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Are Mormons Christians?
by Mark Grote
Let's examine the following subjects and how Christians and Mormons view these various questions differently. Then we'll ask you again, "Are Mormons Christians?"
Is Jesus God?
Is it God or Gods?
Is there a Mrs. God?
Is anything impossible for God?
Is Jesus God?
Mormonism - Mormons hold that Jesus is not God and was in fact created, not creator. What's more, Mormon teaching asserts that Jesus and Satan are brothers. "The appointment of Jesus to be the Savior of the world was contested by one of the other sons of God. He was called Lucifer--this spirit-brother of Jesus desperately tried to become the Savior of mankind." Milton R. Hunter, The Gospel Through the Ages, p. 15.
Christianity - The REAL Jesus is the only begotten Son (in the Hebrew "begotten" means heir, not off-spring) and He is God the Son. John 1:1 reads "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God." John 1:14 goes onto say "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us." Clearly the Bible, particularly the Gospel According to John, is telling us the story of Jesus. Jesus is described as the "Word." The "Word" is called God. Not "A God" but God! The Gospel of John then says that this God, known as the "Word" became flesh, real, temporal and tangible and lived among us. We know Jesus did this and this is afterall, the Gospel of Christ according to John. More evidence shows that Jesus called Himself God and the Jews tried to stone him for it, John 10:30-33. "We are not stoning you for any of these,” replied the Jews, “but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God.” Clearly the Jews understood Jesus' meaning, else why would they attempt to stone Him? Is. 44:6, God of the Old Testiment says "I am the Alpha and Omega, the first and the last." Rev. 1:18, Jesus says, "I am the Alpha and Omega the First and the Last." Which of the two is lying? They both can't be first and last unless they are one in the same. Is. 43:10 God says, "Before me there were no gods formed, nor will there be after." If Jesus is "A" God, then this scripture would have to be wrong because Jesus' very existence, given the Mormon position that Jesus is A god but not Father God, would be evidence of another God. Therefore, God was wrong that there would be no other gods. And being wrong would make Him imperfect. And if He is imperfect, He is therefore not God. By contrast, if Jesus "IS" God, then this scripture remains true and consistent with his claims of deity in John 10, Rev. 1 and the claims of Isaiah's prophecy of the coming Savior in Is. 9:6 where Isaiah calls him "Wonderful, Counselor, All Mighty God, the Everlasting FATHER, the Prince of Peace." NOTE: This scripture was the basis of Handel's Messiah sung every Christmas by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir in Salt Lake City. Finally, only God can forgive sins and yet on several occasions in the gospels we see Jesus forgiving sin. Matt. 9:2, Lk. 7:48.
The contention that Mormons are Christians is troubling to say the least. CHRIST-ians believe that Christ IS God. To believe otherwise is fine if that's what you wish, but don't call yourself a Christian. A Christian believes that "For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him" Col. 1:16. Christians believe Christ IS God.
Gods or God?
Mormonism - "In the beginning the head of Gods called a council of the Gods; and they came together and concocted a plan to create the world and people on it...in all congregations when I have preached on the subiect of the Deity, it has been the plurality of Gods." Joseph Smith, History of the (Mormon) Church, Vol. 6, pp.308, 474.
Christianity - "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth." Gen. 1:1. "You are my witnesses," declares the LORD, "and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor will there be one after me.” Is. 43:10-11.
The two positions above are in complete opposition to each other. Yet when pressed, the best Mormons can offer is that since it's written in what they consider sacred texts (which the bible may or may not belong depending on who you talk to), it's a fact. Of course when asked to reconcile that God cannot lie and in light of the fact that the Bible came first, and the Book of Mormon says something different -- implying God lied or changed His mind -- the best the Mormons can offer is mere shrug saying "What can I tell you, you're not ready to believe."
Is there a Mrs. God?
Mormomism - "In the heaven where our spirits were born, there are many Gods, each of whom has a wife or wives, which were given to him...while yet in a mortal state." Orson Pratt, (Apostle), The Seer, pg. 37. "The doctrine that there is a Mother in Heaven was affirmed in all plainness by the First Presidency of the Church." Bruce R. McConkie (Apostle), Mormon Doctrine, p. 516.
Christianity - There is absolutely no mention of any wives of God. " Jesus replied, “You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God. At the resurrection people will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven." Matt. 22:29-30.
Again, the best any Mormon can do is turn to Mormon texts to back up his argument. If faced with an insistant Christian requiring he back up his claims with biblical scripture, the Mormon will always provide you with one of two solutions: 1) a misinterpreted, taken-out-of-context scripture or 2) a shrug and say "I don't know what to tell you, I guess you're not ready to believe."
Is anything Impossible for God?
Mormonism - "The Father has a body of flesh and bones as tangible as man's," Doctrine and Covenents, 130:22. "If God possesses a form, that form is of necessity of definite proportions, and therefore of limited extention and space. It is impossible for Him to occupy at one time more than one space of such limits." James Talmage, Articles of Faith, page 43.
Christianity - Christians believe God is not limited by a temporal body, He knows everything immediately without benefit of sensory organs, and sustains the existence of all that exists. It follows that He is in some sense present everywhere. Certainly it is the Bible's explicit teaching that God is omnipresent (Psalm 139:3-10, 1 Kings 8:27, Jer. 23:23-24, Acts 17:24-27, Matt 18:20), belief that Mormons do not hold. Mormons know that if God is omnipresent, he can't be flesh and bone. Lastly, John 4:24 says, "God is Spirit." This is what Christians believe because it is IN scripture. Mormons contend that God is as Talmage taught, a god of flesh and bones. Despite the evidence of scripture, Mormons tell Christians they are wrong and point to extra-bible Mormon writings as evidence. Despite lacking what Christians can present in the form of Biblical evidence, Mormons still contend that they are right and Christians are wrong. So if Christians are wrong, why would Mormons now wish to call themselves Christians?
Once again, the differences between the Christian God and the Mormon god are indisputable. Given the verses shown above, it is mindboggling to this Christian how Mormons can keep a straight face and preach this kind of 'gospel.' We have contended on several occasions, it is Mormons and Mormons alone who put limits on God. Note that Talmage reads into God's nature based on the teachings of Joseph Smith, that God is as Joseph taught. Talmage says God is limited. He also says that something is impossible for God. Chrsitians believe that all things exist because of God and therefore nothing is impossible for the author of all things.
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