Sadly, I am of the opinion that Dr. Zacharias’s speech, while noble in its intent, did very little to change Mormon perception. If anything, Ravi’s visit only solidified Mormon opinion that they are now being accepted by prominent evangelicals as a legitimate part of the Christian community.

Why this bleak outlook?

A few years ago I had the opportunity to interact with a member of a Mormon sect to discuss our theological differences, just like Ravi had. It was my hope that I could present the biblical understanding of “salvation by God’s grace” as a way to combat the false teachings of works-righteousness that is prevalent in the Mormon theology. Surprisingly, when I began mentioning the word “grace” to her, she hardly batted an eye. “Why, we believe in grace, too!” she replied happily. From that point on, any attempt on my part to insist that Mormons did not believe in grace was futile. She defiantly maintained her belief in grace, and that was that. In the end we went our separate ways, still justified in our separate faiths. She left with a newfound conviction that her Mormonism was just as biblical as mine, and I left with a great deal of frustration and puzzlement over her denial of the facts. So what happened here?

Herein lies the rub. Yes, Mormonism uses the word “grace.” But their definition is not the same as the biblical meaning that evangelicals hold dear. It is a watered-down, hollow understanding that simply turns grace into a empty word. Yes, their sacred text, the Book of Mormon, speaks about being “saved by grace,” but what is the rest of that verse? “By grace we are saved, after all we can do” (2 Nephi 25:23). Contrary to this Book of Mormon teaching, however, we know that the Bible teaches that God’s grace is not conditional on our works; grace does not meet us halfway “after all we can do.” It is full and free, based on God’s sovereign will, and as Paul argued, “if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works, otherwise grace is no longer grace” (Rom. 11:6). In light of the apostle's argument, therefore, the “grace” of Mormonism is no longer a gift from God, but a reward or payment due us, which is a concept that is completely foreign to Scripture.

It is not enough, therefore, for prominent evangelicals to simply speak to Mormons in common terms like “grace,” “redemption,” and “Jesus Christ” that draw no distinctions between the parties. Mormons, from their perspective, use those words, too; and unless evangelicals draw a line in the sand and force them to admit the stark contrast in our respective definitions, then they will never be convicted of their error. They need to be told point-blank, in specific detail, why their “Jesus,” their “gospel,” and their “grace” is not the same as the Jesus, gospel, and grace that was confessed and preached by the apostles in the early Church.

So while I can appreciate the efforts of those, like Ravi Zacharias, who wish to reach out to the Mormon church in love and gentleness, I believe that we must never fail to reveal Mormonism’s blatant twisting of biblical terms which our historical Christianity holds so dear. We must never fail to challenge them when they try to redefine and corrupt the “faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.”

The following may seem a harsh statement, but read it thoughtfully: If we fail in this fight to secure the proper Spirit-inspired terminology of the Bible message when confronting Christian cults, then we are no longer confessing our faith in Christ and His gospel.

As Martin Luther wrote, “If I profess with the loudest voice and clearest exposition every part of the truth of God except precisely that little point which the world and the devil (or Mormonism) are at the moment attacking, then I am not confessing Christ, however boldly I may be professing Him. Where the battle rages, there the loyalty of the soldier is proved; and to be steady on all battlefields besides is merely flight and disgrace if he flinches at that point” (my insertion).

Let us not mince words; Mormonism is the enemy of God's truth. As contenders and soldiers of the true faith, let us not back down from the battle before us. To compromise our message for the sake of peace and unity is just as deadly as desertion from God’s army in the midst of the fight against the forces of evil.