![FairMormon Logo](https://www.fairlatterdaysaints.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/2021_fair_logo_primary.png)
FAIR is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing well-documented answers to criticisms of the doctrine, practice, and history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
m |
m (→top: Bot replace {{FairMormon}} with {{Main Page}} and remove extra lines around {{Header}}) |
||
(12 intermediate revisions by 4 users not shown) | |||
Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
− | {{ | + | {{Main Page}} |
− | {{ | + | <onlyinclude> |
− | + | {{H2 | |
− | + | |L=Evangelical witnessing to Mormons/Craig Blomberg - Jesus to the Mormons | |
+ | |H=Response to "Dr. Craig Blomberg's 'Top Ten Things Jesus Would Say to Mormons'" | ||
+ | |S=Dr. Craig Blomberg, a noted Evangelical scholar, gave a speech in which he discussed ten things which he claims Jesus would tell Latter-day Saints. These points have been summarized here. Unlike many critics of the Church of Jesus Christ, Dr. Blomberg is known for his more balanced views and sincere desire for Christian engagement, as evidenced in a book which he coauthored with Stephen Robinson, How Wide the Divide. However, FAIR will not presume to put words in Jesus' mouth save those recorded in scripture. Dr. Blomberg's comments are worthy of response, since they demonstrate how even a sincere and relatively well-informed critic can misunderstand and even misrepresent issues important to the Latter-day Saints. | ||
+ | |L1= | ||
+ | }} | ||
+ | </onlyinclude> | ||
<!-- Begin Left Column --> | <!-- Begin Left Column --> | ||
{| style="border-spacing:8px;margin:0px -8px" | {| style="border-spacing:8px;margin:0px -8px" | ||
Line 13: | Line 18: | ||
Dr. Craig Blomberg, a noted Evangelical scholar, gave a [http://www.soundliving.org/sermons/mp3_files/20070722.m3u speech] in which he discussed ten things which he claims Jesus would tell Latter-day Saints. These points have been [http://ldstalk.wordpress.com/2007/08/27/the-top-10-things-jesus-would-say-to-mormons/ summarized here]. Unlike many critics of the Church of Jesus Christ, Dr. Blomberg is known for his more balanced views and sincere desire for Christian engagement, as evidenced in a book which he coauthored with Stephen Robinson, ''How Wide the Divide''. | Dr. Craig Blomberg, a noted Evangelical scholar, gave a [http://www.soundliving.org/sermons/mp3_files/20070722.m3u speech] in which he discussed ten things which he claims Jesus would tell Latter-day Saints. These points have been [http://ldstalk.wordpress.com/2007/08/27/the-top-10-things-jesus-would-say-to-mormons/ summarized here]. Unlike many critics of the Church of Jesus Christ, Dr. Blomberg is known for his more balanced views and sincere desire for Christian engagement, as evidenced in a book which he coauthored with Stephen Robinson, ''How Wide the Divide''. | ||
− | + | FairMormon will not presume to put words in Jesus' mouth save those recorded in scripture, but Dr. Blomberg's comments are worthy of response, since they demonstrate how even a sincere and relatively well-informed critic can misunderstand and even misrepresent issues important to the Latter-day Saints. | |
This list of concerns would perhaps be better thought of as the "Top Ten Things Jesus Would Say To Mormons...If He Were a Conservative Evangelical Christian." That is, Dr. Blomberg assumes that his own theological views are givens, and reads them into the texts upon which he draws to reprove members of the Church. | This list of concerns would perhaps be better thought of as the "Top Ten Things Jesus Would Say To Mormons...If He Were a Conservative Evangelical Christian." That is, Dr. Blomberg assumes that his own theological views are givens, and reads them into the texts upon which he draws to reprove members of the Church. | ||
Line 53: | Line 58: | ||
Dr. Blomberg is reading his own theology into scripture; it is simply not there, as [[Godhead_and_the_Trinity|virtually all scholars]] have long recognized. | Dr. Blomberg is reading his own theology into scripture; it is simply not there, as [[Godhead_and_the_Trinity|virtually all scholars]] have long recognized. | ||
− | |||
− | |||
{{SectionHeading1start}}(7b) Salvation by grace alone{{SectionHeading1end}} | {{SectionHeading1start}}(7b) Salvation by grace alone{{SectionHeading1end}} | ||
Line 71: | Line 74: | ||
'''''To learn more''''' | '''''To learn more''''' | ||
− | + | * [[Mormonism and Christianity/Grace and works|Grace and works]] | |
{{SectionHeading1start}}(7c) Renewed emphasis on the Bible?{{SectionHeading1end}} | {{SectionHeading1start}}(7c) Renewed emphasis on the Bible?{{SectionHeading1end}} | ||
Line 77: | Line 80: | ||
This statement implies that Latter-day Saints have somehow recently rediscovered the Bible, or are giving it greater preference than before. This seems unlikely. Most early Latter-day Saint teaching drew on the Bible, even in preference to the Book of Mormon. (To first generation members of the Church, the Book of Mormon was seen more as an evidence of Joseph Smith's prophetic calling and as a tool for conversion, providing proof that God continued to reveal truth to humankind. Most members remained more familiar with the Bible than the new scripture.) Latter-day Saints have been long encouraged to make scripture study a daily practice, and Latter-day Saint Sunday Schools have traditionally focused on the Bible during two out of every four years. | This statement implies that Latter-day Saints have somehow recently rediscovered the Bible, or are giving it greater preference than before. This seems unlikely. Most early Latter-day Saint teaching drew on the Bible, even in preference to the Book of Mormon. (To first generation members of the Church, the Book of Mormon was seen more as an evidence of Joseph Smith's prophetic calling and as a tool for conversion, providing proof that God continued to reveal truth to humankind. Most members remained more familiar with the Bible than the new scripture.) Latter-day Saints have been long encouraged to make scripture study a daily practice, and Latter-day Saint Sunday Schools have traditionally focused on the Bible during two out of every four years. | ||
− | '''''To learn more: | + | '''''To learn more:''''' |
* [[Bible basics]] | * [[Bible basics]] | ||
Line 125: | Line 128: | ||
'''''To learn more''''' | '''''To learn more''''' | ||
− | + | [[Mormonism and Christianity/Grace and works|Grace]] | |
{{SectionHeading1start}}#2: On judgment day all that will really matter is that you have accepted me as Savior and Lord. . . and it has to be both.{{SectionHeading1end}} | {{SectionHeading1start}}#2: On judgment day all that will really matter is that you have accepted me as Savior and Lord. . . and it has to be both.{{SectionHeading1end}} | ||
Line 140: | Line 143: | ||
'''''To learn more''''' | '''''To learn more''''' | ||
− | + | [[Mormonism and Christianity/Grace and works|Grace]] | |
{{SectionHeading1start}}#1: I love you and really do want you to be part of my forever family.{{SectionHeading1end}} | {{SectionHeading1start}}#1: I love you and really do want you to be part of my forever family.{{SectionHeading1end}} | ||
Line 150: | Line 153: | ||
Instead, God continues to speak in our day, answers prayers, provides scripture, and gives living prophets and apostles to teach modern Christians just as He did for the people of God throughout the Bible. | Instead, God continues to speak in our day, answers prayers, provides scripture, and gives living prophets and apostles to teach modern Christians just as He did for the people of God throughout the Bible. | ||
− | Dr. Blomberg and all others are invited to enjoy the blessings which come from an enhanced appreciation and understanding of Jesus and His will for us, which will | + | Dr. Blomberg and all others are invited to enjoy the blessings which come from an enhanced appreciation and understanding of Jesus and His will for us, which will complement the truths they have already accepted from the Bible. |
{{SectionHeading1start}}Endnotes{{SectionHeading1end}} | {{SectionHeading1start}}Endnotes{{SectionHeading1end}} | ||
+ | <references /> | ||
<!-- End Left Column --> | <!-- End Left Column --> | ||
Line 159: | Line 163: | ||
|} | |} | ||
{{DoYouHaveQuestions}} | {{DoYouHaveQuestions}} | ||
− | |||
− | |||
− |
Summary: Dr. Craig Blomberg, a noted Evangelical scholar, gave a speech in which he discussed ten things which he claims Jesus would tell Latter-day Saints. These points have been summarized here. Unlike many critics of the Church of Jesus Christ, Dr. Blomberg is known for his more balanced views and sincere desire for Christian engagement, as evidenced in a book which he coauthored with Stephen Robinson, How Wide the Divide. However, FAIR will not presume to put words in Jesus' mouth save those recorded in scripture. Dr. Blomberg's comments are worthy of response, since they demonstrate how even a sincere and relatively well-informed critic can misunderstand and even misrepresent issues important to the Latter-day Saints.
|
|
|
FAIR is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing well-documented answers to criticisms of the doctrine, practice, and history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
We are a volunteer organization. We invite you to give back.
Donate Now