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 "Search for the Truth DVD:Who Is Jesus?"
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− | The video avoided quoting any of the many LDS statements about Jesus Christ which would allow the LDS and their scriptures to speak for themselves. Instead, the DVD focused on a few ideas out of context, while assuming that the non-biblical creeds—to which the producers and contributors apparently subscribe—are the proper (and only) interpretation of the Bible. | + | The video avoided quoting any of the many LDS statements about Jesus Christ which would allow the LDS and their scriptures to speak for themselves. Instead, the DVD focused on a few ideas out of context, while assuming that the non-biblical (extra-biblical) creeds—to which the producers and contributors apparently subscribe—are the proper (and only) interpretation of the Bible. |
The LDS believe that Jesus Christ's role is central to our Heavenly Father's plan. Christ is unique in several respects from all other beings and spirit children of God: | The LDS believe that Jesus Christ's role is central to our Heavenly Father's plan. Christ is unique in several respects from all other beings and spirit children of God: | ||
* Jesus is God (See [http://scriptures.lds.org/john/1/1#2 John 1:1-2], [http://scriptures.lds.org/heb/1/6#6 Hebrews 1:6], [http://scriptures.lds.org/1_ne/11/16#26 1 Nephi 11:16–26], [http://scriptures.lds.org/dc/76/13#13 D&C 76:13]). | * Jesus is God (See [http://scriptures.lds.org/john/1/1#2 John 1:1-2], [http://scriptures.lds.org/heb/1/6#6 Hebrews 1:6], [http://scriptures.lds.org/1_ne/11/16#26 1 Nephi 11:16–26], [http://scriptures.lds.org/dc/76/13#13 D&C 76:13]). | ||
− | * Jesus was and is perfect | + | * Jesus was and is perfect (sinless) (See [http://scriptures.lds.org/heb/4/15 Hebrews 4:15]), |
* Jesus is the Creator (See [http://scriptures.lds.org/john/1/3#3 John 1:3], [http://scriptures.lds.org/heb/1/1#6 Hebrews 1:1–6], [http://scriptures.lds.org/mosiah/3/3#3 Mosiah 3:3], [http://scriptures.lds.org/hel/14/12#12 Helaman 14:12], [http://scriptures.lds.org/moses/2/1#1 Moses 2:1]). | * Jesus is the Creator (See [http://scriptures.lds.org/john/1/3#3 John 1:3], [http://scriptures.lds.org/heb/1/1#6 Hebrews 1:1–6], [http://scriptures.lds.org/mosiah/3/3#3 Mosiah 3:3], [http://scriptures.lds.org/hel/14/12#12 Helaman 14:12], [http://scriptures.lds.org/moses/2/1#1 Moses 2:1]). | ||
* Jesus obeyed the Father in all things (See [http://scriptures.lds.org/3_ne/1/11#11 3 Nephi 11:11]). | * Jesus obeyed the Father in all things (See [http://scriptures.lds.org/3_ne/1/11#11 3 Nephi 11:11]). | ||
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Latter-day Saints find such a characterization misleading and offensive because it implies that LDS believe Joseph Smith is comparable to Jesus. LDS believe Jesus is God the Son as described in the New Testament and ''worship'' Him as such. LDS do ''not'' believe that Joseph Smith is God. We don't ''worship'' Joseph Smith just as other Christians don't ''worship'' Martin Luther. LDS ''revere'' Joseph Smith and hold him in high esteem, just as many Protestants do of Martin Luther and Catholics do the Pope. | Latter-day Saints find such a characterization misleading and offensive because it implies that LDS believe Joseph Smith is comparable to Jesus. LDS believe Jesus is God the Son as described in the New Testament and ''worship'' Him as such. LDS do ''not'' believe that Joseph Smith is God. We don't ''worship'' Joseph Smith just as other Christians don't ''worship'' Martin Luther. LDS ''revere'' Joseph Smith and hold him in high esteem, just as many Protestants do of Martin Luther and Catholics do the Pope. | ||
− | More properly, there is a great contrast between the non-biblical ''creeds'' and the scriptural record of God in the Bible as understood by the Latter-day Saints. The Saints have no quarrel with the Bible—they love and revere it as part of God's word to His children. They do not accept, however, the later additions of the creeds. | + | More properly, there is a great contrast between the non-biblical ''creeds'' describing the nature of God and the scriptural record of God in the Bible as understood by the Latter-day Saints. The Saints have no quarrel with the Bible—they love and revere it as part of God's word to His children. They do not accept, however, the later additions of the creeds. |
− | Just because the Saints' interpretation of some biblical passages does not match those of some other denominations does not mean that Mormons are not Christian or that they do not worship | + | Just because the Saints' interpretation of some biblical passages does not match those of some other denominations does not mean that Mormons are not Christian or that they do not worship Jesus of the Bible. Were this the case, there could be no Christians, since every Christian faith differs from some other group in the interpretation of some Bible passages. |
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'''To read more:''' | '''To read more:''' | ||
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− | This claim illustrates the source of the critics' attack on the Church, which has nothing to do with the Bible itself. Dr. Roberts and the video's producers are ''creedal Christians.'' That is, they accept beliefs which were formulated by councils hundreds of years after Christ's resurrection in an attempt to define the nature of God and Christ. The Latter-day Saints do not accept many of these creeds because they: | + | This claim illustrates the source of the critics' attack on the Church, which has nothing to do with the Bible itself. Dr. Roberts and the video's producers are ''creedal Christians.'' That is, they accept beliefs which were formulated by councils of men hundreds of years after Christ's resurrection in an attempt to define the nature of God and Christ. The Latter-day Saints do not accept many of these creeds because they: |
# are not found in the Holy Bible or other scripture | # are not found in the Holy Bible or other scripture | ||
# were not taught or believed by Jesus or the early Christians | # were not taught or believed by Jesus or the early Christians | ||
# were developed only with the addition of non-scriptural ideas and concepts (e.g., Greek philosophy) | # were developed only with the addition of non-scriptural ideas and concepts (e.g., Greek philosophy) | ||
− | Dr. Roberts believes that his creedal beliefs are scriptural, thus his appeal to later Christian history as authority in the above statement. The Latter-day Saints and many Christian scholars of religious history believe otherwise—they realize and admit that non-scriptural ideas had to be added to the Bible to formulate the creeds. | + | Dr. Roberts believes that his creedal beliefs are scriptural (based on a particular interpretation of Bible verses), thus his appeal to later Christian history as authority in the above statement. The Latter-day Saints and many Christian scholars of religious history believe otherwise—they realize and admit that non-scriptural ideas had to be added to the Bible to formulate the creeds. |
Latter-day Saints accept the witness that Jesus was God in the flesh and eternal with God, for this is the testimony of scripture. They do not accept the later additions of being "coequal uncreated," (though they understand 'uncreated' in a different sense than the creeds, as mentioned below). | Latter-day Saints accept the witness that Jesus was God in the flesh and eternal with God, for this is the testimony of scripture. They do not accept the later additions of being "coequal uncreated," (though they understand 'uncreated' in a different sense than the creeds, as mentioned below). | ||
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Pastor McCarney advocates the doctrine of creation out of nothing—sometimes called ''creatio ex nihilo.'' This doctrine holds that only God existed, and He created all other beings and things out of absolute nothiness. | Pastor McCarney advocates the doctrine of creation out of nothing—sometimes called ''creatio ex nihilo.'' This doctrine holds that only God existed, and He created all other beings and things out of absolute nothiness. | ||
− | This doctrine is not biblical, but draws again on the influence of Greek thought in later Christian centuries—the Latter-day Saints therefore do not accept | + | This doctrine is not biblical, but draws again on the influence of Greek thought in later Christian centuries—the Latter-day Saints therefore do not accept biblical interpretations which rely on later creeds. |
'''To read more:''' | '''To read more:''' | ||
− | * [[Creatio ex nihilo|Creation out of nothing]]: A non- | + | * [[Creatio ex nihilo|Creation out of nothing]]: A non-biblical doctrine from the second century A.D. |
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Revision as of 22:10, 24 March 2007
Who Is Jesus? |
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