As some of you know, I got lambasted for recommending Glenn Beck’s books because he’s a mormon. I said to stop judging him based on his beliefs: he still is doing great things for people and this country.
In his new book, “The Seven Wonders That Will Change Your Life”, he talks about how he came to Mormonism. He asked a question,”Where’s Gandhi?” Gandhi never accepted Jesus. The Mormon teacher responded by saying, “Would it be fair for one who had never had the chance or opportunity to accept Him to be banished to that lake of fire?” P.148
I had been contemplating this ever since I read it. I knew the logic was flawed somehow and now I have an answer from the Bible. Romans 1:20: “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities–his eternal power and divine nature–have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.”
There really is no excuse NOT to know Him, especially in today’s world. We all can buy a Bible. Churches are on every street and we can worship freely. But more than that: God is everywhere we look. How can a human being with a logical mind not stop and think I wonder where all of this came from? And then find the answer: God.
I’m extrapolating here because I don’t know much about the Mormon faith but apparently Mormons take the fluffy view of, “Well, you won’t go to Hell. You just won’t be in Heaven with the rest of us.”
But what does the Bible tell us? John 14:6 “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Revelation 20:15 “If anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.”
Mr. Beck denies the existence of this “lake of fire” in his book on P. 149 (the fluffy view of what happens to unbelievers). I guess he missed Romans 1:20, Revelation 20:15, John 14:6, and Isaiah 40:21.
The Mormon teacher responded by saying, “Would it be fair for one who had never had the chance or opportunity to accept Him to be banished to that lake of fire?” P.148
The question should be, “Is it fair that any one of us should not perish forever because of our sin?” Only the grace of God through Jesus’ dying for our sin prevents us all from spending eternity separated from God. I think C.S. Lewis’ beautiful book The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe shows even children the simple truth that none of us are worthy of our own merit. Paul says that what he wants to do, he does not do; what he would not do, he does. Our will, no matter how strong, is not enough to create perfection within ourselves. Only the blood and body of Christ, the sacrifice, opens that door for us.
Praise God, the Banner on the mountain! 🙂
Great insights, Patti! Loved it!
I think Christians need to quit lamblasting people that are on their side and let God be God and let Him work on their heart…Where they are at this particular time is His business and not mine…The truth is the truth no matter whose mouth it comes out of….Judgement is for God and who He uses is up to Him…….
Wanted to let you know how much I enjoy your posts on the BSF questions. Really extends and renders more perspective to material, I too find it much more enlightening with historical/geographical background. Never been one to gain much from parroted responses. Several years ago I competed the 7 year program, have relocated and noticed the addition of the study of Isaiah, one of my favorite books, and was fortunate to be able to connect for the class. I am enjoying the study greatly.
Now, for the current reason for my “note”. I too really enjoy Glenn, listen often, read several of his books, attended the simulcast of his presentation of “Broke”, subscribe to “Extreme” and would have liked to have attended 8/28. He has greatly enhanced my knowledge of History, Constitution, Economics and current affairs. He is entertaining, very bright, moral, generous, patriotic and yes a Mormon… being a Christian, I have no problem extracting what is truth and beneficial from knowing where we part ways. Of course the same can said in reference to Catholics, Jews (also truly enjoy Mark Levin), and any number of Christians from Amish, Pentecostal and assorted others. I am not going to exchange Biblical passages to support my views for it would be lengthy, unproductive and boils down to what the Holy Spirit is speaking to you. So just know that your lambasting over Glen is probably happening for the right reasons, in their minds, but unfortunately unnecessary and unwarranted. Blessings!
If you believe in an actual or literal Lake of fire and Brim stone as spoken about in the book of Revelations, you must then also say that you believe in Dragons and 7 headed Beasts. You cannot take one metaphor literally and another a few verses later as figurative. But if you believe in a just as well as merciful God who loves all of his children, even the people who lived before Christ, you would also believe that he has a mercifully just way for the millions who lived prior to Christ to hear and accept or reject Jesus. You would also believe that in his infinite wisdom and Love, he would find a way that the millions of people after Christ’s Death throughout the world who never heard of or even had the opportunity to hear of the Gospel and accept it. 1st Peter 3:18-19 gives us a hint of this. “For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit. By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison.” This not only suggests a “second chance”, but a first chance for millions and millions of souls. So, I don’t have a problem with Glen Beck denying the existence of a Literal Lake of fire, and I am confident he is a Christian. By their fruits, ye shall know them.
I think you need to read up on the Old Testament. No one in the OT went to heaven until after Jesus’s death. That is in the Bible as well. These people believed in God. Also, Glenn Beck is not a Christian. He is a Mormon. Mormons do not believe in Christ. They think he is just another prophet, a common man, NOT the Son of God. You must have faith in Jesus Christ as the Son of God, in the Holy Trinity, that he died for our sins, in order to be with God. I suggest you read up on what Mormons believe as well.
I disagree completely with the Second chance. It’s called personal responsibility. If you can see the Earth, you can ponder a maker. This is what Romans 1:20 is stating. You only have once chance to accept Jesus before death.
See my post here for the OT I’m referring to.
Let me understand what you are saying… are you saying that anyone who lived prior to Christ or who lived outside of the small area he traveled, including those who at the same time and for centuries after lived on the American continent, and Eastern Asia, and Russia, are all condemned to a fiery lake simply because they were born at the wrong time or in the wrong place?
If God is a God of Mercy, do you not think he would have a way for all to hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ?
What is you interpretation of 1st Peter 3:18-19? Also, since you brought up the Old Testament, didn’t the prophet Elijah go up to heaven in a fiery, chariot? He was also later seen by the diciples standing with Moses in heaven during the Transfiguration. I know that you keep bringing up Romans 1:20 but you cannot disreguard other scriptures. I am not trying to be difficult. I am just trying to understand!
That isn’t true, Mormons believe that Jesus Christ is the Savior and Redeemer of the world, just like all the rest of the Christian world. ” Ask any one of them and they will attest to that, not only by word but also by deed. The Book of Mormon itself states “there shall be no other name given nor any other way nor means whereby salvation can come unto the children of men, only in and through the name of Christ, the Lord Omnipotent” (Mosiah 3:17).
And while it is true what you are saying, that “if you can see the earth, you can ponder a maker” that isn’t to say that if you can see the earth you can automatically know of Christ and his sacrifice. Knowing that God exists is not knowing that He died for your sins. And while I believe that any man who ponders the existence of God long enough and seeks to know Him, God will reveal his secrets to him, that doesn’t guarantee that such an event will occur.
In addition, please note that if you consider Romans 1:20 in context of the rest of the chapter, you will see that it is not talking about everyone, it is specifically speaking about those “who hold the truth in unrighteousness”(Rom 1:19). It is speaking of those “that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were they thankful”(Rom 1:21).
Also this statement is not entirely true. “There really is no excuse NOT to know Him, especially in today’s world. We all can buy a Bible. Churches are on every street and we can worship freely.” Yes, in America this may be true. But in other countries void of the religious freedoms that we are blessed with, this is utterly untrue. Not everyone can buy a Bible. Not everyone has churches on every street and can worship freely.
As far as Mormon’s views of the afterlife go, Mormons believe that no man will be denied the opportunity to hear the gospel of Christ, and those who do not have the opportunity (as there will surely be those who do not) will be given an opportunity to receive it and receive the blessings of Christ’s sacrifice before they are judged. Mormon’s DO believe in a lake of fire, but in their eyes it is not a literal lake of fire, but rather the eternal pain and suffering brought upon oneself by refusal to follow Christ, and thus separating himself from God for eternity. Glenn was not trying to deny the existence of the lake of fire, but rather to emphasize the Latter-Day Saint interpretation thereof.
Thanks for your time.
Actually the name “Mormon” is short for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints so Mormons really do believe in Jesus Christ, his name is part of the actual name of their church. They believe that Jesus Christ is the one and only Savior of this world for All mankind. Mormons belief is founded upon Jesus Christ and all of his teachings and doctrine are taught based on Jesus Christ. So when you say Mormons aren’t Christian that isnt true. From the first person born on this earth until the last person before Christ comes again will have the opportunity to be saved not only by his grace but by what we each do in this life. When we are judged, it will be on those things we did in this earth life as to weather we will have the amazing opportunity to live with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ or not. We each make choices everyday that will put us either one step closed to our Savior or a step back away from him. It truly will be up to us. May God bless you.
Thank you so very, much brother! I agree with you wholeheartedly!!! God is a just and merciful God. I also want to add that I think people like Stalin and Hitler and other truly, evil people would still reject Christ and choose Satan even after being preached to in their prision by Jesus himself, as it states in the scripture that you posted. I do have to say that I don’t know how I would make it through this life without God and my Saviour Jesus!
Your statement about Stalin and Hitler accurately reflects the LDS view on the subject. Those who were honest and good people, who didn’t have an opportunity to receive Christ in life, would surely receive Him in “prison” and those who were wicked and followed after their own desires would reject Him. Ultimately, in life, whether we have a chance to hear of Christ or not, we all have a portion of the spirit inviting us to do good, and giving us knowledge of good and evil. Those who choose to hearken to that spirit will accept the fullness of it after death, and those who ignore that spirit will reject the fullness of it after death. In the LDS faith, everything revolves around the principle of freedom to choose right or wrong, and we do that on a daily basis whether we know of Christ or not, and why should that tendency toward one or the other change merely because we are no longer united with our bodies?
Interesting article I just read that I wanted to add to this discussion. It mentioned how many are concerned about what happens to those who never heard about Jesus. It mentioned how God is big enough and just enough to be the Judge of those who haven’t heard or hadn’t heard before their death and all we need to be concerned about is how we respond when we learn of Him.
I thought that was well put for we can’t know everything. Only God knows.
We can agree to disagree on what happens and who is responsible and our role in those who have never heard the Gospel. But in the end, we can only control ourselves and our reaction.
The rest lies in His hands.