AboutDrew Williams Expertise Are Mormons "Christians?"
What is the truth about Mormons and drinking coffee, coke and alcohol?
Why don`t Mormons watch "R" rated movies?
Are there still Mormons who practice plural marriage?
Why are Mormons married in a "Temple" and why are only a few people allowed to attend?
What's the difference between a "Mormon" and a "Latter-day Saint?"
Experience I am the author of the book: "Complete Idiot's Guide to Mormonism" (Penguin), which has now been read by more than 10,000 people. I have spoken on topics pertaining to the history of Christianity and Mormonism around the world, and have taught Mormon doctrine for more than 20 years, and am a former Methodist (practicing Baptist), convert to the Mormon Church. Without sounding "preachy," I can help clarify points of concern regarding Mormons as Christians, and can help others understand principles of belief behind the Mormon Church--as well as speak somewhat concerning the context of the New Testament (and the Book of Isaiah).
Organizations LDS Church
Publications New Era, The Friend, Wall Street Journal, Computer World, Internet Week, others.
Question QUESTION: An Atheist asked me if your God Jesus is love and love us then why He command Saul to killed every one including women and infant of Amalek ?
1 Samuel Chapter 15
15:2 Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I remember that which Amalek did to Israel, how he laid wait for him in the way, when he came up from Egypt.
15:3 Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass.
ANSWER: The incident with Saul is no different than that of Abraham and Isaac.
It was a matter of great obedience--to prove Saul's worthiness as being both head of the kingdom of God and, well--head of the "kingdom" in general.
And Saul failed, and subsequently lost everything.
The Lord gave Saul a particular assignment: Destroy the people of Amalek! “Now go and smite Amalek and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass.” (1 Sam. 15:3.) It was a mighty army that Saul took to destroy the Amalekites—210,000 men.
“But Saul and the people spared [King] Agag, and the best of the sheep, and of the oxen, and of the fatlings, and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them.” (1 Sam. 15:9.)
Saul failed. Angered by this disobedience, the Lord sent Samuel again to upbraid the king.
“Samuel said, What meaneth then this bleating of the sheep in mine ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear?
“And Saul said, They have brought them from the Amalekites: for the people spared the best of the sheep and of the oxen, to sacrifice unto the Lord thy God; and the rest we have utterly destroyed.
“And Samuel said, Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice. …
“Because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, he hath also rejected thee from being king.” (1 Sam. 15:14–15, 22–23;)
We can see other examples of disobedience, even men who had righteous intent but nevertheless disobeyed. One example would be Uzza in 1 Chr. 13:7–10. The people had been warned not to touch the ark, the symbol of the covenant. But when the oxen stumbled and the ark appeared to be falling, Uzza stretched forth his hand to steady it and was immediately killed by the Lord. Uzza seemed justified and today we think his punishment was very severe, but this incident conveys a lesson of life: obedience—full obedience, is what God expects.
And as for your "athesit" friend--my perspective (and many others), there is no such thing as an atheist--you'd have to have a god NOT to believe in.
I'd say your friend is a sceptic, and fears what he does not understand.
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QUESTION: I don't know he is skeptic , Atheist or just theist he only believe in humanism .
you gave according to bible perspective not according to humanity so we can give good answer to Atheist , humanist , secularist.
Why not God adopt infant and raise as Jesus lover instead of command to kill them
Answer Sorry I didn't get back to you.
Divine principals do not match mortal values. We cherish life--as humanists, "Mortal" life. As Christians, we cherish both "Mortal" and "Eternal" life.
But to God, there is no difference--everything is mapped to an eternal perspective, and from his perspective, mortality is simply a step in the eternal realm.
Taking those children back into his presence actually assures each child that they will have the privilege of remaining in the presence of God forever, and will develop under his care.
While we would rather keep our families with us for as long as possible, to God, we're all just down here "waiting" for our turn to go "home."
