American Yak

In some ways I’m very reticent to publish the following.  I don’t like wearing religion on my sleeve, so to speak.  I’ve always tried to walk more quietly, and just be kind to all, and live my life, I suppose as Jesus would have.  But something rose up inside me today, I suppose you could say something quietly snapped, though that would probably be an imperfect colloquialism.  Just the same, I can’t let it alone right now.

I love my Evangelical friends.  I have a few.  We’ve had awesome times together.  I bear no grudges in this corner of the world.  But always there is that lingering status afforded to us in general it seems by so many others in the Evangelical world.  It’s as if they would never say it to your face, but behind closed doors, in churches, in homes, the word comes up.

“Cult.”

So this is my form of snapping, listening to a radio program I frequent, listening to an Evangelical praise Mormons on one front, but then turn the other cheek (he says, tongue firmly planted in said cheek), you know, on his website.  Perhaps the individual in question is not responsible for the content of the website.  But it doesn’t matter.  The content is representative of a greater problem.  And it is a problem.

This was my statement, submitted to Summit Ministries.

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I’m disappointed that you list Mormons under the heading “cult” on your website.  It’s a sad commentary for the Evangelical Christian world in general, and you’ve lowered yourself likewise.  Why are Evangelicals so preoccupied with calling Mormons a “cult”?

Do you realize what it sounds like to our ears?  It’s become a disgusting epithet, tantamount to racially invective slurs.  It almost takes on the form of hate speech.  Would you call a Jew an anti-Christ?  Why would anyone do such a thing?

Set aside our feelings about the nature of God or Jesus.  Set aside the question about “which Jesus” we follow versus you.  Set aside differences in doctrine and whatnot.

You prop and recognize “the Mormons” on Hugh Hewitt’s show, saying “we’re grateful” for the defense and support we gave toward Proposition 8, but you offend us by listing your materials about Mormons under the heading “cult.”  There’s always this tone, a qualifier, some serious fear that if one doesn’t quickly counter just how wrong the Mormons are…then…then…?

Eye for an eye.

Please.  The higher law asks you to turn your cheek, to look beyond the beam, to walk another mile, to suffer the weary.  Instead, you afflict, make weary, make sad.

Jesus alone held the right to judge the hypocrite.  It is his call.  If the word “cult” is part of Jesus’s vernacular towards us Mormons for our beliefs, let it be thus.  I am not afraid to face my maker and ask his sympathies for whatever wrongs I may have made.  But this is not your role.

His apostles often made inappropriate judgments and He corrected them.  ”Forgive all men” was not just a statement about who is right and who is wrong.  It was perfect counsel about how to unite, despite differences, how to truly love.  Do you consider how the word “cult” makes a Mormon feel?  Are you able to consider this?  Do you know how we long to unite with you?

In some ways, Evangelicals and Mormons are more alike than some of us want to admit.  We’re like feuding Jews and Arabs, long lost brothers who have some differences that have grown over time.

I have tried to do my part to be responsible toward my Evangelical friends, to love them, and not make false charge.  I can have doctrinal differences with them, but

I

DO

NOT

LABEL.

This is your sin.

Please.  Do us a favor.  If you have a disagreement, reach out.  Find a less offensive term to call us.  Speak to us on our own level.  You might be surprised at our response.

Stop calling us a “cult.”  It’s disgraceful.

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