FourtySeven, when this subject first raised it's head (this is merely where it has finally been coalesced into a full form), I thought to drag it into the RF, where the subject matter might be dissected completely, among folks who might be more invested in the subject at hand.
One of the things I am rather worried for, is that folks here will not do the heavy lifting necessary to winnow the evidence - Folks may not be willing to sit through the sermon, not to mention the several sermons one might consider necessary to get a reasonable opinion of the man's position. Since Cruz is a traveling preacher, it isn't as easy as just pulling down the credz of a single church, or denomination, to establish his own beliefs or his credentials. I think the only way to do the man justice is to listen to him across several sermons, to see if he is in fact delivering a Christian message.
Part of the problem (and the reason this particular sermon has been selected for his destruction) is the church this particular sermon was delivered to - It's a bit of a mega-church thing, with a Pentecostal/Praise-Evangelical feel, and a Messianic bend. That alone is going to weird-out folks that are used to a more staid and orderly event. It has an altar-call, prophetic word, and laying-on of hands... Things the Spirit-Filled will take in stride, but which will feel awfully strange to your average Reformed, Lutheran, or Catholic congregant.
I can understand why church-lady types (ala Dana Carvey) might wax apoplectic. But take that sermon out of that hall, and it becomes a whole lot more benign... Which is why I would encourage listening to several arbitrary sermons delivered by Cruz, in different settings.
**Note to all: As a matter of disclosure, I myself am a Christian Messianic.
The main points that seem lost in GPH’s post, and really the only ones that could disqualify Cruz to anyone serious about his faith are: Does Cruz himself embrace this “Dominionism”? Does he (Cruz) reject the Trinity? Does he embrace any kind of “prosperity gospel”?
That is the point in fact - This is really just a rather blatant attempt to smear Cruz with his 'crazy old man'. But I think the way forward is to actually listen to the old man and see if he is in fact 'crazy' in the first place. I think that best inoculates Ted Cruz against this attack, even though it doesn't touch upon his own beliefs at all (which should in fact be the point)... And it could be said that the apple does not fall far from the tree, or the horse, if you get my drift - So intrinsically, proving Rafael inevitably credits the root that Ted grew from.
And having listened to Rafael in depth, with Ted's own faith aside, I would declare that Rafael as his father surely had a powerful impact upon his son. Bravo, Rafael.
I have listened to several of his sermons (somewhere between 10-20, I suppose), delivered in both churches and political settings... I find him somewhat repetitive, but enjoyable - One of the things that comes roaring out consistently is a deep love for this country and it's Christian foundation - A point of patriotism that is almost uncomfortable woven into a Christian message, but inevitably TRUE... And something he speaks perfectly to, coming to us from Cuba.
In that I find a rather broad form of dominionism - He does encourage American Christians to go forth and take back that which is undeniably their heritage - And a broad form of prosperity gospel - That America prospered within her Christian heritage, and can do so again. But I don't believe any American Christian would fault him on those points.
As to the rest of the screed originally posted - Much ado about nothing... I would point you to Springfield Reformer's post wrt 'Transfer', which I see as not only accurate but apparent on it's face. To include the 'almost association' with Hinn...
All aspects of our society have fallen under control of folks who are generally liberal and tending toward atheism. To want to recapture the institutions that we built is hardly dominionism. Politics is downstream from culture. If liberals control the culture, it’s idiotic to expect our politicians to act conservative if liberals control.
Ted Cruz gets it.
Cruz or lose. America.
My thinking too, just because there are some labeling Rafael crazy, heretic or whatever doesn't mean he is. And just who is it that is labeling Rafael these things and trying to smear his son Ted by doing so? We have GPH doing so and having a good idea now what GPH beliefs are (which he wants hidden) it is likely not Rafael who is the crazy one or the heretic.
If anything GPH has given me a more favorable view of Rafael, now knowing what GPH believes about Christians. I for one will be giving Rafael a honest and fair look at. It is easy to smear someone with the crazy or heretic label and sometimes it is the one doing the smearing who is the crazy one and or the heretic. At this point I lean towards GPH as the crazy heretic not Rafael. At least Rafael doesn't hide and is not ashamed of his denomination or place in Christianity. GPH is too quick to label who are heretics and who is in error and without any sound biblical evidence, and that is most often a sign of one who is not in Christ, an accuser of the brethren.
This just shows how little most of the people bothered to attend the OP. Sure, you can have a crazy dad. But Cruz met with Larry Huch with that crazy dad for the purpose of winning a Dominionist's endorsement. And then Rafael, obviously as part of Cruz's campaign, appeared at Huch's church and gave a Dominionist sermon, where the pastor spoke about Ted Cruz openly, declaring that they were, essentially, father like son. From Larry Huch via one of my links:
"You know, during the elections, and it just hit me as Rafael was up there and he was saying, this is the anointed by God - when I got a phone call, would I come to a meeting to meet Rafael Cruz and Ted Cruz, Tis and I had already received about 10 phone calls asking if we would get behind a candidate. Could we come and, could we come and speak at your church - one after another.
And when we were asked by some friends to come to this house, we said we'd not only meet Ted but we'd meet Rafael. Before I ever met Ted, I met Rafael. And I knew that if the son was like the dad, we could trust him to be our senator.
Amen"
Generally I ignore stupid posts, but this seems like a good point to reinforce.