Once again, Presidential hopeful Mitt Romney avoided questions about his religion. Recently, during a speech in Iowa with the Iowa Christian Alliance and Iowans for Tax Relief, Mitt Romney was very mum on this issue. His response was typical of those who was trying to dodge the issue. He responded to the people: “we have the same exact values”. Well, Mr. Romney, these values we supposedly share are not a perfect fit.
You claim to support traditional marriage and the right to life but those are newly formed revelations. You say there is no religious litmus test for the Presidency which is true, but at the same time, there is credibility at stake. For now, you have failed when its comes to defending your faith and what you truly believe in. You have said that the Bible is the word of God for you, and you also claim that Jesus Christ is your Savior. The bottom line is, Mr. Romney, that you are deceiving the American people on this issue because the Mormon faith and Christianity are at odds with those two views and how you receive them. It is all fine and dandy to court the Christian Conservative vote but be honest on the issues and how you respond to them.
During your speech, Mrs. Mary Van Steenis asked you the following: how would you ponder important decisions as President; which source of inspiration would you seek; and whether or not the Bible would be placed in that decision above the book of Mormon? It was a very simple question that Christian Conservatives wanted an answer to and you dodged the question. I mean it is very simple the Bible is a book inspired by God. The book of Mormon is a manmade book which has been changed 3,000 to 4,000 times in over 150+ hundred years.
Your response to Mrs. Van Steenis question was "I don't know that there's any conflict at all between the values of great faiths like mine, like yours, like other faiths, like Jews who don't believe in the New Testament," "People of faith have different doctrines and different beliefs on various topics of a theological nature. But in terms of what it is we are going to believe and also based on our values for our country, Obviously you either dodged the question or it was to difficult for you to answer..
She asked if you had to look to one source what would it be? And you never gave her an answer. It was politics as usual for many Christian conservatives who you are trying to court these small questions are very important. This song and dance around these questions is not having the same values Mr. Romney.
Back earlier this year, during all of the conventions in South Carolina, you once again claimed that Jesus Christ was your personal savior. This is a Southern Baptist term to affirm a personal relationship with Christ which is much different for Mormons. Which points to a specific born again- experience and is not required by the Mormon Church?
Lets Compare the LDS Church and Christian Beliefs
1. IS THERE MORE THAN ONE TRUE GOD?
The Bible teaches and orthodox Christians through the ages have believed that there is only one True and Living God and apart from Him there are no other Gods. By contrast, the Mormon Church teaches that there are many Gods (Book of Abraham 4:3ff), and that we can become gods and goddesses in the celestial kingdom . It also teaches that those who achieve godhood will have spirit children who will worship and pray to them, just as we worship and pray to God the Father.
2. WAS GOD ONCE A MAN LIKE US?
The Bible teaches and orthodox Christians through the ages have believed that God is Spirit (John 4:24; 1 Timothy 6:15,16), He is not a man (Numbers 23:19; Hosea 11:9; Romans 1:22, 23), and has always (eternally) existed as God — all powerful, all knowing, and everywhere present (Psalm 90:2; 139:7-10; Isaiah 40:28; Luke 1:37).
By contrast, the Mormon Church teaches that God the Father was once a man like us who progressed to become a God and has a body of flesh and bone.
3. ARE JESUS AND SATAN SPIRIT BROTHERS?
The Bible teaches and orthodox Christians through the ages have believed that Jesus is the unique Son of God; he has always existed as God, and is co-eternal and co-equal with the Father .While never less than God, at the appointed time He laid aside the glory He shared with the Father and was made flesh for our salvation; His incarnation was accomplished through being conceived supernaturally by the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin. By contrast, the Mormon Church teaches that Jesus Christ is our elder brother who progressed to godhood, having first been procreated as a spirit child by Heavenly Father and a heavenly mother; He was later conceived physically through intercourse between Heavenly Father and the virgin Mary
4. IS GOD A TRINITY?
The Bible teaches and orthodox Christians through the ages have believed that Father, Son, and Holy Spirit or Holy Ghost are not separate Gods or separate beings, but are distinct Persons within the one Triune Godhead. By contrast, the Mormon Church teaches that Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are three separate Gods
5. WAS THE SIN OF ADAM AND EVE A GREAT EVIL OR A GREAT BLESSING?
The Bible teaches and orthodox Christians through the ages have believed that the disobedience of our first parents Adam and Eve was a great evil. Through their fall sin entered the world, bringing all human beings under condemnation and death. Thus we are born with a sinful nature, and will be judged for the sins we commit as individuals. (Ezekiel 18:1-20; Romans 5:12-21).
By contrast, the Mormon Church teaches that Adam’s sin was "a necessary step in the plan of life and a great blessing to all of us" (Gospel Principles, p. 33; Book of Mormon — 2 Nephi 2:25; Doctrines of Salvation, vol. 1, pp. 114-115).
6. CAN WE MAKE OURSELVES WORTHY BEFORE GOD?
The Bible teaches and orthodox Christians through the ages have believed that apart from the saving work of Jesus Christ on the cross we are spiritually "dead in trespasses and sins" (Ephesians 2:1,5) and are powerless to save ourselves. By grace alone, apart from self-righteous works, God forgives our sins and makes us worthy to live in His presence (Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5-6). Our part is only to cling to Christ in heartfelt faith. (However, it is certainly true that without the evidence of changed conduct, a person’s testimony of faith in Christ must be questioned; salvation by grace alone through faith, does not mean we can live as we please — Romans 6:1-4).
By contrast, the Mormon Church teaches that eternal life in the presence of God (which it terms "exaltation in the celestial kingdom") must be earned through obedience to all the commands of the Mormon Church, including exclusive Mormon temple rituals. Works are a requirement for salvation (entrance into the "celestial kingdom") — Gospel Principles, p. 303-304; Pearl of Great Price — Third Article of Faith; Mormon Doctrine, pp. 339, 671; Book of Mormon — 2 Nephi 25:23).
7. DOES CHRIST'S ATONING DEATH BENEFIT THOSE WHO REJECT HIM?
The Bible teaches and orthodox Christians through the ages have believed that the purpose of the atoning work of Christ on the cross was to provide the complete solution for humankind’s sin problem. However, those who reject God’s grace in this life will have no part in this salvation but are under the judgment of God for eternity (John 3:36; Hebrews 9:27; 1 John 5:11-12).
By contrast, the Mormon Church teaches that the purpose of the atonement was to bring resurrection and immortality to all people, regardless of whether they receive Christ by faith. Christ’s atonement is only a partial basis for worthiness and eternal life, which also requires obedience to all the commands of the Mormon church, including exclusive Mormon temple rituals (Gospel Principles, pp. 74-75; Mormon Doctrine, p. 669).
8. IS THE BIBLE THE UNIQUE AND FINAL WORD OF GOD?
The Bible teaches and orthodox Christians through the ages have believed that the Bible is the unique, final and infallible Word of God . God’s providential preservation of the text of the Bible was marvelously illustrated in the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls.
By contrast, the Mormon Church teaches that the Bible has been corrupted, is missing many "plain and precious parts" and does not contain the fullness of the Gospel
9. DID THE EARLY CHURCH FALL INTO TOTAL APOSTASY?
The Bible teaches and orthodox Christians through the ages have believed that the true Church was divinely established by Jesus and could never and will never disappear from the earth
Christians acknowledge that there have been times of corruption and apostasy within the Church, but believe there has always been a remnant that held fast to the biblical essentials. By contrast, the Mormon Church teaches that there was a great and total apostasy of the Church as established by Jesus Christ; this state of apostasy "still prevails except among those who have come to a knowledge of the restored gospel" of the Mormon Church.
If you look at this you will see that the true Christian beliefs and what many Christians believe are truly different then that of the Mormon Church and it is crucial for many Christian Conservative to understand this. Because many Christian Conservatives will base their vote on facts and truths and not the revised stance you have taken because you have now become a candidate.
I have a suggestion for those who would like to know more about Governor Romney when he is in your area ask him one or a two of the above questions and see what kind of response you will get to any of the questions. And then judge for yourself to see if his values fall in line with those of yours.
This post is published not to attack a certain faith nor belief it has been posted because Mr. Romney is not truly clear on what his true beliefs are and he has been in Iowa telling others that his Mormon beliefs are almost Identical to the Christian beliefs.
