Vol. 3 No. 19, 9/19/2004

The Church Too Tough To Die

Written By

Christopher Mentzer

One of the more interesting pieces of history found here in Arizona is that of the city of Tombstone. Known as “The Town Too Tough To Die”, Tombstone was established in 1877. It obtained its nickname primarily from outliving two fires plus most other towns based on mining finds have become veritable ghost towns.

The church mentioned in the New Testament could hold the same nickname as “Too Tough To Die”. Established in 33 A.D. the New Testament church is still alive and active today! The Mormon Church, however, will tell you a different story. They claim after all of the apostles died out, the church as it was known was completely destroyed and created a major apostasy in the religious world when the Catholic religion was founded. Why would they say this? Perhaps they took the passage found in Eph. 2: 19-21 a little too literal. Let’s read: “Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; 20. And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; 21. In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord.” Maybe they believe that without the apostles, the foundation is gone. Not so. It’s not the men, but their teachings they obtained from Jesus Christ, the chief cornerstone. Paul wrote in 2 Cor. 4: 7, “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.” It’s the what’s inside those vessels (the apostles) that are more important. As long as their teachings are accessible, the church is also.

But that’s not enough for some. A man by the name Joseph Smith set himself up as a prophet and formed the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. They confirm Smith as a prophet by stating that God always had a spokesman on His behalf. But Hebrew letter states, “God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, 2. Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds.” In verse 2, the word “hath” is present tense not “had”. Which means, Jesus is still speaking on behalf of God even today!

The Mormons have also created a new priesthood based on the tribe of Levi which Aaron and the other priests came from. Since Aaron was the first, they established the Aaronic Priesthood. However, the Levitical Priesthood was for the Jews only. In Heb. 7: 17, the writer talks of Jesus in this manner, “For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.” But who is Melchisedec? If you back up to the beginning of Hebrews 7, it states he was both a King and a Priest. Aaron was never a king, nor were those of the tribe of Levi as the kings came from a different tribe. Further, in verses 9 and 10, it states that Levi paid homage to Melchesidec through Abraham. This makes the Levitical priests inferior to Melchesidec. Verses 11-19 explain why a new priesthood was established. Jesus is the ONLY priest (high priest or otherwise) forever after the order of Melchesidec.

The New Testament church is still in existence today, despite what the Mormons will tell you. Everything we need to know is found in the Bible (Jas. 1: 25; 2 Tim. 3: 16-17).