The Voice of April

 

What Are The Similarities Between Mormonism and Islam?

 by Matt Slick | Dec 18, 2018

There are many similarities between Mormonism and Islam.  Both teach that the Bible is corrupt yet the Bible predicts their respective prophets.  Both teach that angels visited their prophets in order to restore the true religion and that their prophets are closely related to the means of salvation.  Both have new sacred books (Book of Mormon and the Quran) that they claim were revealed by inspiration.  Both say that their God is the only true God, that their religion is the only true religion, and salvation is by works.

Below is a table with documentation from both Mormon and Islamic sources, categorized by similarities. However, it is worth noting that there are also significant differences between Mormonism and Islam.  Mormonism is polytheistic where Islam is not.  Jesus is one of three gods in the godhead in Mormonism, where Islam teaches only one God.  Mormonism teaches that people have the potential becoming gods, where Islam would deny that. Mormonism says that Jesus was crucified, where Islam does not.

I leave it to you to examine the similarities and draw your own conclusions from them.  In my opinion, the same demonic force is behind both of them.

Read more at CARM.org

Keeping the Sabbath Holy

The reason that we are called not to sin isn’t simply because we have a rebellious nature, it is because there are things that are constant. There is a created ordinance. Even if we were not fallen we are to keep the Sabbath Holy. We are given the command to marry and have children or to keep the Sabbath Holy because there is a final perfection to look forward to. There is a perfection than from the initial creation itself. It is a created work. It is universal. God made the Sabbath for all mankind. It is grounded in creation.

If God Made Me Rebellious, Then Isn’t He Responsible?

"If God made me with a rebellious nature, then isn't He responsible for my sin?"

Understanding the Heart of God:

God is not morally evil because He creates us knowing that we have a rebellious nature. When Jesus was in the Garden of Gethsemene he was sorrowful. He was praying that God take this cup away from him but not as his will but the Father’s will. He knew that what he was going to suffer and die for people who would still reject him. It anguished Jesus’ heart because he knew that the people at the present time were rejecting him and also in the future to come after he finished the job on the cross. Foreknowing that future people will be born with a rebellious nature he still went to the cross. He still took the judgement of God for those who rejected him knowing that most would reject him but for the hope of the few that would be saved it was worth the cost. He took the judgement that we deserve knowing that we would still reject him. How is that unloving?

Romans 1 Critical Thinking

 Whether in art or literature, education or psychology, mathematics or science, every theory or movement is inspired by an underlying philosophy. 

Worldviews do not come with a warning label attached. They do not ask permission before invading our minds. Instead there is what Nancy Pearcey would call a “stealth” secularism that uses images and stories to bypass people’s critical grid and hook them emotionally, sometimes without them even knowing it. That is why it is imperative to learn the skill of deciphering worldview when they come to us not in words, where they are easier to recognize, but in the idiom of picture, composition, plot line, and characterization.

Resource: Finding Truth by Nancy Pearcey

Society in Regression

  Many people think that we are always progressing. There is a term that is over used which is "progressive" and this has been collaborated with the identity of some conservatives.

On the contrary, if we look at history society is in regression. What we see today is a rise of narcissistic hedonism and that it is degenerate.

The Last Shall Be First, And The First Shall Be Last

 Labourers in the Vineyard

20 “For the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house who went out early in the morning to hire labourers for his vineyard. 2 After agreeing with the labourers for a denarius]" a day, he sent them into his vineyard. 3 And going out about the third hour he saw others standing idle in the market-place, 4 and to them he said, ‘You go into the vineyard too, and whatever is right I will give you.’ 5 So they went. Going out again about the sixth hour and the ninth hour, he did the same. 6 And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing. And he said to them, ‘Why do you stand here idle all day?’ 7 They said to him, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You go into the vineyard too.’ 8 And when evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the labourers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last, up to the first.’ 9 And when those hired about the eleventh hour came, each of them received a denarius. 10 Now when those hired first came, they thought they would receive more, but each of them also received a denarius. 11 And on receiving it they grumbled at the master of the house, 12 saying, ‘These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.’ 13 But he replied to one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? 14 Take what belongs to you and go. I choose to give to this last worker as I give to you. 15 Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or do you begrudge my generosity?’  16 So the last will be first, and the first last.”

Matthew 20:1-16

Positions of honour or prestige in this life by no means assure heavenly approval; indeed, often the reverse will be true. "The last will be first, and the first will be last." In other words, everyone finishes the race exactly even. No matter how long each of the workers worked, they each received a full day's wage. Similarly, the thief on the cross will enjoy the full blessings of heaven alongside those who have laboured their whole lives for Christ. Such is the grace of God.

Resources: The Reformation Study Bible, The John MacArthur Study Bible.