Thursday, February 24, 2011

The Christian Case for Mormon Values

Well, the buzz around town is that the Mormons just might have two potential presidential candidates this election, Mitt Romney and Jon Huntsman. I guess we are really hitting the big time, huh?

Or, will it be Jon Huntsman?
Will it be Mitt Romney?
  
The Washington Post has a column called On Faith that talks about religious issues in the news.  Thanks to my Twitter addiction I stumbled onto an article written on the subject of these two Mormon potentials by, yes… wait for it…, a Professor of philosophy from  Biola University, a Christian.  (Remember, a lot of people think Mormon’s aren’t Christians… )

The title of the article is “The Christian case for Mormon Values”.  Catchy, right?  The author, John Mark Reynolds (coincidentally two very Christian names.. I think not), did an extremely civil job of throwing his support for the Mormon leaders out there for the world to consider.  In fact, he makes a really good case for Christian support of these Mormon men.  

He states,” God works in mysterious ways to perform His wonders. Old Testament prophets complained about the instruments God chose, but God went on being God despite their complaints. 2012 is likely to give Americans two serious candidates for president that are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (LDS). Many conservative Christians, for good and bad, get inspiration and information from Glenn Beck, who is also a member of the Church.”

Reynolds continues, “Should Americans be concerned? Bluntly, no, though those of us who are not Mormon should be depressed that such a small group has outworked, out thought, and out hustled us. Mormon success should spur traditional Christians, who outnumber Mormons by tens of millions, to do better.
Sadly ignorance of the LDS Church is widespread in our culture. Despite over a century of faithful citizenship and embracing family values, stupid stereotypes remain. Magically much of the media easily remembers Glenn Beck is Mormon, but keeps forgetting that Harry Reid is as well. Sacred garments on Christians and Jews are normal, but sacred garments on Mormons?”

Way to go Brother Reynolds!!

I believe that he reached his peak of the address when he praised Mormon’s in the following way…
“If this is, as the Washington Post suggests, a Mormon moment, it is because Mormons clung to truths now unfashionable and addressed questions others ignore. They suffered exile in their own land, persecution, and the need to change important ideas to be part of the broader culture. This American experience taught them good lessons about America. Being right is powerful and most LDS are right on many of today's big issues: the nature of family, the protection of life, defense of religious liberty, and republican values.
Traditional Christians should learn from their example and patriotic Americans should celebrate their effective service.”

How about that for a Christian endorsement? 
The Mormon's might just be the mysterious way God is moving in, huh?

Perhaps you would like to read the entire post?  Click here and check it out for yourself.
Don't be alarmed at all the wacky comments that people are posting in response to his article... whenever you talk about Mormon's those people crawl out of the woodwork, right Churchlady?
Regardless, thanks John Mark Reynolds for all the good things you have said about my people!

Read more about the history of Mormon persecution here.

1 comment:

  1. I think a lot of the discomfort arising from a Mormon candidate at its roots does not come from the candidate being Mormon, but from the claim or insinuation that Mormonism is a Christian denomination (as a means to win mainstream acceptance?). Atleast according to according to authoritative Christian bodies, National Council of Churches, Evangelical, Roman Catholics and Orhtodox councils, Mormonism is not Christian and to wit, none of these councils has admitted any Mormon body to their bodies. Is this not correct?

    Mormons, Jews, Muslims or Atheists or anyone of any faith or none should not be overlooked for elective office because of their particular confession- but if those of a different faith pretend to be something that they are not, that is a cause for concern. For some Christians, this could mislead people and have spiritual consequences as well. That is where the problem arises for many. This is not to say that many values, outlooks and phiosophies are not shared (indeed many moral precepts among those of different religions are shared - but that does not make a Jew a Christians, or Christians a Muslim. Likewise, Mormons are unique and not any of the aforementioned religions.

    Be Mormon, be proud, be yourself, celebrate your history, cuture and beliefs. Be who you are - and this problem of electing a Mormon will disappear as it should.

    ReplyDelete