Thompson: 'I'm OK with the Lord, and the Lord is OK with me'

CNN/ClintonNewsNetwork ^ | 12-3-07

[rightinthemiddle]

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Republican presidential hopeful Fred Thompson Monday said he didn't need to apologize for his faith, despite concerns from Christian conservatives that he does not express his religious beliefs enough on the campaign trail.

"As far as faith is concerned, I have not made any secret as to where I am. I am a Christian," Thompson said, noting that, while he does not attend church while at home in McLean, Virginia, he does attend church with his mother when he visits in Tennessee. "I have no apologies to make about my religion or my relationship to Jesus Christ or God."

In a column in USA Today Monday, David Domke, a University of Washington journalism professor, said Thompson has not done better in the polls because "he lacks a religious niche" and "Christian conservatives have not been amused or enthused" by his lack of church attendance and the few times he has talked of his faith on the campaign trail.

Thompson dismissed those comments, saying "I'm OK with the Lord, and the Lord is OK with me, as far as I can tell."

[reagan_fanatic]

How would you know you were uncomfortable in a particular church if you didn't go to church?

I should have said on a regular basis. The ones I did try seemed to be less inclined towards things of the Holy Spirit and more inclined towards social status, what kind of car you drove, the clothes you wore, etc.

That was not where I wanted to be.

[NavyCanDo]

“As always, his comments seem genuine. You can tell when someone is trying to trick you or play politics when they have a long speech with ‘buts’ and ‘ifs’ etc..”

A long speech with buts and ifs, like Rudy getting through the “is every word in the Bible true” question in the last debate. I’ve never seen Rudy more unsure of himself.
Fred however with the “I’m OK with the Lord, and the Lord is OK with me”, sounds exactly like my Dad throughout his life, and I can say with 100% certainty, that on the day he went to be with the Lord with his family at his bedside, he was more than OK with the Lord.

[restornu]

You’re really being disingenuous when you don't put that statement in context to the question!

Name the denominations that officially accept the Mormon church as Christian.
73 posted on 12/04/2007 11:29:01 PM EST by ansel12

****

"This is The Church of Jesus Christ he had counsel Joseph Smith and his other servants to restore His Church once again on Earth"

So here we have more evidence that Mormons do not think Christians are Christian at all.

The LDS believes that the plain and precious truths have been restored as prophesied in -

Rev 14:
6 And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,

Anyone who believes and follows Jesus Christ is a Christian it seems you folks want it both ways, you want to deny the LDS as being Christians because your way is different.

[sweet_diane]

"We even see a lot of that here at FR on the "Let's bash Romney the evil non-Christian" threads.

That's a shame. Romney isn't my guy, yet I still believe there is no need for those kinds of threads.

"What really matters is whether their personal and family lives show evidence of the fruit of Christian belief, correct?

Correct! IMHO, of course :)

[22cal]

My point was not clear it seems. It was that it is not logical to ask Christians to accept the LDS as Christian when the LDS does not acknowledge Christians as 'truly' Christian.

[ansel12]

A poll? What are you talking about?

[RightFighter]

Christians don’t adhere to Old Testament biblical traditions. We are part of the New Testament church.

[mnehring]

Too bad isn’t it that many don’t. That isn’t a blanket statement however, many do or try to return closer to our roots and many Eastern Orthodox sects hold on to many of these traditions.

[Goreknowshowtocheat]

You said that all the churches you associate with vote Mormons Non-Christian. I just thought the Lord would get to decide that not a group of Anti-Mormon churches.

[restornu]

I am sure if you are striving to live the teaching of Jesus Christ that is taught in the Bible you are Christian to say other wise is not true.

[22cal]

striving to live the teaching of Jesus Christ

To the contrary, it is not the way I live -- though each soul if changed shows fruit.

My belief in Jesus is what saved me:

"For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast."

EPHESIANS 2:8-9

[mission9]

{I wouldn’t attack his sincerity, by I would attack his lazy attitude toward knowledge of Mormon Doctrine (because I was one, and I know what they teach), or I would attack him for not telling the truth.

Either way, I don’t believe a word the flipper says, he’s a known panderer.}

So what I am hearing from you is that you don’t care about Mitt or what he says; you are stuck on attack mode and nothing else matters.

If you think Mormonism is so wrong, why would you want him to study it more diligently?

I am genuinely concerned for your spiritual condition. Christ says, “Judge not lest ye be judged.”

[restornu]

"For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast." EPHESIANS 2:8-9

Very true but the Bible says much more than that about the teaching of Jesus Christ.

[ansel12]

“You said that all the churches you associate with vote Mormons Non-Christian.”

---

“All of the various denominations that we belong to identify the Mormons as a Cult, that to the unaware, mimics Christianity on the surface.”

I was saying that it is important because all of the Christian churches, Catholic, Greek Orthodox, Southern Baptist and on and on, all have identified that the Mormon religion is a non-Christian cult that often tries to use a Christian image as cover, therefore deceiving true believers.

I have noticed that the Mormons are always trying to portray it as an individual view or a “personal opinion” about Mormon cultism, but in reality it is our Christian scholars from all of the major churches that reveal this.

[mission9]

The faith vs. works is resolved by scriptural teachings of Paul that illustrate life as a race. He that began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it. James declares faith without works is dead. Christ, in the parable of the fig tree, makes it plain, that if the tree bears no fruit, (good works) then God himself prunes you (causes you pain) so that you may bear fruit (good works as in walking the walk of Christ) and then, if you bear no fruit, you are thrown into the fire.

In the words of Christ:

You will come to me saying, “But Lord, we cast out demons in your name.”
And in that day I will say, “Depart from me for I never knew you.”

85% of Americans believe in God. 60% of Americans believe in Christ. 40% of Americans are certain they will go to heaven. 20% of Americans claim a personal relationship with Jesus.

[Squidpup]

I think you missed the point of the post. Read the last line, then apply the lesson learned to today.

[E Rocc]

“And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are; for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets that they may be seen of men. Verily, I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou has shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly...”

-The Bible (King James Version) Matthew 6:5-6

If I recall correctly, Reagan was not a regular churchgoer either.

-Eric

[colorcountry]

You don’t need to be concerned with me. I’m not running for POTUS, but concern yourself with your own standing with God.

[TexasRepublic]

I thought the New Testament Church met house to house and in public places...don’t recall reading about any church buildings.

You are right. The early Christians were persecuted for three centuries and met "underground" where ever they could. However, a "church" is not the building itself, but the group of Christians themselves that meet somewhere on the first day of the week to worship.

[Goreknowshowtocheat]

So it is Christian scholars that decide? Jesus gets no say?