Memo to Robert Jeffress: This Evangelical Plans to Vote for Mitt Romney

"If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal." 1 Corinthians 13:1

“I’d rather be ruled by a competent Turk than an incompetent Christian.”- Martin Luther

Mitt Romney

 

(Note: Normally, TWW shies away from politics, firmly believing that Christians have legitimate differing opinions on the role of government. However, a rather arrogant pastor, with an edifice complex in the extreme, decided to take potshots at a decent man and this Christian is hopping mad. So, for one post, and one post only, TWW dives into the political cesspool.) 

How should Christians conduct themselves in the public square? I am not talking about Christians within the church or in Sunday school. If we were to ask the average, un-churched man on the street to state his opinion of Christians in the news, what do you think he would say? Do you think that the average Joe would describe the Christians as exhibiting supernatural love? I sincerely and sadly doubt it.

As I peruse the New Testament, I do not see the disciples calling out the Roman government for their adherence to the cult of Diana. I do not see them fielding candidates for local elections. I see them going to the arenas and dying martyrs deaths, singing praises to God as the lions tore them to shreds while the Romans screamed for their blood. They did not curse the Romans for their arrogance and pride. Yet, they would have been well within their rights to do so.

Instead, it was their quiet dignity and strength in the face of enormous persecution that slowly won the hearts of the Romans. Are Christians winning the hearts of today’s American culture? Statistics seem to indicate that people are leaving America’s churches. This is especially true of the Southern Baptists who appear to be hemorrhaging members.

By now, most sentient beings have been inundated by the latest pronouncements of Robert Jeffress, Pastor of First Baptists Dallas and chief fund raiser for his $130 million dollar addition onto his mega-church building in down town Dallas. You can read about that here

Jeffress is known for his pronouncements on the state of our society. Here is a post TWW did of his annual dog and pony show of retail stores which he adds to his “Grinch List. 

Robert Jeffress has determined that Rick Perry is an evangelical Christian and is therefore worthy of Jeffress’ endorsement for the Presidency. He has equally determined that Mitt Romney is a member of a cult and therefore should not be the President.
According to ABC4.com, here

“Robert Jeffress called The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints a "cult" and that conservatives should vote for a "Christian" candidate instead of Mitt Romney.
Jeffress made the statements during a speech at the Values Voter Summit, a gathering of religious conservatives in Washington, D.C. on Friday.”

As if this wasn’t enough, Jeffress pranced out of the meeting and “reiterated his views on Mormonism to reporters outside the meeting afterward.

Jeffress said, "Do we prefer somebody who is a believer in Jesus Christ, or somebody who is a good moral person, but is part of a cult?"Jeffress added, "I know it's not politically correct to say, but it's true, Mormonism is a cult."

Now how did his boy, Rick Perry, feel about this statement?

Remember, Perry is an evangelical Christian and should support Jefress view, shouldn’t he?

In the same article, we read: “Rick Perry's campaign later issued a statement, saying Perry himself didn’t choose Jeffress to introduce the candidate and that Perry does not share his view of Mormonism.” Fascinating. Why isn’t Perry toeing the Jeffress line? Isn't Jeffress going to chastise him for his soft faith?

As if this isn’t enough, Politico reports here that Jeffress goes on to point out flaws in Romney’s political history while overlooking the same flaws in his chosen “Christian.”

"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.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.


But is Rick Perry really more than a “conservative out of convenience?

It appears that Jeffress would rather ignore some facts about his chosen candidate. According to Wikipedia: “Perry supported Al Gore in the 1988 Democratic presidential primaries and chaired the Gore campaign in Texas. In 1989, Perry announced that he was switching parties, becoming a Republican.”

Does Jeffress stand firm on not electing a cult follower?

It appears he does so only when it is convenient. Continuing on in the Politico report, Jeffress reportedly 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.”

It appears to this writer that Jeffress wants it both ways. He would first elect an evangelical Christian, then would choose the Mormon if nothing better was available.

But, is an evangelical necessarily “better” than anyone else?

At a site run by Christians who support Mitt Romney called Evangelicals for Mitt, here, we find a rather fascinating observation.:

“If Mitt Romney had run for governor of South Carolina against outspoken conservative evangelical Mark Sanford, Dallas First Baptist Church pastor (and famous Rick Perry fan) Robert Jeffress would have loudly campaigned for Sanford over the “cultist” Mitt Romney.

If Mitt Romney had run for senate from Nevada against outspoken evangelical John Ensign, Robert Jeffress would have been by Ensign’s side, telling Christians that if they were truly “born again,” they’d vote for Ensign.

If Mitt Romney had run for senate from Louisiana, against Catholic David Vitter, Robert Jeffress might have had a tougher choice, but the odds are that he’d hold his nose and campaign for a Catholic over a Mormon.

And in each case he would have been shockingly, embarrassingly wrong."

In fact, this writer goes on to be quoted by the Washing ton Post. Here.

“Mark Sanford disappeared and pursued his alleged true love in Argentina, John Ensign had an affair with the wife of one of his top aides, and David Vitter was a client of the famous “D.C. Madam.” Religious affiliation is no guarantor of virtue.”

Jeffress also plays the “God will judge America” card.

In the same Washington Post article we read:

“Pastor Jeffress also has said that God will judge America if it elects a Mormon president because Mormons allegedly worship a “false god.” By his reasoning then, overwhelmingly Mormon Utah (the most religiously homogenous state in the nation) must be some sort of hellhole, a blasted wasteland in the heart of America.

Not so fast. Utah has a lower divorce rate, higher median household income, and substantially lower unemployment than my beloved home state of Tennessee, which also happens to be the home of Pastor Jeffress’s Southern Baptist Convention as well as the evangelical music and publishing industries.
Religious affiliation appears to be no guarantor of earthly success.”

Major OUCH!!!!!!!

Have there been other Christian responses?

I found the following statement, reported by a number of news providers, quite illuminating.

“The National Clergy Council, representing church leaders from all Christian traditions including fundamentalist and evangelical, issues the following statement by its executive council member, the Reverend Myke Crowder, pastor of Christian Life Center, one of the largest evangelical congregations in Utah, a predominantly Mormon state:

"As an evangelical, born again, Bible believing Christian, and a pastor with more than 25 years' experience living with and ministering among a majority Mormon population, I find the comments by Pastor Jeffress unhelpful, impolite, and out of place. I've been around long enough to remember when independent Baptists wouldn't pray with Southern Baptists, when fundamentalists called Southern Baptists compromisers and liberals, when Southern Baptists wouldn't keep company with Pentecostals, and when Pentecostals wouldn't keep company with Catholics. That wasn't helpful to anyone.

Insulting Mitt Romney adds nothing to the conversation about who should be president. We're picking the country's chief executive, not its senior pastor. 
"Back in 1976, I voted for Jimmy Carter because he was the born again candidate. He was also a Southern Baptist. I got burned and the country got burned by that and it made me a life-long Republican. If Southern Baptists want to score points they better watch out — they can lay claim to both Carter and Bill Clinton. I don't think that says much about the religious labels candidate may or may not carry.


"My experience in Utah among Mormons has been overwhelmingly positive. Evangelicals and Mormons have big differences when it comes to theology, but if you believe in and support the Constitution, there's no religious test for office, nor should there be. We're looking for the best president and commander in chief. Let's let the political process make that selection, and the churches make the selection on the best theologians.
"In my opinion, Pastor Jeffress owes an apology to Mitt Romney and all other Americans he's offended through his unkind and irresponsible remarks."

How did Mitt Romney respond?

In my opinion, Romeny showed both class and dignity, unlike the arrogant Jeffress. Link

“Mr Romney has since responded to Mr Jeffress' comments, saying that they are not the type of debate that the conservative party needs. 

'Poisonous language doesn’t advance our cause,' Mr Romney said at the Values Voters Summit on Saturday. 

'It’s never softened a single heart or changed a single mind. The blessings of faith carry the responsibility of civil and respectful debate,' Mr Romney continued. 

'We should remember that decency and civility are values too,' Mr Romney said, bringing in a reference to the theme of the conservative conference.

How did the LDS hierarchy respond?

They responded with more class than the Baptist Jeffress. In the same Politico article we read, “LDS Church spokesman Scott Trotter later released the following statement regarding Jeffress' comments, saying:

"We really don’t want to comment on a statement made at a political event but those who want to understand the centrality of Christ to our faith can learn more about us and what we believe by going to mormon.org."

How did the other candidates respond?

According to the LA Times, here, we read:

“GOP contender Michele Bachmann similarly chose not to directly address the issue when asked about it on “State of the Union.”
“I think what the real focus is here, is on religious tolerance. That’s really what this is about,” the Minnesota congresswoman said. “To make this a big issue is ridiculous right now, because every day I’m on the street talking to people. This is not what people are talking about.

Herman Cain, on the same program, replied by saying “I’m not running for theologian in chief.”
Crowley pressed him: “Is Mitt Romney not a Christian?”
“He’s a Mormon,” Cain replied. “I am not going to do an analysis of Mormonism versus Christianity for the sake of answering that. I'm not getting into that. I am a Christian.”

 

Here is a well-written post on a Patheos.com. They post a “Letter to Evangelicals Who Do Not Support Mitt Because of His Mormonism. Here (This is excerpted-it is a MUST read in it's entirety.)

“I think it’s fair to say that Barack Obama hasn’t done much for Jeremiah Wright’s now-famous “black liberation theology,” and George Bush’s well-known evangelical beliefs likely repelled as many people as they attracted. In fact, I can’t think of a single president that had a discernible impact on the theological beliefs of our citizens. And that makes sense. Presidents aren’t pastors. We don’t look to presidents for pastoral guidance but instead for national leadership. We don’t think, “I like those Bush tax cuts. I think I’ll check out the Methodist church.”

Applying these same lessons to Mormons, does watching Harry Reid make you want to talk to a Mormon missionary? How about when you fly JetBlue? During a smooth, comfortable flight do you use the in-flight Wi-Fi to surf LDS.org? Does a particularly elegant turndown service at a high-end Marriott put you in the mood to download the Mormon Tabernacle Choir’s greatest hits? If you’re a sports fan, did watching Steve Young connect with Jerry Rice make you complete an application to BYU?” (editor's note:All these businesses are owned by Mormons.)

1. In spite of our theological differences, evangelicals and Mormons are already political allies.

In fact, if Mormons weren’t consistently more conservative than their evangelical neighbors, Al Gore would be America’s president now and California Proposition 8, which overturned a state Supreme Court ruling that permitted gay marriage, would’ve failed. In fact, we owe them a great deal for their steadfast consistency on moral issues. The sometimes squishy evangelical church, tossed by every trend, is responsible for electing Barack Obama.

2. Romney’s faith doesn’t indicate that he’s gullible.

In my experience, evangelicals loathe religious litmus tests. That’s what Democrats do, when they try to disqualify Christian and Catholic judges because of their beliefs. The same people who would disqualify a Mormon would disqualify me (an evangelical Christian is writing), citing the same list of “this person can’t be a serious thinker if she believes this miraculous stuff.” And as far as gullible goes, don’t forget that Mitt Romney has two Harvard degrees.

3. Baptists don’t have the best track record, either.

John Mark Reynolds once wrote that “my faith in the holiness standards of Baptists survived Clinton and my belief in their sanity survived Carter, though that was a closer call.”

4. Evangelicals do not historically vote for the “most Christian” person on the ballot.

When Jimmy Carter (a Southern Baptist Sunday School teacher) ran against Ronald Reagan, evangelicals correctly voted for the divorced Hollywood actor. After all, he was the one who would best represent their values.

Here is a quote from Tom Rich over at the FBC Jax Watchdog site. He said:

“Evangelicals will choose their candidate based on values, economic policy, leadership skills, and other factors that determine whether a candidate would make a good president. Some bigots might stay home and never, ever vote for someone because they are a Mormon or a Catholic or an agnostic – but they are a small, small minority.

And yes, Robert, I'll take a good, moral person, over a professing Southern Baptist in the White House.

After all, the last "born again" Southern Baptist we had in the White House ended up getting sexual favors from a 22-year old in the Oval Office.”

As for me, this is one evangelical who will be happy to vote for Mitt Romney. Once again, I refer to the quote by the great Martin Luther- I'd rather be ruled by a competent Turk than an incompetent Christian."

Memo to Robert Jeffress:

Instead of sounding like a clanging gong, next time, try a little bit of respect, civility and love. As the history of the faith has proven, it goes a long, long way. It might even change the world.

 

 

Lydia's Corner: 1 Chronicles 26:12-27:34 Romans 4:13-5:5 Psalm 14:1-7 Proverbs 19:17

Comments

Memo to Robert Jeffress: This Evangelical Plans to Vote for Mitt Romney — 43 Comments

  1. Guest 76

    It is interesting how some of these guys learn to talk out of both sides of their mouth.

  2. Eagle:

    You really can’t articulate why Christians are concerned about so-called “gay marriage?”

    I get that you might not agree with why Christians are concerned, but that you don’t know why, or at least can’t articulate the position (even if you disagree with it) is astounding.

    Take a fair try. I bet you can put yourself in their shoes and at least articulate the argument.

  3. Identity politics is usually not helpful.

    Evangelicals were right to back Reagan rather than Carter, even though identity politics said that Carter was one of them.

    Huckabee was the candidate of identity politics in 2008.

    This rarely works out well for Christians.

  4. And just to muddle the waters, Reagan didn’t believe in original sin. He strongly believed everyone was born “good”. And to him one of the major corrupters of people born “good” was a government that did too much for them.

  5. Well, I agree with most of what you said.
    But I would have to “hold my nose” to vote if Romney is the chosen candidate.
    It would just be plain wierd to have a guy in the White House who wears sacred underwear, and believes God was once a man and lives on the planet Kolub.

  6. Perhaps some pastors(and in this case I’m using that term loosely) hope that by endorsing a candidate that might win the office of POTUS, would then be invited to go along to the capitol. But RJ showed himself to be an arrogant, foolish, right-winged, evangelical yokel. How embarrassing for him.

  7. Bravo for you on this. I have observed not a little religious bigotry from my SBC colleagues concerning Romney. He’s not running for Theologian-in-Chief.

  8. Theo
    There are many who would hold their nose for evangelical Christians. We understand our Scriptures and know them to be true. But, those outside the faith might find it odd that we believe in talking serpents, talking donkeys and a Savior who turned water into wine at a wedding reception.

    Theo, what I do instead is to remember, no matter how far away from God a person is, he/she is created in the Imago Dei and I look for that in everyone. God did not hold His nose when He died for us while we were still sinners. He did it with great compassion and love.

  9. Looks kinda weird from across the pond – our politicians try to distance themselves from Evangelical Christianity, in fact any kind of Christianity. Since Ian Paisley retired we haven’t any genuine, old fashioned bible thumpers in Parliament.

    Have fun my transatlantic cousins!

  10. Good for you, Dylan!

    There is a lot of misinformation about Ronald Reagan out there. He didn’t even attend church while he was President, yet the religious right acted like he was a saint. I voted for Reagan, and would again, as he was pro-everyday America. He supported unions. He would not still be calling for lower taxes thirty years after he achieved that goal. But I digress.

    I am one of those devout, born-again believers who is leaving organized religion. I have been a Sunday school teacher, Christian home school support group president, Community Bible Study pre-school teacher, Bible Study Fellowship member, small group leader, junior high youth group leader, youth group sponsor, pro-life giver, Republican precinct meeting voter–I was the perfect victim of the evangelical Christian political/social MONEY MACHINE.

    I gave them so much of my money and time, mostly out of fear that those scary lib’rals were coming after me and my family! My library is FILLED with probably TENS OF THOUSANDS of dollars of religious books and curriculum. THAT is the main purpose of the whole industry- to make bank. Scared, defensive people will fork over the bucks in an attempt to feel safe. American evangelical Christianity and its accompanying politics is all about MONEY. It’s an INDUSTRY. That is the bottom line.

    Am I still “saved”? Oh yes. Jesus is my life. Do I trust the Word of God? More than ever, I believe my years of study has helped me rightly divide the Word, and doing so is regularly getting me called that nasty name,lib’ral.

    I have no plans on becoming an atheist, but my pastor and most of the Christians I know online and IRL (WW excluded) would LOVE it if I did, because then I could not influence other believers. If I was an atheist, they could ignore me and exclude me guilt-free as an apostate. As it is, I can only be called a heretic, which still leaves open the danger that someone might ask me why I believe how I do. Then, when I am able to show them from scripture that my beliefs are in keeping with the actual text, well then,, that’s a problem for the Christian business empire.

    They make their bank only when they can control HOW you read your Bible. Anyone refusing that slant, and looking at the Word without the religious right glasses on, that person is DANGEROUS.

    They might even vote for a *gasp* Mormon! Or ever worse *lowers voice to frightened whisper* a non-Republican!

    I predict a huge rise in the unchurched, as grown adults realize they are being manipulated and don’t want to play those games anymore. The world would be a much better place if all that tithe and fear money actually went to the distressed, impoverished, hungry and sick.

  11. “Ronald Reagan … He didn’t even attend church while he was President, yet the religious right acted like he was a saint.”

    Cause he was against abortion. And for lower taxes. Both are biblical? Right?

    He often stated that he didn’t attend church due to the disruption it would cause. And after he was shot even more so. I drove past Bush once in very rural southern Illinois. He was on the other side of the interstate. Exits and over passes closes for miles on his side of the road. And multiple identical black SUV’s so you couldn’t tell which was him. Plus a few state police in front and back and one or two ambulances. When the POTUS leave the White House here is a big trail of cost and inconvenience.

    I tend to agree with his choice. But it is my understanding that he did have many pastors visit on Sundays for a small family service. And his diaries point to a person of strong faith. But just not quite what most Evangelicals think of as “correct”. 🙂

  12. Ok, anonymous 11:49. I’ll flesh it out for you:

    Each of us here can articulate the argument. What is hard to fathom is the displaced convictions of the more high-profile evangelicals. Lack of fidelity and toughing out relational commitments amongst the “in-crowd” is overlooked & given an “ah well…”, while fidelity and relational commitment of out-crowd is virtually spat upon.

    The lack of honest self-appraisal is confounding.

  13. …on the other hand, I would never, >ever< vote for, say, a Scientologist, no matter what he said he supported. Ever. So where do we draw the line?

  14. We’ve been here before as a nation in the past whenever Roman Catholics sought office. Anybody remember when fundamentalists swore up and down that JFK would do the Pope’s bidding if elected?

    What’s any different now that Romney’s Mormonism has become a bogeyman for many fundagelicals?

    For all their bluster and posturing about wanting to return America to the “Christian founded principles” of the Constitution, they have no qualms about ignoring Article VI, paragraph 3 (No Religious Test Clause).

    Like their selective literalism with Holy Writ, they want it both ways with a selective Constitutionalism too.

  15. William

    Well put-Theologian in Chief. We have to many running for that title within certain denominations anyway.

  16. shadowspring,

    What you have expressed is so true! American Christianity is reflecting the secular world, and some are waking up to that harsh reality.

    I especially appreciated this part of your comment:

    “They make their bank only when they can control HOW you read your Bible. Anyone refusing that slant, and looking at the Word without the religious right glasses on, that person is DANGEROUS.”

    It’s time to launch a counter-attack!

  17. The litmus test for the Pastor Jeffreess is this….would he vote for Mr Obama who professes to be a Christian over Mr. Rommney or Mr Huntsman?

  18. Jon

    You do understand that Jeffress gets to define what constitutes a true Christian faith? Frankly, he has walked himself into a bit of a pickle. Even Mohler is distancing himself from the comments defining Mormonism as a world religion as opposed to a cult.

    But he has a consolation prize. His 130 million dollar “addition” onto his downtown Dallas church which includes a fountain which he claims will lead people to Christ. And that is no joke.

  19. Muff
    Politics mixing with religion is explosive. Some Christians have so inculcated their political beliefs with their faith that disagreeing on a political point is akin to disagreeing with orthodox Christianity. I have already put myself on the line within the faith and have miffed off quite a few folks. If I add politics, I may as well help them draw a bullseye on me. I am waiting for the fall out from this post although it has gone better than I expected.

  20. Muff

    I would love to see some of today’s fundagelicals holding real time discussions with some of the “Christian” founders of this country. I think that their might be some profound theological disagreements.

  21. Dee,

    The chances of any real time dialogue with the fundagelical right is virtually nil, nada, zip. Remember the fundagelical talk show host on Christian radio that I mentioned briefly on a previous thread here at TWW?

    Yesterday he did a show on Mormonism which I think was a veiled and deliberate attempt to sway many of the Southern Calif. faithful (Evangelical right) away from Romney and into Perry’s fold. The guy is a masterful manipulator with his fan base. Let me be perfectly clear by saying that he didn’t actually come right out and say it, but the allusion was definitely there.

    Orange, Riverside, & San Diego counties (Southern Calif.) are home to many well-heeled white fundagelicals who’d like nothing better than to see Perry win in New Hampshire.

  22. Muff

    That is why TWW is out here. We are still surprised at how many people read our blog. We were thought we might find a small group of people who would like to debate a few topics and instead, found that we have a larger group of readers from all over the spectrum of belief. And many of them our dissatisfied with the direction of the American church.So, their may be radio programs out there but we are out here, so is Wade Burleson, the Internet Monk, Tom Rich, etc. So, on to the good fight!
    PS So glad you are here. You have so many good things to say and you add to the blog in very special ways.

  23. Thanks Dee, I enjoy being here too! Even though I’m an old lefty (but not in lockstep with everything on the left) we still get along and disagree amicably and without rancor. TWW is still one of the few blogs out here where that is possible.

    The radio host? Yesterday he had Jeffress on one of his show segments. Jeffress stands by and will not repudiate any of his statements concerning Romney & his Mormonism. He’s even hinted that if Christians continue to support Romney, their very salvation might be at stake.

  24. He’s even hinted that if Christians continue to support Romney, their very salvation might be at stake.

    Oh for Pete’s sake… he’s being just plain foolish (in the Proverbs-type “foolish” vein).

    I guess people from MA are all going to hell! 😉

  25. Numo, and then the very same guys wonder why they can’t hang onto the young people in their churches. Sorry guys, but rock & hip-hop blitzes in the mega-biggie auditoriums just won’t cut it anymore. When they leave for college, the kids see that you have no substance and they are hungry for it.

  26. Muff-

    This socal girl wants someone to run the country and I don’t mean run it into the ground. Most to the far right don’t have any more common sense than those on the far left.

  27. Where do we draw the line with cult members running for office? Do they have to be of the Jim Jones or David Koresh variety? Romney believes Jesus lives on some planet with multiple wives and that there is a God the Mother! That does not set off any red flags?

    Would you vote for David Miscavige, leader of Scientology? How about someone with 666 tattooed on his forehead? Are we grading evil on a sliding scale here with Romney? Yes EVIL! The Mormon cult also practices the occult! Go do some research people.

  28. Number nine
    You make an assumption, my friend. I spent 1 1/2 years in a regular dialogue with a Mormon leader and missionaries. I do not believe that Mormonism is the truth but I do believe that it is a world religion, as do many others.It is no more a cult than any other religion.

    As for evil, I would far rather spend time in Salt Lake City than Las Vegas and many other seedy areas of the US. And yes, I would vote for Romney and do not believe that there would be Tarot Card reading in the Oval Office.

  29. Evil is not always displayed in a physical way. Evil is spiritual. Read Joanna Michaelson’s book “The Beautiful Side of Evil.” Go watch Ed Decker’s videos and read his books. There are many “secrets” in Mormonism that few know about. Do not be fooled by the nice exterior of Mormonism. The tree of the knowledge of good and EVIL was very appealing to the eyes and it was desirable to make one wise. That is the lure for many into Mormonism. I almost go sucked into this cult/occult at one point, so I know the lure from first hand experience. Mysticism and occultism can be very attractive (by another name of course).

  30. Question: “What is Mormonism? What do Mormons believe?”

    Answer: The Mormon religion (Mormonism), whose followers are known as Mormons and Latter Day Saints (LDS), was founded less than two hundred years ago by a man named Joseph Smith. He claimed to have received a personal visit from God the Father and Jesus Christ who told him that all churches and their creeds were an abomination. Joseph Smith then set out to begin a brand-new religion that claims to be the “only true church on earth.” The problem with Mormonism is that it contradicts, modifies, and expands on the Bible. Christians have no reason to believe that the Bible is not true and adequate. To truly believe in and trust God means to believe in His Word, and all Scripture is inspired by God, which means it comes from Him (2 Timothy 3:16).

    Mormons believe that there are in fact four sources of divinely inspired words, not just one: 1) The Bible “as far as it is translated correctly.” Which verses are considered incorrectly translated is not always made clear. 2) The Book of Mormon, which was “translated” by Smith and published in 1830. Smith claimed it is the “most correct book” on earth and that a person can get closer to God by following its precepts “than by any other book.” 3) The Doctrine and Covenants, containing a collection of modern revelations regarding the “Church of Jesus Christ as it has been restored.” 4) The Pearl of the Great Price, which is considered by Mormons to “clarify” doctrines and teachings that were lost from the Bible and adds its own information about the earth’s creation.

    Mormons believe the following about God: He has not always been the Supreme Being of the universe, but attained that status through righteous living and persistent effort. They believe God the Father has a “body of flesh and bones as tangible as man’s.” Though abandoned by modern Mormon leaders, Brigham Young taught that Adam actually was God and the father of Jesus Christ. In contrast, Christians know this about God: there is only one true God (Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 43:10; 44:6-8), He always has existed and always will exist (Deuteronomy 33:27; Psalm 90:2; 1 Timothy 1:17), and He was not created but is the Creator (Genesis 1; Psalm 24:1; Isaiah 37:16). He is perfect, and no one else is equal to Him (Psalm 86:8; Isaiah 40:25). God the Father is not a man, nor was He ever (Numbers 23:19; 1 Samuel 15:29; Hosea 11:9). He is Spirit (John 4:24), and Spirit is not made of flesh and bone (Luke 24:39).

    Mormons believe that there are different levels or kingdoms in the afterlife: the celestial kingdom, the terrestrial kingdom, the telestial kingdom, and outer darkness. Where mankind will end up depends on what they believe and do in this life. In contrast, the Bible tells us that after death, we go to heaven or hell based on whether or not we had faith in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. To be absent from our bodies means, as believers, we are with the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:6-8). Unbelievers are sent to hell or the place of the dead (Luke 16:22-23). When Jesus comes the second time, we will receive new bodies (1 Corinthians 15:50-54). There will be a new heaven and new earth for believers (Revelation 21:1), and unbelievers will be thrown into an everlasting lake of fire (Revelation 20:11-15). There is no second chance for redemption after death (Hebrews 9:27).

    Mormon leaders have taught that Jesus’ incarnation was the result of a physical relationship between God the Father and Mary. Mormons believe Jesus is a god, but that any human can also become a god. Mormonism teaches that salvation can be earned by a combination of faith and good works. Contrary to this, Christians historically have taught that no one can achieve the status of God—only He is holy (1 Samuel 2:2). We can only be made holy in God’s sight through faith in Him (1 Corinthians 1:2). Jesus is the only begotten Son of God (John 3:16), is the only one ever to have lived a sinless, blameless life, and now has the highest place of honor in heaven (Hebrews 7:26). Jesus and God are one in essence, Jesus being the only One existing before physical birth (John 1:1-8; 8:56). Jesus gave Himself to us as a sacrifice, God raised Him from the dead, and one day everyone will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord (Philippians 2:6-11). Jesus tells us it is impossible to get to heaven by our own works and that only by faith in Him is it possible (Matthew 19:26). We all deserve eternal punishment for our sins, but God’s infinite love and grace have allowed us a way out. “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23).

    Clearly, there is only one way to receive salvation and that is to know God and His Son, Jesus (John 17:3). It is not done by works, but by faith (Romans 1:17; 3:28). We can receive this gift no matter who we are or what we have done (Romans 3:22). “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).

    Although Mormons are usually friendly, loving, and kind people, they are deceived by a false religion that distorts the nature of God, the Person of Jesus Christ, and the means of salvation.

  31. It is a cult — just as are the Jehovah’s Witnesses, the New Age Movement, the Unification Church, Scientology. James Walker, a former Mormon, has a ministry called The Watchman Fellowship that tracks all the cults and false religions. You can learn a great deal by visiting his website:

    http://www.watchman.org/

    Another person commented about Obama being a Christian. Anyone who really knows anything about Christianity knows that Obama is not a Christian but is a Muslim. He is a puppet in the hands of his “handlers” whose desire is to weaken America to the point that it becomes a marxist/communist country with a strong Islamic influence which will then usher in the “One World Order” or “One World Government” which will then usher in the antichrist which is all a fulfillment of Bible prophecy.

    This country is beyond human aid — it will take a spiritual reformation to get this country back on its feet — and no President or Senator or Representative will be able to do it — only God Himself through the power of the Holy Spirit will be able to do it! Our country is under divine discipline!

  32. Butterfly
    Thank you for your synopsis of Mormonism. I might add that Mormons also believe that Satan was the spirit brother of Jesus. I spent a very long time in an extended discussion with a Mormon leader and learned a great deal. And, as you say, they are a friendly and loving people even though i believe they have followed a false theology.

  33. Butterfly

    As for this comment, I have one thing to say. You have elevated yourself to the role of Judge and jury. I suppose God consults you as to who is a Christian and who is not. You are treading on treacherous grounds.You are not to judge the motives of a man’s heart. It is fine to say that someone’s actions do not reflect their confessed faith. But to say, without a doubt, that they are not means you have special insight into the struggle of each man’s heart. Do you?

    You have absolutely no right to say that Obama is a Muslim. This blog repudiates your ill-advised statement. I will not delete your comment for one reason. I think people need to see what happens when misguided Christians mix poor exegesis with far right wing wacko politics. And for those who are concerned, there are groups who mix poor exegesis with far left wing politics as well. I wonder if those cult watchdog groups have investigated this sort of thing. Talk about cults…

  34. Please don’t take this the wrong way. Good criticism is to assess correctly and provide good feedback. Some of these entries by Wartburg lately Dee need some balance.

  35. Casey
    Please give us a topic that would provide balance. The last couple of weeks we have been looking at current events. If you look at the dates, you will see that all of these posts, in general, refer to what is in the news at this time. But, as we have done at the request of others before, if you give us a topic, we will be happy to write about it. Which of “these entires” needs balance?

  36. Evil is not always displayed in a physical way. Evil is spiritual. Read Joanna Michaelson’s book “The Beautiful Side of Evil.”

    Ah, Yes. Joanna Michaelson. Hal Lindsay’s sister-in-law and one of the big movers & shakers (along with Former Satanic High Priest Mike Warnke and Constance Cumby — and don’t forget Former Satanic High Priest John Todd and Alberto Rivera) in The Satanic Panic witch-hunts of the Eighties. You remember those?

    The Vast Conspiracy of Satanists (everyone who didn’t go to OUR church) who were lurking everywhere to Get Our Children (The Children The Children The Children…) via Dungeons & Dragons and Cabbage Patch Dolls?

    Spectral Evidence consisting of Recovered Memories under hypnosis? (There’s still guys serving time in various state prisons for child molestation “proven” by such spectral evidence. Janet Reno started her political climb prosecuting some of them.)

    Lack of evidence for the Satanic Conspiracy being Proof The Conspiracy Was So Vast and Powerful It Controlled ALL The Media?

    Evidence against The Conspiracy being Disinformation Planted by The Conspiracy?

    The Dwarfs are for The Dwarfs, and Won’t Be Taken In?

    I do.

  37. P.S. Both Mike Warnke and John Todd were exposed as complete frauds in The Nineties. Their fanboys immediately accused their exposers (as in Cornerstone) of being Satanists, part of The Conspiracy.

    P.P.S. And Anton LaVey, of the Church of Satan, turned out to be an ex-carny who’d latched onto a lucrative con game. The only two groups who swallowed his con completely were Rich and Famous Celebrities (his preferred marks) and Christian Spiritual Warriors like Joanna Michaelson, Mike Warnke, Constance Cumby…