Mormons v. Christians

I generally stay out of this. It's a "no-win" discussion. There are times, however, that I need to set aside such concerns and simply present the truth for what it is. Sometimes the truth will not win friends. Sometimes the truth will not influence people. It's still the truth and it still needs to be said.

The argument has never ceased as to whether or not Mormons are Christians. The mainstream society considers them a Christian denomination. They argue that they're Christians. And if you try to pin them down on the differences, they'll point out that there are no ... real ... differences. Why is it, I wonder, that they're so unwilling to admit to the differences and simply hold to what they believe? Why do they feel the need to call themselves "Christians" when they differ so greatly from Christians? I fear it's not innocent; I fear it's conspiratorial. So ... what, really, are the differences?

The first, obvious difference is in the sacred texts. Christians hold to a Bible. Mormons hold to the Bible and the Book of Mormon, Book of Doctrine and Covenants, Pearl of Great Price and Sayings of Joseph, the Seer. And, to be fair, it's not quite right to list them in that order. You see, while orthodox Christianity has always held to the inerrancy and sufficiency of the Bible, Mormons consider it, well, a little suspect. Their texts came to them directly from God. The Bible came to us from the Church. And everyone knows the Church is suspect. There was politics. There was heresy. There was that whole Constantine conspiracy to insert the Trinity into Christianity. (Never mind that this is a fabrication.) So the Bible, to Mormons, is good, but the best and truest source books are their other texts. The Bible is subject to incorrect translation, imperfections, and outright errors. Good book to have around, but certainly not the sola of sola scriptura. It is not the sole or even preferred source for matters of faith and practice.

The second glaring difference is in the nature of God. Christianity is undeniably monotheistic in its basic theology (study of God). Mormonism is undeniably polytheistic. They hold that there are multiple gods. They will even defend it from your Bible. They hold that God was once a man and reached an exalted position. Jesus was one of His sons. In the godhead there are, in fact, not merely three persons in one (the orthodox, Trinitarian view), but three people (classic, heretical tritheism). The goal, in fact, is to become gods ourselves and perpetuate this process. In the same vein, Jesus is not the same Jesus that Christianity recognizes. Orthodoxy holds that Jesus is "the only begotten", God-incarnate. Mormonism holds that He is the first born, but certainly not the last, and is, in fact, the spirit brother of Satan. Christianity holds to a Jesus who was the Creator of all things that were created. Mormonism holds to a created Christ.

There is another odd thing -- and you'll have a tough time getting an admission that this is true -- but the doctrine of the Church of Latter Day Saints holds that Christianity itself is false. They believe that the historic Church was a diversion from the truth. They believe that the only true Church is the Mormon Church. They believe that the God of the orthodox Christian Church is a pagan god, not the true God. They classify all of Christianity outside of the Church of the Latter Day Saints as "the whore of Babylon."

There are a lot of anomalies. There is the question of how black people are viewed in Mormon theology. There is the fact that God has a body in Mormon theology. According to the LDS, God, not the Holy Spirit, fathered Jesus. And the list continues. But these are the smaller issues.

In this time when terms seem to get jumbled and tilted and words lose their meaning, we need to be careful that truth doesn't do the same. Call it what you will ... Christianity and the Church of Latter Day Saints do not have the same sacred texts, worship the same God, recognize the same Christ. Mormons don't even consider Christianity Christian. Why is it, then, that there is a question? Why is it that there is a debate? Are Mormons Christian? No! I can't imagine they would want to be. If they do, it will be at the expense of all others who currently call themselves "followers of Christ."