Some Christians say, "Mormons are not Christians." They're offended that Mormons claim to be Christian.
I'm a Mormon, I'm OK with their uproar, and if they want to call me Mormon, that's fine. But let's just take a look at why Mormons consider themselves more like 1st century Christians -- those of the Apostolic Age (from Jesus to the end of the Apostles, called the Primitive Church.)
Most Christians believe in the Christian dogma of the 4th century -- The Nicene Creed of 325 AD. Mormons don't follow that creed.
Here's an example: 1st century Christians believed in a God that was a separate Being from Jesus; 4th century Christians adopted the creed of the Holy Trinity -- that God the Father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit are one-being, one in-essence, co-existing.
This Trinity, three Gods in one, was adopted in 325 AD -- at the Nicene Council. Under the Roman Emperor, Constantine, the First Council of Nicaea convened to decide what Christians should believe. The Emperor wanted a universal creed; he invited 1800 bishops from the Roman Empire -- about 220 - 318 showed up.
Constantine the Great summoned the bishops of the Christian Church to Nicea to address divisions in the Church (mosaic inHagia Sophia, Constantinople (Istanbul), ca. 1000).
Many bishops at the council did not agree with the creed, but they were out-voted and voted out. Those not following the creed were excommunicated and the books that contained these teachings were burned and those possessing those books were to be executed -- that's right, executed.
Emperor Constantine and the Council of Nicaea. The burning of Arian books is illustrated above. Drawing on vellum.
Ditto some Christians today. No differing interpretation of the scriptures or you are not Christian, you are exiled.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints believes that God the Father, Jesus Christ and The Holy Ghost or Holy Spirit are three separate Beings with one purpose. We believe that God has a tangible body, as does his son Jesus Christ; the Holy Ghost is a personage of spirit:
Joseph Smith's First Vision by Jon McNaughton, showing the Father and The Son as separate personages.
Some Christians want to excommunicate Mormons because we interpret the scriptures more like the earlier, 1st century Christians. Sounds a lot like the year 325 AD and the Emperor Constantine who enforced what it meant to be Christian.
Fresco in the Sistine portraying the Nicene Council of 325 AD
Comparing LDS Beliefs With First Century Christianity
Featured Image: Icon depicting the Emperor Constantine and the bishops of the First Council of Nicea (325) holding the Niceno–Constantinopolitan Creed of 381.
Oh My Goodness. Absolutely brilliant Delia! I love it. I will be linking it in a post soon on my blog. Thank you for sharing this with the world...I hope it goes viral! This is of course information that we as latter-day saints have known but it is time for the rest of the world to capture it and think about it!!
ReplyDeleteI am really getting weary of liberals who cannot seem to tolerate other people's beliefs and just want what they want. Now the conservatives are joining in. Mercy, heaven help us!
Thanks again, Bonnie
Thanks for this, Deila. All of the hullabaloo surrounding this, particularly in the political arena just makes me crazy. I wish more people understood and acknowledged what and who we are!
ReplyDeleteInteresting. You are right about most Christians agreeing with the Nicene Creed, but that is because most people who claim to be Christians are part of the Roman Catholic Church, who has over 1 billion members! I can't find on your blog where you are from, but I'm assuming the US, and if you DO live in the US, then I'm sure you have been around Christians of the Protestant Church. The majority of Christians in the US are Protestant, and most Protestant churches now reject the Nicene Creed.
ReplyDeleteHowever, most Protestant churches DO believe in the Trinity, but not as you describe it to be. Here is a link that has a diagram that is best described how I believe the Trinity is: http://theresurgence.com/2009/11/23/biblical-doctrine-the-trinity
Also, for more about the Trinity (how evangelical protestants believe it to be), you can read about it here: http://theresurgence.com/2010/03/05/biblical-doctrine-the-trinity-series-recap
I believe in the trinity, as described in the links above. The thing is, I'm okay with the thought that I may be totally wrong about the Trinity. We ALL may be totally wrong about it, because we only have the mere intelligence of a human being, and may not even be able to comprehend what the bible actually means when it infers to a possible trinity. God's intelligence is so beyond ours, who are we to think we know everything?! :)
Sorry that was so long!
bailey k. -- thank you for sharing this information with me and your understanding and beliefs in the Trinity. I read those links and viewed the image of the triangle, which is very interesting. There are some aspects that we agree upon. :)
ReplyDeleteI believe in looking for more common ground in our search for greater light and truth and I agree that God's intelligence is far beyond ours.
One of our apostles shared “We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost. We believe these three divine persons constituting a single Godhead are united in purpose, in manner, in testimony, in mission. We believe Them to be filled with the same godly sense of mercy and love, justice and grace, patience, forgiveness, and redemption. I think it is accurate to say we believe They are one in every significant and eternal aspect imaginable except believing Them to be three persons combined in one substance..." (http://jesuschrist.lds.org/SonOfGod/eng/testimonies-of-him/articles/the-only-true-god-and-jesus-christ-whom-he-hath-sent)
Nicely stated. I could've read more.
ReplyDeletealthough a Mormon Emeritus, I've always been insulted when they came out that we aren't Christian. Of course we are!
ReplyDeleteand
if you're a chocolate lover, I have a FB page: Chocoholics Anonymous
plz feel free to post.
thanks! of course I love chocolate, I will check it out.
DeleteAltho a Mormon Emeritus, I've always felt that Mormons are Christians. The haggling over different religous points is moot to me. and for the world's sake, there are so MANY pressing issues of which they should be more concerned.
ReplyDeleteWould like to see you have a discussion with Ed Flint (FB), Deila. He's a Mormon and an atty and thinks Mormons aren't Christians.
Thank you for this! I have been "shopping" for a religion if you will and I just keep falling in love with mormonism. It just makes so much sense to me!! But because of people like the person i know you're referring to with this post I keep straying away and denying my feelings! So thank you for that little extra motivation, I needed this!
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful comment to find. I hesitated to leave a comment at that other site, but felt prompted to do so. Now I understand why. l do hope you will give Mormonism a chance, jump in and read -- you can find more info here: http://mormon.org/ This weekend is General Conference and you can watch messages from our leaders -- a prophet and apostles and leaders of the women organizations here: http://www.lds.org/general-conference/watch?lang=eng
DeleteI read some of your blog, and it is lovely, your spirit shines through and I have a testimony that God does look after you. Email me with any questions. I have several sons that served missions and I know missionaries love to find golden contacts like you. So, keep me posted! deila@eveoutofthegarden.com