Would participating in Mormon rituals be considered renouncing Christ? I have a friend who is wrapped up in LDS, and I am worried about her salvation!
Thank you for your question. It is good that you are concerned about your friend’s salvation. Every Christian should have the same concern for the salvation of others. In order for anyone to be saved from the wrath of God, we must have “repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts 20:21). That means that we must agree with God that we are sinners and trust in Christ as our Savior. When God saves us, it is forever. We read in John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life” (NASB).
A true believer in Christ will never renounce Christ because we have been given ETERNAL LIFE. Someone who has been truly saved can never be unsaved. The Lord Jesus said in John 10:27-30, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one” (NASB). How wonderful it is that every believer is eternally secure in Christ!
If someone renounces Christ, then they were never saved in the first place. I do not know what is involved in Mormon rituals. However, if part of the Mormon ritual is to renounce Christ, then an unsaved person can renounce Christ by participating in Mormon rituals. If renouncing Christ is not part of the Mormon ritual, then a participant is not renouncing Christ.
Mormons have false teachings about God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit, the trinity, and salvation, among other things. If you are a believer on Christ and you want to help lead your friend to Christ, then I would consider these Scriptures. We read in 2 Timothy 2:19-21, “Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are His. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.”
The great house in verse 20 is a picture of all professing believers. The gold and silver vessels picture true believers, and the wood and earthen vessels picture false professors. These verses tell us to “depart from iniquity” so that we can become useful to our Master, and He can prepare us for “EVERY GOOD WORK.” Certainly, every good work would include sharing the gospel. We know that God is “longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” The Lord wants your friend to be saved even more than you do. However, the only way that He can use you to point your friend to Christ is if you stay away from the false teaching of the Mormon church.
Consider also 2 Corinthians 6:17-18, which states: “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.” Pray much for your friend and ask the Lord to give you wisdom for what to say or do to point her to salvation through repentance and faith in Christ. Keep in mind that Mormons believe that salvation involves faith in Christ as well as doing good works and keeping God’s laws. It may be helpful to share with her Ephesians 2:8-9: “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: NOT OF WORKS, lest any man should boast.” I will be praying for your friend’s salvation and for you as you reach out to her with the gospel. (DJ) (554.3)