Myths in Religion
“Truth is beautiful, without doubt; but so are lies.” Ralph Waldo Emerson
“Honesty has a beautiful and refreshing simplicity about it. No ulterior motives. No hidden meanings. An absence of hypocrisy, duplicity, political games, and verbal superficiality. As honesty and real integrity characterize our lives, there will be no need to manipulate others.” –Chuck Swindoll
Show 18 391 God part VII
April 29th 2014
“Live from the Mecca of Mormonism – Salt Lake City Utah – This is Heart of the Matter – Where Mormonism Meets Biblical Christianity . . . Face to Face”
We thank and praise the true and living God for allowing us to be part of this, His ministry. May He be with you – and us – tonight.
By now most of you know that we have launched our own television network. Take a look:
I cannot overemphasize how willing we are to air Christian pastors who are teaching the Bible – preferably verse by verse. Please, take the time to contact your pastor and see if they are set up to present their teachings on the network. Unlike other Christian Television stations (listen) WE DO NOT CHARGE the pastor or presenters to air their stuff but rely on viewers who appreciate the network to support it. Trust me – this is not a money making model – but it does free the pastors up to teach the word of God naturally and unencumbered and to not have to worry about having to pay for doing it on the air. If your church or pastor is interested, please have them email us at: Shawn@alatheamedia.com or call us at 888 868-4686
Myths in Mormonism
Well, I guess the largest convention in the world discussing evidences for the BOM was held last week in . . . Orem Utah. I wanted to attend but couldn’t stomach the thought of sitting there and listening to a bunch of adult people postulate and prevaricate over myths, and fables, and legends regarding the Mormon faith. Anyone who knows anything about Mormonism knows they are, as a people, prone to exaggeration and myth making. As a former member I too bought into many of the Mormonitious Myths bantered about, including:
- That the Ark of the Covenant is sitting in the basement of one LDS temple or another,
- That Brigham Young ran into Cain while on horseback years ago.
- That there are Three Nephites who do farm work (etc) for faithful but under the gun LDS farmers.
- That Robert Redford secretly joined the Church . . . and on and on and on.
People who make a life studying myths say that communities and groups use and promote myths as a means to promote the faith, to keep beliefs and efforts alive, and to give believers in the myths feelings of superiority because they 1, have a special inside scoop the rest of the world is oblivious to and because 2, the standards of true or substantiated faith is not sufficient enough to sustain them – so myths form. I get this within Mormondom. And the Christian community as a whole laughs and laughs at such spectacle.
Myths in Christianity
But do we ever look in our own house? Just the other day I was teaching at one of our gatherings and someone who loves the Lord made the statement that Jesus blood came from the Father, not Mary. To complicate matters she attempted to use science to substantiate her claim saying that all human beings get their blood from their fathers – not the mother. Therefore, she had been taught, Jesus blood was not tainted with the blood of Mary His Mother. I let her know that her observation was the product of men and this caused her some personal consternation.
Why do Christians feel the need to flock toward myth to substantiate their walk and faith? Part of the reason is they have been taught a fable by a pastor who has taught a fable, who too was taught a fable – and without thinking we pass the myths and fables along as fact . . . when they are nothing of the sort.
Ever since I’ve been teaching the Bible I’ve taught that the High Priest would enter the Holy of Holies with a rope tied around His waist so that if he died while inside they could put him out without defiling the place. Not true. At all. A myth that popped up after the destruction of the temple in 70 AD.
Christian Myths and Truth
I repeated it because Chuck Smith repeated it. And I’m sure he repeated it because someone repeated it to him. But I want truth – at all costs – and will not settle for something that is not true even if it appears to promote faith. Additionally, Christian myths seem to pop up (like most myths) based on an element of truth while ignoring other elements that would make the faith promoting part of the myth, shall we say, less impressive.
I remember people getting all excited back in 2008 over a pastor teaching about laminine, which in bio chem is known as a glycoprotein. The pastor showed slides that illustrated a view of Laminine looking like a cross or a lower case t. He then went on to explain how the laminine protein holds the human body together (which it does in some ways) and then cited Colossians 1:16-17 which says: Colossians 1:16-17 “For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.” Tack on lines like, “creater’s always leave their mark” and you can really rally a church filled crowd.
Truth vs. Myths
The trouble is the pastor, in my opinion, fabricated a myth by leaving out what is extremely important to truth – other data. For example, it is true that the glycoprotein laminine does help hold cells in the human body together, and that is does appear in the shape of a cross, what is also true is it is not the only protein that holds the human body together and that the glycoprotein changes shapes constantly as a means to adapt to do its job. What the audiences don’t know is the photo the pastor used to impress the audience was one of many different varieties. Sometimes the glycoprotein is broken up, sometimes it’s curved and bent, etc. etc. Additionally, to actually see a glycoprotein in the shape of a cross a person has to view it from a certain angle –and since a cross is really just two intersecting lines, it’s not too hard to locate them in science or biology. Additionally, it is thought that Christ died NOT on a lower case “t” like the glycoprotein can appear to be, but on an upper case T – or a Tau – rendering the symbol in the protein obsolete. Finally, if we are going to be fair, there are other symbols found in bio-chem that are antithetical (in our day) to the cross – including the swastika and the shape of the numbers 6.
The point is, why do we do this? Is not our faith in Him, and His Word enough? I suppose that is the point – faith alone doesn’t seem to sustain – and so myths and tales proliferate. Did they find Noah’s ark? I’ve had people almost shouting in my face that they have? Why worry about it? Isn’t the Spirit within enough? How about the Shroud of Tourin? Maybe so, maybe not. But if God wanted us to have such physical evidence of Christ why didn’t He have cameras invented to shoot pictures of Him on the cross, or ascending into heaven. Why not have the cross remain standing? It’s not His way.
The Concept of Cheap Faith
Listen – we’ve all heard of cheap grace. I would call these appeals “cheap faith.” And I would bet we’re going to see them more and more, something's gotta fill the churches so people can walk out and call what they feel faith. But cheap faith is oxymoronic – like “acting naturally”, or “kosher Ham” – cheap faith is not legit – it’s a myth – just like the products that create it.
We are continuing on our investigation of the topic God and are going to wrap up what I believe the Bible says about the Holy Spirit. Now, listen, I openly admit I may be wrong about some of this – I am just sharing with you how I – and others – see it. Other men differ – to the point of calling me heretical – I don’t mind. They MAY be correct in their some of their views (which also differ between those who accuse). But I don’t believe that views save a person – I am.
Understanding the Holy Spirit and Its Nature
certain that what saves a person is their heart-felt devotion to God through Christ Jesus, His shed blood, and how they respond to this heart-felt faith toward God and their fellow-man. But first let me wrap up why I reject the man-made term Trinity as it is used to describe God and why specifically tonight I reject the teaching that the Holy Spirit is a separate and distinct person eternally existing within the term Trinitas.
Last week I gave you some things to consider. Let me give you a few more but before I do remind you all that the Greek word pneuma “spirit” is never capitalized. It is always in a lower case. So when it appears in any Bible translation as a capital “S” that has been at the prerogative of the bible translators and not from the mss text or evidence. I mention this because by capitalizing the “H” in Holy and the “S” in Spirit it has helped people believe that the Holy Spirit is a person or being.
The Holy Spirit as a Gift from God
What is the Holy Spirit? It is a gift from God. Listen – God is Holy (hagios) and God is Spirit (pneuma). God (Hagias Pneuma – upper case if you will) is the giver of the gift of his hagias pneuma (lower case). We cannot confuse the giver of the gift (God) with the gift He gives (His spirit which is holy).
Every individual has a spirit within them. The Bible uses the term soul (psuche) and spirit (pneuma or ruach) to in different ways and synonymously to describe it. For instance in Psalm 42:5 we read: “Why art thou cast down, O my soul?” (Ps. 42:5). And in Matthew 26:41 Jesus said of His sleeping disciples: “The spirit indeed is willing but the flesh is weak.” I would suggest that the spirit of a Man bears the same relation to the man as the spirit of God bears to God. 1st Corinthians 2:10-11 says clearly: “But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.” I would suggest that as the spirit of man is not another person distinct from himself – it is himself and is indistinguishable from the person – so is the Spirit of God not another person distinct from God. As the spirit of man means the man himself (the essence of a man is his mind), so the spirit of God means God Himself – with His essence being Spirit.
Isaiah 40:13 asks: “Who hath directed the Spirit of the LORD, or being his counsellor hath taught him?” Was Isaiah speaking of the Lord Yahwey or the Spirit person? In what I believe might be a parallel verse Paul said in Romans 11:34 Romans 11:34 For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor? I wonder if just as the mind of man is not His fleshly body but his spirit/soul if the Holy Spirit of God is the same – the mind of God?
The Spirit of Truth
In John 14:17 we read about the “spirit of truth.” The King James give the S in the Spirit of Truth a capital making Him for Trinitarians a person, the third person of the Godhead. In that verse the Greek for spirit of Truth is simply “pneuma alathea” which I believe is the spirit of God non persona. I say this because in 1st John 4:6 John again writes of “the spirit of truth” (pneuma alathea) with a lower case S and in the same line refers to “the spirit of error,” (pneuma plane – which is also a lower case S). What I mean by all this in if the Spirit of Truth is an actual person then so is the Spirit of Error – but this is simply not the case – each of these “spirits” represents an influence or a power under which a person acts, but neither is a person in itself.
In 1st Corinthians 2:12 directly opposes the “spirit of the world” with “the spirit which is of God.” As the “spirit of the world” is not a person separate from “the world,” neither is the “spirit of God” a person separate from God. Each is the power or
Understanding the Nature of the Holy Spirit
Influence coming out from the source of origin – either God or the world – but are not persons.
We also know that the breath of God and the Spirit of God are used synonymously. Admittedly, with God it is possible that his breath takes on the form of separate person (similar to the Word becoming flesh) but to me God’s breath and words are all Him – manifestations of Him – relating and interacting with humanity – since He cannot directly. I would also suggest that it makes no sense to call the Holy Spirit an uncreated person and at the same time the breath of God – how could God’s breath be an uncreated person? Likewise, it seems crazy to call a “co-equal and co-eternal person” the “hand” and finger” of God as scripture does. In fact if we think about it the hand and finger of a man is subordinate to a man, doing what the man wants, NOT what the finger wants. Another instance where scripture does NOT support the Holy Spirit as a separate being or person. God sends His Spirit to do His will like a man uses his finger to pick up something according to his will – same premise.
Scriptural References
In scripture, the “spirit of your Father,” is synonymous with “the holy spirit,” and is said to speak in our stead on certain occasions when we might be standing before men on trial or whatever. For example in Luke 21:15 we read that Christ will give us “a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.” We notice that Luke does not write that a person called “the Holy Ghost” will speak through us but that we will be inspired by the supernatural power of God and Christ to speak as they would.
Trinitarians claim that the spirit is a sentient (able to sense) and self-aware), separate, and distinct being with a personality (since he is a male being or person of some type). I’m not sure Jesus understood this take when He said in Matthew 11:27 “No “man” (Holy Spirit included) knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son…” If “the Holy Spirit” is a male person distinct from the Father, and is also omniscient and almighty, then wouldn’t Jesus have included Him in the mix of Matthew 11? Again, in Matthew 24:36 Jesus says that no “one” (no person) knew the hour of his Second Coming except the Father. How could the person of the Holy Spirit be kept in the dark about this very important prophetic event? Are we supposed to believe that it is possible for one member of the Godhead to keep a secret from another member while sharing the same eternal and divine “essence” of “God?” Look – the excuses that people come up with are stretches men use to make their doctrines make sense. I trust the Bible. If Jesus says, No man but the Father knows the hour I believe it. And if someone suggest that the Father keeps this secret from the co-equal person of the Holy Spirit I cry foul. Listen – if “God” is three co-equal “persons,” as the Trinitarians claim, the third person can no more be “the spirit” of the first person, than the first person can be “the spirit” of the third person. To avoid such an absurdity, we must admit that “the spirit of God” cannot have a separate personality, but must be the power, influence, sufficiency, fullness or some extension of the Father who is the One True God.
Divisibility of the Spirit
1st John 4:13 says “We know that we live in Him and He in us, because he has given us of his Spirit.” God took the spirit that was on Moses and put it on the seventy elders of Israel. Joel prophesied that God would pour out “a part or some of His Spirit” on the day of Pentecost – which He did. But the point is the spirit of God is divisible and can be portioned out. This makes sense when we view the Spirit of God as His breath, coming from Him and NOT a person, personage, or being. The Bible purposefully uses very figurative language for the Holy Spirit to show that it is the invisible power and influence of God. God sends His spirit to comes into our lives and comfort us, to help us, to teach us, bring us to Christ, unite us and anoint us for the work.
The Holy Spirit and Its Representation
Scripture purposefully uses imagery like liquid and wind to describe the Spirit of God, saying: We are baptized (literally “dipped”) with and in it like water (Matthew 3:11). We are all made to “drink” from the same spirit, as from a well or fountain (1 Corinthians 12:13). It is written on our hearts like ink (2 Corinthians 3:3). We are “anointed” with it, like oil (2nd Corinthians 1:21-22). We are “sealed” with it as with melted wax (Ephesians 1:13). It is “poured out” on us (Acts 10:45, Romans 5:5). It is “measured” as if it had volume (2 Kings 2:9 and John 3:34). We are to be “filled” with it (Acts 2:4; Ephesians 5:18) and this “filling” is to capacity at the new birth and to overflowing as we act according to its influence.
Even the use of spirit as “wind” implies a liquidity, for air masses behave as a fluid, flowing from areas of higher to lower pressure. Not a person. By definition, the spirit of God is derived from God. What comes from God as its source cannot also be “God,” without the term “God” being reduced to a formless and incomprehensible abstraction. Nothing and no one can be both a source of a thing and the thing itself. There is a great difference between the Giver and the Gift he is giving.
Synonymous Use of Terms
The Bible synonymously uses “the terms Holy Spirit” with “God.” In Acts 5:3, Peter says Ananias lied to “the Holy Spirit,” then in verse 4 Peter says he lied to “God.” This is an example of the common Semitic parallelism of equivalent terms, and is not evidence that Ananias lied to two separate persons. If that were the case, why would verse 4 not say that Ananias lied to “the Father” instead of to “God?” Neither is this parallelism evidence that another divine person called “the Holy Spirit” is also “God” and therefore part of a triune “Godhead” as Trinitarians read it.
Jesus and the Holy Spirit
We say that Jesus is the Son of God. But Luke says that He was conceived of the “holy spirit.” If the Holy Spirit is a separate person, then wouldn’t Jesus be the Son of the Holy Spirit and not the Son of God? But, if the Holy Spirit is simply “the power of the Most High,” as Luke 1:35 clearly indicates, we can see what the Holy Spirit is . . . (the power of God) and not (a person of a trinity). Trinitarianism leads to far too much unnecessary confusion with its assertions of “the Holy Ghost” being a separate person, personality, or being, when it is merely God’s power interacting with Man.
Interdependence of Jesus and His Spirit
Additionally, but not the most clear point we can make, the “Holy spirit” is used synonymously and interchangeably with “the spirit of Jesus” (Acts 16:7; Phil. 1:19); “the spirit of the Lord” (Luke 4:18, etc.); “the spirit of his son” (Gal. 4:6); “the spirit of Jesus Christ” (Phil. 1:19). In these examples, “the spirit” is described as the mind and power of Jesus Christ, who fills and guides believers to do the will of God, his Father. With Christ as our mediator this makes great sense. With this in mind look how there is a clear relationship and interdependence between the Lord Jesus Christ and his “spirit.”
Later in Acts 16:6, in the midst of the work Paul was called to, “the Holy Spirit” kept Paul and his companions from preaching in Asia. Then in the next verse we read that the “spirit of Jesus” would not allow them to enter Bithynia. One and the same. But to make the holy spirit a person we get confusion. 2 Corinthians 3:17 and 18 says that the Lord (Jesus) is “the Spirit.” He has been invested with all spiritual authority and power to effectively carry out his responsibility as the Head of his body. By his “spirit” he is able to guide and direct his many servants (2 Cor. 12:8 and 9).
Galatians 5:22 and 23 list the “fruit of the spirit” (which is the nature of Jesus Christ) coinciding with John 15:5 which says “
Understanding the Role of the Holy Spirit
The concept of the Holy Spirit is explored through various Biblical references, emphasizing its role in the divine relationship with believers. The spirit or "parakletos" is described as an advocate for the Father and Jesus in 1st John 2:1. Ephesians 3:16-17 speaks of being strengthened by the spirit in the inner man and Christ dwelling in our hearts. Ephesians 2:18 and 3:12 highlight that access to the Father is by the spirit and through faith in Christ. Romans 8:26 and 8:34 illustrate the spirit and Christ interceding for us.
The Holy Spirit as a Gift
From the "mouth" of God came His Word and His breath. God, the Giver, so loved the world that He gifted His Son, the Word made flesh, and to draw all men to His Son, He gifted us His holy spirit, hagias pneuma. The Holy Spirit is portrayed not as a person but as a gift from God to the world He loves.
The only scriptural verse that might suggest three persons sharing one name is Matthew 28:19, where Jesus instructs to baptize in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. However, early Church Fathers, like Eusebius, quote this verse differently, aligning with the Book of Acts and Paul’s epistles, which only associate the name of Jesus Christ with baptism. Even if the verse is as modern versions present it, it does not validate the Holy Spirit as a separate person from God.
The Holy Spirit in Scripture and Worship
The Holy Spirit is never worshiped as the Father and the Son are. No scripture commands such worship, raising questions about the Holy Spirit's role as a co-equal and co-eternal member of a triune God. If each "God" person is worthy of worship, why is this directive absent in Scripture?
Apostolic Greetings and the Holy Spirit
In New Testament epistles, writers identify with God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, but seldom with the Holy Spirit. The exception is Peter, who mentions the Spirit in 1st Peter 1:1-2, but the Greek suggests a lower case "s" to indicate a non-personal entity. Paul, in his Church Epistles, consistently sends greetings from "God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ," never including the Holy Spirit. If the Holy Spirit were a personal part of a triune Godhead, it would be expected in Paul's greetings. Paul even includes "the elect angels" in his greetings but not "the Holy Spirit."
In Revelation 21-22, the Holy Spirit is not depicted as sitting on a throne like God the Father and His Son. This absence further questions the perception of the Holy Spirit as a separate or co-equal entity within the Godhead.
Worshiping in Spirit and Truth
Trying to convince people to worship the One True God and His Son Jesus Christ and then we add in the Holy Spirit as a third person. When the people begin to worship God in Spirit and in truth, we can then expect Mormons (and Buddhists, and Muslims) to come along too.
While the operators are clearing your well-thought-out, clear, and concise calls, I recently learned online that a local church here in Utah “excommunicated” a couple from the “communication” of their church. The reason? The couple had the audacity to ask two questions which turned into two complaints: “Why was the church only spending 1% of the total donations on the poor and 2, why the pastor was using church funds to take personal vacations?”
Church Discipline and Community Response
I think the people had the right to ask the questions and the church had the right to answer in whatever manner they wished, but to call for a church-wide non-communication on the members is unconscionable. Apparently, the “brethren” of the church convened and executed discipline upon these believers.
Artistic Commentary on Church Practices
Cassidy has prepared a video song presentation to speak to this type of bull oney – hope you get it right. Play "Welcome to the New Dark Ages" here. I believe sings to this present church age?
