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Memorization
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Ambassador Baptist Church
1926 Babcock Blvd
Pittsburgh, PA 15209
(412)477-3210
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Response:
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Thanks for writing. I will give you a general answer to your question, and then some ideas for each specific situation.
- 1. The answers to all their problems are in the Bible. Therefore, you must stick with the Bible whether they want to believe it or not. If you wish to share your testimony with them, that is fine, and I would recommend that you do so. However, remember that they have some sort of "testimony" as well, particularly the Mormons, and they will probably not see yours as having any more authority than theirs.
"Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God."
Keep giving them the Scriptures.
- 2. Your dad probably isn't stupid. He may not be comfortable with the Old English, but he can understand the KJV syntax. His problem is that he doesn't want to believe it and is looking for an excuse. The next time he tells you that the Bible isn't true, ask him to prove that to you. Ask him to show you an error in the Scriptures. Remind him that the Bible was written over a period of 1600+ years by approximately 40 men from various backgrounds, and yet there are no contradictions within It. If he claims to be an atheist, ask him to prove atheism to you. Of course he can't, so what he has is faith: faith in his own mind and faith in the writings of Darwin and other atheists. If he believes so strongly in science, ask him if science has ever been proven to be wrong. Of course we know today that many things that were thought to be true even a generation ago are no longer considered accurate. For a recent example: is Pluto a planet, or not? Ask him why the theory of evolution contradicts accepted laws of science such as the laws of thermodynamics. If he wants scientific accuracy, show him the many scientific truths in the Scriptures, some of which were unknown until the past few centuries. Here are some examples:
(1) Round earth - Isaiah 40:22
(2) Earth's position in space - Job 26:7
(3) Washington Observatory discovered that within the Northern Heavens there is a great empty expanse with no stars - Job 26:7
(4) Earth's rotation - Luke 17:34-36
(5) Number of stars - Genesis 22:17
(6) Weight of air (Galileo) - Job 28:25
(7) Evaporation - Ecclesiastes 1:7
(8) Nature of wind - Ecclesiastes 1:6
(9) Importance of blood - Leviticus 17:11
(10) Existence of other planets - Hebrews 1:2
(11) Ocean currents - Psalm 8:8
(12) Unity of human race - Acts 17:26
Isn't it amazing that these ignorant, superstitious men had knowledge of scientific advancements that science itself didn't figure out until the last thousand years, or less?
- 3. If your Sunni friends believe that Jesus is a prophet, ask them if they will believe what He said in the Bible. If He is a prophet, then he should be listened to, because anyone who gave even one false prophecy was not to be considered a true prophet of God (Deut 18:20-22). Therefore, if He is a prophet (as Mohammed said), then everything He said that He claimed came from God must be true. Since Christ claimed that all His teachings came from God (John 14:24), then they all should be believed, including His teachings in John 3 that "Ye must be born again". It is impossible and illogical to believe that Jesus is a prophet and yet reject the New Testament. Also, ask them for proof that the New Testament is not to be believed. Ask them for proof concerning the validity of the Koran.
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4. Ask your Mormon friends to explain the discrepancies between the Bible and the Book of Mormon. Since they hold the Bible to be authoritative, then how can it be contradicted by the Book of Mormon? Ask them to explain all the historical, and geographical errors that are contained in it. For example:
Also, any corrections have been put into the Book of Mormon to fix contradictions. For example:
- 1. In Mosiah 21:28, it originally said that "King Benjamin had a gift from God", But it now says "King Mosiah".
- 2. I Nephi 11:21 originally read, "Behold the Lamb of God, yea even the eternal Father." It now reads, "Behold the Lamb of God, yea even the son of the eternal Father."
Also, the Book of Mormon uses direct quotations from the KJV. This is hard to believe, especially since the golden plates were authored 1000 years before 1611.
- 7. The Book of Mormon contradicts Scripture in many places, although it is supposed to be equal to it. Some of this information can be found at:
Apologetics Press - The Bible Versus the Book of Mormon
,
Utah Lighthouse Ministry - Bible and Book of Mormon Contradictions,
Archaeology Confirms the Bible is Historical
. . .with an Example Comparison:
The Bible vs. The Book of Mormon
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Please note that this is not a blanket endorsement of the websites listed above. They do have some good information on these specific topics, and it is easier for you to look up the information there than for me to write it all down here.
You can not logically accept both the Bible and the Book of Mormon. Therefore, when they try to do both, point out to them that this is impossible, and try to get them to read what the Bible says.
In every instance it might be valuable to ask them if they have ever read the Bible at all. The answer is probably "No". Challenge them to read just the Gospel of John or the Book of Romans, and then to tell you what they think, or show you all the errors and contradictions that are in it. Since it is the Word of God that brings man to salvation, reading the Scriptures may bring them to a realization of the truth of the Bible.
I hope this helps. May the Lord bless you as you serve Him.
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By Pastor Dr. Mark Montgomery
Email:
Ask the Pastor
Ambassador Baptist Church
1926 Babcock Blvd
Pittsburgh, PA 15209
(412)477-3210
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