Can you be a Christian and believe in multiple gods?

Question

If the LDS faith believes in God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost, are they truly Christian or just portraying themselves as such?

From the teachings of the LDS faith: "Invite the young men to discuss this idea. Help them see that Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost are one in purpose—unified in what they are doing. Explain that the will of Heavenly Father is the will of Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost. Because other churches do not accept modern revelation about the oneness of the Godhead, these churches are confused and believe that Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost are one spirit."

What does the Bible say on this?

http://library.lds.org/nxt/gateway.dll?f=templates$fn=default.htm$xhitlist_q=godhead$xhitlist_x=Simple$xhitlist_s=relevance-weight$xhitlist_d=$xhitlist_hc=%5BXML%5D%5Bkwic%2C0%5D$xhitlist_xsl=xhitlist.xsl$xhitlist_vpc=first$xhitlist_sel=title%3Bpath%3Bcontent-type%3Bhome-title%3Bhit-context%3Bfield%3Azr%3Bfield%3ARef

Answer 1

What I think you're failing to address is the fact that what the Mormon churches teach and what individual Mormons believe are 2 different things. A person can be a Christian and be a part of the Mormon church. That individual would be under false teaching and deceived in part however. The Mormon church does not teach that Jesus is God. They teach that Jesus is a god. Big difference. True Christianity is based on a relationship with God the Father through his co-equal Son Jesus Christ, empowered by the co-equal Holy Spirit. Three persons, one essence. Jesus himself said to watch out for false teachers, false prophets and that in the end times there would be alot of these. When Jesus was on the cross he said - It is Finished! That means the work of salvation was finished. There is no need for additional prophecy. It has already been given. This is the verdict God sent His Son into the world not to condemn the world but that the world through Him might be saved. The bible clearly says that a true believer doesn't need additional prophets or teachers since the Holy Spirit through the Word of God - teaches us. So, my question to Mormons who would believe that the Godhead is only one in purpose would be, so if this IS true, then which "god" do you believe? Remember, the original sin was that by eating the fruit - they would be like God. Of course, that isn't possible. The whole reason why satan was kicked out of heaven is that he wanted the power of God and His authority. No, sorry wrong answer. There is one God and no human being can become God no matter how good they are. Jesus has eternally existed unlike us - it is appointed to man once to die and after that to face judgment. Nowhere in the unaltered word of God does it say the things that the Mormon church has introduced or Ellen G. White or the Watchtower or other movements. Adding to, changing the text or putting other teaching on the same level as the bible is something that the bible itself says should never be done. Many churches teach their own traditions on the level with the truth and that waters down their faith if truly believed. But, I know alot of individuals in various different churches who totally believe the truth and are constantly confused by these additional "truths" and "revelations." So, they go on attending since it is their tradition, their family, they care about the people and so forth. Personally, I wouldn't trade the truth of God for anything these groups have to offer - even the good family values, comforting traditions and family generational unity. My God offers peace, true comfort in every situation, clarity of mind, eternal security and the true love that I need. There's nothing worth trading for that! Eternal life is a gift, not something I have to earn. The gift changes me - I don't change to try to earn the gift. Part of this is to repent - recognize that you are far beneath God and are not worthy to enter His presence. Not coming to Him expecting to be exalted to god status for your good deeds! True humility is what Jesus taught - He requires mercy not sacrifice. It's not to be one day exalted - it's to continue to Exalt Him forever!

Answer 2

The Father, Son and the Holy Ghost are better known as the trinity as taught by most Christian religions and all can be found in the New Testament of the bible. The trinity is the three in one God. This is not like having a different god for everything like the Greeks and Romans of Old.

Answer 3

This is John 1:1-4

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

He was in the beginning with God.

All things came to be through him, and without him nothing came to be. What came to be

through him was life, and this life was the light of the human race;


It is a description of God which seems to portray the Word as God and Jesus as the Word. Simply, God is one indivisible, YHWH, Jesus (Jeshua), Holy Spirit (Word). And remember that Jewish people worshipped only one God and would not have considered 2 or 3. Also, we are only supposed to have 1 God. Of course, we don't need these rules if we understand the infinite nature of God. Even with mind-boggling might, I have always come to the conclusion, that the existence of only 1 omnipotent being is possible. Else the universe would be torn apart (by any disagreement), and any Omnipoten beings that agree are essentially one. Therefore, one God.

In mathmatics:
infinity + infinity = infinity

Early Christian Father:
Ignatius of Antioch
"The prophets, who were men of God, lived according to Jesus Christ. For that reason they were persecuted, inspired as they were by his grace to convince the disobedient that there is one God, who manifested himself through his son, Jesus Christ, who is his Word proceeding from silence, and who was in all respects pleasing to him that sent him" (Letter to the Magnesians 8:1 [circa A.D. 110]).
http://www.catholic.com/thisrock/1992/9212frs.asp

Translation:
In part
"In the third and fourth centuries one of the principle theological concerns was to define the exact relationship of Jesus the Son to the Father. The Arians said that the Son or Word was the first creature that God created — the noblest of all, but still a creature. This idea is not in accord with traditional Christian belief. It conflicted also with Scripture, for Jesus had said, "I and the Father are one" (Jn 10:30; 14:9-10). So it was a question of whether or not Jesus was fully divine. Is Jesus God in the same sense in which the Father is God? "

http://www.catholiceducation.org/articles/religion/re0748.html

The well:
Consider the description of the Trinity. On the surface it describes 3 persons = one indivisible God. It is simple enough understand on the surface. Consider, likewise, a well. You come upon a well. It is clearly a well. But try as you might you cannot fathom its depth or the volume of water it contains. Yet, you still percieve that it is a well. This is like trying to understand God.

Answer 4

It's not just LDS believers that believe in the Holy Trinity. Most Christians believe in the Holy Trinity. I believe in the Holy Trinity of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. It is not three gods. It is ONE God. Three persons; ONE God.

Answer 5

No, learn the complete verse. Gen a million:26: Then God stated, “Let us make mankind in our snapshot, in our likeness" It does now not say more than one Gods, it says GOD SAID. Its speakme approximately the Holy Trinity. a million John five:7: For there are 3 that undergo list in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and those 3 are one. Deuteronomy 6:four: "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD" a million Timothy two:five: "For there may be one God, and one mediator among God and guys, the person Christ Jesus"

Answer 6

Technically, if you read the bible, it actually talks about other gods, and acknowledges their presence. For example, it refers to "the god baal" among others.

Originally, the 1st commandment was about followers WORSHIPPING one god, and rejecting the others.

So the bible was "sort of" monotheistic... it said that YOU should have one god, but that god is one among many others.

I know that this may sound odd to you, because it is contrary to what you've been taught. But if you go back and read the bible, and what it REALLY says, you'll find it to be true.

Answer 7

Jesus told His disciples, 'If I do not go, the Comforter [Holy Spirit] cannot come.

If they're not the same Being, why not?

And people, this IS the Religion and Spirituality Section. This is EXACTLY where he should be pushing his religious beliefs!

Answer 8

OF COURSE YOU WOULD BE CONFUSED...of the concept "3 persons in one god"...but if you still believe in Jesus then YOU ARE a Christian...some Christians like me believe there are "3 persons in ONE God...not multiple gods", AND DON'T FULLY UNDERSTAND THIS CONCEPT...but still believe in God...you don't really HAVE TO BELIEVE IN THE 3 PERSONS IN ONE GOD THING" but believe that it's there and it does EXIST......and maybe one day God will tell us and explain to us so we can fully understand........

Answer 9

The trinity of God is not multiple gods. The trinity is aspects of who God is--yes, they are separate, but they all three co-exist in one God. It is hard for us to understand. So, to answer your question, Christians do not believe in multiple gods, but they do believe in the trinity of God. I am a Christian, not LDS.

Answer 10

a christian is by definition someone who believes in Jesus Christ. So if you believe in Jesus, Zeus and Odin you're still a christian ....