Posted on 01/13/2008 9:36:30 AM PST by TornadoAlley3
SPARTANBURG, S.C. (AP) — Republican Mike Huckabee spoke from the pulpit Sunday, not as a politician but as the preacher he used to be, and delivered a sermon on how merely being good isn't enough to get into heaven.
Huckabee is vying for support from the Christian conservatives who dominate the GOP in South Carolina, which on Saturday chooses a Republican presidential nominee. A former Baptist minister and Arkansas governor, Huckabee is competing for their votes with fellow southerner Fred Thompson.
As in Iowa, where Huckabee won the Jan. 3 caucuses, Huckabee is rousing pastors to marshal their flocks for him. He pitches himself as someone who not only shares their views against abortion and gay marriage but who actually comes from their ranks.
On Sunday, Huckabee avoided politics entirely, instead preaching about humility and trusting in Jesus to open the gates of heaven.
"The criteria to get into heaven is you have to be not good, but perfect. That's the real challenge in it," he said at First Baptist North Spartanburg, a megachurch with 6,000 members.
"On that day, when I pull up, I'll be asked, `Do you have what it takes to get in?'" Huckabee said. "And if I ask, `Well, what does it take to get in?' 'Gotta be perfect.'"
"Well, I'm afraid I don't have that, but you know what, I won't be there alone that day. Somebody is going to be with me. His name is Jesus, and he's promised that he would never leave me or forsake me," he said.
Huckabee didn't ask for votes or discuss the campaign, but senior pastor Michael S. Hamlet encouraged the congregation to vote according to how they try to live their lives, by the principles of Bible scripture.
"I'm going to tell you something, when you go vote, you ought to follow those principles," Hamlet said.
In contrast to Huckabee, Thompson held no public events Sunday in South Carolina. Huckabee has the edge following his Iowa caucus win.
Huckabee also is hoping for a majority of the Christian conservative vote in Michigan, where the primary is Tuesday. He emphasized his opposition to abortion there during a meeting with about 100 pastors in Grand Rapids on Saturday, urging them to use their address books and e-mail lists to mobilize others.
He was to return to Michigan later Sunday. Polls there have shown him in third place, behind former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and Arizona Sen. John McCain, winner of the New Hampshire primary last week.
Apparently, there is no limit to what this guy will do. What a weasel.
You are correct.
Well, there was that thief on the cross.
I have no problem with a pastor ceasing to preach and becoming a politician. My problem here is that Huckabee continues to preach and I will never vote for anyone active in the clergy.
Doesn't 1st John say we are ALL active sinners? So, nobody gets into Heaven?
He continues to hide his despicable record behind the words of Christ. His wife does the same...
Mrs. Huckabee remains indignant, writing off her detractors as either mistaken about her or mean-spirited. ''I'd be lying if I said it didn't bother me,'' she said in an interview. ''If it wasn't for the grace of God, I'd have shot a few people already.'' ''Jesus wasn't liked, either,'' she added. ''And Jesus was mistreated, and called names.''
These people are absolutely revolting. I never believed there were so many Americans so stupid to fall for this. Then again Ross Perot did get 19% in 1992, so I should know better.
Longer article herre:
http://apnews.myway.com/article/20080114/D8U5AF180.html
Asked by reporters later if he thinks only Christians will go to heaven, Huckabee refused to say.<<
Not a very good answer for a Baptist minister, who just finished preaching a sermon on how to get into Heaven!
Maybe Mike should go back to the pulpit full time.
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