I was organizing some old files when I came across this statement which I drafted in 2001.  At that time, the question “Are Mormons Christians” was spurred by the publicity surrounding the impending Winter Olympics in Salt Lake.  Looking at my statement, I see that nothing has really changed in the last 11 years:

“I do not presume to be able to discern, concerning any individual, her true spiritual condition or the nature of his relationship with God – regardless of religious affiliation.

“While I respect the right the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) to define itself as Christian, and I understand its arguments for doing so, it is my position that the LDS Church stands clearly outside the framework of historic, Biblical Christianity.  I assert this because the LDS Church rejects many of the core Biblical beliefs that have historically defined the Christian faith.

“While I recognize that Jesus Christ does have a central position in the doctrine and practice of the LDS Church as Son of God, Redeemer, Savior and Lord, it is my position that the LDS Church presents the identity and nature of Jesus Christ in a way that is substantially different from the testimony of historic, Biblical Christianity.  Furthermore, in spite of superficial resemblance of language, the meanings assigned by the LDS Church to such key concepts as “Son of God”, “Redeemer”, “Savior”, and many others, also differ considerably from the historic, Biblical Christian faith.

“I find it meaningless to argue about the fitness of assigning labels such as ‘Christian’, knowing that such titles mean different things to different people.  I do, however invite open discussion of the significant and fundamental theological differences between the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the historic, Biblical Christianity which I represent.”