American Christians and the Mormon factor

Right now is an interesting time in American politics and religion. There are plenty of conservative evangelical Christians in USA who are about to vote for a Mormon to be their president. Who woulda thunk???

I read a few snippets on Billy Graham removing the “cult” status on the BGEA website. I would be curious to hear from Steve Knight on this.

Interesting quote from Norman Geisler, who wrote the textbook on “Inerrancy” and once chastized the emerging church for relativism. Regarding today’s election choice, he says,

” First, even if as voters we wanted to apply such a test, we do not have a really good choice religiously. We face a painful dilemma of voting for a liberal professing Christian (Obama) with Muslim leanings or a cultist Mormon who claims to be Christian. The truth is that we do not live in an ideal world; we live in a real world. Realistically, we have only two candidates who could win the election, and we can only vote for one . . .

Secondly, we do not live in a black-and-white world. There is a lot of grey. So, on the question of good, we don’t have a purely good or evil choice in this election. There is both good and evil in each choice.”

Brian McLaren said something very similar yesterday in acknowledging that all parties have their weaknesses and their virtues.

Norman Geisler and Brian McLaren. Probably a different name on their ballots but finally on the same page. Interesting times indeed! Who woulda thunk?

 

Andrew

Andrew Jones launched his first internet space in 1997 and has been teaching on related issues for the past 20 years. He travels all the time but lives between Wellington, San Francisco and a hobbit home in Prague.

6 Comments

  • The Believer says:

    On the contrary, Billy Graham has recently said that Mormonism is in fact a cult.
    Check on this: http://www.patheos.com/blogs/tonyjones/2012/11/07/my-biggest-tweet-ever/#comment-48100

  • MIchael Snow says:

    As the saying goes, “I’d rather be ruled by a competent Turk than by an incompetent Christians” (ascribed to Luther but never referenced).
    I we want to see a better society we need to get back to basics and teach our kids things like the Ten Commandments. The obvious weak link in our culture is the lack of salt with savor. Politics smothers out discipleship.

  • Dan Anderson-Little says:

    At least McLaren would be honest about Obama’s religion and not add the completely incorrect line about his so-called “Muslim leanings.” Think what you will about Obama, there is no evidence whatsoever that he has “Muslim leanings.” To suggest that he does is a lie.

  • The Believer says:

    Right…as similarly Joel Osten’s statement that Romney is a Christian, for Romney claims to believe in Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior.
    Hence, both Obama and Romney claim and believe they’re both Christians, the former (with his family) do not go to church (though Christianity goes beyond attending a church), while the latter goes to a pseudo-Christian church.
    For being a Christian requires more than just “believing” in Jesus Christ…as the devil himself believes and shudders!
    A Christian is one who has put his faith and trust in Jesus Christ, who has repented from his sins and lives a life in total surrender to Christ, who, by the grace of God, walks his life in Christ, is passionate about Christ, compassionate of lost souls…
    A simple self-claim doesn’t make one necessarily a Christian.
    But then, as many would argue, who are we to judge? Who are we to pointblank says that one is a Christian while the other is not? We only sees a glimpse of the person, while God sees the heart, the whole person.
    But to have contrasting and opposing political views with God’s standard, His Word, is a seriously disturbing one. And so it’s natural for some to question or doubt…for Christians are naturally expected to live what the Word of God preaches, and where conflicting party ideologies and principles surface, we turn to God’s Word for the final authority, the final judge.
    Let’s pray for the President, as we pray for the whole of American people. God isn’t through with him yet…let’s pray that God would intervene, miraculously open his mind and allow him to see the truly liberating Truth that’s found only in God’s Word, not in any Marxism or socialism dogma. I think that is our basic duty, to pray for our leaders, and love them, however we strongly disagree with their policies and agenda. While we stand up for our convictions and speak the truth in all issues that affect the nation, lest we be sidetracked, let’s back it up with love in action, with practical, specific deeds of love done to others. At times we don’t win an argument and convert them to our side by mere verbal argument, but more effectively showing them how it’s done…the Christian, lovingly, graciously, compassionately way.

  • Kristen B says:

    Why doesn’t anyone realize that Jesus was the first social activist? An advocate for the poor and hungry– the tired and the weary.
    It reminds me of this video I recently came across– it’s a cute little song about how Jesus and his followers actually Occupy Jerusalem.
    Anyways, here it is: http://youtu.be/a6akkb_afqs
    It has a point. We should all strive to be more like Christ in our day to day with our fellow brothers and sisters.

  • Steve K. says:

    Sorry, I’m just seeing this now, Andrew!
    I shared my thoughts on Franklin Graham removing Mormonism from the BGEA website list of cults in this interview (warning: profanity): http://knightopia.com/blog/2012/10/19/why-im-defending-billy-graham/

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