Mohler Goes Down to Egypt (Brigham Young University) for Help On Social Issues

Isa 30:1  "Ah, stubborn children," declares the LORD, "who carry out a plan, but not Mine, and who make an alliance, but not of My Spirit, that they may add sin to sin; :2  who set out to go down to Egypt, without asking for My direction, to take refuge in the protection of Pharaoh and to seek shelter in the shadow of Egypt! 

                                         

"The recent Utah meetings, which came at the invitation of Mormon church leaders in Salt Lake City, have centered on faith, family and religious freedom. Mohler — who was careful not to paper over doctrinal distinctions in his BYU speech — addressed joint concerns about the intersection of those issues.

“That is why I and my evangelical brothers and sisters are so glad to have Mormon neighbors,” Mohler said in his talk on Oct 21. “We stand together for the natural family, for natural marriage, for the integrity of sexuality within marriage alone.”

~Religion News

Richard Land, a leader in the Southern Baptist Convention also attended, cozied up with LDS leaders including watching a BYU football game.

This reminds me of Richard Mouw's "reaching out" to the Mormons back in 2004 and apologizing to them on behalf of all "Evangelicals". In fact, I believe he set the stage to water down the differences between the cult and Christians, so it made it easier for Mohler to warmly embrace them in his co-belligerence  with them against social ills and the loss of religious liberty.

Here are excerpts from Mohler's speech:

"But here I am, and I am thankful for the invitation. The wonderfully prophetic Catholic novelist Flannery O’Connor rightly warned that we must “push back against the age as hard as it is pressing you.” "

I come as a Christian theologian to speak explicitly and respectfully as a Christian—a Christian who defines Christianity only within the historic creeds and confessions of the Christian church and who comes as one committed to the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to the ancient and eternal Trinitarian faith of the Christian church. I have not come as less, and you know whom you have invited. I come knowing who you are—to an institution that stands as the most powerful intellectual center of the Latter-Day Saints, the most visible academic institution of Mormonism. You know who I am and what I believe. I know who you are and what you believe. It has been my great privilege to know friendship and share conversation with leaders of the LDS church, such as Elder Tom Perry, Elder Quentin Cook, and Elder Todd Christofferson. I am thankful for the collegiality extended by President Cecil Samuelson at this great university. We do not enjoy such friendship and constructive conversation in spite of our theological differences, but in light of them. This does not eliminate the possibility of conversation. To the contrary, this kind of convictional difference at the deepest level makes for the most important kind of conversation. This is why I am so thankful for your gracious invitation.

We must note with honesty and candor that this moral revolution and the disestablishment of marriage did not begin with the demand of same-sex couples to marry. The subversion of marriage began within the context of the great intellectual shift of modernity. Marriage was redefined in terms of personal fulfillment rather than covenant obligation. Duty disappeared in the fog of demands for authenticity and the romanticized ideal of personal fulfillment. Marriage became merely a choice and then a personal expression. Companionate marriage was secularized and redefined solely in terms of erotic and romantic appeal—for so long as these might last.

But, for the first time in the experience of most Americans, the moral revolution revolving around marriage, the family, and human sexuality is now clearly becoming a religious liberty issue. The rights of parents to raise their children according to their most basic and fundamental theological and moral convictions are now at stake. 

Religious liberty is already severely compromised by modern political regimes that claim to be democratic and respectful of human rights. Given the shape of current arguments for sexual expression and liberty, religious institutions, especially schools, colleges, universities, welfare agencies, and benevolent ministries, are already under fire and under warning...

This is what brings me to Brigham Young University today. I am not here because I believe we are going to heaven together. I do not believe that. I believe that salvation comes only to those who believe and trust only in Christ and in his substitutionary atonement for salvation. I believe in justification by faith alone, in Christ alone. I love and respect you as friends, and as friends we would speak only what we believe to be true, especially on matters of eternal significance. We inhabit separate and irreconcilable theological worlds, made clear with respect to the doctrine of the Trinity. And yet here I am, and gladly so. We will speak to one another of what we most sincerely believe to be true, precisely because we love and respect one another.

I do not believe that we are going to heaven together, but I do believe we may go to jail together. I do not mean to exaggerate, but we are living in the shadow of a great moral revolution that we commonly believe will have grave and devastating human consequences. Your faith has held high the importance of marriage and family. Your theology requires such an affirmation, and it is lovingly lived out by millions of Mormon families. That is why I and my evangelical brothers and sisters are so glad to have Mormon neighbors. We stand together for the natural family, for natural marriage, for the integrity of sexuality within marriage alone, and for the hope of human flourishing.

The great Christian theologian Augustine, writing in the final years of the Roman Empire, reminded Christians that we live simultaneously as citizens of two cities: a heavenly city and an earthly city. 

As a Christian, I am instructed by the Bible to work for the good and flourishing of this earthly city, even as I work to see as many as possible also become citizens of the heavenly city through faith in Christ Jesus.

In this city, I am honored to come among those who, though of a different faith, share common concerns and urgencies. I come as a Christian, and I come as one who is honored by your kind and gracious invitation. I come in the hope of much further conversations, conversations about urgencies both temporal and eternal. I am unashamed to stand with you in the defense of marriage and family and a vision of human sexual integrity. I am urgently ready to speak and act in your defense against threats to your religious liberty, even as you have shown equal readiness to speak and act in defense of mine. We share love for the family, love for marriage, love for the gift of children, love of liberty, and love of human society. We do so out of love and respect for each other.

That is why only those with the deepest beliefs, and even the deepest differences, can help each other against encroaching threats to religious liberty, marriage, and the family. I guess I am back to Flannery O’Connor again. We must push back against this age as hard as it is pressing against us. We had better press hard, for this age is pressing ever harder against us.

~Mohler

Mohler made some good points about our society's view of marriage, divorce, and homosexuality. However that's not my concern here. My concern is his spiritual compromise for a temporary liberty. (I am also very concerned that he hailed TWO Roman Catholics to make his point of fighting a fleshly fight: Augustine and Flannery O'Conner--and nary a word straight from Christ Jesus!).

Al Mohler signed the inter-religious Manhattan Declaration which was to help fight the moral decay of our nation. John MacArthur gave several reasons why he would not sign it. Here's what he says in part:

Although I obviously agree with the document’s opposition to same-sex marriage, abortion, and other key moral problems threatening our culture, the document falls far short of identifying the one true and ultimate remedy for all of humanity’s moral ills: the gospel. 

Points of disagreement are tacitly acknowledged but are described as “historic lines of ecclesial differences” rather than fundamental conflicts of doctrine and conviction with regard to the gospel and the question of which teachings are essential to authentic Christianity.

The Declaration therefore constitutes a formal avowal of brotherhood between Evangelical signatories and purveyors of different gospels. That is the stated intention of some of the key signatories, and it’s hard to see how secular readers could possibly view it in any other light. Thus for the sake of issuing a manifesto decrying certain moral and political issues, the Declaration obscures both the importance of the gospel and the very substance of the gospel message.

This is neither a novel approach nor a strategic stand for evangelicals to take. It ought to be clear to all that the agenda behind the recent flurry of proclamations and moral pronouncements we’ve seen promoting ecumenical co-belligerence is the viewpoint Charles Colson has been championing for more than two decades. (It is not without significance that his name is nearly always at the head of the list of drafters when these statements are issued.) He explained his agenda in his 1994 book The Body, in which he argued that the only truly essential doctrines of authentic Christian truth are those spelled out in the Apostles’ and Nicene creeds. I responded to that argument at length in Reckless Faith. I stand by what I wrote then.

In short, support for The Manhattan Declaration would not only contradict the stance I have taken since long before the original “Evangelicals and Catholics Together” document was issued; it would also tacitly relegate the very essence of gospel truth to the level of a secondary issue. That is the wrong way—perhaps the very worst way—for evangelicals to address the moral and political crises of our time. Anything that silences, sidelines, or relegates the gospel to secondary status is antithetical to the principles we affirm when we call ourselves evangelicals.

End quote.

Men like Land and Mohler are the problem with Christianity and God will not honor them. They hold hands with the "Egyptians", seeking strength in numbers of pagans, instead of being loyal and faithful to Christ alone.  Social issues are not The Problem. Mohler should know better. Spiritual issues are the problem.

Isa 31:1  Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help and rely on horses, who trust in

chariots because they are many and in horsemen because they are very strong, but do

not look to the Holy One of Israel or consult the LORD!2  And yet he is wise and brings

disaster; he does not call back his words, but will arise against the house of the evildoers

and against the helpers of those who work iniquity. 

Isa 20:5  Then they shall be dismayed and ashamed because of Cush their hope and of Egypt their boast. 6  And the inhabitants of this coastland will say in that day, 'Behold, this is what has happened to those in whom we hoped and to whom we fled for help to be delivered from the king of Assyria! And we, how shall we escape?'" 

A "good pagan" is still a pagan earning Hell and under God's wrath. Holding hands with the enemies of Christ...BLASPHEMERS no less!.... who teach that they can become gods of their own planets, are hardly full of wisdom and understanding and credibility. In fact their religion is quite immoral (lies to cover lies, polygamy, strict 10% tithing without exception, etc.). Mohler is going to the world for strength at the expense of Truth. There is no unity between Mormons and biblical Christians because they are of two different kingdoms (see below).

All the treasure of wisdom and knowledge are found ONLY IN CHRIST JESUS--the One of Scripture, not the Mormon Jesus who was a spirit-brother of Lucifer, who got married to multiple women and hand children. 

Jesus Christ is God the Son, eternally God, without beginning and without end. Mormons outright deny this. Moreover they hate this doctrine and mock His name and His person.

But hey, they're good on marriage and family matters, right?

Wrong.

Mat 7:15  "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16  You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles? 17  So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. 18  A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. 19  Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20  Thus you will recognize them by their fruits. 

Mormonism's history and founding is steeped in polygamy and racism (and remember, Mohler went to the university named after the second most prominent man in Mormon history: Brigham Young University: THE University for that cult):

The First Presidency of the church in 1947 said: “From the days of the Prophet Joseph even until now, it has been the doctrine of the Church, never questioned by any of the Church leaders, that the Negroes are not entitled to the full blessings of the Gospel.” (Letter from the First Presidency of the Mormon Church, July 17, 1947, as cited in Mormonism and the Negro, by John J. Stewart, 1960, pages 46-47)

This supposed non-revelation is still in their own Book of Mormon, which they claim is the most perfect book ever written on earth.“And the skins of the Lamanites were dark, according to the mark which was set upon their fathers, which WAS A CURSE, upon them because of their transgression.” (Alma 3:6; 2 Nephi 5:21)

Remember Brigham Young, the second prophet of the Mormon church said that whatever he preached was a good as scripture; that is Mormon Scripture. (Journal of Discourses Vol. 13, page 95, 264.)

Brigham Young understood that Joseph Smith classified these people as The Seed of Cain. Young went on to say said that “Joseph Smith had declared that the Negroes were not neutral in heaven, for all the spirits took sides, but 'the posterity of Cain are black because he (Coin) committed murder. He killed Abel and God set a mark upon his posterity”' (The Improvement Era, Joseph Fielding Smith, p. 105).

End quote.

As for the issue of marriage (family values) that Mohler hails the LDS as a leader in (and thus with whom we should rally together with in this fight for religious and family liberty), let's look at the foundation of Mormonism, as Let Us Reason Ministries explains (and here you will see not only sexual immorality but utter blasphemy against Jesus Christ):

Quote:

Mormon’s say that Jesus got married at Cana and had many wives Martha, Mary and others he also had many children” (Journal of Discourses vol.1 345-346 vol.2 79-82 vol.4:259-260 the Seer p.172)

If we are supposed to follow the Jesus the Mormon’s present, would it not be prudent to do whatever he did? this is why Polygamy is still practiced by some Mormons in  Utah.

If Jesus was married, then He abandoned his wife and children when he left them and went to America and then up to heaven. Is this the family values that Mormonism wants to teach people?

If Jesus was as Mormons describe, then he would be called an adulterer who started their religion. He broke His own commandments in the New Testament of having one husband and one wife. This of course is not according to the Bible, but according to their teachings. No one in the history of Christianity has ever said such a thing as he was married, much less had several wives and children.

What does the Book of Mormon actually teach on marriage? Well it started out with one woman per man, but Smith being in control, coveted other women (marrying over 20, some say more) and so the revelation changed.....

“Do the Mormons believe in having more wives than one? (Smith answered) No, not at the same time.” (The Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, as recorded in Elder's Journal, Vol. 1 no.2, pp. 28-29, 1838)

However what was written in the Book of Mormon conflicts with the revelation in Doctrine and Covenants, their prophets writings and practices, which states “I, the Lord, justified my servants ...David and Solomon ...as touching the principle and doctrine of having many wives and concubines... David's wives and concubines were given unto him by me...”(Doctrine and Covenants 132: 1, 39) not to mention Joseph Smith had numerous wives.

Mormon Apostle John A Widtsoe admitted that Joseph Smith was sealed to married women, but that they were not to be his wives until after death (Evidences and Reconciliations, 1960, page 343). We know from the historical records and testimonies this was not true. He had numerous wives, some who were already married.

This explanation does not help the Mormon position, even if these women are all to be his wives in eternity. What about their husbands who were Mormon here on earth? Who is to have them in heaven. In Mormon theology the husband calls the wife out of the grave not Jesus. So whose wife do they become in heaven, and does it really matter?

However we have other information on Brigham Young the 2nd president that is not flattering as well. “Twenty-one of Brigham Young's fifty-five wives had never been married, six were separated or divorced from their husbands, sixteen were widows, and six had living husbands from whom divorces had apparently not been obtained. Marital information is unavailable for six.” (Determining and Defining 'Wife': The Brigham Young Households, Jeffery Ogden Johnson Dialogue, Vol. 20, No. 3, p.63)

Brigham Young made this absolute statement on August 19, 1866: “The only men who become Gods, even the Sons of God, are those who enter into polygamy.” (Journal of Discourses, vol. 11, page 269) He certainly lived it. The church was not repulsed by all his wives, it was acceped; because it was their doctrine. A church that upholds the Christian teaching of the Bible would be appalled and have much to say about this.

This is why Jesus must be a polygamist which they readily admit “the great Messiah who was the founder of the Christian religion, WAS A POLYGAMIST, . . .the MESSIAH chose. . .by marrying honorable wives himself, show to all future generations that HE approbated the plurality of wives under the Christian dispensation, as well as under the dispensation in which His polygamist ancestors lived....

Besides the issue of men being polygamist there is the Mormon God who is a practicing polygamist.

“We have clearly shown that God the father had a plurality of wives…”(Orson Pratt The Seer p.172) President Brigham Young said of Christ: “The man Joseph, the husband of Mary, did not, that we know of, have more than one wife, but Mary the wife of Joseph had another husband” (Deseret News, October 10, 1866).

“If none but gods will be permitted to multiply immortal children, it follows that each God must have one or more wives. God, the Father of our spirits, became the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ according to the flesh.” (Orson Pratt, The Seer, p. 158)

In 1961, Mormon writer John J. Stewart affirmed that “plural marriage is the patriarchal order of Marriage lived by God and others who reign in the Celestial Kingdom.” (Brigham Young and His Wives, p. 41)

End quote.

(More documentation and Scripture to refute Mormonism is included in the full article)

Indeed, they lie about their well-documented past racism  and polygamy, not to mention all the false prophets, prophecies, and books they claim are from God.

1Jn 2:22  Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son. 

Are liars moral people with whom we should hold hands?

So is this the family values and religious freedom Mohler refers to?

According to one Mormon researcher:

"Utah is about 70% LDS, and women lead men in depression (by about double). Why is Utah #1 in the US in antidepressant-drug use, notably Prozac®?  Why are twice as many women affected? A standard answer is that LDS women are overworked, heading large families, struggling to meet too-high expectations of perfection. There's some truth in that, but there are other, more fundamental, reasons.Any Mormon reading this report will recognize that virtually all LDS girls are taught from childhood to do all 24 of the following..."

 (The most recent census (2012) says 62.2% of Utah is declared Mormon and hasn't changed in the last three years.)

Loyalty to Christ alone necessitates utterly demolishing and rejection of the world and its philosophies and paganism. LDS totally blasphemes God and says with its Father of Lies, Satan: "I shall be like God!"

Mohler (and Land) would rather find common political and religious "freedom" than stand against the darkest of blasphemies . He's selling Christ for political gain. In other words, to try and save our temporary freedom, he his going into bondage: holding hands with the devil's children who hate Christ and mock Him. (Let's not forget that spiritual freedom for Israel, that is, obeying God, was found in going to Babylon in captivity--not staying behind for a political cause.)

Listen, Mohler's no novice. He's a "Christian leader". But that doesn't mean he fears Christ or Scripture. Rather, his eyes are set on what is earthly, and temporal. Interestingly, its this very same appeal to the flesh: family, marriage, community, that LDS uses to lure in their prey. They caught a huge one with Mohler.

Col 3:2  Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3  For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 

Mohler did not define clearly enough how his religion is different than Mormonism, save mentioning the Trinity (without definition).  While ok, it's not good enough.  He didn't mention one verse, nor the Bible but instead appealed to history and man (creeds, confessions), making them authoritative and supposedly showing a distinction in some vague way (how, unless he explains it) Christians from Mormons. This is what the Manhattan Declaration also did (see above, John MacArthur's quote).

He had the platform to preach the Gospel and decided to squandered it in order to gain numbers to fight a temporal battle that is frankly already lost (the days are growing darker as we near the end of history and the return of Christ). He merely made mention of "differences" but quickly moved back to his real focus: the temporal. Lip service to eternal things and differences perhaps was more for his audience of "Evangelical Christians"--no doubt a preemptive strike  to calm their concerns and criticisms by others of him warmly taking the stage at BYU.   His whole reason to be there was to rally the troops for political gain ("freedom") which he did stated. 

Since when do biblical Christians look to cults for help? Since when is that honoring to Christ? Where does the Bible command us to help the flourishing of a city? 

Did Jesus do that?

Did Paul?

Did any of the apostles or prophets?

Quite the contrary.

Their view was eternal, and considering the times they lived it, they could've easily been focused on social issues (Corinth was an absolute cesspool of immorality). But instead they were focused on the most urgent of all things; that which is spiritual. 

Reforming behavior is temporary; spiritual regeneration is eternal with fruit that is truly, biblically good.

Mohler and other "Evangelical leaders" ignore the fact that God doesn't work in numbers. Nor does He honor men who pledge loyalty to each other for sake of political gain (Isaiah is full of rebuke to Israel for just such a thing). God has historically worked with the smallest, fewest, most feeble; what is with man impossible. Because with God all things are possible.

What is amazing is that Mormonism has never really carried much credibility, and yet here is a Southern Baptist Christian leader, giving it a whole lot of credibility (it is, after all, a CULT). Mohler is on the wrong side of both history and Scripture.

Mohler's hand-holding with leading blasphemers and haters of Jesus Christ was deliberate; not a little mistake. He is trusting in numbers rather than in the power of God and His Gospel. This will only serve to ease the divide between Mormonism and Christianity--something that the Mormons, while historically rejected (all Christians were wrong--Smith received the right and only true Christianity), they definitely seek for today.

Jeremiah 17:5, “Thus says the Lord, ‘Cursed is the man who trusts in mankind and makes flesh his strength and whose heart turns away from the Lord.’”

Isa 36:6  Behold, you are trusting in Egypt, that broken reed of a staff, which will pierce the hand of any man who leans on it. Such is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all who trust in him. 

Trusting in man--pagan cultists no less---will only come back to pierce the hands of "Christian leaders" who lean on such a broken, corrupt, and heinous "staff" of Egypt, called The Church of Jesus Christ, Latter-Day Saints.

Mohler needs to be rejected. He's got eyes set on man, not Christ alone. He is a pragmatist who fears man, not Christ, and is going to Egypt for help instead of God and His Word.

The devil no doubt is smiling. He's using Mohler to his own end.


As Ken Silva said in part last year when addressing "evangelicals" like  Joel Osteen orFuller Theological Seminary's president Richard Mouw refusing to identify them as a cult:

We were Christians first; and we have defined what that means by the inerrant, infallible Word of God, the Bible. And what kind of madness is this where our evangelical leaders are actually attempting to get into bed with this spiritual harlot who attacked Christ? Hasn’t the real Christian church turned its other cheek long enough!

The Mormon Church uses very deceptive techniques in their advertising, and in their door-to-door approach with their “missionaries,” which fool unsuspecting people into thinking that they are Christians. You should know now that they decidedly are not. Using a military analogy: We can’t afford to just sit by as enemy forces advance.

End quote.

Mohler's own words bear out his similar compromise when he calls them friends (they are not); when he gushes about being asked to speak at BYU; where he says what an honor it was to be invited there; and the mutual love and respect between the Mormons and "us". He proclaims: "We share love for the family, love for marriage, love for the gift of children, love of liberty, and love of human society. " The problem is that that common love isn't common. The Christian love is agape love from God Himself. We are commanded to love AS CHRIST loves; to view things from a BIBLICAL perspective. The  Mormon's love is conditioned upon being in the cult and is defined by the cult's extra-biblical books and prophets, all of which are demonic in origin. Human society, again, for the Mormon is a MORMON society.

One cannot divorce a Mormon worldview from its cultic Mormon doctrines and practices. 

Eph 6:10  Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. 11  Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12  For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13  Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14  Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15  and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 

Our war is not one of freedoms that come and go, it is spiritual. It always has been. And if trying to grasp onto a social freedom can be accomplished by holding hands with blasphemers of Christ, then that is nothing short of being in the flesh, having eyes of flesh, worries of the flesh, and is treason against God. We can stand up for righteousness without begging for help from Egypt (the cults).