>At 09:48 AM 11/27/98 -0700, you wrote:
>
>Mormonism I'm not sure of.
[snip]
>But I do not exclude them from Christianity, as some fundamentalist groups
do. >No more than I exclude the guys at ICR. Can people be brought to a
saving >faith in Christ by teachings and preachings which are non-factual?
The answer >seems to be obviously "yes."
>
I would strongly disagree with you about Mormons being Christian. I have
lived among them and discussed mormon beliefs and doctrine with Mormons. I
have read the Book of Mormon, The Pearl of Great Price, and some of their
other books. They are most definitely not Christians by their documents and
beliefs as a body. However, I know that Christians may be mislead and may
still be Christians and in the Mormon church, but it is due to ignorance of
the doctrines of the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints or out
of convenience.
To them, Jesus Christ was only a man (the best teacher) whose death and
blood could only save himself (and his wives) and we (us men) will (if good
mormons) be like Christ as a god. They do not believe in the Trinity but
are polytheistic. At best, nonmormons and back sliders on death will
become angels if they earn their wings otherwise we will be servants to the
gods (their wives will not be much better off). But of course the church
could easily change all this by an appropriate "vision."
I think the Spirit would really be working overtime if a Mormon became a
Christian via the mormon church (much like Paul on the way to Damascus).
But stranger things have happened, I guess.
I think that if we are to include The Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter
Day Saints in Christendom we need open the doors to include all religions
(especially Islam and Judaism).
John