Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Should a Christian Vote for a Mormon?

The Voice
Should a Christian Vote for a Mormon?


I recently had an honest conversation with a troubled young man who knows that I am a pastor.  Suddenly, his face became serious and he asked, “Pastor, how can Christian vote for a Mormon?”
This November’s elections will be among the most serious in our nation’s history and people are feeling its weightiness.  Christians are searching their hearts and asking many questions.  Some of these Christians are people who ordinarily are not very interested in politics but the Spirit of God has placed this burden on their hearts.
One such question is:  Should a Christian vote for a Mormon?  Mitt Romney is not running for pastor but president.  A president’s leadership is primarily political not spiritual, so I don’t see a real conflict. 
Obviously, if he were assuming a role of spiritual leadership, pastor, bishop, or priest, I would feel very differently.  Our founding fathers never envisioned a theocracy—a government without clear boundaries between the political and spiritual.
That is not to say that values and beliefs are not important.  They are of the highest priority.  All Christians should be values voters.  I am not so much concerned about a politician’s theology as I am his character.  Obviously, a man’s theology does impact how he lives.  When it comes to politicians I am far more concerned about HOW that man lives than what he believes or SAYS he believes.
Shake the tree and sample the fruit that falls!
Let’s compare some of the key moral-social values of Barrack Obama and Mitt Romney.  Let’s ask ourselves a question:  which of these men best reflect the values of Christ and the Bible?
Abortion.  The Scriptural position on abortion is LIFE.  Life begins at conception.  A woman is carrying a baby not a tumor or a parasite.  Therefore, abortion is murder; a violation of the sixth commandment (Exodus 20:13).
Romney’s position on abortion seems fuzzy when we look into his history.  But in a recent interview he said: "My position has been clear throughout this campaign.  I'm in favor of abortion being legal in the case of rape and incest, and the health and life of the mother."
Don’t you just love double talk?  His position has been clear—throughout this campaign—but not in every campaign.  We certainly need to view his position on abortion with suspicion.
On the other hand, President Obama’s position on abortion is not unclear.  He is simply put, the most abortion minded president ever.  He has consistently defended a woman’s right to choose to kill her baby.  Three times in his short political career he has opposed the “Born-Alive Infants Protection Act.”  This law would provide medical care for babies which happen to survive an abortion attempt.  Obama’s position is let the baby die by withdrawing medical care.
Which man best reflects the values of Christ?
Family, Marriage, and Civil Unions.  On May 9, 2012, Mitt Romney said he is opposed to civil unions and gay marriage and on the same day, President Barack Obama became the first president to support same-sex marriage.  Romney supports and will defend the DOMA and Obama has clearly stated that he will seek to repeal it and has already stopped defending it. [Defense of Marriage Act—which is current federal law that defines marriage a between one man and one woman.]
Obama opposes while Romney supports a constitutional amendment defining marriage as between one man and one woman.
Which man more closely reflects the values of Christ and the Bible?  Genesis 2:24 and Matthew 19:4-6
What about the right of conscience and the freedom to worship according to the dictates of our hearts?
President Obama’s healthcare law requires medical professionals to do procedures that violate their conscience.  It also requires religious institutions to provide for abortions and contraceptives—though it may violate their religious beliefs.  President Obama does not respect the individual’s right of conscience.
Additionally, the Obama administration has removed ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ policy concerning gays in the military but has sought to require military chaplains to perform gay marriages.  All this has displayed no regard for the chaplain’s denominational position or personal convictions.
Mitt Romney on the other hand has shown strong support for the individual’s religious and moral convictions and ultimately the first amendment which protects our freedom to worship and live according to the dictate of our consciences.
The question to ask is not, what party the candidate represents? Which candidate looks and speaks better, or has the most charismatic personality?  Is the candidate a Baptist, Pentecostal, Presbyterian, Catholic, Mormon, or Muslim?
Shake the tree and sample the fruit that falls! 
Actions speak louder than words.  I am not nearly as concerned with neither party affiliation nor church affiliation.   I am concerned with the man’s character.
Paraphrasing Martin Luther King Jr., we do not judge a man by his denomination, party affiliation, or even the color of his skin.  We judge him by the content of his character.
I plan on voting for the individual who most closely and consistently reflect the values of Christ and His Word.

Pastor Ken Fielding
* The view here is that of the author and not necessarily that of Christian Assembly of God.

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