Is the Book of Mormon God's Word?

On the cover of a copy of the Book of Mormon the subtitle reads, “Another Testament of Jesus Christ.” Is this claim accurate?

The Bible claim. Hebrews 9:15-17 teaches that Jesus’ death put His will, the New Testament, in force upon His death. “And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance. For where there is a testament, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. For a testament is in force after men are dead, since it has no power at all while the testator lives.”

Can a man have two wills? The New Testament claims to be the “testament” or will of the “testator.” On the cover of the Book of Mormon, it claims to be “another testament” of Jesus Christ. If a man dies and leaves 2 wills or testaments, the courts must decide which one is the true last will and testament.

Examine the evidence. Jesus has only one will. The Book of Mormon cannot be “another testament of Jesus Christ.” It is either the testament of Jesus Christ or it is a fraud. Examine the evidence for the Bible and the Book of Mormon. See for yourself which one is supported by prophetic, literary and archaeological accuracy. In the end you will see that the evidence for the Bible is solid and strong while the evidence for the Book of Mormon is severely lacking.

Jesus has but one will or testament. It is His new testament, put in force upon His death. It is the will of God for your life. You need to examine it, know it and follow it.

That Suddenly Uncomfortable Cheerleading Outfit

This article by Jeff S. Smith makes a powerful point that those professing godliness should consider soberly. - Bill

Parents in Southern California are understandably disturbed that videos of their teenage daughters cavorting about in sexually tantalizing clothing have been showing up for sale on the internet auction site e-Bay. That's not exactly how the news media begin their reports on the story, but still it is a pretty fair assessment of the situation.

Some lecherous entrepreneur carries his camcorder to high school football games, blending in among the band parents and middle-aged dads reliving their own gridiron glory vicariously through their sons on the field. Lecherous Entrepreneur, however, is not taping the trombonist or right tackle; surreptitiously, his lens is zoomed in on the young girls in miniskirts and belly-bearing tops as they perform gymnastic and dance routines which expose more and more of their desirable flesh. Immoral? Yes. Unjustified? Of course. Exploitative? Obviously. Criminal? Apparently not.

Prosecutors in Southern California would just love to go after this guy, even more forcefully than the investigative reporters who track him down through his Post Office box. The trouble is that there is nothing illegal about videotaping people in public places. He was not peeping through their bathroom windows or hanging out around the locker room. Every detail captured on his camcorder was performed in public before thousands of people.

One family sat down with their cheerleader daughter, and an intrepid reporter, with a copy of the $70 videotape. "You can feel the discomfort in the room and see it on their faces because for the first time they're seeing their child through the eyes of someone else," reports Ana Garcia. Lecherous Entrepreneur has trained his trusty lens "on their mouths, breasts and crotches, freezing shots under their skirts, during kicks and splits."

But there is a short-circuit in everybody's indignation. Lecherous Entrepreneur did not manipulate the video to make it appear these girls were doing things they were not. He did not digitally place their pure heads upon the borrowed bodies of Vegas Showgirls. These young girls performed every suggestive motion and exposed every inch of flesh caught on tape. Mom says, "I don't want that out on the internet. This is really upsetting to me." Granted, the video brings the viewer up close and more personal with her daughter than a spectator would ordinarily get at the football stadium, but, again, the sights that sicken her are on display every Friday night for any pervert with binoculars or a front row seat. And if $70 a pop can be made, apparently legally, on this kind of smut, rest assured that Lecherous Entrepreneur will have company this fall... at a football field near you.

The moral issue with cheerleading is not the leading of cheers, and in its infancy, cheerleading was a rather wholesome celebration of school spirit and youthful beauty. It has evolved through the incorporation of gymnastics and racy costumes to something that is the epitome of lewdness. The uniform skirt has steadily crept up the leg to the point that it affords little coverage to begin with and practically none when the cheerleader moves even slightly, let alone when she performs flips, splits, and tosses. The uniform top has likewise shrunk to the point that it exposes the belly and accentuates the chest, much to the delight of Lecherous Entrepreneur and his satisfied customers. Cheerleading has become something of a misnomer. Few spectators are actually willing to be led in cheers by the young women who spend most of their time performing dangerous gymnastics or often racy dance routines.

In spite of its roots in school spirit and extracurricular participation, modern cheerleading traffics in immodesty and lewdness which cannot be sustained under the New Testament. The Holy Spirit's desire is that women "adorn themselves in modest apparel... which is proper for women professing godliness, with good works" (1st Timothy 2:8-10) having long ago warned that a "lovely woman who lacks discretion is like a swine with a gold ring in its snout" (Proverbs 11:22). She should be defined instead by the hidden person of her heart, having the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit (1st Peter 3:4).

The indecent bodily movements of the modern cheerleader suggest sexual invitation to the young, weak, or perverted heart (Galatians 5:19-21). The private and more alluring parts of her anatomy are exposed, emphasized and animated in an enticing fashion which only a fool would deny. After seeing herself on the e-Bay video, one cheerleader complained, "I won't feel comfortable going out on the football field in my uniform again. You have no clue who is watching you and for what reason." True, but that is the case with or without a camcorder in the hands of Lecherous Entrepreneur. Is this what it takes to get through to the people, many of them Christians, who condone or encourage cheerleading today?

Do you suppose that parents would have a problem with a video being sold on the Internet that contains tape of their darling daughter, modestly dressed, playing the flute in a band concert? Mostly likely they would sue for commission on the sales. Why can't folks see that suggestive behavior and immodest dress, whether for men, women, boys or girls, is wrong, whether or not it is taped and sold? Values have changed and these days Christians are baring it all (well, almost) in bathing suits at the pool, beach, or swim meet or simply while cutting the grass or washing the car. It is even difficult to look at some young women at worship services with their low-cut, cleavage revealing necklines and short skirts.

Can we get back to looking and acting like the people of God rather than imitating the people of the world? Let's wise up, shall we? -- Bill

Christians Bring Down America

So says a recent study of people’s view in several countries, including the United States. You can read the article here on FoxNews.

According to the article, Christians who believe in a literal interpretation of the Bible have blackened the eye of this country, causing us to have the next to lowest score when it comes to belief in the theories of evolution. Only Turkey scored lower and that was attributed to their large population of “Islamic fundamentalists.” Do you see the apparent attempt? Equating Bible believing Christians with Islamic fundamentalists. The next thing you know, they will be calling us terrorists.

I thought it interesting that the article states that the Roman Catholic Church and “mainstream Protestants” do not hold a literal view of the Scriptures. The co-author of the study suggests that “professional clergy and theologians” need to speak up in order to educate the poor, Bible believing common folks.

Perhaps the Pope would like to weigh in on whether or not he believes the heavens and earth were created in 7 days like the Scriptures teach. I do wonder what he believes on that subject. Of course, it doesn’t matter what the Pope believes on the subject, nor is it of any concern what any other man believes.

The Berean people in Acts 17:11 did not consult with their professional rabbis when Paul preached to them about the resurrection of Jesus. Rather, they “searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.” I recommend their approach.

When Jesus was asked about marriage and divorce, He appealed to Scriptures. Listen to what He said.

Matthew 19:4-6 “And He answered and said to them, "Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning 'made them male and female, and said, 'For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh'? So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate."

Mark 10:6-9 “But from the beginning of the creation, God 'made them male and female. For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh'; so then they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate."

What? Jesus believes in creation? That is what He said. He stated that God “made them male and female” and in Mark’s account He called it “creation.” Surely His audience was just a bunch of unlearned fools, meaning that He must speak to them on their lower level of understanding, but didn’t really believe it Himself. Actually, those who posed the question were the Pharisees, some of the most learned men of the day.

Jesus could have corrected the Genesis account. In fact, this was a great opportunity for Jesus to set the record straight and fix all the problems with the Jewish Scriptures. Instead, Jesus gives full support to those Scriptures, telling the Pharisees that all they had to do was read it for themselves. “Have you not read…” He said.

You see, Christians (meaning those who follow Jesus Christ) are disciples (meaning learners of Jesus). Jesus believed in the Genesis account. That is a pretty good reason for me to believe in creation, instead of the ever-changing theories of the so-called “learned” among us. As for those “professional clergy and theologians” who do not believe the Genesis account… “Have you not read…”