The Bible teaches that one of the marks
of a true Christian is humility. This runs contrary to the culture of our day
where we are commonly being told to “be more assertive” and to “stand up for
ourselves.” Certainly there is a proper place for this but Ephesians 4:2
reminds us, “Be completely humble and
gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.”
It is especially counter-cultural to
think more highly of others than we do of ourselves. A recent survey of first
world students from around the world found that students in the United States
had the highest self-esteem—much higher than in any other country—yet these
same U. S. students score worse than students from every other first world
country in math and science. The Bible warns about vain conceit and feeling
superior to others. In Philippians 2:3 we read, Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility
value others above yourselves.
We certainly
don’t need to put ourselves down but unrealistic self-praise and heady self-esteem
in not good. Where did Joseph Smith, the founder of Mormonism stand on the
virtue of humility?
Speaking of himself,
Joseph Smith declared: “I am learned and
know more than all of the world put together” (Smith, J. F. 1976. Teachings of the prophet Joseph Smith. p.
350). He also said “I
have more to boast of than ever any man had. I am
the only man that has ever been able to keep a whole church together since
the days of Adam. . . . Neither Paul, John, Peter nor Jesus ever did it. I
boast that no man ever did such a work as I. The followers of Jesus ran away
from Him; but the Latter Day Saints never ran away from me yet” Joseph Smith, History of the Church, v 6, pp. 408-9.
That’s
right! Joseph Smith believed that he
knew more than the whole world put together! He believed that he was a greater
religious leader than the Apostles Paul, John and Peter—to top that he
considered himself a greater religious leader than the Lord Jesus Christ
himself! This dangerous megalomaniac was
the founding prophet of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
These
are people we should pray for and seek to reach for Christ.
This
and many more Mormon teaching are in my soon to be released book Mormonism
and the Bible.
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