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.
Difference between revisions of "Evangelical witnessing to Mormons/Craig Blomberg - Jesus to the Mormons"
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+ | |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. | ||
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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. | ||
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Latter-day Saints who practice Bible study know that the idea of God being "one God in three persons" is [[Godhead_and_the_Trinity|nowhere taught in the Bible]]. It is also not taught in the Book of Mormon. Bible scholars are unanimous that these ideas are not to be found in the Bible, or in Christian history for more than two centuries after Christ's resurrection. Jesus himself and the apostles were not Nicene Trinitarians, and neither were any Bible writers or first century Christians: | Latter-day Saints who practice Bible study know that the idea of God being "one God in three persons" is [[Godhead_and_the_Trinity|nowhere taught in the Bible]]. It is also not taught in the Book of Mormon. Bible scholars are unanimous that these ideas are not to be found in the Bible, or in Christian history for more than two centuries after Christ's resurrection. Jesus himself and the apostles were not Nicene Trinitarians, and neither were any Bible writers or first century Christians: | ||
− | :Thus the New Testament itself is far from any doctrine of the Trinity or of a triune God who is three co-equal Persons of One Nature. | + | :Thus the New Testament itself is far from any doctrine of the Trinity or of a triune God who is three co-equal Persons of One Nature.<ref>William J. Hill, ''The Three-Personed God'' (Washington DC: The Catholic University of America Press, 1982), 27.</ref> |
− | :The New Testament does not contain the developed doctrine of the Trinity. | + | :The New Testament does not contain the developed doctrine of the Trinity.<ref>''New Testament Theology'' (Grand Rapids MI, Zondervan, 1967), 1:84.</ref> |
− | :There is in them [the Apostolic Fathers], of course, no trinitarian doctrine and no awareness of a trinitarian problem." | + | :There is in them [the Apostolic Fathers], of course, no trinitarian doctrine and no awareness of a trinitarian problem."<ref>JND Kelly, ''Early Christian Doctrines'', revised edition, (New York: Harper, 1978), 95.</ref> |
− | :The Church had to wait for more than three hundred years for a final synthesis, for not until the Council of Constantinople [AD 381] was the formula of one God existing in three coequal Persons formally ratified. | + | :The Church had to wait for more than three hundred years for a final synthesis, for not until the Council of Constantinople [AD 381] was the formula of one God existing in three coequal Persons formally ratified.<ref>Edmund J. Fortman, ''The Triune God: A Historical Study of the Doctrine of the Trinity'' (Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 1972), 44.</ref> |
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. | ||
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'''''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}} | ||
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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]] | ||
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'''''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}} | ||
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'''''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}} | ||
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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}} | ||
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Latest revision as of 14:22, 13 April 2024
Response to "Dr. Craig Blomberg's 'Top Ten Things Jesus Would Say to Mormons'"
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.
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