We Should Stop Asking: Are Mormons Christians?

 We Should Stop Asking: 

Are Mormons Christians?

Photo titled "Bro. Ruben Israel “Standing in the Way” Isaiah 30:11", taken outside of LDS Conference Center and posted on www.soulwinning.info/sp/mormons.htm

    

    In the above photo, adults are seen participating in one of the most epic debates in Mormon history: Are Mormons Christian? When I was a kid, I distinctly remember being asked by one of my classmates in 4th grade: "Wait, Dallin, are you Christian?" I instinctively responded "Nope, I'm Mormon." Christians were those weird people who worshipped the cross and had funny smelling chapels and stuff, that's not me at all, were what my thoughts consisted of afterwards. I was of course getting the words "Christian" and "Catholic" mixed up, but the feelings towards the people of that faith were clear. I found their beliefs strange, so I didn't like any word that identified me with them. I felt more comfortable only identifying and being with people who had similar beliefs as me, and how I identified myself religiously played a large part in that. As embarrassing as it is, this was my perspective as a child. "When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways." (1 Corinthians 13:11) Here is a message from me to the world, especially my friends of different faiths: That as the debate of whether or not Mormons are Christians gains popularity in modern conversations, to exclude Mormons from Christianity and for Mormons to ardently oppose those who do so is frivolous and childish. This claim sounds harsh, but it comes from a place of respect, and I hope that after reading my thoughts on the matter you might be swayed to this same position.

    As I grew older, both me and the general culture of my church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, matured in regard to the question of Mormons and Christianity. In his address “The Correct Name of the Church,” church president at the time Russell M. Nelson put the spotlight on Jesus Christ by emphasizing the aforementioned full name of the church - the term "Mormon" was practically abolished. Other steps have also been taken like a generally developing culture of being more accepting of the symbol of the cross, as well as celebrating Holy Week in a similar manner to the Catholics and many other Christians. It's a process that's become known as embracing Christian identity, and thanks to it I'm proud to identify as a Christian.

    And yet, somehow, there still exist those who say I'm not a Christian. (I know, crazy right? You'd think me self-proclaiming to be so would change all of their minds.) Why is it that people have such strong feelings on this question? Some digging brings up more answers than you might expect. For instance, in an article by Jon Swaine we learn that the question became very popular around 2011, when Mitt Romney was running for president. The media had figured out pretty quick during this time that if it could paint Romney as a member of a non-Christian cult, he wouldn't get a lot of votes. Meanwhile, Romney's campaign was pushing heavily on identifying as Christian so they could win the votes of those who held to the most popular religion in the U.S. It was no longer just a matter of self-identity; it was a matter of whether a cultist or Christian was going to lead our country. Other motivations for either side to win this debate can be found in projects of missionary work. Swaine continues, speaking specifically on contention between Mormons and Evangelicals, saying “the tensions between evangelicals and Mormons owe partly to the fact that, for years, ‘they were tilling the same fields,’ as they sought converts in American suburbia...When evangelicals realized that Mormons were winning converts, the ‘development of the evangelical argument that Mormons aren’t Christian was emphasized very strongly.’" So there were political motivations, and there was the prospect of winning converts. All of that hinging on the answer to one simple question!

    My goal in bringing up all of the above-mentioned instances is to show that people are not answering this question simply in an innocent pursuit of truth. There are other, more greedy motivations. And the fact is that it simply cannot be possible to be attempting to answer this question purely as part of a pursuit of truth. Even a shallow understanding of the world of epistemology will tell you that you really don't discover any great truths by entering into an argument over semantics. This is because semantics have to do with intricate implications of the meaning of words, and these implications can be completely different depending on your definition of those words. Yes, there are theological differences between Mormons and other Christians. questions of the trinity versus the Godhead, sola scriptura versus an open canon, (the list goes on.) But to argue that these differences have any hold on whether or not a person is Christian is to just hold to a definition that you've created, and news flash, there could be someone else with a different one.

    So there's not much point in arguing about whether Mormons are Christians, is what we've established. In fact, I'd argue that the debate itself causes more harm than good, it being focused on establishing labels meant to separate people rather than bring them together. Of course, I understand the importance of a good definition, if we say everyone's a Christian than we'd have to let in the Hindus and the Muslims and the Atheists. And as much respect as I have for these other religions, it just doesn't make much sense to call them all Christians, or else words lose meaning. And yet, on the other hand. I have a Hindu friend who identifies as Mormon, goes to sacrament meeting, etc. and still also identifies as Hindu. I don't bother arguing with him that he's not really Mormon because there's no point in it. In fact, he's convinced me that it's possible to be both Mormon and Hindu. If someone wants to identify as Christian, I say let them. That doesn't mean you have to abandon your definition of the word, but in an effort to create a culture of solidarity among religions, I say let the Mormons call themselves Christian. Please?