Saved by The Wrong Jesus?
September 22nd, 2009 | 
Author: Most critics are one trick ponies, meaning they have a very small arsenal of baseless accusations to draw from. Nevertheless, if you tell the same lie enough times, people start to believe it no matter how incredible. The criticism I find the most implausible is that Mormons believe in a “different Jesus”, who is either imaginary or fraudulent.
I always root for the underdog; I believe all human beings deserve respect regardless of status; and I’m quick to speak out against injustice towards others. One thing I’m not, however, is vengeful. It is said that hate begets hate, and violence begets violence, but when I recently considered the amount of pain, betrayal, and abuse I had been the recipient of throughout my life, I only had to wonder briefly why it now seemed so irrelevant. The reason came to mind almost instantly: “Because you have been saved.” Temporal loss means nothing when you know you’ve been promised everything.
While I don’t think my experience is unique among Mormons, I’ve often wondered why, if you ask a Sunday School class of Latter-Day Saints whether we are saved by grace or works, they’ll each give you a different answer. To be fair, when asked the same question, I always fail to offer a concise reply. How could I have been raised on the truth of the restored gospel and not know? Perhaps it’s because we’ve all been cornered into using the wrong terms–those of our critics. Thus, in my own words, I will explain how I believe we are saved.
God has a gift for us. It’s more than just a happy place; it’s an endowment of power, obtained by means of covenant–not payment. We don’t earn it, nor do we even deserve it, but we still must ultimately prove that we’re ready to receive it. When we become Latter-day Saints, we commit through faith to be Sons and Daughters of God. Thus, we covenant to be his children, and he covenants to be our Father. This is a parent-child relationship and easy enough to understand. If you’re weak but committed, God will be long-suffering towards you. If you’re able but stubborn, then he may ultimately give up on you.
The Book of Mormon itself says that Salvation is free. Once you have obtained the promise, you only want to live worthily of it and grow. Your works become acts of gratitude. Is the gift of Salvation conditional? Yes, but that doesn’t change the fact that God will never lose faith in you if you never lose faith in Him.
My Savior has been long-suffering, generous, and merciful towards me. Because he has given and taught me so much already, I have no reason to doubt the promise of Eternal Life and proclaim it to others. So I ask, what ‘other Jesus’–being so silent and inconsequential–is more deserving of my devotion?
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Tags: anti-mormon, atonement, critic, different jesus, grace vs works, lds, mormonism, salvation, same jesus, saved by grace, saved by works, what mormons believe
Well-spoken Noah, I especially liked the phrase
“God has a gift for us. It’s more than just a happy place; it’s an endowment of power, obtained by means of covenant–not payment. We don’t earn it, nor do we even deserve it, but we still must ultimately prove that we’re ready to receive it.”
We don’t earn salvation and exaltation for God is already more than ready to give it to us, but we’re not ready yet. We must become worthy of it.
I have long considered the silly idea that we believe in a “different Jesus” to be a specious argument present by our critics so that they can deny the fact they actually share some doctrines with us. I feel they want to be as different from us as they can possibly be, no matter that the truth becomes a victim.
Was I saved by the “wrong Jesus?” No. I tell our critics that I accepted Christ as my Saviour when I attended a baptist church back in 1970. When I became LDS, I knew the Christ I continued to worship was the same I had always known, but my relationship was now much closer and more full.
Oh, and I’m an old guy here.
We like to hear from everybody on the blog, old or young. I hope you stick around.
I once heard a good point from a critic (can’t remember where). He said that since Mormons do not recognize the validity of baptisms of other sects, we can’t both call each other Christians.
He’s right in terms of how the word Christian should probably be defined…one who has entered a covenant relationship of Sainthood under Christ.
Fair enough, when I acknowledge other Christians as such, I see them as devotees of Christ (to the extent that they understand Christ), not covenant sons and daughters.
Is it lying then to acknowledge the ‘Christianity’ of other sects? Well, pardon me for rationalizing, but I see it more as reciprocation and living the Golden Rule, so no.
A question that can be asked then if there IS such a thing as “a different Jesus.” What did Paul mean in 2 Corinthians 11:4? To whom, if anyone, would this apply?
Very good question. I assume a “different Jesus” would have to be a fraud. I suppose between any two self-professed Christians, you’re going to have a series of possibilities:
A) They both believe in the “real” Jesus, B) neither believe in the “real” Jesus, or C) one does, and one doesn’t.
That said, what are the criteria for establishing belief in the real Jesus vs. a different one?
And can these criteria be measured beyond one’s own personal or subjective experience?
Q: How do we know who has the “right” Jesus?
A: We don’t, but we both have faith in a man we call, Saviour, God, and Lord. Who are we to say he cannot forgive all who call on his name, whether they have all the covenents or not?