In the United States with a Mormon candidate for the Republican
Presidential nomination, this question is a hot topic. The
answer may surprise you. Usually when we hear the word "cult" it
conjures up thoughts of Jim Jones, David Koresh or Charles
Manson - we think of compounds, and guns, and tragedy. In
religious circles, there is another meaning - a cult in the
theological sense. A cult is a group that departs significantly
from orthodox or core beliefs. So for a Christian church to call
another religion a "cult" means a group that departs from the
core Christian beliefs.
Is Mormonism a theological cult? From the standpoint of the
Bible and Christianity, the answer is yes. Mormons, or the
Church of Jesus Christ Latter-Day Saints, teaches:
- Many gods (polytheism) as opposed to the one Creator God
of the Bible (Deuteronomy 6:4, 1 Timothy 1:17).
- Jesus is the spirit brother of Lucifer as opposed to God
who became man (John 1:1,14).
- You can become the "god" of your own world if you live a
perfect life (among other requirements) as opposed to the
fact that all have sinned and fall short of God's glory
(Romans 3:23).
- Salvation by works as opposed to God's grace through the
LORD Jesus (Ephesians 2:8-9).
These are just a few of the significant deviations from
orthodox Christianity. Mormonism is definitely not
"Christian" as defined by the Bible. This is no surprise since
they hold 3 additional books on the same level of authority as
the Bible. Any religion that rejects the Bible as God's
word and/or holds additional books as sacred and as
authoritative as the Bible is bound to deviate from orthodoxy.
Are Mormons nice people? Sure, they generally have strong
family ties and high moral character. Are Mormons Christian? No,
not if they believe the teachings of the Mormon church. But the
cross of Jesus Christ covers every sin - and a Mormon who turns
to the true Jesus for forgiveness can and will be saved.
You can read about the Good News of God's GRACE to find out how
anyone, regardless of religious or irreligious background can
have an eternal, loving relationship with our Creator God.
