Mormons and Jews have at least one thing in common: they have been rigorously persecuted, many times by hell-bent "Christians" with religion on their lips, but Christ still far form their hearts. This is a tragic, destructive reality, but one must not judge Christianity or Christ by Christians, just as one cannot attempt to describe the Creator through creation.
Nor should one be permitted to dismiss a rigorous understanding of the basic, essential difference between these two religions.
The central doctrine of Christianity, that Jesus Christ is the Messiah who served as the final fulfilling sacrifice, the propitiation of man's sins, is not central to the Mormon faith.
They attest to the divinity of Christ, they believe in His death and resurrection, but they also espouse that one must also be baptized and strive for the faith in order to be saved. This doctrine runs completely counter to the doctrine of grace by faith, in which no one can be saved by one's own efforts.
It is unfortunate that many people in the Evangelical community resort to hell-fire preaching in order to make this point; yet the fundamental tenets of orthodox Christianity and Mormonism are in irreparable conflict, and it is not bigoted for a grace-filled faithful Believer in Christ to voice this damning discrepancy. Despite the understandable desire of Councilor Paredes to bridge Mormons and Christians together through their similarities, the basic doctrine of salvation by grace through faith is the source of irreparable separation, especially because it qualifies Christ's sacrifice with man's efforts.
Mr. Parades' condescending characterization of Evangelicals must be tempered with this unshakable truth, and unavoidable difference, between the Christian faith and the Mormon religions.
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