ARE
THEY CHRISTIAN?
by Larry Hall
"Why do you print such things about the Mormons and the Jehovah's Witnesses? Aren't they Christians the same as you?"
Let me answer the second
question first. It is impossible for Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses
to be considered Christians. Follow this example: A cardinal doctrine of Christianity,
regardless of the denomination, is the belief that there is only one
God who exists eternally in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
This paramount claim is critical to our faith and is nonnegotiable. The Jehovah's
Witnesses, however, completely deny this doctrine. They consider Jesus to be
none other than Michael the Archangel, a created being. They also view the Holy
Spirit as being an impersonal force from the Father, much like an electrical
current. Now, what do you suppose would be the reaction from the Witness at
my door if I made these ridiculous claims: "I am a Jehovah's Witness,
but I believe in the Trinity! I am a Jehovah's Witness, but I don't think Jesus
is Michael the Archangel! I am a Jehovah's Witness, but I believe the Holy Spirit
is God--not just an impersonal force!"
Faced with these statements, the Jehovah's Witness would have every right to
respond, "If that is how you believe, you can't claim to be a Jehovah's
Witness!" He would be exactly right. If I accept the Trinity doctrine,
I cannot claim to be a Jehovah's Witness. Because he rejects the Trinity,
he cannot claim to be Christian. In addition, his own written material prevents
it. According to The Watchtower, "All major religions of Christendom accept
the Trinity doctrine as an article of faith....rejection of the Trinity doctrine
is, in effect, regarded as a rejection of Christianity." 1
Now suppose I was to make these
statements to the Mormon missionary at my door: "I am a Mormon, but I
don't think Joseph Smith was a true prophet of God! I am a Mormon, but I don't
think the Book of Mormon was inspired by God! I am a Mormon, but I don't think
Jesus is the spirit-brother of Lucifer!" The offended missionary would
probably ask, "How can you claim to be a Mormon if you don't believe what
we teach?"
He would also have a valid point. There is no way I could claim to be a Mormon
if I deny Mormon doctrine. But the knife cuts both ways! His denial of accepted
Biblical truth and tenets of the faith clearly separates him from Christianity.
I write about these cults because I am prepared to give an answer to the "wolves
in sheep's clothing." Because of their deceptive nature and tactics, I consider
them to be far more dangerous to Christianity than many of the major religions
of our day. Their carefully rehearsed words and seductive phrases catch many
uninformed people completely by surprise. Many Christians who believe they are
simply joining another Christian church, are lured away from the living God
with promises of a "new and higher" truth.
Even though I disagree with all unbiblical practices, I concentrate much of
my effort into exposing Mormon and Jehovah's Witness theology for the following
reason: Most leaders of major non-Christian religions (i.e., Islam, Hinduism,
Buddhism, etc.) are at least honest enough to make their non-Christian doctrines
perfectly clear to the rest of the world. Without any help from me, most of
them do a good job at defining themselves accurately to the casual observer.
Those who are proselytized into their faiths do it with the full understanding
that they are accepting another gospel and a different god.
Regardless of how it occurs, however, apostasy from the faith is a very serious
offense to the biblical God! We are warned in Scripture that in these latter
times, "...some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits,
and doctrines of devils." 2
The Lord will not take this abandonment lightly! For those who have once been
delivered from the pollutions of the world through the saving knowledge of Jesus
Christ and then return to the world, "...the latter end is worse with
them than the beginning. For it had been better for them not to have known
the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy
commandment delivered unto them." 3
Hebrews 6:4-6 tells us that it
is impossible for such an apostate to renew himself unto repentance.
"...it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have
tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And
have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If
they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify
to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame."
All Christians who are honestly concerned over the eternal state of their fellow
man should take this problem very seriously!
References:
(1) Duane Magnani, The Watchtower Files, 1985, p. 135 (from The Watchtower,
February 1, 1994, p. 75)
(2) 1 Timothy 4:1
(3) 2 Peter 2:20-21
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