I had a chat with some Mormons whom I
encountered while walking through the Botanic Gardens a few months ago. The two
Mormon guys said that they were from America, in particular, the state of Utah.
I have read up a little about Mormonism in the past, and occasionally see these
caucasian Mormon missionaries in public places, but this was the first time
that they had approached me. I know that within mainstream Christianity, most
people regard Mormonism as a cult and not part of Christianity. Nevertheless, I
decided to listen to what the two Mormon guys had to say.
The introduction was fairly
uncontroversial, with talks about believe in Jesus Christ and his death on the
cross for salvation of sins. Then comes the clutch, where one of the Mormons
ask whether I would like to have a closer and more personal relationship with
Jesus Christ. This, even though I had told them that I was already Christian
and believe in Jesus Christ. What came next was talks about how a prophet in
America named Joseph Smith established the true church of God, with the sole
authority to administer forgiveness of sins on earth. I asked the Mormons why
they regard Joseph Smith as speaking the truth. They described the account of
Joseph Smith and his encounter with God in his prayers in which he asked which
is the true church of God on earth, with God replying him that none of the
churches on earth is true. I probed them further about why they should believe
whatever Joseph Smith says. They came to a concluding remark that this is
something which one can confirm by asking God, and cite James 1:5 on how one
can receive wisdom by asking God.
I suppose I kind of expected the answers
that they had to give. And I doubt that I would be able to give any conclusive
rebuttal to whatever they are saying. All I can hope to do is to draw out
doubts.
As I recount my encounter with the
Mormons, I also reflect about my Christian faith. How far is Christianity
similar or different to Mormonism? Is there a double standard in the way in
which I express skepticism about Mormonism as compared to with Christianity? I
am put off by the Mormon’s claim of exclusivity to have the sole authority of
God on earth as a church, but I figure that the exclusivity of Christianity in
proclaiming a belief in Jesus as the sole means to salvation could similarly be
off-putting to people of other religions. The Mormon’s prod to take a step of
faith to believing would also be similar to how Christians would prod a
nonbeliever. Also if you should ask for a sign as proof, the Mormon would
assert that faith is believing what you cannot see, and quite a number of
Christian would also use that as a reply should a nonbeliever ask them for a
sign. In likewise fashion, a Mormon would instruct a non-Mormon to seek wisdom
from the Holy Spirit or God to know the truth, as would quite a number of Christians
to a non-believer.
I wonder then what would be the
superiority of mainstream Christianity over Mormonism. I suppose a Christian
may argue that there is more credentials and testimonial witnesses to the
historical account of Jesus and his claims than for the claims of Joseph Smith.
I also suppose that a Christian may argue that Jesus did signs and miracles in
his time on earth to prove his authority as God, but I suppose a Mormon may
claim likewise about Joseph Smith. Sometimes though, I wonder how far signs and
miracles are conclusive of a person’s divinity or divine authority. Can’t Satan
and demons do wonders and miracles as well? Some Christians may very well
charge a nonbeliever for blasphemy against the Holy Spirit for questioning
whether the signs and miracles of Jesus are that of God. But I suppose a Mormon
can very well lay the same charge on someone who questions the works or
miracles of Joseph Smith.
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