MORMON NO MORE: Why Protestants Agree With Mormons? Part Three

"Here are some examples. [Two of eight]

Extra-Biblical beliefs

Mormons catch grief from Protestants for having beliefs that aren't explicitly taught in the Bible, like the LDS belief in eternal marriage, salvation for the dead and the three degrees of glory. Protestants hold that the Bible is the only authority on gospel doctrine.

Why Protestants agree with having extra-biblical doctrines?

There are core beliefs prevalent in traditional Protestantism that are extra-biblical. The most obvious are the Creeds......

Another extra-biblical belief is the Rapture......"
(Kelly Bingham, Why Protestants Agree With Mormons (They Just Dn't Realize It), www.moroni10.com, December 7, 2007, Brackets added)

"Creed-A brief authoritative formula of religious belief.
The Creeds and Confessions produced by the Christian Church over the centuries are not inspired additions to Scripture nor in any way replacements for the words of Christ and his apostles or the prophets which preceded them. Instead these human documents are carefully considered and usually thoughtfully worded responses to various issues, heresies and historical situations that have troubled the Church and the world over the centuries. Creeds are statements of faith that are true and authoritative insofar as they accurately reflect what Scripture teaches. Those linked here have been found useful either by the entire Church or by important segments and/or denominations of it over the ages. They are thus helpful "measuring sticks" for orthodoxy. Canons but not the canon." (http:www.creeds.net/creed.htm)

"Rapture-is a prophesied future event found primarily among conservative Protestant denominations relating to the return of Jesus. The primary passage describing the rapture is 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17. '"Rapture", in the context of eschatology, is an English word derived from the Latin rapio, "caught up" as found in the Vulgate rendering of 1 Thessalonians 4:17." (www.wikipedia.com)

"After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever." 1 Thessalonians 4:17 (The Holy Bible, NIV, italics added)

The Creeds and the Rapture are by no means "extra-biblical doctrines" as stated in the quote "Extra-Biblical beliefs".

Creeds are only statements of faith and the rapture IS scripture.

Sorry, Protestant and Mormon beliefs do not agree here either.

Handmaidens Creed

1.I believe in God the Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit as one God without beginning or end.
2.I believe the Bible to be the Holy Inspired word of God with full truth and righteousness. No other writing is.
3.I believe that the work of the Lord comes first. Before any temporal thing or person.
4.I believe that grace is a gift and Christ gives that gift freely to all who believe.
5.I believe that the beauty of a woman is contained inside of her and not by what she looks like on the outside.
6.I believe that marriage is sacred and represents the Godhead on earth; two are one just as three are one.
7.I believe that love is more powerful than any other power. Remember, God is love.
8.I believe that tithing is not a part of God's new covenant, free will offerings are. And that doesn't mean just money.
9.I believe that the Aaronic, Levitical, and Melchizedek priesthoods are abolished and Christs Holy Priesthood whom Christ is the "Great High Priest" is eternal.
10.I believe that every believer is a priest in the "Priesthood of Believers".
11.I believe that when two are one, nobody is to separate the one.
12.I believe that Christ is the only way to heaven.
13.I believe that our bodies are temples, not man made buildings.
14.I believe that liars make fools out of others and the liar hates the fool.
15.I believe that all believers are in authority to preach the gospel.
16.I believe that the word 'organization' to describe Christs body is evil and has no place with God.
17.I believe the Americas are not the land of Zion and Christ will return to His origonal land-Israel in the Middle East.
18.I believe that God has set out correct ways of worshiping Him, not man.
19.I believe in holding to the truths of the Bible and not mans understanding of it.
20.I believe that the world is full of evil and Satan can easily gain control over the minds of those who do not profess Christ of the Bible to be their only Messiah.
21.I believe that Saints are those who know the real Savior, Jesus Christ, of whom the Bible speaks of; not the jesus of a cult.

5 comments:

Seth R. February 24, 2010 at 7:01 AM: No. The rapture is only one reading of scripture, and not a very good one in my opinion. It's been challenged by several Protestant authors.

And the creeds are more than mere statements of faith. They are the authoritative lens by which many Christians mediate between the scriptures and the reader.
handmaiden February 24, 2010 at 7:14 PM: Thank you for your comment.
The word 'rapture' is only a word. It is the meaning that is important. "Caught Up" is the English to the Latin. It is still scripture.
Creeds are not extras. They are statements only. They in no way add to the Bible at all. Whatever you want to call them, they are not giving anyone anything more than what the Bible is saying.
God Bless!
Seth R. February 24, 2010 at 7:35 PM: Says you. But that's not an assertion you've even remotely backed up.

So let's give it a try.

How about you show me where in the Bible is says that God the Father, Son and Holy Ghost are all the same "substance"?
handmaiden February 24, 2010 at 11:08 PM: All three Persons of the Trinity have existed as one God from all eternity.
The Bible declares repeatedly that there is only one God=Deuteronomy 6:4; 1 Kings 8:60; Isaiah 42:8; 43:10,11; 44:6-8; 45:5,6; 46:5,9: Mark 12:32; John 17:3; 1 Corinthians 8:6; Galatians 3:20; Ephesians 4:6; 1 Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 6:13; 1 John 5:7.
The Bible also tells us that Jesus is God=John 1:1-14; 8:58; 10:30; Colossians 1:15-19; 2:9; 1 Timothy 3:16; 1 John 2:22; 4:1-3; Revelation 1:7,8; 22:13-16.
The Bible also tells us that the Holy Spirit is God=Genesis 1:2; Job 33:4; Isaiah 11:2; 40:13; 61:1; Acts 5:3,4; 13:2-4; 15:28; 16:6; 20:23.
God Bless.
Seth R. March 12, 2010 at 9:30 AM: So...

There is one God.

Good, as a Mormon I agree with you.

Jesus is a part of that - I agree with that too.

Still not seeing anything about them being the same substance though.

Where did you get that exactly?