Simply With Faith @SimplyWithFaith

@emperorthesteve Who. How to state you have no idea about LDS beliefs.

@nazjavladimir Wow. Huge flaw in your theory. God provided witnesses.

@FightofFaith @PeacemakingSt

Yes. After the horrific events in Michigan, I could not believe just how far apart we are from those we would rather embrace as brothers, but many would rather stand on the caricature of the LDS than the real hearts of the people. I am increasingly convinced of the truths found in the parable of the Good Samaritan. I believe God would embrace those who are compassionate toward others, regardless of beliefs, more than those who may have the correct belief in Him and his nature but do little toward compassionate service.

@RustyGremlin @BenZeisloft Yes. I noticed no real rebuttal by you. Just rhetoric. Either authority continued after the apostles, or it ended with them. If it ended, then only a restoration can bring it back.

Nevertheless. The term "Christian" wasn't what NT believers called themselves. Saints were used 61 times. Christian was used 3 time and never as a self-identifier. It was a term outsiders used to describe believers of the way. It is similar to what people did using the term "Mormon". It was a pejorative that was later embraced.

@jareddavisoba @HaleHafa999 @PeacemakingSt

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@PeacemakingSt

When you redefine what it means to be a "Christian" away from how the Bible defines it, you may be teaching a "different gospel". Also, the apostles didn't call themselves "Christians". The term they use is "saints", which appears 61 times in the NT. Paul wrote letters to the saints in Ephesus, to the saints in Corinth, to the saints in Christ Jesus in Philippi. They also called themselves believers, disciples, brethren, and followers of the way. Shows up 6 times in the book of Acts as their own self-identifier. Acts 24:14, Paul uses it to describe himself directly after the way. The term Christian appears 3 times in the NT. It was a term used by 'outsiders'. It was a name applied to them by others, not adopted by themselves. (Exactly how the term "Mormon" started) Christian was a term they accepted under duress, not their chosen self-identification. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is actually NT vocabulary the apostles used for followers of Christ. The term 'saint' is more biblically authentic as a self-identifier than Christians. You are defining a term the apostles barely used to exclude people who used the term the apostles actually preferred. Hmmm... So, based on the biblical evidence, I would say the bible supports the term "Saints" over "Christian" 61 times vs 3. Those 3 times were not even how they self-identified. So, I will go with the Saints just fine.

This is my view. The New Testament Church – Simple Business Model (For educational purposes) Jesus = CEO. He designed and launched the Church with full authority and a clear organizational structure. Apostles = Board of Directors Personally commissioned by Jesus with unique authority to lead the Church. Their role: - Set correct doctrine, plant new church branches (spread the gospel), correct errors, and oversee the whole organization. - They serve until a unity in the faith is achieved (Ephesians 4:11-14). - They ordained bishops, elders, evangelists, pastors, teachers, presbyters, and deacons. Everything fell under their leadership. - They were guided by public revelation to accomplish the mission Jesus directed them to do. - Apostles were given equal authority. Bishops/Elders = Branch Managers - Appointed and ordained by the apostles (Acts 14:23; Titus 1:5). Their role: - They worked under the direction of the Board (apostles) to fulfill the apostolic vision/mission as they received from Jesus. - Each manager (or team of managers) was responsible for one local church branch. - All branch managers were equals — no one ranked above another. They handled day-to-day leadership under the direction of the living Board. What Happened After the Apostles (Board) Died (~AD 100) The Board of Directors was gone. Jesus gave no new revelation authorizing a replacement Board. The branch managers kept their local church branches operating as best they could using the CEO’s written instructions (the New Testament) and the Holy Spirit. Without the living Board, the following occurred: - False teachings and heresies spread more easily. - Many branch managers changed the structure (shifting from teams of equal elders to a single ruling bishop per branch). - Power Struggles developed between branches. - Some branch managers (especially the one in Rome) began acting like directors with authority over other branches. Bottom Line of the Model: The original structure Jesus established — CEO → living Board of Apostles → equal Branch Managers running local Church Branches — ended when the apostles died. The church survived, and many local branches continued, but it operated in a changed and drifting form without new direction from the Board. This model matches the recurring biblical pattern of apostasy and restoration we’ve discussed. Supporting Evidence The New Testament itself repeatedly warns that apostasy would occur after the apostles: • Jesus: “Many will turn away from the faith” (Matthew 24:10-13). • Paul: “The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith” (1 Timothy 4:1) and a “rebellion” (apostasy) must come (2 Thessalonians 2:3). • Peter, Jude, and Revelation 2–3 all warn of false teachers rising inside the church. Much of the NT consists of the apostles actively fighting errors in real time: e.g., Galatians vs. legalism, 1 Corinthians vs. divisions and immorality, Colossians vs. false philosophy, 1–2 Timothy & Titus vs. false teachers, etc. Based on this, it is highly unlikely and unreasonable to believe that doctrine and practice would automatically improve or stabilize after the apostles died. The opposite is more realistic: errors would spread more easily without the original leaders to settle disputes. Early Evidence of Fragmentation Christianity was not doctrinally uniform after the apostles. Major disputes emerged very early over who Jesus was, authority, scripture, revelation, salvation, and the nature of God. This demonstrates that the apostolic church faced major fragmentation and doctrinal instability — exactly as the New Testament warned. Major Post-Apostolic Christian Movements within the 1st and 2nd centuries 1. Gnostics 2. Marcionites 3. Montanists 4. Ebionites 5. Docetists These movements show: Christianity rapidly fragmented after the apostles' deaths, and having major doctrinal disputes emerged early, competing claims existed regarding: - Jesus’ nature - revelation - salvation - scripture - authority - God’s identity This mirrors New Testament warnings about: - apostasy - false teachers - doctrinal corruption - “grievous wolves” entering the Church after the apostles departed. Final Conclusion The authority through which Jesus commissioned His apostles ended at their deaths. What developed later was an unintended alternative structure created without ongoing revelation or the leadership of the commissioned leadership (the apostles). The biblical text and historical record provide strong evidence that the original pattern was lost after the apostles died. Therefore, only a genuine restoration of that apostolic foundation can return the church to the New Testament model as Jesus first established.

@BlackLabelAdvsr @BasedMikeLee Because nothing spells out lying than, "pray and ask God?"

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The apostles didn't call themselves "Christians". The term they use is "saints", which appears 61 times in the NT. Paul wrote letters, to the saints in Ephesus, to the saints in Corinth, to saints in Christ Jesus in Philippi. They also called themselves believers, disciples, brethren, and followers of the way. Shows up 6 times in the book of Acts as their own self-identifier. Acts 24:14, Paul uses it to describe himself directly after the way. The term Christian appears 3 times in the NT. It was a term used by 'outsiders'. It was a name applied to them by others, not adopted by themselves.   Christians was a term they accepted under duress, not their chosen self-identification. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is actual NT vocabulary the apostles used for followers of Christ. The term 'saint' is more biblically authentic as a self-identifier than Christians.

The apostles didn't call themselves "Christians". The term they use is "saints", which appears 61 times in the NT. Paul wrote letters, to the saints in Ephesus, to the saints in Corinth, to saints in Christ Jesus in Philippi. They also called themselves believers, disciples, brethren, and followers of the way. Shows up 6 times in the book of Acts as their own self-identifier. Acts 24:14, Paul uses it to describe himself directly after the way. The term Christian appears 3 times in the NT. It was a term used by 'outsiders'. It was a name applied to them by others, not adopted by themselves. Christians was a term they accepted under duress, not their chosen self-identification. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is actual NT vocabulary the apostles used for followers of Christ. The term 'saint' is more biblically authentic as a self-identifier than Christians. You are define a term the apostles barely used to exclude people who used the term the apostles actually preferred.

@CatholicDrip___ @YanagitaRon You posted earlier that Jesus was first. Now this image holds Peter first. So, without trying to be funny, but it is. It's like history repeating itself. Because you missed the succession so early on in your own defense.

@CatholicDrip___ @YanagitaRon So close.

@SUNANDSAND4EVER @ThoughtfulSaint This is a great summary of the entire event.

I find this image 100% accurate. Johah and Austin were clear: "What did we get wrong?" Dr. White refused to address any supposed misrepresentation or errors in the song lyrics. I was hoping Dr. White would answer the question about what they got wrong. He never did and only kept getting frustrated. I felt their cheerful demeanor beat Dr. White into submission. I found Dr. White's impatience pretty funny. This will delight the Ward Radio audience, no doubt.

Jonah Barnes and Austin Falter were invited to respond to their parody song on Calvinism on Dr. James White's podcast. Dr. White said they were presented with Calvinism inaccurately. Johah and Austin were clear: "What did we get wrong?" Dr. White refused to address any supposed misrepresentation or errors in the song lyrics. I was hoping Dr. White would answer the question about what they got wrong. He never did and only kept getting frustrated. I felt their cheerful demeanor beat Dr. White into submission. I found Dr. White's impatience pretty funny. This will delight the Ward Radio audience, no doubt. @WardRadioShow #SaintsOnX #BuildZionOnX #LDSX #LDX