Mormons (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) and the Jehovah’s Witness organization (Watchtower Bible and Tract Society) have a common foundational doctrine: they both claim that Christianity became corrupt after the death of the New Testament apostles and each claim that through their religion alone has God restored the true Christian faith.
When challenged by outsiders that they are not “Christians” because they deny many of the doctrinal tenets of the original Christian faith, Jehovah’s Witnesses and Mormons take offense. Reasoning that they “believe in Jesus Christ,” they question why anyone would consider them “unchristian.”
However, if the profession of belief in Jesus Christ is enough to qualify someone as “Christian” how is this reconciled with Jesus’ statements in Matthew 7?
Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven; but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.” Matthew 7:21-23 (NASB)
It is evident that in Jesus’ example the people thought they were Christians. Despite doing many works in Jesus’ name as proof of their devotion, Jesus rejected them saying “I never knew you.” Considering Jesus’ previous warnings about “false prophets” masquerading as followers of Jesus Christ (v. 15), is there any question why Jesus commanded us to test the “fruit” of religious teachers before embracing them into the fold (v. 20).
Suppose evangelical Christians were to claim we are “Mormons” because we “believe in Jesus Christ,” but we deny the Book of Mormon and teach that Joseph Smith was a false prophet? And how would a Jehovah’s Witness feel about us claiming to be “Jehovah’s Witness” when we reject the basic doctrine that underlie the religion? In the same way that a Mormon or Jehovah’s Witness would not be pleased with someone who claims to follow their religion but who rejects the fundamental tenets of their faith, so it is with true Christians. (For differences in Jehovah’s Witness doctrine compared with the Bible see the “Doctrine” tab.
Many of the people in these groups are sincere and often the nicest, moral people you will ever meet. However, they have been deceived by a counterfeit religion that looks good on the surface, but it’s foundations are built on the beliefs of mere men, and not the Word of God. It doesn’t matter how many good works they do in the name of Jesus Christ; if their doctrinal fruit fails the test, they will experience the spiritual destruction awarded to those who follow false prophets.
If a prophet… gives you as sign… and the sign or the wonder comes true, concerning which he spoke to you, saying ‘Let us go after other gods (whom you have not known) and let us serve them,’ you shall not listen to the words of that prophet…” Deuteronomy 13:1-3 NASB
“to the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.” Isaiah 8:20 KJV
“…the prophet that teacheth lies, he is the tail… and they that are led of them are destroyed.” Isaiah 9:15-16 KJV
If Jehovah’s Witnesses and Mormons are “Christians” just like we are, why do they send missionaries to our doors to convert us to their beliefs? Joseph Smith, (founder of the Mormon religion) claimed that in 1820, Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ appeared to him in a vision proclaiming that “all” churches of Christianity were “wrong… that all their creeds were an abomination… that those professors were all corrupt…” (Joseph Smith – History 1:19). Similarly Jehovah’s Witnesses claim that all the churches of Christendom are a part of false religious Babylon and that one must “come to Jehovah’s organization (i.e. the Watchtower) for salvation.” (The Watchtower, November 15, 1981 p. 21)
Is there any question why Christians reject Jehovah’s Witnesses and Mormons as being unchristian? If they were actually just another denomination of Christianity, why would they send missionaries door to door to Christian’s homes to proselytize them into their religious groups? Why should they be concerned with gaining converts out of Christianity if they were honestly part of Christianity? To add emphasis consider the Mormon claims concerning Christianity, 1 Nephi 14:10 in the Book of Mormon states:
And he said unto me: Behold there are save two churches only; the one is the church of the Lamb of God, and the other is the church of the devil…” 1 Nephi 14:10
According to the Book of Mormon, which church is your church? If it is the “church of the Lamb of God,” doesn’t this verse make our church the “church of the devil”? If then, according to Mormonism, our church is the “church of the devil,” how can you honestly claim to be Christians like we are? There is no question that the Book of Mormon is saying that the churches of Christianity collectively comprise the “church of the devil.” and 1 Nephi 13:26 identifies this “abominable church” as none other than the church that had possession of the Bible after it was delivered from the hands of the original apostles.
In answer to the claims of Jehovah’s Witnesses and Mormons who insist that a restoration of true Christianity was needed as a result of a complete apostasy from the original faith, Jesus proclaimed: “I will build My church; and the gates of Hades shall not overpower it” (Matthew 16:18). Since Jesus promised to protect His Church, how could the Christian Church have apostatized to the point of needing a new religion to be developed in order to restore it to the earth? The Apostle Paul warned about those who would arise to draw disciples “after themselves” when he stated:
I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them.” Acts 20:29-30
We would do well to heed the words of Scripture and prove all things before welcoming into the fold of “Christianity” all churches claiming adherence to Christ.
But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good;” 1 Thessalonians 5:21
“I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel; which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. 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!” Galatians 1:6-8
Thanks to Witnesses For Jesus, Inc. for help with this post.
