ALLFORHIM:
If you take a deeper look at their theology they do not follow Christ. Not the biblical one anyway
Mormons would vigorously dispute this assertion. So what, to you, constitutes the Biblical image of Christendom? Did the Biblical Christ ordain the sacraments of baptism, eucharist, holy orders, et al.? If so, in what manner? If not, what makes you think not?
I’m sure you believe that Christ is the Son of God. But what does this mean? Is Christ Himself God, or something else? If the man, Jesus, is God, was He God from birth (thus establishing Mary as the Mother of God), or did was His humanity infused with divinity at a later time (perhaps the baptism of John)? Is Jesus equally God and equally man? Does He have both a divine nature and a human nature? Does He have both a divine will and a human will? Questions to ponder, if you’re considering the Biblical Jesus!
See, on the basis of your answers thus far, I’m going to take a guess that we legal types would probably classify you as a fairly run-of-the-mill Evangelical. Not saying there’s anything wrong with that! It’s just a little bit confusing to label yourself “Christian,” when different people take the label “Christian” to mean dramatically different things. We all think we’re Christians, just like you. What we want to know is what you
mean by “Christian.”
mercygate:
Not really a problem for this thread because any self-respecting Mormon would call himself a Mormon or say he was LDS BEFORE he would call himself a “Christian.”
To them, “LDS” and “Christian” are synonymous, with “LDS” being a term that more precisely and accurately sums the specifics of their theological identity up to those whom they encounter. In like manner, Baptists identify as Baptists, Methodists identify as Methodists, non-denoms (often) identify as non-denoms, etc.
They consider themselves Christians but their particular “revelation” puts them in a unique category: “true” Christians – as distinguished from the rest of us in the Apostate kingdom.
Are you a universalist? It just seems odd to me that you’d fault Mormons for believing that some folks are outside of pure and true Christianity, while you probably believe the exact same thing, just on a somewhat broader scope.
In fact, I’d be willing to wager that you believe your personal creed best reflects “true” Christianity, but those from other doctrinal positions are not necessarily excluded from a having valid and saving faith. It may surprise you to discover that the Mormons believe much the same thing. While they naturally believe themselves to possess Christianity in its immaculate form, they are of the position that the faithful from other Christian denominations will also inherit Paraside (albeit a lesser paradise than that reserved for the best Mormons).
No biggie for me
Not the biblical one anyway