I just want to say thank you for stating your family’s reasons for homeschooling but, most of all, for speaking in terms of God’s Word as your basis. So often we try to live our lives, even as Christians, based on feelings. We sometimes forget that, while we must have personal convictions, those convictions must be based on the Truth that is unchanging in God’s Word. If not they are simply our opinions and in all instances relative.

I am not sure I agree with your premise regarding public schools being unconstitional. Quite honestly, I’ve given it no thought at all! My reasoning (my husband is not a believer but thankfully supports our homeschooling)has more to do with the content of public education. The principles taught in classrooms across America clearly violate the Truth of God’s Word and so as a Christian parent I must make another choice in order to obey my Lord.

In reading your responses to many criticisms, I was encouraged by your loving spirit, as well as by your firm reliance on Scripture. May God continue to bless your family as you follow Him.

Lynn,

My sister in Christ (I’ve stated and implied from the beginning of our conversation, that I believe you are my sister). This debate has nothing to do with salvation or whether we have to obey every single standard of God’s law to be sisters and have fellowship in Christ.

It IS about love.

It is about our love for Christ, who gave His life for us.

We do not obey God’s law in order to be saved. We obey God’s law because we LOVE Him.

We seek to apply every word of His 66 inspired books (the article to which you referred mentions only 27, I’m assuming because they don’t believe the Old Testament is God’s Word) to our lives because of our love and gratitude and because He says,

“But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.”

We seek to honor Christ’s command when He says,

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cummin, and have neglected the weightier provisions of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness; but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others.”

Jesus reveals to the Pharisees that their sin was not in tithing the dill and cumin, that is what they should have been doing without neglecting the other aspects of His law.

When we begin to sit in judgement over God’s Word and to say that we don’t need to obey EVERYTHING that He commands, then we have established ourselves as the ultimate judge and usurped the authority that belongs to God.

If we reject God’s standard of conduct and simply shout love, we have missed the whole point of the Scriptures for they teach that to love is to obey!

“By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep his commandments. For this is the love of God that we keep his commandments and his commandments are not burdensome.”

“And this is love that we walk according to his commandments.”

If your standard is “love” without using God’s definition of love then it is no longer God’s standard, but your own.

Raising Olives is written to Christians who seek to apply God’s Word to every facet of their lives because we love God, not so that we can somehow earn salvation, for we are taught that that is impossible.

“As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:”

and

“Our righteousnesses are as filthy rags (literally menstrual cloths)”

If you wish to find arguments for not applying all of God’s Word to every aspect of life they are all around us. I’m sure that you will find many more than you can possibly collect and perhaps you will find some that are even more convincing than the one referenced below, but I see no need to post such information on a blog that has been prayerfully constructed to do the opposite, to drive Christians to God’s Word for answers.

I pray that God will bless you as you follow Him and that He will increase your love more and more through the knowledge of His Word.

Blessings,
Kimberly

You claim several times in this comment that I’m forcing my personal interpretation of God’s Word on others and to the extent that this is true I have been wrong. If you can point me to specific instances where I’ve done this I will certainly look them over, change them and if necessary ask public forgiveness.

I have tried to be very careful to present the Bible as the standard to which Christians must submit and then to present our interpretation of that standard as just that- our interpretation. I have refrained from ever intimating that anyone needs to hold, adopt or even agree with our application of God’s standard and I’ve stated that on many occasions.

You say,

You continually say things like “Human logic and practicality do not trump God’s Word, ever” so I believe you would say it’s my logic (not God’s) when I say these verses do not mean I must homeschool and this is where you’re coming from in saying you have the right to speak the “truth” in love. But how do you respond to me saying that I believe that insisting these verses mean you must homeschool is Kimberly’s interpretation and not God’s and I’m speaking the truth in love by telling you that?

No, I would not say it’s “your logic” if you say that these verses do not mean that you must homeschool. I agree with you. These verses do not say that everyone must homeschool and if I were teaching that everyone must homeschool in order to fulfill these passages then I would hope that you would speak the truth in love and point out my error.

Here are some quotes from several different parts of my blog about homeschooling/education outside the home:

We believe that whatever God commands in His Word in regard to education (or anything else for that matter), Christians are obligated to obey. What Christians are not obligated to do is to take our opinion or interpretation of God’s Word and adopt them as their own.

I do not see that Scripture teaches (in the passages I quoted or elsewhere) that the there is never a time nor place for education outside of the home

I don’t have all the answers, but a few things seem clear (and I’m very open to hearing where I’ve misunderstood, misrepresented or misinterpreted God’s Word). God commands parents to educate their children. He tells parents what they are to teach their children. He tells parents how they are to teach their children.

There is certainly a line where parents are sinning by abdicating their God-given responsibilities and while it’s quite clear on the extreme ends of the spectrum, I think that it is less clear as you near the middle ground. I do not claim to know for certain exactly where the line lies.

Ultimately each parent is responsible before God for the education of their own children.

We believe Scripture is our ultimate authority and that the specifics are the responsibility of parents.

While we do not claim that everyone must homeschool in order to be in submission to God’s Word, we do believe that homeschooling is an excellent option that meets the biblical standard and we hope to encourage other Christians to prayerfully consider it.

You say,

You interpret various scriptures as absolutes when they are not that clear but then you insist that people who don’t agree are just ”worldly” and are not following the scriptures. Then you wield scripture like a bat to smack people into submission-but it’s your interpretation of how to obey (for things like homeschooling or not sending children to Sunday school.)

I would appreciate some specific examples of where I have used Scripture as an absolute when it’s not and called those who don’t agree with me “worldly” or used Scripture like a bat to smack people into submitting to my opinion. It’s easy to accuse me of these things, but in order for those accusations to be helpful to me as I seek to restore those relationships broken by my alleged sin, it would be helpful to know where those instances of sin occurred.
You say,

You do not see your interpretations as being incorrect so you’ll slam more scripture in my face that shows how well you know the Bible but I won’t hear anything about you praying to Jesus and him guiding you towards homeschooling as the direction he has laid out for your family. Where is your personal relationship with Jesus in all of this?

You are right I do not see my interpretations as being incorrect (just as you do not see your interpretations as being incorrect) otherwise I would not hold them. People do not hold to ideas and beliefs that they do not believe.

The only basis for a discussion between Christians MUST be based on God’s Word. So while in your email you said that Jesus told you that you were not wrong, I pointed to Scripture as the basis for our position. When you say, Jesus told me I’m right and then complain that I use Scripture as the basis for my argument, there is no longer any basis for discussion.

Let me try to explain, if the ultimate authority is what Jesus tells us (through prayer or the Holy Spirit) rather than the Bible then we have no standard, no basis for discussion or fellowship. I can say Jesus told me to homeschool, you can say Jesus told you to send your kids to public school, the teenager down the road can say that Jesus told her to abort her baby and Hitler can say that Jesus told him to slaughter the Jews and none of us can argue against the other, because who is able to sit in judgement above what Jesus told someone to do?

The reason that you will read a lot more about what the Bible says and much less of what we personally hear from the Holy Spirit, is that what Mark and I hear from the Holy Spirit is not binding on anyone else, but the commands of Scripture are.

In the first part of this comment you criticize me for relaying my personal interpretation, (i.e. the specific guidance that we receive through prayer, our relationship with Jesus and the Holy Spirit) of Scripture and here you complain that I do not share my personal interpretation but rather use Scripture itself. So you object to my interpretation of Scripture AND you object to me quoting Scripture directly? May I humbly submit that reading Raising Olives may not be beneficial to you?

Most seriously you question my personal relationship with Jesus. You say that relationship with Christ is missing from my posts. I say, what is your definition of relationship?

He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.
Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?
Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me.

Jesus says that those whom He loves and indwells (relationship) are those who know (in other passages love) and keep His commandments. This is the standard that we hold. This was the point of my email to you (re-posted below).

Whose standard are you using to judge my personal relationship with Christ?

If my relationship with Christ does not measures up to your standard it makes no difference (but perhaps it is another indication that reading my blog is not a beneficial use of your time), but it is of great importance whether or not it measures up to God’s standard.

You say “God gave the responsibility for training children to the parents, not the government. If parents would take the responsibility to educate their children, even though it is difficult, we would not have these problems.” I completely and absolutely agree with this statement but the way this plays out in each of our lives may not look the same. You quote Deut. 6:4-9 as a reason you homeschool. There are many good reasons to homeschool and I respect one’s decision if they go that route, but to say that one MUST homeschool because it’s clearly stated in the Bible is your interpretation of those verses.

Yes, we must absolutely train our children in the ways of the Lord when we sit with them, walk with them, lie down, get up, etc but this does not mean everyone HAS to homeschool to meet that command. Would it be easier that way? Sure, you have more time with them to do it. However, these verses are telling us that you do not leave Christian training up to Christian schools or Sunday schools or grandparents or anyone else-that you as parents are fully responsible for this training throughout the day when you are with your child. Not that you must keep your child with you throughout the day to meet this command.

You continually say things like “Human logic and practicality do not trump God’s Word, ever” so I believe you would say it’s my logic (not God’s) when I say these verses do not mean I must homeschool and this is where you’re coming from in saying you have the right to speak the “truth” in love. But how do you respond to me saying that I believe that insisting these verses mean you must homeschool is Kimberly’s interpretation and not God’s and I’m speaking the truth in love by telling you that?

This is where I know how Ashley is feeling-you do not see your interpretations as being incorrect so you’ll slam more scripture in my face that shows how well you know the Bible but I won’t hear anything about you praying to Jesus and him guiding you towards homeschooling as the direction he has laid out for your family. Where is your personal relationship with Jesus in all of this? He is a living, breathing savior that we can all commune with to determine how the scriptures should play out in our lives but I don’t see you presenting your life in way that allows me to see you having a personal relationship with him. I’m honestly just asking you this as it’s another piece that I’ve realized is missing in your posts-you may very well live this way but it’s certainly not made clear when you outline how your family follows all of the rules laid out in the Bible.

The kicker is that at times you are doing what you’re telling other people not to do. You say “human logic & practicality do not trump God’s word,” but from your presentation style it also reads “unless you are Kimberly and then you can tell everyone else what this should look like in their life.” You interpret various scriptures as absolutes when they are not that clear but then you insist that people who don’t agree are just ”worldly” and are not following the scriptures. Then you wield scripture like a bat to smack people into submission-but it’s your interpretation of how to obey (for things like homeschooling or not sending children to Sunday school.)

You also seem to believe that parents taking responsibility and being involved in their childrens’ lives cannot happen if children are in public school. I completely agree that there are a lot of parents out there who DO NOT take this responsibility seriously (or at all) and this is not how God intended for us to live (as Deut. 6:4-9 specifically says this.) However, parents like this are wrong no matter what schooling option they choose. I think a lot of the people who disagree with you are coming from a place of, I do teach my children God’s commandments and I do believe we must look to the scriptures for guidance on how to obey. I am involved with my children and walk alongside them to help them maneuver the minefields at public school, but I do not choose to homeschool to make this happen AND THAT’S OK.

I recognize that this comment will end as Ashley’s did because I’m not going to convince you & you are not going to convince me. However, I’d like her to know that other people out there agree with her stance (if you post this.) Conversations like this are good to get people thinking about where they stand with these issues.

I will go back to back with my sister & we fight off the enemy with this wonderful weapon protecting both our families.

Amen.

Blessings to you and your family.

p.s. Don’t worry… I didn’t read it as cheeky. Like I said earlier, I have to be the Queen of tact (something I am still learning). I think on some issues it is still hard for me. This issue is one that is near & dear to your heart, so I was not offended.

Blessings to you.

In your first comment you say,

I think you are misrepresenting Christians by calling any tax legalized theft. Even if you pay your taxes, speaking against them seems like bucking the authority God allowed to be over us.

Which is interesting in light of your statement in this comment,

So, how do you write so you don’t offend? Well, style is all up to you. However, content would need to be more “us” and “we” centered instead of “all Christians” and “all parents” centered. (emphasis mine)

Why did you choose not to follow your own advice? Instead you seek to apply your standard to me (rather than simply to you and your family). Don’t worry, I’m not offended because I believe that we must seek to encourage other Christians to apply God’s standard to their lives, but we must do so in a way that we are not imposing our interpretation of God’s standard. I think that your exhortation to use certain pronouns and avoid others is your interpretation of God’s standard to speak the truth in love. So while I think stating the standard is appropriate, telling me that I’m inconsiderate because I did not follow your specific guidelines is not. In this post I repeatedly say, OUR FAMILY has chosen to avoid public schools. If you come to a different conclusion that is not my concern or responsibility. I have attempted to present the facts and the basis for our reasons clearly because those apply to everyone. (The law that forbids prayer in the public schools applies to every child and teacher in the system.)

Back to the point, when I bring up abortion I’m attempting to demonstrate that what you are stating as a universal principle, is not. Christians speaking against the use of taxes for that which is unlawful (we both agree abortion is unlawful) is biblical and since it is biblical, I stand by my initial statements. A violation of God’s law is a violation of God’s law and should be denounced. In 1 Chron. 21 we read about how serious it is when government goes beyond it’s God given authority. God killed 70,000 Israelite’s because David went beyond his lawful (given by God) authority and ordered that the people of Israel should be counted.

2. I’m glad to hear that God used your years in the public school system for your good, it is one of His amazing promises (Romans 8:28). However, since our standard is God’s Word that experience (your parents approval and/or your child’s potential learning disability) is moot. If something violates God’s Word then it is to be avoided. If something is commanded by God then it should be done even if it will put us at a disadvantage. Psalm 15:4

3. You specifically object to this statement,

God gave the responsibility for training children to the parents, not the government. If parents would take the responsibility to educate their children, even though it is difficult, we would not have these problems.

First, the truth that parents are responsible for their child’s education is clearly taught throughout Scripture and is a universal command to all parents, not just to Mark and me.

Second, it is obviously more difficult to take responsibility for our children’s education than to take none.

Third, the principle of disobedience bringing judgement (parents refusing to take responsibility) and obedience bringing blessing is clearly and pervasively taught in Scripture. I’m far from the only one who says that parents taking responsibility will fix many of the problems that we see today. Project Appleseed

Lack of parental involvement is the biggest problem facing public schools. ~Rose, Gallup, & Elam, 1997

As a Christian I may not add to nor take away from the Word of God and I may not represent commands that God gives universally as applying to only our family.

For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. ~Heb. 4:12

It is not my goal to “reach more folks”. It is my goal to fulfill my duty as a Christian to speak the truth in love and to allow God’s Word to pierce and divide where need be.

I totally agree that we should fight back on tax dollars being used for abortions. Any legalized murder of people who have not been brought to justice in a legal system (so we don’t get on the death penalty too… which I have VERY mixed feelings about) should be fought against. However, comparing tax dollars for public school to tax dollars for abortions seems extreme, as I don’t see the former as a known evil.

My husband and I plan to use public or private Christian schools for our children when they are in elementary school. We will make the choice based on funding, our convictions, and how adequately our children can be served in the school. Our children have a high likely hood of being dyslexic like me, or ADD like my husband. So, special education needs to be taken into consideration, and many Christians schools have no special education services. Luckily by then I’ll not only be certified in English but also special education. So, IF WE FEEL LED BY THE LORD we can home school & my kids will have everything they need.

We plan to look at each child individually. If our children are not already in public schools, we will give them the choice to “go public” when they are in middle school.

I was in public school all through. I was never pulled out of a class. My parents always discussed classes with me, and felt learning objectivly about world religions was not a bad idea. None of them were promoted during class time, just presented.

It was my presence in these classes in Social Studies that gave me a format to respectfully disagree & preach the gospel. (I was taught early to respect authority, but never to follow blindly.) When our history teacher (who was only there for one year before she was let go because she was a poor quality teacher) mis-represented the Jewish & Christian faiths during lessons about world religions I spoke up. She actually let me re-teach the material & what we believe since I was an “expert.” It was a great experience.

My parents are both ministers. They actually told me they had no problems sending my brother or I to public school. From their stand points, our faiths were strong enough that we were not threatened… we were the threat. Since I am still a strong Christian, and my brother is a minister, I would agree with them. We had ministry venues at an early age, and we had an environment we could interact with without our parents. We always came back to the safety of a stable home where we ate dinner together and processed the day.

I don’t feel that my parents gave me over to Caesar because I went to public school (which could be an implication of what you said). I tell you all this to explain the backgrounds some of your readers come from.

As for how to word things, I agree that you start of well by explaining that this is why you made the choices you did for your family. However, that tone is gone after the first paragraph. Soon, you use absolutes about why the schools are “not a choice” instead of saying “not a choice for us.”

By the time you get to your concluding statements your writing is not about you and your family anymore. Instead your writing is about the responsibility of every Christian parent: “God gave the responsibility for training children to the parents, not the government. If parents would take the responsibility to educate their children, even though it is difficult, we would not have these problems.”

When I read that statement, I felt under attack. This is how I read the statement the first time: “public schools are what is wrong with our culture, and if Christian parents (YOU) would just step up and do this despite it being hard (DON’T BE SO LAZY) then we would not have these problems.”

I checked myself and your writing though. I realized you were most likely just presenting your views in strong language, and not really (I hope) suggesting you knew what was best for every family in America. My State School College training me to be a special educator (read the only teacher who has to work with everyone in the building) taught me to do that. Not everyone is training to be a special educator, so they don’t take classes in communication with families & staff (which I just finished last week).

So, how do you write so you don’t offend? Well, style is all up to you. However, content would need to be more “us” and “we” centered instead of “all Christians” and “all parents” centered.

Thanks for taking the time to read my rantings. If I offended you at all, please let me know because that is not my intention. I think you are a strong advocate for homeschooling, and your arguments are valid ideas that should be considered. You will reach more folks (which appears to be your goal) by presenting ideas gently.

I hope the end of your school year is going well. Blessings! – Ashley

Thanks for taking the time to comment and for doing so kindly.

First I’d like to address your assertion that school taxes are not “legalized stealing” because of Jesus’ command to the disciples to render to Caesar that which is Caesar’s. This passage clearly speaks to the paying of taxes and I agree that we should pay the taxes that the government imposes on us, no matter what the government chooses to use them for. This principle is taught clearly in many passages of Scripture and is not being discussed here.

The fact that we are commanded to pay taxes does not mean that we should participate, vocally support or fail to speak out against instances where the government clearly oversteps it’s biblical and lawful (see my point about the Constitution) role in its use of those funds.

All men are called to be subject to God’s law even those in positions of authority and simply because the government has the authority to tax does not mean that they may take as much as they want, from whomever they want, for whatever they want. The Bible is rife with examples of godly men taking a stand against those in authority who practice ungodliness.

Christians have an obligation to bring the Word of God to bear on all aspects of life. Christian should never say that it is fine for the government to use tax dollars to pay for abortions, neither should they remain silent. We will speak and fight (through legal means) against that until our dying day and that has nothing to do with the fact that we will continue to pay our taxes.

I wonder how you would have me present this differently. I begin by saying that we’re learning and growing and don’t claim to have a corner on wisdom in this area, then I clearly state that these are our reasons for not sending our children to the government schools.

I believe that the reasons are valid and that they must be heard in our society where Christians by the thousands are handing over much more than tax dollars to Caesar.

However, I disagreed with one of your arguments for home schooling. I don’t think calling school taxes “legalized stealing” makes sense. When asked about paying taxes Jesus said “give unto Caesar what is Caesar’s” Matthew 22:21. He did not say give unto Caesars what is Caesar’s only if you plan to use the service he will provide with it. The government is taking your money and doing with it what it pleases. That can be frustrating, but Jesus told us not to fight our govt about taxes because they were only taking money.

I think you are misrepresenting Christians by calling any tax legalized theft. Even if you pay your taxes, speaking against them seems like bucking the authority God allowed to be over us.

I should also, to be fair, point out that I am a certified teacher. Currently, I do not have a teaching job, but I have taught summer school. I prayed for my students and for wisdom in instructing them & guiding them by example. This is not the norm in public school, but it does happen.

I respect your choice to present your reasons clearly. However, I would suggest you consider the feelings of those reading your blog who don’t have a choice. Your words will undoubtedly make them feel like they are cheating their children. Some good Christian parents can’t stay home & school their children for a variety of reasons.

Finally, my husband and I are looking into public & private Christian schooling for our two children. We believe that we can educate our children at home in addition to school to make up for what it is lacking in schools. This is the road my parents had to, and later chose to, take. My faith is stronger because of the heat it was refined under, and I believe there are benefits to Christian children attending public schools.

In summary I respect your choices. However, I don’t think your presentation style is considerate to all readers. I also happen to disagree with some of your views. Please continue writing & raising your children in the strength of the Lord!

About a year ago, I was discussing my decision to homeschool with a childhood friend of mine. We have known each other since junior high. She had just completed her master’s degree in education. She said to me, “Are you sure you want to homeschool? It seems like you have your hands full.” (I only have two!) “That’s what school is for, you know, to give parents a break.”
Of course, I was astounded. I knew that she didn’t agree with my decision, but I didn’t think that as an educator she really believed that folks send their kids to school to get away from them! What a sad commentary that would be on the state of the modern family.

Your posts here on homeschooling are very enlightening. I had no idea that public education should not belong to the federal government, but I took the time to look it up after reading your posts and it’s true!

Thank you for re-confirming in my heart that I belong here with my children, teaching them to love Jesus.

All of those above who commented negatively… What’s your point!? Just read it, consider it, and move on. No one is asking you to agree with anything… All of the bickering will get you nowhere!

Make your own choice about how you educate your children and for the love of God stop all of the nonsensical arguing. I think Kim is sharing her beleifs here and that is all. If you feel convicted or wronged by something here. Just pray! Do not make enemies. If you haven’t anything nice to say, don’t speak!!!

Kim, thanks for sharing your thoughts. I have yet to write my piece on why we chose to homeschool. I am not yet inspired to write on that quite yet. But hope to soon.

I do agree with this: The federal government has far too much control, in general, of pretty much everything in our country. Anyone who thinks your government truly cares about you and your family… Needs to take a second look at the world around you. Your government (in general) cares nothing about you. At this point, the curruption can not be undone. Forgiven, but not undone. Do not attempt to argue with me politically on this. You can not argue with someone who can not be moved.

I LOVE when someone stands on and for something, unmovable, and with dignity and kindness and grace. Kim, Thank you for being that. A christ like quality…

~ Jenny

I deal with a boys youth group in our Church. Our Church has a Catholic School that goes up until 8th grade in which they enter the PSS. When dealing with those boys it only takes about a year in the PSS and you can see a major difference in their faith life. It just sucks them of their faith because of the environment they spend most of their time in. These are pretty well grounded boys too. Some of them do good but most don’t survive the onslaught of what is put on them when they enter the PSS. Christians need to wake up as to what is happening. I fear we won’t and our society and faith will pay dearly for this failure.

Thank you for taking the time to comment.

I’d like to point out that I never stated nor implied that LDS did not believe in Jesus Christ. I have looked into the religion of the Latter-Day Saints, in addition to having friends who hold to it. My statements were not made out of ignorance and I chose my words carefully.

The term ‘Christian’ is generally defined as one who believes in the teachings of Christ as revealed in the Bible. When Christians (which both Christie and I are) use the term believer, we mean the same thing. If you read the post that I referenced at the beginning of this post, Disagreeing with Love you will see that I believe that Christians are commanded to judge. We are to judge rightly, with humility and love and only after we’ve judged ourselves.

The debate between historic Christianity and Latter-Day Saints, who did NOT want to be called Christians or classified with Christian denominations until recently {Joseph Smith said that Christian denominations were “all wrong … all their creeds were an admonition in his sight”} and preferred the term saints, comes in the view of God, the origin of Jesus Christ, means of salvation, exclusive authority of the Bible and more.

LDS teaching about God

Remember that God, our heavenly Father, was perhaps once a child, a mortal like we ourselves, and rose step by step in the scale of progress, in the school of advancement; has moved forward and overcome, until He has arrived at the point were He is.~ Mormon Journal of Discourses, Vol 1, page 123

As Abra’m, Isaac, Jacob, too, babes, then men–to gods they grew. As man now is, our God once was; As now God is, so man may be,– Which doth unfold man’s destiny. . . ~Lorenzo Snow, late President of the Mormon Church, “Man’s Destiny”

Biblical teaching about God Numbers 23:19, “God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent… Romans 1:22, “Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man…” and Psalms 102:26-27, “They shall perish, but thou shalt endure: yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed: But thou art the same, and thy years shall have no end.”

LDS teaching of the origin of Jesus Christ

When the Virgin Mary conceived the Child Jesus … He was not begotten by the Holy Ghost. And who is His father? He is the first of the human family. ~Bringham Young, Journal of Discourses, pages 50-51

Biblical teaching of the origin of Christ Luke 1:35 “And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God”

LDS teaching on the means of Salvation

Christians speak often of the blood of Christ and its cleansing power. Much is believed and taught on this subject, however, it is utter nonsense and so palpably false that to believe it is to lose one’s salvation. ~ “What Mormons Think of Christ” (LDS tract, pages 32-34)

Biblical teaching of Salvation 1 John 1:7 “and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin” and Revelation 1:5 “And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood”

LDS view of the BIble

many of the Gentiles shall say: A Bible! A Bible! We have got a Bible, and there cannot be any more Bible…wherefore because that ye have a Bible ye need not suppose that it contains all my words; neither need ye suppose that I have not caused more to be written ~ Book of Mormon 2 Nephi 29:3,10

Christians believe that the Bible is the only inspired Word of God and as such is sufficient for all of our life.

As a Christian, I am not my own, I am bought with a price. I can not call those who deny clear and vital teachings of the Bible, Christians. That would be neither loving nor kind. Calling oneself a Christian does nothing for the salvation of one’s soul.

But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.

For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ. ~Galatians 1:8-10

Our prayer is that Latter-Day Saints will turn to the Bible as the only Word of God and will receive the salvation provided for sinners by the death and resurrection of the only begotten Son of the one and only eternal God. In the meantime we show our friends who hold to these teachings, love, kindness and friendship to the best of our ability.