by Paul Brodie

Created on: October 08, 2010

To be a Christian is to be a disciple of Jesus Christ, or in other words, to have faith in him and follow his teachings. In our day, many churches claim designation as being Christian. These churches share a common acceptance of the Holy Bible as scripture. There is debate over whether or not members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS), or Mormons, are actually Christians. They embrace the Bible, and the name of their church reflects a belief in Jesus Christ, so are they Christians?

The New Testament of the Holy Bible (King James Version) provides three instances of the word Christian(s) being used. “[A]nd the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch” (Acts 11:26). In this chapter of Acts, Peter teaches why he has brought the gospel to the Gentiles, who until this time were “off limits” for teaching the gospel to. Through revelation, Peter received instruction to take the gospel to all people. The people in Antioch accepted the gospel of Jesus Christ as taught to them by authorized messengers, namely the Apostles, and were then called Christians themselves.

An accounting of the Apostle Paul’s appearance before King Agrippa is found in Acts chapter 26. Paul recounts his persecution of Christ’s disciples prior to his conversion, after which he testifies of Jesus Christ. Upon hearing the testimony of the Apostle, Agrippa declares “Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian” (Acts 26:28). The witness of Christ, born by an Apostle, led Agrippa to almost believe, and in his words, become a Christian.

Peter encourages us to not be ashamed if we “suffer as a Christian…” (1 Peter 4:16). As he teaches that life is a trial, and that all will be tested in life, he says that the way to go through life is with Christ. Those that obey the gospel of Jesus Christ, that is, those who follow the commandments set forth by Christ (whether by himself or through his Prophets and Apostles) are Christians.

Using these verses as guidelines for determining who can be called a Christian outlines three criteria: accept the gospel of Jesus Christ, feel a spiritual confirmation of the divinity of Jesus Christ and obey the commandments of Jesus Christ. Can Mormons be considered Christians? They do accept the gospel of Jesus Christ as given in the Holy Bible. They testify to a spiritual witness that Jesus Christ is the Lord and Savior of mankind. They strive to live lives in accordance with the gospel and commandments of Jesus Christ.

Personally, I think that anyone who professes belief and faith in Jesus Christ and strives to follow his teachings can be called a Christian. It doesn’t matter if the world accepts your profession of faith or not; it is between you and God. Jesus Christ loves all people, and he has sacrificed himself so that all of us may be redeemed from our sins. Whether you refer to yourself as a Christian or not, he loves you. More importantly, whether other people refer to you as a Christian or not, he loves you. In the section of scripture referred to as the Sermon on the Mount, Christ counsels us to be cautious of false prophets. He says “Ye shall know them by their fruits” (Matthew 7:16). This counsel is good for understanding all people. Look for the fruits people bring forth and that is how you can know them, not by a name alone.

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