I went to an LDS church a few times and intended to join. If what you say is true (and you have more experience than I, so I won’t dispute what you say), then they did a VERY good job of shielding me from their “anti-Christian” beliefs. They seemed very Christian to me.
But, I stopped going when people started visiting my house at random times to “see” how I was doing. I wasn’t ready for that level of intrusion. Then, I learned about some of the “weird” stuff (like the garment) and knew that I could never be a fully-practicing Mormon.
Since then, I have become a Methodist (which is every bit as heretical to many FReepers) and have learned the things that prove to me that Mormons are definitely wrong in their beliefs, but I still won’t call them “anti-Christian” as some have called them in this thread. They’re just misguided, just as the upper leadership of my church is.
I just get so tired of seeing these “Your Christian denomination sucks” fights. Wesleyans denouncing the TULIP of Calvinists, Baptists saying that no one else baptizes right, Protestants calling Catholics idolators, Catholics calling Protestants apostates, Mormons vs everyone, everyone vs Mormons, etc.
We all have a common enemy. The next time Mormons show up on my doorstep, I will argue with them that their are misguided but I will pray for them and with them that we all find the correct Way.
Depends on WHICH methodists - just like the lutherans...
I've been Wesleyan since '81 and have NEVER heard this in my church.
If anyone wants to believe that GOD controls them and their every move; I guess they can.
(Have I steered this thread away from MORMONs and turned it into a C vs A fight? ;^)
Sounds like you had a close call. I also oppose nitpicky fights in the Body of Christ. I am non-denominational and infighting over minutiae bothers me greatly.
If we agree on the basics, (Trinity and Person, Nature and Work of Jesus Christ - including Salvation by grace) then I pretty much accept them as Brothers and Sisters in the Lord (that includes Calvinists and Wesleyans).
Where I draw the line are groups like the LDS and JWs and a few others based upon their teachings of the above “essentials”.
I didn’t even really have a problem with “meat” doctrines of the LDS. I accepted many things then that I now cringe at (Adam/God, theosis, Jesus and Satan being “spirit brothers”, atonement in the Garden rather than on the Cross).
For me the issue came when I was preparing to serve an LDS mission and was told I was only to tell “investigators” certain doctrines and to flat out deny others if they came up. I couldn’t reconcile believing the LDS had the WHOLE truth and being told to mislead people intentionally.
While I regret the years I spent in the LDS church in some ways, in other ways, I can see God used those experiences to break me, to show me that I NEEDED Him alone, and that I could NEVER do anything to contribute to my own Salvation, only Christ could.
Those experiences have also served to warn others and to witness to the LDS.
Please continue to pray for the LDS. Only God can open their eyes.