KingdomBuilder wrote:Heirbyadoption wrote:I addressed a similar question to KingdomBuilder in the OTC thread regarding Mormons and LDS since the thought was expressed about extending them the hand of fellowship along with other Christians. It might be better answered here. I'd be interested in anybody taking a stab at it, not just KB, though. Is there a place for discernment, or some sort of line, such as Ohio asks?
Okay, I read your other post but I'll just reply here.
On an aside, I realize that LDS and JWs get bundled together a lot. In my opinion, LDS is on a totally different level with their doctrine than JWs are. So, it's going to be a lot easier for me to have possible fellowship with the JWs.
I think the "line" should be with people, not individuals. I know there are LDS who are terrible LDS, but great Christians. Lots of people in denominations are there without understanding much at all about the theology/ doctrines. It's surprising how ignorant some can be. I know this goes on in Missionary Baptists, Methodists, and I'm sure it goes on in CA circles, too.
My mode of operation is to approach self-professing Christians as, first and foremost, Christians. Not [insert title] Christians, just Christians. You will often find yourself surprised. I don't think we should draw the "line" too superficially or quickly.
Now, let's say that your fears are confirmed- the person you've extended fellowship to is knee-deep in LDS, etc., thinking... Now what? Is it really that difficult to adjust spiritually from fellowship and evangelism? I don't think so... They have a lot in common. Evangelism should be our fellowship with those who are lost.
I appreciate your approach. Just something to consider, and again I'm speaking only from my studies and personal conversations with individual friends and members from both groups (in case somebody has had a different experience), but I'd respectfully suggest JWs are just as out to lunch Scripturally as the LDS movement. Off the top of my head, there's the well known usual JW denial of Jesus Christ is God, and relegation of Him to being a created angel. Probably another one of the biggies for me that I have encountered is their outright denial of the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ and their replacement teaching that Jesus' body was dissolved into gases.
Further, at the with the ones I have spoken with at length, I have found most of them to be quite familiar with their theology, though admittedly that would be more among JWs than LDS, due to the intensive Sripture studies of the JWs. Continuing from above, to the last one those I have spoke with deny that the Holy Spirit is God, and insist that the Holy Spirit is simply a impersonal force, like electricity. More importantly, they teach that salvation must be earned or merited, and that in order obtain salvation and escape judgment, a person must ultimately join and work within the Jehovah's Witness organization. Additionally, they deny the endless punishment of the wicked and promote annihilationism instead, they deny that human beings have a spirit that exists after death, and that eternal life in God's presence is only for a select few, while the rest of humanity must remain on earth. And I recognize there may disagreement even on MN on this one, but they also deny the Triune Godhead and teach that Satan invented the doctrine of the Trinity.
That's scratching the surface. My original question remains, I guess. What sort of criterion do you base your discernment on that would allow you to include in fellowship individuals who hold to these sort of things? I understand the need for evangelism, but I was under the impression you would generally include LDS and JWs in fellowship. Maybe I misunderstood. If so, I apologize.