Why Some Evangelicals Won't Vote for Romney

The Other Side of the Mormon Story

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(Photo: AP Images / Scott Sady)

Republican presidential hopeful former Mass. Gov. Mitt Romney holds a town hall meeting in front of the Nevada Federation of Republican Women at John Ascuaga's Nugget casino in Sparks, NV, Friday, Oct. 12, 2007.

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WASHINGTON – The evangelical pro-Romney bandwagon recruited some vocal conservative heavyweights this past week, leaving behind only a few leaders willing to counter their peers and press the Mormon issue.

Concerned evangelicals oppose the belief that former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney’s theological differences are less important than his seemingly shared conservative social values. They also emphasize Mormonism, by its own definition, is antithetical to historic orthodox Christianity despite its adherents’ push for association amid Romney’s bid for the White House.

“People have got to understand that the beliefs of the Mormon cult are totally inconsistent with biblical Christianity,” Bill Keller of LivePrayer.com told The Christian Post on Monday.

Keller, arguably the most vocal evangelical opposed to Romney’s quest for the presidency, said he has put in some 20 requests to Romney’s press representatives for the presidential hopeful to appear on his show, “Live Prayer AM with Bill Keller,” but has not received a response.

“If you are a true follower of the Bible and believe what God says, it basically says that those who follow other Gospels – false Gospels and false religions like Mormonism – are going to die, be lost in their sins and go to hell,” said Keller, who describes his LivePrayer.com ministry as the most successful online faith ministry with over 2 million e-mail subscribers.

Keller said he was concerned that having someone like Romney in the “highest visibility, highest power” position in the country would cause non-Christians and unchurched people to search out the Mormon religion.

“In doing so it is going to lead people into these false beliefs and ultimately die in their sins,” Keller warned.

The online evangelist was joined in his concern, though less blatantly, by the influential Rev. Richard Cizik of the National Association of Evangelicals.

Cizik, who only briefly met Romney once, refrained from making any direct political statements on the candidate or his Mormon faith. However, he challenged Christians to carefully examine Romney’s Mormon faith and how his religion would influence his decisions in office.

“It is inescapable that one’s religious views, or lack thereof, will shape one’s personal integrity. There is no question about that,” said Cizik.

He pointed out that a lawmaker’s Mormon faith might cause his policy decision to be different than that of an evangelical in the same position.

“Values are shaped by religious beliefs, or lack thereof, and one’s Mormon beliefs would surely in one sense or another shape one’s values, priorities, conviction, etc.,” said Cizik, who serves as the NAE’s vice president for governmental affairs. He pointed out that thus far Romney has not been willing to address the connection between his religious faith and public duty.

Cizik also believes, like Keller and many other Christian leaders, that Mormons are not Christians.

He advised Christians to first make sure Romney clarifies his Mormon religion before they “jump on the Romney bandwagon.”

“That’s just good sense,” added Cizik, who is arguably one of the most powerful leaders in the 30-million-member NAE.

Keller, meanwhile, emphasized that the god of Mormonism is not the God of the Bible and the Jesus of the Bible is different than the Jesus Mormons believe in. Jesus of Mormonism is a created being and not a deity, he is the brother of Lucifer, and will return not to the Mount of Olives as in the Bible but to Independence, Mo., pointed out the ministry leader.