Commentary19

I want all to know that I am not nor have I ever thought of myself as a Cult Evangelist, ministering the Gospel to various cults such as Jehovah Witnesses, Mormons and similar groups of "unbelievers." These cults have historically taught a different doctrine of Jesus Christ or to put it plainly, another Christ, another gospel and yes, even another spirit (2 Corinthians 11:1-4) which defines them as "unbelievers." This is rather an attempt to discern whether or not we, the church, can sit down with unbelievers in dialogue, establish trusting relationships, bonding as friends, to discuss our common beliefs and our doctrinal differences. Can these other faiths, by modifying or adjusting a few attitudes or agreeing on a few changes in doctrine while still holding to their belief in another Christ, suddenly become our brothers and sisters as fellow Christians? In this commentary I am going to write about a recent event which clearly demonstrates a major change in the way the gospel is being presented, which is changing the face of evangelism forever. But first, I will give a brief overview of this event.

Last November of 2004, Dr. Ravi Zacharias, a leading Christian philosopher and apologist, spoke at the Salt Lake Tabernacle, in Salt Lake City, Utah, before a mixed crowd of both evangelical Christians and Mormon's. Ordinarily, most Christians would have considered this a major opportunity for this philosopher and apologist to preach the gospel to the unbelieving Mormon's. While Dr. Zacharias did preach a philosophical message to them in an outstanding presentation over three days, something did not sit right about any of this. It was after I finally watched the DVD's (made available for the public by purchasing at www.standingtogether.org) of the entire event that it became clear the reason for announcing to the world this unique friendship and relationship that has been developed.

For many years a number of groups have been preparing for this juncture between the two faiths. Behind the scenes Fuller Theological Seminary, under the leadership of Dr. Richard Mouw and StandingTogether.org under the leadership of Pastor Greg Johnson, have brought together Mormon theologians, scholars and apologists with their Christian counterparts to "dialogue" with each other about the commonalities and the differences between the two faiths.

Over the last few years plans were put into place to bring Dr. Zacharias into the picture, to have him speak at a function with the two faiths coming together under the banner of friendship. This was worked out with the Mormon leadership with the agreement of allowing Dr. Zacharias to speak on three occasions on the weekend of this last November 13th, 14th and 15th, speaking at the Mormon Tabernacle on the evening of the 14th. Dr. Zacharias was to present a three-part philosophical series, "In Pursuit of Truth" dealing with 1) The Basis for Truth, 2) Who is Truth? and 3) The Loss of Truth.

On Saturday evening Dr. Zacharias addressed a group of about 1500 at the University of Utah on the first item in the series, The Basis for Truth. He later had a Q&A session which can be seen on the DVD.

Sunday evening Dr. Zacharias gave the central and defining message of the entire weekend series with all the major players in attendance involved in bringing this event to fruition. Robert Millet, Pastor Greg Johnson's Mormon counterpart, began the evening with this:

"Ladies and gentlemen, brothers and sisters, friends......we're pleased to welcome you to this evening of friendship. This event has been thought about, planned for, prayed over and orchestrated for well over two years."

This is only but a brief portion of Robert Millet's opening statements but this is what first caught my attention. Immediately the scriptures came to mind from 2 Corinthians 6:14-18:

¹⁴Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

¹⁵And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?

¹⁶And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

¹⁷Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.

¹⁸And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

As Robert Millet finished and Pastor Greg Johnson made his opening remarks, I began to see this picture being formed in my mind of Christians and Mormons, now brothers and sisters in Christ. BUT, which Jesus Christ were we talking about here, which gospel was about to be preached here? Dr. Zacharias' message had not even begun and the atmosphere was one of deception in believing that the Mormon's were believing the same Jesus, that this was one of the commonalities of the dialogue that had taken place over the years in their desire to become friends. How could Christian's even pray with Mormon's in preparation for this event if the Jesus the Mormon's preach and believe is not the same as the Biblical Jesus Christ?

Pastor Greg Johnson introduced Dr. Richard Mouw, the President of Fuller Theological Seminary, and in his remarks he continued to give credibility and validation to the LDS Church even encouraging Evangelicals to become involved with the upcoming celebrations of Joseph Smith's anniversary. Dr. Mouw strongly implied that the Mormon's and Christian's today are on equal standing in their search for the truth, in their relationship with Jesus Christ. Again I ask, to which Jesus does he refer to here? He also apologized to the Mormons for sins that Evangelical Christianity and Cult Evangelists have done to them by bearing false witness against them ever since Joseph Smith started the church.

Robert Millet followed Dr. Mouw and he emphasized the strength of their relationship by exclaiming proudly, "I love Richard Mouw, he is my friend." Another question came to mind after hearing this, who or which group benefits more as a result of this relationship, the Christians or the Mormons? The more I have watched and read about this event, the more I am convinced that the Mormon's have looked forward to this happening, to validate the LDS Church to become another respected denomination (Can we say "World Church," ladies and gentlemen?). There is definitely a strong ecumenical fervor within Fuller and Standing Together which is being played out for all to see.

Millet then spoke regarding the Holy Spirit: "I am persuaded that God is working through His Holy Spirit, to lead and empower individuals and groups, to recognize light and knowledge wherever it is to be found, particularly light and knowledge concerning God and His plan for the salvation of the world." Again I ask, are we talking about the same Christ, the same gospel, the same Spirit here (As Millet gave these statements Pastor Greg Johnson was nodding his head in agreement.)?

Before I go much further I do want to say that Dr. Zacharias was introduced after all of the opening remarks and as I watched him preach the second part of his In Pursuit of Truth series, Who is Truth, he brought several strong points regarding the doctrines of Christ to the forefront in his sermon. He spoke of the exclusivity of Jesus Christ, the Trinity, and that Jesus Christ is the physical embodiment of absolute truth. This would have been an excellent sermon if delivered at a large gathering of people having no faith whatsoever.

One might ask, why are you seemingly nit picking about these supposedly small issues when Dr. Zacharias was there to present the Biblical view of Jesus Christ? It really boils down to this; if both faiths, the Mormons and the Christians began the event without defining who the historic Jesus Christ is, then it will be assumed that both faiths are speaking about the same Jesus leaving everyone present and all viewers of the DVD's with the impression that Mormon's are Christians too. Unfortunately, this is exactly what comes across on the DVD's. I was also disappointed to see that throughout the series Dr. Zacharias had not made any attempt to establish the differences between historic Christianity and Mormonism and this caused much confusion on the part of many Mormons who assumed that Dr. Zacharias was speaking of the same Jesus that they knew according to Mormon teaching. Was Dr. Zacharias afraid to preach the true gospel to the lost and dying who had come to the Mormon Tabernacle that night? Those who came to this event in their darkness and sin also left in this same condition, holding to their false doctrines and beliefs.

I really had not intended for this to be about Mormonism but actually I intended to address the way we approach others of different faiths with the gospel. What happened at this event is not about becoming friends and learning about other faiths or even understanding their worldviews; God is concerned that we could and ultimately will be influenced by another's religious beliefs if we get too close, even becoming completely deceived to the point of compromising the gospel of Christ. The scriptures below speak all to clearly:

For they will turn away thy son from following me, that they may serve other gods: so will the anger of the LORD be kindled against you, and destroy thee suddenly. Deuteronomy 7:4

Both Johnson and Millet remarked that this event was an "historic occasion" for both the Christian and the Mormon communities. In some ways, I do agree that this will be looked upon in that manner, but in what way exactly? If we look at the intended purpose of those involved in bringing the two faiths together, then maybe in this sense it was historic. I am saddened by what I have watched, over and over, hoping for a redeeming sign but rather seeing a slipping away from the very things Dr. Zacharias preached about over three days. I see a diminishing of the truth of God's word by our joining in partnership with another faith, contrary to the teachings of Christ, in effect, embracing the anti-Christ spirit of the Mormon church. I can see many smiling faces in the upper echelons of the Mormon leadership as we became the antithesis to their thesis and by our compromising; the consensus resulted in a watered-down attempt at evangelism which we blindly see as our victory. The Christian community has been diapraxed!

What we have seen and are seeing with greater frequency is something known as evangelicalism. This is not nor will it ever be evangelism as we have known it for almost 2000 years but a weakened, ecumenical attempt to reach the entire world for Christ, a very noble sentiment indeed. We are called to make disciples of all nations and most evangelistic endeavors continue in the tradition and biblical understanding of preaching the gospel. Sadly, I watch as many well meaning, well intended organizations carry on this new paradigm, hoping to Christianize the world, rather than truly making disciples. It is clear that this is what has happened with this event and I am afraid that this is the way things will be done from now on, even though it does not stand up to the biblical test. Even more disturbing is the trend toward redefining the word of God itself, re-inventing the gospel and the way it is preached, coming very close to Paul's rebuke bringing the anathema of God in Galatians 1:6-9.

In the book of Jude, in the third verse, we are told to contend earnestly for "the faith." Jesus Christ came to deliver the one faith, for all time to the saints, not Mormonism, not Jehovah Witness, not Hinduism, not any other.