WELL, ARE THEY CHRISTIANS?

A few years ago, when they still used it in the court room, witnesses were asked to place their hand on the Bible and "swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help me God." Ignoring the fact that swearing an oath is forbidden in the Bible, I find it strange that people seemed to need God's help telling the truth. And, by wording the pledge in such a way, it infers that one could embellish the truth, or leave out pertinent facts, both intended to mislead the jury. Yesterday, I asked "Are Mormons Christians?" You might have noticed that I didn't really answer the question. I believe some Mormons are saved, but it is in spite of their church. It is possible to believe the Gospel and still be confused by the church's doctrines. Being ignorant of all the Bible teaches is not the unpardonable sin. I believe that when a person realizes that Jesus died for them, He was buried and rose again for them, and they place their trust in Him, they are born again. What the organized churches add does not unsave a person.

The early Church required Gentiles to be circumcised before being accepted into fellowship, but a conference in Jerusalem decided they had been wrong (Acts 15:1-27). Since that time, some churches have added their own requirements. They teach that one must be a member of their church and be in good standing (whatever that means), in order to maintain salvation. Another teaches that one needs to be filled with the Holy Ghost and speak in tongues in order to be fully His. Still another requires baptism (often by a member of their church, and always by immersion) before a person is accepted as saved. And, nearly all of them believe the person has to attend church, avoid sin, and "support the church," before they are recognized as a believer. While it is true that a genuine believer in Christ's finished work on their behalf desires to do all of these things, it neither proves or disproves their sincerity. A backslidden Christian very often appears to be unsaved.

What churches generally do is "judge another man's servant" (Romans 14:4). Unfortunately, most churches believe that a person possessing everlasting life, can somehow lose it. However, when one considers that all Christians still sin, and that the Christian will be at war within himself until the day he joins the Lord (Romans 7:all), no one by their standards could remain saved. By their reasoning, it seems ludicrous to call what the Christian has as everlasting. And yet, that is exactly how Jesus described it in John 3:16.

The truth is, placing one's faith in Jesus Christ results in eternal life. Adding to, or taking from the simple Gospel, makes it a false gospel. Paul had some harsh words for those guilty of such (Galatians 1:6-9). Mormonism, like so many mainstream denominations, fails to teach the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. The Creator of the Universe, Jesus Christ died, was buried and rose again according to the Scriptures (the Bible). Faith in Him results in eternal life. God will finish what He has started in the believer (Philippians 1:6; 2:13; Hebrews 12:1-8).