Why does Mormonism want to be Associated with Christianity?

[katerinah1947]

In case you missed it the first time.

A Christian is a person who believes in Jesus Christ. The LDS believe in Jesus Christ. That makes us Christians whether anyone else likes it or not.

Hi,
I did not miss your answer, the first time. Those above are my experiences with LDS. I have if you are a LDS, had several God experiences connected with your religion. I have always admired this about you guys. You are totally open, to the idea that one can have a direct God experience. It scares you not.
I will have to get back to you on the basis for those experiences, Scripturally. And, no, Scripturally is technically only the Old Testament. Here I include the New Testament also, those words put down, when The Holy Spirit came back, and reminded them of all they had seen and probably heard, when Jesus was on earth.
It is said by God, in the New Testament somewhere, that faith is from God only, and that faith is a gift, so none of us can boast of our own works. Also Biblically, God says no one looks for Him. No one. In order, Biblically to be a Christian, the minimum requirement really, is that you belive that Jesus, as He is Trinitarianly, is The Son of God. That's the minimum requirement Biblically.
So Biblically, God calls. If we don't send Him away, we start looking for Him everywhere. If we look long enough, we find God. Ususlly we find Jesus Christ. He is my Lord in that Biblical saying. The Lord in that Biblical saying is God The Father. It is provable in Psalms 2. That is where Jesus takes His inheritance given to Him by His Father, there.
The Biblical saying is something like this: David speaking under the inspiration of The Holy Spirit (God to most Christians), says "The Lord (God The Father) said to my Lord (Jesus), sit here at My right side, until I make your enemies a footstool........."
So, God calls (a gift), we listen (a gift or a decision), we find Him (He allows us to. A gift), and then we believe (a gift) in Him. Off the point but true is this, if we don't reject that gift, then we have eternal life (being with God after this life), and on this earth we work for Him, in whatever ways he asks us to do that work.
If LDS people do that, then yes they are Christians, but, God never ever said, that I know of, one must know Christ as well as the most graced of us here on earth.
Apart from that, it is well believed that no one can have life, which is defined Biblically as being alive after death and with God, if one is not a Chrisitian, and, I think that is so off the point, and incorrect, that one Day God told a group of devout Christians, that they are wrong on that. God told those Christians that through another person of His, who He directed.
The amazing point to those Christians was to go back to work, and stop worrying about their friends, relatives and other humans, as what will happen to them will also happen to all people. When they die, they will meet Jesus.
Why? Why is it not important to God, for everyone to know Him precisely as the Christians do. Why was that brought up to the present bishops of their time, by Jesus in Mark 9 38-42. My answer to you is it is too long for this post. The short answer is, everyone being like me, is not a good thing. It was said this way. I was called salt. Too much is bad. Also if I become ineffective, of what use am I.
The point of salt is a little bit here and there makes everything better. Some of the people like me, make this world more wonderful to live in. Everyone being like me, is not a good thing. Someone has to fix cars, and plow the fields.
LOVE,
...Katherina., .... .

 

[McKeehan]

Isaiah 43:10 says, there are no other Gods in the past or future! If your Mormon God forms another God or gods He will violate Isaiah 43:10! God cannot change His mind concerning Isaiah 43:10! Malachi 3;6: “I am the LORD, and I do not change. To change, He (God) would be considered a liar and an Idolater! That is not the God of Christianity!
_______________________________________________________________________

No answer from any Mormon concerning the false teaching of becoming a god! Christianity well NEVER embrace this teaching. It impossible to happen!

 

[TasteForTruth]

Christianity will never teach God the Father was once a man and became God!

Christianity will never teach that people will become a God like Him.

Christianity believes there is only ONE God!

Christianity will never teach Satan is Jesus brother! (Yes, Mormonism teaches this).

The Bible (Christianity) teaches that there is only one uncreated, eternal, true God (Exodus 3:14; Deuteronomy 6:4; John 17:3).

• Exodus 3:14 (ISV) And God said unto Moses, “I Am That I Am.” And He said, “Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, ‘I Am hath sent me unto you.’”
• Deuteronomy 6:4 (NIV) Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.
• John 17:3 (ISV) And this is eternal life: to know you, the only true God, and the one whom you sent—Jesus the Messiah.

The Bible teaches that there will never be any other uncreated, eternal, true God or God(s) to come into existence (Isaiah 43:10; 44:6-8; 1 Kings 8:59-60; Romans 3:29-30; 1 Corinthians 8:4-6; Galatians 4:8).

• Isaiah 43:10 (ISV) “You are my witnesses,” declares the Lord, “and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and trust me and understand that I am the One. Before me no God was formed, nor will there be one after me.

Are you reading Isaiah 43:10? No God or gods have existed before God! And no God or gods formed in the future.

Why has Mormonism not just said we are another religion that leads to God? Our (Mormonism) experience and encounter believes we have heard from God! Why say we are a branch of Christianity? Understand clearly, Jesus has to be the same one God not another God. Or the Jesus of the New Testament was a blasphemer and and Idolater! Why? Because Jesus received worship! God does not share his worship with ANYONE! Period!

• Exodus 34;14 says: for you shall worship no other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.
• Exodus 20 :3-5 - You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not bow down to them or worship them.

Isaiah 43:10 says, there are no other Gods in the past or future! If your Mormon God forms another God or gods He will violate Isaiah 43:10! God cannot change His mind concerning Isaiah 43:10! Malachi 3;6: “I am the LORD, and I do not change. To change, He (God) would be considered a liar and an Idolater! That is not the God of Christianity!

We are Christians, that's why.

 

[Rajni]

We are Christians, that's why.

And in case anyone, unaware of the policy here on CF,
decides to argue against that point, I'll just leave this here:

"Stating or implying that another member or group of
members who have identified themselves as Christian
are not Christian is not allowed." (Christian Forum
Rules / Terms of Service: Flaming and Harassment)
​

Come to think of it, in light of the above stipulation, this thread
may be treading on thin ice.

-

 

[TasteForTruth]

And in case anyone, unaware of the policy here on CF,
decides to argue against that point, I'll just leave this here:

"Stating or implying that another member or group of
members who have identified themselves as Christian
are not Christian is not allowed." (Christian Forum
Rules / Terms of Service: Flaming and Harassment)
​

Come to think of it, in light of the above stipulation, this thread
may be treading on thin ice.

-

In order to solve some obvious in-forum problems that arise from the contradiction you note, I have personally suggested to CF that they disallow Mormons to post here under the label of "Christian." They choose, for reasons all their own, to allow it. It makes no sense to me, but such it is. This thread is in no danger of violating the rules on the point you've highlighted.

 

[bbbbbbb]

For the record, here at CF, we have this particular board which is for unorthodox Christianity. Personally, I do not have an issue with anyone who does not subscribe to orthodox Christianity identifying themselves as being unorthodox Christians. I do, however, take issue with individuals who are thoroughly unorthodox identifying themselves as being orthodox Christians.

I will leave it to our LDS friends here to identify themselves as they choose, but, as concerns CF, they are limited to this board only.

 

[katerinah1947]

Hi,
Valid points were made, on how we are to treat others here. It seems that LDS say they are Christians. I was not aware they wanted to be part of mainstream Protestants, nor mainstream Catholics. Are you sure, they are requesting that???
LOVE,
...Katie., .... .

 

[Jayson Alexander]

I agree that this thread is distasteful.

Many a people have died in the Protestant and Catholic wars that raged in Europe to prove how "Christian" they were. It is a little barbaric in the present day to see people still defending their right to be considered a true Christian despite history.

 

[katerinah1947]

I agree that this thread is distasteful.

Many a people have died in the Protestant and Catholic wars that raged in Europe to prove how "Christian" they were. It is a little barbaric in the present day to see people still defending their right to be considered a true Christian despite history.

Hi,
Mark 9 38-42. With that, I cannot see how any Christian can fight or kill, in an unprovoked way, others.

it is a point to think of and to remember. One who knows much, does not seem to be favored, in God's eyes, over one who knows little.

Was this your point?

LOVE,
...Katherina., .... .

Mark 9:38-42New International Version (NIV)

Whoever Is Not Against Us Is for Us
38 “Teacher,” said John, “we saw someone driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop, because he was not one of us.”

39 “Do not stop him,” Jesus said. “For no one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me, 40 for whoever is not against us is for us. 41 Truly I tell you, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to the Messiah will certainly not lose their reward.

Causing to Stumble
42 “If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them if a large millstone were hung around their neck and they were thrown into the sea.

New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

 

[drstevej]

A Christian is a person who believes in Jesus Christ

Does it matter what you believe about Him?

 

[bbbbbbb]

Does it matter what you believe about Him?

Good question. If I believe that Jesus Christ was really a green space alien with three heads who was a shape-shifter who could make himself look like real humans, would that qualify me as a Christian?

 

[Jayson Alexander]

Does it matter what you believe about Him?

This is what I was alluding to in my post. No, it doesn't.

Whether he, you or I believe in the right denomination is not for us to judge.

In the end, not all those who call on Christ's name will be saved but those who do the will of the Father.

Christ even said you can deny him and still be saved but he who denies the Holy Ghost will not be saved.

I think ours is not to judge but to love thy neighbor as thyself.

 

[katerinah1947]

This is what I was alluding to in my post. No, it doesn't.

Whether he, you or I believe in the right denomination is not for us to judge.

In the end, not all those who call on Christ's name will be saved but those who do the will of the Father.

Christ even said you can deny him and still be saved but he who denies the Holy Ghost will not be saved.

I think ours is not to judge but to love thy neighbor as thyself.

Hi,
On your post, I would like to say this:
I love Mark 9 38-42. It stops a ton of arguments, I think. Also there is something in Corinthians I believe, which tells us not to try and make everyone a Christian, against their wills.
LOVE,
...Katherina., .... .

 

[McKeehan]

A Christian is a person who believes in Jesus Christ. The LDS believe in Jesus Christ. That makes us Christians whether anyone else likes it or not. If other Christians want to disassociate themselves from us -- that works for me. I'm not very impressed with the fruits they have shared with me.

Christianity believes: Jesus Christ is God's eternal (always existed) Son! Mormonism do not believe this! Again, the LDS does not believe in the same Jesus Christ that historic Christianity has taught! They (LDS) even believe Satan (Lucifer) is Jesus Christ brother. Satan is created and Jesus was not created. They can't be brothers.

 

[Rescued One]

Christianity believes: Jesus Christ is God's eternal (always existed) Son! Mormonism do not believe this! Again, the LDS does not believe in the same Jesus Christ that historic Christianity has taught! They (LDS) even believe Satan (Lucifer) is Jesus Christ brother. Satan is created and Jesus was not created. They can't be brothers.

Mormons are all over the place with their doctrine. It changes from one generation to the next.

As a Church we have critics, many of them. They say we do not believe in the traditional Christ of Christianity. There is some substance to what they say. Our faith, our knowledge is not based on ancient tradition, the creeds which came of a finite understanding and out of the almost infinite discussions of men trying to arrive at a definition of the risen Christ. Our faith, our knowledge comes of the witness of a prophet* in this dispensation who saw before him the great God of the universe and His Beloved Son, the resurrected Lord Jesus Christ.
Gordon B. Hinckley, We Look to Christ, General Conference, April 2002

*Joseph Smith

The traditional Christ of whom they speak is not the Christ of whom I speak. For the Christ of whom I speak has been revealed in this the Dispensation of the Fullness of Times. He together with His Father, appeared to the boy Joseph Smith in the year 1820, and when Joseph left the grove that day, he knew more of the nature of God than all the learned ministers of the gospel of the ages.'"
LDS Church News Week ending June 20, 1998, p. 7

Through the priesthood, God* created and governs the heavens and the earth. Through this power, He exalts His obedient children, bringing to pass “the immortality and eternal life of man” (Moses 1:39; see also D&C 84:35–38).

* An exalted man who earned his godhood.

Most LDS doctrine does not come from the Bible and a lot of it contradicts the Bible.

 

[Ran77]

Most LDS doctrine does not come from the Bible and a lot of it contradicts the Bible.

No contradictions with the Bible, just with your interpretation of the Bible. Unless we are talking about the doctrine after it has been twisted by our critics. Then that is possible.

 

[Ran77]

Christianity believes: Jesus Christ is God's eternal (always existed) Son! Mormonism do not believe this! Again, the LDS does not believe in the same Jesus Christ that historic Christianity has taught! They (LDS) even believe Satan (Lucifer) is Jesus Christ brother. Satan is created and Jesus was not created. They can't be brothers.

I hadn't realized that God made you the authorized spokesman for what all of Christianity believes. With thousands of Christian denominations, which all believe something at least slightly different, maybe you can whip that situation into shape and get everyone believing a single set of beliefs which don't contradict one another.

The definition of a Christian is not a person who believes <insert the subset of beliefs that the person who is arguing thinks is necessary to be a Christian>. It is simply a person who believes Jesus Christ is the Savior. Period.

 

[TheBarrd]

A Christian is a person who believes in Jesus Christ. The LDS believe in Jesus Christ. That makes us Christians whether anyone else likes it or not. If other Christians want to disassociate themselves from us -- that works for me. I'm not very impressed with the fruits they have shared with me.

There's a tad more to it than just believing in Christ. I do recall reading that demons also believe, and tremble.

 

[drstevej]

I hadn't realized that God made you the authorized spokesman for what all of Christianity believes. With thousands of Christian denominations, which all believe something at least slightly different, maybe you can whip that situation into shape and get everyone believing a single set of beliefs which don't contradict one another.

I hadn't realized that God made you the authorized spokesman for what all of Mormonism believes. With dozens of Latter Day Saint Sects, which all believe something at least slightly different, maybe you can whip that situation into shape and get everyone believing a single set of beliefs which don't contradict one another.

 

[TasteForTruth]

There's a tad more to it than just believing in Christ. I do recall reading that demons also believe, and tremble.
You may think that you "believe in Christ"...but it is not the Christ of the Bible, nor the Christ that the Apostles taught, nor is it the Christ that most of the rest of Christianity believes in.

Actually, He is the same Jesus. We just understand certain details of His nature and character to be different than is believed by Nicene Christians.

God is the Lord of Creation...all of it, not just one planet.

Our beliefs are harmonious with this. Where have you gotten the idea that God, as we understand Him, is the God of only one planet?

He is the only God there is, there are no other Gods beside Him. Yet LDS would have it that there are literally trillions and trillions of Gods, each with his own planet, who are generating trillions and trillions more God even as we speak...talk about heresy!

You are attempting to hold LDS accountable for a misinterpretation of our doctrine. We also trust God's word that there is no other God beside Him.

As for fruits...your own aren't looking too good right now, given your total unconcern for other believers. Where is that love that Jesus said would mark His disciples? You show us with your disdain for others that you truly do not know our Lord and Savior.

Ran's sins are his own, as are mine. No need to judge the Restored Gospel because those who espouse it reveal their fallen nature in varying degrees and frequencies. That is, unless you want to dismiss Christianity outright as false on account of the wickedness which has flowed from its adherents throughout history. You can't have it both ways, you know.