[To the Reader: As of July 12, 2005, there has been no reply, whatsoever, from Jason Green or his brother, Mart Green, Founder of Mardel Christian & Educational Supply]
Letters to Mardel Christian & Educational Supply
Christian Bookstore Chain Promotes Non-Christian Book
June 28, 2005
Jason Green, President
Mardel Christian & Educational Supply
7727 SW 44th Street
Oklahoma City OK 73179
P: (405) 745-1300
F: (405) 745-1337
Dear Jason:
Greetings in Christ.
This is a follow-up to the voice message left for you on June 16. I am writing on behalf of some of Mardel's customers concerning Robert Millet's book, A Different Jesus? The Christ of the Latter-Day Saints. Their concern centers around a non-Christian book being promoted in a Christian bookstore.
Robert Millet is a dedicated, lifelong Mormon, a Professor at Brigham Young University, prolific author and writer, and "Now holds a joint appointment with Church Public Affairs (Manager of Outreach and Interfaith Relations)" (Robert Millet's BYU Bio). And, as the follow quotes will prove, his book is a clear-cut defense of Mormonism.
Direct quotes from the book, A Different Jesus?
So there will be no doubt, whatsoever, here are but a few examples quoted word-for-word from A Different Jesus? The Christ of the Latter-Day Saints:
Page 20: "Jesus was the firstborn spirit child of God the Father and thus the recipient of the birthright of the royal family."
Pages 66-67: "While Latter-day Saints do not believe the Bible to be inerrant, complete, or the final word of God, they accept the essential details of the Gospels and more particularly the divine witness of those men who walked and talked with Jesus or were mentored by his chosen apostles."
Page: 69: "Jesus suffered and bled in the Garden of Gethsemane and submitted to a cruel death on the cross of Calvary, all as a willing sacrifice, a substitutionary atonement for our sins."
Page 141: "Q #2: How can the LDS claim to be Christian when they reject the doctrine of the Trinity?
A: To clarify, the Latter-day Saints believe in three members of the Godhead-the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. But they believe they are three distinct personages, three Beings, three separate Gods" (italics theirs).
Page 185: "We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God."
Page 189: "Adam and Eve Adam and Eve are the parents of the whole human family. They were real people in real time. Their act of partaking of the 'forbidden fruit' is viewed in Mormonism, not as an act of rebellion against God but as a means of bringing mortality into being" (emp. theirs).
Page 198: "Godhead The Godhead consists of three distinct personages and three distinct Gods-the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The Father and Son have bodies of flesh and bones, while the Holy Spirit is a spirit personage."
Page 198: "Heaven In a broad sense, Latter-day Saints believe in a type of universal salvation-not that each person will live with God in heaven hereafter, but rather that each person will inherit some degree of heaven."
Latter-day Saints president admits belief in a different 'Jesus'
"In bearing testimony of Jesus Christ, President Hinckley spoke of those outside the Church who say Latter-day Saints 'do not believe in the traditional Christ.' 'No, I don't. The traditional Christ of whom they speak is not the Christ of whom I speak. For the Christ of whom I speak has been revealed in this the Dispensation of the Fullness of Times. He together with His Father, appeared to the boy Joseph Smith in the year 1820, and when Joseph left the grove that day, he knew more of the nature of God than all the learned ministers of the gospel of the ages'" (Deseret News, Church News, June 20, 1998, p.7. Gordon B. Hinckley is the current President/Prophet of the Mormon church).
Certainly, Mardel Christian & Educational Supply has the freedom to carry A Different Jesus?. However, please keep in mind that Mormon beliefs and doctrines are dangerous to the spiritual welfare of Christians, and are in direct opposition to God's holy word.
Therefore, with the above in mind, will Mardel continue to promote A Different Jesus? to its customers, or remove it from its stores?
Thanks, Jason, and God bless. I look forward to your reply at your earliest possible convenience.
Sincerely in Christ,
Bud Press, Director
Christian Research Service
(704) 434-7862
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July 7, 2005
Jason Green
Mardel Christian & Educational Supply
Re: Mardel and A Different Jesus?
Dear Jason:
This is a follow-up to the phone call I received from Sue Cleveland yesterday. By now, I had hoped to have received a reply from you to my voice-mail messages and June 28 e-mail concerning Mardel's position on Robert Millet's book, A Different Jesus? The Christ of the Latter-Day Saints.
Frankly, after working with and developing a good relationship with presidents and representatives of both walk-in and major online Christian bookstores for the last year and a half, I am concerned that you haven't taken a few minutes out of your schedule to contact me. Is it too much to ask for five minutes of your time?
Nevertheless, it has been verified that Mardel Christian & Educational Supply is carrying and offering for sale Robert Millet's book, A Different Jesus? The Christ
of the Latter-Day Saints. While the very thought of a Christian bookstore promoting a book written by a Mormon that defends the cult of Mormonism is saddening in and of itself, doing this knowingly places the spiritual welfare of Christians at risk, and goes beyond the guidelines of Scripture (Galatians 1:6-10; 2 Corinthians 6:14-15; 1 Timothy 6:3-5; Ephesians 5:11).
Also, with all of the information made available, and as long as the book, A Different Jesus? is purposely promoted within Mardel's chain of Christian bookstores, it is in direct contradiction with Mardel's Ministries and Mission Statement , which states in part:
"A minister is a servant - someone who lives serving God and others. While
Mardel is a business, we think of it as also being a ministry. Our stores serve others by helping customers find what they need, and ordering and stocking
the products they're looking for. We serve God by being a conduit for products carrying His message to the masses...Our vision is to see the product we sell and donate provide people with the hope of eternal life through Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord."
In Acts 20:27-31, the Apostle Paul termed false teachers as savage wolves (NASV). In 1 Timothy 4:1, Paul termed false teachings as doctrines of demons. In Galatians 1:6-9, Paul warns that those who distort the true gospel and promote a false gospel are under a divine curse from God (anathema). And, in 2 Corinthians 11:4, Paul delivers another warning to the Christian church:
For if one comes and preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted, you bear this beautifully.
Jason, Mormonism promotes a false Jesus, false spirit and false gospel. Now that you have been informed, it is your responsibility as a Christian to guard and protect your fellow Christian customers from deception to the best of your ability. If you refuse to do this, God will hold you accountable (Ezekiel 33).
Finally, this will be my last attempt to contact you regarding this important issue.
What may seem to be a minor, insignificant situation, may very well turn into a major issue, with exposure both nationally and worldwide.
Again, with the above in mind, will Mardel continue to promote A Different Jesus? to its customers, or remove it from its stores?
Thanks, Jason. I look forward to your reply no later than Monday, July 11.
In Christian love,
Bud Press, Director
Christian Research Service
Jude 3
#2
© Christian Research Service 2004