Are Jehovah's Witnesses, Mormons, Seventh Day Adventists, Christian Science actually Christian?

[gazelam]

As the LDS are not a Christian denomination you can’t be both unless you are one in name only. I’m not saying you are incapable of Christian like behavior.

The LDS hold beliefs that are contrary to Christian beliefs such as the nature of God and the nature of Christ. The belief that man can become a god. The idea of spirit children waiting to be born. The belief that Jesus was conceived through sexual intercourse between God and the Blessed Mother.

The LDS church holds beliefs that were held by early Christians, but have since been lost to Orthodox Christianity.

The belief that man (like Christ) can become like his Heavenly Father is taught in the Bible and was taught be early Christians.

Bible:
Acts 17:29 (KJV) -* Forasmuch then as we are the *offspring of God…
(Offspring grow up to be like their parents.)

Romans 8:17 (KJV) - And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
(As joint heirs with Christ we receive from Heavenly Father everything Jesus receives, including Jesus’ nature.)

2 Peter 1:4 (KJV) - *Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be *partakers of the divine nature

Early Christians

Irenaeus noted: “*We have not been made gods from the beginning, but at first merely men, then at length gods.” *

Clement of Alexandria wrote: Knowing God, he will be made like God. . . . And that man becomes God, since God so wills

Cyprian wrote: What Christ is, we Christians shall be, if we imitate Christ.

The idea of spirit children is clearly Biblical.

John 9:1,2 (KJV) - And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth. And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?
The disciples clearly believed that the man lived before he was born.

Jeremiah 1:5 (KJV) - Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.
God clearly interacted with Jeremiah prior to Jeremiah being born.

The LDS do not believe that that Jesus was conceived through sexual intercourse between God and Mary. We believe in the virgin birth of Jesus.

I hope this helps…

Catholics are not the only ones who have problems with these concepts. I’m sure most, if not all, Protestants do too. As a young woman that pastor of the Protestant Church I attended warned my parents about letting us seriously date an LDS young man as they would lead us away from our Christian faith.

Just because Catholics and Protestants don’t follow everything in the Bible that I outlined above doesn’t mean they’re not Christians.

 

[gazelam]

It comes down to, LDS want to hold their beliefs, but expect everyone else to forego their own.

That’s quite a bold statement for someone who claims to have been raised LDS.

11th LDS Article of Faith - We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may.

“It is possible, then, for everyone in every church, who may wish to know the truth, to contemplate the tradition of the apostles which has been made known to us throughout the whole world. And we are in a position to enumerate those who were instituted bishops by the apostles and their successors down to our own times, men who neither knew nor taught anything like what these heretics rave about” (Against Heresies 3:3:1 [A.D. 189]).

I think that about covers it for all innovative new religions, particularly those that arose in the 19th century as “restorations”.

It’s interesting that you quote Irenaeus who lived just some 100+ years after Paul. In Ephesians 4:11-13 (KJV) Paul wrote:

11. And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
12. For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
13. Till we all come in the unity of the faith…

Irenaeus wrote “Against Heresies” because there was not a unity of faith in his day. (Why else would a book named “Against Heresies” have been written?) Yet, instead of calling for a return to apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers, he writes that we’re fine without apostles!! When there is not a unity of faith Paul clearly indicates the need for apostles. This is an example of apostasy in full bloom.

 

[Thorolfr]

This is like saying two gay men call themselves Christian, they belong to a Church who’s Pastor is gay and lives with a man…
…The two men are subsequently “married” in the “Christian Church” and the ceremony is officiated by the gay Pastor, who also is a practicing homosexual.

True, all these folks have a right to call themselves whatever they want…
…I also have the right to say I’m really J Edgar Hoover but at the end of the day I’m NOT.

You imply that the gay pastor and the two gay man are not really Christians (i.e. they only “call themselves Christian”). But what if all three had been baptized at birth in the Catholic Church? The Catholic Church would consider all three to still be Catholic (“once Catholic always Catholic”) but you’re saying they wouldn’t also be Christian? Can someone be Catholic but not be Christian?

 

[RebeccaJ]

That’s quite a bold statement for someone who claims to have been raised LDS.

11th LDS Article of Faith - We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may.

It’s interesting that you quote Irenaeus who lived just some 100+ years after Paul. In Ephesians 4:11-13 (KJV) Paul wrote:

11. And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
12. For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
13. Till we all come in the unity of the faith…

Irenaeus wrote “Against Heresies” because there was not a unity of faith in his day. (Why else would a book named “Against Heresies” have been written?) Yet, instead of calling for a return to apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers, he writes that we’re fine without apostles!! When there is not a unity of faith Paul clearly indicates the need for apostles. This is an example of apostasy in full bloom.

Unity of faith is something that is**. Paul is teaching that we come to the unity of faith that exists, he isn’t teaching that we create something that dos not exist.

Of course there was unity of faith in Iraeneus time. It exists then and exists now, being a attribute of Christ’s Church, with Jesus at the center. And most importantly, the Eucharist where we are united Body and Blood to Jesus Christ.

Heretics are those who follow or deliver teachings that are outside of the Faith. Their leaving the unity of faith does not destroy what is and is centered on Christ. They are no longer united to the faith fully, but unity continues on without them.

Also, LDS use Paul’s teachings as though he is making a list of required offices, when the passage clearly states, the Holy Spirit gives different gifts, not offices, to different people, but the different gifts are all for one purpose.

 

[Brandon_Cal]

I’ve never understood the ferocity people on both sides of this debate deem necessary for such a discussion. You’re arguing over the definition of a word. A word, which like all words was invented by human beings and will invariably change meaning over time by other human beings. The appeals to absolute vs. relative truth are equally bizarre, as if God himself designed the word “Christian” before the foundations of the universe.

I have no problem admitting multiple definitions to the term ‘Christian’, some more inclusive than others, depending on context and audience, no differently than I would for most other words. In a Catholic/Protestant/Orthodox theological context, when I read “Christian” I know that it doesn’t refer to Mormons (or JWs or Christadelphians, etc.). When I read “Christian” in a sociology textbook I know that it likely does include such groups. Can’t we just leave it at that and get back to discussing the actual substantive differences between each other? Why are we getting hung up on a word that began as a label by detractors of Christianity?

And just so I’m not accused of being unfair to orthodox Christians, let me say that I’ve found most Mormons quite hypocritical about this issue. Nearly all will insist that they are properly called Christian using the most loose of definitions possible (“We believe in Christ”), and yet will not afford the same courtesy to their separated brethren among the polygamist and non-Brighamite sects of Mormonism when it comes to the term “Mormon”. The LDS Church even tried to copyright the term and (rightfully) was denied.

 

[Pythons]

You imply that the gay pastor and the two gay man are not really Christians (i.e. they only “call themselves Christian”). But what if all three had been baptized at birth in the Catholic Church? The Catholic Church would consider all three to still be Catholic (“once Catholic always Catholic”) but you’re saying they wouldn’t also be Christian? Can someone be Catholic but not be Christian?

Are you suggesting that an individual correctly Baptized as a Baby can become an adult…
…Actively participate in Deadly sin & encourage others to do so as well.
…Proudly walk up to the Altar and take Communion & not be eating and drinking their own damnation?

There is such a thing as a “non-practicing Catholic”…
…The same can be said of any individual within any Church ( Christian or not ).
…Individuals who support active same sex buggery within a Christian Body.
…Have most certainly DEPARTED from Christianity.

Adherents of same sex Marriage are attempting to RE-DEFINE Marriage…
…No differently than supporters of active gay lifestyle within the Christian Church.
…Are attempting to re-define what Christianity is.

I’ve personally witnessed dominant homosexual women refer to their same sex partner as their “wife”…
…I’ve personally witnessed the subservient female in the above relationship refer to their bull as, “my husband”.

Abraham Lincoln is quoted as saying

“How many legs does a dog have if you call the tail a leg? Four. Calling a tail a leg doesn’t make it a leg.”

This is exactly what’s going on here with this issue, nothing more.

 

[Thorolfr]

Are you suggesting that an individual correctly Baptized as a Baby can become an adult…
…Actively participate in Deadly sin & encourage others to do so as well.
…Proudly walk up to the Altar and take Communion & not be eating and drinking their own damnation?

There is such a thing as a “non-practicing Catholic”…
…The same can be said of any individual within any Church ( Christian or not ).
…Individuals who support active same sex buggery within a Christian Body.
…Have most certainly DEPARTED from Christianity.

Adherents of same sex Marriage are attempting to RE-DEFINE Marriage…
…No differently than supporters of active gay lifestyle within the Christian Church.
…Are attempting to re-define what Christianity is.

I’ve personally witnessed dominant homosexual women refer to their same sex partner as their “wife”…
…I’ve personally witnessed the subservient female in the above relationship refer to her bull as “my husband”.

Abraham Lincoln is quoted as saying

“How many legs does a dog have if you call the tail a leg? Four. Calling a tail a leg doesn’t make it a leg.”

This is exactly what’s going on here with this issue, nothing more.

So are you saying that sinners are no longer Christians? Aren’t we all sinners? As Lutherans say, we are all simultaneously both saint and sinner all the time (simul justus et peccator).

 

[ComplineSanFran]

You imply that the gay pastor and the two gay man are not really Christians (i.e. they only “call themselves Christian”). But what if all three had been baptized at birth in the Catholic Church? The Catholic Church would consider all three to still be Catholic (“once Catholic always Catholic”) but you’re saying they wouldn’t also be Christian? Can someone be Catholic but not be Christian?

Good point. And I am curious what the replies will be. I sincerely hope that they are not something like, ‘They may have been baptized Catholic but they are not ‘GOOD’ Catholics or observant Catholics.’

BTW, in my branch of the Church, it is quite likely that you will find a Priest who is gay or lesbian and is married (legally and sacramentally), who marries many couples, including gay and lesbian couples. It’s not so hard to find in many branches of the Church.

 

[RebeccaJ]

Good point. And I am curious what the replies will be. I sincerely hope that they are not something like, ‘They may have been baptized Catholic but they are not ‘GOOD’ Catholics or observant Catholics.’

BTW, in my branch of the Church, it is quite likely that you will find a Priest who is gay or lesbian and is married (legally and sacramentally), who marries many couples, including gay and lesbian couples. It’s not so hard to find in many branches of the Church.

Once Catholic always Catholic, refers to baptism, which we believe leaves a permanent mark on one’s soul.

Being a Christian, means being a disciple of Christ. One can certainly be baptized as an infant and as an adult choose to not be a disciple. That choice does not undo their baptism.

But this is off topic from the OP, which asked about religions that have never been Christian, that is, not breaking away from the Christian body, but claiming themselves to arise separately.

 

[LivingWaters7]

The LDS church holds beliefs that were held by early Christians, but have since been lost to Orthodox Christianity.

The belief that man (like Christ) can become like his Heavenly Father is taught in the Bible and was taught be early Christians.

Bible:
Acts 17:29 (KJV) -* Forasmuch then as we are the *offspring of God…
(Offspring grow up to be like their parents.)

Romans 8:17 (KJV) - And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
(As joint heirs with Christ we receive from Heavenly Father everything Jesus receives, including Jesus’ nature.)

2 Peter 1:4 (KJV) - *Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be *partakers of the divine nature

Early Christians

Irenaeus noted: “*We have not been made gods from the beginning, but at first merely men, then at length gods.” *

Clement of Alexandria wrote: Knowing God, he will be made like God. . . . And that man becomes God, since God so wills

Cyprian wrote: What Christ is, we Christians shall be, if we imitate Christ.

The belief in theosis/deification was never lost, and has been believed by Catholic and [Eastern] Orthodox Christians from the beginning to this day. Not sure why many LDS continue to make such an ahistorical claim.

 

[friardchips]

I have heard views from both sides, that they either are or are not. Now I ask this because ironically, some Protestant Christians claim that Catholics are not really Christian. However, the notion that just because someone believes in Jesus does not make someone a Christian. I say this because even in Islam, Jesus is regarded as a major prophet. Do these groups meet the definition of Christianity or do their beliefs make it so they actually are not Christians? I know all of these groups self identify as Christian, but does someone actually have to believe in the trinity to be a Christian? Or does that alone make someone not? I just wanted opinions on this. I know people who are Mormons and Jehovah’s Witnesses and they adamantly claim that they are in fact “true” Christians.

I tend to think that JWs are not. They don’t believe in the Holy Trinity and neither believe that our Lord was and is who we believe Him to be.

In addition, they don’t keep quiet about it; rather, they go door to door arguing about it.

So, no.

Some might be good people though. As some atheists are and any individual can be.

 

[LivingWaters7]

That’s quite a bold statement for someone who claims to have been raised LDS.

11th LDS Article of Faith - We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may.

It’s interesting that you quote Irenaeus who lived just some 100+ years after Paul. In Ephesians 4:11-13 (KJV) Paul wrote:

11. And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
12. For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
13. Till we all come in the unity of the faith…

Irenaeus wrote “Against Heresies” because there was not a unity of faith in his day. (Why else would a book named “Against Heresies” have been written?) Yet, instead of calling for a return to apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers, he writes that we’re fine without apostles!! When there is not a unity of faith Paul clearly indicates the need for apostles. This is an example of apostasy in full bloom.

Very amusing for you to say that, because since Joseph Smith’s purported restoration of the office of apostle, his movement has splintered into dozens of churches (Latter Day Saint Movement). Using your logic, there still is not a unity of faith, and this must be an example of apostasy in full bloom.

 

[Horton]

The LDS church holds beliefs that were held by early Christians, but have since been lost to Orthodox Christianity.

Nothing was lost. We Christians still hold the beliefs of the Apostles.

The belief that man (like Christ) can become like his Heavenly Father is taught in the Bible and was taught be early Christians.

Bible:
Acts 17:29 (KJV) -* Forasmuch then as we are the *offspring of God…
(Offspring grow up to be like their parents.)

Acts 17:24-32
24 The God who made the world and all that is in it, the Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in sanctuaries made by human hands, 25 nor is he served by human hands because he needs anything. Rather it is he who gives to everyone life and breath and everything.
26 He made from one* the whole human race to dwell on the entire surface of the earth, and he fixed the ordered seasons and the boundaries of their regions, 27 so that people might seek God, even perhaps grope for him and find him, though indeed he is not far from any one of us. 28 For ‘In him we live and move and have our being,’* as even some of your poets have said, ‘For we too are his offspring.’ 29 Since therefore we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the divinity is like an image fashioned from gold, silver, or stone by human art and imagination. 30 God has overlooked the times of ignorance, but now he demands that all people everywhere repent 31 because he has established a day on which he will ‘judge the world with justice’ through a man he has appointed, and he has provided confirmation for all by raising him from the dead.” 32
When they heard about resurrection of the dead, some began to scoff, but others said, “We should like to hear you on this some other time.”

Romans 8:17 (KJV) - And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
(As joint heirs with Christ we receive from Heavenly Father everything Jesus receives, including Jesus’ nature.)

Romans 8 14-17
Children of God through Adoption.
14 For those who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. 15 For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you received a spirit of adoption, through which we cry, “Abba,* Father!” 16 The Spirit itself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,l 17 and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if only we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.

2 Peter 1:4 (KJV) - *Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be *partakers of the divine nature

The Power of God’s Promise.
3 His divine power has bestowed on us everything that makes for life and devotion, through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and power. 4 Through these, he has bestowed on us the precious and very great promises, so that through them you may come to share in the divine nature, after escaping from the corruption that is in the world because of evil desire. 5 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, virtue with knowledge, 6 knowledge with self-control, self-control with endurance, endurance with devotion, 7 devotion with mutual affection, mutual affection with love. 8 If these are yours and increase in abundance, they will keep you from being idle or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 Anyone who lacks them is blind and shortsighted, forgetful of the cleansing of his past sins. 10 Therefore, brothers, be all the more eager to make your call and election firm, for, in doing so, you will never stumble. 11 For, in this way, entry into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ will be richly provided for you.

Cont…

 

[Horton]

cont…
Early Mormons: Smith also differed from traditional Protestantism in his views on the nature of God and humanity. Eventually Smith reduced the difference between God and man to one of degree. Both God and man are coeternal and uncreated. He taught that humans could progress to an exalted state in which they became coequal with a God who was material, and himself a glorified man existing within time.[40] Smith taught that both God the Father and Jesus were distinct beings with physical bodies, and that the Holy Spirit was a personage of Spirit.[41] Because God had once been a man who had risen to a high position in heaven,[42] humans too could progress to godhood. Such a teaching implied a vast hierarchy of gods who would rule kingdoms of inferior intelligences, and so forth in an eternal hierarchy.[43] Unlike the god of traditional Christianity, the god envisioned by Smith did not create the eternal spirits of humanity—he only organized them and provided them with a plan to follow in his footsteps.[44] God was God not because he was an ex nihilo creator, but because he had the greatest intelligence.

Early Christians

Irenaeus noted: “*We have not been made gods from the beginning, but at first merely men, then at length gods.” *

Clement of Alexandria wrote: Knowing God, he will be made like God. . . . And that man becomes God, since God so wills

Cyprian wrote: What Christ is, we Christians shall be, if we imitate Christ.

Here is a link to explore the real meanings behind your very short out of context quotes above. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Divinization_(Christian

The idea of spirit children is clearly Biblical.

John 9:1,2 (KJV) - And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth. And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?
The disciples clearly believed that the man lived before he was born.

This in no way back ups the claim of spirit children.

Jeremiah 1:5 (KJV) - Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.
God clearly interacted with Jeremiah prior to Jeremiah being born.

God is omnipotent meaning He knows all. These scriptures you use do not speak to the belief there are lots of gods making spirit babies with multiple wives in the CK to be sent down to deserving LDS parents. If your theory is true, how is it I have had children? If your theory is correct how do all non-LDS folks have babies?

The LDS do not believe that that Jesus was conceived through sexual intercourse between God and Mary. We believe in the virgin birth of Jesus.

What do the LDS believe regarding the conception of Jesus?

Just because Catholics and Protestants don’t follow everything in the Bible that I outlined above doesn’t mean they’re not Christians.

Protestants & Catholics ARE Christian. I don’t think that is in debate on this thread.

 

[Pythons]

We are ALL sinners, Christians can and DO sin…
…We are called to resist temptation to sin.
…We are NOT called to wallow in it & encourage others to join us.

All the while suggesting that Christ condones and approves of the sin!

I have to think you’re pulling my leg here. I mean you can’t be serious, can you?

So are you saying that sinners are no longer Christians? Aren’t we all sinners? As Lutherans say, we are all simultaneously both saint and sinner all the time (simul justus et peccator).

 

[Horton]

The belief that man (like Christ) can become like his Heavenly Father is taught in the Bible and was taught be early Christians.

Just wanted to clarify this statement was not made by me nor is it something I believe. I made a mistake in putting the quote marks in.

 

[MoreCoffee]

I have heard views from both sides, that they either are or are not. Now I ask this because ironically, some Protestant Christians claim that Catholics are not really Christian. However, the notion that just because someone believes in Jesus does not make someone a Christian. I say this because even in Islam, Jesus is regarded as a major prophet. Do these groups meet the definition of Christianity or do their beliefs make it so they actually are not Christians? I know all of these groups self identify as Christian, but does someone actually have to believe in the trinity to be a Christian? Or does that alone make someone not? I just wanted opinions on this. I know people who are Mormons and Jehovah’s Witnesses and they adamantly claim that they are in fact “true” Christians.

I know only a little bit about Mormons (Latter Day Saints) but I do know about Jehovah’s witnesses and Seventh Day Adventists so I will answer on the two that I know something about and leave the other alone because I am not really qualified to answer about them.

Jehovah’s witnesses cannot subscribe to the Nicene Creed because they teach that the Lord Jesus Christ is a creature who is not God Almighty but only a created god - the archangel Michael - who is Jehovah’s first creation and the one through whom Jehovah created all other things but who is himself a creature who was created in the beginning. Jehovah’s witnesses also teach that the Holy Spirit is an impersonal force, the ‘active force of Jehovah God’ and thus not a person nor God but the power of God through which Jehovah accomplishes his will. These two articles of doctrine in the teaching of Jehovah’s witnesses are so seriously heterodox that one cannot in good conscience call their religion Christian any more than one can call Judaism or Islam Christian. That the members of Jehovah’s witnesses call themselves Christians is somewhat irrelevant because adopting the name ‘christian’ when one’s religious teachings contradict the Nicene Creed and all the other ancient Creeds of the Church is mere nominalism rather than christianity.

Seventh Day Adventists are a far more complex group because their doctrine is in line with most of the Nicene Creed insofar as they accept Jesus as God Almighty and they teach that the Holy Spirit is a person and is God. Yet they also teach that Jesus is the archangel Michael and there is rather a lot of confusion evident in their doctrine of the incarnation because they have in their founding teacher’s writings (Mrs Ellen White) views about the human nature of the Lord Jesus Christ being a fallen human nature. There is also some confusion about the role of the ten commandments and the way to salvation; specifically, observance of the seventh day as a Sabbath to the Lord is a requirement in their religion and Sunday is explicitly excoriated as a wicked substitute imposed on Christendom by emperor Constantine and wicked Popes. In fact Seventh Day Adventism has historically been extremely anti-Catholic which is problematic in itself and coupled with the other strange revelations in Ellen White’s allegedly inspired writings leaves one wondering how the religion can be christian. But it is probably well to err on the side of charity when discussing these matters with members of the SDA denomination. Individuals vary and Seventh Day Adventism has quite a broad range of beliefs among its membership.

 

[meltzerboy]

I know only a little bit about Mormons (Latter Day Saints) but I do know about Jehovah’s witnesses and Seventh Day Adventists so I will answer on the two that I know something about and leave the other alone because I am not really qualified to answer about them.

Jehovah’s witnesses cannot subscribe to the Nicene Creed because they teach that the Lord Jesus Christ is a creature who is not God Almighty but only a created god - the archangel Michael - who is Jehovah’s first creation and the one through whom Jehovah created all other things but who is himself a creature who was created in the beginning. Jehovah’s witnesses also teach that the Holy Spirit is an impersonal force, the ‘active force of Jehovah God’ and thus not a person nor God but the power of God through which Jehovah accomplishes his will. These two articles of doctrine in the teaching of Jehovah’s witnesses are so seriously heterodox that one cannot in good conscience call their religion Christian any more than one can call Judaism or Islam Christian. That the members of Jehovah’s witnesses call themselves Christians is somewhat irrelevant because adopting the name ‘christian’ when one’s religious teachings contradict the Nicene Creed and all the other ancient Creeds of the Church is mere nominalism rather than christianity.

Seventh Day Adventists are a far more complex group because their doctrine is in line with most of the Nicene Creed insofar as they accept Jesus as God Almighty and they teach that the Holy Spirit is a person and is God. Yet they also teach that Jesus is the archangel Michael and there is rather a lot of confusion evident in their doctrine of the incarnation because they have in their founding teacher’s writings (Mrs Ellen White) views about the human nature of the Lord Jesus Christ being a fallen human nature. There is also some confusion about the role of the ten commandments and the way to salvation; specifically, observance of the seventh day as a Sabbath to the Lord is a requirement in their religion and Sunday is explicitly excoriated as a wicked substitute imposed on Christendom by emperor Constantine and wicked Popes. In fact Seventh Day Adventism has historically been extremely anti-Catholic which is problematic in itself and coupled with the other strange revelations in Ellen White’s allegedly inspired writings leaves one wondering how the religion can be christian. But it is probably well to err on the side of charity when discussing these matters with members of the SDA denomination. Individuals vary and Seventh Day Adventism has quite a broad range of beliefs among its membership.

Thank you for the enlightening information. Yet I believe that the baptism ceremony of the Seventh-Day Adventist religion is according to the Trinitarian formula and accepted by the Catholic Church as Christian, is it not? How can this be if its conception of Jesus is seriously flawed?

 

[St_Redemption]

To me, A Christian is somebody who places his/her faith in the fact that Jesus Christ died and was resurrected on Earth some 2,000 years ago and that, in doing so, freed us from the bondage of sin. A Christian believes this and follows morality in trying to be a good person that Jesus would want them to be.

 

[zaffiroborant]

The LDS church holds beliefs that were held by early Christians, but have since been lost to Orthodox Christianity.

The belief that man (like Christ) can become like his Heavenly Father is taught in the Bible and was taught be early Christians.

Bible:
Acts 17:29 (KJV) -* Forasmuch then as we are the *offspring of God…
(Offspring grow up to be like their parents.)

Romans 8:17 (KJV) - And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
(As joint heirs with Christ we receive from Heavenly Father everything Jesus receives, including Jesus’ nature.)

2 Peter 1:4 (KJV) - *Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be *partakers of the divine nature

Early Christians

Irenaeus noted: “*We have not been made gods from the beginning, but at first merely men, then at length gods.” *

Clement of Alexandria wrote: Knowing God, he will be made like God. . . . And that man becomes God, since God so wills

Cyprian wrote: What Christ is, we Christians shall be, if we imitate Christ.

The idea of spirit children is clearly Biblical.

John 9:1,2 (KJV) - And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth. And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?
The disciples clearly believed that the man lived before he was born.

Jeremiah 1:5 (KJV) - Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.
God clearly interacted with Jeremiah prior to Jeremiah being born.

The LDS do not believe that that Jesus was conceived through sexual intercourse between God and Mary. We believe in the virgin birth of Jesus.

I hope this helps…

Just because Catholics and Protestants don’t follow everything in the Bible that I outlined above doesn’t mean they’re not Christians.

The belief that we can become “like” God has never been lost, what early Christians never believed or taught was that God started as a man and became God. " I am going to tell you how God came to be God." is not and never was part of Christian or Jewish teachings or thought.