Posted on 10/31/2007 11:21:56 AM PDT by truthandlife
The evangelical pro-Romney bandwagon recruited some vocal conservative heavyweights this past week, leaving behind only a few leaders willing to counter their peers and press the Mormon issue.
Concerned evangelicals oppose the belief that former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney’s theological differences are less important than his seemingly shared conservative social values. They also emphasize Mormonism, by its own definition, is antithetical to historic orthodox Christianity despite its adherents’ push for association amid Romney’s bid for the White House.
“People have got to understand that the beliefs of the Mormon cult are totally inconsistent with biblical Christianity,” Bill Keller of LivePrayer.com told The Christian Post on Monday.
Keller, arguably the most vocal evangelical opposed to Romney’s quest for the presidency, said he has put in some 20 requests to Romney’s press representatives for the presidential hopeful to appear on his show, “Live Prayer AM with Bill Keller,” but has not received a response.
“If you are a true follower of the Bible and believe what God says, it basically says that those who follow other Gospels – false Gospels and false religions like Mormonism – are going to die, be lost in their sins and go to hell,” said Keller, who describes his LivePrayer.com ministry as the most successful online faith ministry with over 2 million e-mail subscribers.
Keller said he was concerned that having someone like Romney in the “highest visibility, highest power” position in the country would cause non-Christians and unchurched people to search out the Mormon religion.
“In doing so it is going to lead people into these false beliefs and ultimately die in their sins,” Keller warned.
The online evangelist was joined in his concern, though less blatantly, by the influential Rev. Richard Cizik of the National Association of Evangelicals.
Cizik, who only briefly met Romney once, refrained from making any direct political statements on the candidate or his Mormon faith. However, he challenged Christians to carefully examine Romney’s Mormon faith and how his religion would influence his decisions in office.
“It is inescapable that one’s religious views, or lack thereof, will shape one’s personal integrity. There is no question about that,” said Cizik.
He pointed out that a lawmaker’s Mormon faith might cause his policy decision to be different than that of an evangelical in the same position.
“Values are shaped by religious beliefs, or lack thereof, and one’s Mormon beliefs would surely in one sense or another shape one’s values, priorities, conviction, etc.,” said Cizik, who serves as the NAE’s vice president for governmental affairs. He pointed out that thus far Romney has not been willing to address the connection between his religious faith and public duty.
Cizik also believes, like Keller and many other Christian leaders, that Mormons are not Christians.
He advised Christians to first make sure Romney clarifies his Mormon religion before they “jump on the Romney bandwagon.”
“That’s just good sense,” added Cizik, who is arguably one of the most powerful leaders in the 30-million-member NAE.
Keller, meanwhile, emphasized that the god of Mormonism is not the God of the Bible and the Jesus of the Bible is different than the Jesus Mormons believe in. Jesus of Mormonism is a created being and not a deity, he is the brother of Lucifer, and will return not to the Mount of Olives as in the Bible but to Independence, Mo., pointed out the ministry leader.
“He (Romney) uses the name Jesus and people think he is talking about the Jesus in the Bible but the Jesus of Mormonism has nothing to do with the Jesus of the Bible,” Keller argues.
Both Cizik’s and Keller’s comments were in response to a memorandum sent last week by Mark DeMoss, a well-known publicist for religious leaders and groups, to 150 of his colleagues in support of Romney.
DeMoss, whose clients include the Rev. Franklin Graham, is an unpaid adviser to the Romney campaign and a leading evangelical voice in support of Romney.
In his letter, DeMoss said he found more in common with most Mormons as a Southern Baptist than with liberals in his own denomination or in any other liberal Christian traditions.
He “fully recognize[s],” however, that some evangelicals will have problems with him supporting a Mormon for the position of U.S. president.
“But I concluded that I am more concerned that a candidate shares my values than he shares my theology,” DeMoss stated in his letter.
His sentiments concerning the importance of similar social values over theology were shared by a number of conservative evangelical leaders including Family Research Council’s Tony Perkins, American Values’ Gary Bauer, Florida megachurch pastor Joel C. Hunter, the Institute on Religion & Democracy’s James Tonkowich, and Southern Baptist leaders Dr. Richard Land and Dr. R. Albert Mohler.
Cizik, however, disagrees with his fellow evangelicals, saying he did not think it was possible for the “same individuals” who for “years and years” said religious beliefs and convictions matter to all of a sudden to say they don’t matter because of a candidate like Mitt Romney.
“You can’t simply say it doesn’t matter or the only thing that matters is his stand on the issue,” he added. “Well, it is a little more complicated than that.”
As an explanation, LivePrayer.com’s Keller claims that a significant number of influential Christian leaders – such as Dr. James Dobson and megachurch pastor John Hagee – refuse to denounce Romney because of their personal ties to Mormonism.
The online evangelist said Dobson’s Focus on the Family, for example, is part of the World Congress of Families – an organization which the foundation of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the official name of the Mormon church, is a major funder of. Keller also claims Dobson and other leaders remain silent on Romney because they don’t want to upset the large number of Mormons who buy their books.
Focus on the Family was contacted in regards to Keller’s claim but declined to respond as Dobson’s personal opinions and actions are expressed or done as a private citizen and not on behalf of Focus on the Family or its registered trademarks.
Samuel Johnston:
• “It is apprehended that Jews, Mahometans (Muslims), pagans, etc., may be elected to high offices under the government of the United States. Those who are Mahometans, or any others who are not professors of the Christian religion, can never be elected to the office of President or other high office, [unless] first the people of America lay aside the Christian religion altogether, it may happen. Should this unfortunately take place, the people will choose such men as think as they do themselves.
[Elliot’s Debates, Vol. IV, pp 198-199, Governor Samuel Johnston, July 30, 1788 at the North Carolina Ratifying Convention]
If it comes down to Romney (Mormon) vs. Clinton (anti-Christ), they might want to reconsider.
“It is inescapable that one’s religious views, or lack thereof, will shape one’s personal integrity. There is no question about that,” said Cizik.
He pointed out that a lawmaker’s Mormon faith might cause his policy decision to be different than that of an evangelical in the same position.
Ok, an assertion has been made. Now back it up with an example. SHOW me how someone from the Mormon faith might adopt a policy decision different from an evangelical position.
....MIGHT cause ....
being male, might cause
being tall, might cause
wearing a blue suit, might cause
I don't select candidates on "... might cause...". Show me where there is a difference and I will consider the argument.
How long before this thread gets pulled?
Exactly.
I don't much care for Romney, but that's because of his positions on the issues. I don't understand rejecting him solely because of his religion.
Setting aside Keller's use of the word "cult", this basic factual observation about Mormonism is one of two big problems for Mitt. Mitt's other big problem is that he refuses to address this first one. If Mitt came out in the open and stated plainly that yes, Mormonism is a completely different faith than Christianity but that it is a good and peaceful and honest one and would have no hidden or untoward influence on a Mitt Romney Presidency, then many people would likely be willing to accept that. The fact that Mitt is trying to slip his Mormonism past the electorate disguised as Christianity is problematic to say the least.
Maybe some of the problems we have these days within Evangelicalism is that too many separate theology (who God is) from too many other aspects of life. They separate who God is from politics. They separate who God is from character considerations.
Frankly, I've always thought that both vulnerability to deception is a character issue when evaluating a POTUS candidate; and that other-worldly commitments are part of assessing character.
(Elsewise, I could come to you as a POTUS candidate, tell you all about my marvelous backyard worship experience of my tulips, and all I'd hear back is, "Well, that's great. I hope you had a wonderful worship experience. I just want you to know that for me, your tulip spirituality doesn't touch political reality or have any relevance at all as to how I see you politically...'cause, ya know, I keep those things hermetically sealed.")
“People have got to understand that the beliefs of the Mormon cult are totally inconsistent with biblical Christianity,” Bill Keller of LivePrayer.com told The Christian Post on Monday.”
Bill, we’re not nominating a NATIONAL DAMNED PASTOR YOU DOUCHEBAG!
Is that so?? Well, I believe Abe Lincoln was either an agnostic or aethist. I’ll take a Mormon over the Hildabeast any day.
As Bill Keller said in another article, “If Romney can sit there and lie without conscience about what Mormons believe, what else will he lie about without conscience?”
Exactly. I won't vote for Romney because I think he is dishonest, willing to say anything to gain power.
Back in the day, Reid ran on his mormon faith that is how he got into office in Nevada, wow I bet many mormons regret that now. Romney is liberal and that should be the focus.
Is this a set-up to blame evangelicals when the Romulan goes up in smoke? Most folks I know don’t care if Mutt worships the sun instead of the Son. The fact that he’s a Clintonesque, draft-dodging, abortion-backing, gay-loving, flip-flopping, slick-as-an-eel, jellyfish that matters most over his belief in an 1830 fairy tale.
Simple: LDS leaders' historical role models (former LDS leaders) and the LDS god all have exhibited examples that it's OK to flip-flop on key social issues and the underlying theology of those. Having seen that's it's "OK" to do this, some (like Mitt) follow suit.
I call this the "Gumby" pattern. Let's first look at Mitt's "gumbility" (gumby flexibility). And then let's see what LDS role models he had where this kind of "gumbility" was perfectly fine:
Romney was against legal fake marriage ("gay marriage") while being for legal fake marriage (civil unions and dometic partnerships).
Romney underwent a pro-life "conversion" in Nov 04 only to be forcefully "pro-choice" at a press conference in May 05.
In '94 in 2 back-to-back sentences, Romney spoke about the rights of the Boy Scouts of America to determine its own policy, and in the very next breath say that the Boy Scouts should be open to people of any "sexual orientation."
Romney was twice endorsed by the Log Cabin Club of MA only now to have ads run against him by the Log Cabin Club. Romney was in favor of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act before he was 'agin' it.
Romney came alongside Catholic social services to help them keep homosexuals from adopting thru their agency before telling them that "No...can't help you."
Romney was in favor of embryonic stem cell research and then underwent a "conversion." He was in favor of Roe until he was against it.
Now, how may have the evolution of Mormon theology influenced the evolution of Romney's theologically laced social stances?
Example 1: The Book of Mormon was anti-polygamy; but then its original prophet WAS a polygamist (along with many to follow); but then the LDS church cracked down on polygamy; but then polygamy is still supposedly being practiced forever in the celestial kingdom (IOW, "right now"--as much as "eternity" can be "now").
Example 2: LDS said black skin was a "curse" and prevented blacks from the priesthood. Then they changed their mind in 1978.
Example 3: LDS were largely anti-slavery in history. But then you get curious pro-slave owner "Scriptural" passages like Doctrine & Covenants 134:12.
Example 4: Except for the doctrine of grace and some others, just about all of the major distinctions between LDS & the historic Christian faith doesn't even come from the Book of Mormon. What that means is that LDS theology itself "evolved" (one God in BoM; multiple gods later...no priesthood in BoM; priesthood later; no created God in BoM; LDS god a created God later; no 3 degrees of heaven in BoM; 3 degrees later; no baptism for dead or geneology works or temple works in BoM; all of that later...I could on and on)
Example 5: LDS position on abortion. If you read the LDS position on abortion (particularly the one I've seen written for LDS bishops), it initially comes across as "pro-life." But as you read it carefully, you realize that the holes in this cheese makes you ask, "Where's the cheese?"
I mean there's an exception for rape. An exception for generic "health." (And guess who gets to define "health"?--that's right, the abortionist). An exception for if you pray to God about it and then you make God an accessory to murder by saying, "He answered 'Yes'." An exception for life of the mother...
Conclusion: When folks point to Gumby Romney waffling on this or that, I guess I have to ask, "What's the big deal?" (That's what LDS leaders have done from the get-go)
We might as well be living in the 15th century.
Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior. Heavenly Father sent His Son Jesus Christ to die for my sins, to pay the penalty for me. The Holy Ghost witnesses this to my heart and soul.
I am a Mormon.
Oh, your Jesus is a different Jesus, you say.
My Jesus is the One who died for my sins to make it possible for me to return to Heavenly Father.
I am sick of these anti Mormon articles, full of lies and deceit.
Hmmmmm, I guess Mitt being a flip-flopping baby-killing supporting, gay-marriage pimping political hack has nothing to do with being president?????????????
“Hmmmmm, I guess Mitt being a flip-flopping baby-killing supporting, gay-marriage pimping political hack has nothing to do with being president?????????????”
Our opinion on Mitt is not that different. However being Mormon has nothing to do with Mitt being a flip-flopping baby-killing supporting, gay-marriage pimping political hack. That just takes being a liberal.
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