One of the hot button issues that has become a part of our national conversation is the question, “Is Mormonism a cult?” Several prominent pastors and religious leaders have spoken, both pro and con, in an effort to answer that question. Joel Osteen has gone on record with an interview with the Washington Post in which he expressed his belief that Mormons were Christians, and certainly not a cult. Robert Jeffress, pastor of First Baptist Church Dallas, created a firestorm with his opinion that without equivocation Mormonism is a cult. Several have landed in various points across the spectrum, but the best answer is “yes” and “no.” Sociologically, Mormonism and Mormons tend not to behave in many of the characteristic ways that cults behave. There is no effort at brainwashing, no human living leader that is followed without question, no effort to alienate followers from family and culture. So in that sense, the answer is no, they are not. However, from a purely theological perspective, Mormonism historically is a religion that has presented a distortion of the true message of salvation “delivered once for all to the saints.” The Book of Mormon is not accepted by Christians as a truly God-inspired document. Any religious system, no matter how nice their adherents may seem, that seeks to lead people away from the true Gospel of salvation “by grace through faith” or that teaches a false view of the person of the Lord Jesus Christ is, theologically, a cult. By that definition, Mormonism qualifies. That’s hard for some to hear, and certainly difficult if you have friends or family who are involved in the Mormon system. But that does not move us away from the responsibility to “speak the truth in love” to those who are in error and to pray that the light of the glorious Gospel of Christ will shine in their hearts.
Amen, Pastor Tim! Your words remind me of that bumper sticker that is seen from time to time that simply says “COEXIST” as the letters represent many of the different religions of the world. While the message in itself is one of tolerance, I think that Christians, in an effort to be “inclusive” or “non-offensive”, have taken to watering down Christian Orthodoxy to the point that it marginalizes the true message of salvation offered to us by our Lord. The sad part is that such messages will often lead Christians away from the truth simply because “they want to get along”. Without continued reading in the Word and cognitive study in Christian Apologetics adherents to the Christian worldview cannot “defend the faith” adequately against the many assaults that we see today. We simply need to be guardians of the faith at every opportunity and, as you say, “speak the truth in love”.
By: Rob Glendinning on November 5, 2011
at 9:40 pm
For that matter, Tim, I put apostate churches in the same categories as cults. Any community that denies or equivocates on the divinity of Jesus is certainly not Christian. Amy church that contradicts what is Christian as set forth in the New Testament is apostate. Joel Osteen is wrong (and wicked creepy). I think Jefferess is more correct by not completely correct as to the theological reasons Mormonism is a cult. Granted, it’s a very nice cult, but a cult nevertheless.
For that matter, the Episcopal church has become an apostate church. The kind of church that in Revelation Christ vomited. I was baptized Episcopal, confirmed Episcopal, was and Episcopal Acolyte, and absolutely loved the Reverend Fredrick Jellison (RIP) my priest and teacher. But the Episcopal church gave up its identity in the 60s, its character in the 80s and it’s soul in the 90s.
I read the Southern Baptist theology and say, “Yeah, that’s what I believe!” and that’s enough for me. I look forward to the day when my family, son, daughter, wife and husband, make this a public profession of our faith. That day will come, Lord willing.
By: Andrew Ocean on November 5, 2011
at 10:10 pm
I totally agree with you, Tim. Having living in Santa Fe. NM where there were almost as many Mormons as there were Catholics, we interacted with these “believers” on a daily basis. They truly believed they were Christians and were very offended when questioned about “what” they believed because most of them really didn’t seem to have read their Book of Mormon (which Louis said is a great sci-fi read). Sadly, some of the people we knew, neighbors, clients, fellow health club members, were formerly raised in Prostestant homes, some Southern Baptist and joined the Mormon church because they “took care of each other.” A popular book in the 80′s was The God Makers and it revealed some very scary details of the heirarchy in Salt Lake. I made friends with a young woman who married outside the Mormon church and was severely ostracized by her own family. She and I had some great informative discussions for weeks until they joined the Methodist church and eventually transferred to Albuquerque. All that to say, it is and will always be a cult. Any religious organization that doesn’t base their theology on the inerrant Word of God is built on a “foundation made of sand.”
By: Suzanne on November 10, 2011
at 2:28 pm