Mormonism's Attempt to Co-Opt Biblical Christianity

There's been much buzz recently about the efforts of the LDS to "mainstream" their cult beneath the ever widening canopy of evangelical Christianity. While there are certainly numerous arguments in favor of allowing the Biblically unorthodox and heretical Mormon cult to become mainstreamed within the broader professing church, there just aren't any good arguments.

The closest I can come to a reasonable argument for allowing the Mormons - and JW's for that matter - into the professing church is to simply point at the myriad of false teachers, rank heretics, outright apostates, and brazen blasphemers that currently operate seemingly with impunity and immunity within the visible church. Consider the warm reception given by professing Christians to shameful spiritual harlots such as T.D. Jakes, Joel Osteen, Kenneth Copeland, Juanita Bynum, Creflo Dollar, Paula White, Benny Hinn, Doug Pagitt, John Hagee, Paul Crouch, Erwin McManus, Rick Warren, Bill Hybels, Billy Graham, Robert Schuller, Brian McLaren, ad exhaustem, ad nauseum. When I read the manifold errors and hear the demonic lies from the pit of hell that are espoused almost daily by this pack of spiritual wolves in sheep's clothing I'm forced to take note that even the Christian cults are only slightly less orthodox than these supposedly "Christian leaders". But unlike the current breed of "homegrown heretics" who have sprung up within the hothouse of the lukewarm Laodician church, at least the nominal professing Christian knows enough - or used to know enough - to beware of the Mormons and JW's!

Yet the truth remains that the goal of the true church of Christ isn't to continually lower our theological and doctrinal standards in order to fit as many people inside as possible - in fact quite the opposite is true. And with this in mind the aforementioned professing Christian "leaders" ought to be soundly and roundly rebuked for their errors and be required to either repent and change their ungodly ways or be cast from the fellowship of believers.

But I digress.

Back to the matter at hand I came across an excellent piece by Phil Johnson over at Pyromaniacs which succinctly lays out the major and irreconcilable differences between true Biblical Christianity and the cult of Mormonism.

In his post Phil points out the following foundational truths where Christians and Mormons arrive at a theological impasse:

1 The issue of authority. Christians believe the Bible is God's authoritative, inerrant, unchanging and complete self-revelation (Jude 3). Scripture is the touchstone to which all other truth-claims must be brought (Isaiah 8:20). The sole and sufficient authority by which all controversies in spiritual matters are to be determined is none other than God's Spirit speaking through Scripture. By contrast, Mormons consider The Book of Mormon, The Pearl of Great Price, and Doctrine and Covenants as additional authoritative revelation, thereby undermining the true authority of Scripture and violating the principle of Revelation 22:18.

2. The doctrine of God. Christians believe there is one God who eternally exists in three co-equal Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Mormons reject the doctrine of the Trinity, believing that there are many worlds controlled by different gods.

3. The supremacy of Christ. Christians believe Jesus Christ is pre-existent God who became a man in His incarnation while maintaining His full deity. Mormons claim Jesus was a "spirit child" of Mary and Elohim (and the brother of Lucifer) who has now been elevated to the level of deity.

4. The means of justification. Christians believe justification is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. Mormons believe a person's works in this life will determine his or her status in the life to come, and that "salvation" is actually a progression toward godhood.

Let it be known that both Christianity and Mormonism cannot be true! One is the truth of God and one is a damnable lie. I encourage you to read Phil's post in its entirety here.