摩门教系列：欺骗性和危害

*Mormon Series: Deception and Harm*

摩门教最大的迷惑性之一，就是它大量使用基督教熟悉的语言。

*One of the most misleading things about Mormonism is that it uses many words familiar to Christians.*

它也讲耶稣，也讲上帝，也讲圣经，也讲祷告、家庭和宣教。它现在甚至把正式名称突出为“耶稣基督后期圣徒教会”。

*It also talks about Jesus, God, the Bible, prayer, family, and missionary work. Today, it even emphasizes its official name, “The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.”*

所以，一个不了解教义的人，很容易以为：这不过是基督教的另一个宗派。

*So, someone who does not understand its doctrines may easily think that it is simply another Christian denomination.*

但问题的关键，不是它有没有使用“耶稣”这个名字，而是它所讲的上帝、耶稣、福音和启示，到底是不是基督教所讲的内容。

*But the key question is not whether it uses the name “Jesus.” The real question is whether its teaching about God, Jesus, the gospel, and revelation is the same as historic Christianity.*

基督教根据圣经宣认：只有一位上帝，父、子、圣灵三个位格，同尊同荣，是独一永恒的神。

*Based on the Bible, Christianity confesses that there is only one God. The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are three persons, equal in glory, and are the one eternal God.*

而摩门教明确教导，父、子和圣灵是三个彼此不同的存在。他们还接受《摩尔门经》《教义和圣约》《无价珍珠》等作为经文，并相信约瑟·斯密是上帝所呼召的先知，真正的教会和祭司权柄借着他得到了“恢复”。

*Mormonism, however, teaches that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are three distinct beings. It also accepts the Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and Pearl of Great Price as scripture. It teaches that Joseph Smith was a prophet called by God and that the true church and priesthood authority were “restored” through him.*

这就已经不是改革宗、长老会、浸信会之间关于洗礼方式或教会治理的次要差异了。

*This is no longer a secondary difference like disagreements among Reformed, Presbyterian, and Baptist churches about baptism or church government.*

这是关于“神是谁”“基督是谁”“什么是上帝的话语”“福音的权威从哪里来”的根本差异。

*These are fundamental differences about who God is, who Christ is, what the Word of God is, and where the authority of the gospel comes from.*

从正统基督教的立场来看，危险正在这里：

*From the viewpoint of historic orthodox Christianity, this is where the danger lies:*

它使用大量基督教词汇，却给这些词赋予不同的神学含义。如果一个人只听见“Jesus”“Bible”“Church”，却没有继续追问它们具体指什么，就很容易把两个不同的信仰体系混为一谈。

*It uses many Christian words but gives them different theological meanings. If someone only hears “Jesus,” “Bible,” and “Church” without asking what these words actually mean, it is easy to confuse two different belief systems.*

圣经警告：“若有人传福音给你们，与你们所领受的不同，他就应当被咒诅。”

*The Bible warns: “If anyone preaches a gospel different from the one you received, let him be accursed.”*

所以，分辨一个宗教团体，不能只看它的名字里有没有“耶稣”，也不能只看它的表面。

*So, when examining a religious group, we should not only ask whether the name “Jesus” appears in its title. We should not judge only by its outward appearance.*

真正应该问的是：它所传的是真的基督吗？它所传的是福音吗？它最终的权威究竟是什么？

*The real questions are: Is the Christ it preaches the true Christ? Is the message it preaches the gospel? What is its final authority?*

还有，它的背后，隐藏着什么？ 比如摩门教，是教会，还是生意？千亿美元的商业帝国？ 是信仰还是高级操控组织？

*And what may be hidden behind it? For example, with Mormonism, is it a church or a business? Is there a business empire worth hundreds of billions of dollars behind it? Is it a faith, or a highly controlling organization?*