What makes a church or group non-Christian?

Question

There are many non-Christian religions and cults in America: Mormonism, Jehovah's Witnesses, Christian Science, Unity, The Way International, Unitarianism, Islam, Hinduism, etc. All of them add to the finished work of Jesus on the cross. Some cult groups even add to the Bible, i.e., Mormonism which has the Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and The Pearl of Great Price. Also Christian Science has added Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures. The Jehovah's Witnesses, however, have actually changed the text of the Bible to make it fit what they want it to.Cults add their own efforts, their own works of righteousness to the finished work of salvation accomplished by Jesus on the cross

Answer 1

This so-called "question" is simply bigotry devoid of evidence. Why not use some actual SCRIPTURES in the discussion of CHRIST? Instead of feeling compelled to share Christ's Good News with unbelievers, too many self-righteous self-described Christians would rather spend their time and energy slandering true Christians.

In particular, it seems that Trinitarians feel compelled to repeatedly pretend that Jehovah's Witnesses are not Christian. Trinitarians use an artificial, trinity-specific definition of the term "Christian" which excludes anyone who does not believe that Jesus is God Himself, rather than the Son of God. Interestingly, pagans in the first century pretended that Christ's followers were Atheists(!) because the Christians had a somewhat different idea from the pagans about the nature of God.

Jehovah's Witnesses teach that no salvation occurs without Christ, that accepting Christ's sacrifice is a requirement for true worship, that every prayer must acknowledge Christ, that Christ is the King of God's Kingdom, that Christ is the head of the Christian congregation, that Christ is immortal and above every creature, even that Christ was the 'master worker' in creating the universe! Both secular dictionaries and disinterested theologians acknowledge that Jehovah's Witnesses are a Christian religion.

The Trinitarian arguments are intended to insult and demean Jehovah's Witnesses, rather than to give a Scripturally accurate understanding of the term "Christian".

In fact, the bible most closely associates being "Christian" with preaching about Christ and Christ's teachings. Review all the times the bible uses the term "Christian" and note that the context connects the term with:
"declaring the good news"
'teaching quite a crowd'
'open eyes, turn from dark to light'
"uttering sayings of truth"
"persuade"
"keep on glorifying"

(Acts 11:20-26) [The early disciples of Jesus] began talking to the Greek-speaking people, declaring the good news of the Lord Jesus... and taught quite a crowd, and it was first in Antioch that the disciples were by divine providence called Christians.

(Acts 26:17-28) [Jesus said to Paul] I am sending you, to open their eyes, to turn them from darkness to light and from the authority of Satan to God... Paul said: “I am not going mad, Your Excellency Festus, but I am uttering sayings of truth and of soundness of mind. ...Do you, King Agrippa, believe the Prophets? I know you believe.” But Agrippa said to Paul: “In a short time you would persuade me to become a Christian.”

(1 Peter 4:14-16) If you are being reproached for the name of Christ, you are happy... But if he suffers as a Christian, let him not feel shame, but let him keep on glorifying God in this name


So why do anti-Witnesses try to hijack the term "Christian" and hide its Scriptural implications? Because anti-Witnesses recognize that it is the preaching work that makes it clear that the relatively small religion of Jehovah's Witnesses are by far the most prominent followers of Christ:

(Matthew 28:19,20) Go therefore and make disciples of people of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy spirit, teaching them to observe all the things I have commanded


Learn more!
http://watchtower.org
http://watchtower.org/library/ti/index.htm

Answer 2

You need to do some homework before you post lies on here.

First of all, Mormons are not a cult. Our chuch name is the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. The definition of Christian is one who believes there is a God and that he sent his son, Jesus Christ to be our Savior. We believe that and all basic Christian beliefs.
Also, our Book of Mormon is not an addition to the bible. Do you see it attached to it? It is ANOTHER testiment of Jesus Christ. He visited the American Continent thousands of years before Columbus even landed and spoke with the people here. Those people wrote down His teachings and that is the Book of Mormon.

Also, we don't believe in the Trinity, true. we believe that God and Jesus are 2 different people entirely... not the same person split up. However, they are same in purpose. Why would Jesus pray in Geseminy to himself to have the cup removed from him if he and God were the same?

So please study from the source before you preach things that aren't true.
Visit www.lds.org for correct information.

Answer 3

The simplest answer would be to say any church or group that does not have Christ or the eucharist as its center. Any group that argues with each other is not following Christ. Christ didn't argue. Think about it. If you are splitting words, you are losing the focus. If you call your brother a fool, God will reject you.

Answer 4

I belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I believe that God sent his Son, Jesus Christ, to make the ultimate sacrifice to atone for my personal sins as well as the sins of the whole world. I believe that it is only through Christ that I can be saved and enter into the presence of Heavenly Father for eternity. I try to follow Christ's commandments and example every day, although I fall short. I look to him for forgiveness.

I'm not sure how others define "Christian." And to me, it doesn't matter. I consider myself Christian, and God knows my heart.

Answer 5

Jesus said that those who believe he was the son of God, died and rose again, resurrected, and ascended to Heaven, are of him, Churches that do not preach this, are not Christ centered, STAY AWAY. You must believe Jesus was God in human form, noy just a man. If you have seen the son, you have seen the Father, for I and the Father are one.

Answer 6

You already answered your own question: Anything that teaches you have to work to obtain salvation, and that faith alone in the finished work of the cross isn't enough to save, is a lie, is false religion.

Answer 7

Look at their doctrine. If they deny the basic core christian doctrine, like the deity of Christ, the trinity, the gospel, stuff like that, they they aren't a christian organization. For more on Christian doctrines and what not go to www.carm.org

Answer 8

Bashing on other religions like this makes them non-Christian.

Answer 9

Fact, Jehovah's Witnesses are christian. Granted, they have different beliefs however they are christian none the less. Are catholics, baptist,Methodist, protestant, Episcopalian, not Christian? There are many sects of Christianity. Do your home work!

Answer 10

You wanna know what makes a religion a religion?