Jehovah's Witnesses, Mormons fastest-growing 'churches' in US
by Lillian Kwon, US Correspondent
Posted: Thursday, February 21, 2008, 13:08 (GMT)
The two fastest-growing church bodies in the United States and Canada, according to a newly published report, are ones whose beliefs are known to conflict with traditional Christian teaching.
Jehovah's Witnesses and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, regarded by many Christians as cults, reported the largest membership increases in a year, according to the National Council of Churches' 2008 Yearbook of American & Canadian Churches.
Although Jehovah's Witnesses currently rank 25th in size with over 1.06 million members, they reported a 2.25 per cent increase in membership since the publication of the 2007 Yearbook. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints – also known as the Mormon church – grew 1.56 per cent and is listed by the NCC as the fourth largest 'church'.
Notably, however, both Jehovah’s Witnesses and the Mormon church are not accepted within many Christian circles as part of the larger Body of Christ over a number of controversial beliefs that the two religions hold.
The identification of Jehovah's Witnesses as Christian is debated largely due to their rejection of the Trinity, which most Christians regard as a fundamental doctrine. Latter-day Saints, meanwhile, are often criticised for their belief in “divine” books of scripture, aside from the Bible, including the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price.
Mormonism was formally listed under “cults and sects” by the Southern Baptist Convention – the largest Protestant denomination in the nation – but was more recently categorised among “newly developed religions” on the North American Mission Board apologetics page.
Other bodies in the newly published top 25 largest churches list that reported membership increases include the Catholic Church with a 0.87 per cent increase; the Southern Baptist Convention with a 0.22 per cent increase; the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church with a 0.21 per cent rise; and the Assemblies of God with a 0.19 per cent growth.
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The comments below are readers' personal opinions and are in no way intended to reflect the editorial opinion of Christian Today.
Added: Thursday, April 17, 2008, 19:00 (BST)
I ain't Christian and I studied many religions before. My conclusion was that Trinity is a wrong doctrine.
Without using any scriptures or quotes, if we assume:
that the God of the old Testament is the True God
and considering that David, Isaiah, Jeremiah and all the other prophets were Jewish, then we can correctly guess they did not believe in Trinity just as modern day Jews don't believe in Trinity and they are strictly Monotheistic. Jewish religion has not changed ever since those days. Then, either David, Isaiah, and Jeremiah and all of those OT prophets were wrong or those who believe in the Trinity are wrong. I will stick with the JW and Jews and say God is not a Trinity just like the OT prophets and writers.
DK, San Jose
Added: Monday, March 17, 2008, 11:07 (GMT)
Jehovah's Witnesses believe Jesus is the son of God. A separate entity. Think about this. God has never been rediculed or humiliated. Jesus was slapped and spat on. The bible is clear on this. No one has seen God and lived. The bible doesn't say Jesus was with God for eternity. Jesus was the firstborn of creation. Hebrews 1:5. God the father didn't have a beginning. John 5:26 Father gave life to the son. Proverbs 8:22 The Lord made me in the beginning. Acts 2:36 God the father made Jesus. Luke 22:44 “And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.” Jesus prayed to his Father in heaven while he was on Earth. If they are one and the same entity why would he say his father is in the Heavens and pray to him? For example I could say, "My son and I are one and the same." That doesn't mean my son is the same entity as I. We are still separate but he is part of me because he came from me. Jesus never once claimed to be equal to God the father.
Tim , Vancouver, WA
Added: Tuesday, March 4, 2008, 16:53 (GMT)
Trinty is found where in the scriptures? I don't ever remember seeing it.What book is it in? and if possible what verse? thank you
You are right - The word or idea of Trinity is not found in the scriptures. The idea was formed at the Counsel of Nicea in AD312 and was mistakenly carried forward according to the New Catholic Encyclopedia,1967,Vol.XIV,p.299. However, Jesus identified himself as "the Son of God" in Mt.16:13-17 and not God the son. Who was Jesus praying to in the Garden of Getsemony, himself? Why did Jesus instruct his followers to pray to his Father? Mt.6:9,10 and Jesus stated plainly that his father was greater than him. Jn.14:28;1Cor.11:3;Jn.20:17
Joseph Sabatino, Girard, OH USA
Added: Monday, March 3, 2008, 0:51 (GMT)
"Trinty is found where in the scriptures? I don't ever remember seeing it.What book is it in? and if possible what verse? thank you."
Please see: Matthew ch. 28 Great Commision
Also Isaiah and Exodus have many verses saying that God is One; cobine these with many verses calling Jesus God 9John ch 1) and the Holy Spirit God (Acts 5:3-4) The word 'Trinity' was coined as a way of saying what the Bible say about God.
Philip Spomer, Tijeras, NM USA
Added: Monday, March 3, 2008, 0:51 (GMT)
"Trinty is found where in the scriptures? I don't ever remember seeing it.What book is it in? and if possible what verse? thank you."
Please see: Matthew ch. 28 Great Commision
Also Isaiah and Exodus have many verses saying that God is One; cobine these with many verses calling Jesus God 9John ch 1) and the Holy Spirit God (Acts 5:3-4) The word 'Trinity' was coined as a way of saying what the Bible say about God.
Philip Spomer, Tijeras, NM USA
Added: Tuesday, February 26, 2008, 4:52 (GMT)
It is interesting to hear people claim "authoritatively" what constitutes a "cult". Look up the true definition of a cult and you will all realize that the early Christian Church itself was very much a cult in its own time. The "common cultism" referred to: rejection of the idea of the Trinity, other scriptures, prophets outside of the Bible, etc... all are more in line with Christ's true church than Satan's warped modern-day "Orthodox Christianity".
Den, tacoma wa
Added: Monday, February 25, 2008, 21:39 (GMT)
Trinty is found where in the scriptures? I don't ever remember seeing it.What book is it in? and if possible what verse? thank you
David Kliewer, Lincolnville Me. U.S.A.
Added: Sunday, February 24, 2008, 17:28 (GMT)
Cults will always be dishonest and inflate membership numbers.
http://www.truthandgrace.com/
Donna Summer, New York, NY
Added: Saturday, February 23, 2008, 21:55 (GMT)
And where in the Bible does it say that numbers matter? Jesus said that we are either for him or against him and that he knows his own.
Mike Tea, Swansea, Wales
Added: Friday, February 22, 2008, 21:55 (GMT)
After seeing 'Jesus Camp' and the worship service of George W. Bush, it's probably a realy good thing that Jehovah's Whitnesses and The Church of Jesus-Christ of Latter-day Saints are NOT recognized by 'the Body of Christ' as 'Christians'.
I personally feel that 'main-stream' Chrsitanity is so extremely far off-base, as far as dictrine is concerned, that they must soon come to grips with their own doctrinal difficiencies or they will all fall. I'd rather be a Kabalist than this hoky-poky form of Christianity.
Chris, Arlington, VA
Added: Friday, February 22, 2008, 18:59 (GMT)
Mormons are not Creedal Christians. However, they do believe in the Jesus Christ of the New Testament:
The Church of Jesus Christ (LDS) is often accused by Evangelical pastors of not believing in Christ and, therefore, not being a Christian religion. This article http://mormonsarechristian.blogspot.com/ helps to clarify such misconceptions by examining early Christianity's comprehension of baptism, the Godhead, the deity of Jesus Christ and His Atonement.
The Church of Jesus Christ (LDS) adheres more closely to First Century Christianity and the New Testament than any other denomination. For example, Harper’s Bible Dictionary entry on the Trinity says “the formal doctrine of the Trinity as it was defined by the great church councils of the fourth and fifth centuries is not to be found in the New Testament.”
One Baptist blogger stated “99 percent of the members of his Baptist church believe in the Mormon (and Early Christian) view of the Trinity. It is the preachers who insist on the Nicene Creed definition.” It seems to me the reason the pastors denigrate the Church of Jesus Christ (LDS) is to protect their flock (and their livelihood).
Mormons Are N.T. Christians, Cambridge
Added: Friday, February 22, 2008, 3:23 (GMT)
Figure out your definition of what a Christian is. If you were to ask someone: Do you believe in God? Do you believe in being saved? Do you believe in the Savior and that He died for you? Do you believe in the importance of Families and the family unit? If they were Mormon, LDS or a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They would answer yes to all of these questions. If you are wanting to know more about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, you can read the Book of Mormon. Read Moroni 10:3-5 - it encourages you to pray and ask God if what you've read is true. There isn't any force or coercion. You can know through the Spirit, the Holy Ghost - whether the teachings of this church are true or not. Mormons are Christian.
Renee A., Portland, OR
Added: Friday, February 22, 2008, 2:06 (GMT)
Your membership count for Jehovahs Witnesses is way off. We are over 6 million almost seven million baptized. Of course this is a worldwide count.
Virginia Light, Burnet Burnet
Added: Thursday, February 21, 2008, 17:04 (GMT)
Despite your cynicism ('churches' in qoutes), The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints just continues to roll on, the stone cut out of a mountain without hands, spreading salvation and eternal life for families throughout the world. No analysis or cynicism can stop it. How can it be stopped, with Jesus Christ himself, and God the Eternal Father, as its leaders?
Howard Armstrong, Mayer, Arizona, USA
Added: Thursday, February 21, 2008, 16:45 (GMT)
Clearly left out of this study is the large number of independent churches that are growing by leeps and bounds over these religions.
Mark Witouski, Pittsburgh, PA
Added: Thursday, February 21, 2008, 15:15 (GMT)
Actually both of these cults are the most in error over their rejection of the deity of Christ. The rest of the issues mentioned (different books, trinity, etc.) are also common cultic problems & important but the key issue in virtually all "Christian Cults" is the denial of Jesus as God.
Terry, Corvallis, USA
Added: Thursday, February 21, 2008, 14:32 (GMT)
Jehovah's Witnesses increase?
These reports are "SELF-REPORTING" stats tallied by the Watchtower society themselves.They wouldn't cook the books would they?
The Watchtower has recently inflated their membership count to include semi-active members (members who 'count-time' for 15 mins a month).
Danny Haszard, Bangor Maine USA
