Should Christians support a Mormon candidate for president?

[billiefan2000]

Franklin Graham OK with Mormon president
Fred Jackson - OneNewsNow - 12/18/2011 6:45:00 AMWhile many evangelicals have concerns over putting a Mormon in the White House, Franklin Graham has told the Christian Broadcasting Network that being a Mormon should not keep Mitt Romney from being President.



In an interview with senior CBN reporter, George Thomas, Graham was asked whether a Christian can vote for a Mormon as president.



Graham replied "Yes, the fact that Mitt Romney is a Mormon doesn’t bother me. I think when we are voting for president we need to get the person who is absolutely the most qualified. You can have the nicest guy and he can be a Christian and just wonderful but have absolutely no clue as to how to run a country, you don’t want that. You want somebody who understands Washington, who understands government, who understands how to bring people together so that we can move this country forward. Mitt Romney is a very capable fellow, I know him; I know Newt Gingrich, another very capable person; Michelle Bachman, a very capable lady; Rick Santorum, I like a lot, very gifted guy, a very sharp and so there are some good candidates out there."



In the interview, Graham also stated that he believes the 2012 election is "the most critical election of my lifetime."



When asked why, he said "Because our country is heading on the wrong course and we are going the wrong direction. There are millions and millions of people out there that are out of work and there are people out there now that have been out of work so long they are not even looking for work because they are so discouraged."



Graham also said that Christians need to pray about the coming election "that God would give us a new crop of politicians,


I don’t care if they are Republicans or Democrats, but who fear God and who will put God’s standards above everything else and who will take us back to the God of our fathers and that’s what we need to pray but right now our country is going in the wrong direction we need to make a change."



Franklin Graham OK with Mormon president (OneNewsNow.com)

[mattfivefour]

Oh, puh-LEEZE! Come ON, folks.

The headline is purely sensational. Franklin Graham is NOT saying that he is okay with Mormonism! He is merely saying he doesn't care if the president is a Mormon, as long as he (or she) is a good president.

America has had atheists, agnostics, believers in seances, at least one Roman Catholic, a Jew, and, arguably, a Muslim in the White House. And a few of them (NOT the latter) have been good presidents. So what does it matter if the president were to be a Mormon if he were a conscientious, talented, president dedicated to the good of America? THAT is Franklin's position. Let's not try to make it something else.

Clearly the headline writer at OneNewsNow either did not read the story (which is quite balanced) or was more interested in getting hits than getting it right.

[Hannah]

Franklin Grahman if you read the article carefully has not acknowledged Mitt Romeny to be a Saved Believer in Christ but only a man with good political skills.

Graham said Romney has the skill and ability to be a President and you want a skilled man to do the job rather than:- (in his own words)

You can have the nicest guy and he can be a Christian and just wonderful but have absolutely no clue as to how to run a country, you don’t want that.

Graham doesn't directly discount Romney a Saved Believer in Christ. In his words above you could almost say Graham is almost discounting Romeny as a Christian. Indirectly hinting that he may not see Romney as a Christain. However because Graham doesn't actually say one way or the other it is conjecture on my behalf.

Nowhere in the article does Graham say he believes the man's mormonism is a good thing. Graham only says that he believes Romney has the skill to do the job.

At the bottom Graham states what he is praying for a crop of God fearing men.

Graham also said that Christians need to pray about the coming election "that God would give us a new crop of politicians,

I don’t care if they are Republicans or Democrats, but who fear God and who will put God’s standards above everything else and who will take us back to the God of our fathers and that’s what we need to pray but right now our country is going in the wrong direction we need to make a change."

Note he says I don't care if they are "Republicans or Democrats". So Graham is not here talking about Romney but what kind of men and women politicians he would like to see in Government.

We cannot draw anything from this article except that Franklin Graham has been polite about Romney's ability and suitability for Presidency.

As a Christian when I look at some of the contenders for Prime Minister in Australia the reality is I would prefer a person who can do the job that has some fear of God and adheres to some godly standards above the corrupt, self interested career politicians. If all we have is a Mormon I would say that is better than nothing.

As Graham pointed out that you don't want some nice Christians who may not be able to do the job. We had a few Christians and Ministers go into politics here in Australia. Some of them failed miserably as politicians. It takes a specific skill to do that job and while we would love to have Christian men and women in our political ranks they need to be able to perform their tasks in those roles not just have a Christian faith.

It would be great to have Christians with the skills to be politicians but as Franklin said we need to pray for them to be raised and established by God.

There is nothing unChristian or heretical about seeing a Mormon as a good politician. Where are the Christian candidates that we can put our support behind? There are none.

[billiefan2000]

Pastor Steven Andrew Calls Franklin Graham to Repent


SAN JOSE, Calif., Dec. 21, 2011 /Christian Newswire/ -- Pastor Steven Andrew of USA Christian Ministries calls Franklin Graham to repent and to retract his statement that a Christian can vote for a Mormon.

"Graham is misleading Christians to vote against Scripture for Mormon Mitt Romney. God cannot bless us for betraying Jesus and voting for a non-Christian. No one comes to God except through Jesus-this includes the USA," said Pastor Steven.

He adds, "Franklin overlooked Scripture (Exodus 18:21, 2 Samuel 23:3). God called David a man after His own heart.



There are reasons why Christians say Mormonism is a cult: no cross and heresy."



"Mormonism is secretive, recognizes none others and adds to the Bible. We can't have a president missing a true relationship with God. Do we want God to bless America?" said Pastor Steven Andrew.

Pastors are concerned. Scripture forbids hosting false teachers in our homes and Graham wants one in the White House?

Would our Founding Fathers agree? First Chief Justice John Jay wrote, "...it is [our] duty–as well as privilege and interest–of our Christian nation to select and prefer Christians for [our] rulers."



Noah Webster educated Americans saying, "It is alleged by men of loose principles, or defective views of the subject, that [Christian] religion and morality are not necessary or important qualifications for political stations. But the Scriptures teach a different doctrine.


They direct that rulers should be men who rule in the fear of God, able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness..."

Apostle Paul warns, "But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed" (Galatians 1:8). Joseph Smith started Mormonism from an angel's message.



Pat Robertson and Joel Osteen are also called to repent because they wandered from Scripture making similar statements.


"We don't want Franklin to stop standing for righteousness. We respect Franklin and others and will respect them more when they repent," said Pastor Steven Andrew.


Christians know "do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers,"

but do they know 2 Chronicles 19:2: "Should you help the wicked and love those who hate the LORD? Therefore the wrath of the LORD is upon you."



Pastor Steven Andrew is trying to befriend these pastors and has asked for a meeting.


Pastor Steven Andrew Calls Franklin Graham to Repent - Christian Newswire

[mattfivefour]

Steven Andrew has lost a lot of my respect. He seems not to be very discerning in his comments regarding Franklin Graham. Sorry.

[OnceWasLost]

Romney will not be my choice in the primaries, but if he goes up against obama, this is an easy choice.

Romney is part of a cult, no question, but he is better on Christian issues, that the professed Christian currently in The White House. On all things that matter to us, he is light years better than what we have.

The issues that matter to us are going to be settled in the SCOTUS and we have seen who obama has appointed. I would rather see Romney appoint the next ones rather than more like we have been given by our current POTUS

[Hannah]

Pastor Steven Andrew Calls Franklin Graham to Repent


SAN JOSE, Calif., Dec. 21, 2011 /Christian Newswire/ -- Pastor Steven Andrew of USA Christian Ministries calls Franklin Graham to repent and to retract his statement that a Christian can vote for a Mormon.

"Graham is misleading Christians to vote against Scripture for Mormon Mitt Romney. God cannot bless us for betraying Jesus and voting for a non-Christian. No one comes to God except through Jesus-this includes the USA," said Pastor Steven.

He adds, "Franklin overlooked Scripture (Exodus 18:21, 2 Samuel 23:3). God called David a man after His own heart.

Kings of Israel were not voted in but establised by God. We are not Israel.

[billiefan2000]

Televangelist Launches Fierce Attack on Joel Osteen, Says Mormonism Isn't Christianity


By Bianca Coombs | Christian Post Contributor
Internet televangelist Bill Keller is not a fan of fellow evangelists Joel Osteen and Franklin Graham, President of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.

Bill Keller, the founder of LivePrayer.com, which has over 2.4 million subscribers, says Osteen and Graham have a duty to expose Mormonism as a cult.

“They are looked up to as prominent Christian leaders,” Keller said in an interview with The Christian Post.


“When you have someone like Franklin Graham going on CNN and saying he has no problem voting for a Mormon like Mitt Romney and Osteen saying Mormons are Christian, it is clear that politics are being put before the eternal soul of man.”



Keller said in the time of Franklin's father, Billy Graham, people didn't question Biblical doctrines the way they do now, even those who
didn't believe.


He also attacks Osteen as no more than a "motivational speaker."



Keller says every Christian leader’s main concern should be the eternal man, and any follower of a cult like Mormonism will spend an eternity in hell.


He calls Osteen an “idiot” and a "gutless coward," saying mainstream Biblical scholars assert that Mormon beliefs do not coincide with Biblical doctrine.



According to Keller, the Bible teaches that any group calling themselves Christian without adhering to Christian beliefs is a cult - and Mormons are the worst offenders.




“Mormons say they are Christians but they do not believe that Jesus was a deity. They believe God was once man and Jesus was conceived sexually. That goes against the basic Christian beliefs. Scientology, Kaballah - they do not pretend to be Christians.”

Keller states the belief of Jesus as less than a deity is just one example that Mormonism is not in line with traditional Christianity.



“Mitt Romney is a temple worshiper, which comes from Messianic beliefs. They believe the Bible is incomplete.


They believe in the founder of Mormonism, Joseph Smith, and wearing magical underwear will protect them from evil,” Keller told CP.



Keller claims that Christians are becoming “illiterate” about their own faith. He adds that when believers read the book of Mormon, they would see the cult’s “fantastical” beliefs.



Keller maintains that the founder of Mormonism, Joseph Smith, was a documented con-man, racist, polygamist, and a pedophile.



“They have taken a page out of the homosexual handbook.


Mormons including Romney believe in these Messianic beliefs and anyone who opposes it is demonized as a hatemonger or bigot.”



Keller told The Christian Post that he believes men like Osteen and Graham have a duty to tell the truth about Mormonism and not be swayed by Mormon tactics, politics, or the possibility for losing funds for their organizations.


Televangelist Launches Fierce Attack on Joel Osteen, Says Mormonism Isn't Christianity, Christian News

[mattfivefour]

Billy, I have changed the thread title because, based on the latest post of yours, it is now a lot broader than just Mr. Graham.

[Hannah]

You jump up and down about Franklin Graham or any other High profile Christian saying Mitt Romney a Mormon has the skills to be President or as some here have said "supports a Mormon for president".

Where has it gotten you???

In the end you get the President God decides your nation currently deserves.

Even with constant sincere prayer for Godly men and women in your Government will not change God's decision on who you will get in the End.

We had Christian prayer vigils across Australia for God to provide us with a better alternative than what we have right now (before our recent Federal elections). There were Australia wide prayer meetings organised and many attended, repenting on behalf of the nation, praying for the election and the various candidates.

What did we end up with? An Atheist who lives with her partner and has done nothing but undermined our economy and constantly allowed others in her party to put forward INSANE policies, many of which have now been passed as legislation.

No amount of prostrating yourself before God will turn around where our Nations are going. It is too late. The Tribulation doesn't finally come upon this Earth because we are doing Semi-OK. No the Tribulation must come because of our rebellion, wickedness and corrupt ways. So it only follows we will not see God Fearing men and women leading our Governments.

Debate it all you like. Not going to change the future God has planned for our nations at this late date just before the Tribulation.

I'm not expecting any better politicians in the near future (if we are still here to see another election through in Australia).

I simply pray for God's mercy in the midst of what is happening today and will happen in the near future.