Counter-Cult Missionary says Christians
need to 'Apologize for Misrepresenting'
Mormonism
[John Morehead's November 21, 2004
Letter to Ravi Zacharias]
Dr. Zacharias and evangelical colleagues in
ministry,
As a person who has worked in ministry to adherents of
alternative spiritualities for many years, and who previously
has served on the board of directors for Evangelical
Ministries to New Religions, and on staff with Watchman
Fellowship, I think it might be appropriate to share an
alternative view that the concerns expressed by Mr. Press.
Before I begin, let me note something of my background and
spiritual journey that has a bearing on my current perspective
on the issues. Many years ago I was a member of the
Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (a
Mormon splinter group), before becoming a Christian and an
evangelical. I eventually became involved in ministry through
the counter-cult community where I served for many years.
During this time, and continuing today, I have approached the
study of new religions (popularly labeled "cults" in
evangelical discourse) from a multi-disciplinary perspective,
most notably informed by missiology. As a result of my studies
and practical field experience, I no longer approach new
religions from the counter-cult model. Instead, I believe a
more fruitful approach is to understand new religions
(including Mormonism) as an unreached people group, and to
utilize a cross-cultural missions model. My comments below
should be understood from this perspective.
Background on the Temple Square event was provided to me
through my colleague Greg Johnson. I find it amazing (shocking
really) that this historic event was nearly brought to a hault,
and continuing criticisms threaten a repeat of this in the
future, not through complaints from Mormons or the LDS Church,
but rather through evengelicals. And the criticisms as we find
exemplified below have come through a specific part of
evangelicalism, the counter-cult community.
I appreciate the work that many in the counter-cult have done
over the years in helping the church to define and defend her
theological boundaries. The Scriptures surely teach us that we
must understand what we believe and why we believe it, and
that when necessary, we must defend the faith delivered to the
saints. However, in my view, and the view of a growing number
of evangelicals internationally, the counter-cult method of
heresy refutation results in an unnecessarily confrontational
approach that builds more fences between evangelicals and
those in new religions than it builds bridges. I fear that we
have taken a handful of biblical texts that warn of false
teaching *within* the church, and have used them
inappropriately as a foundation for evangelism to alternative
spirituality adherents outside the church. The church might be
better served in the future by re-examining not only our
attitudes, but also the Scriptures in order to recover a
winsome, dialogical, and culturally-sensitive approach as
modeled in a number of biblical texts (e.g., the Samaritan
woman in John 4; Paul among the Pagan philisophers in Acts
17).
I'd like to pass along a few comments specifically responding
to Mr. Press' concerns about Richard Mouw's comments in Temple
Square. I believe it was entirely appropriate for Mouw to
apologize for misrepresenting Mormonism, because we have.
Evangelical polemics on Mormonism seem more interested in
attacking 19th century Mormonism rather than understanding and
responding to 21st century Mormonism and a religion that is in
a state of flux (as are all religious traditions). A secular
sociologist, Douglas Cowan, recently published a book entitled
"Bearing False Witness?," and in this book he documents the
serious problems besetting the evangelical counter-cult
community, not the least of which is misunderstanding and
misrepresenting non-Christian religions. In light of the
biblical command not to bear false witness agains our
neighbor, is there not a place for a public apology to Mormons
for our sins? Those of us adopting a new model for ministry to
Mormons and other new religions believe there most certainly
is.
Dr. Zacharias, you are to be commended for accepting the
invitation to speak in Temple Square. And those leading
evangelicals who participated in this event with you (Craig
Hazen, Craig Blomberg, Joseph Tkach, Greg Johnson) are to be
commended as well. You have modeled a new way of ministry that
moves beyond fear, defensiveness, and confrontation to loving
engagement that incarnates the gospel in
culturally-appropriate ways so that the gospel may be
understood.
I am encouraged by the Temple Square event, because it is yet
another example that a new paradigm is emerging among
evangelicals in response to new religions. The confrontational
counter-cult methodology has seen its day, and God is doing a
new thing. I am glad that you are a part of it, and that God
is pulling together a growing network of evangelicals.
Yours in Christ,
John W. Morehead
Associate Director
Neighboring Faiths Project
Co-Editor
Sacred Tribes e-journal
www.sacredtribes.com
Bud Press is a Christian Investigative Researcher and the Director of Christian Research Service. As a service to the body of Christ, Bud provides information, documentation and referral on a wide variety of issues to individuals, companies, pro-family groups, outreach ministries and the Christian news media.