Amazingly similar to the Children of Israel, and the Nephite-Lamanite's cycles of forgetfulness and rememberance, I see it happening again. Our country was founded on principles that included the freedom to worship God however one chose, and the promise that noone running for political office would be tested in that regard. The Constitution grants that protection, but the media is encouraging a shark fest on the topic of Mitt Romney being a Mormon, whether we are a "cult," or whether we are "Biblical Christians."
Evangelicals have asked this for some time, but it is only now very visible and dynamic news fodder. I will attempt to answer this here for whomever might choose to read it.
I - Definition / Semantics -- "Traditional Christ" or "Biblical Christ"
President Hinkley, in an interview once answered, when asked if the he believes in the "traditional Christ," "No, I don't. 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 (June 20, 1998)."
Breaking with "tradition" is a "tradition" of its own that is enjoyed by Christ Himself, and ALL of His Holy Prophets. Historically, traditions become ingrained and often evolve into a practice that misses the original focus or reason for the action in the first place. The tradition becomes the focus. Perhaps it is a default of mortality to tend to see things tangibly; to see through the glass darkly. (I Chor 13:12)
Remember Moses, Abraham, Isaiah, Jesus, John, Stephen, Paul, etc. The list seems to be endless of those who have prophesied and taught that which would break with the established traditions of the time. They were met with natural resistance to change, and disbelief.
So, accepting that it is possible to hold to a truth that is not in harmony with man's currently established traditions, let's discuss what it means to be a "Christian," even a "Biblical Christian."
DEFINITION: CHRISTIAN
From the beginning, the definition of a Christian was any person or group whose religion is founded on Jesus of Nazareth. It is only a small (yet vocal) group of Pentecostals that seem to be unwilling to support the definition of Christian that has persisted for centuries.
The Random House American College Dictionary defines a Christian as "believing in or belonging to the religion of Jesus Christ, exhibiting a spirit proper to a follower of Jesus Christ (being Christ-like), one who believes in Jesus Christ, an adherent of Christianity, or one who exemplifies in his life the teachings of Christ."
The Cambridge Bible Dictionary informs us that the title "Christian" was a name first given to believers in Jesus Christ.
Other authorities, including the following, continue with the definition as it stands. Theopedia: an encyclopedia of Biblical Christianity, Yahoo Directory: "Christian Denominations and Sects", adherents.com: "Largest Branches of Christianity in the U.S.", beliefnet: "Faiths and Practices" index, MSN Encarta encyclopedia: "Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints", RSN (Religion New Service): Religion Backgrounders, PBS (Public Broadcasting Service)" "The Church: A Brief History", LaborLaw Talk dictionary, Encyclopedia Britannia Online, BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation), World Council of Churches (WCC): Churches, National Council of Churches (NCC): National Council of Churches' 2005 "Yearbook of American and Canadian Churches", United States Department of State: International Religious Freedom Report 2004, etc.
Some of the reasons critics list when they usurp these opinions that we are not Biblical Christians, just happen to be reasons that would also exclude the early Christians of the first century, and Christ Himself!
- We do not accept creedal Trinitarianism
- Because of different understandings about God, they say we worship a different Jesus
- Our doctrines differ from many forms of "traditional" Christianity (Premortal existence, vicarious work for the dead, eternal marriage and families, 3 degrees of glory, Deification of man, etc)
- We use additional scripture with the Bible
- We do not accept the doctrine of creatio ex nihilo (that God created the universe from nothing. We believe He organized existing matter.)
- We do not accept the traditional view of original sin
- We follow teachings of Joseph Smith and other modern prophets
- We reject the doctrine of predestination to salvation or damnation
Interestingly enough, these doctrines and positions have been held not just by the LDS, but by other Christians as well including the early Christians. The early Christians:
- were not Trinitarians, since the creeds were not yet formulated
- did not teach creatio ex nihilo, since it was only developed in the later 2nd century
- did not consider the "Bible" to be the sole authoritative scripture, since it was not compiled until centuries later
- considered some writings to be authoritative which many modern Christians now reject
- taught theosis, or human deification through Christ
- followed living prophets (the apostles)
The critics essentially create a definition of "Christian" that includes their brand of Christianity, and excludes others with whom they disagree. By these standards, they would have to exclude Jesus Himself.
These extra-Testamental dogmas were developed in part as the philosophies of respected men like Plato were internalized while committees tried to understand or interpret what they read. Such core doctrines were changed during the growing apostasy or falling away after the death of the Apostles. Councils, through lengthy debates, formulated creeds about the nature of God and our relationship to Him that would then affect their interpretation of further scripture and determine what writings to include in future canonization.
II - So, are we "Biblical Christians"? I shout a resounding YES!!
In ages past, many of those who rejected Jesus as the Christ did so while professing a great love for the scriptures and a loyalty to the prophets of ages past. Today, many who criticize LDS beliefs selectively cite scripture as evidence for their own creeds, but ignore some obvious tests given in the Bible.
Test 1. Jesus spoke of both true and false prophets in the latter days and said that by their fruits one could tell the difference between them. Here are some of the fruits of LDS prophets and the LDS Church:
- Strong faith in God and His Son, Jesus Christ, and their divinity
- Members who believe in Christ's sacrificial Atonement and are striving to follow in His footsteps.
- Membership that is unified in its beliefs and doctrines.
- Members who are rearing strong, loving families.
- Members who believe in the power of God to do miracles today.
- Members who have a love for the scriptures and are striving to live by every word that proceeds forth out of the mouth of God.
- Members who are law-abiding people.
- Members who give unselfishly not only tithes and offerings but also of their time and talents to further the Lord's work.
- A well-educated Church.
- A healthy people who abstain from using alcohol, tobacco, and other substances harmful to their bodies.
- Members who are clean in speech.
- A missionary church.
- A people who are actively participating in service to the community, state and nation.
- A church that insists that its members obey all of the Ten Commandments including keeping the Sabbath day holy.
- A people who practice charity for those both inside and outside of the LDS Church.
- Members who actively participate in Church services and leadership most often without monetary compensation.
- A belief in the importance of temples and in salvation for our ancestors
- A belief that all people are spiritual brothers and sisters and children of our Heavenly Father and as such have great worth to God and the potential to become like Him.
- A belief in the Holy Ghost's power to witness and justify.
- Members who believe in the biblical standards of morality, marriage, and family and oppose abortion and all sexual sins.
- A church that accepts truth from any source whether secular or religious.
- A church which has a rational claim to the divine authority given by the Savior.
- An organization that is led through revelation from Jesus Christ and thus holds that the Savior is the head and foundation of the church.
- A church that is founded upon apostles and prophets with Jesus Christ being the chief cornerstone.
Test 2. Jesus taught "By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another." Latter-day Saints believe and practice being "benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men" and in loving our neighbor as ourselves. Besides the world-wide humanitarian efforts of the church as a relief organization, helping disaster victims day after day, are the innumerable acts of service carried out by the members individually. Within the organization, Latter-day Saints show their love by serving others through inspired activities such as home teaching, visiting teaching, family home evening, temple work for the salvation of our ancestors, welfare and service projects, fast offerings, as well as through many personal acts of charity and love.
Test 3. Paul taught that "no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost." LDS leaders and members testify that they know that Jesus Christ is the Lord.
Test 4. Paul states in Galatians 3:27: "For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ" and as Jesus taught in Mark 16:16-18: "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned." He also taught that believers would have power, in Christ's name, to: cast out demons, speak in tongues, be unharmed by deadly poisons, lay hands on the sick unto recovery... Latter-day Saints believe and practice these principles.
Test 5. Paul also taught that the saints of the house-hold of God are "built upon a foundation of apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone." God's people must be led by revelation from Christ through His chosen servants. Without this essential communications' link, a church is led by men and not the Lord. This is a requirement uniquely fulfilled by the LDS church.
Test 6. In Ephesians 4:5, Paul confirmed that there is "One Lord, one faith, one baptism. Latter-day Saints believe there is one Lord, Jesus Christ, in whom is salvation. Interestingly, there seems to be no order to these principles amongst all of the Protestant religions, some even referring to baptism as optional.
Test 7. The Bible teaches that God's servants "must be called of God as was Aaron" through revelation and by ordination of God's chosen servants. (Heb 5:4, Numbers 27:18,23) We believe that a man must be called of God, by prophecy, and by the laying on of hands by those who are in authority. This is another Biblical requirement to Christianity that would disqualify Protestant churches, but confirms the validity of the LDS church.
Test 8. John taught "Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that convesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God." Latter-day Saints confess that Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, came in the flesh and was resurrected with a glorified body of flesh and bone.
Test 9. 1John 5:1 states: "Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God." Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints believe and teach that Jesus is the Christ, the promised Messiah.
Test 10. John also taught in 1John 5:5 and 10: "Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself." Latter-day Saints firmly believe that Jesus is the Son of God.
III - What about teaching "Another Jesus?"
The doctrine of the "Trinity" is not a Biblical teaching. Historians and theologians understand this. It was a philosophy brought to the church in about 260 AD through Emperor Constantine's suggestion, born through acceptance of popular thinkers of the day.
The only scripture used by Trinitarians to support their view is:
I John 5:7-8 For there are three that bear record [in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness in Earth], the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.
Editors added the bracketed words in the early fourth centry to the Latin Vulgate translation. They are not in the older Greek manuscripts. These words were never in the apostle John's manuscript or any existing early copies of it.
An unbiased reading of John 17:11, 21-22; Romans 12:16; 15:6; 1 Corinthians 1:10; 6:17; 8:6; 10:17; 12:13; Galatians 3:28; Epesians 1:10; and Hebrews 2:11 explain the Biblical concept of oneness of purpose and action, not essense.
So, do we believe in the Jesus of the Bible? Judge for yourself.Bruce R. McKonkie taught, "Members of the LDS Church belive in Jesus Christ who was Jehovah of the Old Testament (John 1:1, 14; 1 Cor 10;1-4); the only begotten Son of God (Luke 1:35) born to Mary as foretold by the prophets (Isa. 7:14); the baby cradled in a manger (Luke 2:12) and welcomed by angelic hosts (Luke 2:1-15); the child circumcised when eight days old (Luke 2:21) and later worshipped by the wise men from the east (Matt 2:1-16); exiled to Egypt (Matt 2:13-15); disciplined in Nazareth (Matt 2:19-23); trained in carpentry in Galilee (Matt 13:55; Mark 6:3); matured and grown in grace in the Holy Land (Luke 2:40-42, 52); baptized at Bethabara (John 1:28); tested in the wilderness (Matt 4:1-11); a Holy Man who ministered in Judea, Galilee, Samaria, and beyond the borders of Israel; preached and wroght miracles throughout the land (John 11:46-47); cast out devils (Mark 1:21-28); healed lepers (att 8:1-4); cured the lame (Matt 15:29-31); opened blind eyes (Matt 9:27-31); walked on the Sea of Galilee (Matt 14:22-33); fed thousands with a few loaves and fishes (Matt 15:32-38); raised the dead in Capernaum (Matt 9:18-19), Nain (Luke 7:11-17), and Bethany (John 11:8-45); proclaimed his own divine Sonship (John 9:35-37); the Son who was transfigured on the mount (Matt 17:1-13); atoned in Gethsemane (Matt 26:36-46); tried before Annas (John 18:13), Caiaphas (Matt 26:57), Herod (Luke 23:7), and Pilate (Matt 27:2); crucified on Calvary (Luke 23:33); resurected in the Garden (Luke 24); and ascended from Olivet (Acts 1:9-12). This Son of Man who "made himself of no reputation and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men" (Phil 2:7), shall come again as the Immortal Kink of Kings and lord of Lords (Rev 19:16), to rule and reign over His people and all the earth for ever and ever (Rev 22:5).
Though all the world may say that Latter-day Saints do not know or love or worship Jesus Christ, the truth is that we do. If this is not enough to be counted as "Christian," then that word has lost its meaning.
