Ministry News

A Mormon for President?

Details: Saturday, 28 May 2011 10:40

With Mormon candidates such as former congressman John Huntsman and former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney considering 2012 runs for president, evangelicals are beginning to discuss the implications of a Mormon president. In a controversial column at the Patheos website, author Warren Cole Smith argued that "a vote for Romney is a vote for the LDS Church."

Smith admitted that evangelicals will be attracted to a Mormon candidate's shared views on social and moral issues, but argued that they shouldn't overlook the fact that Mormons have a different religous worldview than evangelicals, and that worldview shapes their behavior. He pointed to Mormons' various positions, from polygamy to racial discrimination, that have been reversed in light of "continuing revelation" that comes through the church's prophets.

"Even if a Mormon social teaching happens to concur with orthodox Christianity at this point in time, it is unreliable and subject to alteration," Smith notes. "It's tempting to say that 'continuing revelation' has defined Romney's career, who has changed his positions on same-sex marriage and abortion and just about every major 'culture war' issue."

RealClearReligion.org's editor, Jeremy Lott, begs to differ with this position and points to self-described Christian candidates who hold to political positions that are at odds with evangelicalism. He suggests that those who would oppose a Mormon candidate are allowing sectarianism to color their political views.

"There may indeed be good grounds to oppose a Mormon candidate for office. Yet they ought to be the same grounds that you would use to oppose someone from your own religious tradition," he noted. "Random traditional Christian voter X should not vote for Mormon candidate Y for the same reason that he would not for a Catholic, Protestant, or Jewish candidate—because you disagree with the candidate about political matters of great import."

— Patheos

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Comments

0 #14 Jim liv 2011-06-13 07:03

Here's a strategy: GOP candidates have their debates, a "winner" comes out. The other losing candidates send their money to the winner so they have more than Barak. It's money that wins elections... typically.

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0 #13 B.J.Stone 2011-06-01 04:10

Is there any doubt America (from it's inceptions) is a 'catholic reformed' nicolaitan catholic ONLY United in independent catholic minded States in which 'one breakaway state' will not be able to carry the other 49? Ever ! (and that time is so very short before these heavens being on fire soon makes all this political so very,very boring UNLESS speaking about how effects the 'cold & hot wars' raging still)

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-1 #12 Markdeckard 2011-05-31 10:00

So stark who is your pick for president, Jesus? You'll have to write that in because I don't think he's running. . Face it, the world is not going to give you a perfect choice for president, so tell us who you plan to vote for and then tell us thier chances of winning.

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+2 #11 G. Joyce Stark 2011-05-31 09:21

markdeckard, obviously you didn't understand my post. I'm not talking about theology! I'm talking about Jesus and the gospel He declared that's in Him, alone. He's not theology, He is the Way, the Truth and the Life! Any other doctrine that is declared, outside of Who Jesus IS and what Jesus declared is false. Nuff said!

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-2 #10 markdeckard 2011-05-31 08:56

Stark, if theological beliefs were the deal breaking issues in 1776 we would not have a country today.

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0 #9 Ralph Roy 2011-05-31 08:50

Romney seems to be the best-qualified of the GOP candidates so far. He has been a very successful businessman, and he certainly is a gentleman with a fine family. I guess I resist giving the Mormons the position and publicity and prestige that a president could give them. They are, as a whole, very moral people, but they have to believe so many weird things at odds with Christianity as most of us believe and practice it. His religion probably will keep him from being nominated. If he is nominated, I think that Obama is likely to win. Many voters will sit on their hands or cast a protest ballot for a third party. Actually, there is nobody on th GOP horizin that really appeals to me at the moment. Must check out Pawlenty. Possible check out Perry, too. But forget Bachmann, Gingrich, Santorum, Guiliani, Huntsman, Bloomberg, Palin, etc. They all carry too much baggage that is alienating. I'm alienated, anyway.

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+1 #8 G. Joyce Stark 2011-05-31 07:17

MnM ... I'm not talking Pharisaical knowledge, philosophy or theology. I'm talking the foundational principal of Christianity ... The Word of God declares there IS NO OTHER WAY to the Father except through Jesus ... He IS the Way, the Truth and the Life .... any other proclamation is wrong, not my words, 'His' and I would NOT support anyone who declares any other gospel. As much as I love Israel and support the Jews, I would NOT vote for a Jewish person who denies Jesus as God's Son, no way, nor would I put my vote and support for anyone who holds to a false teaching. My vote means I not only stand for their political platform but I stand in support their moral and theological beliefs as well!

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+1 #7 markdeckard 2011-05-31 06:44

So what about all the non Jews who were Gods instrumental governors over the nation of Israel in the Old Testament? Who voted them in? My Bible says God set up kings and toppled princes. granted this is an election and we have to choose the best candidate possible from the choices we are given. If it came down to Romney and Obama you and I both know that Romney's Mormonism would much more preferrable to Obama's Christianity! This is all about GOP primary squabbling.

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+1 #6 MnM 2011-05-31 06:38

G Stark... We need to be careful also that we do not become knowledge pharisees. What happens when the comparison is between you and someone with far more understanding or knowledge? Does that make you the unbeliever? We are not saved based on the level of our knowledge but the depth of our love of God. There are many mormons who are ignorant or disagree with the things we 'Christians' find abhorant in Mormon history. If they truly love Christ, and are ignorant or non embracing of some of its theology does that make them less God's. Is it according to knowledge or where your membership is?

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+1 #5 MnM 2011-05-31 06:31

There are so many politicals who are self proclaimed Christians yet act appolingly and without fear of God. I have been so impressed with Beck's love for God as a mormon, that I am swayed that should a Mormon truely have a heart for God, I would rather have him than so many of these politicians who claim to be Christian but are not. God is not a respector of person but those who love and fear him.

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