How Important is a Presidential Candidate’s Theology?
By Jim Brown – OneNewsNow
The pastor of a large Southern Baptist church in Texas has reiterated his belief that Christians shouldn’t have voted for Mitt Romney because he worships a false god.
“Just how Christian does a presidential candidate need to be?” That was the question debated recently at the Religion Newswriters Association (RNA) convention by Attorney Jay Sekulow with the American Center for Law & Justice and Pastor Robert Jeffress of First Baptist Church of Dallas. The event was hosted by Christian public relations expert Mark DeMoss, who lead Mitt Romney’s outreach to conservative Christians.
Pastor Jeffress argued that Christians should always vote for a Christian over a non-Christian — and referred to Mormons, Hindus, Muslims, Buddhists, and Catholics as “cult” members. Sekulow, who backed Romney’s presidential bid, took a much different position. He noted Article 6 of the Constitution prohibits a religious test for holding public office, and suggested that the values — not the theology — of a candidate should be more important to Christian voters.
Mark DeMoss believes Jeffress and other Christians who hold the pastor’s view are feeding into the negative perception many non-Christians have of Evangelicals.
“I do think it can be hurtful,” DeMoss expresses. “And also, just on a spiritual level, I don’t know how we reach out spiritually to people of other faiths or of no faith if we’re viewed to be hostile and pejorative and hateful in our tone and tenor.”
DeMoss says the day may come in America when voters are not even offered the choice of a presidential candidate who professes to be a Christian.
(Source: OneNewsNow.com)
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