Conversations with a local pastor #2
During my recent conversation with a local pastor, we discussed a question I have frequently been asked: "Do Mormons believe that they will become Gods?"
My answer... of course we believe we can become gods, after all we believe mankind are children of God!
Many critics assume that because Mormons believe they can become gods that they will supplant God the Father, this is not the case! We believe that since we will live in eternity with God the Father, that he will continue to teach us as a Father would teach his children. And what will he be teaching us? How to become more like he is!
The scriptures are clear on this point, and yet the traditions of men will not allow the critic's to accept the truths that are right in front of them! The scriptures teach that God wants men to become like he is. "Be ye therefore perfect,even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect"(Matt 5:48). Now while perfection of man is not realistic by their own actions, with Jesus' atonement (his act of taking men's sins from them) men are made perfect before God.
The Doctrine and Covenants (D&C) makes a bold statement about those who have been redeemed by the blood of Christ and continue to follow his commands. D&C132:20, "Then shall they be gods, because they have no end; therefore shall they be from everlasting to everlasting, because they continue; then shall they be above all, because all things are subject unto them. Then shall they be gods, because they have all power, and the angels are subject unto them." This scripture informs us that the servants of God will have no end, they shall be above all because all things are subject unto them, and they shall have all power and the angels shall be subject unto them. (see the following scriptures John 10:34-36, John 6:47, Rev 3:21, 1Cor 6:3).
The Doctrine and Covenants (D&C) makes a bold statement about those who have been redeemed by the blood of Christ and continue to follow his commands. D&C132:20, "Then shall they be gods, because they have no end; therefore shall they be from everlasting to everlasting, because they continue; then shall they be above all, because all things are subject unto them. Then shall they be gods, because they have all power, and the angels are subject unto them." This scripture informs us that the servants of God will have no end, they shall be above all because all things are subject unto them, and they shall have all power and the angels shall be subject unto them. (see the following scriptures John 10:34-36, John 6:47, Rev 3:21, 1Cor 6:3).
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints teaches that all people are literally spirit sons and daughters of God. "Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?"(Heb 12:9) And look at Acts 17:28-29 "For we are also his offspring. Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device." As God's children we will grow to become what he is and inherit all that he will give us!
Just look at what the scriptures teach about what the children of God will inherit, "The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together."(Rom 8:16-17) God has promised here that since we are the children of God that we will be heirs of God and that we will share as a joint-heir with Christ! So what will Gods children inherit? John in Rev 21:7 says "He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son." When God says they "shall inherit all things," this includes even the throne of God! Rev 3:21 "To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me(Christ) in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne." God and Christ according to these verses are sharing their power, authority and glory with those who are the sons and daughters of God.
The critic will say that man can never become a god, and that the devil invented the lie that man can become God in the garden of Eden. The basis for this idea comes from Gen 3:4-5. The devil lies to Eve telling her "ye shall not surely die," if you eat the fruit of the tree. In verse 5 the devil says, "For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil." The critic stops here and inserts their traditions that man cannot become God and so the devil must be lying to Eve. But if the critic would read 18 verses more they would find that this wasn't a lie. Gen 3:22 "And the Lord God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil." So we see that Satan didn't lie to the woman about becoming like God, because God himself confirmed the truth, that "the man (has) become as one of us."(Gen 3:22)
But how can sinful man become a god? By becoming one with Christ and God!
The Critic will tell us that the Father, Son and Holy Ghost are not three Gods but that these three make one God. (for an answer to this see my post on the Trinity) If these three individuals can all be God because they are one, (John 10:30) then why would the critic deny believers from becoming gods if we were one with God. Just read what Christ prayed to his Father in John 17:20-23 "Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me that they may be made perfect in one." Wow! Christ asks God to make those who believe in him to become "one" as the Father and Son are one! Christ even shares his glory with his believers so that the believers "may be one, even as we(Father&Son) are one."(John 17:22) It is also of interest that Christ here claims his believers will "be made perfect in one!" And in Heb 2:11 "For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren."
The Psalmist tells us "God standeth in the congregation of the mighty; he judgeth among the gods."(Ps 82:1-2) Who are these gods mentioned in Psalms 82? Verse 6-7 has the answers for us, "I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High. But ye shall die like men, and fall like one of the princes." The Lord viewed these judges of Israel, these sons of God as gods! What is interesting about these verses is that Jesus himself uses these verses to prove he was the Son of God. "The Jews answered him, saying,For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man makest thyself God."(John 10:33) The Jews were trying to accuse Jesus of being a Godmaker in this verse. His reply was "Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods?... Say ye of him...thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God?"(John 10:34-36) Jesus showed that God meant for Psalms 82 to refer to his believers as gods.
Look at what Paul said in relation to these scriptures, "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God."(Phil 2:5-6) According to Paul we ought to, as Christ did, not think "it robbery to be equal with God." This is exactly what the LDS people do, we understand that God created us to become more like them, to become "one" with him.
Some of the critics claim that those who believe they can become gods will not need or recognize God anymore. They pretend that it will lessen God to have others become like he is! Nothing could be farther from the truth. The Mormon people will always serve and reverence God the Father in his proper role. Jesus Christ showed us how the Sons of God could become equal with God and still reverence the Father. According to Paul in 1 Cor 15:23-24,27-28, "But every man in his own order: Christ the first fruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming. Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him. And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all." Jesus though he was God, always recognized the Father as his God "...go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.(John 20:17)
Despite what the critics say, we can see that the scriptures do teach that men can become gods! But will mankind let go of their traditions and embrace what the scriptures teach?
