Perhaps I'm mistaken, but I've been under the impression...(Q especially for JWs and LDSs)?

Question

...that JWs and LDSs consider themselves Christians. I seem to see a lot of questions (from other Christians, as far as I can tell) that seem to imply that there are Christians, and then there are Jehovah's Witnesses and Latter Day Saints.

It seems to me like saying that there are dogs, and then there are poodles and labrador retrievers.

Perhaps some Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses out there can clear this up for me. Thanks.

I hope I did not imply any literal analogy with dogs; the analogy was conceptual only. Sorry if anybody thought otherwise...

Lex and UFB: Thanks; this is just the (first-hand) info I was hoping for.

Sam: A very good, very insightful point. Thank you.

Xyleisha: We used to have JWs stop by our house all the time, and I'd flip through the littel booklets they leave behind...then come to find out years later that some accuse them of saying that everything in the bible was wrong!

Funny, I thought...for saying that everything in the bible is wrong, they sure quote it more than anybody else I know...

Answer 1

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormonism) is a beautiful Christian religion. Because Mormons believe in the divinity of Jesus Christ and consider Him to be the way to salvation, they are clearly a Christian denomination. It is true that they are not an orthodox denomination (they are neither Protestant, Catholic, nor Eastern Orthodox), because they don't accept the post-New Testament creeds, but their Christ-centered theology clearly qualifies them for the Christian label.

Most objective scholars agree that Mormons are Christian. Consider this quote from an academic book entitled “Anthology of World Scriptures” by Robert E. Van Voorst.

“…the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints…see themselves as Christian, and most experts in comparative religions would view this labeling as basically correct. That they…accept the Christian Bible as their first cannon is a good indicator of this. Moreover, “outsiders” to [Christianity], such as Buddhists, would almost certainly recognize them as belonging to the stream of Christian tradition.”

Likewise, a recent poll showed that the majority of Americans believe that Mormons are Christians.

You should be extremely careful when trying to learn about Mormons from others. There are many who hate the Mormons and spread lies, distortions, and conspiracy theories about them. Others think they understand Mormon doctrine because of "what they've heard," but are actually misinformed.

Because Mormons are Christian, we believe in most of the things that Christians believe, including:

1) Christ is divine and salvation comes only through Him.
2) The Bible is the word of God.
3) Men ought to love one another.

Mormons are a unique branch of Christianity, however. We are neither Catholic nor Protestant, so naturally we have some different beliefs. Most of the differences are minor. One significant difference has to do with the authority to act in God's name. Mormons believe that soon after the death of Christ and His apostles, the early Christian Church was greatly influenced by Greek and Roman philosophies and political pressures. Despite the efforts of many good men and women, the true Church of Christ was eventually lost because of these outside pressures and internal, man-made changes. Mormons believe that God reestablished the original Church of Christ in 1820 through a man named Joseph Smith.

To learn more about Mormons, visit my site at http://www.allaboutmormons.com !

Hope this helps! Mormon Christianity has changed my life by helping me better follow Jesus Christ.

Answer 2

We(JW) are Christian, we follow the teachings of Christ closely and try to live our lives accordingly. The reason many say we are NOT Christian is because we do not follow the man-made doctrine of the 'trinity'. News flash, we aren't the only ones. Fact, I was not raised JW but lutheran and we weren't taught that doctrine while I was there.(It was adopted later I hear.) So, I never DID believe in this 'triune' god thing.

While the name Jehovah's Witnesses is fairly new, I'd like to point out that there have always been Witnesses for Jehovah.
So, we're actually part of a group that's been around a very long time. :-)

Answer 3

There are some evangelicals who seem to think that anything other than their specific brand of Christianity is non-Christian. In doing so they condemn most of Christianity, including the Apostles of Jesus Christ to hell.

If you define a Christian as a disciple of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Then I have no doubt that LDS, JW, Catholics, Eastern Orthodox and just about every group that claims to follow Christ is Christian.

The question then becomes not who is Christian, but which of all Christian sects teaches the correct doctrine? And the only way to find that out is to ask God.

Addendum: Evangelical Christianity is less than 1000 years old as well. Using that standard would make evangelicals a Christian cult. I think thats a silly standard to use.

Answer 4

From a previous question on this same topic:

Here's a great page that compares what the Bible has to say about Jesus Christ, versus what the Mormon church says about Jesus Christ. You'll note that the two are extremely different.

http://www.lifeway.com/lwc/article_main_...

The Bible says: Jesus is the judge of all. (John 5:22 and others)

Mormons say: "No man or woman in this dispensation will ever enter into the celestial kingdom of God without the consent of Joseph Smith … Every man and woman must have the certificate of Joseph Smith, Junior, as a passport to their entrance into the mansion where God and Christ are." (Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, vol. 7, p. 289)

The Bible says: Jesus is the eternal Son of God, the Creator, co-equal and co-eternal with the Father and Holy Spirit (John 1:1-14; Colossians 1:15-20; Philippians 2:5-11; Hebrews 1:1-13)

Mormonism says: A "council of the Gods" created the world. "In the beginning, the head of the Gods called a council of the Gods; and they came together and concocted a plan to create the world and people it … In all congregations when I have preached on the subject of the Deity, it has been the plurality of Gods." (Joseph Smith, History of the Church, Vol. 6, pp. 308, 474).

The Bible says: Christ’s death at Calvary paid our sin debt and purchased our salvation so that everlasting life is received by grace through faith in the Person and work of Jesus (John 3:16, 5:24; Romans 4:4-5; 1 Corinthians 15:1-4; Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5).

Mormonism says: There is "no salvation without accepting Joseph Smith … No man can eject that testimony without accepting most dreadful consequences, for he cannot enter the kingdom of God." (Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, Vol. 1, p. 188)

The two are completely different. There are many such differences between Mormonism and Christianity.

Answer 5

certainly, they are able to confess they make errors, it purely takes them awhile. they won't regardless of the undeniable fact that admit the single mistake all of them made. all of them did no longer learn the Society’s declare to be “God’s dedicated and discreet slave business enterprise” based upon what it were coaching down till ultimately 1919 A.D. in fulfillment of Matthew 24:40 5-40 seven. the clarification why there are 1000's of Jehovah’s Witnesses as of 2005 A.D. isn't because of the fact all of them did make this examination. this is with the aid of the fact all of them didn’t make it. this isn't in basic terms a sprint mistake. It’s a huge mistake! For as quickly as human beings come to believe that Jesus made that Matthew 24:40 seven appointment interior the spring of 1919, from that 2nd on they alter into captives of that perception—captives of the illusionary thought that all and sundry of God’s course to mankind comes in basic terms for the period of the Watchtower Society. It then dominates and controls the thinking of people who write the literature besides because of the fact the Witnesses who study it.

Answer 6

What is a Christian? A Christian is one who follows the teachings of Jesus Christ. At John 8:31, 32, Jesus said: "If you remain in my word, you will know the truth." Is everyone who claims to be Christian true to that name? Consider:

Can a person be a Christian if he participates in warfare where he learns to kill his fellow human? Didn't Jesus say at Matt. 5:44: "However, I say to you: Continue to love your enemies and to pray for those persecuting you"? Also, at Matt. 5:26, didn't Jesus say: "All those who take the sword will perish by the sword"?

Can a person be a true Christian if he ignores what Jesus said at Matt. 23:9 about calling no one "father" as a religious title? Don't some call their ministers "father" and then justify why it is okay that they use such a title?

Can a person be a true Christian if he believes in the unscriptural trinity, which says that God is composed of three co-equal, co-eternal persons? Did Jesus ever say that God was triune and that he was God the Son, the second person of the trinity? No! Jesus taught that God was ONE person, not THREE. At John 17:3, he called his Father the ONLY true God.

Can a person consider himself a Christian if he celebrates holidays like Christmas and Easter, holidays that are based on paganism? . In the fourth century C.E., the prevailing church in the Roman Empire changed the name of the Saturnalia, the pagan Roman festival of the birth of the sun-god, and made this part of Christmas.

Jehovah's Witnesses obtain all of their teachings from the Bible, even if no one else agrees.

Do JWs believe that everything in the Bible is wrong? Of course not! Does not 2 Tim 3:16, 17 say: "All Scripture is inspired of God and beneficial for teaching, for reproving, for setting things straight, for disciplining in righteousness, that the man of God may be fully competent, completely equipped for every good work"?

Answer 7

we as Jehovah Witnesses are christians. we follow Jesus Christ command at Matthew 28 verse 19 and 20.

Answer 8

The definition of a Christian is that they adhere to the Bible's principles and follow Jesus. That is exactly what we do as Jehovah's Witnesses. So, that is asimple answer which I hope answers your question. If not, let me know and I will explain further.

Answer 9

Mormons and JW's don't believe in hellfire and neither do hey believe in the trinity which make them a special target of other denominations.

I studied with the LDS and was part of their congregation for a very brief time and later become one of Jehovah Witnesses.
Witnesses follow the footsteps of Christ very closely- even doing the preaching work he commisioned believers to be part of.

Answer 10

*thinks* i feel a VN coming on.............. *sighs*

i think they call themeselves Christians because they mention the name of Jesus in thier teachings.

They are (for the most part) nice people, who do love God, and obey the Law. (most, not ALL, trust me, i've had more hate mail in the last 2 weeks than i've ever seen!) BUT they are technically not Christians because of the Doctrines.

Both religions are polytheistic, and Christianity is monotheistic; so it's kinda simple, really.
♥

Here: I almost never post links, but here's my answer to a previous question. Relavant to yours. (that too is bound to get a VN as there is a price on my head in R&S ROFL!)
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AlyExH_eqg._FMqMfFQCBiLsy6IX;_ylv=3?qid=20071214215212AAZ1orX&show=7#profile-info-R2Ibs5h0aa

*edit* Lex: IF you believe that The Father, Son & Holy spirit are three seperate beings, (all gods) then, um, honey.... that's POLYTHEISM. Christianity is MONOTHEISM. Therefore, You're NOT a Christian Church. Read the dictionary if you don't believe me.