Posted by
Phil E. on Saturday, November 04, 2006 7:16:21 AM
Regarding Mitt Romney, I was disappointed when I read that Ted Haggard,
president of the so-called National Association of Evangelicals said
"he would have no problem voting for a Mormon for U.S. president."
(Salt Lake Tribune, Sept 9, 2006) Something was wrong. Very wrong.
As
if speaking for all Christians, the story says, "Evangelical
Christians are more interested 'in good government' than in religious
affiliation, said the founder and senior pastor of New Life Church in
Colorado Springs, Colo."
Oh yeah?
How does one - and one
who calls themselves a Christian - so easily separate "good government"
from "good morals?" Where do good morals come from? For the Christian,
they must come from God, for part of being a Christian is acknowledging
that "nothing good lives in me." (Paul, evaluating his life as a
Pharisee in Romans Chpt 7.) That, "No one is righteous. No, not one." And that "no one is good, except God alone," as Jesus pointed out to the rich young ruler. As an extreme example, can you have "good government" at the hands of,
say, an Anti-Christ?
Surprisingly, the answer is "Yes," at
least in one specialized case. We will have 'good' government at the
hands of THE Anti-Christ... for a short season, three and a half years,
while he uses government for his own ends. That day is coming, when
they shall say "Finally, 'peace and safety.'" (1 Thes 5:3) But that's
not the norm, nor should we condone that.
Obviously, that's not
really "good" government. Truly, the only good government can come from
God. Indeed, God has always wanted to be our King. Until Jesus rules
and reigns again on earth, we will never truly have good civil
government. Still, as long as Christians are around, we should strive
to sanctify the world around us. (Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done,
ON EARTH, as it is in heaven.) That means we should NOT endorse an
Anti-Christ for political office. And who is an Anti-Christ? From
2nd John, verse 7
Many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ
(not
to be confused with someone named jesus,
born by copulation between a heaven father and heavenly mother; the
first born in a 'pre-existence' followed by Lucifer, his brother (!); an
ordinary man, not God; who married one of his many
wives at Cana; who had to earn his godhood by performing secret temple
ordinances; who atoned only for Adam's sin when he sweat his blood in the
Garden of Gethsemane) ... Many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh , have gone out into
the world. Any such person is the deceiver and the Antichrist.
I
trust that's not YOUR Jesus. (The strange disconnect is, Mr. Haggard
acknowledges that Mormonism is a cult and that Mitt Romney's jesus is
not the Biblical Jesus.)
What was wrong with Mr.
Haggard's statement is how easily he could separate one's talk with
one's walk. Jesus said to love the Lord your God with ALL your heart,
with ALL your mind, with ALL your soul. The Apostle Paul (a REAL
Apostle) told the Colossians, "Whatever you do, work at it with ALL
your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men..." A true mature
Christian cannot so easily divorce his 'politics' from his spiritual
beliefs.
It's difficult to know if the recent scandal involving
Mr. Haggard is a consequence of reaping and sowing. But given what he's
admitted so far about the scandal, his statement condoning a Mormon for
President is consistent. Apparently, Mr. Haggard has trouble walking the talk. As reported today in his letter before his church (updated, Sunday, Nov 5)), he has been leadng a double life. God has nothing good to say about double minded men.
While it's true, as Solomon said, that there
is not a just man upon the earth who sinneth not, while no one can be
sinless, the life of a true Christian is one who sins less. Certainly
the life of a leader in the church is to be blameless. (1 timothy 3:2)
In light of Mr. Haggard's lack of discernment, and perhaps the lack of discernment of those
around him in his organization, his comments about voting for a Mormon
president should be disregarded. They are null and void.