To Pastor: Declare the Word of God, but Don't Condemn Wrongly

Below is a letter I wrote to a pastor and submitted electronically through his organization's website. I post it here because I think it reminds us we are all in this life together and no one is any better than anyone else, but we all must try to discover the truths that we should live by. Surely there are valuable lessons here to teach children as well.

12/12/2015
Dear Pastor Raul Ries,

I was listening to your broadcast on 2 John, part 1 a couple of nights ago. I have listened with agreement
to some of your previous messages and felt the same sort of feeling as I started listening to this one.
But imagine my surprise and dismay when in the midst of your message you condemned me as a
heretic, along with all those who share my denomination! I could not just let it pass. Your message
speaks of love, but at the same time your love seems lacking for those of us who happen to find a
different meaning in the same Bible.

As a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the real name for “Mormons”) I can say
with certainty that the gifts of the Holy Spirit are present with us. I also find that the Lord blesses and
guides those of many denominations and other religions, such as Muslims.

We really need to change this paradigm of “we have all the truth and everyone else is condemned.” The
evidence doesn’t support such a statement by any denomination. “Mormons,” for example, go through
the same change that other Christians experience when they come to Christ and follow God. As well, I
have personally witnessed the faith of a Muslim friend in Turkey as she lived out a faithful life following
the will of God. Though she didn’t know of the divinity of Christ, she clearly saw God’s hand in her life.

The scriptures tell us much, but there is still much we don’t fully understand about the Kingdom of God.
Like Peter’s surprising revelation about the Gentiles, that he should preach to them also, we must seek
revelation from the Lord on how all the various groups fit in His plan. There’s more to know before we
judge a man a heretic.

Also, I have to wonder if there is an ulterior motive in choosing to condemn Jehovah’s Witness and
“Mormons,” since both are proselyting denominations who by so doing are potential threats to
congregation contributions. I hope money isn’t a motive in these heresy declarations.

On doctrines and principles, I wonder how much you know about our beliefs in The Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints. The main point here is that you used 2 John 7 as your basis for calling us
heretics. It states that there are deceivers who “confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh.” If you
read up on our beliefs, you will find that Christ is the only one who can save us and that He did indeed
come in the flesh. (Read https://www.lds.org/bc/content/shared/content/images/gospel-library/manual/34591/34591_000_APP_04-livingChrist.pdf)

If the real issue (as it seemed from your message) is that we believe in a distinct Father, Son, and Spirit,
rather than explanations by ancient creeds, the condemnation seems a far and questionable stretch.
Consider these:

- In the very chapter you discuss in your message, (2 John, verse 3) John wishes grace, mercy, and
peace from God the Father and Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father. He stated them each separately.

- When Christ was baptized by John the Baptist, Christ is in the water, the Holy Spirit descends as a
dove, and the Father’s voice speaks from heaven. The three members of the Godhead are clearly
revealed here in different forms and locations at one time.

- In Matt 26, Christ goes to Gethsemane and prays to the Father asking that the cup pass if possible.
He also says, “nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt.” Who is Christ praying to? Is he having an
inner conflict with himself or split personalities, or is He praying to a separate and distinct Father in
Heaven, just as we do when we pray? Doesn’t “my will versus thy will” indicate two individual wills
of individual beings?

- In John 20:17 Christ makes a clear statement that He goes to His Father and our Father, His God and
our God. Can there be any question that He worships and honors the same “God the Father” that
we do?

- Can there be any more clear scripture in the Bible on this subject than John 17? Christ is praying to
the Father and makes reference to those people that the Father gave to the Son. He talks of Christ
being in them as the Father is in Christ. He states that He was sent by the Father to them. He also
pleads that they may be one as He and the Father are one and also that they can all be one together
(the Father and Son and those given to the Son). Clearly all this seems to indicate unity of individuals
rather than a single individual with multiple parts or manifestations.

The total sum of the Bible’s verses do not tell us conclusively that God the Father and Christ are one
single individual being. The Triune God doctrine is questionable at best. So far as I’m concerned, the
Bible shows us they are not the same being any more than Christ and the Church are a single entity.
They are distinct and separate things, but united as well. Christ is described as the bridegroom and the
Church is the bride—two distinct entities, but nevertheless united, if the Church properly prepares
herself. This is much like a marriage between a man and a woman, who are distinct and separate, but
also united to the degree that people may often speak of them as one couple rather than two
individuals and either one may speak on behalf of the whole.

In the end, I’ll take God’s judgment over man’s declarations of heresy.

I know you may choose to reject what I have to say here, because after all I’m a “heretic.” What I ask is
that you show enough humility that you would reevaluate your judgments of who is supposedly a
heretic. Sincerely and humbly ask the Lord’s guidance on what to do. And if it be His will, please publicly
take back these claims of heresy on a future program.

You have a right to use your ministry to declare the word of God and try to help us understand what it
means, but I don’t believe you have any right to condemn specific people or groups based on a
questionable interpretation of Biblical principles.

In these days, I believe, we who believe in God need to unite on our common principles and beliefs. We
mustn’t let legalism become a tool that creates more divisions and contention between denominations
and religions, giving fuel to the non-believers who think all religion is a man-made contrivance. We can
state what we agree with in other faiths without condemning the whole group as an “offender for a
word.”

Sincerely,
Emil Therianos
A brother in faith