Saturday, December 15, 2007

Mormons are not Christians

One would think that the title of this post would be wholly unnecessary. It's more or less what 90% of the Mormon "missionaries" that have approached me over the years have acknowledged. It's clear that they deny they doctrine of the Trinity, whereas it is clear that the Trinity is accepted by all Christians.

Mormons have a new and different gospel, and a new and different prophet. They are no more Christians than Muslims are Christians.

Yet, for some reasons, perhaps for political reasons - they now wish to be called "Christians." Some misguided person has even started a blog (one post so far) called "Mormons are Christian" (link - not recommended).

Their distinctiveness from Christianity is even to be seen in the self-title that they prefer for themselves, the "Church of Jesus Christ of the the Latter-Day Saints" in contradistinction from the historical Church of our (Christians) Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

They refuse to accept the truth of this verse:

John 10:30 I and my Father are one.

Others, such as James White, have done much more thorough responses to Mormonism, and I'm not going to reduplicate their efforts here. Here's a link to the Alpha & Omega Ministries Articles on Mormonism, for more detailed reading. If all you've seen is "The Godmakers," your knowledge of Mormonism is probably out of date. There's a lot of material to be read. If you're interested, get started (link).

-Turretinfan

1 comment:

Turretinfan said...

"Starting to Learn" has disputed my point that Mormons fail to follow John 10:30.

I point out that the official Mormon web site states:

"The Church's first article of faith states, "We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost." These three beings make up the Godhead. They preside over this world and all other creations of our Father in Heaven."

The web site supports this assertion by citing:

Dallin H. Oaks, Ensign, May 1995, 84–87
In common with the rest of Christianity, we believe in a Godhead of Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. However, we testify that these three members of the Godhead are three separate and distinct beings.

and

John H. Vandenberg, Ensign, May 1974, 11–13
There is no question that Jesus taught the very nature of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost—three personages of form and substance, individual and distinct.

Starting to Learn pointed out that the Book of Mormon 7:7 states:

"...unto the Father, and unto the Son, and unto the Holy Ghost, which are one God...."

But, whatever Joseph Smith may have meant by that (presumably he was simply plagiarizing Scripture) the Mormon belief is that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are three gods, as can be seen from the teaching at this official web site (link).

Specifically, as explained on that page:

"It is generally the Father, or Elohim, who is referred to by the title God."

"The God known as Jehovah is the Son, Jesus Christ..."

"The Holy Ghost is also a God and is called the Holy Spirit, the Spirit, and the Spirit of God, among other similar names and titles."

So, STL, will you retract your attempt to misrepresent the Mormon teachings as though they were authentically Christian?

Will you retract your claim that Mormonism holds to John 10:30?

-Turretinfan