Mitt Romney is a Mormon and I am a Baptist: Get Over It!

North Star Writers Group ^ | October 29, 2007 | Herman Cain

[Invisigoth]

The Baptists, Methodists, Catholics, Lutherans, Pentecostals, Mormons and a few other faiths have three things in common – they believe in Jesus Christ, that He is the Son of God and that He died and was resurrected for our sins.

So what’s the problem?

The political pundits continue to try and make Mitt Romney’s religious beliefs a big issue as he runs for the Republican presidential nomination. Different denominations of Christianity are just that – different denominations – which means different worship practices of the same fundamental Christian beliefs.

Some people have commented that they cannot support Mitt Romney because he is a Mormon. When they are pressed to explain why that is objectionable, they stutter. Still others are skeptical of Mitt Romney based solely on hearsay or lack of knowledge about Mormons.

[JamesP81]

That’s actually a very good comparison.

[Wings-n-Wind]

The Baptists, Methodists, Catholics, Lutherans, Pentecostals, Mormons and a few other faiths have three things in common – they believe in Jesus Christ,

...that He is the Son of God and that He died and was resurrected for our sins.

******************

I respectfully disagree with my fellow Georgian:

TRUE ENOUGH...
The Baptists, Methodists, Catholics, Lutherans, Pentecostals....[snip]
And a few other faiths have three things in common – they believe in Jesus Christ,

Herman,
While the Mormons are a tight-knit and charitable community of their own faith. Admirable in many ways for their care system and enthusiasm for conveying their message.

And I sincerely admire them as a group unto themselves.

THAT SAID....

**************

The essential tenets of LDS commonly-held doctrine; and especially their theology regarding Jesus of Nazareth, as the only begotten Son of God, are quite out of tune with Biblical interpretation.

For all of their respectable expressions of their faith, community building, and proselytizing, they are -- in essence-- preaching "another gospel"

*******

The apostle Paul is writing a "corrective directive" to the Body of Christ in 2 Corinthians 11:

(vv4)For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough.

*******

The origins of the "Mormon Gospel" -- including the angelic visitation leading to the publication of the Book of Mormon --
And...
ETERNAL STATES: The outcome of eternity for the subscribers to their faith and doctrine are at extraordinary differential odds with Biblical application of faith in Christ.

So Herman....

While your man might be a viable candidate, and successful charismatic guy and political legacy of Romney's gone before...

AND...
While we are electing a President, not examining an elder candidate, deacon or pastor....

AFTER ALL..
Bill Clinton was an extraordinarily charismatic guy...

LIKEWISE:
FDR...
Teddy Kennedy
Evan Bayh...
AND...
Even Dubya... Are the products of political legacies!
(A low batting average for successful succession!)

The matters of faith are central to the lives of many Americans -- and they pay attention to more than "the image of a man".

For many Americans -- The beleifs and worldview that a candidate holds nearest and dearest to their own heart -- is quite telling of their character and stability.

What they believe and how they live out their doctrines of life will affect us all should they achieve an high office.

SO Herman...

It DOES matter to many of us...
Baptists, Methodists, Catholics, Anglicans, Pentecostals, Contemporary (Biblical) church movements,...

Your sir, should read the Scriptures more carefully and do your homework!

I have a lot of respect for Mr. Cain.

You missed this one!

[Titus Quinctius Cincinnatus]

Mitt Romney has been endorsed by some of the most prominent pro-life leaders in the nation.

Means little. A man's record, not his endorsements, is what counts. And Mitt's record, despite what the shills may say, is not so good on abortion. Certainly not as good as FDT's or DH's. Neither is Willard's record on guns.

[SnakeDoctor]

>> Are Unitarians Christian? Are the fundamentalist snake handlers from Tennessee Christian? Are the Adventists Christian?

I would say all of those are denominations of Christianity, with the possible exception of Unitarians. As I understand it, Unitarians do not believe that Christ is the only path to Salvation (thus they accept that Buddhists, Muslims, etc. may have found another path) ... thus that would be a major doctrinal distinction which separates them from Christianity.

My understanding is, the distinctions between Christian denominations are generally distinctions in the method of worship or minor doctrine, but not distinctions in fundamental doctrine. Thus Baptists, Methodists and Lutherans are all denominations of Christianity with differences in worship and minor doctrinal differences (my wife is Methodist, I am Baptist ... and, other than sprinkling or dunking during Baptism, I couldn’t tell you the difference). Mormonism, Unitarianism, Judaism, and Mormonism have differences in fundamental doctrine which separate them from traditional Christianity (for instance, Christ was not the Son of God (Judaism) or Christ is not the only path to Salvation (Unitarianism).

H

[scooter2]

The problem is that we don’t need god running the country.

Why not? It worked pretty well when this country was founded and it seems like we've been letting the Devil have his way long enough. .

[fungoking]

I think it was Billy Graham who was asked why Baptist are so narrow minded as to believe that they were the only ones going to heaven. The response was that we are more narrow minded than that; we don’t think half of us are going to heaven.

Theological liberalism is destroying some of the mainstream protestant denominations. Southern Baptist churches can vary quite a bit in what they think you have to do to be a Christian.

[BufordP]

Watch the South Park episode at ComedyCentral

But I still like Romney. Might very well end up voting for him.

[broncobilly]

Mormons believe that Christ is A Son of God...not THE Son of God. They believe that Satan is also a son of God, for example.
Weird stuff.

---

No, Mormons believe that Jesus of Nazareth is THE only begotten son of the God in this mortal life. Mormons believe that we all existed before birth as spiritual children of God, but only Jesus was begotten of the Father in this life.
I won’t ask what other Christians think is the origin of Satan. It would probably be something weird (Coeternal with God? Created by God?)

[greyfoxx39]

Who are you n00b? Every single thread you have posted since 9/12/2007 is an article from "North Star Writers Group"....

Are you here on FR specifically to flack your commercial site?

"North Star Writers Group distributes 20 weekly newspaper columnists to op-ed, business and feature pages, who can purchase our material on a piece-by-piece basis, weekly or through our monthly Total Access subscription.

Do you provide "opinion by request" to select clients?

Honesty would require you to disclose your affiliation with the site.

[Old Professer]

Does that mean that Hillary is destiny?

[TriGirl]

Can you provide some sources for the following...

“may I remind you that a number of LDS leaders have gone on record to say they consider themselves “gods-in-embryo”...

Thanks

[JamesP81]

Would someone please give me a “rock solid” definition of Christianity so we can decide whether someone is Christian or not.

A Christian, by definition, is someone who follows the teachings of Jesus Christ. For a more precise definition, I'd say that to be a Christian means you believe a few things:

1) There is one God, the God of Israel, Who spoke all creation into existence. 2) That God's only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, came to Earth and was crucified for remission of all sin for all time past, present, and future and that three days after He died, He was resurrected. 3) That Jesus Christ was and is both fully man and fully God (the Spirit is also fully God, completing the three corners of the Trinity). 4) That at the end of time, Christ will return to bring his believers to heaven with Him.

The LDS church teaches that God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit are not One, but three separate entities which is contrary to the Word and what Christ Himself claimed. The LDS church also teaches that God was once a man who became exalted as a god fit to be our lord. This is also contrary to the Word.

[greyfoxx39]

Excellent thread here:

Mormonism: The 4th Abrahamic Religion?

[JamesP81]

I have no problem with Romney being a Mormon, nor do I have a problem with someone not voting for him because he's a Mormon.

I agree. I'd vote for Romney if he got nominated (even though I disagree with his theology), but a person in this nation should be able to vote or not vote for whoever they wish for any reason without being questioned about it.

[Spiff]

Means little. A man's record, not his endorsements, is what counts. And Mitt's record, despite what the shills may say, is not so good on abortion. Certainly not as good as FDT's or DH's. Neither is Willard's record on guns.

Romney's record on life issues is precisely what lead prominent pro-life leaders to endorse him. His record on abortion issues is solid and it is pro-life. Name the pro-life leaders and groups who, so impressed by their records, have endorsed FDT and DH.

As for guns, Romney also has a good record. He earned a B from the NRA, was endorsed by a member of the NRA Board of Directors as well as a past Executive Director of the NRA because of his good gun record. The ONE bill that he signed that did extend an existing ban was actually supported by the NRA as well as the Gun Owners Action League.

His actual record on both issues you mention - which you say is the most important factor - is solid.

By the way, you might want to cease using the "shill" pejorative. Is a Fred Thompson supporter a "shill" simply because they openly support Thompson? Am I a "shill" just because I support someone that you don't? That's neither constructive nor mature to employ such namecalling to belittle fellow FReepers simply because you disagree with them on a single candidate in a single election.

[JamesP81]

ISN’T HARRY REID A MORMON??????????

Techically, yes, but he doesn't seem to hold many of the personal values that his church teaches. MINO? (Mormon in name only?)

[broncobilly]

they consider themselves “gods-in-embryo”...

---

You should read more of the history of Christianity. Early Christians, particularly Eastern Christians, believed that the process of salvation was essentially the divinization of man.

[JamesP81]

My understanding is, the distinctions between Christian denominations are generally distinctions in the method of worship or minor doctrine, but not distinctions in fundamental doctrine. Thus Baptists, Methodists and Lutherans are all denominations of Christianity with differences in worship and minor doctrinal differences (my wife is Methodist, I am Baptist ... and, other than sprinkling or dunking during Baptism, I couldn’t tell you the difference). Mormonism, Unitarianism, Judaism, and Mormonism have differences in fundamental doctrine which separate them from traditional Christianity (for instance, Christ was not the Son of God (Judaism) or Christ is not the only path to Salvation (Unitarianism).

I have observed that there are basically two things that separate Christian denominations. It's either minor doctrinal differences (like Armenianism vs Calvinism) or it's a disagreement over the nature of Apostolic succession.

[humblegunner]

Some people have commented that they cannot support Mitt Romney because he is a Mormon.

Some of us would object to mandatory polygamy and changing the national anthem to some Osmonds tune.

[Colofornian]

Would someone please give me a “rock solid” definition of Christianity so we can decide whether someone is Christian or not. Are Unitarians Christian? Are the fundamentalist snake handlers from Tennessee Christian? Are the Adventists Christian? Are the Quakers? Of course people have different interpretations. But what is the essential that makes them Christian?

Yes, but even more important than some generic definition of Christianity is how the living Christ defines each one of us relationally.

(1) "This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist..." (1 John 4:2-3)

(2) "This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God; nor is anyone who does not love his brother." (1 John 3:10)

(3) "This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to to live in him must walk as Jesus did...This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers." (1 John 2:6; 3:16)

(4) "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons, and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!" (Matthew 7:21-23)`

(5) "The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them...'Sir! Sir!' they said, 'Open the door for us!' But he replied, I tell you the truth, I don't know you.'" (Matthew 25:3,12)

(6) "Now this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent." (John 17:3)

So to sum up the above:

Someone in Christ is one whom the God-man, resurrected Christ KNOWS intimately and whom, in turn, KNOWS the true Spirit (the Father) AND the historic Christ (not just any fellow or conjured-up image tagged "Jesus" will do...And if you belong to ANY church where your Christ is not foremost a current relational Christ...maybe He's a yesteryear Christ...maybe He's ONLY the diapered Jesus of Bethlehem...maybe a testimony about a "prophet" overshadows Christ...then find the relational Christ in another fellowship).

Secondly, we must be ENERGIZED by the oil of our lamp, the Holy Spirit. Without Him in our midst, Christ doesn't recognize us, for we can't be holy minus the Holy Spirit (see Matthew 25:1-12)

Thirdly, a Holy-Spirit indwelt (& filled) life will result in an empowered life where we can actually do right, love, and live the sacrificial life as Jesus lived.