Mormonism and the "Cult" Question

It is at least intriguing, and possibly disturbing, to read that “The Billy Graham Evangel­istic Association (BGEA) recently removed an article from its website that listed Mormonism as a ‘cult.’  The change followed Mitt Romney’s home visit to Billy Graham last week, where the evangelist pledged ‘help’ to the Mormon presidential candidate’s campaign” [Christianity Today online 10-19-2012].

Here’s the BGEA’s justification for this action:  “‘Our primary focus at the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association has always been pro­moting the Gos­pel of Jesus Christ,’ Ken Barun, chief of staff for the association, told CNN in a statement.  ‘We removed the information from the website because we do not wish to participate in a theo­logical debate about something that has become politicized during this campaign’” [CNN online 10-16-2012].

Not everyone has swallowed that claim.  Pundits find the timing of the change suspicious.  Like CNN’s Roland Martin:  “To those of my fellow evangelicals who are on the religious right, please, stop your fake trumpeting of biblical values if you’re going to run roughshod over your biblical convictions and let your partisan views take center stage” [CNN online 10-23-2012].  Biola University’s Craig Hazen contends that this move “gives the appear­ance that the BGEA might think that—on certain occasions—they will let politics trump princi­ples” [Christianity Today online 10-19-2012].  “Appearance” is the key word here.  The BGEA’s action appears to be politically expedient.

Whatever we’re to conclude about the BGEA’s maneuver, I wouldn’t want anyone to think that Mormonism’s errors are minor matters.  In fact, The Church of Jesus Christ Latter-Day Saints (i.e., Mormon­ism) is decidedly contrary to biblical Christ­ianity.  Consider a few of their claims:  *Mormon­ism (founded in 1830) is the restored apos­tolic church; *God was once a man who progressed to god­hood; *the Trinity is actually three distinct gods; *humans can be exalted to godhood; *Jesus was originally a spirit-child of a hea­venly marriage who later progressed into deity; *Adam’s sin was a noble, vital act leading to godhood; *faith in Christ isn’t necessary for salvation but only to reach heaven’s highest echelons (cf. “The Bible and Religious Cults,” ESV Study Bible, pp. 2631-2).  They also accept other “scriptures,” such as The Book of Mormon, as divine revelation.  These departures from Christianity are serious and sobering. 

And so I encourage followers of Jesus Christ to be in prayer for Mormons, that they would come to faith in the one and only Savior.  And pray as well for the BGEA—for wisdom in this hour.

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Politics and Courage

I appreciate Kevin DeYoung's post in which he lists comments you most likely will not hear in this election season's debates.

What would happen in the public square if all the political posturing and staging and slanted characterization of opponents' views and sound-bite oversimplification (etc.) were somehow erased?  One thing's for sure, it would take courage for a candidate to follow that path.  But maybe, just maybe, people would welcome such radical, respectable conduct, and follow that kind of leader.
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