My favorite evangelical anti-Mormon, Aaron Shafovaloff, recently published the following explanation of his zealous anti-Mormonism (I have replaced his bullets with numbers for easier reference):<\/p>\n
Some of you might wonder why those of us in the countercult ministry keep on keeping on. We persist because: <\/p>\n
1. we love the Mormon people
\n 2. we want our Mormon neighbors to have a warranted assurance of permanent and comprehensive forgiveness and secured eternal life
\n 3. we are not of this world. Jesus prepared us (read John 15) for a negative response from those who are of this world
\n 4. our God-given consciences ring aloud over the deception that Mormonism promotes
\n 5. we are full of joy over fellowship with our ex-Mormon brothers and sisters in Christ
\n 6. we know and love our ex-Mormon brothers and sisters in Christ and want more of them<\/p>\nAnd most importantly:<\/p>\n
7. we want the God of the Bible to be honored and worshiped and known for who He really is<\/p>\n
We are empowered by the Holy Spirit to patiently love even those who do not want to be loved.\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
There is some pretty good material here so I figured I would tackle these points one at a time.
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\n1. we love the Mormon people<\/em><\/p>\nExcellent. The Mormon people love members of the Fluffy Bunny Nice-Nice Club<\/a>* (aka anti-Mormons) too.<\/p>\n
2. we want our Mormon neighbors to have a warranted assurance of permanent and comprehensive forgiveness and secured eternal life<\/em><\/p>\n
This might make sense if it weren’t coming from a Calvinist. Aaron’s Calvinism preaches predestination of souls so what he “wants” for me or you or himself is totally moot based on his theological assumptions. In his worldview we get what God gives us, period. If we are destined to hell (or heaven) we can’t choose or work our way out of it. <\/p>\n
I can only assume that Calvinists simply ignore their own theology. It seems to me that the standard response to this problem is some variation on a chicken and egg argument. Calvinists tend to say “I am saved and thus I naturally want to preach to you”. To them that sounds reasonable. To an outsider it sounds like wishful thinking and desperate attempts to feel saved, but whatever. <\/p>\n
Separate from that it is hard to explain why God would even want to inspire them to do missionary work if he has already decided who to torture forever and who to send to paradise. But of course that is as much of a general gripe against the concept of exhaustive foreknowledge and eternal hell as it is a complaint against Calvinism specifically. Suffice it to say, this reason #2 for a Calvinist like Aaron being an anti-Mormon zealot is rife with logical holes in my opinion.<\/p>\n
3. we are not of this world. Jesus prepared us (read John 15) for a negative response from those who are of this world<\/em><\/p>\n
This one is amusing if for no other reason than the “take me to your leader” vibe it gives. But beyond that, it assumes Jesus predestined Aaron and his FBNNC pals to be a huge pain in the butt to other people on earth. Again, Jesus’ motivation to do such a thing defies logic — especially if Jesus has predestined all of us to heaven and hell long before we were born anyway. I suppose at least they are consistent in painting God as somewhat of a sadist with this one though…<\/p>\n
4. our God-given consciences ring aloud over the deception that Mormonism promotes<\/em><\/p>\n
It is nice to see one that makes sense. This one basically says, “your teachings piss us off and we want to do something about it”. I can comprehend that motivation at least. And since it is America the Fluffy Bunny Nice-Nice Club has a right to be anti-Mormon religious freaks if they want. God bless the USA baby.<\/p>\n
5. we are full of joy over fellowship with our ex-Mormon brothers and sisters in Christ
\n 6. we know and love our ex-Mormon brothers and sisters in Christ and want more of them<\/em><\/p>\nNice — still making sense. These two describe a marketing\/sales motivation as well as a competitive spirit. They enjoy hanging out with the converts they glean from Mormonism. Everyone likes to win. Hey, we enjoy hanging with the folks who convert to Mormonism too. <\/p>\n
7. we want the God of the Bible to be honored and worshiped and known for who He really is<\/em><\/p>\n
Once again, this one doesn’t make much sense. It seems to be based on the idea that God is defenseless against the alleged heresy of the Mormons and needs the FBNNC to defend his sensitive honor. And of course it doesn’t make any sense in the Calvinist worldview anyway. In that worldview God is mostly disgusted by all of us to begin with so why would God care if some of us reprehensible pets of his believed the wrong stuff? This is the Calvinist God who will be sending most humans to an eternal torture chamber after this life after all — you’d think Aaron and friends would at least think he wasn’t so thin skinned.<\/p>\n
I also am vaguely creeped out by this #7 because it sounds eerily similar to the reported motivation behind the jihadist Muslims who are bent on destroying the infidels that dishonor Allah and the Qur’an. <\/p>\n
But overall it was nice to see Aaron try to lay out his justifications for his current life mission. I suppose anti-Mormonism floats his boat and what can we do but try to talk some sense into him or ignore him? But then again, we all probably need some sense talked into us on one thing or another right?<\/p>\n
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\n* In one online debate some of Aaron’s anti-Mormon pals objected to being called anti-Mormons. John C. of FPR and BCC fame offered to refer to them as the Fluffy Bunny Nice-Nice Club instead. They didn’t respond but I thought it was a good idea…<\/p>\n[Note: See the follow up post here<\/a>]