Although God calls us to share the gospel with everyone, taking time to understand Mormonism can allow us to focus our gospel discussion on areas that build up kindling around them, allowing the Holy Spirit to ignite a fire and bring them under conviction. This can be a difficult task with any religion that uses the same language as we do because “saved by grace” means very different things to Mormons compared to Christians. Thus sharing the gospel isn’t merely about sharing Christ, but showing who Christ really is compared to who they think He is.
The need for the Bible as the source of truth
Relying on the Bible can be difficult with any religion who insists the Bible has been corrupted, using other sources to better interpret what it really means. By understanding the logical inconsistencies of Mormonism’s sources of truth, we are better able to find common ground in the Bible. It’s not absolutely necessary for a Mormon to have doubts about the Book of Mormon or the words of their prophets, but they are trained to believe that the Bible is full of errors, and anywhere it disagrees with Mormonism has clearly been corrupted.
For a brief rundown of what the Bible really is, check out our previous discussion (here), as well as our 3 step guide for reading the Bible (here) to help defend why the Bible must be a complete source of truth with no room for picking and choosing what we want to believe.
Every scripture is inspired by God and useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, (2 Timothy 3:16)
…speaking of these things in all his letters. Some things in these letters are hard to understand, things the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they also do to the rest of the scriptures. (2 Peter 3:16)
Eternity and works
Every Mormon insists that they’re saved by grace, not works. And within their own definition, they’re correct. Yet what they teach about grace and salvation doesn’t match what we see in the Bible.
In the Mormon church, they would agree that Christ took our place on the cross. They would even agree that works aren’t what gain us salvation. However, it’s important to remember that in Mormonism, everyone is technically saved from the punishment of sin (as long as they don’t join the Mormon church and then abandon it). However, works are absolutely critical when it comes to what each person’s eternity will look like.
It’s important to point out the Bible’s clear distinction made between those who believe and those who don’t. The Bible only gives us two destinations for humans souls: an eternity with God as redeemed humans, or an eternity in Hell as God’s enemies. The Bible makes no distinction between levels of resurrection based on a person’s works in life:
- Revelation 20:14-15 (Phillippians 4:3 is clear that only Christ’s followers are in the Book of Life, thus Revelation is clear that there is only 1 judgment for everyone else)
- Revelation 21:8
- Matthew 22:13-14 (I suggest reading the entire parable, but notice that many will be in outer darkness, not just the few who abandon the faith)
- Matthew 7:13-14
Thus it’s not a person’s works that determines what kingdom they will enter. A person’s works earn them one thing: God’s eternal wrath (Romans 6:23).
God doesn’t care how good a person is, and to think we can somehow do enough good for God to let our crimes go unpunished is to diminish the holiness of God and the horrific reality of sin. Our good works mean nothing to a holy and just God (Isaiah 6:46), and no amount of good or bad on our part can affect God’s standard.
The one who believes and is baptized will be saved, but the one who does not believe will be condemned. (Mark 16:16).
Christ died for sinners
Again, this is where it’s important to define terms. A Mormon would nod their head and agree that salvation only comes through Christ’s death. However,defining “salvation” yields a very different discussion. As we’ve seen, Mormons believe in a form of “universalism,” meaning that everyone will ultimately be saved from eternal punishment in some form. So Mormon’s don’t believe their salvation is from God’s wrath, but instead that “salvation” means resurrection and ascension into godhood by doing good works.
In Mormonism, sin isn’t much of a problem. Sin doesn’t sever our relationship with God, but instead affects our final status when we’re resurrected. Mormonism treats sin the same way many modern versions of Christianity treat it: the big problem with sin is how it affects us, not God.
But your sinful acts have alienated you from your God; your sins have caused him to reject you and not listen to your prayers. (Isaiah 59:2)
Yet the Bible is clear that we don’t hate sin because it affects our prosperity (in this life or in eternity), but because God hates it. Christ’s death set us free from sin, not so we could prosper by the world’s sinful standards, but so that we could fulfill our purpose of being slaves to God (Romans 6:18).
For a lengthier discussion on why Christ had to die for us, check out our 2 part discussion here and here.
Christ is our reward
In Mormonism, the reason to avoid sin and pursue righteousness is that it affects our final payout. Mormons don’t want God, they want godhood. The entire focus is on the self. The primary motivator is “What does following Christ get me?” When anyone claiming to represent Christ makes us ask that question, it’s a sure sign they’re a false teacher:
Their end is destruction, their god is the belly, they exult in their shame, and they think about earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven—and we also eagerly await a savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ (Philippians 4:19-20)
To treat Christ as a means to something greater is to completely miss who He truly is. Christ isn’t a rung on a ladder, helping us cilmb towards what we truly want. Christ is our ultimate. He is all we could possibly need because He lacks nothing. Consider a few ways we often forget that Christ is enough for us:
- He supplies our needs, not our wants (Phillippians 4:19)
- Everything in the universe was made by Him and for Him (Colossians 1:16)
- He is the one who makes us right before God (Romans 3:22-24)
- He not only saved us but continually perfects us (Hebrews 10:14)
- He gives us the strength to serve Him in spite of our weakness (2 Corinthians 12:8-9)
- Eternity with Him is worth sacrificing everything else (Matthew 13:44-45)
Throughout the entire New Testament, those who seek Christ as a means to something are always shown as false converts. They may like the idea of someone named Jesus, they may even pray to a deity named Jesus, but unless Jesus is the ultimate goal and reward, it’s a false god.
Not only do our sinful hearts need to be reminded of this every day, but Mormons especially need to see the importance of Christ. He simply cannot be an elevated human whose sole purpose was to let them pursue their dreams of power and godhood.
The aim of our lives begins and ends with finding satisfaction in Christ alone. Come wealth or poverty, prosperity or persecution, we can hate sin and love Christ through all of those temptations because He is enough.
as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. (Phillippians 1:20-21)
Always ask clarifying questions
As I’ve hinted at, it’s of utmost importance to understand how a Mormon is defining their terms. By asking clarifying questions, the conversation can naturally drive itself towards a gospel discussion. For example:
- “I’m saved by grace” What are you saved from? Why did you need to be saved?
- “I trust Christ for my salvation” How do you define salvation? Who is Jesus Christ?
- “The Bible is God’s word” Is it without error? Do you trust it to give the truth about God, Jesus, and salvation?
There are also a number of things Mormons believe that may sound like they agree with us until we dig deeper, such as:
- Views of eternity
- Our purpose on earth
- The value of doing good
- The point of repenting of sin
- The fate of those who don’t repent of sins and trust Christ for salvation
- The inherent goodness of people
The list could go on. When talking to a Mormon, always remember to ask questions. We need to know what they mean when they discuss, Jesus, sin, and the gospel. Even in researching this series of articles, I kept getting thrown for a loop because much of what they say sounds right until I remember how they understand their words.
Always point to Christ
As with speaking to anyone, be very careful about turning a presentation of the gospel into an argument over who is right. Mormons are well trained in defending their faith, and it can be easy to dilute the conversation with trying to point out logical inconsistencies. There is certainly value in helping them see why some things may not make sense, but even the best arguments will fall flat if our goal isn’t to point them to the true Jesus Christ.
… for the weapons of our warfare are not human weapons, but are made powerful by God for tearing down strongholds. We tear down arguments and every arrogant obstacle that is raised up against the knowledge of God, and we take every thought captive to make it obey Christ. (2 Corinthians 10:4-5)
We are absolutely called to defend our faith. However, we aren’t called to be debaters. We must always pursue Christ, showing people the truth of who He is and their need for the salvation purchased with His blood.
Any gospel discussion is at risk for arguments and anger. We even run the risk of feeling like we don’t always have the answers, making us fear to even give the gospel lest we be proven “wrong.” However, our job isn’t to jump into situations we only feel prepared for, nor is it our job to be so wise and clever that we win people to Christ.
As Christians, all we do is plant the seed. We remain faithful to God’s calling to preach the gospel to all people, knowing that we’re building kindling up around those we love enough to tell them the truth. It’s up to the Holy Spirit to ignite that kindling and show them the truth of who Christ is, who they are, and why they so desperately need Him. Not for godhood, and certainly not for an easier life, but because Jesus Christ is the ultimate reward.
How are they to call on one they have not believed in? And how are they to believe in one they have not heard of? And how are they to hear without someone preaching to them? (Romans 10:14)
I planted, Apollos watered, but God caused it to grow. So neither the one who plants counts for anything, nor the one who waters, but God who causes the growth. (1 Corinthians 3:6-7)
