How do you determine that another person is a Christian, and why do you feel you are in a position to judge?

Question

I hear people talk so badly about "non-Christians" and "Mormons," ect. What's it to you if someone is Mormon--does it hurt you? How do you determine that Mormons are not Christians--did your pastor tell you that so you are spreading the news?

Answer 1

Considering we can mistakenly believe WE are Christian then discover later that we were not, it's hardly wise for us to pronounce judgment on others! 'The Lord knows those who are his' the Bible says. And Jesus said the weeds were to grow alongside the wheat until harvest time when he will send his angels to pull out the weeds and burn them. So it's God's prerogative to decide - thankfully!

However, the Bible warns Christians to be on guard for heresy, for wolves in sheep's clothing, and to root all such out of the church. This can only be done by first identifying what is sound doctrine and what is false. Heretics preach false doctrine. The Christian church has a few thousand years of history about sound doctrine and problems with deviations from it. Our problem today is that hardly anyone gives a hoot for sound doctrine. We are in a New Age pick-and-mix supermarket when it comes to religion, and as long as you appear to be nice to people, you can believe and teach anything you like. And we wonder why confusion abounds!

So, those who know their Bibles thoroughly are in a better position to advise on pseudo-Christianity than those who go with the flow and don't think discernment is important. It's wrong to judge individuals, though, unless they openly admit to heresy and are not open to correction. That is why there's so much debate about groups like Mormons, Jehovah's Witnesses, Christadelphians etc. Pastors most certainly ought to know but you can always tell whether members of their flock have investigated personally or are just repeating sound-bites. This is no sound-bite, is it?!

Answer 2

This sounds like a rant.

Technically, Mormons are a Christian sect. What makes a Christian is the focus on Jesus (aka: Christ). The reason that most Christians disapprove of Mormons is that they don't believe that Jesus is the ONLY savior. The reason Mormons have so many kids (by many wives sometimes) is they believe that they will have a chance to become a new Adam (populate an entire world) and a new Jesus (save that world by dying for it). The general Christian populous agrees that there is only one Savior and he came as a baby born in Bethlehem, etc... Adding all those extra loops and new worlds and so on is very at odds with, say Catholic or Methodist or Baptist beliefs.
Oh, and I don't say that Mormons aren't Christians. I believe that they're misguided from an early age and are subject to severe indoctrinization.

Answer 3

Anyone that does not rely 100% on Jesus' sacrifice to get to Heaven does not have a saving faith. This is the gospel - That Jesus died for our sins (1 Corinthians 15:1-3). Christians do good works BECAUSE they are saved, not TO BE saved. (Ephesians 2:8-10).

Mormon's are taught that they are saved by grace "after all we can do" (2 Nephi 25:23). This cheapens the grace, by assuming that Jesus death and resurrection is not enough to save them.

Doing anything to add to our salvation is a different gospel than what's in the Bible and is cursed (Galations 1:8).

Salvation is a free gift. Nobody gives their kids a Christmas present and then asks for all of the kid's money to help pay for it. What kind of gift is that? Yet Mormon's claim God gave us a gift of salvation, but we need to work at it all we can.

In my opinion, it would be cruel to not share the truth and just let them go to Hell when they are expecting greater things.

The Bible says we should judge. (1 Corinthians 6:2-3). We should not judge unfairly. We should also have love.

Mike

Answer 4

It is the Bible that lists the standards for a true Christian. If the conduct and answers match they are. If they don't, they are not.

If it walks like a duck. Looks like a duck and quacks like a duck, you have a duck!

We can't judge a person's heart condition as God can. We can see behavior and we are told how they should react as a Christian.

They would not be part of the world. They would have love among themselves based on Godly principles. All would be ministers. Have a good reputation for conduct. Involved in the preaching and teaching work Jesus commanded to be done. Know the Bible. Have nothing to do with false religious beliefs.

Answer 5

The only source of information for your questions is the Bible. A pastor, priest, Joseph Smith, etc. can't tell you any truths outside of the Bible. The Old and New Testament is the only source you need, and does not need to be translated to you by anyone. Having said that, what does the Bible say about your questions. First, true christians are not the folks talking bad about anyone. Someone who truely knows God, and salvation through Jesus (the definition of christianity) knows that it is not our place to judge anyone on any basis be it relegion, sexual preference, race, gender, etc. That is God's, and only God's, responsibility. Where the problem comes in is all christians are called by God to carry out what is known as "The Great Commission". It is our responsibility to share the good news of salvation (eternal life in heaven) by the only means available to humans. That is through beliving that we are all sinners, confessing that sin through prayer to God, accepting Jesus Christ as our lord and savior, and through living a rightous life. Now that's not the problem, the problem is other relegions that add to or delete from that basic truth are mistaken. It is the christians responsibility only to share the good news of salvation. It is between God and the individual to reach their final salvation. I can only present the truth the God has given me.

There are many people who refer to themselves as christian that think it is their duty to beat christianity into your head, and to tear apart other relegions in the process. This is NOT Biblical in any way! We present the good news and let God do the rest. And finally, you ask does it hurt me if someone is mormon - my answer is absolutely YES! The relegion doesn't matter to me - mormon, catholic, islamic, jewish, whatever... If that person does not know salvation through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ I know that person will spend eternity in hell. That hurts me deeply.

Keep in mind, just because someone calls themselves a christian doesn't mean that they are flawless. The christian church is filled with sin just like the world. It is through the relationship with Jesus and through prayer that we overcome sin. That takes some folks much longer than other.

Thanks for asking such an important question. I hope that my ranting has helped. I pray that God blesses you and touches your heart to allow you to know his son Jesus.

Answer 6

Their life should reflect that of Christ.
There Is only one God,one faith and One baptism.
I believe In the WHOLE Bible,not part of It but ALL of It.
If It Isn't In the Bible I don't believe It.
When we get to heaven we're not going to have partitions for the different denominations.
I don't care how you label yourself & your beliefs,If It doesn't line up with the word of God,you're going down the wrong road.
I don't label myself. I'm a follower of Christ and believe In the Whole Bible.
I don't put my faith & prayers In a denomination or preist/preacher/saint or rosary beads.
Jesus Christ came to this earth and died for the sins of ALL humanity and has earned the right to be the divine Mediator. Not an earthly priest/father.
He no longer resides on a cross as an emaciated man,He lives and sits at the right hand of the Father In heaven.
What Is up with all the different denominations ? There Is only ONE BIble,One Heaven,One God.
Jesus said I am the way the truth and the life and no one comes unto the Father except by Me,not through a priest,a saint,rosary beads,preacher or the writings of companion books.
There Is only One heaven and One way to get there.

Answer 7

Christians accept Christ as their lord and savior. Mormons believe in a guy named John Smith? or is his name James Smith... who cares... but they believe in some extra stuff that isn't included in the traditional beliefs of Christianity.

So in truth they were derived from Christianity... but they are not entirely of Christian principles...


And it is no place for anyone to judge... expecially Christians because it is in their belief system not to judge others.

Answer 8

True Christians don't judge, or bash others for their beliefs; you believe what you believe, we believe what we believe. True Christians accept Christ as their Lord and Savior, His divine birth, His death for our sins and resurrection, The Holy Trinity: God the Father, Christ the Son, and Holy Spirit. If you accept the above, and try to adhere to the principles, you are a Christ follower, you are a true Christian. A Christian pastor will adhere to the same, and tell his flock to do the same.

Answer 9

My beliefs about God are not taught by religion or anything. I just always had intuitions about what I believe. It is far less complicated than what religion makes it out to be. I don't know where you stand, but I myself, believe God is NOT judgemental. We should not be either. It is hard to believe that so many people feel that they are in a place to judge. Some of the worst people I know are so called "Christians," those are the people forcing it down our throats! We are all different and no one really knows. It is all speculation and really, perception. Life is too short to judge anyone by their beliefs. So back to your question - AMEN!

Answer 10

I am so glad I do not have to judge a person, as it is not my place to do so.

As far as being able to tell if a person is Christian already, this is not easy. Many backslide into old habits, old ways of doing things that are not true to the teachings of Christ.

Mormons are not condemned, as far as I am concerned.

We are all children of our Creator. Can we not all learn to act like it?