Defending the Faith
Apologetics is quite literally defense of the faith; the Greek word apologia means “defense” as a lawyer gives at a trial. In every generation, people face the challenges, questions, and concerns of the gospel message of the Christian faith.
Let’s define a few things before we get started.
Definitions:
Religion—a system of worship and service for a deity or deities.
Denomination—a group within a religion that bonds together because they share some beliefs and practices that are distinctive from other members of the religion.
Cults—a group that claims association with a religion but does not fully share the religions views regarding the identification of its deity and sacred writings.
11 characteristics of a cult
New truth; New interpretations of scripture; a non Biblical source of authority; * another Jesus; rejection of orthodox Christianity; Double talk; non Biblical teaching on the nature of God (trinity); changing theology; strong leadership; salvation by works; false prophecy
In this session, we are going to explore a few different world religions that you are likely to face at some point. But before we actually look at one major reason there are so many different religions and beliefs in this world. I believe that this has something to with the different world views that are found around the world.
Can anyone tell me what a world view is?
There are so man differences in how people view different issues throughout the world. These differences are the result of competing world views. Everyone has a unique set of beliefs that influence their interpretation of the world. Minor beliefs are far too many to catalog (for example, weather, coffee with or without cream, morning person vs. night person). Major beliefs are ideas that are more central to the overall makeup of humanity (THESE WOULD BE OUR WORLD VIEWS). These include philosophical viewpoints (do we really exist), Religious viewpoints (theistic, atheistic or pantheistic), language/culture structures (each culture has its own language structure to describe its experience) and personal factors (a person born blind will perceive the world differently than a person who has had sight).
World views are like the lenses of sunglasses. What do you think I mean by that? Think about it this way. If you have a pair of sunglasses that are tinted red, everything you see through those glasses will tend to have a red tint. If they are yellow, everything you see through those glasses will have a yellow tint…etc. So if your world view is like the lenses of sunglasses, then world views color your perception of the universe. World views examine the questions that must be answered about life and the human experience.
Leo Tolstoy saw six essential questions that must be answered:
1. Why am I living (origin)
2. What is the cause of my existence and that of everyone else? (theology, biology)
3. Why do I exist (purpose)
4. Why is there a division of good and evil within me?
5. How must I live (morality)
6. What is death (How do I save myself)
The way you answer these questions determine what world view you have.
Sireʼs Definition of “Worldviews” – “ A set of presuppositions (assumptions which may be true, partially true or entirely false) which we hold (consciously or subconsciously, consistently or inconsistently) about the basic make-up of our world.”
o Worldviews have “presuppositions”—Assumptions upon which our beliefs are built.
o Presuppositions are like the foundation blocks upon which a house is built.
o They may be “true, partially true, or entirely false.”
o Worldviews are held “consciously or subconsciously” – Every rational creature has a worldview…even if he doesn’t know it.
o Worldviews are held “consistently or inconsistently.”
o Worldviews reflect the “basic make-up of our world.”
o Worldviews do not reflect a personʼs entire belief system, but their core beliefs (most important beliefs).
o If all of our beliefs were put into a worldview system, then every personʼs worldview would be different because no two people have exactly the same beliefs.
There are also four different major types of world views. They are Theistic (believing in a god or gods), Non-theistic (not believing in a god or gods), Mystical views and Postmodernism.
Overview of Worldviews
I. Theistic views
a. Christian Theism
i. Belief in an infinite theistic power (i.e., God).
ii. “Christian”—the Christian form of God-belief
b. Other Forms of Theism: Judaism, Islam, Etc.
c. Deism
i. Belief in God as Creator and Moral Being.
ii. “Clock-Maker God” – God does not interfere with this world
d. Theistic Existentialism
i. Stresses the personal decision associated with faith.
ii. “Leap of Faith” – One cannot understand religion, so each person must make a choice to believe without understanding.
II. Non-Theistic Views
a. Naturalism (i.e., Secular Humanism)
i. Denies the spiritual – All that exists is nature.
ii. Survival of the Fittest –Back to Nature.
b. Nihilism
i. An outgrowth of Naturalism
ii. Nihilists say there is no value, meaning, or truth to life
c. iii. Life is absurd, and after life there is nothing
d. Existentialism (Atheistic Existentialism)
i. An outgrowth of Nihilism
ii. The only meaning in life is what each person creates for themselves
e. iii. Stresses the present, the personal, and individual freedom
III. Mystical Views
a. Eastern Pantheistic Monism
i. Eastern – It had its origin in the East.
ii. Pantheistic – Everything is God (God and the Universe are one).
iii. Monism – Everything can be boiled down to one thing (i.e., all is god).
b. Animism/Occult
i. Both hold strongly to a belief in spirits and spiritual involvement in our world.
ii. Animism – Believes spirits of all kinds are in all things (i.e., trees, lakes, mountains, etc., etc.).
iii. Occult – Believes spirits of all kinds can be conjured up for specific answers to life and activities.
c. New Age
i. Stress the “unity” of the cosmos and the need for harmony with “Mother Earth.”
IV. Postmodernism
a. A reaction to the assume certainty of the scientific or rational efforts to explain reality.
b. Items of Emphasis:
i. Subjective Truth (i.e., there are no absolute truths).
ii. Post Structuralism – language cannot express objective truth.
iii. Deconstructionism – History is not a record of objective facts.
iv. All “truth-claims” are actually power cover-ups.
v. Toleration of individual choices in morality, religion, lifestyle, etc.,
Now that you have a basic understanding of world views, we can start talking about different world religions.
Mormonism:
Mormons:
Over 50,000 missionaries worldwide (62,000+ as of 2022)
5 billion dollars in tithing per year
Brigham Young University—40,000 students on two campuses
Avenging angel—member of the church that will kill those who are adulterer, murderer or leave the Mormon church
Promote family living
Mormons sale themselves not through doctrine but pragmatism
Joseph Smith—12-23-1805—6-27-1844
Born in Sharon, VT and died in Carthage, IL
Raised in upstate New York near Manchester, NY
No church affiliation and was the 4th child
Claims to having some very strange visions
James 1:5 first vision 1820
5 Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God—who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly—and it will be given to him.
“Peep Stone Joe”
1823 at the age of 18 is the second vision—Moroni was beside him and in another book it was Nephi. He was told about the location of “Golden Plates” buried in Cumorah hill in Palmyra, NY.
1827 finds the plates but will not let anyone see them
Moved to Harmony township, PA
There is a statement signed by 62 members of Palmyra, NY basically refuting everything that Smith was claiming.
Plates are supposedly written in “Reformed Egyptian” which does not exist.
Oliver Cowdery, Martin Harris, and David Whitmore were known as the “three witnesses” that witnessed the translations. Later in Mormon history all three of these men said that this was all a joke and that they didnʼt want to be a part of it anymore
1829 Peter, James and John sent John the Baptist to Joseph Smith to congratulate him
Fayette, NY in 1830 the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints was officially formed.
Between 1831-1844 Joseph Smith claims to have received 135 direct revelations from God.
Kirtland, OH in 1831; Independence, MO; Nauvoo, IL; Carthage, IL
June 27, 1844 over 200 townspeople storm the jail, drag Smith and his brother Hyrum and shot them to death in the middle of the street.
Mormon Apologetics
Moroni 10:4
“And when you shall receive these things, I would exhort you that you would ask God, the eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if you would ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you by the power of the Holy Ghost.”
Apologetics will not allow a self justifying claim.
The book of Doctrine and Covenants
They believe it is a book of direct revelations of Joseph Smith and consecutive presidents of the church.
1890 President Wilford Woodruff the Mormon church no longer sanctions polygamy.
Alma 3:6-9 that the black race was cursed by God; by Joseph Smith—June 9 1978 president Spencer Kimball states that blacks are now excepted more openly in the church and now for the priesthood.
The Pearl of Great Price
A collection of ancient inspired writings and a few inspired writings by Smith
Physical nature of God
They believe that God literally has flesh and bones.
Eternal progression; an exceptionally good Mormon will eventually become a god and given a planet.
The Trinity: Hierarchical trinity found in II Nephi 31:21 and Alma 11:44; God the Father is superior of Jesus and the Holy Spirit.
Baptism:
Require immersion for the forgiveness of sins.
The only salvation in the world today is through baptism in the Mormon church.
Baptism for the dead…Mormons can be baptized in the place of their dead relatives who died without having the opportunity of hearing Smithʼs teachings.
Based on I Cor. 15:29 and I Peter 4:6
29 Otherwise what will they do who are being baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, then why are people baptized for them?; 6 For this reason the gospel was also preached to those who are now dead, so that, although they might be judged in the flesh according to human standards, they might live in the spirit according to God’s standards.
Lordʼs supper: Every week but they usually use water
Kingdom of Heaven: Three levels of Heaven
1. Celestial
a. The best of the best of the best of Mormons
b. Participated in a celestial marriage
c. Remained in good standing with the Mormon church
d. Spend eternity in fellowship with Elohim and Jesus
2. Terrestial
a. Other Mormons
b. Good protestants
c. Good Roman Catholics
d. Jesus will regularly visit this level
3. Telestial
a. Other protestants
b. Other Roman Catholics
c. Unbelievers who lived decent lives
d. Holy spirit and angels will regularly visit
All of this comes from II Cor 12:2
2 I know a man in Christ who was caught up to the third heaven fourteen years ago. Whether he was in the body or out of the body, I don’t know; God knows.
Hell:
Reserved for Satan and his angels
Only the most wicked and incorrigible people will be sent there.
Jehovahʼs Witnesses:
Blue collar religion
Charles Taze Russell (2-16-1852—10-31-1916)
Raised in Pittsburgh PA and by the age of 25 he was the manager of several menʼs stores
Started a Bible Study group in 1870 and started reading Daniel and Revelation. Predicts the second coming in 1874. Second prediction of the second coming is 1914.
1876—International Bible Students
1881—Zionʼs Watchtower and Tract Society
C.T. Russellʼs status with Jehovahʼs Witness groups today:
Jehovahʼs Witnesses have tried to distance themselves from C.T. Russell over the past 50 years.
C.T. Russell advertised and sold “Miracle Wheat”
Russell divorced his wife on grounds of adultery
Claimed he could read Greek and Hebrew under oath and then could not do it.
Joseph Rutherford “Judge” (1869-1942)
Followed Russell as the leader of the Watchtower and tract society
Why Serve Jehovah? Rutherford claims that he is Godʼs mouthpiece for this generation and everything he says is divine revelation.
1914 Jesus was crowned Lord of all Creation. Satan got mad and was cast out of Heaven to earth and thatʼs why WWI started.
1931 Rutherford changed the name of the group to Jehovahʼs Witnesses.
Nathan Knorr became leader after Rutherford died. (42-74).
His 2 new policies
1. Only writings published after 1942 should be considered authoritative.
2. All future writings representing JW would be published without identification of the author.
Henschel
Don Adams
JWʼs headquarters is in Brooklyn, NY 1898. 750,000 members in the United States
JWʼs authoritative writings
The New World translation 1955 Difficulties
1. Qualifications of translators cannot be traced
2. John 1:1 JW states “In the beginning was the word and the word was a god”,
when our translation was “In the beginning was the word and the word was God”.
3. Colossians 1:16; For everything was created by him,
in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—
all things have been created through him and for him.
4. if you want to understand the Bible correctly you have to use the other publications along with the Bible.
Beliefs and Practices:
Denial of the trinity…the focus of your worship should be on Jehovah not Jesus.
Arian Christology—Arius (250-336)
Jesus was Michael, then Jesus and is now Michael again Holy Spirit is not a divine person or part of the trinity Godʼs work on earth
Two Flocks:
1. Revelation 7:1-8—144,000 (Heaven)
After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, restraining the four winds of the earth so that no wind could blow on the earth or on the sea or on any tree. 2 Then I saw another angel rising up from the east, who had the seal of the living God. He cried out in a loud voice to the four angels who were allowed to harm the earth and the sea, 3 “Don’t harm the earth or the sea or the trees until we seal the servants of our God on their foreheads.” 4 And I heard the number of the sealed: 144,000 sealed from every tribe of the Israelites: 5 12,000 sealed from the tribe of Judah, 12,000 from the tribe of Reuben, 12,000 from the tribe of Gad, 6 12,000 from the tribe of Asher, 12,000 from the tribe of Naphtali, 12,000 from the tribe of Manasseh, 7 12,000 from the tribe of Simeon, 12,000 from the tribe of Levi, 12,000 from the tribe of Issachar, 8 12,000 from the tribe of Zebulun, 12,000 from the tribe of Joseph,
12,000 sealed from the tribe of Benjamin.
2. John 10:16—144,001ff (Paradise on Earth)
16 But I have other sheep that are not from this sheep pen; I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. Then there will be one flock, one shepherd. 17 This is why the Father loves me, because I lay down my life so that I may take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down on my own. I have the right to lay it down, and I have the right to take it up again. I have received this command from my Father.”
The Second coming
One final chance to accept Christ after death.
Miscellaneous:
Believe in immersion
Lordʼs Supper once a year
Lay Ministries:
140+ hrs. per month—“Special Pioneers” ($)
96+ hrs. per month—“Pioneers”
15+ hrs. per month—“Publisher”
Not allowed to have any thing to do with the Roman Catholic or Protestant churches No association with secular government
Donʼt vote or serve in military
Miscellaneous comments about JW:
Refuse to take blood transfusions
No Christmas trees—Jeremiah 10:3-4: for the customs of the peoples are worthless. Someone cuts down a tree from the forest;
it is worked by the hands of a craftsman with a chisel. 4 He decorates it with silver and gold. It is fastened with hammer and nails, so it won’t totter.
Will not celebrate birthdays—Genesis 40:20-22 and Matthew 14:6-10
20 On the third day, which was Pharaoh’s birthday, he gave a feast for all his servants. He elevated the chief cupbearer and the chief baker among his servants. 21 Pharaoh restored the chief cupbearer to his position as cupbearer, and he placed the cup in Pharaoh’s hand. 22 But Pharaoh hanged the chief baker, just as Joseph had explained to them.
6 When Herod’s birthday celebration came, Herodias’s daughter danced before them and pleased Herod. 7 So he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked. 8 Prompted by her mother, she answered, “Give me John the Baptist’s head here on a platter.” 9 Although the king regretted it, he commanded that it be granted because of his oaths and his guests. 10 So he sent orders and had John beheaded in the prison.
Do not believe that Jesus died on a cross.
Prohibited vaccinations up until the 1950ʼs
Prohibited transplants of organs up until 1967
Thoughts from a Crosseyed Jesus Freak 