Marv Cowan Interview Part 5

.1 examines the teachings of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints from a biblical perspective viewpoint when warming is sponsored by Mormonism research ministry since 1979 Mormonism research ministry has been dedicated to equipping the body of Christ with answers regarding the Christian faith in a manner that expresses gentleness and respect. And now, your host for today's viewpoint on Mormonism hoping to have a very pleasant Friday. Welcome to this additional viewpoint on Mormonism. Either host Bill McKeever, founder and director Mormonism research ministry and this week I have been talking to good friend of mine, Marv, Kellan, Marv is with missions or and as I've mentioned before, the website is Utah Christian pub.com if you want Mars website Utah Christian pub and as I mentioned earlier, Marv is willing to answer any questions that you may have. You can write him directly at Pastor marv80@gmail.com. That's the number 80 Pastor marv80@gmail.com.

If you been listening to our earlier broadcast. Marv has been a missionary to the Mormon people for decades, and I guess you could say studied at his feet. In the early years of my study of Mormonism and he wrote a book called Mormon claims answered, which is a very concise book, but has a lot of very basic teachings of Mormonism comparing the differences between those teachings and what the Bible has to say and we been talking about Mars conversion. He was raised in the Mormon Church's mother was a convert to the Mormon church. Her father was born in the covenant. He was raised for time in Idaho and also in Colorado. As I said, has served as a missionary to the Mormon people here in Utah for decades and we just been talking about some of the experiences that Marv has had over the years Marv off air. We were talking about a lot of the things that we have seen happen when it comes to evangelism to the Mormon people and how it there is this idea among many, including some Christian scholars to think perhaps that the Mormon church is moving towards a more biblical position. You will I know have not really been enamored by a lot of this discussion, though I think we would both love to see something like that. We would certainly love to see the Mormon people come to more biblical understanding, but as a corporation, the church really is not showing that it's moving in that direction. At least not in an official capacity. No, let's talk about that should what's going on Mormonism's way Christians from wanting to share their faith with the Mormon people.

Is it just isn't necessary now as it was, let's say when you are challenged as a teenager I Christians about what you believe people are lost are still lost absolutely and the a lot of people who are very religious are lost now back in the early days of my ministry.

You could see the difference a little more Mormonism itself wanted to set itself apart. That's changed in the sense that they are trying to make themselves appear more like evangelicals and I talked to so many people who have family members or close friends who are Mormons and as such will they believe in Jesus Christ the Savior is not the bottom line until no it's not.

It's what Jesus they believe I did that with a couple guys's in California. This was several years ago, but the one was Mormon, the other was an evangelical Christian and the evangelical said my friend here believes in Jesus Christ as his Savior. And isn't that the bottom line and that I told them no, I don't think so and he said it isn't.

I said to the Mormon would you answer some questions for me and he said yes I said will tell me about the Jesus you believe in is he the literal son of a father or mother God makes it I said is he the spirit brother of Lucifer as well as all the rest of us and that pre-mortal world.

Mormonism talks about his. I said did you become a God by keeping the same laws and norms of gospel truth which you can become a God again.

He said yes and I said all I appreciate you answering my questions that I have to tell you the Jesus you just described can't be found in the Bible, and it's the Jesus of the Bible who said I am the way the truth and the life no man comes to the father but by me. He said well there's only one Jesus and I said, no, according to the Bible, there is a possibility of another Jesus. Second Corinthians 11 verse four warned the Corinthians about the possibility. They were so fickle in their thinking that they could be deceived by somebody preaching another Jesus, so we had a good conversation.

I think that still the problem I had some people just a few days ago. Site will my son is going to marry it Mormon lady and she believes in Jesus Christ as her Savior. And that's the most important thing. Well, I said it's important but it's more important to know what Jesus she believes in and is Jesus enough like I asked one of the Mormons I was talking to.

I said I believe in Jesus Christ as the one and only mediator between God and man, and my faith is in him and him alone. If I believe that and reject Mormonism, have God's best. No see asking questions like that gets to the to the meat of it and then unfortunately a lot of Christians were not trained in how to ask those questions allow that opportunity to slip by them where I simply asking those questions that you just ask are going to show that were talking about something very very different here you're talking about the all sufficiency of Christ sacrifice on the cross and they're saying no, Jesus isn't enough, we have to add something to what he did and that's exactly what one missionary said you can't know Jesus. Apart from Joseph Smith. Joseph Smith is the one that revealed your telling others to mediators and mimosas is only one it would seem if they're going to be consistent. They would have to admit that. And, of course, if a Mormon hopes to get the best that their God has for them. Joseph Smith has to be part of the equation.

I mean their own publications have said you have to believe that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God.

If you want to get the approval of God the father. You would think those statements would cause a little bit in shock among many Latter Day Saints.

Oftentimes, I find that the Christian who doesn't see the problem that you and I see with Mormonism, it's usually because they really haven't taken the time to do some homework in this. There probably only getting their information from their Mormon neighbor who is not going to go out of their way. Probably to delve into a lot of these things that certainly separated us that as you said he and he said it quite appropriately. The Mormon church today is trying more to cozy up to evangelicals rather than show the difference between us. It's not like years gone by, where Mormonism has certainly always had the majority when it comes to religious faiths in Utah where they want to make sure you understood they were very different than everybody else and you raise a good point. Why do they want to equate themselves more with us as evangelicals. They certainly don't want anything to do with the fundamentalist Mormons who believe in polygamy today and he would think they have more in common with them than they do with that.

So why is that well it's easier to make converts that way, they found out about going back to the 1961. Handbook of missionaries used. It was very adversarial, and now they emphasize the similarities and they've made a whole lot more converts that I said when they started doing that. That's a double-edged sword. It's not illegal enough to confuse Mormons, but Christians I talked to some Mormons who seem to think they're very similar to evangelicals what were the really not the Jesus I believe in is the one that saves to the uttermost. The Jesus of Mormonism is noise a partial Savior. He does part of it, but we gotta depart and leaders in the Mormon church and made that very clear even hide that fact many years ago. There's so many things that they have set on the subject, showing that there a lot of things that the individual member has to do if they hope to receive that godhood that you and hope to receive in your young teenager. I think what a Christian, challenges them on that and asked the good questions okay what that's what you want to be are you doing everything you need to do in order to get what you want to be if they're honest they have to admit they're not this nobody knows that there they've achieved perfection yet. I had one guy that slit will of cheap perfection paying my tithe and flight relationship with my wife and socialism. But that's not everything now now and have any of us is married man ever achieved perfection in our otherwise I would have to ask his wife about that II certainly fall short. So do tend to I guess you could say lie to themselves. Self-delusion makes them think that they've done enough. I've I know I've talked to some who say they've done everything they need to do. But again, I guess it comes down to knowing the proper questions to ask to get them to finally admit that. Well, maybe I'm not as perfect as I think I am, and I think that's that's very important for going to have a meaningful conversation with Latter Day Saints.

So evangelism to the Mormon people speak to the Christians that are out there wondering is it really all that important. I mean come on David like he said they had to have a Jesus is our right. A lot of black Christians seem to think that's enough. I know this is a matter which you think about the songs you say you have will if they believe the Bible. He believed in missions. They believe in reaching the lost. I find that there are some Christians who think you know we need to send missionaries to Africa or some these other foreign countries that people in America know they don't they don't need it.

America is basically a Christian nation, you know, we all believe in Christ when that's changing quickly is that it had is that were going to be the minority of things don't change. I saw YouTube video think it was a while back a good guy asking on the street who is Jesus and the crazy answers he got very revealing. We live in a almost a post-Christian you have it say so. It's amazing how little understanding many people have for what Christians believe and sadly, because our culture is going and in such a what I think an immoral direction. Yes it is him because as Christians we are supposed to stand for God's morality that becomes a threat to a lot of them, and so were to be looked at as haters that's the common term they use, and I don't think they really understand why God has that type of a lifestyle set out for his people is actually to protect them not to rain on their parade that I think is going to be a huge problem in years to come. In another reason why think Christians need to be grounded in what they believe and are willing and able to defend it properly as obviously those young Christians that you are talking to. Just as some simple questions. That's all it takes you. And sometimes that's what God uses to start getting the morning to start thinking about it any less thoughts more below. One of the things that I think is terribly important is that Christians recognize the difference now.

You don't need to be a scholar on Mormonism. But like you say asking if you get pertinent questions is very important not to be antagonistic, but to simply show the love of Christ that you're asking these questions because you care for people to spend eternity.

It's either with Christ without were either going to be with him over can be eternally separated from. That's a horrible thought, you know, living here in Utah Mormons for the most part great people that they they try very hard to be very good people. And yet it's it's not moralism that saves you. It's only been forgiven by the blood of Christ, we been talking with Mark Callan he's with missions door you want to check out his website. It's Utah Christian pub.com and if you'd like to contact Mark. Personally, it's Pastor Margaret, 80@Gmail.com. That's the number 80 part.

I'm glad we are able to do this. As I said been wanting to do this for a long long time because you have such a wealth of information that you can share and I hope people will utilize your your knowledge on this subject. Thanks for your time. Thank you, thank you for listening you would like more information regarding his research ministry. We encourage you to visit our website www.mrm.org you can request a free newsletter Mormonism research. We hope you will join us again as we look at another viewpoint is