Are Christians attacking Mormonism?
Now this all sounds good on the surface, but could it be wrong?
While I agree that we should be kind and loving, we should also put a high priority on TRUTH. The Bible says to speak the TRUTH in LOVE. It does not say to just be loving and allow false teachings to prevail. When Christians teach the differences between Mormonism and Christianity they are not "attacking" Mormons, but instead "responding" to an attack on historical Christianity from Mormonism. Think about that for a second.
You see Mormonism from it's very beginning has attacked Christianity and all of the core and essential doctrines of the historical Christian faith. Mormonism's founding prophet Joseph Smith through his own teachings openly attacked major doctrines of the Christian faith.
He attacked and questioned the character and nature of the God of the Bible, the person and work of Jesus Christ, the New Testament's message about the way of salvation, the Gospel message, the origin and nature of mankind, of human sin, the person of the devil, and finally the eternal destinies of believers and unbelievers. This is not my opinion about the teachings of Joseph Smith, these are factual statements about what he openly taught. All someone has to do is read the teachings of Joseph Smith and the Mormon religion, and then compare them with what the Bible teaches. No honest seeker would ever think they teach the same things about these important issues. These are not minor difference in interpreting difficult verses or passages of the Bible, Mormonism has a different interpretation on the clear and obvious teachings of the Bible. And this is why Mormonism is not just another "denomination" of Christianity. Mormonism is a different religion than Christianity even though it uses the Bible to support its "unbiblical" teachings.
You see Mormonism has attacked every core doctrine of the Bible, and they attacked Christianity first. So, when you hear a Christian defending their faith or defining the differences between Mormonism and Christianity, ask yourself, "who attacked who first?" I think you'll find that Christianity was growing and going on about it's own business for 1800 years until a man Joseph Smith decided he was chosen by God to openly attack the core truths of the Christian faith and begin a new religion that would recruit new followers to continue the Mormon attack on Biblical Christianity. Mormonism is not "neutral" or "passive" in its treatment of Christians and Christianity because they are zealously trying to convert traditional or cultural "Christians" into Mormonism. I've had Mormons attempt to win me to the Mormon religion and so the implication is that as a Bible believing Christian I am not complete or in the right "faith" until I convert to Mormonism. According to Mormonism, if I openly reject Joseph Smith as a prophet of God and openly reject the Book of Mormon then I am not in good standing with God. This is a bold stance Mormonism is taking against Christianity.
It's a must that we Christians defend, define and present our faith in a way that is humble, loving and willing to listen to others and their points of view. But humility and love in now way means that we roll over dead when it comes to pursuing people for Christ and passionately defending the faith that the Bible says was once for all delivered to the saints 2000 years ago!
The most loving thing I can do for any Mormon is to pray for them and point them to Jesus Christ and the truth's already revealed in the Bible; to point out the differences and clarify the distinctions between the God and Jesus of biblical Christianity and god and Jesus of Mormonism. To tell them the Gospel of Jesus Christ: That Christ died for their sins and rose from the grave, and if they trust in Him alone they will be saved!
Jesus + nothing = Everything!
Everything - Jesus = nothing.
Mormonism from its beginning has taught about a different God than the one in the Bible, a different Jesus than the one in the Bible, and a different way to heaven than what the Bible teaches. If Mormonism rejects the God, Jesus and way to heaven that Christianity has taught for 2000 years, then Mormonism is not Christian, and Mormons are not Christians. This is an obvious fact. Just because your religion uses words like, "God," "Jesus," "heaven," "salvation," and other Bible words does not mean your religion is either Biblical or right. Any religion can steal words, phrases or concepts from the Bible and teach something totally different than what the Bible teaches.
We Christians unapologetically represent a faith that is founded on fact, not feelings, a God who gives all that He requires by His loving grace, a Jesus who says "I've done the rest!" rather than "you do your best," and a religion that's about the Ruler and not the rules.
And so Christians ought to continue to attack and confront the false teachings of Mormonism without personally attacking Mormons. In doing this they will be like Jesus who openly attacked and confronted anything that tried to get in-between people and the true God.
Please consider the following Bible verses as justification for Christians defending the true Christian faith against false teaching:
"Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints." -Jude 3
"I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed." -Galatians 1:6-8
"Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ." -Colossians 2:8
"Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." -2 Timothy 2:15
"For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bring every thought captive to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled." -2 Corinthians 10:4-6
"But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ." -2 Corinthians 11:3
"For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works." -2 Corinthians 11:13-15
"Test ALL things; hold fast to what is good." -1 Thessalonians 5:21
"Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you." -1 Timothy 4:16
"Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus." -2 Timothy 1:13
"All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work...Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all long suffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will no longer endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables." -2 Timothy 3:16-17, 4:2-4
"Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son." -2 John 9
"The heart of the righteous studies how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours forth evil." -Proverbs 15:28
For blogs I've written about Christianity and Mormonism go to:
5 Reasons Mormons and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints are not Christians
