Monday, December 18, 2006
Embarrassed by the Truth
This interesting video on the implications of a Mormon (i.e. Massachusetts governor, Mitt Romney) in the White House should get any Christian leader thinking about the "socially unacceptable" aspects of our own theology and practice--and what we will do if they become more socially unacceptable in an increasingly pluralistic society. In a brief clip, an interviewer asks Romney how he would respond to questions about the more unusual aspects of his faith. Romney brushes off the question with the assertion that the strangest doctrine the Mormon church embraces is the idea that a man once put his family and two of every animal on a big boat to save them from a flood.
Huh? Even Clinton didn't start lying this early in his campaign. Apparently, to Romney, the story of Noah's ark is more bizarre to the voting public than celestial marriage, baptism for the dead, the belief that Jesus and Satan are brothers and the location of the new heavens and new earth in Western Missouri.
No, whether he believes them or not, Romney is aware of these--and other--doctrines that are at the heart of Mormon theology. He's just smart enough to know that, if he were to espouse them publicly, the average American would realize that the Mormon church is not merely a sect or denomination of mainstream Christianity--it is a completely different religion. This strategy of evangelical "coattail riding" has been the modus operandi of Mormon missionaries for decades, and it's now the game plan for a presidential hopeful who realizes the voting power of evangelical Christians.
Whether Christians should vote for a Mormon (or Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu or heathen) candidate is another discussion for another day, but Romney's intellectual dishonesty should serve as a reminder to Christian leaders when microphones and cameras are stuck in their faces and probing questions are unleashed.
Matt Green, editor
Ministry Today
Huh? Even Clinton didn't start lying this early in his campaign. Apparently, to Romney, the story of Noah's ark is more bizarre to the voting public than celestial marriage, baptism for the dead, the belief that Jesus and Satan are brothers and the location of the new heavens and new earth in Western Missouri.
No, whether he believes them or not, Romney is aware of these--and other--doctrines that are at the heart of Mormon theology. He's just smart enough to know that, if he were to espouse them publicly, the average American would realize that the Mormon church is not merely a sect or denomination of mainstream Christianity--it is a completely different religion. This strategy of evangelical "coattail riding" has been the modus operandi of Mormon missionaries for decades, and it's now the game plan for a presidential hopeful who realizes the voting power of evangelical Christians.
Whether Christians should vote for a Mormon (or Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu or heathen) candidate is another discussion for another day, but Romney's intellectual dishonesty should serve as a reminder to Christian leaders when microphones and cameras are stuck in their faces and probing questions are unleashed.
- Do we really believe that personal faith in Jesus as the Son of God is the only way for Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, Jews (and even "Christians") to be saved?
- Do we really believe that those who do not do so are condemned to an eternal, conscious torment of separation from God in hell?
- Do we really believe that sexual intercourse outside of marriage--whether homosexual, heterosexual or otherwise--is an offense against God?
- Do we really believe that God created the universe and that human life is not the product of evolutionary chance?
Matt Green, editor
Ministry Today
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Your comments on Mormonism were enlightening and informative - and apprreciated. I would like to read your explanation of "baptism for the dead" which is mentioned in the Bible> I don't believe in it but would like to know how to respond to Mormons on their belif in it. Thank you. I have juust discovered Charisma.com on my internet I will certainly be logging on many times. God bless!
Romney apparently knows that in today's world, you simply just avoid "the elephants in the living room," and the gullible naive people in our country will not know any better!
Religions have long obscured the perfect presence of the Creator, and our relationship to the Creator. If man in fact was made in the image of God (I believe this to be so), than there is not a people or culture that is not a part of this outworking.
Language is an incredible tool that must be utilized inteligently. Mankind in his effort to stab at a greater knowing, unfortunately, often leaves the essenctial expression of simple and caring love to the side.
As there is anything that causes man to be judgemental, unappreciative, unaccepting and unloving, our relationship with our Creator, and our perception of the creator, is altered.
I am the founder of Church Of All Faiths Under God. Let's keep our platforms of worship and celebration together loving, encompassing and simple. We must all stay in a humble place of newness and discovery within ourselves, and our interactions together, to let love be truly known in the human experience.
Please visit our web sites through www.stuartlovett.com.
Blessings to all....
Language is an incredible tool that must be utilized inteligently. Mankind in his effort to stab at a greater knowing, unfortunately, often leaves the essenctial expression of simple and caring love to the side.
As there is anything that causes man to be judgemental, unappreciative, unaccepting and unloving, our relationship with our Creator, and our perception of the creator, is altered.
I am the founder of Church Of All Faiths Under God. Let's keep our platforms of worship and celebration together loving, encompassing and simple. We must all stay in a humble place of newness and discovery within ourselves, and our interactions together, to let love be truly known in the human experience.
Please visit our web sites through www.stuartlovett.com.
Blessings to all....
Rev. Stuart,
With all due respect, and in good Christian love, go back to Grammar and Composition classes and review your spelling and punctuation before you attempt to intellectually debate in the public forum. It will give your opinions and perspectives a bit more weight and influence. (( just a tip ))
:-) ... in all seriousness ...
Your idealism is refreshing, though it will not stand the test of the day in which we live. As we draw closer to the moment of Christ's return to earth, and the subsequent "end time" events unfold, the Bible is clear that those who love Him will only get bolder in their belief and devotion; and, those who oppose Him will only become more brazen in their rebellion and rejection of Him.
It is our "mission" as Christians to simply plant the seed, water the seed, and pray for the harvest of souls to come to Christ.
Only the LORD Himself (Holy Spirit) is able to turn the hearts of men towards Himself.
Our "role" is to simply proclaim Truth, stand in intercession, and share the love of Christ in both tangible and intangible ways and means.
Any other "works" on our part are vanity and pride-filled.
Worship (as you stated) must remain simple, or better yet, "simplified", on the part of the Church. Only then, will the "lost" (un-saved, un-regenerate) become "professers" (as Finney called them) of the One True and Living God.
Sorry ... trying to stay away from "churchy" language.
All in all, you make really good points in your comments.
With all due respect, and in good Christian love, go back to Grammar and Composition classes and review your spelling and punctuation before you attempt to intellectually debate in the public forum. It will give your opinions and perspectives a bit more weight and influence. (( just a tip ))
:-) ... in all seriousness ...
Your idealism is refreshing, though it will not stand the test of the day in which we live. As we draw closer to the moment of Christ's return to earth, and the subsequent "end time" events unfold, the Bible is clear that those who love Him will only get bolder in their belief and devotion; and, those who oppose Him will only become more brazen in their rebellion and rejection of Him.
It is our "mission" as Christians to simply plant the seed, water the seed, and pray for the harvest of souls to come to Christ.
Only the LORD Himself (Holy Spirit) is able to turn the hearts of men towards Himself.
Our "role" is to simply proclaim Truth, stand in intercession, and share the love of Christ in both tangible and intangible ways and means.
Any other "works" on our part are vanity and pride-filled.
Worship (as you stated) must remain simple, or better yet, "simplified", on the part of the Church. Only then, will the "lost" (un-saved, un-regenerate) become "professers" (as Finney called them) of the One True and Living God.
Sorry ... trying to stay away from "churchy" language.
All in all, you make really good points in your comments.
Thanks for your comments on Momonism, we are in the last days and there loads of false prophets out there, Christians needs wake up to the fact that we need to pray more that God will help us that only God fearing people will be elected to rule us, and that those that are already ruling us to see the light of the gospel and come the Lord Jesus.
From Sam in London England.
From Sam in London England.
Green's remarks are all true of Mormon thought and false teaching. What would it take to elect him or is he even electable? Would you vote for Romney against the likes of Hillary C? These are questions believers need to ask themselves as the nations apostasy finally catches up to it's moral decline. Our choices are always shades of gray. Bush said publicly that Islam worships the same God as Christians. Does that make him unfit to be president or merely deficient? Romney will not likely be the Republican nominee anyway.
I'm confused about the comment that Mormons ride on the "coat tails" of evangelicals. Isn't it possible that evangelicals and Mormons have some things in common? Some things that are true doctrine of Jesus Christ? If Christ were to meet a Mormon, would He first off kick him in the shins or give him a hug and thank him for all the things he'd got right?
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