I suppose it's inevitable that when one of the main Republican presidential candidates is a Mormon, the LDS faith is going to start appearing more frequently in the news and public discussion. Honestly, I find this refreshing, because there are so many myths that surround our beliefs.
Of course, the frustrating part is that somehow it seems that all the myths are being reinforced rather than explained. The polygamy and the horns and the magic underwear—none of these strangling of LDS beliefs bugs me more than the idea that we're not Christians.
Take this article, which discusses some ideas tossed out by Bill Maher. He accuses us Mormons as being "too quick to gloss over the differences between being Christian and being Mormon." Hmmmm. As I don't think there is a difference, let's examine the idea.
What does the word "Christian" mean, anyway? If you look it up in the OED (arguably the definitive expert on words and what they mean) you'll read that Christianity is "The religion of Christ; the Christian faith; the system of doctrines and precepts taught by Christ and his apostles."
Or, try looking at the word from the word's structure: "Christ" refers to Jesus Christ, of course, and "ian" is a suffix which means "from, related to, or like (adjective); one from, belonging to, relating to, or like (noun)." So, strictly speaking about the structure, a Christian is a person who is from, related to, like, or belongs to Christ.
Of course, the frustrating part is that somehow it seems that all the myths are being reinforced rather than explained. The polygamy and the horns and the magic underwear—none of these strangling of LDS beliefs bugs me more than the idea that we're not Christians.
Take this article, which discusses some ideas tossed out by Bill Maher. He accuses us Mormons as being "too quick to gloss over the differences between being Christian and being Mormon." Hmmmm. As I don't think there is a difference, let's examine the idea.
What does the word "Christian" mean, anyway? If you look it up in the OED (arguably the definitive expert on words and what they mean) you'll read that Christianity is "The religion of Christ; the Christian faith; the system of doctrines and precepts taught by Christ and his apostles."
Or, try looking at the word from the word's structure: "Christ" refers to Jesus Christ, of course, and "ian" is a suffix which means "from, related to, or like (adjective); one from, belonging to, relating to, or like (noun)." So, strictly speaking about the structure, a Christian is a person who is from, related to, like, or belongs to Christ.
But maybe that's not official enough. How about the explanation of the history of the word "Christian," this time from The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church:
"Originally applied to followers of Christ by outsiders, being first used in Acts 11:26"
"Originally applied to followers of Christ by outsiders, being first used in Acts 11:26"
"the official Roman designation of members of the Catholic Church"
St. Ignatius of Antioch says "let me not merely be called 'Christian' but be found one."
"As the name for which the martyrs suffered and as containing the name of Christ, the term easily came to fill the obvious need for a proper name by which the church could designate itself as distinct from Jews and pagans (and later from Muslims) rather than the earlier term 'brethren,' 'disciples,' and 'believers.'"
OK. So, if we look at it with a wider historical perspective, perhaps the only real Christians are Catholics.
I wonder if that bugs the Baptists?
Now, let me say this: I know my church has its faults. Quite often its people are judgmental. I sometimes feel stifled by its restraints and have been known to roll my eyes in the face of some of the more ridiculous (to me) statements other members make.
But I think that speaks more about me than to my religion. And let's be honest here. Being a Christian doesn't make you perfect. (Coincidentally, none of the definitions or histories suggest perfection either.)
Being a Christian simply means that you believe in and try to follow the example of Christ.
I believe with all my heart that everything else is just dressing. No matter what the details of your demonination are, no matter the rituals or the oddities or the problems or the absolute pristine moments of spiritual connection, if you believe in Christ, you are a Christian.
Friedrich Schleiermacher, a German philosopher whose attempts to reconcile the chasm he saw between Orthodox Christians and the opinions of the Englightement led him to be named "the father of modern liberal theology," gives a helpful definition for Christianity:
"A monotheistic faith . . . essentially distinguished from other such faiths by the fact that in it everything is related to the redemption accomplished by Jesus of Nazareth."
All the definitions and the histories point to the same thing: Christianity is a religion founded on the teachings of Jesus Christ.
Those who say that Mormons aren't Christians are, quite simply, wrong. This is because of one essential fact: we believe in Jesus Christ. I believe in Jesus Christ.
And I know all the arguments. That it's not really Christ but Joseph Smith we worship. (Incorrect. This is like saying Catholics aren't Christians because they believe other people besides Christ were also saints.) Or we don't believe in the Bible. (We do; we just happen to also believe that other scriptures exist as well as, in addition to, including the Bible.) Or that we think our underwear is magic. (We don't. Hasn't anyone ever heard of symbolism?) Whatever the trappings of our faith, you can trace each and every one of them back to Christ. Everything is related to the redemption accomplished by Jesus of Nazareth. Isn't that what Catholics believe? And the Protestants and the Presbeterians and the Lutherans?
So! To Bill Maher I say: you're wrong. To Robert Jeffress and Rick Perry I say the same thing. You're wrong. Your statements aren't made out of research or out of any facts, but out of stupidity and fear and downright arrogance. Who made you God and gave you the power to determine someone's Christianity?
We Mormons are Christians because we believe in Christ. We're Christians because what we do always comes back to that essential fact: we believe in Christ.
But here's a little gospel-according-to-Amy: I don't think anyone, let alone a politician or a political commentator, gets to say who is a Christian and who is not. My church leaders or yours cannot do it. Only an individual and her maker know that. No one else but me gets to say how Christian I am. And while I'm certain that my saying this in my tiny little corner of the Internet will make no difference to the world at large, it does make a difference to me:
I believe in Christ.
OK. So, if we look at it with a wider historical perspective, perhaps the only real Christians are Catholics.
I wonder if that bugs the Baptists?
Now, let me say this: I know my church has its faults. Quite often its people are judgmental. I sometimes feel stifled by its restraints and have been known to roll my eyes in the face of some of the more ridiculous (to me) statements other members make.
But I think that speaks more about me than to my religion. And let's be honest here. Being a Christian doesn't make you perfect. (Coincidentally, none of the definitions or histories suggest perfection either.)
Being a Christian simply means that you believe in and try to follow the example of Christ.
I believe with all my heart that everything else is just dressing. No matter what the details of your demonination are, no matter the rituals or the oddities or the problems or the absolute pristine moments of spiritual connection, if you believe in Christ, you are a Christian.
Friedrich Schleiermacher, a German philosopher whose attempts to reconcile the chasm he saw between Orthodox Christians and the opinions of the Englightement led him to be named "the father of modern liberal theology," gives a helpful definition for Christianity:
"A monotheistic faith . . . essentially distinguished from other such faiths by the fact that in it everything is related to the redemption accomplished by Jesus of Nazareth."
All the definitions and the histories point to the same thing: Christianity is a religion founded on the teachings of Jesus Christ.
Those who say that Mormons aren't Christians are, quite simply, wrong. This is because of one essential fact: we believe in Jesus Christ. I believe in Jesus Christ.
And I know all the arguments. That it's not really Christ but Joseph Smith we worship. (Incorrect. This is like saying Catholics aren't Christians because they believe other people besides Christ were also saints.) Or we don't believe in the Bible. (We do; we just happen to also believe that other scriptures exist as well as, in addition to, including the Bible.) Or that we think our underwear is magic. (We don't. Hasn't anyone ever heard of symbolism?) Whatever the trappings of our faith, you can trace each and every one of them back to Christ. Everything is related to the redemption accomplished by Jesus of Nazareth. Isn't that what Catholics believe? And the Protestants and the Presbeterians and the Lutherans?
So! To Bill Maher I say: you're wrong. To Robert Jeffress and Rick Perry I say the same thing. You're wrong. Your statements aren't made out of research or out of any facts, but out of stupidity and fear and downright arrogance. Who made you God and gave you the power to determine someone's Christianity?
We Mormons are Christians because we believe in Christ. We're Christians because what we do always comes back to that essential fact: we believe in Christ.
But here's a little gospel-according-to-Amy: I don't think anyone, let alone a politician or a political commentator, gets to say who is a Christian and who is not. My church leaders or yours cannot do it. Only an individual and her maker know that. No one else but me gets to say how Christian I am. And while I'm certain that my saying this in my tiny little corner of the Internet will make no difference to the world at large, it does make a difference to me:
I believe in Christ.
Amen! I simply adore your style of thought, your persuasiveness, your passion. I adore your unbelievably thoughtful prose and your cool-headed explanation. Best of all, I adore your fearless declaration of belief. Amen and amen.
Posted by: Lucy | Thursday, November 10, 2011 at 10:00 AM
I love this so much. Love. Thank you so much for writing this in such simple, beautiful, convincing language. I know that many people argue that Mormons aren't Christian because they don't subscribe the the Nicean Creed...but I just looked that up and, for a document that is 1,700 years old it still pretty accurately describes what I believe.
Amazing.
xox
Posted by: heidikins | Thursday, November 10, 2011 at 11:56 AM
Go Amy! I love this so much. I think you said this perfectly. What a straight-forward, heartfelt testimony and declaration. You are awesome and a great example of a Christian and a Mormon.
Posted by: Becky K | Thursday, November 10, 2011 at 12:12 PM
Well said!
Posted by: AnnieB | Friday, November 11, 2011 at 10:24 AM
I love it!! Thank you, I wish that I could explain it so eloquently. Very, very well said.
Posted by: Lilly | Friday, November 11, 2011 at 06:25 PM
You are AMAZING!!! I wanna copy and share it all over...so your little "corner" on the internet is made a little bit bigger!!! Thank you for saying it so incredibly well Amy!!!
Posted by: Becki | Saturday, November 12, 2011 at 12:21 AM
Beautiful testimony. Here and today at church. I am inspired by your comments about memorization. I need to do that. I would buy the annotation space scriptures too.....
Posted by: Jamie | Sunday, November 13, 2011 at 04:30 PM
BAM! Right on! I wish this article would get a wider distribution, like Newsweek's "My Turn" or something like that.
Posted by: Ray | Sunday, November 13, 2011 at 09:53 PM
WELL SAID, SISTER. You vocalized what I feel. And your talk yesterday in church? Yep, it was just for me. LOVED IT.
Posted by: Judy | Monday, November 14, 2011 at 03:12 PM