Posted on 10/07/2011 5:17:45 PM PDT by freespirited
Texas evangelical leader Robert Jeffress, the Baptist megachurch pastor who introduced Rick Perry at the Values Voter Summit, said Friday afternoon he does not believe Mitt Romney is a Christian.
Jeffress described Romney's Mormon faith as a “cult,” and said evangelicals had only one real option in the 2012 primaries. Continue Reading
“That is a mainstream view, that Mormonism is a cult,” Jeffress told reporters here. “Every true, born again follower of Christ ought to embrace a Christian over a non-Christian.”
Asked by POLITICO if he believed Romney is a Christian, Jeffress answered: “No.”
Jeffress's comments represent the first major attack of the 2012 cycle on Romney over his membership in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, an issue that some Romney supporters believe cost the former Massachusetts governor in his last presidential run.
The attack on Romney wasn’t just faith-based. Jeffress called the Republican presidential candidate a “conservative out of convenience” who “does not have a consistent track record on the subject of marriage, on the sanctity of life.”
“I just do not believe that we as conservative Christians can expect him to stand strong for the issues that are important to us,” he said.
Jeffress said that he had not spoken with Perry about his views on Romney's faith and was “in no way speaking for him.” In an email, Perry campaign spokesman Robert Black said that the campaign didn’t choose Jeffress to introduce Perry and does not share his view of Mormonism.
The Romney campaign did not respond to a request for comment, nor did the campaign of former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman, the other Mormon candidate in the Republican presidential race.
Looking ahead to the general election, Jeffress warned that in a race between Romney and Obama, he believes many evangelicals will stay home and leave the GOP nominee without their votes.
“I do not think evangelical voters are going to be motivated to go out and vote for Mitt Romney,” he said. The conservative Christian leader said that he himself would vote for Romney and does not doubt that he is a good man.
“I think he’s a fine family person,” Jeffress explained. “It is only faith in Jesus Christ and Jesus Christ alone that qualifies you as a Christian.”
Jeffress said he does not believe that Mormonism is a disqualifier for the presidency, pointing out that constitutionally, the “government can impose no religious test.”
“Private citizens can impose all kinds of religious tests,” he added.
So is Perry now responsible for what a supporter says?
Well said. Romney’s only real good point is that he is a Mormon. The fact that he is a weasel is why I prefer someone else.
Like it or not, there will be some conservatives who will not vote for Romney because he’s a Mormon, not because of his positions on policy issues.
But what do we mean when we say He is the Savior of the world? The Redeemer? Each of these titles point to the truth that Jesus Christ is the only way by which we can return to live with our Heavenly Father. Jesus suffered and was crucified for the sins of the world, giving each of God’s children the gift of repentance and forgiveness. Only by His mercy and grace can anyone be saved. His subsequent resurrection prepared the way for every person to overcome physical death as well. These events are called the Atonement. In short, Jesus Christ saves us from sin and death. For that, he is very literally our Savior and Redeemer. In the future Jesus Christ will return to reign on earth in peace for a thousand years. Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and He will be our Lord forever.
http://mormon.org/jesus-christ/
Showdown of the differnet Evangelical leaders.
Pat Robertson: Mitt is an “outstanding Christian”
http://www.christianpost.com/news/pat-robertson-mitt-romney-an-outstanding-christian-57017/
+1,000
Now given a choice between romney and obama...there is no choice you take romney.
Given a choice between a mormon and a muslim....I take the mormon every time!
I could honestly care less what this minister says and romney would be wise to ignore him.
“Personally, I do not care that Romney is a Mormon. I care that he is a phony.”
His phoniness is definitely the central issue, but his Mormonism is just “one more thing” that gives many Bible-believing Christians pause. It is true that millions of Christians in this country (myself included) believe that Mormonism is a cult. To us, voting for a Mormon would not be unlike voting for a Muslim or Scientologist. Not saying we wouldn’t if the person was right on all the issues, but this is definitely a big strike against him.
That is what that guy believes and he said it—so what.
If a man speaking his opinion is some sort of no-no, then we have more problems than this man’s opinion.
Not just conservatives
After Mittons is nominated, the MEdia will do such a hit job on mormon beliefs that people who didn’t pay much attention before will think obama is mainstream by comparison
What I wonder is what Romney thinks of Jeffress' religion ~ Hmmmm??????!?!?!????!!??
So, what happens when you get your own planet? Tele-worship? Birthday cards?
What about the pitiful people who never got to hear the LDS "gospel" and go to the "telestial kingdom"* and never even get to hang out with Jesus?
*retch
They're just a more presentable front for Farrakhan's Nation of Islam crowd ~ folks go there on Sunday to get training in how to imitate Christians.
The RINO Gergen was on the tube tonight “analyzing” this development. Thanks freespirited.
Less solve the problem by taking a pass on both of these RINOs and nominate Herman Cain.
Perry is right about that. Mormonism is a secreat sociey, and closely akin to Islam.
I don't care if it is some sort of holy-roller snake handler, buddhist, rastafarian or what.
I just want he, she or it to have a spine and a firm grasp of the Constitution and Economics 101.
Amen.
I have no clue. Don’t know much about mormons other than I won’t vote for Romney.
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