I'd be sorry that I struck a nerve if it wasn't my obligation as a Christian to point out false doctrine.
LW, I want to be as clear as I can. This isn't personal, and I'm not trying to take cheap shots at you. Clearly, you are a Godly person who seeks the Lord, but I feel strongly that Mormon doctrine serves as a stumbling block for you. I have no reason to doubt your integrity and no reason to believe you aren't a wonderful person.
Thank you. But if the Restored Gospel is causing me to stumble, then I pray that God will make me a perfect klutz, for the light and joy that it brings to my life is limited only by my capacity to become equal to its doctrines and blessings fast enough.
This started out with your statement that you are a Mormon AND a Christian. I'm pointing out substantive reasons why these two faiths cannot be reconciled. The problem with Mormons and Christians coming together other one banner, in part, is that we can't agree on our litmus test for Truth. You're turning to a different Gospel than Christians do. You believe "The Book of Mormon" has more authority than the Bible, and you use it as evidence that we cannot acknowledge.
We simply use different litmus tests. Mine employs a very broad strip, and yours a very narrow one.
Oh, and since I didn't answer your question from above, if a person believed that Zeus or a cow were Christ, and called himself a Christian, I
would accept him as a Christian. That wouldn't mean that I agree with him, or that I could relate with him on certain issues—even key issues. But my spirit and relationship with God would sustain no damage in extending such a hand of fellowship. None at all. Christ's message is not about pushing people away, it is about drawing people in—all people:
[Christ] doeth not anything save it be for the benefit of the world; for he loveth the world, even that he layeth down his own life that he may draw all men unto him. Wherefore, he commandeth none that they shall not partake of his salvation. Behold, doth he cry unto any, saying: Depart from me? Behold, I say unto you, Nay; but he saith: Come unto me all ye ends of the earth, buy milk and honey, without money and without price. Behold, hath he commanded any that they should depart out of the synagogues, or out of the houses of worship? Behold, I say unto you, Nay. Hath he commanded any that they should not partake of his salvation? Behold I say unto you, Nay; but he hath given it free for all men; and he hath commanded his people that they should persuade all men to repentance. Behold, hath the Lord commanded any that they should not partake of his goodness? Behold I say unto you, Nay; but all men are privileged the one like unto the other, and none are forbidden. (2 Ne. 26:24-28)
If Christ can sit and dine with sinners, I can allow the hypothetical man above a place in my "Christian" circle, which doesn't belong to me in the first place.
If you don't mind saying, what are some of your beliefs that go beyond Mormon doctrine?
You know, I can't think of a one right now. The Restored Gospel allows for such liberty in thought that sometimes I'm only aware of them when I'm talking to people about my faith. We'll be going along and I'll have to pause and hold my tongue (I am careful about inserting such beliefs into discussion about the Restored Gospel, depending on the person with whom I'm speaking). And it's late here, so my brain is shutting down. That will have to wait for another day.
God bless.