Movements with Christian roots and their relation to historic Christianity

Program / Course 18: World Religions / Lesson 5.2

What you will learn

• Describe the origin and main teachings of the Latter-day Saints, Jehovah’s Witnesses and Christian Science as members describe them.
• State where each movement departs from the creeds of historic Christianity, according to the main churches.
• Explain why churches judge these groups by doctrine while members consider themselves Christian.
• Apply a fair method for speaking with members.

The big idea

Several movements began in the nineteenth century within a Christian setting and use Christian language, yet teach doctrines that differ from the creeds of historic Christianity. Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Jehovah’s Witnesses and Christian Scientists see themselves as following Christ, and some call themselves Christian. The Catholic, Orthodox and most Protestant churches judge that these groups differ from historic Christianity on God, Christ, scripture or salvation. This lesson sets out both views fairly.

Key terms

Restorationism

The belief that the true church was lost or corrupted and has been restored by new revelation or a new beginning.

Canon

The list of books accepted as Scripture. The movements in this lesson add other texts or interpretive works to the Bible.

Nicene Creed

The creed from the councils of 325 and 381 confessing one God in three persons and Christ as true God and true man. It is used by Catholic, Orthodox and most Protestant churches.

Arianism

The fourth century teaching, rejected at Nicaea, that the Son is the first and highest creature but not equal to the Father. Critics compare some Witness teaching to it.

Theosis and exaltation

Orthodox theosis is sharing by grace in God’s life. Latter-day Saint exaltation is the belief that faithful people may become like God. The two are not the same.

Prophet

In these movements, a leader who is believed to receive new revelation, as against the view that public revelation ended with the apostles.

Ecumenical recognition

The practice of churches recognizing each other’s baptism and standing as Christian churches.

Background

The early nineteenth century in America was a time of revival and religious novelty, in which many Christians expected a new age and sought a restoration of the true church. Joseph Smith, Charles Taze Russell and Mary Baker Eddy each led a movement in this setting or soon after. Each movement grew into a worldwide body with its own writings, distinct from the older churches.

A student should begin with a simple fact: these groups differ from one another as much as they differ from historic Christianity. A single judgment on all of them would be careless. This lesson takes each in turn, setting out how members describe themselves and how the older churches reply. It does not offer an exhaustive account of any group, and any claim here should be checked against a group’s own statements.

Step-by-step explanation

Step 1: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Latter-day Saints, often called Mormons, trace their church to 1820 and 1830, when Joseph Smith in upstate New York reported a vision of God the Father and Jesus Christ and later the translation of the Book of Mormon from gold plates. They hold that after the apostles, the church fell into apostasy and that Smith restored the true priesthood and church. Their scriptures include the Bible, the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants and the Pearl of Great Price, and they follow a living prophet who leads the church from Salt Lake City. The church has about seventeen million members and values family life, service, health practices and mission work.

On God, Latter-day Saints teach that the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost are three distinct beings who are one in purpose, and that humans are children of God who may progress to exaltation. The Church of Jesus Christ affirms that it is Christian and centered on Jesus Christ as Savior. The Catholic Church, most Orthodox and most Protestant churches reply that the doctrine of God as three distinct beings differs from the Trinity of one divine essence, and that the additional scriptures differ from the Christian canon. The Catholic Church in 2001 declared that baptism by the Latter-day Saints is not valid, since the doctrine of God differs.

Step 2: Jehovah’s Witnesses

Jehovah’s Witnesses trace their origin to Charles Taze Russell and a Bible study group in Pennsylvania in the 1870s, and became known under that name in 1931. They hold the Bible, in their New World Translation, as the sole authority, and use the divine name Jehovah. They teach that the Trinity is unscriptural, that Jesus is the Son of God and the first of God’s creation, and that the Holy Spirit is God’s active force and not a person. They expect the near end of the present world order and the establishment of God’s kingdom on earth, with a small group of 144,000 ruling in heaven.

Witnesses are known for door to door preaching, for refusing blood transfusions on biblical grounds (Acts 15:29), for not celebrating birthdays or holidays, and for political neutrality, which has led to their persecution in several countries. Historic churches reply that the Witness view of Christ resembles the ancient Arian view condemned at Nicaea, and that the New World Translation reads some key texts, such as John 1:1, in a way that differs from standard scholarship. Witnesses reply that their reading is faithful to the text.

Step 3: Christian Science

Christian Science was founded by Mary Baker Eddy, who published Science and Health in 1875 and organized the Church of Christ, Scientist in Boston in 1879. Members hold that God is infinite Spirit and that the material world, sin, sickness and death are errors of mortal mind, to be overcome by understanding and prayer. They typically rely on prayer for healing and many decline medical treatment, though they do not impose this on all members. The church has declined sharply in membership in recent decades.

Historic Christianity replies that the denial of the reality of matter conflicts with the doctrine of creation, which declares the world good (Genesis 1), with the incarnation, in which the Word became flesh, and with the bodily resurrection. Critics have also raised concerns about children who have died when treatment was withheld. The church notes that its members value healing, and says the practice is a matter of conscience.

Step 4: Why churches judge by doctrine

The creeds of the ancient church were written to set out what it means to confess Christ as Lord: that he is true God, begotten and not made, one in being with the Father, and also truly human. Catholic, Orthodox and Protestant churches differ in many things but share these creeds. They therefore test a movement by asking whether it holds these teachings. If it does not, they say it cannot be counted within historic Christianity, even if it sincerely honors Christ.

Members of these movements may reply that the creeds mix Greek philosophy with the Bible, and that their own group is closer to the first Christians. This challenge deserves a reply, and historians have written a good deal about how the early church used and changed philosophical terms. The reply of the great churches is that the councils defended what the New Testament already taught about Christ and that the terms were chosen to protect it.

Step 5: Speaking with members

Members of these groups are usually sincere, often kind and often well informed about the Bible. A Christian does best to ask what they believe and why, to use their own terms and to avoid repeating rumors. Many have been taught to expect hostility and are surprised by courtesy.

A Christian may also say plainly where the difference lies: on who God is, on who Christ is, on what Scripture is and on how salvation is received. Speaking the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15) means holding both together.

1. What does a group mean when it says it is Christian, and what do the historic churches mean?
2. Why do the creeds matter so much in judging these groups?
3. How would a Latter-day Saint respond to the claim that the creeds are authoritative?
4. What parts of these groups’ lives are admirable, and how should a Christian say so?
5. Which questions about Christ and Scripture would be most useful to ask a member, respectfully?
6. What can the church learn from why people join these movements?

Examples

Different perspectives

Movement members

Latter-day Saints say they are the restored church of Christ, Jehovah’s Witnesses say they follow the Bible alone and Christian Scientists say they follow the healing ministry of Jesus. Each says that older churches have drifted from the first Christians. Each has a worldwide membership with rigorous ethical lives.

Catholic

The Catholic Church holds that these groups depart from the apostolic faith, particularly on the Trinity and Christ, and the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in 2001 declared Latter-day Saint baptism invalid. At the same time the Church calls for respect for the persons, and for honest and charitable dialogue.

Orthodox

Orthodox Christians hold that the faith was handed down in the Church and defined by the ecumenical councils, so a group that denies the Trinity or the full divinity of Christ cannot be regarded as part of the Church. Orthodox writers urge compassion, and note that their own parishes should teach well to prevent the loss of members.

Protestant

Most Protestant churches, including Reformed, Lutheran, Baptist and Methodist bodies, hold that these groups depart from biblical Christianity and the creeds. Some Protestants, particularly evangelical, have written detailed critiques. Others, including some scholars such as Richard Mouw, have engaged Latter-day Saints in sustained dialogue and have asked for more careful description.

Scholarly

Sociologists such as Rodney Stark have studied the growth of the Latter-day Saints, and some scholars consider it a new religious tradition and not simply a Christian denomination. Whether to call such groups Christian is partly a matter of definition. Scholars generally use the group’s self-description, together with a note about how other churches see it.

Why it matters

The line between historic Christianity and groups that use its language shapes how a Christian speaks, teaches and cares for the neighbors who belong to them. It also shows why the creeds matter: they are the shared record of what Christians confess about God and Christ. Understanding the groups fairly protects the truth and the persons.

Common misunderstandings

Knowledge check

Think it through

1. What do these movements suggest about what people seek that they did not find in older churches?
2. How would you explain the Trinity to a Jehovah’s Witness in plain words?
3. What is gained and lost by using the word Christian in different senses?
4. How would you respond to the claim that the creeds distorted the gospel?

Independent assignment

One movement, two descriptions

In your notebook, choose one movement from this lesson. Write about 250 words describing it as a member would, using a statement from the group itself. Then write about 250 words giving the view of a historic church, citing the creed or Scripture it relies on. Mark clearly which statements are the group’s and which are the church’s. End with two questions you would ask a member.

Further study

• Council of Nicaea (325) and Council of Constantinople (381), The Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed Read the creed that historic churches use as the test of teaching on God and Christ.
• Philip Schaff and Henry Wace, eds., The Seven Ecumenical Councils (Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Series 2, vol. 14) Read the account of Nicaea and the Arian controversy.
• Athanasius of Alexandria, On the Incarnation of the Word Read for the early defense of Christ’s full divinity.
• Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Trinity Read for an accurate statement of the Trinity, to compare with the alternatives.
• John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, a text central to the dispute with the Witnesses.
• Galatians 1:8 Another gospel.
• Ephesians 4:15 Speaking the truth in love.