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Can You Vote for Romney?
David Leach
Some Christian friends of mine have proclaimed they have no intention of voting for Romney because he is a Mormon. Most of them plan to just not vote for the top of the ticket in the next election, and a few I suppose will vote for Obama, such is their disdain for the LDS cult. I have given this a bit of thought and have moved from one side of the argument to the other.
First, let’s be clear about Mormonism. It is anti-Christ. It preaches a false gospel. It presents a false Christ and harbors a bankrupt soteriology. The LDS view of the afterlife is more suitable for a comic book than serious theological consideration, and it’s view of the Godhead is simply creepy, bizarre and unworthy of genuine Christian consideration. I could go on, but I suspect it is clear to all that I think LDS doctrine is awful – I disdain it, it has no redeeming value whatsoever.
So let’s agree Romney is a part of this cult and apparently more or less actively supports it. Can a Christian vote for him to be President with a clear conscience and without violation of any scriptural principle? Is a vote for Romney ipso facto some sort of spiritual compromise on the part of the Christian? Can a Christian vote for a non-Christian to hold public office? Can a Christian vote for a religious non-Christian to hold public office? What follows are ten points concerning these questions listed for your consideration.
(1) Did Joseph sin when he accepted position as governor over all the land of Egypt and answerable only to Pharaoh?(Gen 41:39-41, Gen 42:6)? If it is not sin to serve as second in command to a pagan king, how much less so would it be merely to vote for one? In the end, there are only believers and unbelievers, sheep and goats – if Romney is a goat, is he more or less one than an atheist? A lost Baptist? Pharaoh’s court members steeped in occult/cultish practices?
(2) Is there any evidence Romney intends to lead from a distinctly Mormon worldview? Not to my knowledge. One certainly hopes that if elected Romney will rule as a political conservative and not as a “moderate,” but I see no indication he intends to usher in as prophet some sort of LDS theocracy.
(3) Does the Bible teach we ought vote? Not vote? Does it indicate we are limited to voting for Reformed Christians? Evangelical Christians? Lutheran Christians? Some Christians voted for the “evangelical Christian” Jimmy Carter – but I would posit Carter is not a Christian and clearly he is not sympathetic with a Christian worldview. So what kinds of religious affiliations are acceptable to us? What if we had a United Pentecostal Republican candidate – can you vote for a modalist?
(4) Was Reagan a Christian? I do not know. Though he certainly had a deference to religion and to a sort of “civic Christianity” I am privy to little evidence Ronald Reagan was born from above. If Reagan was not a Christian, was he less lost than Romney? Is a vanilla unbeliever a safe choice if his politics are acceptable, and a Mormon (unbeliever ) not safe when his politics are otherwise acceptable?
(5) If Romney becomes our President, has God given him this position? I wonder if the God who raises up Romney to rule over us will judge us for voting in concurrence with His sovereign disposition of Romney? Dan. 2:21
(6) Is there some spiritual principle that forbids us from choosing the lessor of two evils? If you think you have such a principle, do you use it consistently? Can you explain it to me?
(7) Obama has proven he is unfit and scandalous in his agenda. Do we sin if we act in a way (vote against him) so as to expedite his removal from office by helping Romney defeat him? Are we merely winking at Obama’s horrible rule if we don’t lift a finger to be part of the process to expel him?
(8) If you will not vote for Romney because he is LDS, would you vote for a Mormon mayor if he was the only Republican in the race? What if your congressional district had a Ted Kennedy type Democrat running and the alternative was a Mormon who held to generally accepted conservative political views? Would you allow your son or daughter to be taught be a Mormon public school teacher? Will you move if a Mormon moves next door to you? Can your children play with Mormon kids? What would you do if you discovered your medical doctor of 40 years, who you trust and rely on, converted to Mormonism? What degree of separation from all things Mormon are you reasonably accountable for?
(9) To what degree is it wise to give great weight to a man’s religious views where those views suggest no clear threat to the responsibility of his office? I was alive then, but not not old enough to vote when JFK ran and won the presidency, but I am not aware that our country thus entered into submission to the Vatican. I suspect we are unlikely to collectively and nationally genuflect to Salt Lake City either should Romney win.
(10) The destruction of our health care system may be Obama’s opening move only. A second term may yield political and social horrors not yet considered. I beg you to tell me how a Romney presidency would be worse. Standing on principle are you? WHAT IS THAT PRINCIPLE??
5 Pt. Salt 
I have no intention of voting for either Romney or Obama. Not because he is a Mormon- he’s running for President, not leader of my Sunday school class. I just don’t believe either candidate represents my positions, and I grew tired of “you have to vote for him because if you don’t —- will win” back in ’96 when Bob Dole ran against Clinton. This year I plan to vote for Virgil Goode of the Constitution Party. In fact, I would like your opinion of him since he’s from Virginia also.
Virgil’s a good choice. He’s local here, and I’m a long time supporter.
I don’t know Mr. Goode, if your question is to me. But since we all know he cannot win, I am wondering what use your vote is? Symbolism? A pat on the back of a candidate you feel a closer worldview kinship with than Romney? There is a time for purity, and a time for pragmatism – i tend to think the outcome of this election is better served by a reasonable application of the latter.
I’m tired of the same mantra every four years that Christians must vote for the lesser of two evils. Really? Just where in scripture does it tell us that? Quite the contrary – Proverbs 8:13 declares “The fear of the Lord is to hate evil…” Psalm 97:10 “You who love the Lord, hate evil…” Romans 12:9 “…Abhor what is evil, cling to what is good…” Wake up Christians! There are absolutely no political answers to spiritual problems that we face in our nation. America, like ancient Israel, has chosen to reject the God of Abraham, Issac, and Jacob. Repent or perish – it’s that simple.
Reggie, God bless you, You are more pure than a spoonful of Ivory Soap. Your ability to determine with absolute clarity and certainty that voting is unspiritual certainly transcends my less informed and less spiritual outlook. Ahh well, I suppose there will always be an ostrich element within some Christian traditions. Friend, I urge YOU to repent (“Repent or perish – it’s that simple”) if YOU need to. And when you have, perhaps you will find some mundane service to perform in regards to your country in which God has by his sovereign design placed you. If voting violates your superior innate religous sensibility, perhaps you can at least be patient with those of us less enlightened?
And one more thing, I am curious, Have you ever read Esther? One wonders what would have been the outcome of her rejecting “politcal answers?”
Regards.
I have performed some mundane service for my country – while many others slept, I stood the watch on four aircraft carriers during a 21 year naval career that began during the Viet Nam War. Is that mundane enough for you? You should be careful about judging others – I have faithfully voted in every election prior to this year. And yes, I am very familiar with the book of Esther. God called her to deliver the Jews from destruction. So what is it I need to repent of? For stating that there is no political answer to a spiritual problem? Isn’t it true? At least he heathens of Nineveh responded to the message of Jonah; repented, and God relented. Do you see that happening in America today? If Christians placed as much faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as they do in politicians, we wouldn’t be facing the impending judgement of God. As Jesus said, “…Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s.”
Tex,
You are exactly right. If enough people cast symbolic votes, we can look forward to at least four more years of Ovomit and a damned nation. Now is the time to be pragmatic and leave the idealism for the following election.
Friend, you need to read Rom 13:1-7, 1 Tim 2:1-7, 2 Peter 2:13-17 and 2 John. You know not of what you speak.
I have read all of the above.
I cannot vote for either Obama or Romney. Romney is back and forth on abortion and I try never to vote for someone who is pro-choice. I’ve been looking into who I can vote for and if Virgil Goode is pro-life he may have my vote.
And why would you want to waste your vote on someone you know can’t win? I am as much an idealists as the next guy, but the country is in the toilet.
The only one who can bring this country out of the toilet is God. So if I vote for someone who brings to the table things that are against God’s laws. How would that be honoring to God? Why would God reward us with a victory?
Vote for anyone you like. If you like Obama, you will be able to enjoy him for four more years. If you are voting merely to honor God, vote for me. I am a staunch conservative who probably shares all your views. Perhaps, God will raise me up to the throne.
I agree that God is the only one who can bring the country out of the toilet, but perhaps his intention is to use people like you to send it into the septic tank. If he wills to damn us, he will certainly have plenty of help with people who have no common sense.
Voting is about electing a political leader, not about electing a spiritual leader. If we were talking about electing a pastor, I would agree with you. We aren’t!
Reggie, it’s wonderful you served in the Navy, I did as well, and God bless you – but that does not vindicate your point of view. You wrote:
‘I’m tired of the same mantra every four years that Christians must vote for the lesser of two evils. Really? Just where in scripture does it tell us that? Quite the contrary – Proverbs 8:13 declares “The fear of the Lord is to hate evil…” Psalm 97:10 “You who love the Lord, hate evil…” Romans 12:9 “…Abhor what is evil, cling to what is good…” Wake up Christians! There are absolutely no political answers to spiritual problems that we face in our nation. America, like ancient Israel, has chosen to reject the God of Abraham, Issac, and Jacob. Repent or perish – it’s that simple.”
Well Reggie, barring the appearance of a perfect(?) candidate, what do you propose? If Christians see Romney at best as the lesser of two evils, do you suggest we just withdraw? (Oh wouldn’t the Dems love that!) Or expend our vote on a “pure” fringe candidate that has less chance of winning the election than Obama has of standing on the top of the White House roof naked singing “I’m Henry the Eighth I am” in a southern Persian dialect while perched on one leg?
Part of the problem is hugging this notion that there is no “political answer to a spiritual problem,” as though that premise ought dismiss Christian participation in voting. Don’t we have enough “practical” problems to justify a vote for any Repubican over Obama?? You sort out the spiritual problems, not having your spiritual insight, I’ll be content on voting him out on a purely pragmatic level: He harms our country.
And one last thought. You wrote:
“If Christians placed as much faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as they do in politicians, we wouldn’t be facing the impending judgement of God.”
If you served during Vietnam, and I served directly after, neither of us are young guys. I tell you honestly, in all my life I don’t recall ever meeting a brother or sister who had as much faith in politicians as Christ. Nor do I think that unlikely claim the source of inpending judgement, if judgement is indeed pending as you posit. I have no “faith” in politicians, I merely have faith in the God who holds the hearts of the kings of the world in His hand. How about you?
Then have faith that God gave us Obama for a reason and if God decides he is out of office next year then it doesn’t matter who we vote for. God who holds the hearts of the kings also holds the hearts of men. There will be enough votes against Obama without ours.
Without “ours” Tammy? “Ours” who? Are you Amish?
Ok then –
If God wants the heathen evangelized, let God do it.
If God wants your pastor paid, let God do it.
If God wants your sick son healed, let God do it.
If God wants some other person than Obama as president, let God do it.
If God wants me to have a well kept lawn, let God do it.
What Me Worry? Let God do it!
“Honey, hand me the remote, slip me a cool one, and remember, for all the important stuff – and well shoot, it’s ALL important – ‘Let God do it!.'”
God has led you to vote one way, myself and others another way.
One suspect’s “God’s leading” is not nearly so confused or fickle as our discernment of the same.
I guess people like me who are fickle and have no common sense, should be prayed for, to see the light. I guess you could put me in the category as being a weaker sister.