and 2) that the only persons
"authorized" to baptize are those who hold the
"Aaronic" priesthood. This error has already been
discussed in #5 above.
#8. The true church must bestow the gift of
the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands. Acts 8:14-17. Aside
from the fact that it is Holy Spirit, not Holy Ghost, it must be
pointed out that again the LDS Church is ignoring the majority
witness of Scripture. Laying on of hands for the reception of the
Holy Spirit occurs only three times in the New Testament: Acts
8:17 as a sign of unity between the Jewish and Gentile believers,
Acts 9:17 as an identification of Saul, and Acts 19:6 where the
baptism they had undergone was not Christian baptism but the
baptism of John. In the vast majority of cases no mention is made
of any special ceremony of laying on of hands being necessary for
the Holy Spirit to come upon someone. Laying on of hands does
show unity and support of an individual, and as such there is
nothing wrong with it. But the Scriptures teach that the Holy
Spirit comes into a person's life at the point of conversion
(Romans 8:9, Acts 10:44-48), not at some secondary time later on.
If this were not so, then Romans 8:9 would be false, as it
identifies the Holy Spirit as that which makes a person Christ's
(see also Ephesians 1:10-14).
#9. The true church must practice divine
healing. Mark 3:14-15. One of the gifts of the Spirit is that
of healing (1 Corinthians 12:28). Of course, not all have this
gift (v. 29). The actual operation of the gift is seen to be a
corollary to prayer, as the special gift of touching someone was
of apostolic authority, not present today. We have seen many
people healed through the power of prayer in the Christian
church, as God still is the great physician, and He still works
miracles. However, to claim to have God on a string, and have Him
in your control so as to be able to heal anyone, is not Biblical.
Even the great apostle Paul had to pray that a close friend would
not die, as his gift was for particular uses, not personal gain
(Philippians 2:25-30, 2 Timothy 4:20).
#10. The true church must teach that God and
Jesus Christ are separate and distinct individuals. John 17:11
and John 20:17. The true church must first teach that there
is one true God. The number of passages that teach this is
astounding. Just for an example see Deuteronomy 4:35, 39, 6:4,
32:39, 1 Chronicles 16:25-26, 2 Samuel 7:22 (1 Chron. 17:20),
Psalm 86:10, Isaiah 43:10, 44:6-8, 44:24, 45:5-6, 46:9, John
17:3, 1 Corinthians 8:4-6 and so on and so on. Mormonism teaches
that there are many, many Gods, while God denies any such thing
(Isaiah 44:8). Hence, Mormonism is off track right from the
start. This is the most basic revelation of God, and when one
misses it, nothing after that will make any sense. It is true
that the Father is not the Son nor is the Son the Father. As far
as the above statement reflects this, it is true. However, the
Mormon viewpoint is that the Father and Son are two separate and
distinct individuals, and hence two separate and distinct gods
(see Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, page 370)! This is
completely contradicted by the Bible, and is based upon the error
of polytheism. Mormons cannot understand the Christian doctrine
of the Trinity because they reject the Bible's teaching of
monotheism (one God).
#11. The true church must teach that God and
Jesus Christ have bodies of flesh and bone. Luke 24:36-39 and
Acts 1:9-11. Here the Mormons take two references to the fact
that Jesus Christ became flesh (John 1:14) and infer from them
that God the Father also has a body of flesh and bone. What does
God say about this? "You thought that I was just like you; I
will reprove you, and state the case in order before your
eyes" (Psalm 50:21, NASB). "...for I am God, and not
man, the Holy One in the midst of thee..." (Hosea 11:9).
"God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of
man, that he should repent" (Numbers 23:19). Instead, Jesus
taught that God was spirit (John 4:24). God is not limited to
time and space as we are, but rather is eternal (Psalm 90:2),
unchanging (Malachi 3:6), and omnipresent (Jeremiah 23:24, 2
Chronicles 6:18). What Mormons need to realize is that the gospel
is not that man can become God, but that God became a man.
#12. The officers must be called by God.
Hebrews 5:4, Exodus 28:1, Exodus 40:13-16. As the Old
Testament passages here quoted have little to do with the New
Testament Church, we will look at Hebrews 5:4 (which also has
little to do with the subject at hand, but it's closer than the
others!). First, we agree that the leaders of the church should
be called by God, and, in the Christian church, they are.
However, again the Latter-day Saints are seen to be adding to
what is written. The Mormons interpret this within their
framework of "priesthood authority," again leading to
error. It might be asked whether their Aaronic priests are called
in the same way as was Aaron? A quick look at Exodus chapter 29
and Leviticus chapter 8 will reveal that they certainly are not!
#13. The true church must claim revelation
from God. Amos 3:7. This position can only be maintained by
ignoring what comes after Amos 3:7. Luke 16:16 says "The law
and the prophets were until John; since that time the kingdom of
God is preached...." The New Testament presents a very
different picture. Jesus Christ, the final and complete
revelation of God (Hebrews 1:13) has made "further
revelation" obsolete and unnecessary. To claim to have such
a "revelation" is to say that Jesus really wasn't what
and who He said He was, and who the Bible describes Him as being.
In actuality, it is the simple fact that Mormonism's teachings
cannot be supported from the Bible that drives the leadership to
find another source of authority. Everything that has ever
claimed to be "further revelation" has failed the test
of Scripture, including the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and
Covenants and the Pearl of Great Price.
#14. The true church must be a missionary
church. Matthew 28:19-20. We heartily agree at this point,
and are forced to ask why it is that the Mormon Church has
thrived on taking people from other churches rather than
trailblazing into unknown areas, as the Christian Church has done
for hundreds of years?
#15. The true church must be a restored
church. Acts 3:19-20. An examination of the text chosen to
represent this claim will show just how weak this argument is.
Acts chapter 3 is not in any way discussing the Church. This is
seen in two ways. First, verse 21 says that the restitution of
all things "was" spoken by the mouth of all his holy
prophets since the world began." As Paul points out in
Colossians 1:25-27, the mystery of the church was not made known
to the past ages and generations (see also 1 Peter 1:10-12),
hence this certainly is not talking about the church. Second, the
prophets spoke of the restoration of Israel to its own land, and
the restoration of the theocracy under David's Son. This is what
Peter is discussing in Acts 3. Besides all of this, we must ask
when it was that Christ returned, as verse 19 says this would
happen at the "restitution of all things." As we
pointed out, the true church founded by Christ did not fail (see
#2-#4 above).
#16. The true church must practice baptism
for the dead. 1 Corinthians 15-16 and 29. The Christian
church had never practiced baptism for the dead in the sense that
the LDS Church wants us to believe. They are forced to take 1
Corinthians 15:29 out of its context and force their own peculiar
meaning on it. First, the Bible does not teach that baptism saves
anyone (even 1 Peter 3:21, upon close examination, does not do
so), hence it certainly would not be needed to "redeem the
dead" as Mormons put it. 1 Corinthians 13:29 is found in the
"resurrection chapter." The needed clue to its meaning
is found in the language in which it was originally written, that
being Greek. The word "for" is the Greek term huper.
It refers to the taking of someone's place, or to substitution.
Baptism "for" the dead is not baptism of a living
person in behalf of or for the benefit of a dead person, but
rather the immersion of a living person in the place of or into
the former position of a now deceased person. It is the baptism
of a new convert who takes the place in the church of one who has
died. The baptism of a young child, for example, the day after an
elderly saint of the Lord has passed away could be viewed as the
younger person coming to "fill" the position of the
person who has gone home to be with the Lord. This vein of
thinking is carried on in the context when Paul says in the next
verse, "Why are we also in danger every hour?" (NASB).
Being a Christian in those days was a dangerous business. Paul's
whole point in the entire passage has to do with the fact that if
the dead are not raised (v. 12) there is absolutely no point in
bringing new converts into this dangerous position through
baptism when there is no future life to promise them, no reward
in the future for their faithfulness. Why not just let everyone
die off without filling their positions in the church, since, if
there is no resurrection, "we are of all men most to be
pitied" (v. 19). Belief in baptizing the living to somehow
help in saving the dead demonstrates a complete misunderstanding
of the New Testament teaching concerning the nature, extent, and
purpose of salvation.
#17. By their fruits ye shall know them.
Matthew 7:20. Indeed, but that is not the only test we are
given, thankfully. We know people of many religions, and many of
them are kind, decent, moral, loving people. Does this mean that
they are all right? Of course not. At the same time, we know
people of many different religions that are mean, nasty,
unloving, hateful, dishonest, etc. and etc. Does that mean those
religions are false? No, it doesn't. We know Mormons that fit in
both the above categories. Does this prove Mormonism true or
false? Neither. Instead, we are given other tests to utilize. The
main one is, what do you teach concerning Jesus Christ (e.g.,
Colossians 2:8-9)? The Mormon Church teaches that Jesus is the
spirit brother of Lucifer (see, for example, "Ensign",
June 1986, page 25). This is completely untrue, as the Bible
says Jesus created all things (John 1:3, Colossians 1:16-17),
which would include Lucifer (Ezekiel 28:13-15). Hence, how can
the Creator be the spirit-brother of his creation? Such is
nonsense. The fruit of this teaching is falsehood concerning the
person of Jesus Christ. Again, even using the test prescribed by
the LDS Church, we find Mormonism wanting.
This little card ends with, "Why are these
things important? HEBREWS 13:8." Yes, Jesus Christ is the
same yesterday, today and forever. How different from the Mormon
teaching that God was once a man who evolved (or progressed) to
Godhood! Much more important than this is the dire warning of the
Bible: "But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any
other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you,
let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If
any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have
received, let him be accursed" (Galatians 1:8-9). Those are
serious words indeed. and the LDS people would do well to heed
them.
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