Do Latter-day Saints consider Jehovah's Witnesses, Biblical Unitarians and any other groups that deny the divinity of Jesus to be 'true Christians'?
score:5
Many years ago I created a simple statement...
I wish everyone would be Mormons...
Knowing that I won't see that, I wish everyone would be Christians...
Knowing that I won't see that, I wish everyone would be good people...
Sadly, I won't see that, either.
There are many people who challenge the right of members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to participate on this Stack because they don't believe we are Christians. This is entirely true — from their perspective, we do not believe in the same Jesus Christ, we do not accept their beliefs or their salvation, we are not part of their theology. Therefore, from their perspective, we are not Christians.
Ecclesiastically, the feeling is mutual.
And he said unto me: Behold there are save two churches only; the one is the church of the Lamb of God, and the other is the church of the devil; wherefore, whoso belongeth not to the church of the Lamb of God belongeth to that great church, which is the mother of abominations; and she is the who*e of all the earth. (1 Nephi 14:10)
So when you ask the question, do we believe that members of churches that deny the divinity of Jesus Christ are Christians, as you can see, the question is somewhat moot. We believe there are two churches: the Church of the Lamb of God, the vessel of Christ's authority on Earth, the administrator of His ordinances... and everyone else.
Christians vs. christians
We do not deny at all that there is good in many (indeed, most) churches. We do not deny at all that there are good people who are not members of the LDS Church. Indeed, we do not deny at all that there will be people who walk the Earth who will receive exaltation in the Celestial Kingdom who did not join the Church of the Lamb of God in this life. (And, if you corner us, we'll admit that there will be too many members of the LDS Church who will find themselves in the Telestial and Terrestrial kingdoms, but that's a story for another day. No church can force a person to heaven.)
But we do recognize and appreciate that there are people in the Earth who are living christian lives, even though they either have not been offered the opportunity to embrace the Church of the Lamb of God, or do not understand the import of the offer, or have chosen not to do so. We believe this is worrisome because we strive to love all people and seek their best eternal welfare. But we recognize that many will not see that what is offered is a pearl of great price.
Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. (Matt 7:22-24)
We also recognize that every other Christ-centered church on Earth will use that same verse against us. It was this very problem, the inability through the Bible to clearly identify which church was the true church of Jesus Christ that led Joseph Smith to pray and, through the blessing and marvel of God, change the world.
Conclusion
So, as you can see, your question is somewhat moot. Subdividing the various faiths into categories with the question, "do you consider them Christians?" doesn't make sense to us. Many will take upon themselves the name of Jesus Christ, and in so doing, are christians.
But few will embrace the fullness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, few will apply themselves to His ordinances, performed with true authority (obviously from our perspective). Therefore, few will be Christians, meaning few have or will join the Church of the Lamb of God, the one true church compared to which all others, regardless their beliefs, are not.
Upvote:0
As for the straight and narrow path, the gate is baptism (into the church):
17 Wherefore, do the things which I have told you I have seen that your Lord and your Redeemer should do; for, for this cause have they been shown unto me, that ye might know the gate by which ye should enter. For the gate by which ye should enter is repentance and baptism by water; and then cometh a remission of your sins by fire and by the Holy Ghost.
18 And then are ye in this strait and narrow path which leads to eternal life; yea, ye have entered in by the gate; ye have done according to the commandments of the Father and the Son; and ye have received the Holy Ghost, which witnesses of the Father and the Son, unto the fulfilling of the promise which he hath made, that if ye entered in by the way ye should receive.
19 And now, my beloved brethren, after ye have gotten into this strait and narrow apath, I would ask if all is done? Behold, I say unto you, Nay; for ye have not come thus far save it were by the word of Christ with unshaken faith in him, relying wholly upon the merits of him who is mighty to save.
LDS don't go around telling people they are not Christians. LDS do go around telling people (also Christians) they still need baptism.
LDS don't point to doctrines and say "this is wrong" (ok, exceptions prove the rule). LDS do point to doctrines and say "this is right".
D&C 18:20-22
20 Contend against no church, save it be the church of the devil.
21 Take upon you the name of Christ, and speak the truth in soberness.
22 And as many as repent and are baptized in my name, which is Jesus Christ, and endure to the end, the same shall be saved.
(And since the other answer mentioned Church of the Lamb vs. Church of the devil, I would take this scripture to imply "the church of the devil" isn't simply "all other churches". The church of the devil is, in my opinion, probably invisible, not any specific visible organization / set of organizations. It's what is bad in every religion, tradition, philosophy, culture, etc. This is what needs to be fought. It's what opposes the church of the Lamb. What is good in every religion, tradition, philosophy, culture, etc. is what should be protected, affirmed and nurtured.)
13 We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul—We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.
Upvote:0
From a neighborly and cultural perspective we would certainly grant any person that is attempting to follow the teachings of Jesus Christ as Christian. As a member my whole life who grew up in Utah, I have never once heard of any certain denomination being singled out as non-Christian (though we definitely have our grumblings about certain denominations). In an informal setting we would not take it upon ourselves to argue someone's right to hold the title of "Christian" if that's what they want to be referred as. The main reason is that we don't care what people call themselves. We consider all other religions to be more-or-less organized collections of truths, errors, and traditions.
In a more formal setting with technicalities on the table, we would point out that we don't believe any other church at all has Christ's commission or authority to preach his gospel, and administer his ordinances. So in that sense, you might claim we don't believe any other church besides us is "Truly Christian".
Labeling ourselves or others as "Christian" just isn't much of a talking point for us because it's not very useful.
Perhaps a good standard for the term Christian, is someone who at least believes Christ will return
Alma 46: 15 - And those who did belong to the church were faithful; yea, all those who were true believers in Christ took upon them, gladly, the name of Christ, or Christians as they were called, because of their belief in Christ who should come.
More post
- 📝 Can one be baptized and become a Catholic if they don't believe in every particular Catholic dogma?
- 📝 "Hell's Best Kept Secret" from a Calvinist Perspective
- 📝 How is the Logos person after incarnation?
- 📝 Using the invitatory at the office of Vigils
- 📝 Which Christian groups or denominations openly invite people to ask God for confirmation that said group/denomination is the right one for them?
- 📝 According Catholic theology, what does the suffering of hell consist of?
- 📝 How do the merits of the Saints in Heaven operate?
- 📝 Is God the Son's blood divine and infinite or human and finite (Western Catholic)
- 📝 Does the Catholic Church have any mechanism to improve poor homilists?
- 📝 What is the basis for the belief among some Protestants that Christ's teachings do not apply to us today?
- 📝 What is the biblical and historical basis for the belief that the Second Coming of Christ hasn't happened yet (as of 2021)?
- 📝 Why are there different divisions of the Ten Commandments?
- 📝 How can Heaven exist if we know that people in Hell will suffer?
- 📝 How do trinity-believers explain these verses from John 17?
- 📝 When were the "three times a year" when one was supposed to receive communion?
- 📝 What are Anglicans' opinion about Muhammad (founder of Islam)?
- 📝 Discrepancy between Yahweh (Christian Bibles) and Eh-yeh (Torah)
- 📝 How do we recognize Elijah when he will come before the day of Lord?
- 📝 Was there a sacrifice in the Old Testament for intentional sins?
- 📝 Somebody was born into a culture that has no knowledge of the Christ - could he still "find him"?
- 📝 Has a notable militant non-Christian ever converted to Christianity due to a "Road to Damascus" experience?
- 📝 What denominations consider Apocrypha to be heretical?
- 📝 What is the significance of Lamech's boast?
- 📝 Why is the Latin New Testament authoritative for the Catholic Church rather than the original Greek?
- 📝 Is there assurance of salvation in Catholicism?
- 📝 Have any prominent Christian Intelligent Design proponents discussed the issue of a potential infinite regress of intelligent designers?
- 📝 "Actor's idolatry" problem - is it a sin?
- 📝 Are there any Catholic medieval directives (rubrics) about what to do/pray/think during Eucharist Adoration?
- 📝 Jesus' power to forgive sins and to cure the sick
- 📝 What does Trinitarian Protestantism understand by salvation being in the name of 'Jesus Christ of Nazareth'?
Source: stackoverflow.com
Search Posts
Related post
- 📝 How do Jehovah's Witnesses and Latter Day Saints view the seven churches in Revelation and interpret the ten days of tribulation in Revelation 2:10?
- 📝 Do Latter-day Saints consider Jehovah's Witnesses, Biblical Unitarians and any other groups that deny the divinity of Jesus to be 'true Christians'?
- 📝 Do Latter Day Saints / Mormons consider themselves to be henotheists?
- 📝 Do the Mormons/ Latter Day Saints view of the Trinity and belief in a divine Mother make a practical difference to their ethics & conduct?
- 📝 What is the biblical basis for the belief held by Jehovah's Witnesses that Jehovah and Jesus Christ are separate entities?
- 📝 How does the view of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints about Jesus Christ differ from Protestant Trinitarian Christology?
- 📝 Do any Protestant denominations recognize Latter Day Saints as Christians?
- 📝 What are the main differences between Jehovah's Witnesses and Biblical Unitarians?
- 📝 What do Latter Day Saints believe happens to persons who have rejected Christ Jesus?
- 📝 What is the biblical & patristic basis for the belief that the saints go to Heaven instead of Sheol after the resurrection and ascension of Jesus?
- 📝 How do Biblical Unitarians understand the connection between Mark 1:1-4 and Malachi 3:1-5?
- 📝 According to Jehovah's Witnesses and Unitarians and all who deny that Jesus is the Almighty God, how can He be in you and live in you?
- 📝 How do Latter Day Saints explained the italicized words in the Book of Mormon?
- 📝 Does the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints postulate a multi-verse?
- 📝 Do Biblical Unitarians believe Jesus rose and ascended in a "real" body?
- 📝 How do Latter Day Saints interpret the Bible verses saying that all things were created by God?
- 📝 My question is for Biblical Unitarians and is based on their website as it relates to Philippians 2:6-8
- 📝 Does the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints believe that God(s) is/are omnipresent?
- 📝 According to Biblical Unitarians who was seen walking in the fire with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego?
- 📝 Latter Day Saints, Adam and Eve and the Garden of Eden
- 📝 Do Biblical Unitarians consider worshiping Jesus and/or the Holy Spirit as God to be idolatry?
- 📝 How do Biblical Unitarians understand verses that appear to identify God (the Father) and the Holy Spirit as different beings/entities?
- 📝 How do Biblical Unitarians interpret 1 Corinthians 2:10-14 with regard to God and the Spirit of God?
- 📝 How do Biblical Unitarians respond to passages like 2 Peter 1:1 and Titus 2:13, which seem to call Jesus 'God'?
- 📝 Do Biblical Unitarians view John 1:14 and Philippians 2:5-8 as two complementary descriptions of the same event?
- 📝 How can the sun be created after day and night?
- 📝 Is there any Biblical Basis for 400 years of silence between Old and New Testament?
- 📝 Biblical basis for the separation of church and state
- 📝 What are the Biblical and theological problems with theistic evolution?
- 📝 What are the main differences between 7th Day Adventists and Catholic/Protestant churches?