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Where Biblical Christianity . . . Meets the Bible!
By Dr Matt
"I think we may accept it as a rule that whenever a person's
religious conversation dwells chiefly, or even frequently,
on the faults of other people's religions, he is in a bad condition."
-C.S. Lewis (Collected Letters Vol. 3 - page 209).
Greetings Bob:
In your previous email, you made the following claim:
Bob Writes: "my representations have been thoroughly accurate and honest."
Here are definitions that apply to your claim:
THOROUGH = Complete with regard to every detail; not partial or superficial.
ACCURATE = Correct in all details.
In this email, I will give examples of your written representations that are not Correct and/or Complete in All Details, thus not thoroughly accurate. Your last email ended with this exchange:
Matt Writes: But since you have stooped to stealing (whether inadvertent or intentional), apology and repentance is in order.
Bob Responds: You have not established that I have done any stooping or stealing for which to repent, Matt.
*** This email will establish the "stealing" for which you need to repent: a theft-of-meaning that occurred because you were not "thoroughly accurate" in one particular representation.
Matt Writes: Because you claim to be "in His service," your walk needs to match your talk -- else you are a hypocrite and not a true follower of Christ.
Bob Responds: I agree. And, I maintain that I have done nothing of which you accuse me.
*** Being "thoroughly accurate" in your representations -- being correct and complete in all details -- does not become REALITY because you maintain it! As to particular representations, you either have been thoroughly accurate or you haven't. Your thorough accuracy is determined by WHAT IS, the way things ARE -- REALITY that is already on the record. Rationalizing after the fact cannot change WHAT IS.
Pertaining to your claim of thorough accuracy, you challenged me to "prove" that you have misrepresented Mormon doctrine:
Matt Writes: As you (or anyone else) intentionally hide or inadvertently fail to reveal meaning that is evident when context is accounted for, you steal meaning from the doors of your readers.
Bob Responds: While I hear and understand your point, Matt, it's easy to make such an accusation, but not so easy to prove. I challenge you to choose any Mormon doctrine you like, quote whatever I have said about it that you think is wrong or out of context, and if I am in clear and obvious error, I will admit it. Fair enough?
*** Yes, sounds fair enough, but first the premise of your challenge requires adjustment; because you are a Christian, the challenge needs to be more inclusive:
Choose Any Representation you like, quote whatever I have said that is wrong or out of context, and if I am in clear and obvious error, I will admit it.
This adjusted challenge appropriately requires more accountability from you; it means being thoroughly accurate and honest in All Representations, not just those that represent Mormon doctrine. Why is this adjustment necessary? Because Christians should be honest, accurate, and thorough at all times and in all places -- most importantly, in representing Jesus.
First Example of Bob's Lack of Thoroughness & Accuracy
Misrepresenting the Words of Christ as to His Doctrines of Salvation
Here is an example of where you fell short of being "thoroughly accurate."
Bob writes: Is salvation based entirely on the merits of Christ's sacrifice for our sins on the cross? (Not in Mormonism) Or, are my merits of all I can do and my total effort equally necessary? Obviously, the latter. The NT never insinuates that salvation depends on us doing anything to earn our salvation.
Matt Responds: The way you pose the previous questions, reveals your lack of thoroughness in understanding, and representing, what Christ has declared about salvation.
On one hand, you are correct, the word "earn" is not found in the New Testament and neither is the concept that man, of his own merits, can "earn" salvation.
But on the other hand, the word "earn" is not found in the Book of Mormon, the Pearl of Great Price, or the Doctrine and Covenants — neither is the concept of "earning salvation" taught in these three books.
Your lack of accuracy is manifest in this interpretive leap: You jump from the words all I can do and total effort to the word . . . earn — this is your erroneous interpretation, your straw-man misrepresentation. You would do well to let Christ declare His own Doctrines. The Savior taught this imperative:
"And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul,
and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength:
this is the first commandment"
Bob, do you imagine that giving all heart, soul, mind, and strength . . . is NOT giving total effort?
Do you imagine that true believers will not love God, by "keeping" (John 14:15 & 1 John 2:4) His great commandment, in precisely the way Christ has commanded?
Maybe you simply assume that keeping Christ's commandments is not necessary to receiving Salvation unto life eternal?
In answering the previous questions, my opinion and your opinion are irrelevant! Christ declares His conditions for receiving Salvation, and true believers hear and heed His words. The Savior has established that salvation unto "everlasting life" is absolutely contingent upon us doing something:
No person can receive the gift of salvation, unless he or she Believes in Christ and Believes Christ -- believes all the words that He has spoken. Believing in Christ IS necessary to receiving salvation; it is what all humanity must do to receive His Saving Grace:
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
The Bible consists of the Old Testament and the New Testament: Surely you understand that the root meaning of the word "testament" is "covenant." Believing in Christ is our part of Christ's New Covenant. True Believers are covenant-makers and covenant-keepers.
What is the dividing difference between those that "believeth in him" and thus "have everlasting life," in contrast to those that "believeth not" and are "condemned already"? Again, my opinion and your opinion are irrelevant; Jesus has answered this question; listen to the Lord:
"Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that believeth on me,
the works that I do shall he do also,"
And what did Jesus do? Among many other things:
Jesus loved the Father with all His heart, soul, mind, and strength (John 4: 31-34; John 15: 10), and Jesus loved others, and commanded His followers to do likewise (John 15: 12).
IF those who profess to be His followers don't do likewise and fail to "follow in his steps" (1 Peter 2:21), THEN they will be not be counted among those who believe. In other words, those who don't "follow in his steps" are not really His disciples but are as "goats" on His left hand, and are not saved unto "life eternal." Christ has set conditions for receiving salvation:
"Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not."
"Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or thirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal."
Bob, the parable of the sheep and the goats explains one important contingency, among others, for dividing believers from those who believe not. Again, believing in Christ is our part of the New Covenant. Believing in Christ is something we must do to receive salvation unto life eternal. Remember, it is Christ who established the conditions of His new covenant:
". . . the days come, saith the Lord,
when I will make a new covenant with
the house of Israel and with the house of Judah:
Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in
the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt;
because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord."
All people saved unto "life eternal" will make a covenant to believe in Christ -- else the Lord will regard them not. The Grace of God will not save those who "believe not," and God's Grace will not save those who profess "belief" but fail to make a new covenant and thereafter continue in that new covenant.
Believing in Christ is a free will choice for every human being (Joshua 24: 15; 1 Kings 18: 21). Believing in Christ is necessary to receive His Saving Grace: That is why the Apostle Paul correctly declared: "For by grace are ye saved through faith" (Ephesians 2: 8) -- faith is our part of the new covenant.
If "faith" were not part of the New Covenant and were not necessary to salvation, then Paul might have said, "For by grace are ye saved" and dropped the mention of "faith" -- thus cutting out our part of the New Covenant. But Paul spoke accurately and true.
The correct doctrine that we cannot "earn" salvation on our own without Christ's Merits and Mercy, is expressed in the next phrase: "and that not of yourselves." Like Paul, true believers know they can "do nothing" unless they abide in the True Vine -- "relying wholly upon the merits of him who is mighty to save."
What it means to "believe in Christ" is defined by Christ. His complete definition resides in written scripture and is also revealed in the moment to all humanity via the law written in the heart (Jer. 31:33; Heb. 8: 8-10). I point out only a part of what it means to believe, according to the Savior's words:
Believers love God by keeping His commandments (John 14: 15).
Believers love God with all heart, soul, mind, and strength (Mark 12: 30).
Believers show compassion and charity for the "least of these" (Matt 25: 33-46)
Believers realize that they can "do nothing" unless they abide in the True Vine (John 15: 1-5).
Here is another of God's dividing contingencies:
True believers "abide," and those who "believe not" . . . abide not. The scriptures provide many examples of what it means to Abide and Believe; in contrast, the scriptures also illustrate what it means to Abide Not and Believe Not. Those who have Faith in the Son of God (a.k.a., Believe in Christ) will strive to hear and heed all His words. Christ's doctrines of salvation are best represented by all that the Savior has spoken by His own mouth, and by the words of His prophets.
Christ has set the conditions for receiving Salvation unto "life eternal." Quoting the word of God directly assures that representations of Christ Doctrines of Salvation are thoroughly accurate.
The Bible contains numerous conditional statements pertaining to salvation unto life eternal; as well as conditional statements that define discipleship and covenant-making. As we take account of all these statements of contingency, we better understand the conditions of the Lord's new covenant, and how the Lord judges between believers versus those who believe not. For example:
"Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him,
If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed"
"A new commandment I give unto you,
That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples,
if ye have love one to another."
Better than the gospel according to Bob . . . asserted by Bob's word, is the Gospel according to Christ established by God's word. The Lord has explicitly defined what is necessary to be found on His right hand. Christ has openly declared contingencies that separate the sheep from the goats.
Bob, if you will be thoroughly accurate and honest in representing the words of Christ, you will let Christ speak for Himself! It pleases Jesus when His followers quote Him directly and often.
Second Example of Bob's Lack of Thoroughness & Accuracy
Misrepresenting Tad R. Callister's Words and Meaning
Suppose there was a man legally charged with "stealing dimes," and factually he did steal dimes. Now imagine this man standing before a Judge and boldly declaring: I've been thoroughly accurate and honest, for I did NOT steal dollars from anyone and I challenge you to prove otherwise! Here, the thief tries to change the charge away from "stealing dimes" to "stealing dollars," for factually this petty thief did not "steal dollars" -- at least not in the particular case of Betts vs. Callister.
Your inaccuracy in the Betts vs. Callister case isn't about misrepresenting Mormon Doctrine generally, instead, it's about misrepresenting what Tad R. Callister said specifically within the context of a particular conference talk. You put "quotation marks" around the following statement:
"You cannot go anywhere else in the world and get [Salvation]."
Applying your claim of being thoroughly accurate to this specific instance, Tad R. Callister clearly did NOT say: "You cannot go anywhere else in the world and get [Salvation]."
REALITY: Your representation is incomplete by your own admission:
Bob Writes: "my intent was not to focus on Tad's full meaning of necessities for salvation but to focus on one, true, stand-out part of his meaning"
*** A quote itself is NOT about what you "intend," but about what someone else intends — what the person you are quoting intends by words authored by that person. Because your quote of Tad R. Callister was NOT complete in every detail, your representation of what Tad R. Callister said is not "thoroughly accurate." Let's consider the applicable definitions again:
THOROUGH = Complete with regard to every detail; not partial or superficial.
ACCURATE = Correct in all details.
REALITY: Tad R. Callister actually said: "You cannot go anywhere else in the world and get that."
REALITY: The pronoun "that" specifically refers to an antecedent phrase that he authored and intended: "all the powers, keys, teachings, and ordinances necessary for salvation and exaltation."
REALITY: Bob Betts stooped to stealing meaning away from Tad R. Callister's Complete Statement and Intention as given in the context of a particular conference talk.
Remember, being "thoroughly accurate" means being complete and correct in all details: You fell short of this standard when you replaced the word "that" with only part of Tad R. Callister's complete antecedent. Measured against REALITY, you failed to be thoroughly accurate in this representation.
Your inaccuracy in this particular case, is not a big deal: it's just stealing dimes and not dollars. But what IS a Big Deal, is whether you will be honest about your inaccuracy in this particular case. Honesty IS a Big Deal for individuals who claim to be "Consistently In His Service."
Your "partial" and "incomplete" portrayal of what Tad R. Callister really said, obscures his intention from the reading audience; a meaning essential to understanding why Christ's Church is inseparable from Christ's Salvation: Because "ordinances" necessary to receiving Christ's Salvation must be performed under the authority of Christ's "power" -- priesthood "keys" that reside exclusively within His Church.
The Truth about the tie between Christ's Salvation and Christ's Church as established by the Bible, got in the way of Bob establishing his agenda; The Truth got in the way of Bob declaring the gospel of Bob. Your partial and incomplete misrepresentation on this matter, begs this question: Why did Jesus organize a Church, if His Church plays no role in bringing "life eternal" to believers?
The best answer to this question is already established by the words of Christ as well as the words of the Prophets and Apostles that He authorized with "power" and priesthood "keys."
After stealing away essential portions from Tad R. Callister's complete meaning as specifically given in context of his conference talk, you explained that your theft-of-meaning wasn't really "stooping or stealing" because you did not misrepresent LDS Doctrine generally. Here, you tried to change the charge from stealing dimes of specific detail to stealing dollars of general doctrine.
REALITY: Your inaccurate representation is in plain sight; your petty theft-of-meaning is on the record.
You also tried to dismiss this instance of inaccuracy by referring to it as a gnat-sized point; nevertheless, stealing dimes or stealing dollars . . . is stealing either way. Rationalizing that your incomplete representation was gnat-sized doesn't magically change REALITY and make your role in this specific instance "thoroughly accurate and honest" -- which was your claim:
Bob Writes: "my representations have been thoroughly accurate and honest."
You also reasoned that the "quote" was located in a title, so somehow . . . special rules apply? Again, REALITY and not Rationalizing determine truth: You are free to title your article any way you want, but you are NOT free, even in a title, to put "quotation marks" around words that someone else did not say -- Honesty trumps your supposed special rules for title-making.
REALITY: IF we are being Thoroughly Accurate, Tad R. Callister said the word "that"
REALITY: And IF we are being Complete and Correct in All Details, the pronoun "that" refers to this specific antecedent: "all the powers, keys, teachings, and ordinances necessary for salvation and exaltation."
Bob, in my previous email, I used the word "specifically" for a reason: because "specifically" is what I meant. Here is what I wrote:
"The word "that" specifically refers back to a phrase in the previous sentence."
The word specific is defined thus:
SPECIFIC = Explicitly set forth; to identify clearly and definitely; restricted to a particular instance or category.
The word specific has the same root as the word "species" -- hence, the word indicates a restricted category. Here is the specific and restricted category that pertains to your theft-of-meaning: What Tad R. Callister actually said within the context of a specific conference talk.
Perfect timing, Bob! In this New Year, your awareness has been heightened: You are now better equipped to be thoroughly accurate and honest. From this day forward, you are more fully informed and thus potentially more capable of applying the meaning of three words in the way you write:
THOROUGH = Complete with regard to every detail; not partial or superficial.
ACCURATE = Correct in all details.
SPECIFIC = Explicitly set forth; to identify clearly and definitely; restricted to a particular instance or category.
Third Example of Bob's Lack of Thoroughness & Accuracy
Misrepresenting Matt Moody's Experience
Another example of inaccuracy and lack of thoroughness is found in your response to these words:
Matt Writes: The words you either intentionally stole or inadvertently removed, are crucial to understanding why Tad R. Callister concludes as he does: For once your readers understand that Christ gave "keys of the kingdom of heaven" to the Apostles of His Church, then your readers also understand why all covenants and "ordinances" must be administered under the authority of those "keys," else they cannot be "bound in heaven" -- this, according to Christ's command.
Bob Responds: Yeah, well, the obvious question is, did Smith, et al, get the privileges that Peter and the rest of the Apostles got. You believe they did. I believe they did not. You can't prove that they did (you only have Smith's word, which wasn't very good, much of the time).
*** No Bob, I have more than Joseph Smith's word. You have again fallen short of being thoroughly accurate in your representations -- this time your inaccuracy goes to misrepresenting what I "have."
True disciples of Christ know God's truth, most fundamentaly, through the same heavenly experience that enlightened the Apostle Peter:
"And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, . . .
for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee,
but my Father which is in heaven."
At Cardston, Alberta, Canada in 1972, the Father "revealed" specific truths that has been reconfirmed a hundred times since — not by supposed proofs contrived by "flesh and blood," but by the sure and unmistakable "voice of . . . the Lord God omnipotent" (Rev. 19: 6).
Bob's Continuing Lack of Accuracy
Misrepresenting the Word of God
Bob, in light of Paul's words about the "vain babblings" of mortal wisdom (1 Cor. 1: 20, 25; & 3:19; 2 Tim. 2: 16, among others), it is a paradox that you persist in a head-heavy ministry as manifest by the Concerned Christian website. It will please the Lord if you will transform and renew the focus of your ministry, casting down mental imaginations, making every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.
There are more than 500 mentions of the word "heart" in the Bible? The Heart is a prominent Biblical imperative, and in contrast, the supposed imperative to critical thinking is not. Here's one Bible passage, among others, that warns against relying upon the dubious wisdom that results from critical thinking:
"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
Be not wise in thine own eyes"
God's imperative is different from Bob's imperative:
"God is logical and rational, and he expects us to be the same. As followers of Christ we are commanded to love God with all our heart and mind (Matt 22:37). Paul urges us to renew our minds (Rom 12:2) and make every thought captive to Christ (2 Cor 10:5). Scripture is clear that as a man thinks in his heart so is he (Prov 23:7). Because critical thinking is imperative when dealing with the things of God, we have designed this part of the site to do just that."
The Bible passages you have cited do not establish "critical thinking" as imperative for dealing with the things of God:
Matt 22: 37 is about the first and great commandment: To love God with whole and undivided effort -- heart, soul, mind and strength. Exactly how we should give our "mind" (and heart and strength and soul) in a complete and whole effort to love God is defined by the Bible -- not by Bob or Matt. Romans 12: 2 reads:
"And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."
Among the multiple ideas expressed in the previous verse, none speak of critical thinking. It is vital to let the words of God clarify the truths of God; thus, we look to other Bible passages to understand exactly what God intends for us to do with a renewed mind.
First, abiding in the True Vine (John 15: 1-5) is unquestionably the Source from which we are transformed and our minds renewed (see 2 Cor. 5: 17). And then, unto what purpose do we proceed with our renewed mind? "that ye may prove that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."
And what is the will of God? Again, it is vital to let the word of God establish the will of God -- a will to which true believers give all heart, soul, mind, and strength.
The passage in Romans 12: 2 does not support Bob's critical thinking imperative, nor does 2 Cor. 10: 5:
"Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ"
This verse echoes what Solomon established: Cast down imaginations and cast down understanding that leans upon mortal wisdom: instead, Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, making every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.
As we obediently "Walk in the Spirit" and are "led of the Spirit" (Galatians 5, 16, 18) we receive the "light of life" (John 8: 12), which Light reveals the "knowledge of God" — For God, . . . "hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." (2 Cor. 4: 6).
Note that His Light shined in our hearts and not our heads. Again, the Bible emphasizes that the heart is imperative for dealing with the things of God. In this specific instance, the gospel according to Bob is different from the Gospel according to the Bible. Note what the Apostle Paul said after the semicolon -- words that complete his message:
"And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled."
While the Bible reiterates the importance of fulfilling your obedience, Bob's gospel emphasizes critical thinking. Let the word of God establish the knowledge of God: "Casting down imaginations" is the admonition given by God:
"lean not unto thine own understanding. . . .
Be not wise in thine own eyes"
Compare Bob's critical-thinking imperative with one of God's imperatives:
"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
Be not wise in thine own eyes"
Even trusting and believing are not the highest Biblical imperative:
"Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels,
and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries,
and all knowledge; and though I have all faith,
so that I could remove mountains,
and have not charity,
I am nothing."
What did the Apostle proclaim?
"And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries,
and all knowledge; . . . and have not charity, I am nothing."
What does the Bible teach?
"lean not unto thine own understanding. Be not wise in thine own eyes."
In contrast, what is the gospel according to Bob?
"critical thinking is imperative when dealing with the things of God"
Prov 23:7 is not about "critical thinking" either, Bob. Read the complete thought from verses 6 and 7:
"Eat thou not the bread of him that hath an evil eye, neither desire thou his dainty meats: For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee."
These verse is not endorsing "critical thinking." This verse closely expresses a truth that Christ taught:
"For a good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit; neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. For every tree is known by his own fruit. . . . A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh."
Hence: "For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he" Bob, it is the heart that determines one's core identity; it is the heart that determines the topic and tone of written and spoken words. It is the "heart" that is a prominent emphasis in the Bible; in contrast, the Head is important in the gospel according to Bob: "critical thinking is imperative when dealing with the things of God"
In this particular case, your contradiction to the word of God is on the record. Good news! Christ shed his precious blood so that you and I might be made new creatures by His Grace "through faith" (Eph. 2: 8). Christ will forgive you for your misrepresentations, contradictions, and head-heavy ministry upon conditions He has set: if you humbly repent, have faith in Him, and fully embrace His new covenant.
Jesus wants you to "walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called" (Eph. 4: 1) according to enlightenment "revealed" (Matt. 16: 17) by the Spirit -- faithfully serving Christ according to the Spirit's interpretations of God's Word (2 Peter 1: 20-21) and not Bob's interpretations. Jesus wants you to make every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. Jesus wants you to obey His words as written upon printed pages and also obey the words that He will write upon your "heart" (Jer. 31: 33; Rom. 2: 15).
The Biblical meaning of the "heart" metaphor is a topic I've explored in depth; reading Bible passages cited in my exploration will help you become humble, that you might repent of your head-heavy ministry and thereafter, serve the Lord with your all you heart, strength, and soul -- as well as a renewed mind that will "lean not unto thine own understanding."
Thoroughly accurate representations of the Lord's Doctrines come by quoting Christ and His prophets:
"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts."
"For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness."
From this day forward, you will do well to "prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God" by letting the Lord establish His own imperatives. If you will quote Christ directly and often, as well as quote His appointed prophets and apostles, you will render a representation to which the Spirit can give witness, and your actions will finally match your claim: "my representations have been thoroughly accurate and honest."
Bob, the day will come when you will realize that you've wasted precious time and God-given talents by openly and actively despising the Son of God. Unwittingly, you despise your Savior whenever you mock or misrepresent His appointed servants:
". . . the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come. Therefore said he unto them, . . . He that heareth you heareth me; and he that despiseth you despiseth me; and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me."
Further, you mistreat your Lord and King whenever you mock or misrepresent the "least of these" (Matt 25:40).
If you write back, I will post your responses online in a way similar to my rebuttals to Shawn McCraney: If you don't write back, I will post writings published at the Concerned Christian website, that are subject to "fair use."
In my rebuttals, I have quoted Shawn McCraney directly. I have no need to paraphrase what he believes by using words he did not say and did not mean. Paraphrasing other people's beliefs into straw-man misrepresentations is dishonest. True followers of Christ refrain from such vain babblings.
I have no need or desire to represent your beliefs. I will let you represent your beliefs — something you don't consistently do for the "least of these" who strive to keep Christ's new covenant.
It will be good to have an outside audience look in on our conversation — the vast majority of which are not Latter-day Saints. This way, others will see for themselves who is "thoroughly accurate and honest" versus who tends to misrepresent the words and meaning of individuals, misrepresent the general doctrines of a body of believers, and misrepresent the Lord's doctrines in the Bible.
In His Service,
Matt Moody
Matt Moody, Ph.D.
Social Psychologist
ChangingYourStripes.com
Legal Notice: By sending an email or letter to Dr Matt Moody, you agree to the following: Dr Matt Moody has your permission to publish in books, any other printed matter, and/or at his website, in whole or in part, any email or letter received from you; further, you give Dr Matt Moody permission to reprint or post online the contents of said emails or letters, in whole or in part, indefinitely.
Dr Matt's Rebuttals to Bob Betts and The Concerned Christians:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
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