In the book “How Wide the Divide,” Craig Blomberg from a Denver seminary and Stephen Robinson, from BYU (both have PhD’s in religion) attempt to “bridge the gap” between Evangelicals and Mormons. The first step is to have a correct understanding of what the other believes. The following is an excerpt from their book:
Since very few Latter-day Saints and Evangelicals are theologically bilingual, the same misunderstandings tend to be compounded over and over, which is grist for the mills of prejudice on both sides…(How Wide the Divide, page 14)
In an attempt for both Evangelicals and LDS people to learn about each other’s beliefs, both Blomberg and Robinson share a modern-day translation of “Articles of Faith” for both religions. I will now share their thoughts. Feel free to share yours in your comments.
LDS Articles of Faith Translated for Christians of other Faiths
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We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in God’s Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost. We accept the biblical doctrine that God is three and that God is also one, but we reject the post-New Testament attempts to explain how these two truths are to be reconciled
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We believe that humankind fell through the transgression of Adam and Eve and that humans in their present state are subject to sin, death and corruption. However, we believe that individuals are accountable for thier own sins, not for guilt inherited from Adam and Eve. We accept both divine justice and human accountability, but we do not believe in original sin.
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We believe that through the atonement of Christ, fallen humanity may be saved by accepting and obeying the gospel of Jesus Christ. No one is predestined either to salvation or to damnation; anyone may be saved who responds appropriately to the good news of Christ.
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We believe that we respond appropirately to Christ and we accept his gospel by having faith in and being faithful to Christ as Son of God and Savior, that is, by accepting him as Lord and Savior and making him Lord of and in our lives. We cannot merit salvation of ourselves, nor is it possible to “earn” the grace by which we are saved, but the obedience of faith, a godly walk and conversation, is a necessary component of faith in Christ. Jesus will save us from our sins but not with our sins. Beyond having faith in Christ, we must also repent of sin, consent to baptism by immersion for the remission of sins, and receive the regenerating and sanctifying gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands.
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We believe that the Christianity of the first century, New Testament Christianity, is true Christianity. As such, it is the only standard by which to define Chrisitanity, as opposed to defining it by post-New Testament councils and creeds. We believe that the priesthood authority, church organization, spiritual gifts, sacraments (i.e. ordinances) and doctrines of the modern church must be as they were in the New Testament church. This obviously includes the presence of apostles and prophets who receive direct, continuing revelation for the church in the world.
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We accept the Bible (the King James Version) as the inspired word of God–every book, every chapter, every verse of it–as revealed to the apostles and prophets who wrote it. We also hold the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price to be the word of God.
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We believe in the divine conception, subsitutionary atonement, sacrificial death, bodily resurrection and present glory of Jesus Christ and that he will return to this earth in judgment and in his glory to cleanse it from all wickedness and to establish his personal millennial reign. Both the saved and the lost will be resurrected, the former at Christ’s coming or during his reign, the latter at the end of th millennium.
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We believe that the church established by Christ in the New Testament was changed by later Chrisitan intellectuals who believed the simple New Testament proclamation to be inadequate. Feeling the language of Scripture to be unsophisticated, incomplete, vague, ambiguous or imprecise, the second, thrud and fourth-century church sougt to “improve” the New Testament gospel by the standards of Hellenistic philosophy, but compromised it instead.
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We believe that the Lord in preparation for his imminent second coming has “restored” New Testament Chrisitanity in the latter days through the prophet Joseph Smith. Nevertheless, all honest Christians of whatever deonmination, not just LDS Christians, will be among the saved at the last day…(How Wide the Divide, pgs 16-17)
Evangelical “Article of Faith” or “Confession Statement”
- We believe the Bible to be the inspired, the only infallible, authoritative Word of God.
- We believe that there is one God eternally existent in three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
- We believe in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, in His virgin birth, in His sinless life, in His miracles, in His vicarious and atoning death through His shed blood, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand of the Father, and His personal return in power and glory.
- We believe that for the salvation of lost and sinful man regeneration by the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential.
- We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit by whose indwelling the Christian is enabled to live a godly life.
- We believe in the resurrection of both the saved and the lost; they that are saved unto the resurrection of life and they that are lost unto the resurrection of damnation.
- We believe in the spiritual unity of believers in our Lord Jesus Christ. (How Wide the Divide pgs 29-30)
16 comments
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July 11, 2008 at 10:06 pm
Clean Cut
I have got to finish reading that book! I started it when I was able to check it out from the Provo library, but I’d be surprised to find it in a library here in Texas. Hoping to be surprised….
PS: There definitely is something to be said about being “theologically bilingual”. It would save each side a lot of frustration and promote much better mutual understanding. There is far too much misunderstanding of what we really believe.
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July 12, 2008 at 5:47 pm
Craig Blomberg
Dear Aaron:
This is outstanding. I think you have captured both sets of views extremely accurately and “bilingually.” May I have permission to reproduce this material in things I write, with appropriate documentation, of course?
Blessings,
Craig Blomberg
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July 12, 2008 at 8:40 pm
Justin
Even with the translation of LDS beliefs for evangeicals, there are Biblical problems that keep the LDS church from being accepted Christianity.
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July 13, 2008 at 10:42 am
mormonsoprano
Very enlightening!
I will have to look up a copy of that book. It appears to me that when it is listed out this way, we can clearly see that both LDS & Evangelicals have the same core beliefs. The LDS just have a few more things on their list, based upon their belief that God is speaking to the Earth again through prophets, and that He has revealed additional scripture.
You have a great site. Thank you for including me in your links and bringing readers my way! 🙂
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July 13, 2008 at 2:42 pm
ama49
#1 Clean Cut
I think you are right with saying there is much mis-understanding in the Christian community. If all Christians have heard or read are anti-Mormon messages such as “Godmakers” or other books, of course they’ll have negative feelings towards the LDS.
If all LDS people feel Christians are false and on the wrong track and if that’s all they hear, of course the LDS will have negative views towards them as well.
Both sides need to drop the prejudices and see each other as God sees us. Love each other and learn from each other. We don’t necissarily have to agree on everything, but we can definitely find a lot in common and build on it.
Thanks for your comments.
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July 13, 2008 at 2:44 pm
ama49
#2 Craig,
Wow! I wasn’t expecting to have one of the authors of the book contact me when I wrote this. Of course you can share this with your students. Thank you for your efforts to try to understand the LDS faith and people. I’m sure you’ve had some resentment come your way from the Christian community. Feel free to stop by anytime.
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July 13, 2008 at 3:47 pm
ama49
#3 Justin,
Thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts.
#4, Soprano,
Thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts as well. Thank you for the compliment.
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July 14, 2008 at 3:51 am
Craig Blomberg
#6 Aaron,
That’s the joys and sorrows of using Google Alert–you can find out what anybody on the web is saying about you. Mostly it’s joys, but you are right–there has been a small but vocal amount of hostility from fellow evangelicals, largely limited to the countercult ministries. I think they’re just too threatened by the idea of dialogue rather than confrontation.
I may be sharing your words with more than just my students, since I’m giving a talk at a conference in Illinois in October on evangelical ministry among new religions!
#1 Clean Cut,
If you can’t find How Wide the Divide in Texas, contact me (my email is readily available on the Denver Seminary website) and I’ll be happy to send you a complimentary copy! But any library should be able to do an inter-library loan for you if they don’t have it and you don’t want to buy it.
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July 14, 2008 at 5:00 am
ama49
#8 Craig,
Feel free to use this however you feel directed to in your ministries.
I’m not sure if you’ve read any of my other posts, but one of the things that I feel very directed to write about frequently is that of Mormons and Christians learning to see eye to eye. I have very close members in my family from both sides. As I’ve learned about both faiths, I’ve found it very beneficial to learn from both perspectives and it has helped me grow closer to God and have a desire to learn about Him more deeply.
This is my hope with this site that it helps people from all faiths learn and grow in God’s grace and wisdom.
Thank you again for taking the initiative to tackle this because I know how it gets sometimes out there if it appears you may be “siding” with Mormons, and I know how many Mormons get with Christians approaching them in dialogue as well, so once again thank you for your efforts.
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July 17, 2008 at 8:05 pm
wandap
I love your site and am excited by this post. There is a church in my neighborhood that is sponsoring a meet and greet function every week this summer for people of all faiths. I made up my mind to go this week to learn more; not so much about religions but the people who belong to other faiths. Hopefully we can share our love of the Savior and find common feelings to promote a relationship of love and friendship.
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July 18, 2008 at 6:29 am
ama49
#10 wandap
Thanks for stopping by and for your compliments.
That’s great you’re keeping an open mind and trying to see others how God does. You’re a good example to us all.
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July 21, 2008 at 10:43 pm
jack
I am still confused as to how the divide can be bridged when LDS believe to be members of the only true church on the face of the earth, and that to enter God’s presence, one will eventually have to become a Mormon. Eventually, ama, your desire is for non-Mormons on this site to become Mormon. If you say it’s not, then you would be going against everything the Church encourages about every member a missionary. So, how is this divide bridged when LDS missionaries all over the world are basically telling evangelical Christians that their faith is not enough to bring them into God’s presence, and that to enter God’s presence one must join the LDS Church and then go to the temple? To believe that Mormons and Christians can see eye-to-eye is not really a rational thought because the theological differences are so great that we both feel the need to evangelize each other. I have not read Mr. Blomberg’s book, but it seems that he agrees with you in that you can somehow create a Mormon/Christian hybrid that is acceptable to God. What you’re talking about is synchretism, which the Israelites did throughout their history and which was an abomination to God. One who believes in a god with a beginning and a need for redemption will never be able to see eye-to-eye with one who believes in a God without beginning, Who has always been God–never a man–and Who will always be God. The Creator has never been created. These differences are not merely in the realm of opinion where theology stands, but are significant differences in dogma. These two sides cannot be reconciled because one is true and the other false. There will always be a great divide between truth and heretical teachings. This dialog created on this site only camouflages the real differences between the two groups and does nothing to serve God and truth. How does God look at all this? You think He’s pleased because people are dialoging peacefully or something like that. I think He groans at the heresies put forth by false prophets in an attempt to lead people away from the biblical God, the biblical Jesus, and the biblical Holy Spirit, to lead people away from grace and into the bondage of a system of legalism, a system Jesus protested.
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August 26, 2008 at 1:06 pm
Rich
It is apparent that you offer a free Book of Mormon. It is not apperent, or even found, that a free Holy Bible (NIV/KJV etc.) is offered.
Balance the materials. God will sort out the wrong through His Holy Word.
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August 29, 2008 at 2:47 pm
ama49
#13
Rich, thanks for bringing up that point. Do you know any sites that offer a free Bible?
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August 30, 2008 at 11:57 am
KindaO
Do you single out the KJV because that’s the English translation that was available to Joseph Smith? I would definitely remove the version. All non-English speaking LDS use other translations, and a growing number of English-speaking LDS see merit in other translations that use earlier manuscripts and knowledge than what was available in 1611.
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October 27, 2008 at 1:15 am
Bookmarks about Evangelical
[…] – bookmarked by 4 members originally found by leighther on 2008-10-06 Evangelical Translation of LDS Articles of Faith for Evangelicals … […]
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