tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8261814012053869943.post1820750568530157087..comments2023-10-09T03:39:02.388-06:00Comments on Expository Lutheran: Mormon ConversationBror Ericksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06913133289813136695noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8261814012053869943.post-79249809818054132852009-10-15T08:44:23.851-06:002009-10-15T08:44:23.851-06:00Glad to hear. Thanks for this thread.Glad to hear. Thanks for this thread.Brigittehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10259491144770243688noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8261814012053869943.post-52576766081628498842009-10-15T07:54:25.738-06:002009-10-15T07:54:25.738-06:00Yesterday, I had a couple guys in their mid twenti...Yesterday, I had a couple guys in their mid twenties. The one kept asking me questions about the church. Not so much theology, just things like, can you get married etc. He kept referring to what Catholics do, so I figured him for a lapsed Catholic. Turns out he is a lapsed Mormon. Went on Mission etc. He said religion is stressful. He doesn't believe in God anymore. Asked me why I did. I pointed to the resurrection and casually let him know there was more evidence for this then that Ceaser crossed the Rubicon. I then told him I believe he was stressed out and run to depression by Mormonism, that many religions are stressful. But I don't see how mine can be stressful. How can "your sins are forgiven" be stressful? He kept probing for the rules of our faith. I pointed to the ten commandments, and shocked him by saying, but we use these primarily to show that we are sinners. We all sin. I do. He was shocked to hear someone so casually confess that he was a sinner. Again I pointed him to the cross. He went home with a copy of "the Spirituality of the Cross." Pray for him and his partner, who was also quite receptive to the Gospel. Pray for me that I might be able to continue to give them the gospel.Bror Ericksonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06913133289813136695noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8261814012053869943.post-11152457978204903102009-10-14T13:15:39.991-06:002009-10-14T13:15:39.991-06:00Frank,
Yes. Sometimes I cringe when I hear people ...Frank,<br />Yes. Sometimes I cringe when I hear people extolling the door to door method of Evangelism. They tout the Mormons as being good examples. I don't think they are. (It has a pitiful track record for them.) Most people convert to Mormonism through genuine relationships. Very few because a couple teenagers knocked on their door. <br />I contemplate going door to door at times. It just seems so contrived though. On the other hand some evangelism, any evangelism would be better than none. So...<br />Though I do wonder how many people really enjoy having their day interrupted in such a manner for a religious conversation these days.Bror Ericksonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06913133289813136695noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8261814012053869943.post-29011967004718650492009-10-14T10:34:54.747-06:002009-10-14T10:34:54.747-06:00Yes, Rev. Cares book is the best out there on Chri...Yes, Rev. Cares book is the best out there on Christian outreach to Mormons. From one Utah Lutheran pastor to another, very well said, Bror! They do need to hear the law in all its severity so that they are prepared to receive Christ and His forgiveness. We hope the Lord turns those two poor boys at your door to forgiveness and life before "outer darkness"!Bryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13391366171485006911noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8261814012053869943.post-83808989738074307322009-10-14T08:18:33.555-06:002009-10-14T08:18:33.555-06:00Love means getting to know someone and befriending...Love means getting to know someone and befriending them. I always invite these kinds in, offer them a nice lunch or milk and cookies or... and try to get to know them. If I have time. I try to love them. I think of what mom and grandma would do with me. walking the dog and talking is a great example bror. I try to do that in my own neighborhood.<br /><br />people who want to immediately go to a religious discussion I tell them that they don´t really care about me, I am just more missionary bait for them, and when they get sincere and real, they can seek me out.Frank Sonnekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18119302543437442204noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8261814012053869943.post-44296072456098819802009-10-14T08:12:27.899-06:002009-10-14T08:12:27.899-06:00" I told them they didn’t know anything. I th..." I told them they didn’t know anything. I think I might have been a bit more colloquial than that. At that point I began to lay into them hard." <br /><br />ahem. We need more Lutheran pastors like you.<br /><br />from Brasil?! Trust me when I tell you that Mormons here in Brasil don´t come even close to "walking the talk" when it comes to restraint...Frank Sonnekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18119302543437442204noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8261814012053869943.post-18699313077717508192009-10-14T06:54:16.664-06:002009-10-14T06:54:16.664-06:00Jonathan,
Truth be told there is no easy answer. T...Jonathan,<br />Truth be told there is no easy answer. The best book on Evangelism to Mormon's though is "Speaking the truth in Love to Mormons" By Mark Cares.<br />With Mormon's I would say they don't need the Gospel up front. They need to be wacked over the head with the law. They need to be shown that they are sinners. That they are going to hell, or to speak their lingo outer darkness. And in my opinion it needs to be straight up and in their face.Bror Ericksonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06913133289813136695noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8261814012053869943.post-11139619863392133762009-10-13T17:37:46.055-06:002009-10-13T17:37:46.055-06:00This comment has been removed by the author.Brigittehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10259491144770243688noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8261814012053869943.post-77235420992654330042009-10-13T16:49:00.243-06:002009-10-13T16:49:00.243-06:00I have serious doubts whether debate with Momo &qu...I have serious doubts whether debate with Momo "missionaries" works. Although the Word always works.<br /><br />This last summer I was approached by a female 'missionary' while I was out and about--that was a first. What came to mind was something like this: "I'm not interested in your religion; it requires more from me than I can deliver and there's no guarantee I can win in the end. My trust in Jesus is a lot simpler; He's promised me that I've already won because of what He's already accomplished by His death and resurrection--I don't have to add anything. Why would I want to trade a sure thing for the uncertainty your religion is offering?" And I left it at that.<br /><br />I know the HS will give us words to speak, but, what is the best, simplest way to fire a Gospel shot right to the heart of these guys without the debate?Jonathanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18223579810861454670noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8261814012053869943.post-30627154827085133182009-10-13T13:09:48.309-06:002009-10-13T13:09:48.309-06:00When they left...the shaking...was it their feet? ...When they left...the shaking...was it their feet? I hope it was a liver shiver...as their hearts registered your words!Nancyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03127927719002627674noreply@blogger.com