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Subscribe to RSSThe Texas pastor who introduced Gov. Rick Perry at Friday's Values Voters Summit in Washington told reporters that he does not believe that former Massachusetts Mitt Romney is a Christian, and called Romney's Mormon faith a "cult."
"Well, Rick Perry's a Christian. He's an evangelical Christian, a follower of Jesus Christ," Dr. Robert Jeffress told NBC News. "Mitt Romney's a good moral person but he's not a Christian. Mormonism is not Christianity. It has always been considered a cult by the mainstream of Christianity. So it's the difference between a Christian and a non-Christian."
Perry's campaign quickly distanced itself from the words of the pastor. The Texas governor, according to campaign spokesman Mark Miner, does not believe Mormonism is a cult.
"The governor doesn't get into the business of judging other peoples hearts or souls. He leaves that to God," Miner said in an email. "The governor's campaign is about uniting Americans of all backgrounds behind a pro-growth, jobs agenda for this country."
Romney's Mormon faith had been more of an issue in his 2008 bid for the GOP nomination, when he took major strides to overcome social conservatives and evangelical voters' suspicions about his faith. He delivered a major speech in December of 2007 seeking to allay their concerns, but still went on to lose the Iowa caucuses and subsequent New Hampshire primary, where he had competed.
The issue of controversial pastors in a candidate's background aren't entirely foreign to presidential campaigns, either. President Obama, during the 2008 Democratic presidential primary, was forced to address and ultimately disavow his relationship with the controversial Chicago Rev. Jeremiah Wright.
Jeffress introduced Perry to socially conservative conference-goers with an emphasis on Perry's evangelical Christian background. But he also raised eyebrows during his introduction of Perry, when he seemed to imply that Romney wasn''t a Christian.
"Do we want a candidate who is a good, moral person, or one who is a born again follower of our Lord Jesus Christ?" he asked.
Jeffress is the pastor of the 10,000-member First Baptist Church of Dallas. The author of 17 books, according to the church's website, Jeffress is an occasional guest on cable news shows.
***Update*** Miner tells NBC News via email that the Perry camp did not plan Jeffress' endorsement/ introduction at the Values Voter Summit, which the campaign calls "not a political event." He says that the event organizers planned Jeffress' introduction of the governor.
Representatives of Jeffress' church dropped off statements at the press tables before Perry's speech announcing the endorsement -- not on Perry stationary.
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Last time I looked, the mormons church is actually called "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints". The pastor probably ought to research the mormon's faith just a little bit before opening his cake hole. Just saying
We have research it. You can call it anything you want. The Apostle Paul wrote in the first chapter of Galatians that if any man bring you a so-called gospel other than what I have thought you, they should be accursed of God. Last time I read Mormon theology, they say everyone can be a god just like Jesus Christ. That isn't the Gospel of the New Testament.
Aaaah.. yes it is. The last time I checked, true followers of Jesus Christ can become joint-heirs with Christ "if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together".. And what are they becoming joint-heirs of Christ with? All that the Father hath. What is all that the Father hath? That's hard to fully fathom but why is the concept foreign? It's part of who we are. Most parents want the best for their children. They want their children to have everything they have and more. Why would our Father in heaven want it any different?
The issue is does one professing to be a Christian believe in the Jesus Christ of the New Testament or the Jesus Christ of the Nicene Creed?
If a church or group of churches, that believes in the Jesus Christ of the Nicene Creed, hears that a church claims they are the restored church that Christ set up when he walked the earth, the first group of churches do not take kindly to that, as it is a threat to them. A threat to the heart and soul of what they believe. So some of them lash out and lash out hard. But it doesn't matter. Truth will prevail in the end and the Lord will judge.
I was waiting for this to come up. At some point in the GOP campaign, I knew that someone would make an issue of Romney being a Mormon, solely to scare or rile up the evangelical wing of the GOP against Romney for the benefit of some other candidate. Evidently Rick Perry is that beneficiary. The fact that Perry has politely backpedaled from these comments is insufficient. He needs to unequivocally denounce the pastor's comments to gain any credibility with me. But he won't.
The GOP has been in slow decline since 1992. I think they just bumped the bottom. Guess it's time for me to start voting Libertarian. They'll never win, but at least I will be able to feel good about voting for them. The party of Barry Goldwater and Bob Dole has turned irretrievably into an "evangelicals only" club.
The 2012 election is going to be Tweedle-Dee vs. Tweedle-Dum. No matter who wins, we lose.
I have seen no evidence of Obama or the church he attended following the gospel of the New Testament. They followed liberation theology which has it's roots in the Socialist liberation movements of Africa and South America.
Romney should not have to say anything - actually vice versa those who open their self-righteous mouths should reconsider their own comments by trying to twist thier own religious beliefs into the outcome for a better qualified person to run this country than the failing Obama administration...Kennedy faced the same BS in 1960 because he was a Catholic - in another 50 years is will because you were born on Mars and believe in benefit of red dirt - Media BS at best - I took a walk down town a bit ago, and based on what Wolf Blitzer (Mumbles) is saying people are running around with their hair on fire because this twit made this outrageous comment in DC - funny no one is saying anything about it and just like the military, doesn't matter if you are gay or not, what matters is can you do the job - stop the media BS and attempting to sway a vote to support a failing Obama administration
Again,we are not voting for Romney to be a pastor and teach theology. We are voting for him to be our President. Even though I personally don't believe the theology, I have hired Mormon to work for me before. It depends what you are hiring him to do.
There's a great youtube video that was done as a satire of the excessive focus on Romney's religion, called "What if a Mormon cured cancer?" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wnFd5zCIpVc
This Jeffress bigot did a month-long sermon on the evil homosexuals. A month-long series talking about hate every Sunday? They are building a huge behemoth glass addition to their church in the center of downtown Dallas. Go to his website, and check him out for yourselves....and to be calling others cults? Glass houses pastor, Jeffress, glass houses.
Dang, would love to hear his opinion of Judaism!
Yep, people like Jeffress conveniently forget that Christianity is an offshoot of Judaism.
Wait until Pastor Jeffress finds out Eric Cantor is Jewish. Talk about the difference between Christian and non-Christian. Do you suppose Representative Cantor can ever be moral or Republican enough for the Pastor?
Yeah, who cares about what a bible thumping redneck thinks anyhow. And we should sell Texas to Mexico anyhow.
JimPA,
We SHOULD care because the extreme right wing Christians are a driving force behind much that is the Tea-Party, which is the major driving force behind the GOP right now! And they are about to elect a President if we are not careful!
This crowd has all but taken over NC politics and more of their nefarious ideology is passed every day!
What a GREAT idea! There you go. Might help the national debt. Wonder how much the US could get for Texas......
On topic - it amuses me how so much is said about Jesus Christ and Chritianity by those who do not follow his teachings at all. If so-called Christians were really Christians they wouldn't put the almighty dollar ahead of everything else. They would show kindness to everyone - including tax collectors (yuck), prostitutes, and sinners. Jesus could have hung out with the wealthy and powerful but he shunned them in favor of people of lesser means.
A couple of weeks ago, two young Mormon women came to my door. We started talking, and they explained that they are talking to people to try and improve peoples' opinions of their faith. I am Christian, but wear symbols of other spiritual beliefs on my necklace. They were curious about them, and I did share with them the meanings of such symbols. They were very respectful and did not attack me in any way, unlike many of the so-called "christians" who come to my door. I do not believe for one minute that Mormons are a cult. Being religious does not mean you are spiritual, and many "christians" are religious but not spiritual. If they were truely spiritual, they would take to heart the teachings of Jesus and realize they cannot love God and hate their neighbors at the same time. And just because someone says they are "christian" or "born again" doesn't mean they are--one has only to look at their behavior. "By their fruits you will know them"
"We have met the enemy and he is us!" Pogo by Walt Kelly
Perry will distance himself from the pastor's words, but not his endorsement! What a fool all you "christians" are. Mixing politics with religion is as dengerous as fire and gasoline. It wil never works and your true colors will soon be discovered!
Three things to remember about this...
1. Perry DID NOT denounce this idiot or his bigotry
2. Obama is NOT a Christian - according to this crowd
3. NO ONE is a Christian unless you ARE an Evangelical Christian like they are. They are -according to them - the ONLY true believers and EVERYONE else is going to hell!
4. They want to preserve Israel - NOT because it is our ally - but because Jesus is suppose to return there to claim the TRUE Christians - once he does that, than Israel, Jews and un-TRUE Christians wilkl burn in the world's destruction.
Pleasant group to have ruling your country isn't it? I'll take Mormonism over this crowd of bigots any day.
Those are indisputable facts.
mormons are actually extra-christian.
they are a tribe of jews that came to america in giant paddle-wheel boats 600 years bc to set up their church here to worship jesus.
and they are the american indians, too. all american indians are descendants of the original mormons.
cult. pfft. dont be ridiculous.
Four or five of the top fundamentalist christian leaders (the most conservative evangelical leaders) have already said that they either support Romney or have no problem with him being President. One said that they are voting for him to be our political leader no our spiritual leader. They would see him the same as voting for a Catholic or some other religion they do not theologically agree with. Most conservative evangelicals have just as much trouble with Catholic theology as they would Mormon theology. They would not agree with that theology but would defend their right to believe it and worship what they believe. I would not vote for Romney to be my pastor or one of the church deacons, but I would vote for him to be President.
I hope other Christians will be as discerning. But this pastor isn't one of them.
Excellent points Ray - well stated!
You know what? At this point I don't care if someone worships cow dung! Render under Ceasar...and unto what is God's.
We got some damn serious stuff going down in this world/country and if it doesn't get FIXED...this life isn't going to be worthwhile living!
Here we go again...fracturing a party over social and religious preference. I have Jesus in my heart, I don't need a group or someone cramming HIM down my throat! Fix what's wrong in Washington, I can take care of my personal beliefs thank you.
Just like the last time Romney tried for the GOP nomination--the evangelical Christians will never, ever vote for him so it would be suicide for the RNC to nominate him. Even Methodists, the most liberal of mainstream denominations, consider Mormonism a cult. I daresay if Romney were the R candidate, evangelical Christians would simply not vote. And unfortunately for the RNC, they can't win without the evangelical Christian vote.
I'll take the candidate who is a good, moral person, thank you. A candidate's faith is no business of mine.
Besides, why be a "born-again" follower? Weren't you born right the first time?
I say separation of church and state....something in the Constitution about that...really.
Perry is so religious he's scary, if not a little crazy. If he governs based on right wing evangelical end times eschatology, he'll create his own Armageddon and if he's wrong (he is) where will that leave us? Maybe hell on earth.
Boy, all those born-again Christian "holier than thous" are going to have a hard time in heaven. Nothing but Jews, @!$%#s, Spics, illegal aliens, Moslems, etc.
God doesn't care about your nationality but he does care about what decision you have made when it comes to Jesus Christ.
How gullible is Governor Perry? His pastor told him that Obama was introducing the Jobs Bill to Congress and the good governor replied, "I thought he just died?"
I thought Rodney Dangerfield was dead....
Remember the old Kennel Ration dog food commercial. Just fill in Dog with religion. "My dogs better than your dog; my dogs better than yours. My dogs better cause he uses Kennel Ration, my dogs better than yours.
Now we're not just concerned with political parties, we're also concerned with religions. Talk about being wrapped around your axle.
Four out of five demons surveyed recommended Western cults to their patients that choose cults; Eastern cults need not apply.
This is what I call crass stupidity and an awful insult to God and religion in America. As if the Christian community in America has not taken a shellacking in recent years for sins worse than what Mormons are being accused of. What about pastors in Christian churches who engage in homosexual or adulterous activity? What about pastors who steal church funds? What about pastors who have a drinking or porn problem? None of us knows who really is a Christian, because being a Christian is about a relationship with God through Christ. Just saying one is a Christian does not make one a Christian; that determination is made by God! Why don't we stop this foolishness of trying to define potential presidents according to their faith and judge them according to their vision for America? George Bush was a Christian, and he lied us into a very costly war! Obama said he is a Christian and he lacks the strength of his own convictions! So who is a Christian? Ask God @ 1 800-CALL-GOD!
OMG, There is no one on this Earth can say who is and who's not a Christian! NO ONE! Except God and that person..
They will either say they are aren't! Not some crazy stupid, mental midget Preacher! This just goes to show how stupid CHRISTIANS are!
Perry must have paid him to say such! Perry is the one in question about being a Christian as for someone that supports the Porn industry and taken money from them!
I'd say that by the statement of this fony preacher/human that him and Perry will burn in Hell!
No One but God will judge who is and who isn't a Christian!
Not even anyone on here can!
Romney and Perry are non issues at this point at least. Herman Cain.
Bumper stickers: Hope and Cain you can believe in.
Cain is Able
Able is Cain (Kind of reminds me of Ace Ventura Pet Detective. Finkel is Einhorn, Einhorn is Finkel)
More as they become a passing thought.
Cain - It is your fault you don't have a job
Cain - I don't have the facts to back this up
Cain Cain't
999 Advertising gimmick for the simple minded brought to you by great economists that don't want their names on it. The only way I can see how his plan works is if you give up social security, medicare, workman's comp, unemployment benefits. That is okay, his plan takes care of the rich who need no benefits but the lowest taxes in the history of the United States at 9%.
Cain for Pain - Starve the Poor
Cain for Pain - End Minimum wage
Cain for Pain - Kill health-care
Perry also toots his horn over supporting the death penalty suppose thats christian too
Very much Christian and supported by the Bible.
Where is a death penalty supported by the bible?
Don't say the New Testament! Cause that was written by man, hundreds of years after Christ death!
God forgave Moses and Moses was a murderer!
Show me where it states the death penalty is justified in the Bible!
I am a Mormon and am a christian. I believe in Jesus Christ as my Savior and Redeemer. Those people who call Mormon's non-christians are just plain ignorant and should learn what we really believe before they go around slandering the Church.
Do you have a prophet?
Do you smoke or drink?
How many sister wives do you have or are you a sister wife?? (said snarkely)
Absolutley NOT true. Mitt Romney IS a Christian...and he has said so himself. Who gets to decide if you are or are not a Christian. Mr. Jeffrees sounds like a Pharisee to me...hmmm ..... didn't they crucify Christ?
Robert Jeffress is ignorant. By now, almost everyone knows "Mormon" is just nickname (coined by non-Mormons) for members of the Church of JESUS CHRIST of Latter-Day Saints, just like "Christian" was a nickname given to early followers of Christ by non-believers. The name of Christ is in the name of the church, but they're not Christian? Huh? Mormons believe in the Christ that was born in a manger, whose mother was Mary, who called 12 apostles, ministered for 3 years teaching and healing the sick and afflicted, suffered in Gethsemane, was betrayed, died on the cross, and rose again the 3rd day, and who is the Savior of mankind...hmmm, but they're not Christian.
Mormon is not a nickname. It is a name for the book which replaces the Bible. The Book of Mormon, translated by Joseph Smith. Brigham Young started " The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints". Per wikipedia article on Mormon
just for the record.... mormon was an ancient lds prophet, and contributed to the book of mormon.
*shrug*
it would be as if jews called themselves samuels, or christians called themselves lukes. or whatever.
Cranewalker it is a nickname and we do study the Book of Mormon in addition to the King James Bible. We have not replace the Bible with the Book of Mormon but have enhanced our studies with both books hand in hand along with other reading materials.