Mormons and Atonement

Okay, this morning while I was listening to one of my radio podcasts, the host stated that Mormons do not have an atonement. I have to clear this up a bit, because the way that Mormons use the term atonement is different than the way that Christians use the word Atonement. Here is what I was taught about the word atonement:

Atonement: To be "at one" with Christ. I was raised believing that the atonement meant in one aspect, while Jesus was in the garden of Gethsemane, He experienced every sin that anyone has ever committed. This meant that He could sympathize with us and help us through every struggle that we had as we were striving to become perfect. According to the Mormon belief, Jesus took on the sins of all other mortals which caused him to bleed from every pore suffering in both body and spirit. (Mormon's Doctrine and Covenants 19:18, "Which suffering caused myself, even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore, and to suffer both body and spirit—and would that I might not drink the bitter cup, and shrink— ")

"We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel. " (Mormon's Article of Faith #3)

For an idea of what the Mormons teach, you can review the Atonement of Jesus lesson plan or this more detailed atonement lesson plan on their website.

One thing that struck me as interesting as I was thinking about this earlier, is the fact that according to Mormons, through the atonement, you can become at one with Christ just as He is at one with "Heavenly Father and the Holy Ghost" -- Three personages, One purpose.

At this point I need to tell you that even though most of you who read this information will see the fallacies in the teachings, as I delve into the material to post, I struggle to keep Mormon beliefs separated from Christian beliefs. Even now, after being free from the Mormon church, if I spend too much time reviewing their theology, it starts to seem familiar again... remind you of a bible verse? (hint: "familiar spirits").

The things that Mormonism teaches can so easily seem right ("There is a way that seems right to a man..." Proverbs 14:12), but they are fallacies twisted with just enough of the truth to confuse and send you off the narrow way.

I am going to wrap this post up with one last thought about Mormon's beliefs about the atonement... According to Mormon belief, our sins are our spiritual debt and without Jesus we would pay for our sins with a spiritual death. Oh, and one last thing, Mormons believe that Everlasting Torment, etc. is temporary. How do they explain it? Well, Everlasting is a name for God, therefore it is Everlasting's Torment... make sense...?

P.S. for more information, CARM has a great article about Mormons and the Atonement.

Family and Community... with an Evangelistic Message thrown in...

If you have ever visited Utah, no doubt you have noticed a difference from "the rest of the world." One thing that I do miss about Mormonism is their focus on their families and communities. Everyone in a certain radius attends the same church every Sunday. Monthly visits by the visiting and home teachers are expected, as well as Monday night Family Home Evenings. It is no wonder so many people find it difficult to leave Mormonism. Leaving Mormonism means leaving family, friends, neighbors, etc.

Wouldn't it be amazing if this is how Christ's church operated? Isn't this how Christ's church is supposed to operate? Visiting, sharing, ministering, guiding (after all, these are all things that the Mormon church focuses on in its good works driven theology) all with the glory of God in mind and with a heart for Christ (and not trying to work our way into heaven).



http://www.mrm.org/multimedia/video/mormonisms-impossible-gospel

Truth Matters

TRUTH MATTERS: Prayer and Help For My Mother, Carol

A request has come from a brother in Christ. His mother has been diagnosed with cancer. You can learn more here: http://bloodtippedears.blogspot.com/2008/07/prayer-and-help-for-my-mom-carol.html

Regarding Good Works and Having Your Best Life Now...

We were discussing Paul and his conversion (Acts 9) in our bible study class this morning, and it hit me how great and awesome God is. He didn't have to pull me out of Mormonism, but He chose me as one of His own. I have been reading a lot of posts lately about people berating others for thinking so low of themselves and/or teaching their children to believe that they are wretched sinners. All I can think is how deluded we who call ourselves "Christians" have allowed ourselves to become. When did Christianity become all about "me"?

I am the worst of sinners and was once like the people who hold self-esteem so high and self-righteously cling to their good works. But as Paul was changed on the road to Damascus, God plucked me out of Mormonism and created in me a new person. Here is the amazing part of all of this. I do not need to tell myself that I have a purpose or that I am a good person. I do not need to listen to men speaking about how to have a better life now. I am a worthless sinner whose offerings are as filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6). However, through Jesus Christ, I am clean.

My best life is not in this life but in the life to come and my time is best spent right now raising my children for God that they may serve Him someday and also in sharing my story of how God changed me, with the hope that even one person who reads it or hears it may come to know Jesus Christ who lived a perfect life, took on the sins of the world, died on the cross, rose again, and is seated at the Right Hand of God!

"Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God. And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; " Romans 5:1-4