Scripture Reading: II Corinthians 11:3-6

Latter-day Feints

If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed. (Galatians 1:9)

Is Mormonism a cult, or is it a legitimate expression of the Christian faith? The question became a hot potato when Mitt Romney, a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, was the Republican candidate for President of the United States. The liberal media, obsessed with political correctness, when into a frenzy during the campaign in 2012 when a Baptist pastor in Texas claimed that Mormonism was a “cult.” The waters were further muddied when megachurch pastor and bestselling author Joel Osteen suggested that Mormonism was just another denomination, like Baptists, Methodists, and Catholics.

If would help immensely If those debating the issue would first pause and define their terms. A “cult” has been historically defined in two basic ways. Some focus on a psychological definition that highlights beliefs and behaviors considered odd or fanatical practiced by a small number of marginalized persons who have been brainwashed. Followers of David Koresh, Jim Jones, or Sun Myung Moon come to mind. The liberal press seems to have adopted this definition almost exclusively and thereby easily dismisses the label as inappropriate for such fine, moral citizens as most Mormons seem to be.

But a religious movement can also be labeled cultic for theological reasons. For two thousand years, there has been a clearly identifiable stream of doctrinal truths that has been consistently affirmed by catholic, Protestant and Orthodox traditions. Cults are those who have chosen to separate themselves from this mainstream of faith and follow other sources of authority on which they build their doctrine and practice. In this sense, Mormonism is clearly a cult.

The facts speak for themselves. In the 1820s, Joseph Smith claimed to be visited by two angels in western New York who directed him to a buried book of golden plates written in “reformed Egyptian.” The book contained the history of ancient American civilizations and claimed to be a new revelation from God. Mormons consider this work to be “the most correct of any book on earth” and “the keystone” of their religion. The original name-calling between Mormons and Christians began not with the Christians but when Smith began to teach that all existing churches were in error and their creeds an abomination. His mission was to call people out of apostate churches and restore true religion to the earth. The heart of his message was that God was once human like we are now, but by following the Mormon faith we can one day become divine like God himself.

Facts are stubborn things. Mormons may be nice people with strong family values. One day you may even decide to vote for one for a political office. But let’s be honest: Mormonism is clearly outside the parameters of the historic Christian faith. It is a false religion that preaches a pseudo gospel that cannot save, however sincere and kind its adherents may be. This may be politically incorrect to say, but it is simply the truth. And any debate that ignores the truth is in a very dangerous position.

There are two ways to be fooled: One is to believe what isn’t so; the other is to refuse to believe what is so. — Soren Kierfegaard

Point to ponder: How do you define a false gospel?

Prayer focus: Mormons