Evangelical leader keeps close eye on McCain's pick for vice president
by Jennifer Riley, Christian Post
Posted: Monday, August 11, 2008, 8:18 (BST)
US presidential hopeful John McCain's pick for vice president will be of crucial importance to value voters when they go to the polls this November, believes an influential evangelical leader.
The running mate selection is the "most important" decision that Republican presumptive nominee McCain makes in his entire campaign, Richard Land of the Southern Baptist Convention's Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission told CBS News.
If McCain picks a pro-choice running mate, Land said, it will only confirm the mistrust many evangelicals already feel toward the candidate some criticise as too liberal.
"[H]e has no room for error, no margin for doubt," noted the head of the public policy arm of the nation's largest Protestant denomination.
Southern Baptists and many evangelicals, Land said, are looking at the prospective vice president primarily on the sanctity of human life, the traditional family and religious freedom.
Some vice presidential candidates that religious conservatives would support include Governor Palin of Alaska, who said she never considered an abortion even though her child has Downs Syndrome, and former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, who during his run this election was highly popular among evangelicals.
Regarding Mitt Romney, Land acknowledged that some evangelicals would have a problem with his Mormon faith. But as for himself, Land said although he does not consider Mormonism a Christian faith, he does not believe that disqualifies someone from being president or vice president.
Another name Land offered was Republican Eric Cantor, who is the fourth highest person in the House leadership. Cantor is a practising Jew who has a 100 per cent pro-life voting record.
According to a poll conducted by the SBC's research arm in June, 80 per cent of Southern Baptist pastors said they plan to vote for McCain. Only one per cent said they plan to vote for Obama, and the rest were undecided.
Land had some unfavourable things to say about Obama, whom he regards as extreme in his support for abortion.
In particular, the evangelical leader found it troubling that the Illinois senator previously opposed legislation that would require a doctor who performs an abortion on a late term fetus to save the baby's life if it is born alive.
"And Senator Obama opposed that bill," Land said. "I don't know how you can get more pro-abortion than that. And I can't imagine even John Kerry doing that. And, of course, in addition to which, he voted against the partial-birth abortion ban."
Land emphasised that he does not make political endorsement and would not explicitly say whom he would support. He said, however, that he would vote for candidates that reflect his values and leave people to "connect their own dots".
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Added: Monday, August 11, 2008, 21:05 (BST)
There is a big difference between the Mormon faith and True Christianity. One difference is who Jesus is. Another is what the lake of fire is Revelation. Mormons teach that Satan and Jesus are spiritual brothers. The Bible tells us Jesus created all things and Satan is no child of God.
Mormons teach that the lake of fire is a level of Heaven to be desired. The Bible claims its the place of Hell where Satan and His followers are tormented forever.
These are just a couple of quick ones, there volumes more differences.
Think about it, if Christians and Mormons were the same then why do Mormons try to convert Christians.
Warren Marquardt, Hutchinson USA
Added: Monday, August 11, 2008, 16:45 (BST)
In answer to Jed Merrill of Park City...
While the Mormons do mention Christ a lot, they believe he is not only the begotten son of God, but the "Chosen" son of God whatever that means.
They also believe that God is married, and lives in a physical place not far from the planet Kolob (sp).
I don't know, but this all seems a little non-Biblical to me. These things and hundreds of other parts to the Mormon belief system. Baptizing for the Dead, things like that...
I think that one has to believe in everything Biblical to be considered truly Christian. Anyway, that is why I think this evangelical leader doesn't consider the Mormons a Christian "faith". There are tons of more reasons at the following web-site. Read it with an open mind as I am sure some of the people expressing ideas hold much anger against the LDS organization.
http://www.exmormon.org/
Google the term ex-mormon if the link doesn't work.
Pastor M, Franklin, TN
Added: Monday, August 11, 2008, 9:11 (BST)
I am curious what Christians who watch LDS films like The Work and the Glory (three in the series) would say about Mormons being Christians.
I don't expect everyone to believe me just because I say "Mormons" have always put Christ first, but it is hard to ignore when The Book of Mormon mentions Christ more times per page than the Bible, when the name of the church from the beginning focused on Christ's name, and when the primary teachings of the Church center around the life, the resurrection, and the eventual return of the Savior of the world.
When Joseph Smith would heal a person, he always did so making sure the person knew it was by Christ's power, not his own.
Mormons believe in Jesus Christ, his resurrection and power to save, and also in prophets that teach of Christ and the necessity of belief in him, that God has not ceased to care about his people, and that miracles have not been done away.
If we preach of Christ and do what we do in his name, are we less Christian than those who merely believe in the Bible, which we also do?
I am sure that Mitt Romney really wants to be President, and would not mind being VP on the way to being there, but it says something to me that he has not been willing to deny his faith to get there. He can walk away from $45 million, but not his religion or his God. God bless Mitt Romney, who is one of my "Christian" heroes, and maybe, someday, yours.
Jed Merrill, Park City, UT
