“Let’s say that I tell you I am a Mormon, but I don’t believe that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God, and I don’t believe that the BOM is the word of God, and I don’t believe in celestial marriage. Am I a Mormon? How do you know?”
You operate under a false premise. If Mormons were going around saying they were Methodists or Catholics or Baptists, then you would have a point. But we all believe in Christ. Therefore, I do not feel insulted that you call yourself Christian. I do tend to get insulted when you insist that I am not Christian.
“So we as Christians certainly do have a right to discern and to proclaim what teachings are in line with Christianity and what teachings are non-Christian.”
No, you have a right to say what is in line with Methodism or Catholicism or Baptism, because they are your church. You do not have a decision, however, over my Christianity.
“If for example someone says they believe in, worship, and follow Jesus Christ, but they believe he came to Earth in a space ship, and believe that salvation is earned through good singing, are they a Christian?”
If this hypothetical person strives to live by the teachings and example of Christ, as you and I and all other actual Christians do, then yes, he is. He would not be a Mormon, and I would argue with him were he to proclaim himself one, but he would be a Christian.
“I hope that makes sense. Everything I say, I say with respect and compassion, and also with conviction. I really do feel sorry that so many people in this world are deceived by false or errant teaching.”
I appreciate your candor and earnestness. I do, however, disagree with your evident tendency to try and claim Christianity as your own, and not Christ’s.
I think I have addressed many of the points you bring up in my posts above. I am sorry you feel insulted by what I say. But if Christians can’t know what defines Christianity, then Christianity is meaningless. There must be core doctrines that define any religion, or else that religion is meaningless. There are core doctrines that are fundamental to Christianity. The Bible warns us against false teachings and false prophets. How do we tell what is false if we do not have defining core doctrines to compare them against?
Again, tell me if I am wrong, but I have the impression that Mormons think that Christians define themselves primarily by their church or denomination. This is a misconception. We are Christians first.
I have to disagree with you about our hypothetical person who believes in Jesus, but believes he came to earth in a spaceship and believes salvation is based on good singing. That person does not agree with the core doctrines of Christianity, and therefore is not a Christian. Just as you say you would know he is not a Mormon. If Christians said people can believe whatever they want about where Jesus came from and how he got here, or how salvation is attained, then Christianity would be meaningless, wouldn’t it?
I am not saying that I alone claim Christianity as my own rather than Christ’s. It is Christ’s. And he has made it clear to us in the Bible what it is. All I’m doing is looking at the doctrines of Christianity and comparing them with the publicly known doctrines of Mormonism. They do not match up. Thank you for your comments, I appreciate them.