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Christianity Today, December (Web-only), 2008 |

A Latter-day Alliance

Evangelicals, once uncomfortable with Romney, unite with Mormons on gay marriage ban.

Sarah Pulliam | posted 12/02/2008 09:35AM

Although many evangelicals were not quite ready for a Mormon presidential candidate this election season, others were quick to join Mormons' efforts to pass California's ballot proposition banning same-sex ...

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Nathan

Posted: December 09, 2008 5:09 PM

Polycarp, I have thought about that question too, and I think it is a valid thing to ask. I think that if Mormon missionaries came across an Evangelical, they would try to convert them. But the extension of the question is this...don't Baptists think they are right? They try to convert Mormons, and rejoice when a Catholic comes into the fold. Haven't Catholics said that they are the only true faith? They believe everyone must confess their sins to the proper authority. When it comes down to it, everyone thinks they are right--that is not the point of this article and discussion. I think the point is, can people with compatible positions of morality and conviction work with others, be tolerant of their differing doctrines, and together accomplish the greater good? As I said in my last post, that is why I think Jesus used the Samaritans as examples of the type of service He approves of.

Ralph Gallini

Posted: December 08, 2008 6:05 PM

Frank Whistle shows his complete ignorance of Latter-Day Saints and their real beliefs. If Mr. Whistle and others want to know what they believe then they should ask the Mormons. If I wanted to know what evangelicals believe I would ask them. I would not go to a Catholic Priest or a Rabbi or Imam. Go to www.mormon.org and you can find out for yourself. Then you can criticize and condemn all you want because you will at least have facts on which to base your opinion.

Anton Bursch

Posted: December 07, 2008 8:39 PM

Evangelicals can't even figure out how to vote for a competent government executive, because they actually believe every politician who claims to believe the way they do. As long as that politician is a Republican. How many excuses are you going to make until you realize that it's really really easy to lie to you? You just get lied to all the time. Most non-evangelicals can see that you are being played. But you just got some kind of blindness. You're kind of like an abused spouse. You take the one or two gestures of goodness and use them to excuse years of lying and abuse. Liberals at least know when they are being lied to and they get upset about it. You all just lie there and let it happen. It's sad. Seriously. It's like you are the only ones who can't see how pathetic it is.

Polycarp

Posted: December 06, 2008 10:27 AM

Politics aside I have some questions for the Mormons here. Do you believe that the LDS is the only true church? When your elders go door to door and they come across someone who professes to be a Christian do they say "Nice to hear that God bless you see you later" or do they seek to convert them? Do you believe that Evangelicals and all others who profess that Jesus is the Son of God will share the same eternal destiny as you will?

Harbs

Posted: December 04, 2008 2:15 PM

Here's my question to all non-LDS Christians reading this article - if it does, why does the idea of Mitt Romney (or another highly-qualified LDS person) as President scare you? Why does it have to come down to a doctrinal discussion? Do you think that somehow, because an LDS person doesn't believe exactly as you do, they would govern in some way that would hurt you more than a far-left liberal? Don't you see that the moral & conservative values we share are worth supporting in a highly-qualified candidate? What is your real fear? Most of you know as friends and/or neighbors LDS people and most likely recognize that we are pretty consistently a family-centered, morally-strong, conservative people (please ignore Harry Reid as part of your evidence! :) ). Why wouldn't you want to support a candidate who espouses those values & political views, religion notwithstanding? I hope we get there someday...

Chris

Posted: December 04, 2008 1:21 PM

Jesus associated with prostitutes. Christians should associate with gays to fight global warming and stupid energy policies. Christians should associate with Atheists to fight AIDS. Christians should associate with Muslims to fight human trafficking. Now, don't be silly. When the Lord does not build the house, the house will not last - but you can have none believers working with you even if the Lord builds the house -- can't you ? (we're not speaking of a house of prayer here). Get out of your churches, people. You are a minority. The street is not coming in the church. The church needs to get out on the street.

JustSomeKingdomDude

Posted: December 04, 2008 12:55 PM


Now, let's outlaw divorce.

Cinaed67

Posted: December 04, 2008 12:38 PM

Judge not! I am most emphatically a Christian, and know that Jesus- the son of God the Father, is my/our Savior! I am also a memeber of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints...and I am gay! I have been in a 17 year relationship with the same man! When we 1st met, we were 24. 2 years later, we were both HIV positive. In 98, we were diagnosed with AIDS. My partner became very ill and almost died that summer! Upon staring death in the face, we evaluated our lives and our situation. We had no one to turn to but each other. Having been raised LDS, my beliefs in God, who my Savior is became once again very important to me, to us. He was asking me questions that only by drawing upon my religious beliefs, could I answer. We both had some very significant experiences that summer that changed our lives forever. We learned that we really did need God in our lives. We had been so consumed with our bodies and its needs, that we had neglected our spirits and its needs!

Steve Skeete

Posted: December 04, 2008 6:52 AM

Mormonism is not Christianity. A simple reading of the Book of Mormon, their major works, and the major speeches of their leaders clearly shows this. Mormons are quite clear in at least one of their beliefs, that "God was once a man just like us, and one day we will become a God just like him". That is Mormonism but not Christianity. Refashioning Jesus, or "trying to live by the ten commandments is also not Christianity. Almost all religions accommodate Jesus in some way while making no claim to be Christian. It is flattering, I suppose, that Mormons want to hitch their religious wagon to Christianity. It is also tactical. After all, one is unlikely to have a major following in the USA without giving some credit to Christianity. This notwithstanding, Mormons should remain the "good, kind, family oriented" people that they are, while adding one more positive, which is telling the whole truth about Mormonism - it is a religion, rooted in but distinct from Chrit ianity

Frank Whistle

Posted: December 03, 2008 11:55 PM

Don't Mormons believe that they are the only true church? Don't they believe that Jesus was the spirit brother of Lucifer? Don't they believe in many gods? Don't they believe that God (Elohim) had literal sex with Mary so that she would give birth to Jesus? Doesn't Mormonism base much of their temple service on Masonic rituals? Did not Mormons teach at one time for 150 years that blacks and Indians had dark skin because they were cursed? Aren't Mormons KJV (Joseph Smith Version) only? Is Websters dictionary the only authority in defining who a Christian is? Is Mormonism a cult? Is it possible for Evangelicals to exhibit cult-like characteristics? Can Evangelicals and Mormons work together on moral issues without trying to convert each other or ripping each others throats out? Based on the comments to this article what can many of you say is the readership of CT? Will CT merge with the Christian Century within the next 10 years?

Kaanapali

Posted: December 03, 2008 11:58 AM

Webster's Dictionary simply defines Christian "as a person who believes in Jesus Christ and follows his teachings". That commonly accepted definition is entirely consistent with "Mormonism", as shown by even the most superficial examination of the Book of Mormon, which Mormons accept as another testament of Christ along with the Bible. Certain anti-Mormon preachers have for years spread the big lie that members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints do not believe in Jesus Christ. If you repeat a lie often enough, apparently some ignorent people will believe it. The undeniable truth is that the LDS Church has always worshiped Jesus of Nazareth as the Son of God and Savior of the world. Every prayer, sermon and ordinance in the LDS Church is offered in the name of Jesus Christ. In fact, Mormons go so far as to try to emulate the Savior, and actually live their lives (imperfect as they may be) in accordance with His example and teachings. What could be more Christian?

Nathan

Posted: December 03, 2008 10:33 AM

I think Kaisen's point about Mormons and Samaritans is an interesting parallel. Jews considered Samaritans unorthodox because of their "extra" doctrine, even though Samaritans considered themselves part of the covenant. Similarly, while Mormons consider themselves as true believers of Christ, Evangelicals consider them unorthodox because of their "extra" doctrine. So...if it were not for the Mormons, their $20M, and their ground organization, California would have gay marriage right now. When asked who our neighbors were, didn't Jesus give the example of the Samaritan who stepped in when the orthodoxy would not? Maybe we should do as Jesus did, and consider all earnest professors of faith in Him to be our worthy neighbors.

Rex Hump

Posted: December 03, 2008 9:59 AM


With team Mormon taking the heat from the Gay Lobby, other mainstream Christian faiths have thanked the Mormons for taking 'One for the Team' on Prop 8. It has now become the their Baptism of Fire.... If only this happened last year, we might have had Romney in the White House and McCain would still be the bad guy of the GOP for the Kenedy McCain bill.

tom	Posted: December 03, 2008 8:07 AM

The One in whom our faith is named found homosexuality so insignificant that he didn't mention it once in his 33 years. David Brooks recently said he supports the idea of marriage between gays and lesbians because the action of marriage is inheritantly conservative and fosters a lifestyle of stability within a culture. If people like Britney Spears can get married on a drunken whim in Vegas and have it blessed by God, I see no reason why gays and lesbians shouldn't be afforded the same. Churches are not being forced to marry gays and lesbians and I don't want my state or federal legislators telling my pastor, rabbi or imam who he or she can or cannot marry. Who God brings together, let no one...

bonncaruso

Posted: December 03, 2008 3:51 AM


"They agree on these horizontal issues while they disagree with the vertical issues, which are theological." Translation: Mormons are valuable to use when they happen to side with evangelicals on a certain issue, but forget evangelicals ever supporting a Mormon for President. Fascinating, this kind of utter hypocrisy. Better get that stone out of your eye, evangelicals.

billybob

Posted: December 03, 2008 1:39 AM

John G or David Warren or who ever you are, It is people like you that make Evangelicals look so ignorant. Instead of embracing fellow religions that value the same moral convictions as you, specifically a religion that is taking the bullet on behalf of all religions that appose gay marriage (nobody is picketing baptist churches that I am aware of), and rejoice that we live in a country where we can worship how and if we choose, you want to continue your prejudice against anybody that doesn't think exactly the way you do. The funny thing is if you were to poll members of protestant and baptist churches across the U.S. you would find hundreds of diverse beliefs on the nature and mission of god/Jesus, yet you call them christian. I also find it laughable that you call Mormonism a cult, but don't view all religions as being cults. I guess you, like most radical evangelicals, twist your definition of a cult so that all religions but your own fits that category. Boy, you need to grow up!

Kaisen

Posted: December 02, 2008 11:37 PM

This is not about theological accord (Christians/Mormons, not!) it concerns cultural accord in politics. Christians should not be surprised to find Mormons working with them on candidates and issues that are of great importance to 'traditional American values'. CA measure 8, Romney, abortion, and many other important political fights are issues we hold in common. That does not equate to theological accord. Why should some Christians object to Romney because of his Mormon connection and not object even more to countless secular and faux Christian candidates. A good man is still a good man even if the theology doesn't fit. The good Samaritan was after all a rather incompatible Jew, he did good and acceptable works, the woman at the well (also a Samaritan) was not accepted by the mountain she worshipped or her works but by her acknowledgement of Christ. … John 4:22-26.

RJ	Posted: December 02, 2008 11:37 PM

As a active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints it amazes me that people think I am not a christian. I belive in the Bible, try to live by the 10 commandments and the teaching of Christ in the scriptures. I believe Christ is the son of our Father in Heaven and suffered for our sins and over came death so we could also. I try to be a good and kind neighbor, I'm not wealthy but contribute to many charitable causes. I ring the bell for the Salvation Army at Christmas time. Our church contributed hundreds of dollors of food the the local food bank. We just held a huge humantiarian project which we collected thousands of dollars of goods to donate to the needy organizations in our community. Christianity is not only what you belive it is how you live your life. And finally, thank goodness there are good enough good people out there to pass marriage amendments in Calif., Arizona and Florida. May God bless America and ALL his children.

DLounbury

Posted: December 02, 2008 8:55 PM

What Christian doctrines qualifies as "orthodox" has changed dramatically over the years. Many doctrines such as the doctrine of the essential role of baptism and works for salvation or the idea of literal deification (When we shall see Christ we shall be like him and be joint heirs in receiving all that he has) which Mormon's are so roundly criticized by the Evangelical community are exactly the kinds of things you HAD to believe in to qualify as a Christian around 200 AD. Some Evangelicals I know are gracious enough to admit I am walking in Christ's Grace as a Mormon and I have seen them likewise reflect Christ's grace through their life even though I don't view them as formally being part of Christ's organized church on earth. This is not a difficult accommodation to reach when one puts on the mantle of Charity. It is an understanding which can be made without diluting the doctrinal differences which are significant.

Lindy

Posted: December 02, 2008 8:34 PM

The writer Sarah Pulliam seems astonished that evangelical Christians united with Mormons on the gay marriage ban. That should not come as a surprise. In their better moments, evangelicals express themselves and their convictions on individual issues, rather than selling their out their souls completely to any political party. Therefore evangelicals and Mormons coincided on the gay marriage ban and joined forces. The issue of evangelical hesitancy and even rejection of Romney as a presidential candidate should also not come as a surprise. Evangelical Christians have an excessively optimistic belief in the USA as a Christian country and our president as the symbolic head of that nation; as a consequence many evangelical Christians could not stomach the idea of a Mormon president because of doctrinal issues, even though there is much agreement on ethical issues. A more realistic understanding of how sin permeates all countries (including our own) would lead us to a better perspective.

David Warren (Registered User)

Posted: December 02, 2008 8:26 PM

From John G. (don't know why it says David Warren): There is no way that Mormonism lines up with orthodox Christianity. It is a cult, just like the JWs, Christian Science, Scientology, the Unification Church, etc. Their "god" was once a man, & in their belief men may become God, among other non-biblical doctrines. Their Jesus is not our Jesus. They have their own books which supersede the Bible (in clear violation of Rev. 22:18). While it is good that they also oppose homosexuality, we must be careful about building alliances with them. Alas, in the end, all religions will melt down into one, in order for the False Prophet to take control. This is a symptom of that. We live in an era of great deception.

John	Posted: December 02, 2008 3:49 PM


ExposingChristianity.com - Everything in Christianity has been taken from religions predating it by hundreds to thousands of years.

Pastor in Nevada

Posted: December 02, 2008 3:35 PM

to answer jfb's comment; what Mormons say they believe in far far different than what evangelicals or the Bible teaches ... LDS terminlolgy sounds like biblically language but it is a clever disception, I Have sat & conversed with LDS people & their definitions & interpretations of biblical terms does not line up with orthodox Christianity! A side note: many confess that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, but that does not make one a Christian believer ... it is more than echoing words of Scripture.

The G

Posted: December 02, 2008 3:23 PM

Mormons do not believe Jesus was the uncreated Creator incarnate as the only Saviour and Messiah who died to satisfy the penalty for man's sins. Therefore they are not Christians, despite the large capitals they use in their full name to trick the ignorant. There may be union on issues but never unity in the Holy Spirit and on the unchanging Word of God. It astounds me the lack of conviction the church has that God, the Great Communicator, who spoke and the world came into being, doesn't mean what He says as He inspired His chosen writers in the Scriptures! I weep for the future of the church.

JohnS

Posted: December 02, 2008 2:51 PM

I tend to be ecumenical on these issues. Evangelicals have many differences with conservative Catholics on eschatology, on salvation through grace alone, on the role of Mary, and that does not stop them from working with Catholics to further many important moral issues. The LDS is different, no doubt, but are they so fundamentally strange to not be considered Christian? I don't think so. I truly think Christians should focus more on the core beliefs and values that unite us and not spend so much time bickering on the issues that divide us. Christianity is a wonderful patchwork quilt of denominations, from Catholics to Pentacostals, Quakers to Baptists, United Church of Christ to Church of Christ (Disciples), all with very different interpretations but all centered on the salvation of Christ Jesus. We should embrace what unites us.

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