The upcoming Mormon debate in America

I have a question for y'all...

The 2008 presidential race is starting to take shape (unfortunately), and the lines are becoming a bit more clear. I think most here are in agreement that Hillary Clinton, Obama, and Gore are probably not the choice of most Bible believing Christians because of their stand on abortion and other moral issues.

On the other side, the three main candidates are Mitt Romney, John McCain, Rudy Gulianni & Fred Thompson.

I like McCain's stand on defense, but not his stand on abortion or securing our southern border. I like Rudy's stand on crime, but again, his moral character is in question (adulterer), and he is also pro-choice.

Then there is Mitt Romney. A man of character. Has a tough stand on defense, believes in securing our southern border, and is as pro-life as you can get. I personally believe he would make a great president.

And he is a Mormon.

This is a slight snag for me because I know a lot about the Mormon cult, and it's hard for me to understand how someone as brilliant as Mitt Romney could believe the absurd prophecies and teachings of Joseph Smith.

I've pretty much made up my mind already who I am voting for... but my question for everyone here is... should his being a Mormon effect how believers vote? Would you vote for someone else because he is a Mormon, or doesnt it matter?

Personally, my vote will either go to Romney or Fred Thompson in the primary. I'm still waiting to here more from Thompson. (I met him once in Knoxville, Tennessee... very nice man. Very gracious.)

Should Romney's personal faith make a difference? We had a Southern Baptist as president... and look at what we got. He fornicated in the Oval Office with an intern, which made him an adulterer... and then he lied under oath.

What say you?

Krispy

i want you to know, before i say anything, there is anger in me, and i don't want to sin. if i do, i am willing to accept and confess.
so, you must be kidding right Krispy? wow? incidentally, as i was thinking about my struggle with lust this morning, the verse that came to me was,(and this is with humbleness i will say for i am mostly not learned in the things of God as most of you and have yet a road so long ahead of me but)- what fellowship has Belial with Christ? what fellowship? huh... don't deceive yourselves folks... thinking you would vote for somebody that is the best out of evil. i believe it is just another way of endorsing evil, no matter how you would think it is your right to vote or do so. remember, you gave up your right at the cross... yea- i would confess to you, i am not a citizen of the US, neither am i permanently here, and hence forth, might say easier for you, but i feel just the same of my home country folks. i am a brother to you and more of a citizen than of my flesh brother. oh,

right before coming here, i was checking prophecy.tv and was grieved at the cavalier way that they tossed around the word of God. but, i wanted to come and post a prayer saying, "Oh God, if you ever give me your annointing to carry any burden for you, would you remind me the verse, "the gifts and callings are without repentance" everyday. and stumbling upon this thread, i cannot help but say again, oh how much if we remember, the gifts and callings are without repentance, even for our presidents
krispy, i love you my friend and brother... i am so sorry if there's anything that kills the inner-man that is in Christ in you, for my intention is not for that.

Am only asking that we preceed with the nature of what is given here predominately as a backdrop. Carry on the conversation with this in mind, that this is not always the best of places for political discussion as it tends to often spiral down into destruction. It can be done and has in the past, generaly it is the exception however and not the norm. Always depending on the participants.

I agree, and I didnt have the intention of beginning a political debate. This isnt really about politics.

What I am really asking is this: if one candidate matches your own views and values over all the rest, but his theology is quite different from yours... would you still vote for him?

Doesnt matter what your politics are, that is not relevent to the question I am asking.

I think if we stay focussed on that, this conversation would be good.

By the way, everyone, I have no agenda here in asking... I'm just curious how everyone feels about this, and thought it would make an interesting conversation.

Krispy

i am not a citizen of the US, neither am i permanently here

[b]sb1175[/b]... I'm not bothered at all by your post, please dont worry.

I dont really expect you to understand my way of thinking when it comes to voting and civic duty since you were not born and raised here... and I presume you're fairly new to our way of life here, such as it is.

And thats ok!

My family has been here since before America gained her freedom from England, and most of my ancestors served in the military all thru this nations history. Many of my ancestors were judges, law enforcement, public servents, etc... and some were outlaws and bootleggers.

So it's been bred in me that we have civic responsibilities that come with living here. Voting is the biggest one. A say in the direction our country moves in. A lot of blood was spilled so that we could have that freedom.

We also have the freedom to not participate should we choose not to.

I dont know where you're from, but I think that perhaps the misunderstandings between you and I have more to do with our different back grounds.

I'm not upset at your words. To be honest, I'm not 100% sure what your point was. But you are free to disagree with me. I dont expect everyone to agree with me all the time (good thing too... I'd be disappointed all the time!).

God bless,
Krispy

Jay... stop copying off my paper!! (our list is identical)

Krispy

do we know what God thinks about any of these men and who he thinks we ought to vote for if we are to vote?

I think God is first and foremost concerned about innocent blood. Abortion. Abortion is [b]not[/b] a political issue. It is a life and death issue, as well as a sin issue. When we do not participate in the voting process, or we vote for someone who we know is pro-abortion... well, I just dont know how a child of God could do that.

I also understand that there are believers who may not agree with me, and thats ok. I'll not argue the point here. But this is the conviction I have. I think scripture backs me up...

[i]Deu 19:13 Thine eye shall not pity him, but thou shalt put away the guilt of innocent blood from Israel, that it may go well with thee.

Deu 21:9 So shalt thou put away the guilt of innocent blood from among you, when thou shalt do that which is right in the sight of the LORD.

2Ki 21:16 Moreover Manasseh shed innocent blood very much, till he had filled Jerusalem from one end to another; beside his sin wherewith he made Judah to sin, in doing that which was evil in the sight of the LORD.

2Ki 24:4 And also for the innocent blood that he shed: for he filled Jerusalem with innocent blood; which the LORD would not pardon.

Psa 106:38 And shed innocent blood, even the blood of their sons and of their daughters, whom they sacrificed unto the idols of Canaan: and the land was polluted with blood.

Pro 6:16-17 These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood... etc.

Isa 59:7 Their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed innocent blood: their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; wasting and destruction are in their paths.

Jer 7:6-7 If ye oppress not the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, and shed not innocent blood in this place, neither walk after other gods to your hurt: Then will I cause you to dwell in this place, in the land that I gave to your fathers, forever and ever.

Jer 22:3 Thus saith the LORD; Execute ye judgment and righteousness, and deliver the spoiled out of the hand of the oppressor: and do no wrong, do no violence to the stranger, the fatherless, nor the widow, neither shed innocent blood in this place.

Joel 3:19 Egypt shall be a desolation, and Edom shall be a desolate wilderness, for the violence against the children of Judah, because they have shed innocent blood in their land.[/i]

Krispy

If someone is not for God…they are against Him, making them an enemy of God. I could not vote for anyone that is an enemy of God…even if it is because they are deceived.

I think when it comes to civic duties the principle is "render unto Ceasar that which is Ceasars".

I dont think we divorce our religious convictions from our civic duties. Our founding fathers certainly didnt, even tho many believers have bought the lie that they were deists (only a handful were... mainly Jefferson and Franklin).

So when it comes time to vote, I believe the believer should vote. If you dont vote, then you automatically turn the direction of the country over to those who do... and believe me, the lost and unregenerate will vote.

If you vote for Mitt Romney you are not voting for him as head of the church. You're voting for him to be head of the country.

Jimmy Carter claimed to be a Christian, and policy-wise he was one of the worst presidents in US history. Good man, bad president.

Bill Clinton is a Southern Baptist... totally disgraced the office.

GW Bush claims to be a Christian... while I dont know his heart, I suspect he used the so-called "Christian-right" to get elected. I agree with some things he's done, but totally disagree with alot that he's done.

So just because someone is a Christian, I dont think the believers of this country should automatically vote for him because the other guy, who is better suited for the job, is of another faith.

Our government is not "for God", therefore is is against God... yet you pay your taxes. If we're to follow this reasoning concerning taxes, then dont pay them. Go to jail. We all love to talk about how we would go thru anything for Jesus... why arent you jail?

Understand, I'm just reasoning... not coming down on you... not really even disagreeing with you. More like thinking out loud about this. I dont have the answers. I'm just asking, trying to provoke thought, not emotions.

Someone is going to ask me "What if he's a Muslim?" The simple answer is: I dont trust any Muslim, at this point, to have the best interest of America in mind. Therefore, I would not vote for him based on that.

By the way, I bet if Romney were a Catholic most Christians wouldnt mind. Catholic, Mormon... there's no difference in my mind. Both are cults.

Krispy

Thats a very good point, KJ. I need to comtemplate that for awhile...

Krispy