WHAT ABOUT ROMNEY'S MORMONISM?

FULL DISCLOSURE: I was raised in the Mormon religion. I became a Christian at the age of seventeen by confessing my sins and trusting in Jesus Christ and his shed blood; salvation by grace through faith alone. If you are concerned that I am somehow "tainted" or a secret subversive bent on overthrowing the true church of Jesus Christ, I suggest you read some of "Don's Favorite Posts" on the right hand column of this page, or just watch one of the video messages below from our Hebrews series.

As an ex-Mormon, I am writing for Evangelical Christians who think they are spiritually bound to ONLY vote for godly leaders. Let me help you out. Israel was technically a Theocracy, ruled by God through spiritual leaders and a king. The United States of America is a Constitutional Republic, led for four years at a time by a statesman elected by the people. We elect a President; not a pastor, priest or king. Nowhere in the constitution is there any promise or requirement concerning the spiritual condition of the elected.

I first voted in the presidential election of 1972. In 1976 I voted for Jimmy Carter SOLELY on the basis that he was a Born Again Christian. I had swallowed the Triumphalist notion that I was only to vote for righteous men--and we DID mean men at that time. I was sorely disappointed that simply being a Christian did not make Carter a great president. Bad news; "there is none righteous, no not one." Not only that, if you are thinking that you can only vote for the man of Gods choosing there is worse news; God called Nebuchadnezzar and Pharaoh his servants to do his will.

In fact, over the years I have come to the conclusion that ALL elections on earth are a choice between the lesser of two evils: BOTH of which are fallen human beings. That being the case, I must decide which one I agree with MORE. As a citizen I do not have the luxury of abstaining from a vote because I deem neither candidate righteous enough to fill in a sudden vacancy in the Trinity.

I KNOW Mormons: They are good people because they are working hard to get a good spot in heaven. They tend to make good citizens and faithful employees. That does not make them "saved." But keep your eye on the ball here, we are not talking about salvation, we are talking about an election in a Constitutional Republic. I KNOW Mormonism is not Christianity. But that has ZERO effect on my vote. I am not voting for pastor of my church. I am voting for a capable administrator to lead my country and represent us to the rest of the world. On basis of the evidence of the last four years, Mitt Romney is by far the lesser of two evils.

But he's MORMON! The whole country will convert and Mormons will rule the world!!! Nice try. Did you know that was one of the major concerns over John F. Kennedy? But he's CATHOLIC! The whole country will convert and we'll be handed over to the authority of the Pope in Rome.  ...Yeah, THAT happened.

Here is my bottom line: I do not want four more years of slaying every goose that lays a golden egg. I do not want four more years of denigrating every tradition that made America great. I do not want four more years of general incompetence. I am casting my vote for Mitt Romney.

For Evangelicals still concerned about a Mormon president -- or any Christian still trying to make sense of the Carter presidency -- recall that Martin Luther said he'd rather be governed by a smart Turk than a dumb Christian.