James Harmer

If there is one thing about this generation that scares me more, it is their severe hatred for standards when it comes to anything.

Micah, man you’re a cool guy.  I look forward to our next conversation about politics, theology, Mormons, end times, those of the feminine persuasion…  and just about everything else in life.  Ha ha, I heard you slept on J-Ratts porch.  Poor fellow, I feel bad for you…  I tried to get you to stay man!  Maybe next time you’ll listen to me?

Man, so many things on my mind right now.  I was going to write about standards originally, like the quote I started this entry with…  but I just changed my mind, so I’ll change the title… 

There we go.

I’ve been thinking about Mormons and Jehovah’s Witnesses allot lately.  I love Theology, and have studied them both intently for years now wanting to know the differences, how to beat them in debate, but more importantly win them to Christ(Sometimes debate is the last thing that will do that.)  Now, I am mostly an Orthodox believer, and line up with most of the rest of Christendom on all major points of doctrine(aside from maybe leaning slightly towards modalism), but I am starting to think that Orthodox Christianity may be a little too broad on the issue of these two cults. 

Now before I go any further, I believe firmly that they are cults, and that they do teach severe heresies, and by definition neither a Mormon or a JW can be called a a Christian.  Have that all on the record first off, I am not in any way advocating the Theology of the JW’s or Mormon’s.  I feel that both churches are probably the two biggest and most dangerous counterfeits to Christianity that exist, you can feel free to quote me on that.  Now I will proceed.

This is where I have been questioning things, when it comes down to whether or not Mormons and JW’s will be saved.  Many Christians get freaked out about both Mormonism and JW’s, if you mention it they say something like “Oh, those are cults!!” “They’re freaky!!  They scare me!”  And those things may be true, but most Christians sadly don’t even know the difference between a Mormon, a Christian, and a Jehovah’s Witness(or “Arian Christian”)  The most common, and probably the most ridiculous objection I hear is “they think we are saved by works.”  This simply is not true, both Jehovah’s Witnesses and Mormon’s believe that Jesus’ Death on the cross was the only thing that takes away our sin.  They both(particularly JW’s) emphasize that it is not by works, but by grace.  Mormons incorporate works to an extent into our relationship with God after we are saved, but so do many Mainline Christian denominations that are not considered cults by anybody.  Mormons and JW’s both have lots of extra-biblical Theology that hangs off from their religion, not nearly as much the JW’s as Mormons, but nothing big enough to categorize them as a cult, or completely removed them from the rest of Christianity.  The one thing that Arianism and Mormonism have in common is that they take away the Full Deity of Jesus Christ as God in the Flesh.  Mormons are Tri-Theists who believe in a family of Gods, and that we will all be Gods someday with our own planet and solar system and we get to make our own covenant with our creation etc…  JW’s adopts Arian Theology, which means that they believe that Jehovah(the Father) is the only God, Jesus is His son, but not in any way a part of Him, and not to be worshiped at all.  And they believe that the Holy Spirit is an impersonal force controlled by Jehovah alone.  The biggest thing they deny is the Deity of Christ as God in the flesh, and the second biggest being the doctrine of the Trinity. 

Now, this all being said…  that is why neither can be categorized as Christians.  Mormon Theology makes mankind completely equal with Jehovah God, just a certain amount of steps behind.  Arian Theology is blasphemous, and takes away the full Divinity of Christ.  JW’s don’t believe in an Eternal Hell, but neither do many Christians, they believe in Annihilation.  Does that mean that they aren’t saved?  Most Theologians would say that they disagree with their position on Hell, but still view them as a part of the body of Christ.  JW’s and Mormons though, have been ”kicked out”, and for more than enough reasons.  What is my point though?  Well, this is where things get confusing for me.

Considering that most Christians do not know what the key difference between them and a Mormon or JW/Arian is I think it’s quite rude to assume they aren’t saved.  I often wonder about young Mormon’s and JW’s who get sucked in…  they don’t know about most of what this cult they are joining actually believes, many don’t even know that there is a difference between them and the rest of Christianity.  It’s sad, they’re just searching for truth.  What are they given?  Well, if you ask a Mormon how to be saved, they will give you mostly the same Gospel as a Christian.  Ask a JW and you’ll get identical plan of Salvation.  I quote from a JW tract, “Confess that you are a sinner and can’t save yourself, repent(turn from your sins) and put your trust in what Jehovah our God had Jesus accomplish in his death as the payment in full for your sins.  Now that your trust is in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ the Son of God, your sins are forgiven, and judgement shall pass you.”  Now here’s my question, isn’t that pretty much the same message we as Christians give for an altar call?  Couldn’t someone get saved from that?  Do you think that many new Mormons and JW’s actually get saved, but then get sucked into the Mormon and JW cult’s?  I mean, I’m not talking about the leadership…  just the members, particularly new members.  Most Christians who get saved don’t learn about doctrines like the Trinity, or Deity of Christ right off the bat after getting saved, so if they don’t believe them..  are they any different then someone who is a new Jehovah’s Witness?  What is different?  The place where they called out to God?  The people surrounding them?

MY TAKE ON THE ISSUE:

Basically, I have come to this conclusion…  agree or disagree.  A person who believes that Jesus’ death covers their sins, and puts their faith in God to save him based on that alone, God will hear and save.  Am I saying I believe Mormons and JW’s are Christians?  No.  Am I saying that I believe that they are all saved?  No.  What I’m saying is that some very well may get saved from listening to their Gospel, or reading their literature, Bibles or even talking and praying to one.  I think we should try to help people trapped in those cults, rather than let Theology restrain us from believing that one may actually be a messed up Christian who just happens to be in the wrong circle of people.  The Truth is to protect us from Heresy, and I think we should understand the differences too.

Just some thoughts….  I know, a very dry, Theological, boring for most of you entry.  I wrote this for the few who I know appreciate my Theological ramblings.  And I did it quick too…  maybe too quick, their may be some tangents.  oh well.

-James’