“But they are so nice!”

Have you ever had Christians object to your claims that Mormons aren’t Christian?  They seem offended and typically exclaim, “But they are so nice!”  

I usually respond by saying, “I didn’t say they weren’t nice.  In my experience they make fantastic neighbors, friends and co-workers.  I’m just saying that their beliefs are radically different from Christianity.  They speak of Jesus but he is not the Jesus of the Bible.”

The have the same vocabulary but a different dictionary. 

They don’t appear to realize that with matters of doctrine the issue isn’t whether someone is “nice” or not.  It is whether the doctrine in question is true.

I don’t think they switch topics deliberately.  I think they have just confused the word ”nice” with ”Christian” for so long that they don’t understand the distinction.

As Kevin Bussey points out, Mormons attack other faiths as well and historically speaking have claimed that they are the one true faith rather than just another Christian denomination.  I disagree with their theology, of course, but I am not offended that they say they think they have the one true way.  We can discuss each other’s truth claims and I am confident that orthodox Christianity will win out.  But I do find it disingenuous when they claim that they are Christians. 

The Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry has some excellent write-ups on Mormonism.  With just a little reading you’ll see how drastically different their doctrines are from Christianity.  There are huge holes in many of their claims.

I encourage Christians to be aware of some of the basic distinctions in the event that you want to engage Mormons who come to your door.  I’ve spent a fair amount of time with them the last two times they came by, so I’m virtually certain that now I’m on their “do not call” list.   I listened carefully to their whole presentation and we had very pleasant, balanced dialogues.  But I think they realize I’m not likely to convert.

The Mormons will ask you to read their holy books and see if you get a “burning in the bosom” to confirm its “truth.”  But this exercise is circular reasoning.  It takes the “burning” as proof that the Book of Mormon is from God, but it assumes that the burning comes from God.  And the whole issue is whether God is speaking at all. 

The Bible doesn’t teach us to rely on some feeling, it points to evidence and encourages you to put your trust in the finished work of Jesus Christ.

My current strategy is to ask Mormons whether they view the Bible as authoritative, since they usually bring a Bible and claim that the Book of Mormon is just a further revelation.  They typically respond, “Yes, to the extent it is properly interpreted.”  Then I ask if they know of any errors.  They haven’t yet.  Then I have them read this passage written by the Apostle Paul:

Galatians 1:8-10 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned! As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned! Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.

Then I ask if the Book of Mormon preaches a different Gospel than what Paul preached.  If they say it is the same Gospel, then I tell them I don’t need a redundant revelation.  I’ll stick with the Bible. 

If they say it is a different Gospel, then I tell them I’ll stick with the Bible and that they should, too.  After all, the Bible teaches that adding to or taking away from the Gospel is a very serious offense. 

(It is also interesting that an angel allegedly brought the message of Mormonism to Joseph Smith, and the passage above says, “But even if we or an angel should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you . . .”)

Also see If Mormons are Christians.