Evangelicals and the Coming Romney Victory
May 9, 2012
Gerald R. McDermott
A new poll from Virginia, a key swing state, suggests that Evangelicals will help put Mitt Romney in the White House this November.
It has become a truism in recent years that Evangelicals are critical to our national elections. As New York Times reporter Erik Eckholm pointed out on April 14, Evangelicals accounted for nearly one-fourth of all ballots cast in recent presidential elections. Their lukewarm support for John McCain in 2008—with many staying home on Election Day and upwards of 30 percent of their 18-29 year-olds casting votes for Obama (Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research)—helped give the White House to the Democrats.
Republicans have feared that Romney’s Mormonism will mean even fewer Evangelical votes for their candidate in November. They cite a November 2011 Pew Forum poll that found 15 percent of Evangelicals saying they would refuse to vote for Romney simply because he is a Mormon.
Of course, McCain in 2008 won 74 percent of the white Evangelical vote, and still lost. But several things are different this time around. Even a slight increase in the percentage of Evangelicals at the polls will have significant consequences. The Baylor Religion Survey estimates that Evangelicals are now one-third of the population, or 100 million people. An increase of only 1 percent at the polls—a million voters—most likely means a two-to-one advantage for Romney among those million votes, which could tip several key states against Obama.
Now there is fresh evidence that Evangelicals in swing states are more numerous than ever, and prefer Romney to Obama by a wide margin. A March 26-April 9 poll of Virginia residents conducted by the Institute for Policy and Opinion Research at Roanoke College found that 58 percent of the Virginia population is Evangelical, and white Evangelicals prefer Romney by a 36-point spread (65 percent to 29 percent).
Not surprisingly, Virginia Evangelicals are ambivalent about Romney’s religion. More than twice as many Evangelicals as non-Evangelicals in Virginia (37 percent to 16 percent) think Mormons are not Christians, and 74 percent of the Evangelicals (vs. 61 percent of non-Evangelicals) say Mormonism is “very different” from their own faith. Sixty-one per cent of Evangelicals think the Mormon religion is not Christian or are unsure if it is Christian, compared to only 39 percent of non-Evangelicals.
Evangelicals have always considered Mormon religion very different from their own, but sometimes for the wrong reasons. For example, they typically protest that Mormons believe in salvation by good works. Some Mormons do indeed believe this, just as many Catholics and some Protestants believe they will be saved by being good Christians. Yet the Book of Mormon teaches salvation by Christ’s work of grace: “There is no flesh that can dwell in the presence of God save it be through the merits, and mercy, and grace of the Holy Messiah” (2 Nephi 2:8).
Yet Evangelicals have legitimate reasons to believe that Mormon beliefs are different from those of historic Christian orthodoxy. For while Mormons believe Jesus is now fully God, they do not believe he was always God. Nor do they believe in the Trinity and the traditional Christian doctrine that God created the world from nothing.
Despite these religious differences, a large majority of Virginia Evangelicals—who themselves represent a majority of Virginia voters—say they will vote for Mitt Romney, a Mormon.
But why? Why do an overwhelming majority of Virginia Evangelicals (79 percent) say that Romney’s religion “makes no difference” in their voting for him? The answer seems to be that they have seen Obama’s policies and dislike them. Sixty-six percent of Evangelicals (vs. only 50 percent of non-Evangelicals) disapprove of Obamacare. Evangelicals are just as worried about the economy and the deficit as non-Evangelicals. In fact, a majority of Evangelicals support the Tea Party (53 percent) while only a quarter (29 percent) of non-Evangelicals do. Seventy-nine percent of Evangelicals think the country is on the wrong track (vs. 66 percent of non-Evangelicals).
Evangelicals, then, will vote against Obama because of the economy and their suspicion that policies such as the recent HHS mandate requiring insurance to pay for abortions will threaten their religious freedom. They will vote for Romney because they think his policies will grow the economy without jeopardizing their deepest convictions—such as their belief in traditional marriage as the bedrock of society.
(Contrary to the current opinion that Romney is losing the women’s vote, 63 percent of Virginia’s Evangelicals are women, and they support him over Obama by a broad margin. This means that Romney will win the women’s vote in Virginia, and probably other states with Evangelical majorities.)
If Evangelicals vote for Romney in greater numbers than for McCain in 2008—and it appears that they might—it won’t be the first time that Christians voted for an American president who was less than orthodox. After all, George Washington was a deist who usually referred to the deity in vague and impersonal terms. Thomas Jefferson believed the doctrines of the Trinity, atonement and original sin were essentially pagan, and rejected the possibility of miracles or resurrection. John Adams also denied the Trinity, along with most orthodox Christian doctrine, while holding to a Stoic-like resignation to fate. Lincoln and his wife attended séances, and William Howard Taft was a Unitarian who rejected the deity of Christ.
Christians who voted for these presidents showed they were looking for a Commander-in-Chief, not a theologian-in-chief. In this approach they echoed Martin Luther, who reputedly said, “I would rather be governed by a wise Turk than by a foolish Christian.”
Gerald R. McDermott is Jordan-Trexler Professor of Religion at Roanoke College, and co-author of Evangelicals and Mormons: Exploring the Boundaries.
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Comments:
5.9.2012 | 2:41pm
Raymond Takashi Swenson says:
It is time for the voters who consider themselves "very conservative" to act maturely and realize that the ONLY path to putting conservative policies into place in all of the Executive Branch agencies is to retake the White House. Even if the presidential candidate of your party is not the most conservative guy around, he is going to appoint people to head government agencies, and sign bills, that are far more conservative than Barack Obama, especially in his unaccountable second term (as he priomised the Russians!). What is important is the DIRECTION the president will be moving government: towards smaller government, less government spending, fewer taxes, fewer regulations and their costs, and more liberty for individuals, churches and businesses.
5.9.2012 | 2:57pm
Raymond Takashi Swenson says:
Time and again, some religious leaders said they opposed nominating and electinig Romney out of fear that doing so would "legitimize Mormonism". It is not clear what the means. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints operates lawfully with congregations in all 50 states. Its members include many who work in law enforcement and the military defense of the nation (as I did for 20 years). Its members have been elected to Congress from not only Utah but also Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Arizona, Colorado, Oklahoma, Florida, American Samoa and California. Mormons have served as US Ambassadors to Mexico, China, Norway, and the United Nations. Mormons have been appointed by presidents and confirmed by the Senate to head major Federal agencies, including Agriculture, Treasury, Education, Interior, HHS, HUD, EPA, the Coast Guard, and the Bureau of Indian Affairs. How is any of these facts consistent with Mormonism being "illegitimate"?
Now that Romney is clearly the Republican nominee, is Mormonism more "legitimate" than it was six months ago? I don't observe any difference in how the Mormon Church operates. No crowds are applying for baptism. People at work are not trying to be nicer to Mormons.
So Evangelicals who were worried about some vague negative impact from a Romney presidency should put that concern behind them. If the thing they feared were going to happen, it would be starting already. But it is just a bogeyman. Romney is a Mormon, but he is also a conservative businessman with strong leadership experience of precisely the kind America's economy needs. His being Mormon has no implications for the religious beliefs of any American.
Now that Romney is clearly the Republican nominee, is Mormonism more "legitimate" than it was six months ago? I don't observe any difference in how the Mormon Church operates. No crowds are applying for baptism. People at work are not trying to be nicer to Mormons.
So Evangelicals who were worried about some vague negative impact from a Romney presidency should put that concern behind them. If the thing they feared were going to happen, it would be starting already. But it is just a bogeyman. Romney is a Mormon, but he is also a conservative businessman with strong leadership experience of precisely the kind America's economy needs. His being Mormon has no implications for the religious beliefs of any American.
5.9.2012 | 3:17pm
Herb says:
While Dr. Mc Dermott may be accurate in his details about most of the less than orthodox presidents he mentions, I think he may have failed to do thorough enough research into Washington. I once was of the same opinion, but have been persuaded by the work of Dr. Peter A. Lillback, President of Westminster Seminary, that there may be significant evidence to the contrary.
5.9.2012 | 6:18pm
Dwight Rogers says:
Dependence on the grace of Jesus Christ is one of the central beliefs of Mormons. It is the critics of Mormonism who say that Mormons believe they are going to earn their way to heaven by their works. Mormon’s don’t teach that. Mormons don’t teach that we can earn our way to heaven without the grace of Christ. You see, the critics are so determined to make Mormonism look non-Biblical that they have to invent straw-man Mormon doctrines.
Note what Mormons believe taken from their own sources:
Alma 22:14 (from the Book of Mormon)
14 And since man had fallen he could not merit anything of himself; but the sufferings and death of Christ atone for their sins, through faith and repentance, and so forth; and that he breaketh the bands of death, that the grave shall have no victory, and that the sting of death should be swallowed up in the hopes of glory; and Aaron did expound all these things unto the king.
2 Nephi 25:23 (from the Book of Mormon)
23 For we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children, and also our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do.
2 Nephi 24:26 (from the Book of Mormon)
"We talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins." (2 Nephi 25:26)
2 Nephi 10:24-25 (From the Book of Mormon):
24 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, reconcile yourselves to the will of God, and not to the will of the devil and the flesh; and remember, after ye are reconciled unto God, that it is only in and through the grace of God that ye are saved.
25 Wherefore, may God raise you from death by the power of the resurrection, and also from everlasting death by the power of the atonement, that ye may be received into the eternal kingdom of God, that ye may praise him through grace divine. Amen.
In the Bible we find both the teaching of salvation by Grace and the teaching of repentance and obedience to the commandments. They are both true. They are both Biblical. Some Christians cherry pick the teachings of the Bible, focusing on one thing that they like and ignore the other parts. Mormons believe ALL of the gospel of Jesus Christ. We try our best to understand and believe all of it. Grace and Works are two sides to the same coin. The Apostle Paul writes a lot about salvation by grace. This was to combat the tenancy in many early Jews who converted to Christianity to fall back on obeying the works oriented law of Moses. People who think they can work their way to salvation have missed the grace side of the coin. However, in Corinthians, Galatians, Romans, and other places, Paul also stresses the necessity to obey the commandments. He gives lists of sinful behavior such as adultery, fornication, lying, and so forth, and says that people who do these will not enter into the kingdom of heaven. For instance see 1 Corinthians 6:9-10. And let's not forget about James 2:14-20,24.
The Apostle Peter tells us that even after accepting Christ one must turn from sin and obey lest he fall from grace:
2 Peter 2:20-22
20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.
21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.
22 But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.
Obeying God is clearly the other side of the coin to the teachings of grace in the Bible. It is incomplete to stress only Grace or only Works. They are both part of the gospel as taught in both the Bible and the Book of Mormon. Even confessing that Jesus is our savior is a work that we must actually do. If we were saved from sin solely on grace alone than salvation would be automatic regardless of what we do. There would be no need to even confess Jesus as our Savior let alone try to live a good Christian life.
Mormons are often accused of ignoring Christ’s grace and of trying to work their way to salvation. However, an accurate look at what Mormons actually teach shows a very balanced approach which mirrors the balanced teaching of Grace and Works found in the Bible.
One Evangelical Christian author wrote of his sudden discovery that his previous beliefs about salvation were very different from those held by the early Christians:
“If there's any single doctrine that we would expect to find the faithful associates of the apostles teaching, it's the doctrine of salvation by faith alone. After all, that is the cornerstone doctrine of the Reformation. In fact, we frequently say that persons who don't hold to this doctrine aren't really Christians…
“Our problem is that Augustine, Luther, and other Western theologians have convinced us that there's an irreconcilable conflict between salvation based on grace and salvation conditioned on works or obedience. They have used a fallacious form of argumentation known as the "false dilemma," by asserting that there are only two possibilities regarding salvation: it's either (1) a gift from God or (2) it's something we earn by our works.
The early Christians [and Latter-day Saints!] would have replied that a gift is no less a gift simply because it's conditioned on obedience....
“The early Christians believed that salvation is a gift from God but that God gives His gift to whomever He chooses. And He chooses to give it to those who love and obey him.” (David W. Bercot, Will The Real Heretics Please Stand Up: A New Look at Today's Evangelical Church in the Light of Early Christianity, 3rd edition, (Tyler, Texas: Scroll Publishing Company, 1999[1989]), 57, 61–62)
Note what Mormons believe taken from their own sources:
Alma 22:14 (from the Book of Mormon)
14 And since man had fallen he could not merit anything of himself; but the sufferings and death of Christ atone for their sins, through faith and repentance, and so forth; and that he breaketh the bands of death, that the grave shall have no victory, and that the sting of death should be swallowed up in the hopes of glory; and Aaron did expound all these things unto the king.
2 Nephi 25:23 (from the Book of Mormon)
23 For we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children, and also our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do.
2 Nephi 24:26 (from the Book of Mormon)
"We talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins." (2 Nephi 25:26)
2 Nephi 10:24-25 (From the Book of Mormon):
24 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, reconcile yourselves to the will of God, and not to the will of the devil and the flesh; and remember, after ye are reconciled unto God, that it is only in and through the grace of God that ye are saved.
25 Wherefore, may God raise you from death by the power of the resurrection, and also from everlasting death by the power of the atonement, that ye may be received into the eternal kingdom of God, that ye may praise him through grace divine. Amen.
In the Bible we find both the teaching of salvation by Grace and the teaching of repentance and obedience to the commandments. They are both true. They are both Biblical. Some Christians cherry pick the teachings of the Bible, focusing on one thing that they like and ignore the other parts. Mormons believe ALL of the gospel of Jesus Christ. We try our best to understand and believe all of it. Grace and Works are two sides to the same coin. The Apostle Paul writes a lot about salvation by grace. This was to combat the tenancy in many early Jews who converted to Christianity to fall back on obeying the works oriented law of Moses. People who think they can work their way to salvation have missed the grace side of the coin. However, in Corinthians, Galatians, Romans, and other places, Paul also stresses the necessity to obey the commandments. He gives lists of sinful behavior such as adultery, fornication, lying, and so forth, and says that people who do these will not enter into the kingdom of heaven. For instance see 1 Corinthians 6:9-10. And let's not forget about James 2:14-20,24.
The Apostle Peter tells us that even after accepting Christ one must turn from sin and obey lest he fall from grace:
2 Peter 2:20-22
20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.
21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.
22 But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.
Obeying God is clearly the other side of the coin to the teachings of grace in the Bible. It is incomplete to stress only Grace or only Works. They are both part of the gospel as taught in both the Bible and the Book of Mormon. Even confessing that Jesus is our savior is a work that we must actually do. If we were saved from sin solely on grace alone than salvation would be automatic regardless of what we do. There would be no need to even confess Jesus as our Savior let alone try to live a good Christian life.
Mormons are often accused of ignoring Christ’s grace and of trying to work their way to salvation. However, an accurate look at what Mormons actually teach shows a very balanced approach which mirrors the balanced teaching of Grace and Works found in the Bible.
One Evangelical Christian author wrote of his sudden discovery that his previous beliefs about salvation were very different from those held by the early Christians:
“If there's any single doctrine that we would expect to find the faithful associates of the apostles teaching, it's the doctrine of salvation by faith alone. After all, that is the cornerstone doctrine of the Reformation. In fact, we frequently say that persons who don't hold to this doctrine aren't really Christians…
“Our problem is that Augustine, Luther, and other Western theologians have convinced us that there's an irreconcilable conflict between salvation based on grace and salvation conditioned on works or obedience. They have used a fallacious form of argumentation known as the "false dilemma," by asserting that there are only two possibilities regarding salvation: it's either (1) a gift from God or (2) it's something we earn by our works.
The early Christians [and Latter-day Saints!] would have replied that a gift is no less a gift simply because it's conditioned on obedience....
“The early Christians believed that salvation is a gift from God but that God gives His gift to whomever He chooses. And He chooses to give it to those who love and obey him.” (David W. Bercot, Will The Real Heretics Please Stand Up: A New Look at Today's Evangelical Church in the Light of Early Christianity, 3rd edition, (Tyler, Texas: Scroll Publishing Company, 1999[1989]), 57, 61–62)
5.9.2012 | 6:20pm
Dwight Rogers says:
Reverand Jeffress said. "And I still maintain there are vast differences in theology between Mormons and Christians."
This seems to be a common view among many Christians and actually they are right to say that there are some major differences, although there are more similarities than differences. . However, there are also vast differences between current Christianity and Early Christianity.
If Christianity means “historic orthodox mainstream Christianity” of today then I would agree that Mormonism is not historic Christianity; at least not in every doctrine. Although Mormons have much in common with other Christians Mormons also believe differently than historic Christians in some key areas. But the real questions to ask are 1) What is original Christianity? 2) Is mainstream Christianity of today the same as original Christianity? It turns out that Joseph Smith was right. Mormonism is a restoration of Original Christianity. Many Christians of today are following non-Christian traditions developed in later centuries and are just calling it Christianity – no offense intended – that’s just history.
Mormons believe in God, Jesus, and the Holy Ghost. Our first Article of Faith states: We believe in God the Eternal Father, and in His son Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost. However “Trinity’ is a word that is not found in the Bible. Nor are the definitions and wording formulations in the extra-Biblical creeds found in the Bible. In 325 AD a council of about 300 (out of 1800 serving) bishops gathered in Nicea at the request of the pagan Emperor Constantine and formulated a creed that tried to reconcile the Biblical statements that there three persons called “God” and yet there was “one” God. They then forced all Christians to accept their solution as “gospel”, with varying results. Theological debates and other councils continued to tweak the concept for centuries which produced additional creeds.
Mormons are not supposed to be Christian because we have some doctrinal differences with other Christian groups of today. The foundation for the beliefs of these other groups is the creeds of the 4th. 5th, and 6th centuries and so on.
It is claimed that Mormons are wrong because they believe in extra-Biblical revelation and scripture. Yet much of Christianity believes in extra-Biblical creeds and councils formulated centuries after the time of Christ and the Apostles. Most of the wording formulations in these creeds cannot be found in the Bible. This is often the excuse used to exclude members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) from being Christian. It is well known to historians that Christian doctrine changed over time and across different Christian groups.
The Bible is then viewed through the lens of these creeds causing certain interpretations to be favored and other biblical teachings to be minimized or ignored. Interestingly, if you look at the doctrines of the early church fathers before the creeds, they are very Mormon-like. In a number of doctrinal areas the early Christians were good Mormons and would be rejected as non-Christian by many Christians of today.
In many areas of belief (probably the majority of areas) Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) believe the same as most other Christians. It is true that in some limited areas – some very critical ones – the beliefs of Mormons differ from other Christians. Likewise there are some major areas of difference between Catholics and Protestants and likewise between one Protestant group and the next. Every denomination could make the claim that the other groups are not Christian because those other beliefs differ from their own.
Joseph Smith taught “The fundamental principles of our religion are the testimony of the Apostles and Prophets, concerning Jesus Christ, that He died, was buried, and rose again the third day, and ascended into heaven; and all other things which pertain to our religion are only appendages to it”. (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 121).
The central belief of Mormons is that Christ came into the world as the Son of God. He healed the sick, caused the lame to walk, the blind to see, the deaf to hear, and restored life to the dead. He commissioned twelve Apostles to whom he gave authority. He suffered in Gethsemane, died on the cross, and was resurrected and will come again. He, and only He, provides the means for us to be washed clean in his blood from our sins, which sins we can never correct on our own or through our own works. If that is not Christian I don’t know what is. Christ never taught the need to believe in anything like the creeds. Those came later.
Mormon belief is very much like the teachings of the earlier Christians – before the creeds – and also matches the teachings of Christ and the Apostles. The further back in time you go the more Mormon-like Christian doctrine becomes. Mormons are often portrayed as non-Christian when we don’t believe in the later extra-Biblical creedal formulations.
The early Christians did not have the extra-Biblical creeds of later centuries. Were they then not Christian? The ontological debates and the wording formations of later centuries are not found in the words of Jesus or the words of the Apostles or in the words of the pre-creedal Christians . There is not a word about a one substance god in the Bible or in the early beliefs. If believing in the creeds is necessary to be Christian then that makes the earlier Christians not Christian – it even makes Christ not Christian.
One other interesting aspect of this topic: Some Christians claim that we must get our beliefs and doctrines from the Bible only. It is claimed that God finished his work and no longer has prophets or gives revelation. They say the Mormons are wrong to have prophets and extra scripture. Consider this: If the Bible is sufficient and no post-Biblical revelation is allowed, then the post-Biblical creeds are not necessary and are not authorized by God. If God authorized the creeds then why aren’t they in the Bible? How could they be from God if the Bible is complete, if God has finished his work, and if there is no more revelation? They are extra-Biblical and no one should be held to them as a requirement to be Christian. It is so ironic that Mormons are criticized for having extra-Biblical revelation by people who themselves believe in extra-Biblical creeds. Once one puts on the glasses of the creeds then everything in the Bible is filtered to match the creeds.
Mormons believe in original Christianity restored to the earth through revelation to new prophets. Nowhere does the Bible say that God has finished his work, that the cannon of scripture is closed. It seems ironic to us that we Mormons are accused of adding to the Bible by people who have done just that – added creeds and metaphysical definitions to the Bible. We advocate for believing original Christianity.
This seems to be a common view among many Christians and actually they are right to say that there are some major differences, although there are more similarities than differences. . However, there are also vast differences between current Christianity and Early Christianity.
If Christianity means “historic orthodox mainstream Christianity” of today then I would agree that Mormonism is not historic Christianity; at least not in every doctrine. Although Mormons have much in common with other Christians Mormons also believe differently than historic Christians in some key areas. But the real questions to ask are 1) What is original Christianity? 2) Is mainstream Christianity of today the same as original Christianity? It turns out that Joseph Smith was right. Mormonism is a restoration of Original Christianity. Many Christians of today are following non-Christian traditions developed in later centuries and are just calling it Christianity – no offense intended – that’s just history.
Mormons believe in God, Jesus, and the Holy Ghost. Our first Article of Faith states: We believe in God the Eternal Father, and in His son Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost. However “Trinity’ is a word that is not found in the Bible. Nor are the definitions and wording formulations in the extra-Biblical creeds found in the Bible. In 325 AD a council of about 300 (out of 1800 serving) bishops gathered in Nicea at the request of the pagan Emperor Constantine and formulated a creed that tried to reconcile the Biblical statements that there three persons called “God” and yet there was “one” God. They then forced all Christians to accept their solution as “gospel”, with varying results. Theological debates and other councils continued to tweak the concept for centuries which produced additional creeds.
Mormons are not supposed to be Christian because we have some doctrinal differences with other Christian groups of today. The foundation for the beliefs of these other groups is the creeds of the 4th. 5th, and 6th centuries and so on.
It is claimed that Mormons are wrong because they believe in extra-Biblical revelation and scripture. Yet much of Christianity believes in extra-Biblical creeds and councils formulated centuries after the time of Christ and the Apostles. Most of the wording formulations in these creeds cannot be found in the Bible. This is often the excuse used to exclude members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) from being Christian. It is well known to historians that Christian doctrine changed over time and across different Christian groups.
The Bible is then viewed through the lens of these creeds causing certain interpretations to be favored and other biblical teachings to be minimized or ignored. Interestingly, if you look at the doctrines of the early church fathers before the creeds, they are very Mormon-like. In a number of doctrinal areas the early Christians were good Mormons and would be rejected as non-Christian by many Christians of today.
In many areas of belief (probably the majority of areas) Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) believe the same as most other Christians. It is true that in some limited areas – some very critical ones – the beliefs of Mormons differ from other Christians. Likewise there are some major areas of difference between Catholics and Protestants and likewise between one Protestant group and the next. Every denomination could make the claim that the other groups are not Christian because those other beliefs differ from their own.
Joseph Smith taught “The fundamental principles of our religion are the testimony of the Apostles and Prophets, concerning Jesus Christ, that He died, was buried, and rose again the third day, and ascended into heaven; and all other things which pertain to our religion are only appendages to it”. (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 121).
The central belief of Mormons is that Christ came into the world as the Son of God. He healed the sick, caused the lame to walk, the blind to see, the deaf to hear, and restored life to the dead. He commissioned twelve Apostles to whom he gave authority. He suffered in Gethsemane, died on the cross, and was resurrected and will come again. He, and only He, provides the means for us to be washed clean in his blood from our sins, which sins we can never correct on our own or through our own works. If that is not Christian I don’t know what is. Christ never taught the need to believe in anything like the creeds. Those came later.
Mormon belief is very much like the teachings of the earlier Christians – before the creeds – and also matches the teachings of Christ and the Apostles. The further back in time you go the more Mormon-like Christian doctrine becomes. Mormons are often portrayed as non-Christian when we don’t believe in the later extra-Biblical creedal formulations.
The early Christians did not have the extra-Biblical creeds of later centuries. Were they then not Christian? The ontological debates and the wording formations of later centuries are not found in the words of Jesus or the words of the Apostles or in the words of the pre-creedal Christians . There is not a word about a one substance god in the Bible or in the early beliefs. If believing in the creeds is necessary to be Christian then that makes the earlier Christians not Christian – it even makes Christ not Christian.
One other interesting aspect of this topic: Some Christians claim that we must get our beliefs and doctrines from the Bible only. It is claimed that God finished his work and no longer has prophets or gives revelation. They say the Mormons are wrong to have prophets and extra scripture. Consider this: If the Bible is sufficient and no post-Biblical revelation is allowed, then the post-Biblical creeds are not necessary and are not authorized by God. If God authorized the creeds then why aren’t they in the Bible? How could they be from God if the Bible is complete, if God has finished his work, and if there is no more revelation? They are extra-Biblical and no one should be held to them as a requirement to be Christian. It is so ironic that Mormons are criticized for having extra-Biblical revelation by people who themselves believe in extra-Biblical creeds. Once one puts on the glasses of the creeds then everything in the Bible is filtered to match the creeds.
Mormons believe in original Christianity restored to the earth through revelation to new prophets. Nowhere does the Bible say that God has finished his work, that the cannon of scripture is closed. It seems ironic to us that we Mormons are accused of adding to the Bible by people who have done just that – added creeds and metaphysical definitions to the Bible. We advocate for believing original Christianity.
5.9.2012 | 6:29pm
Dwight Rogers says:
I agree with Herb. It's my understanding that historians before the 1930's did not question Washington's Christianity. Some historians since that time like to paint him as a Deist. This makes it easier to argue for a more secular nation. Yet other recent historical research confirms Washington's believe in Jesus Christ.
5.10.2012 | 4:12am
Kent French says:
It is stated in your article that some think Mormons are not Christians. How can this be? Of course we are Christians. We believe in Jesus Christ. We believe he is God's only Begotten Son and that he is full of grace and truth. Therefore, it is because we believe in Christ that every good member of our church strives to follow the Savior's example, keep his commandments, serve their fellow men and do the will of their Heavenly Father in all things.
Naturally, we believe we are saved by grace of Christ through faith and not of works lest any man should boast (Eph 9:8-10). However, we shouldn't forget that Jesus said "Not everyone who sayeth unto me, "Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in Heaven." See Matt. 7:21
When we come before the Judgment Bar of Christ we will be judged according to our works. See Rev. 20:12-13
Thus, Christ promises to forgive our sins on the condition that we accept him by being obedient to the first principles and ordinances of his gospel, and making a determined effort to live his gospel until the end of our lives. See Acts 2:36-39 and Mark 16:15-16.
We are Latter-day Christians. The Protestants and Catholics are Nicene Christians. All of us are followers of Jesus Christ even though we differ in doctrine as to the nature of God.
What do Mormons believe about the nature of God?
We Latter-day Christians teach that the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are separate personages, and that Jesus Christ has been resurrected and now has an immortal, glorified, spiritual body of flesh and bones like his Heavenly Father's. See Hebrews 1:1-3.
Please refer to John 17:20-23, 20:17, Luke 22:39-44, Acts 7:55-56. These scriptures and scores of others show that Christ is a separate person from his Heavenly Father. Of course, the Father, Son and the Holy Ghost are "One" in that they are united and act as "One" in purpose, thought and doctrine.
Also, look up Rev. 1:10-18. It contains Christ's own statement that he is still alive (resurrected) and always will be. Note that he laid his hand on John's shoulder proving to John that this is true. Therefore, Christ is a separate personage from his heavenly father, as evidenced by the fact that at the throne of God he now sits on the right hand of God his father (Heb. 1:1-3).
Beyond all of this, the prophet Joseph Smith found out exactly what God was like when he spoke with both God the Father and Jesus Christ face to face in what is referred to as the first vision. Also, on another occasion Joseph and Sidney Rigdon were allowed to look into heaven where they saw the same things that Stephen the Maytar saw (Acts 7:55-56). It's important to note that Stephen was stoned to death for saying he saw God, and that he also saw Jesus Christ standing on the right hand side of God.
Naturally, we believe we are saved by grace of Christ through faith and not of works lest any man should boast (Eph 9:8-10). However, we shouldn't forget that Jesus said "Not everyone who sayeth unto me, "Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in Heaven." See Matt. 7:21
When we come before the Judgment Bar of Christ we will be judged according to our works. See Rev. 20:12-13
Thus, Christ promises to forgive our sins on the condition that we accept him by being obedient to the first principles and ordinances of his gospel, and making a determined effort to live his gospel until the end of our lives. See Acts 2:36-39 and Mark 16:15-16.
We are Latter-day Christians. The Protestants and Catholics are Nicene Christians. All of us are followers of Jesus Christ even though we differ in doctrine as to the nature of God.
What do Mormons believe about the nature of God?
We Latter-day Christians teach that the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are separate personages, and that Jesus Christ has been resurrected and now has an immortal, glorified, spiritual body of flesh and bones like his Heavenly Father's. See Hebrews 1:1-3.
Please refer to John 17:20-23, 20:17, Luke 22:39-44, Acts 7:55-56. These scriptures and scores of others show that Christ is a separate person from his Heavenly Father. Of course, the Father, Son and the Holy Ghost are "One" in that they are united and act as "One" in purpose, thought and doctrine.
Also, look up Rev. 1:10-18. It contains Christ's own statement that he is still alive (resurrected) and always will be. Note that he laid his hand on John's shoulder proving to John that this is true. Therefore, Christ is a separate personage from his heavenly father, as evidenced by the fact that at the throne of God he now sits on the right hand of God his father (Heb. 1:1-3).
Beyond all of this, the prophet Joseph Smith found out exactly what God was like when he spoke with both God the Father and Jesus Christ face to face in what is referred to as the first vision. Also, on another occasion Joseph and Sidney Rigdon were allowed to look into heaven where they saw the same things that Stephen the Maytar saw (Acts 7:55-56). It's important to note that Stephen was stoned to death for saying he saw God, and that he also saw Jesus Christ standing on the right hand side of God.
5.10.2012 | 4:34am
Donald Bohlken says:
Dr. Peter A. Lillback's book, "George Washington's Sacred Fire," utterly refutes the proposition that Washington was a deist. Washington never claimed he was a deist. By word and deed, Washington demonstrated he was a Christian. The "vague and impersonal terms" he used to refer to the deity were commonly used by pastors in their sermons in that day. (He collected sermons and read them aloud to his family on those Sundays when he did not attend church). Also, terms such as "the great disposer of human events" are contrary to deism's thesis that God does not intervene in human events. In addition, he used the word "God" over 100 times in his writings. He repeatedly publicly proclaimed his belief in the fundamental tenets of the Christian faith by reciting the creeds in church. He often carried the Common Book of Prayer on his person. He was known for his devotion to daily prayer. He publicly recommended the religion of Jesus Christ to the Delaware Indians. And he was a member of the Committee on Religion in the House of Burgesses. One of the purposes of that committee was to fight deism!
I find the political analysis offered to be fascinating and hopefully accurate!
I find the political analysis offered to be fascinating and hopefully accurate!
5.10.2012 | 6:19am
S.Faux says:
You claim: "For while Mormons believe Jesus is now fully God, they do not believe he was always God." However, Mormon scripture states Jesus was divine "from all eternity to all eternity." See sample verses below:
D&C 20:28
28 … Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are one God, infinite and eternal, without end. Amen.
D&C 29:33
33 Speaking unto you that you may naturally understand; but unto myself [Jesus Christ] my works have no end, neither beginning; but it is given unto you that ye may understand, because ye have asked it of me and are agreed.
D&C 39:1
1 HEARKEN and listen to the voice of him who is from all eternity to all eternity, the Great I AM, even Jesus Christ—
Moses 6:67
67 And thou art after the order of him [Jesus Christ; see v. 57] who was without beginning of days or end of years, from all eternity to all eternity.
D&C 20:28
28 … Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are one God, infinite and eternal, without end. Amen.
D&C 29:33
33 Speaking unto you that you may naturally understand; but unto myself [Jesus Christ] my works have no end, neither beginning; but it is given unto you that ye may understand, because ye have asked it of me and are agreed.
D&C 39:1
1 HEARKEN and listen to the voice of him who is from all eternity to all eternity, the Great I AM, even Jesus Christ—
Moses 6:67
67 And thou art after the order of him [Jesus Christ; see v. 57] who was without beginning of days or end of years, from all eternity to all eternity.
5.10.2012 | 7:33am
Chris Golis says:
Not so fast! A growing number of Christians, as is evident by a new internet campaign effort by leading Evangelical leaders and thinkers, are signing on to a new document called For the Sake of the Gospel: Mitt Romney, Mormonism and the Christian vote. You may want to check this out. http://forthesakeofthegospel.com/
5.10.2012 | 1:06pm
Kevin says:
The same-sex marriage issue being in the news again, is likely to bring more Evangelicals out to the polls in November too.
5.10.2012 | 2:16pm
Joe says:
It would be a very sad thing if Americans were to vote based on petty un-Christian misinformation about Mitt Romney's faith.
5.12.2012 | 6:59am
Jason says:
Mormonism will be irrelevant. White Fundamentalists are going for Romney in massive numbers. He'll make it clear that he will only consider Ayatollahs for the Supreme Court, and his V.P. pick will be hard-right, with a gun in one hand, and a Bible in the other.
5.12.2012 | 6:57pm
No2Obama says:
The God of the Bible vs. the "god" of Mormons? Two different things.
"As man is, God once was; as God is, man may become." Lorenzo Snow, former president of the Mormon Church, 'Millennial Star' Vol. 54.
"God himself was once as we are now and is an exalted man..." (The Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith by Joseph Fielding Smith, pg. 345 cf., 'The Journal of Discourses', Vol. VI, pg. 3).
By conversing with Mormon missionaries who have come to my door, I have personally verified that they (Mormons) do in fact hold to the doctrines stated in the quotes above.
Btw, while Mormons do believe that Jesus is "divine", divinity is not the same as DEITY (being self-existent, omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent, eternal God.) Like the Father and Holy Spirit, Jesus is the latter, as well as being a man since His incarnation.
Beware of how Mormon apologists (and other false prophets) parse words. They are very good at SOUNDING Biblical while saying UN-Biblical things.
All that said, this evangelical Christian certainly will vote for Romney over Obama.
"As man is, God once was; as God is, man may become." Lorenzo Snow, former president of the Mormon Church, 'Millennial Star' Vol. 54.
"God himself was once as we are now and is an exalted man..." (The Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith by Joseph Fielding Smith, pg. 345 cf., 'The Journal of Discourses', Vol. VI, pg. 3).
By conversing with Mormon missionaries who have come to my door, I have personally verified that they (Mormons) do in fact hold to the doctrines stated in the quotes above.
Btw, while Mormons do believe that Jesus is "divine", divinity is not the same as DEITY (being self-existent, omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent, eternal God.) Like the Father and Holy Spirit, Jesus is the latter, as well as being a man since His incarnation.
Beware of how Mormon apologists (and other false prophets) parse words. They are very good at SOUNDING Biblical while saying UN-Biblical things.
All that said, this evangelical Christian certainly will vote for Romney over Obama.
5.14.2012 | 11:30am
Andrew says:
One correction to the text. Mormons do believe that Jesus was God before He was born to Mary. As the Bible teaches, He was foreordained before the world was. We believe He was/is the God of Abraham, Israel and Jacob. Where the confusion might come is that we also believe He chose and was chosen to be born of a mortal mother and live the life of a mortal man - in most ways. He was still omnipotent, but chose to be subjected to hunger, thirst temptation, as it is described in the New Testament. We believe that He grew in wisdom and stature, as taught in the New Testament. But we believe that He was God before He was born, and was after He was born, and still is God. We also believe that His Father, God the Father is a different a separate being, as described in the New Testament and other scripture. I hope this helps clarify.
The 2008 Obama election machine was strategically brilliant. The campaign realized that American elections are retrospective rather than prospective. The presidential term-limit means that not all presidential elections can function in this way (Constitutional design notwithstanding). So what do you do when the electorate wants to throw the bum out but the Constitution is already compelling the bum to leave. You offer them a sacrificial lamb--in this case, John McCain ("More of the same"). So a vote for Obama could, if you bought the campaigns line, be a vote against Bush. But perhaps in order to make people feel better about a negative vote--he let them think the retrospective judgment on Bush and his policies could also be a positive affirmation of "hope and change." The secret was keeping "hope and change" from having substantive content--thus Obama offered us such lines as "We are the ones we've been waiting for. We are the change we seek." He offered little positive, substantive content to his campaign save for the empty--I'll make things better. But, strategically, he didn't need to offer much positive content to make his strategy go. By Constitutional intent, American elections are retrospective rather than prospective. And the Obama 2008 campaign was based on this.
What should Romney do--much the same thing. The focus needs to be much less on what Romney will do (he need not be disingenuous here; he should just say little about it). Rather, the focus needs to be on tossing the current incumbent out.
Meanwhile, I hope he also avoids statements so vacuous as "We are the ones we've been waiting for . . ."