(pause)
Actually, Beck is a Mormon, but to some folks in the Christian evangelical movement he might as well kneel at the alter of the prince of darkness because they firmly believe Mormonism is a cult with nothing good to show for it.
The FOTF interview drew the ire from several evangelicals who accused Dobson of compromising true Christian doctrine for the sake of political correctness. In other words, if the featured guest doesn't match the specific theological criteria adhered to by FOTF, said guest should be booted.
Mormons aren't Christians, according to FOTF's critics, ergo Glenn Beck had no business discussing his book (which, by the way, features the very Christian themes of hope, redemption, and love) on the FOTF site.
I am not a Mormon, nor do I play one on TV. No one in my family belongs to the LDS church.
I have had the privilege, however, of being associated with several Mormons over the course of my adult life and, theological differences aside, found them to be incredibly lovely and caring people with a commitment to their families and community at large that's tough to beat.
While a handful of shrill evangelicals tarnishes the very heart and soul of Christian doctrine with their pronouncements about who will or won't enter The Kingdom (I know what the Bible says, so don't throw Scripture at me, please. It also says God has the final say, does it not?) the Mormons I have known go about their business of raising children, serving on their local school boards and volunteering in a whole host of other ways.
I used to write for a newspaper in a little town south of Houston where the Mormon community there regularly opened its church facilities to a variety of civic functions. They provided a place for the Boy Scouts to meet and hosted several publilc affairs events. Their members served in various public capacities and never failed to graciously grant me interviews when I needed them.
The town, settled by Quakers, boasted an incredible diversity of religions including the aforementioned LDS church, a Catholic church, a Lutheran church, a Friends (Quaker) church, and several others. Everyone knew everyone else, the churches and their leaders regularly cooperated on civic projects, and in general it was a nice, balanced place to live (and, for me, to work).
No one ever quizzed me about my religious leanings, nor was I ever approached about "converting."
The midwife who delivered three of my children and who is an honorary member of our family for life is also a Mormon.
Her love, compassion and dedication to us and to our children long ago surpassed her professional obligations, and it hurts me personally anytime her religion is condemned. I know her well, I know her as an intelligent, giving, thoughtful, amazing, eminently capable person and her acceptance of God and her relationship with Him are evident in the way she conducts her life and relationships with others. She has embraced each of my last three children, the first hands to hold them were hers, and she has never failed to remember them at holidays or on other special occasions. She has delivered babies for the rich, the poor, the unmarried and married, those of the Christian faith, Muslim faith, no faith, white folks, black folks, brown folks, and always with the same gracious and godly approach. She prays for wisdom as she attends each birth and the outcomes reflect this. She has never condemned me for being fat.
If that's what being a Mormon is all about, then I guess I wish more folks follow suit!
See, we have to decide whether how a person worships is more important than what they worship. I am a Protestant, so there are aspects of a Catholic worship service that don't resonate with me. But at the end of the day, it's the same God, the same Christ, the same set of commandments, the same Gospel. I'm comfortable enough to stand on our common ground, and see no need to lambaste them for being different.
Likewise, Jews don't accept Jesus as the Messiah, but we share those same commandments, the same psalms, the same wise proverbs, and the same belief in one God vs. the many.
Mormons have their own denominational book and their own take on the nature of Christ. They have ceremonies and traditions that are not familiar to mainstream Christians, and the history of their faith is routinely called into question.
Come to think of it, on that last point they have everything in common with mainstream Christians! Have you seen the many books written these past 10 years that attempt to debunk the very existence of Jesus?
But to say they are not Christians is, well, just not for me to say. It boils down to fingerpointing, with the LDS side asserting its Christianity and the anti-LDS side denying it.
It's an argument that seems impossible to resolve unless you start to think like me or I start to think like you, and that is the sort of argument that tends to waste people's time and accomplishes little.
Look, don't take my word for it. Even I don't take my word for it. Instead, I went to the source itself, a website created to answer the types of questions non-Mormons seem to need answered. I've probably violated someone's copyright so I beg forgiveness in advance. Below is a bit of my research. Accept what is acceptable and in agreement with your understanding of Christianity and reject what is not. The first italicized paragraph is an exposition on the LDS Church's First Article of Faith. The rest of the articles follow:
We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.”
Mormon doctrine teaches about God, the Father, Jesus Christ, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. Christianity often calls these three the Holy Trinity. Mormonism favors the term Godhead instead of Trinity, in order to distinguish its belief in the nature of God.
Mormon doctrine claims that the Godhead is three separate individuals. God, the Father, is literally the spiritual Father of all mankind. He has a glorified body of flesh and bone. Mormons believe what is written in Genesis 1:27, “So God created man in his [own] image,” is also literal. If God were to reveal Himself today, He would appear as a man, for man is created after His image. Although the image is the same, His body is not a mortal body, but a perfect, immortal body. As our Father, God shares passions and personality common to men. He loves us as a father would love his children. He rejoices in our righteousness and sorrows for our sins. God is all powerful, and all knowing, benevolent, and just. He is perfect, and His desire is for us to become like Him.
Jesus Christ is the firstborn spirit of God, according to Mormon doctrine. Because we are all spirit children of God, this makes Him our elder brother. Jesus was chosen before the world was created to be the Savior of all mankind. Under the direction of His Father, He created the earth and became Lord over all things. He ruled as Jehovah of the Old Testament and came to earth as Jesus of Nazareth. He had a mortal mother, Mary, but His Father was God. With this sacred parentage He was able to make Atonement for the sins of the world, being sacrificed for all our sakes when he was crucified. After three days He was resurrected and now sits at the right hand of God, possessing an immortal, glorified body like God the Father. Mormon doctrine says that Jesus Christ will be our mediator at the judgment bar of God. Because He has suffered all things, He will know how to judge us mercifully. Our sins are forgiven through obedience to Jesus Christ.
The Holy Ghost is a distinct personage in the Godhead, according to Mormon belief, but does not have a physical body as do God and Jesus. He is a personage of spirit and thus His influence can be everywhere at once. It is through the Holy Ghost that the power of God is wrought. The Holy Ghost is the revealer of truth. No one can know of God or Jesus Christ except by the power of the Holy Ghost. He is the Comforter that Jesus spoke of in John 14:26, “But the Comforter, [which is] the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” Because of the Holy Ghost, the power and influence of God can always be with us. The Mormon (LDS) Church teaches that the gift of the Holy Ghost may only be given by priesthood authority.
Articles of Faith
1st We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.
2nd We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam’s transgression.
3rd We believe that through the atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.
4th We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are: first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.
5th We believe that a man must be called of God, by prophecy, and by the laying on of hands by those who are in authority, to preach the Gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof.
6th We believe in the same organization that existed in the Primitive Church, namely, apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists, and so forth.
7th We believe in the gift of tongues, prophecy, revelation, visions, healing, interpretation of tongues, and so forth.
8th We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God.
9th We believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe that He will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God.
10th We believe in the literal gathering of Israel and in the restoration of the Ten Tribes; that Zion (the New Jerusalem) will be built upon the American continent; that Christ will reign personally upon the earth; and, that the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisiacal glory.
11th We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may.
12th We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.
13th We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul-We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.
I like James Dobson. His book on raising boys has saved my sanity on more than one occasion and I've appreciated his willingness to stand up for traditional marriage and educational alternatives such as homeschooling.
But I'm disappointed in him this time around. In a world where so much divisivenes is already in play -- think of the incredibleand often horrible gulf between Islam and Christianity or Islam and Judaism, for example -- I'm sorry FOTF caved in to pressure from the holier-than-thou crowd.
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