Thursday, May 5, 2011

Mormons Are Christian.

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“We Believe in God, The Eternal Father and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.” (Articles of Faith 1:1)

I've had quite a few conversations over the last week with several different people (some of whom are very close to me) about whether or not I am a Christian.  As a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints...this is something I have never questioned about my faith.  It is something that I've found surprising that others do question.

The first thing I needed to do was to define Christian.  To me, a Christian has always been someone who is a follower of Christ.  Webster defines "Christian" as "one who professes belief in the teachings of Jesus Christ."  Do I try to follow Christ's example and work to some day return to His presence?  Yes.  Do I believe the teachings of Jesus Christ from the New Testament?  Yes.  Therefore - I am a Christian.

But many tell me I'm not.

It is both confusing, and heart-breaking at the same time.

I've been told that it is the LDS doctrine that makes me un-Christian.  That it is the cannon of Scripture (The Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants and Pearl of Great Price) that we read in addition to the Bible that makes me un-Christian.  I've been told that it is a historical significance that makes me un-Christian.  I could go into each one of these things, but honestly - to me, they are not the issue.  You see, I've been told a lot of things.  What I've never been told is that my unwavering faith that Jesus is the Christ, the Divine Son of God and Savior is what makes me un-Christian.

That is never the issue.

Never once have I been told that I was not Christian because I believe in Christ.

So, are Mormons Christian?  Absolutely.  Do we share exactly the same beliefs and doctrine as other Christian churches?  No, there are many differences that make us who we are.  In fact, there are differences between the other faiths that distinguish them individually.  However, we believe we are all sons and daughters of God.  That Jesus Christ is the Divine Son of God and the Savior of the world.  On that fact we can certainly all agree.  To tear down one's sense of faith because it does not match your own, to me that is not a Christian quality.

John 13:34 "A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another."

Mormons are not weird.  We are Christian.