Joel Osteen, Jude 3, & The Acceptance Of False Doctrine

"I'm not one to judge the little details of it (Mormonism)"

In another interview, referenced in my FIRST ARTICLE on the subject, Pastor Osteen states that "Mormonism is a little bit different, but I still see them as brothers in Christ" ~ Pastor Joel Osteen CNN Situation Room w/ Wolf Blitzer

A Brigham Young University Professor says this:

“Cherry-picking similarities while failing to mention major differences is a powerful way to misrepresent and mislead.” ~ Peterson, Daniel (Professor at Brigham Young University) "Focus on Similarities Can Prove Misleading,” Mormon Times, November 6, 2011, 8.

Pastor Osteen says that he sees practicing Mormons as "Brothers In Christ" This means that he believes that one can believe in and practice Mormonism and yet be saved. However, individuals commissioned to teach Mormonism contend that it is misleading to speak of similarities between Mormonism and Christianity while looking over the differences as noted above.

So let us examine what the leader of the largest Christian church in America simply doesn't have enough time to distinguish. Let us look at what the pastor calls the "little differences" between Mormonism and Christianity and see if these issues are important enough to distinguish the difference between Mormonism and what we know as Christianity.

The Examination: What Do Mormons Believe?

The Mormon Church:

Officially founded April 6th, 1830, the Mormon Church in belief and practice actually began 10 years earlier in 1820 when two angelic beings, claimed to be God the Father and God the Son (Jesus) appeared to one Joseph Smith, claiming that the beliefs and practices of all churches in existence at that time were corrupt and that it would be Smith's job to restore the church back to God.

3 years later, a being called Moroni, directed Smith to the location of "golden plates" containing the "fullness of the everlasting gospel" written by Moroni and his father Mormon some 1,400 years earlier in an unknown language of "reformed Egyptian hieroglyphics". Smith was then given instructions on the location of these tables, mystery glasses, and translated the plates into what we now know as the Book Of Mormon. Although the original plates and the language are forever lost the Book Of Mormon is the basis of the Mormon faith.

The Revelation:

Actually, Mormons have 3 books that they believe are guides to their faith and revelation from God. 1- The Book Of Mormon referred to earlier (which they believe is another Testament to the Bible that superceeds, corrects the misinterpretations and errors of the Bible itself) 2- Doctrine And Covenants (which is also referred to as the Latter Day Revelation) from which many of the teachings , doctrines and practices of Mormonism are derived, and 3- The Pearl Of Great Price

The Book of Mormon, in contradiction to the Bible, teaches that God has a body of flesh and bone, and is an exalted man. They believe the god they worship is Adam. Brigham Young says: "He is your Father and our God and the only God with whom we have to do." Orson Pratt says: "...our Father in Heaven was begotten on a previously heavenly world by His Father; and again, He was begotten by a still more ancient Father and so on, from generation to generation, from one heavenly world to another still more ancient, until our minds are wearied and lost in the multiplicity of generations and successive worlds, and as a last resort, we wonder in our minds, how far back the genealogy extends, and how the first world was formed, and the first Father was begotten."

So the Book of Mormon distinctly teaches that Jesus and God the Father are not only distinct and separate beings or ontologically different, not of the same substance, but that they are also created beings or formerly men. This is polytheism.

In contrast, the actual doctrine of the trinity however, teaches that there is only ONE God who eternally exists in three distinct persons, not beings, and the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are eternal and of the same substance. eg: Trinitarians therefore are not polytheists. Therefore we can conclude that Mormonism at its root is a polytheistic religion and one in which God, through some endless cycle of regression was once a man who became God. This is not biblical teaching in any manner regarding the nature of God and worthy of rejection based upon the teachings of Paul in Galatians 1:8 which affirms that if any man or an "angel of light" preach any other gospel than what was received, he should be 

accursed!

What Do Mormons Believe About Jesus?

When it comes to Jesus, the Mormon church delivers many teachings that initially sound like traditional Christian doctrine, However one has to pay attention to what is really being taught and the definition of the words according to Mormons. A brief examination of the Mormon website in which they delineate who they believe Jesus is, states the following:

"We believe Jesus is the Son of God the Father and as such inherited powers of godhood and divinity from His Father, including immortality, the capacity to live forever. While He walked the dusty road of Palestine as a man, He possessed the powers of a God and ministered as one having authority, including power over the elements and even power over life and death." ~ MormonNewsroom.org What Mormons Believe About Jesus Christ

According to Mormonism, Jesus "inherited" his divinity from God as an attribute passed from Father to Son, or paternal children. This is contrary to scripture as taught within thin bible. In the Bible Jesus comes to earth AS God by taking upon himself the likeness of sinful flesh. (John 1:1, 1:14, Rom. 8:3, Phil. 2:7) The Bible Jesus was the one who created the world (Heb. 1:2) and is called God forever (Heb. 1:8)

It is rather clear from scripture that Jesus IS God and has always been God. He did not have to "inherit powers". This fact alone is sufficient to say and conclude that the Jesus described within Mormonism is NOT the Jesus outlined in the bible. The Jesus of Mormonism was a God/man hybrid. Similar to Greek characters of Hercules and other offspring of Zeus, The Jesus of Mormonism only possessed "powers of a God" and was not that actual God. Once again, neither was he the "substance" of God. 

In addition to all of that, according to Mormon doctrine Jesus is the "spirit brother" of satan and the angles. Since they are all created being, they would also be "brothers".  Now this is one of those deceptive caveats that it takes some spiritual discernment to address. The Mormon would teach that ALL of creation would be brothers because God made everyone and everything. So we are all "brothers" in creation. That is about as wrong as two left shoes however.

First, Jesus was not a created being. Secondly,  God calls Jesus "God", (Heb. 1:8) not a "brother" of satan. Further Jesus did not recognize that just because someone had been created or given life by God, that they were a child of God. 

In a discourse with the Pharisees, Jesus claimed that they were of "their father the devil". (John 8:44-45) He also claimed that his Father was not theirs. Jesus made no inference to a "spirit brother" reference. Neither does God toward Jesus in any sense or case in the scripture. Therefore, we can rightly and unequivocally say that Jesus is NOT the "spirit brother" of Lucifer, because Lucifer is a fallen angel and a created being unworthy of any equality with Jesus who is GOD! 

Eternal Reward, Judgement & Perpetual Marriage

Mormons also believe that there is eternal hell only for those who are "filthy still" and not redeemed by the atonement; man can become a god; there are three levels of heaven, and that marriage is for eternity. When a man becomes a god he is given his own planet to populate. Hence Mormons believe there are humans on other planets in the universe. 

The discovery of life in outer space is more than welcome to a Mormon. This would validate their theology and belief. Conveniently relinquishing the doctrine of "hell" the book of Mormon does away with any eternal punishment of the unrighteous, and limits the eternal reward of the just, by selecting temple Mormons to receive the highest reward.

The Book of Mormon is considered to be "another Testament of Jesus Christ". Surprisingly, The Book of Mormon is the most doctrinally orthodox. It also contains many quotations from the King James Version often without any attribution. It teaches that the Godhead is one God, whereas other Mormon writings teach that the Father, Son, and Holy

Ghost are three distinct deities. (See Mormon Doctrine, by McConkie, Pp. 119-121)

According to  Mormon Newsroom Online Jesus is a being distinct and separate from the Father:

God is a loving Heavenly Father who knows His children individually, hears and answers their prayers, and feels compassion toward them. Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, are two separate beings but along with the Holy Ghost (Spirit) are one in will, purpose and love.

Summary & Additional points of interest:

Through their prophetic revelations Mormons have learned and continue to teach the following:

• That Jesus was the child of the sexual union between God the Father and Mary  ~ McConkie, 546-547, 742; Orson Pratt, The Seer (Washington, DC: n.p., 1853-54), 158-59; Brigham Young, Desert News, October 10, 1866; Ezra Taft Benson, The Teaching of Ezra Taft Benson (Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1988), 7.

• That the polygamous “Heavenly Father” has many wives who are collectively called “Heavenly Mother” ~ Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine (Salt Lake City, UT: Bookcraft, 1966), 516. 

• That Jesus is the spirit brother of Lucifer ~ The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Gospel Principles (Salt Lake City, UT: Church of Jesus Christ Latter-day Saints, 1992), 17–19.

• Mormons reject the final authority of the word of God. They do not believe the Bible to be inerrant, complete or the final word of God, ~ Latter Day Saints Mormon Newsroom Online

• That Mormonism rejects the doctrines and teachings of original sin  ~ McConkie, 550; James E. Talmage, Articles of Faith (Salt Lake City, UT: Church of Jesus Christ Latter-day Saints, 1982), 476. 

• Mormons reject the concept of salvation by grace through faith, and turn concepts of salvation into a works-righteousness effort  ~ cf. 2 Nephi 25:23; According to Joseph Fielding Smith, “to enter the celestial kingdom and obtain exaltation it is necessary that the whole law be kept” (Joseph Felding Smith, The Way of Perfection [Salt Lake City, UT: Desert Book Company, 1970], 206).

Conclusion

Gal. 1:8 ~ But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed.

Now, these are the things that simply researching the topi will point out. I do not believe that the nature of Jesus, as outlined by the Mormon church and the nature of Jesus as found within the bible, to be a "little thing". Neither do I find the method of salvation by grace, through faith to be a "little thing" either. These are not little things. In agreement with the professor at Brigham Young referenced earlier, failure to outline the differences here can be deceptive and lead one to believe and think something that is not true, namely that Mormonism is simply another denomination within Christianity. That is not the case. 

Mormonism, is a belief system that people are free to follow. Although I will not love you less if you are a Mormon, I do reserve the right to contend that Mormonism is NOT a Christian belief as it is not based on the Christ of scripture. Mormonism is what is called a theological cult of non-Christian belief. Christians believe that Jesus IS and always was God. Mormons believe that Jesus was merely a man/God mix that received his powers by his inherited traits. This is NOT the Jesus found within scripture. 

Combined with other unbiblical teachings such as sex between the Holy Ghost and Virgin Mary, and the exaltation of man into a god to receive and rule his own universe with celestial "wives" one cannot help but to conclude that these are not mere "little things". 

A Word To COGIC

Joel Osteen has been invited to speak at the COGIC 110th Annual Holy Convocation. The problem is still the same until Osteen addresses it again. Does he believe that Mormons are Christians?  If he does, Joel does not know Christian doctrine and is not worthy of support and endorsement of one of the nations largest Pentecostal churches.  

It is the Osteen unwillingness to stand up for God, HIS word and the church that is and has been offensive. I will not even deal with the word of faith teachings and the "enjoy now" hedonistic philosophy that supports the message of this minister. 

When we learn that thousands DO NOT validate the hand nor authority of God. That this is not the age where the large church or most visible ministry has some sort of preference with God over the smaller. God IS NOT A RESPECTER OF ANY MANS PERSON, (Rom. 2:11) even one that has 40,000 people on the church roll.  

What COGIC can and should do, is help Pastor Osteen find the truth and ask for accountability from him. That is the CHRISTIAN relationship and thing to do. Often we find that politics and social friends are more important than truth. Therefore this issue is filled with debate, because many do not have such a high-view of scripture, or simply have, like Pastor Osteen, not studied the difference between the cult of Mormonism and Christianity. 

Never Be Too Busy For Truth

Large church and multiple functions of the church has called some to be so busy that they do not really know the word of God or how to discern truth any more than what they believe their next message is. Some do not do that as they are on the internet mining for sermons. That is sad because where there is no vision, people perish! (Prov. 29:18)

I hope that this article will drive every believer back into the bible and be a place for every Christian to begin their examination of the differences not only between Mormonism and Christianity, but between Christianity and the world of cults that exist and that are at your door step attempting to subvert your mind and the minds and hearts of your family everyday. 

It is in the spirit of Jude 3 that I write as I "Earnestly contend for the faith once delivered to all Saints". For it is by that word that I live and by that word that I die!

Blessed!

Additional Research & Information Supporting The Claims Of This Article Can Be Found At The Following Online Locations:

So that you may be better equipped to know the difference between Mormonism and Christianity better than the pastor of the largest Christian church in America, I have taken the time to provide the following resources:

1- CRI: "Mormonism: Christian, Cult or ???"

2- Christian Information Ministries: Mormonism, an outline