Are Mormons Christians?

Are Mormons Christian?  This is a debate that will never end because each side makes their own definitions to measure by.  Ask a Mormon who they worship and they will say "Christ."  The critic will rebut that it is a different Christ.  And so will go every point of Mormon doctrine in the debate.  The Mormon states their belief and the critic tells them they really believe something else.  What is really at issue is the definition of ‘Christian’.  For those Christians excluding Mormons, the definition relies on several points of doctrine.  The many denominations of Christianity have their differences but agree on basic principles brought down through tradition.  Those first called Christian at Antioch certainly believed differently than any contemporary Christian or Mormon, but without knowledge of their beliefs they remain safe from criticism, but the doctrine of Mormonism is well-known and well-criticized.

A Different Jesus

The claim that Mormons are not Christian is mostly founded on particular definitions created according to the accuser’s beliefs.  One of the arguments denying Mormons are Christian claims that Mormons believe in a "different" Jesus.  The "proper" Jesus is known almost wholly from the writings in the Bible.  The New Testament gives accounts of the ministry of Jesus and contains writings of the Apostles.  What the Christian world knows about Jesus, it knows from the New Testament, and Mormons accept it as the word of God.  The exclusion comes from the belief about the nature of Jesus Christ by interpretation of the Bible.

Most of those asking ‘Are Mormons Christian?’ believe according to the Nicene doctrine of the Trinity.  This council redefined God according to Greek influences that the immaterial is more perfect than the corporeal, and thus God must be immaterial.  This immaterial God would be everywhere and nowhere and anything divine would be part of God.  For Jesus to be divine He became the incarnation of God, and the Holy Spirit became the influence.  Mormons do not believe this is the nature of God.  Mormons believe that the Trinity is three separate beings that together are God.  The Father possesses a body, not a mortal body of flesh and blood like man, but a perfect, immortal body.  Jesus is the literal Son of God, they are not of one substance but are Father and Son.  Now resurrected, Jesus too possesses a perfect, immortal body like His Father.  The Holy Ghost is a spirit, and is thus able to influence everywhere at once. 

A Bible! A Bible!

Another aspect of the question ‘Are Mormons Christian?’ deals with scripture.  Mormons believe the Bible because it is the words of prophets.  After Christ and the Apostles, it is generally thought among Christianity that revelation ceased.  For a long time there was no one on the earth with the prophetic authority that had been given to the Apostles by Jesus.  As a result, Christianity was left to interpretation by scholars and sectarian divisions were the result. 

Prophetic and Apostolic authority was restored to Joseph Smith.  Under this same authority through which other prophets had written, Joseph Smith brought forth additional scriptures, the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price.  Those that ask ‘Are Mormons Christian?’ believe the Bible is complete and cannot be added to.  First, the Bible is a compilation and was not written as a single book by its authors; when Deuteronomy 4:2 and Revelation 22:18-19 were written, which say the Bible cannot be added to, the Bible did not exist as it does now, so it was added to; the meaning of the passages is to not add to the gospel.  All Mormon scripture supports the belief in Jesus Christ and is in line with the gospel as found in the New Testament.  Second, the words of all the prophets who ever lived are not all contained in the Bible.  Jesus’ warning of false prophets does not mean that there will never be true prophets.  Mormons believe when a prophet speaks on behalf of God that it is truth, and there are modern prophets that are doing it.  Many Christians believe there are no more prophets, but this does not make it a qualification for Christian belief.

What Do You Mean By ‘Christian’?

The debate asking ‘Are Mormons Christian?’ centers on the belief in continuing revelation.  Mormons believe revelation ceased with the death of the Apostles and then was restored through Joseph Smith.  The rest of Christianity believes that revelation ceased for good.  Without revelation the doctrines by which much of Christianity defines itself today (and attempts to define others) were established.  Mormons believe the truths of the gospel were restored by Joseph Smith, such as the nature of the Trinity, the organization of His church, and the ordinances necessary for salvation.  And by a commandment of God the Book of Mormon and other scriptures were brought forth for the benefit of the believers.  So the answer to the question ‘Are Mormons Christian?’ depends on the meaning of "Christian."  If it means the concept of an immaterial God who has closed the heavens, then no, Mormons do not believe that.  But if "Christians" are those that follow Christ, then the answer is ‘yes.’  Despite differences of opinion and interpretation, Mormons follow Christ.