'Georgia Preacher' Challenges Mormon Missionaries on Jesus Christ and Joseph Smith (VIDEO)
In a video published on the Internet that has attracted more than two million views and 4,300 comments, two Mormon missionaries approach a man in a parking lot with the intent of sharing teachings from the Book of Mormon only to be probed about their faith.
Although the video was published online three years ago, it keeps making the rounds and attracting fresh views and comments regularly, especially from Christians who have found the exchange between the Mormons and the older Christian gentleman "inspiring" and "encouraging."
The questioning of Mormonism as a Christian faith was put in the national spotlight two weeks ago when Baptist minister Robert Jeffress of Dallas, Texas told The Christian Post and several television networks that he believes Mormonism is a "cult." Since then, a national debate has ensued among believers from various sectors, as well as the mainstream media, about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Jeffress' comments were specifically aimed at former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, whom he doesn't believe is a "true Christian."
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The video, which is about six minutes long, was originally published on Break.com in Nov. 2007, but has since been reposted on several other websites. YouTube re-postings of the video have attracted dozens of comments just in the past week.
It would not be a stretch to suppose that the national debate about Mormonism and evangelical Christianity has re-ignited interest in the video.
In the video, two young Mormon men riding bicycles approach another man standing in a Burger King parking lot and inform him that they are "representatives of Jesus Christ."
After one of the young men asks him if he would be interested in learning more, the older Christian gentleman asks them the same question.
The men then discuss several issues, most of which are precipitated by one of the young men trying to give the older man literature from the Book of Mormon.
"Why do I need the Book of Mormon when we're sitting here talking about the Bible?" he asks them in the video.
"Because it testifies of Jesus Christ," one of the young men responds.
"But doesn't the Bible testify of Jesus Christ?" the man lobs back at the youth.
The most recent Break.com comment, dated Wed., Oct. 12, reads: "This is awesome. I am a Christian and this made my day! Praise God for people like this who know their stuff and speak the truth!!"
A previous commenter, apparently of the opinion that the Christian man confronted the Mormon youths in a biblical manner, said: "The cool thing about this is that because my brother in Christ didn't mince the truth, I might get to meet one or both of these Mormon boys in eternity! He was faithful to either plant or water... God WILL cause the growth! So encouraged by this!"
One copy of the video on YouTube published on the website in 2009 identifies the older gentleman as a "preacher from Georgia." A separate copy of the video, titled "Christian Guy Totally Owns Mormon," has attracted more than two million views, and dozens of comments just from last week alone.
Although many of the commenters laud the "Christian Guy" for his handling of the young missionaries, some who have viewed the exchange think the so-called preacher from Georgia showed arrogance by claiming to also know "the truth."
One viewer wrote: "Contention is not of Christ and this man proves his only intent was to cause contention and mock... this is a man who claims christian by word but sure doesn't act like one in deed. He's on a power haul he wants to blast these guys with everything he knows but never do you see him calmly conversing or listening. Epic FAIL on Communication skills and even bigger FAIL on acting Christ Like or Christian."
