Graham called upon to “repent” for Mormon statement
Mormon representative admits “works necessary for salvation”
by Matt Lacy –
Following statements by Franklin Graham that it would be acceptable for a Christian to vote for a Mormon, a pastor in California has called on the evangelist to repent for his remarks.
In an interview with the Christian Broadcasting Network, Graham was asked for his thoughts on the presidential race. George Thomas asked Graham, “Can a Christian vote for a Mormon.”
Graham answered, “Yes, the fact that Mitt Romney is a Mormon doesn’t bother me. I think when we are voting for president we need to get the person who is absolutely the most qualified. You can have the nicest guy and he can be a Christian and just wonderful but have absolutely no clue as to how to run a country, you don’t want that.”
Responding to Graham’s remarks, Pastor Steven Andrew with USA Christian Ministries has called on Graham to repent and retract his statement. Andrew has said the purpose of his ministry is to lead the nation to repentance, unite the country in Christ and seek God first in government to bless the nation.
“Graham is misleading Christians to vote against Scripture for Mormon Mitt Romney. God cannot bless us for betraying Jesus and voting for a non-Christian. No one comes to God except through Jesus-this includes the USA,” Steven said.
Graham is not alone in his beliefs regarding Romney’s Mormonism. Joel Osteen has said he believes Mormons are Christians, while Pat Robertson has said Romney is an “outstanding Christian.”
While the Mormon Church does have several doctrines that agree with Christianity such as the belief that Jesus is the son of God, according to their web site there are some key distinctions.
According to Mormons.org, Mormons believe the book of Mormon is on a parallel with the Bible. “The Book of Mormon is the word of God, like the Bible. It is Holy Scripture, with form and content similar to that of the Bible.”
Many Christians would take issue with that statement, believing that the Bible is the sole authority in all matters of faith and practice and that only the 66 books of the bible constitute the word of God and the Holy Scriptures.
When asked via chat on the site if Mormons believe works are a necessary part of salvation, a Mormon missionary named Benjamin replied, “We believe that both faith and works are necessary to receive salvation.”
Tags: authority, Bible, Christian, country, Franklin Graham, God, Holy Scripture, interview, Jesus, Joel, Joel Osteen, Mitt Romney, Mormon Church, nation, org, Steven, USA, vote, voting, word
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The problem is not the Mormon issue. The problem is something inherent in the speaker. The speaker is conservative. Hence he has to “apologize.” If the speaker were not conservative, no apology would be necessary. The former Democrat Governor of New Jersey Richard Codey just mocked Mormons for supporting polygamy and no one even raised an eyebrow. Switch Graham with Codey and the results would be the exact opposite.
Hi,
As a long time Mormon, we believe their is a difference between salvation and exaltation. Yes salvation is a gift of God and excepting Jesus Christ as the Son of God is completely necessary even for exaltation.
Mormons though take very literally the many many references in the Bible how works then also augment your type of reward in heaven ( with exaltation being the greatest of the gifts of God ). Here’s a few important Bible references.
Hope this helps.
Steve:
Ephesians 2:8
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
( Mormons believe all mankind will be resurrected, which is this free Gift of Grace from God because of Christ )
( Why works are necessary )
Matthew 7:21
21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
Luke 13:24
24 “Strive” to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.
James 2:14
14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?
James 2:17
17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
James 2:20
20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
James 2:21
21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
James 2:24
24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
Titus 1:16
16 They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.
Many many other examples about being judged by works, especially from the Savior parables of the talents, Lazarus and the beggar, etc
Isn’t accepting Jesus Christ as your personal Savior a work? Doesn’t the Bible tell us that to enter Heaven we but be born again of water and fire? The works do not save us, Jesus does that. Be once we are saved, we are compelled to follow Christ, as James stated, works are the proof of faith – that we have accepted Christ’s grace. Are they needed for salvation? No, they are a symbol to God that we are looking to Christ for salvation. Letting a 19 year old missionary’s words define a faith are unwise. They are not very well trained and go out into the world to teach the simplest message – to accept Jesus Christ and be born again. The do it by sharing the restored Christian Gospel, not a new message, but the one mainstream Christians abandoned when they chose to worship the Bible over the Lord God.
I lovingly offer, to those who will listen, a simple invitation from God to ask Him, not me or anyone else, if the Book of Mormon is truly His word. I received that invitation myself many years ago from some very kind missionaries. By their good fruit, evident in their loving spirit, I knew that I had the responsibility before God to act on their invitation. So, I read the Book of Mormon and then asked God to let me know if it is true. I am not afraid to trust God – to put my life and salvation in His hands. I know He lives, He knows me, and He loves me. My God is a God of love. If there are greener pastures, He will lead me there.
In my humble prayers to my God of love who I know and trust, I received a very clear answer. This answer, as it was a manifestation of the Holy Ghost, brought me an unspeakably great peace and joy and filled me with love and appreciation for God and my fellow beings. (Receiving the Holy Ghost has this effect.) As a result, I can testify with absolute certainty, a certainty that only God can provide, that He lives, He knows you, and He loves you with a love beyond our ability to understand.
I testify in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, that I know by the unmistakable power of the Holy Ghost, as sure as I know of my own existence, that Jesus Christ is the Lord, our Savior and Redeemer, that the Bible and the Book of Mormon are true, and that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the work of the Lord, His restoration of His original Christian church, restored by Him through a man He had called as a prophet, Joseph Smith, and led by Him today through living prophets and apostles. Imagine that!
Don’t believe because of my words. My words have no power to save. Likewise, don’t turn away because of the words of another (don’t be discouraged by those who teach that you cannot trust God). Seek the word directly from God. If you trust Him and present to Him a loving desire to follow Him and do His will, He will give it to you. And it will be wonderful and beautiful beyond words to describe.
I invite you to read the Book of Mormon and ask God if it is true. Ask with a sincere heart, having faith in Him, and get His wonderful assurance of its truthfulness. I did that. I got it. I lovingly encourage you to trust God and seek to get it, too. Don’t be afraid. He will not lead you astray.
I don’t see where Graham has anything to repent for. I do not think he is saying like Joel Osteen is that Mormonism is Christianity. True Christianity says Jesus Christ is God…Mormons will not agree to that.
Repentance starts in one man and works its way outwardly with the leading of the Holy Spirit. This Pastor Steven seems to think government is decreed by men. It is God who will give a country what He knows it should have and it is not always what we think we should have. It is up to Christians to pray about whom they should vote for, seeking God’s will in their choice whether they personally agree or not.
Graham got it right.
The question should be ‘Can a Christian vote for whom ever they choose’? Do pastors mandate voting preferernces?
Mormons make a point of NOT instructing on their voting choices. But insteadare encouraged to carefully consider the options and pick according to their own consciences.
Christians are under no obligation to vote only for Christians according to the Bible. There are other reasons not to vote for Romney, however. According to his religion, he is totally intolerant of other branches of Christendom. Joseph Smith, the founder of LDS Church, taught his followers that only Mormonism may be recognized as true Christianity. Mormons are totally brainwashed about many important areas of life. Claiming to be the true religion revealed by God to Joseph Smith, Mormonism did not accept the equality of other races, especially the black racem as equal in value until just a few years ago. Romney was a Bishop of the LDS and embraced that position. Romney has sworn to guard the secrets of Temple marriage, to which he submitted, against an oath to have his throat slitted should he disclose them. Romney accepts the idea that he is working on becoming a god who will one day be lord over his own universe — an idea foreign to Christianity. Romney ascribes to the Mormon idea that lies may be told if t hey advance Mormonism. Romney holds to a false and wholly unfounded view of the arquelogical past of the North American continent which has no evidence in the science of archeology. Romney, as a Mormon, must confess that the authority of his church takes priority over every area of his life, which would include his public life. I recommend that readers examine the information in the book “Can Mitt Romney Serve Two Masters?” by Tricia Erickson, who herself was the daughter of a Mormon Bishop until she left Mormonism. Other issues re: Romney relating to his many flip-flops on essential political philosophy and practice place this man in question for becoming the President of the United States. I do not question his right to believe whatever he wants, but I question how those beliefs disqualify him from being a sensible leader.
Pastors that work for the almighty dollar sometimes are willing to preach just to make happy those who pay to hear them preach, so why would anyone want to vote for someone they think might be the better candidate?
Besides the fact that in the Bible the statement by Christ in answering a question with, “…If ye would have eternal life, obey the commandments” sounds like a deal breaker.
And don’t forget the President of the largest evangelical theological seminary in the world in Pasadena, CA, believes that the teachings of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS/Latter-day Saint/saints/nickname: “mormon”) are closer to the main teachings of Christ in the Bible than most people think.
So the Mormons here are proposing a classic psychological approach to determining if the Book of Mormon is true: “Ask God if it is true.”
Well, lots of terrorists asked that question and were told they were doing things in the name of their God, too. Bad things. And they got that same warm feeling.
People ought to do serious research if they are thinking of joining the Mormon church. Look into “problems with the Book of Mormon,” “Mormonism cult,” “Joseph Smith false prophet.”
As a sixth generation Mormon here is how I see it. You are saved by believing in Jesus. This means you are spared eternal Hell and you are ressurected. After you die you receive rewards or consequences depending on your faith and your works. After the ressurection you are judged by your faith and your works and receive rewards or consequences. You are given many chances in this life and the next to accept Jesus. If you clearly keep rejecting Jesus and you know what you are doing, you will have eternal Hell. If you accept Jesus but are weak in your faith and/or works you will suffer a temporary Hell and receive less of a reward. Is this clear now?
To Keith (2 above): In my opinion, Mormons are indeed Christians, and absolutely do agree that Jesus Christ is God. The most thorough, yet succinct, explanation of what Mormons believe about Jesus Christ can be found here (it’s all of 1 side of a piece of paper in the PDF version).
Whoops, forgot to post the URL: http://lds.org/library/display/0,4945,90-1-10-1,00.html
In fact, every Mormon would happily agree that Jesus Christ is God. He is God the Son, the God of the Old Testament, Jehovah, The Creator, The Savior, The Redeemer.