Dismantling the Jeffress Argument

As I watched CNN's Anderson Cooper interview Pastor Robert Jeffress, the look on Cooper's face reflected exactly how I felt.  "This guy's not making any sense."

The holes in Jeffress' arguments against Mormons were so blatantly obvious that I thought, "How can anyone take this man seriously?"

Then I realized: many do take this man seriously.

It was easy for me, and most likely for Cooper as well, to see through his weak argument which was not substantive, but only a regurgitation of religious prejudice passed on from generation to generation within contemporary Christianity.

Many are blinded by this tradition of anti-mormonism passed down to them by the fathers of modern Christianity, including Jeffress himself.  Its a case of the blind leading the blind and you can tell by the anti-mormon rhetoric Jeffress has been spewing all over any media outlet that will bring him on.

So, allow me shed some light on Jeffress' statements so that the blind may see and this prejudice be put to an end.

Here is the interview in full:

And you can click here for a copy of the transcript so you will know I'm not taking Jeffress out of context.

First, let's take Jeffress' first statement to Cooper.

JEFFRESS: Well, again, when I talk about a cult, Anderson, I'm talking about a theological cult as opposed to a sociological cult. You know theologically, a cult is a religion with a human founder versus a divine founder. Joseph Smith is the founder of Mormonism. First is Jesus Christ to whom we look as the head of our Church. 

Who does The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints look to as the head of their church?

Well, from the church's own website, on the Church Administration page, you'll find that the very sentence of the very first paragraph reads:

Jesus Christ stands at the head of the Church. The mission of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is to help all people come unto Him (see Moroni 10:32). To fulfill this mission, the Church is organized according to the pattern revealed by the Lord “for the perfecting of the saints, . . . till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God” (Ephesians 4:12–13; see also Ephesians 4:11).

In Jeffress' own statement, it's obvious he's comparing two different things: the Head of the church, and the founder of the the church.  And it seems he knows the difference and is subtly spinning facts to support his own version of the truth.

If a cult is a religion with a human founder, then Baptists are a cult.  Why?  Because the founder of the Baptist sect of Christianity was John Smyth.  So, Jeffress' argument on this point doesn't hold up.

Founder of the LDS church:  Joseph Smith
Founder of the Baptist church:  John Smyth
The person both claim as the head of their church:  Jesus Christ

Therefore, this cannot be used as proof that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is a cult.

Next...

JEFFRESS: And secondly, cults tend to look at other religious text outside the bible for their guidance. Mormonism, for example, certainly accepts the bible, but it accepts the newer, fresher revelation the book of Mormon that came from the angel Moroni supposedly to Joseph Smith. 

There is not enough room in this post to really go through this point so I will refer the reader to two, of many, resources.

The two references to answer this one:

First, is a great discourse by one of the 12 Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ titled "The Miracle of the Holy Bible."  You can read that by clicking here.

Here are a few important excerpts:

It is a miracle that we have the Bible’s powerful doctrine, principles, poetry, and stories. But most of all, it is a wonderful miracle that we have the account of the life, ministry, and words of Jesus, which was protected through the Dark Ages and through the conflicts of countless generations so that we may have it today.

It is a miracle that the Bible literally contains within its pages the converting, healing Spirit of Christ, which has turned men’s hearts for centuries, leading them to pray, to choose right paths, and to search to find their Savior.

The Holy Bible is well named. It is holy because it teaches truth, holy because it warms us with its spirit, holy because it teaches us to know God and understand His dealings with men, and holy because it testifies throughout its pages of the Lord Jesus Christ....

...Honest, diligent study of the Bible does make us better and better, and we must ever remember the countless martyrs who knew of its power and who gave their lives that we may be able to find within its words the path to the eternal happiness and the peace of our Heavenly Father’s kingdom....

...You young people especially, do not discount or devalue the Holy Bible. It is the sacred, holy record of the Lord’s life. The Bible contains hundreds of pages more than all of our other scripture combined. It is the bedrock of all Christianity. We do not criticize or belittle anyone’s beliefs. Our great responsibility as Christians is to share all that God has revealed with all of His sons and daughters. 

Does this sound like a church that takes the Bible lightly?  Who don't believe it to be the Word of God?

After praising the brave Christian reformers, he said:

Although these early Christian reformers agreed on many things, they ultimately disagreed on many points of doctrine. This resulted in the organization of numerous Christian denominations. Roger Williams, an early champion of religious liberty, concluded that there was “no regularly-constituted Church on earth, nor any person authorized to administer any Church ordinance; nor could there be, until new apostles were sent by the great Head of the Church, for whose coming he was seeking”....

...Brothers and sisters, (speaking to members of the LDS church) I am sure many of you have had the experience of hearing people say that “Mormons are not Christians because they have their own Bible, the Book of Mormon.” To anyone harboring this misconception, we say that we believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior and the author of our salvation and that we believe, revere, and love the Holy Bible. We do have additional sacred scripture, including the Book of Mormon, but it supports the Bible, never substituting for it.

Please read this amazing, insightful and inspiring talk in its fullness here.

The second reference, is an outstanding analysis by yours truly (I know that's boasting... I'll repent later) that you'll find on the blog Waxing Theological titled "The Cult List:..." and you can read that by clicking here.

Let me take one excerpt from "The Cult List:..."

If I draw a dot...
How many lines can I draw through it?
Infinite. Right?

Why do you think there are so many churches? Even among CBN's approved list? If everyone has the Bible, why is there so much confusion and differing of doctrines, interpretations and rituals? Some using one Bible, others using another version of the Bible?

The answer is simple.

If the dot represents the Bible, then each line represents a separate interpretation of the Bible. Or like one nail trying to hold up and secure a 2 X 4 -- with the nail representing the Bible and the board representing the pure gospel of Christ.  One Bible allows anyone to twist and turn the gospel according to their own interpretation.

And how are you going to find a group to fellowship and worship with if you don't even know if the Bible they're using is a correct translation?

There is a growing belief in modern Christianity that the Bible is infallible and without error and the complete word of God. If that is the case, explain the different versions. Show the world where the Bible makes the claim that it is infallible and inerrant and that it's complete.

After a more in depth analysis, the article concludes with this:

John was exiled and wasn't writing the end of the Bible when he recorded the book of Revelation. When the Bible we have today was organized, they actually put the book of Revelation at the back thinking no one would read it. But if the books were organized in chronological order, many Biblical scholars believe the Book of John would be last. And if that were the case, then this would be the last scripture in the Bible:

 And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen."

The Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ is just that: another witness to establish the truth of the first, the Bible, not to replace it.  Just as the Bible is a history book of God's dealings with a group of His people in the Old World, The Book of Mormon is a history book of God's dealings with a group of His people in the New World.

And just like the Bible, you must sincerely read, pray and find out for yourself if it is true; that you may be confident in knowing that God has not left you alone and confused.

So why would God preserve another record to come forth in our time?  How many lines can you draw through two dots?
And what would happen if you hammered another nail on the other end of that 2X4? Could you still twist and turn it? (2 Cor. 13:1)

Not a chance.

To say the Bible is only word of God brings into play many complications.  (To see what those complications are, read "The Cult List:...").  To say that the Bible is the only Word of God, that the Heavens are now shut, God no longer speaks to prophets today to reveal truth and correct doctrines corrupted by man -- is to say God has ceased to be God, leaving us to our own understanding which most often leaves us blind and confused.

Show me where the Bible makes the claim that it is the only source of God's truth, that revelation has ceased and He will no longer operate among His children as he has done since the beginning of man and then you may have a point I can reasonably consider.

But to make the claim that the Bible is the ONLY word of God is, in itself, un-Biblical.

Please get a more in depth treatment here.
 Next...

I love it when Cooper responds with a statement from the LDS church's own website, how...

"...Jesus Christ is the only way by which we can return to live with our heavenly father."

 Jeffress responds with...

"Yes, well, and we could get into an in-depth theological discussion and put everyone to sleep out there. But I would you -" 

Then Cooper, with the greatest statement I have ever heard ANY reporter make, says...

" I'm fine to putting people to sleep as long as we're educating people. "

And Jeffress just rambled on, dodging the question.  My guess, is because he didn't have an answer founded in reason, only tradition, and he's never thought it out logically and objectively.

When Jeffress was asked if he considered Catholics a cult, he said:

"No, I would not consider them a cult, I would consider that Catholicism, the basis of Catholicism teaches that a person is made right with God by faith in Christ and good works, a number of good works, but historic Christianity has been that we are saved by faith and Christ alone. I wouldn't label it a cult but would say its basic tenants are contrary to the teaching of the New Testament. "

Ok, two problems here.  One is the blatant hypocrisy.  He claims that the Catholics' basic tenants are contrary to the New Testament, but would still be considered Christian, yet he also believes the Mormon's basic tenants are contrary to the New Testament and does NOT consider them to be Christian.

Second is the that to believe that one is saved by faith alone, as Jeffress believes, actually IS contrary to the teaching of the New Testament.  You'd have to throw out the book of James in order to make that claim.  (See James 2:14,17)

 14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?

 17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

So, one could easily argue that it is Jeffress' religion that is contrary to the teaching of the New Testament NOT Catholics and Mormons.

Lastly:

JEFFRESS: I was getting to that. I think it better to have a non-Christian like Mitt Romney who embraces biblical values than to have a professing Christian like Barack Obama who embraces unbiblical provisions. I accept Barack Obama's claim that he is a Christian... I have no reason not to doubt his public statements, Anderson, none at all. 

I only have one comment:  Mr. Jeffress, you do not doubt a man's claim to be Christian who, as you say, "embraces unbiblical provisions" while at the same time doubting...wait, doubting's the wrong word... disbelieving a man's claim to be Christian who, as you say, "embraces biblical values."

Mr Jeffress, your prejudice, ignorance and willful blindness has distorted your ability to reason, to think straight and has made you look the fool.  And as a result of all this hubbub, you may gain more followers, but you are misleading them as your forefathers have misled you.

Break the cycle and wake up.  Wake up your whole congregation and stop such ill-founded religious bigotry now.

Thank you, Anderson Cooper, for your intellectual honesty and holding an irresponsible man's feet to the fire in a responsible and respectful way.

Written by J