While I was in Seminary I lived in an apartment complex dominated by seminary students with one exception. Our next door neighbors were Mormon Missionaries. One day I struck up a conversation with them. When they found out that I was a Christian they were elated. You see, they were Christians too! So in their minds we were on the same team.
However, a quick perusal of the Mormon faith will demonstrate that such a claim is impossible. They deny both the trinity and salvation by grace through faith alone. In addition, they believe that our God is one of countless gods, and that a man can eventually become a god. They may profess a high reverence for Christ, but let’s be frank, they belong to different religion.
So why do they insist that they are Christians too? Well, one reason may be that Mormons do not want to be marginalized by a Christian society. They resent their traditional categorization as a cult, and would like to be known as a Christian religion. This may be true, but the fact that Mormon missionaries keep quiet about their differences until their fourth meeting with a prospective converts offers another rational for their “we are Christians too” claim.
In Jude 4 we read:
For certain persons have crept in unnoticed, those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation, ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.
In this passage we see that false teachers discretely infiltrate the church. They fellowship at potlucks, participate in Sunday School, and actively serve in ministry. All the while, no one knows of their true state or their true agenda. Once they establish themselves as noble members of the Christian community, they move in for the kill. Using their established influence they endeavor to move believers away from the truth. Ask any fox and he will tell you that you have get past the chicken wire before you can feast on poultry.
Think about it, let’s say a Satanist shows up at your door and tells you up front that you got it all wrong, Jesus is overrated, and you should worship Satan. Will you invite her in for some lemonade?
However, if a couple of all American clean cut boys show up at your door and mention that you both love Jesus, share the same values, vote for the same presidential candidate and so on. You will be a little more open to what they have to say. You see, Satan disguises himself as an angel of light (2Co. 11:14) so that he can get past the chicken wire to get to your heart and mind.
This is why many false religious movements bent on luring believers away from the faith will always insist “we’re Christians too.” They will even say that you will be saved under their system. What they won’t tell you is that you are incomplete in your present state, or hold to a different religion. They will downplay any difference until they perceive that they have your trust. Brothers and sisters be warned. In the words of Paul:
Galatians 1:8-9 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed! 9 As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed!
Dave Hintz
