So your saying that the web source I linked was created by Mormons? That's a laugh. I linked it because I used their definition as source so therefor was citing a source as opposed to plagerism.
You didn't even bother going to the site did you? You just thought that since I am not an anti-mormon that the site must be a pro-mormon site written by Mormons, with a definition of Christian written specifically for Mormons. You could not be more wrong.
Conversely to your statement however any schmuck can also put whatever they want up on the internet. Difference is though if it is anti-mormon you are more inclined to believe it. That is anti-mormon bias and bigotry, and bigotry is unChristian like.
Now to answer your statement about I could "devoutly, thoughtfully, seriously, and prayerfully" call myself a Christian and simultaneously worship the tulips in my backyard.
No it doesn't work that way. You are worshiping tulips and not Christ. You are not a Christian. You are a tulip worshipper. Heathen.
Try this one if you like Biblical versus so much...John 11:25-26. "WHOEVER believes in me". Not "Christians except those people out in Utah called Mormons who claim they are Christian but aren't really because the Catholic religion says they aren't". WHOEVER. Funny how that works. That's a contridiction to your quote I know.
The Bible has plenty of those contridictions, which is why no denomination agrees with the other on everything and why even inside denominations there is not always agreement.
How can denominations that cannot even agree with each other or themselves make a judgement on an entire religion, that worships Christ, that they are not Christian? They cannot. No matter which definition is applied some Christian religion will be left out of Christendom.
According to Christ "He who believes in me will live, even though he dies" does not make the distinction of which denomination you are a part of, as long as you believe in Christ and the atonement.
Mormons believe in Jesus Christ, they believe in the atonement. The same Jesus Christ and atonement you believe in. The details may not be the same, and that is all it is, details. Details that are different even in other denominations that you do consider Christian.
Like it or not Mormons are most definitely a Christian religion by any logical definition of Christian.
Never said that. Don't put words in my mouth. Of course, it's not a Mormon site. So what? Some liberal Web site doesn't make it authoritative. Nor would I assign it to be some broker of faith orthodoxy.
Listen, Jesus Christ cannot be both an elder spirit brother of Lucipher (which makes Lucipher, BTW, an elder spirit brother of every human, too)--which is the LDS view--and be Lucipher's Creator, which is the Biblical viewpoint based upon John 1, Colossians 1, Hebrews 1. He can't be both!!! It's a different Jesus (2 Cor. 11:3-4).
Likewise, Jesus can't be a mere organizer of matter that's been there for eternity (LDS view) vs. Being the one who created everything out of nothing (Heb. 11:3; John 1; Col. 1; Heb. 1).
Jesus can't be the one you can't pray to (LDS doctrine, which says we pray to Father thru Jesus) vs. being the One we pray to, which even the Book of Mormon supports (surprisingly!).
I can go on and on. At some point, we're talking about two different Jesuses. And that point, 2 Cor. 11:3-4 kicks in!!!
Try this one if you like Biblical versus so much...John 11:25-26. "WHOEVER believes in me". Not "Christians except those people out in Utah called Mormons who claim they are Christian but aren't really because the Catholic religion says they aren't". WHOEVER. Funny how that works. That's a contridiction to your quote I know.
Hey, bottom line on this objection of yours is that every one who calls himself Christian and is not a Mormon isn't necessarily a Christian, either. Not all Methodists are Christian. Not all Presbyterians are Christian. Not all Catholics...etc.
How can denominations that cannot even agree with each other or themselves make a judgement on an entire religion, that worships Christ, that they are not Christian? They cannot. No matter which definition is applied some Christian religion will be left out of Christendom.
Alright, now you are getting ridiculous. The Christian faith is a monotheistic faith. One God! That's it. We not only believe in one God, we don't believe a pantheon of gods exist.
Ask any Mormon. They will tell you they believe in one Godhead. But ask them to define that. They will tell you that Godhead is three separate gods, Father, Jesus, and Holy Ghost...and that many more gods exist than them (they just don't exercise faith in those gods. By definition, that is a polytheistic belief system.
Christianity, by definition, cannot be both a monotheistic and a polytheistic religion.
Go to Matthew 24 (I cited this passage earlier). Jesus says many false christs will arise in the latter days. Are you telling me that anyone who believes in those christs along with the atonement will be saved? I mean, they'll believe in "a" christ, too. Don't you think there is a different betwen "a" Christ and "the" Christ? Or will any Christ do?