Posted on 10/31/2011 8:54:35 PM PDT by delacoert
Robert Jeffress made national headlines recently with his assertion that Mormonism is a "cult" and a "false religion." Peter Wehner, a political commentator whose blog I read regularly, immediately criticized what he termed "the theological and political errors of Pastor Jeffress."
What are the facts behind the firestorm? Is Mormonism a "cult?” The answer depends on your definition of the term.
If by "cult" you mean the popular caricature of a manipulative group that practices mind control and exploits its members, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints clearly does not qualify.
However, scholars use the word differently. According to Walter Martin's definitive The Rise of the Cults, a "cult" is "a group of people polarized around someone's interpretation of the Bible and is characterized by major deviations from orthodox Christianity relative to the cardinal doctrines of the Christian faith, particularly the fact that God became man in Christ Jesus." They claim a founder other than Jesus, follow a book other than the Bible, accept beliefs outside traditional Christianity, and seek salvation in ways other than by grace through faith.
There is no question that Mormons claim to be Christians. Responding to Jeffress, the church released a statement claiming that "Christ is at the center of our worship, study, service and faith." But what do they believe about God?
Their movement was founded 1,800 years after Christ by Joseph Smith (1805-44). He taught that "God was once as we are now, and is an exalted man, and sits enthroned in yonder heavens" (King Follett Discourses). According to Smith, "The Father has a body of flesh and bones as tangible as man's" (Doctrine and Covenants 130:22). The church teaches that God the Father in his glorified physical body had sexual intercourse with the virgin Mary, resulting in the conception of the physical Christ (Journal of Discourses 1:51; 4:218).
Do they follow a book other than the Bible? In addition to Scripture, they consider the Book of Mormon to be "another testament of Jesus Christ" revealed by Jesus to descendants of Israel living in early America. They also follow Doctrine and Covenants and Pearl of Great Price, compendiums of theology and prescribed practices.
Do they accept beliefs outside traditional Christianity? Smith taught plural marriage as a "new and everlasting covenant" (Doctrine and Covenants 132:1,4). Though the church repudiated polygamy in 1890, some splinter groups still follow the practice. They baptize for the dead, believing that this action can speed the progress of the deceased in the afterlife.
Do they seek salvation in ways other than by grace through faith? Mormons believe that baptism purges their Gentile blood and replaces it with the blood of Abraham through the Holy Spirit. In this way they become the actual offspring of Abraham (History of the Church 3:380). They believe in three levels of glory: The telestial kingdom (for those who have no testimony of Christ); the terrestial kingdom (for those who fail the requirements of exaltation); and the celestial kingdom (reserved for members of the Mormon church who will become gods; Doctrine and Covenants 132:20)
Are Mormons Christians? That depends on the degree to which they accept the non-biblical teachings of their faith regarding God and salvation. I have met Mormons who assure me that they have asked the Lord Jesus Christ to forgive their sins and become their personal Savior and Lord. Many do not know as much about their church's doctrines as I do. However, I have also met Mormons who believe that their progress toward the celestial kingdom depends not on Jesus' sacrifice but on their missionary work and other church activities.
One final issue: Should the Mormon beliefs of Mitt Romney and Jon Huntsman influence Christians as they decide which candidate to support for president? Our decision should be informed by our answers to two prior questions. First, to what extent do Romney and Huntsman accept the non-Christian elements of their faith? Second, to what degree would decisions made by the president be impacted by uniquely Mormon beliefs?
Gaskell Romney, Mitt’s grandfather, settled in Mexico as well, and Mitt’s father, George Romney, was born in nearby Colonia Dublan — raising the possibility of a 2012 presidential race between two contenders whose fathers were born outside the United States.
Instead of focusing on keeping Christ's commandment “Love one another.” the Mormon's start following somebody else’s teachings.
Where did Jesus say “I am God in flesh?”
On the contrary Jesus said that God is his Father.
If Jesus was God, how come He never told His disciples “I am your father and the father of all people.”
Millions of people don't want to reason. And if they do, they refuse to accept the facts and the truth. The choice in what to believe and in what not to is ours.
I do not know if they are a cult or not. I just wish they’d stop coming around to knock on my door and attempting to sell me their version of Jesus. I already have sufficient Jesus from the competing firms and I don’t need more of a different type, but they don’t take no for an answer. :P
So then "True" Christianity doesn't exist on earth until 1600 years after Jesus, when Protestantism is invented and they profess (1) Justification/Salvation by Grace through Faith and (2) The Absolute Authority of the Scriptures.
(Also, the COMPLETED version of the Scriptures wasn't put together until over 200 years after Jesus Christ, by those "Catholic" cultists that you denounce as "false" Christians. I wonder how a "false" Christian cult can give you the "genuine, absolute authority" scripture. That would be like me claiming that a "fake" Jewish group wrote the old testament that "real" Jews used later on)
Furthermore, by your definition, at least 2/3rds of the mainstream Christian churches in the world and about 1.4 billion people in the world who profess Christ as their savior and can trace their denomination back to the ORIGINAL apostles (all Catholic & Orthodox denominations) are not "True" Christians.
Indeed, by your definition, the apostles THEMSELVES weren't Christian! None of them professed that the key to following Jesus was (1) Justification/Salvation by Grace through Faith and (2) The Absolute Authority of the Scriptures. Guess St. Peter and all those guys were phonies.
I agree with your synopsis. Catholicism becomes a cult when their members place their “traditions” and other writings above or equal to Scripture and when they put their worship to anyone other than Jesus. Cults also have Earthly leaders which get more credit for direction then the teachings of Jesus. The Pope and priests fit that role quite well.
The one thing I will say though, is that there are Catholics who are saved, but it is in spite of their doctrine, not because of it.
I'm unanimous on that.
How many devils can dance on the head of a pin?
The religion was invented by a embezzler, adulterer, con-man, reader of stones, and husband to over 40 women. Doesn't take much to find all this out. Maybe Joseph Smith, Jr., while now sitting on the planet Kolob (of which he never told us where the planet was) can rest in peace along with his 40+ wives and stolen money, a lot of which was stolen right here in Kirtland, Ohio.
The real tragedy in all this is what will most certainly happen to those "14 million" members in the afterlife. The Bible is most clear on that.
I find it ironic that someone complains about the LDS church claiming to be the only true church in a thread dedicated to showing that the LDS Church is not true at all, and in its responses other Christians denounce pretty much every other non-”mainstream” church. Let’s get real: every God- or Allah-fearing person on this forum believes that their doctrinal beliefs are true and all others are false. There’s nothing unique in the LDS Church’s claim.
As to the subject itself, however, people can call the LDS Church whatever they want. If having your church founded by a prophet of God makes it a cult, then we’re a cult, and proud of it. We call ourselves Christians because, as the LDS Church views it, Christianity is following the example of Jesus Christ and abiding by His teachings. Everyone who does so is a “Christian.” When the accusation of the Church being non-Christian is leveled it is usually to convince those who do not know better that we don’t believe in Jesus Christ, which is not true, or that we don’t believe that Jesus Christ is the only way to return to our Heavenly Father, when actually we believe that he is indeed the only way. Being “saved by grace” is actually a tenet of the Church, although in no way a dismissal of personal responsibility. God put us here to progress, not to pay him lip service, but nothing aside from Jesus Christ and his sacrifice in Gethsemane and on the cross can close the spiritual gap between us and God and provide for life after death. That’s the simple truth of it, what I’ve been taught from a child onward to hold most important. If you want to argue against that, be my guest.
Does mormonism teach the violence that Islam does? I don’t think so, no need to bash it. The same things mainstream Christians say about mormonism are most of the same things athiests say about Christianity.
God says in the Bible that there is only one creator of this universe and everything in it whom we call God and that having any extras gods is not permitted.
Mormonism says you can be your own god.
That right there is completely contradictory and is the beginning of what defines a cult.
As an atheist, I say the same things about Mormonism as I do about Protestantism and about Catholicism.
Most of what I say is pretty polite.
Where do the various creeds fit into this definition?
I couldn't understand what the big deal was. We had Christians and Jews who were raised side by side from Tiger Cubs back in Boca Raton and my son loved his friends regardless of how they worship our common God. Those folks were just wonderful and provided years of outstanding childhood experiences for my son.
What was it about the Mormons that they would not accept a Christian?
This was a hard experience for me, and it has left me very suspicious as to the intent to segregate Mormons and non-Mormons under the name of "Scouting". We had never run into any sort of religious segregation before.
Frankly, it has turned me off to whatever Mormon scouting represents. It certainly is not an effort to reach out to the community "outsiders" are clearly not welcome.
What you fail to understand is that truth matters. Christians are called to rebuke false teachings out of concern for the spiritual health of others. Your concern of political matters is misplaced on the Religion forum.
With the Mormon's missionary focus, it really seems odd that someone would behave that way.
“Does mormonism teach the violence that Islam does?”
Physical violence should not be our only concern in this world. The spiritual welfare of others is much more important since one’s eternal destiny is at stake. Therefore, it’s entirely appropriate to critique religions that are found to be different from Christianity.
Thanks for the response. I was kind of stunned myself and it's sunk in over the past 2 years. I did find another troop a little further away and they were happy to welcome my son. It was so important for me to get my children well grounded in a new place so far from our home for 20+ years.
I'm glad to hear that this is not the norm. To this day it still bothers me and when I hear the discussion of Mormonism, their missionaries and the "cult" discussion, none of their behavior adds up. It's left me with a very bad impression of the troop and their scouting practices.
My mistake, I did not realize this was in the Religion forum. Done that before, wonder if there is a way to exclude the Religion posts when I am browsing....
Sure; instead of clicking on the “Everything” forum, click on “News/Activism” instead and you won’t see the “Religion” forum threads.
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