Tertullian was a second-century Christian apologist from Carthage, a city in Northern Africa. He is the renowned defender of the Christian faith who penned the famous Prescription Against Heresies. It is in his writing that we find the question: ‘What has Athens to do with Jerusalem?’ But what did he mean when he said this?
In
dealing with heresies of his day, Tertullian found that much he had to contend
with came from a mingling of philosophical inquiry (which he equated with Athens)
and Christian truth (which he equated with Jerusalem). Hence, his question:
‘What has Athens to do with Jerusalem?’ Tertullian taught that Christian truth
was not to be blended with anything else. To do so resulted in the worst kind of
heresy.
What
has Mormonism to do with Methodism?
A
recent article on LDS Living had the headline:
Methodist hospitality gives
local Latter-day Saint congregation a home in their community [1]
My first thought
upon reading this was not necessarily one of surprise, but rather dismay.
Doesn’t this Methodist church, and its leaders, know that the Mormons are a
non-Christian cultic group?
As I looked
further into Methodist connections with Mormonism, I discovered something
interesting. Methodism and Mormonism have a long historical relationship, going
all the way back to Jospeh Smith himself.
Writing his MA thesis at BYU, Christopher C. Jones writes:
Historians have long noted Joseph Smith’s early
interest in Methodism. Demographic studies of early Mormon converts have
demonstrated further that many of those attracted to the Mormon message on both
sides of the Atlantic came from Methodist backgrounds. These two points, and
the many similarities between Methodist and Mormon beliefs and practices, have
led many scholars to suggest that Smith’s church was influenced by the
Methodists who joined the movement.[2]
This begs a question that is beyond the scope of this post, but is definitely worth pursuing (perhaps in a future longer post/series): What were the ‘many similarities between Methodist and Mormon beliefs and practices’? One thing is for sure, the doctrine of historic Methodism can in no way be aligned to Mormon doctrine and belief.
Methodists have
always held that there is but One God, and this God is triune in nature. Jesus
is the eternal, not created, Son of God and the Holy Ghost is the eternal third
person of the Holy Trinity – all which are denied by Mormonism.
Methodism has always taught that we are saved by grace alone, through faith alone in Christ alone and not by any works. Mormonism teaches that individuals need to obey the laws and ordinances of the Mormon gospel to reach the ‘celestial’ kingdom.
So, the question in my mind is why would a Methodist Church and its leaders, allow a Latter-day Saint group to share its facilities? After all, Mormons have a different God, a different Jesus and a different gospel.
When Doctrine No Longer Matters
Let us continue
with the article from LDS Living:
In the small town of Morven, North Carolina, a
United Methodist congregation has opened their doors and their hearts to a
group of local Latter-day Saints. Church representatives met with New Hope
Church leader Michael Williams last fall with the inquiry: might a small group
of Latter-day Saints be allowed to share their church building to hold their
own Sunday meetings?
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints love to report that
other Christians welcome and accept them, after all Mormons are Christians -
right? Well, they are if by ‘Christian’ we just accept anyone who identifies
themselves as such. But if by ‘Christian’ we mean those who hold to the
historic, orthodox beliefs of the Church then Mormons couldn’t be any further
away.
The leader of the New Hope Church, Michael Williams called the
opportunity a “God-wink” experience—divinely guided rather than just
coincidence. In stating this, Williams clearly believes that God is not
concerned with truth. He could only consider this situation to be ‘divinely
guided’ if doctrine doesn’t matter.
LDS Living continues:
Shortly before he met with Charlotte North Carolina
South Stake President Bryan Jenkins to nail down the details of the agreement,
Williams had been studying the history of the Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints. When approached with the proposal, Williams responded:
“There is a need. We won’t hesitate.”
If Williams had been reading Latter-day Saint History, what made him
feel that it was okay to allow them to share their building? Surely, he should
have discovered that Mormonism is a quasi-Christian group.
From a web page regarding New Hope Church we find something of what they
believe:
New Hope United Methodist Church welcomes Christians and those who seek to understand Christianity in the Morven area. Our aim is to make contact with and encourage others to join us in our life-enhancing Christian journey.
New Hope United Methodist Church at Morven, North Carolina is a friendly Christian community where we welcome others to join us in our worship and service to God. Our emphasis is on learning and understanding the Bible and following the example of Jesus and his followers.[3]
Notice it says that it welcomes Christians and those who seek to understand Christianity. Into which group would they place the Mormons? Their emphasis ‘on learning and understanding the Bible…’ I would suggest they learn and understand what the Bible says about those who come to them with a different Jesus, a different Spirit, and a different Gospel, and how Paul admonishes those who put up with it.[4]
Why Doctrine Matters
Jule Canipe, who is now a Latter-day Saint but
attended New Hope as a child, and his wife Rena, appreciate the compassion and
hospitality of their neighbors. “It’s unbelievable. There are no words,” Rena
shared with gratitude.
It does not say how old Jule was when he attended New Hope as a child,
but how sad it is when one who was once in the church, joins a non-Christian
cult.
There can be several reasons why a person may leave a church to join the
Mormons, but perhaps the most oft cause is that a person was never catechised
in the church. That is, they were never really taught Christian truth,
therefore they have never had any way of measuring error.
They say they are Christian
“We are so grateful for our dear brothers, sisters,
and friends at New Hope. It has been a blessing to serve together, and we look
forward to working hand-in-hand to serve the community and others,” President
Jenkins said.
So,
no real distinction is seen between the New Hope United Methodists and the
Mormons. Sure, Mormon President Jenkins will believe that they are better than
the Methodists because they have the ‘fullness of the everlasting gospel’,
whilst it appears that New Hope leader Michael Williams is content to believe
that Mormons and Methodists are brothers and sisters in Christ.
In
the meantime, John Wesley is turning in his grave!
[1] https://www.ldsliving.com/Methodist-hospitality-gives-local-Latter-day-Saint-congregation-a-home-in-their-community/s/94517
[2] https://juvenileinstructor.org/an-insiders-view-of-early-mormonism-and-methodism/
[3] New Hope United Methodist
Church Service Times - Morven, North Carolina (joinmychurch.org)
[4] 2 Corinthians 11:4
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