More than 5,000 American pastors gave standing ovations to the former Baptist preacher turned politician Mike Huckabee Monday night during his speech defending moral and social issues at a conference in Florida.
-
(Photo: AP Images / Gerald Herbert)Republican presidential hopeful, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, greets supporters as he arrives at a rally and press availability after arriving in Orlando, Monday, Jan. 21, 2008.
The “Rediscovering God in America” pastor's conference, hosted by the influential American Family Association, featured Huckabee Monday and will present former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich as Tuesday’s keynote speaker.
Huckabee, who said he was not there as a presidential candidate, warmed up his conservative audience by declaring that overturning the Roe v. Wade court ruling was not enough because it would leave individual states to decide their own laws on abortion – a moral issue where there is a right and a wrong, he contends. He argues that a constitutional amendment that defines life at conception is necessary to prevent “50 versions of right and wrong.”
“How could we expect God’s future blessing on this country if we cannot come to the logical conclusion that every life He creates He creates with the same equal intrinsic value and worth as another?” Huckabee asked.
After listing several huge problems in America, the former preacher said the purpose of Christians on this earth, as taught by Jesus, is to be salt and light. Salt preserves while light overcomes darkness.
“We are taught that we are the salt of the earth. That means that when something is spoiling, we are to be there to keep it from spoiling,” Huckabee explained. “We miss that if we think the purpose of believers is to be really, really well behaved in church.
“Being well behaved in church is a fine thing, but we don’t change the world by being behaved in church,” he pointed out to a receptive audience. “We change the world when we are the salt and that means we sometimes will irritate and sometimes agitate, but we will preserve.”
Huckabee, who has been noted on the campaign trail for his witty sense of humor, commented in his sermon-like speech that the problem today is too many believers believe they have been called into “undercover work” rather than to be the light of the world, he said half-jokingly drawing a roomful of laughter.
“I do not believe, reading in Galatians, that timidity is a spiritual gift,” he said.
“If our culture is decaying and if it is dark, it will not be saved just by electing people to offices,” the Republican presidential hopeful said. “It will ultimately be preserved and saved by salt acting like salt and light acting like light.”
“So I challenged you tonight to not just look for a political solution, but to say if there is going to be involvement in areas of institutions in our society … then let us be the salt and let us be the light. Because wherever there is something spoiling it needs salt, wherever somewhere is dark it needs light.”
The former Arkansas governor was joined by his friend and best-selling Left Behind series author Tim LaHaye, Pastor Don McClure of Calvary Way Ministries, and David Barton of Wall Builders.
Tuesday’s speakers will include Dr. Beverley LaHaye of Concerned Women for America, Dr. John Hagee of Cornerstone Church in San Antonio, Texas, and Dr. Mat Staver of Liberty Counsel.
Besides the several thousands participating in the Orlando conference, another 30,000 people are registered to watch the event via simulcast, according to organizers.
RSS
Comments
What Church is Mr. Hucksterbee a pastor of? why did he make the the Judicial Watch top 10 most Corrupt politicians list for 2007. http://judicialwatch.org/judicial-watch-announces-list-washington-s-ten-most-wanted-corrupt-politicians-2007 <--( cut and paste this link and wake up others now! ) Did he really only spend 2 days in the seminary he said, he graduated from?? How much money did he allocate to planned parenthood for abortions when hw was Govenor of Arkansas??? You need to know the Answers , You need to seek the Truth; Wake up , WWW.SAVEAMERICANOW.COM & WWW.PRAYFORPAUL.COM & WWW.RONPAUL2008.COM God Bless You all ! In the name of Yeshua, Christ our Lord !
Values Voter Comparison of the 2008 Presidential Candidates
http://f2a.org/coast2coast/ValuesVoter08Comparison.pdf
Wow! There is no doubt in my mind whatsoever, that Mike Huckabee is the man America needs at the helm! What a statesman! I love the way he is able to articulate what he believes - you never have to guess where he stands on a given subject! I appreciate his values and viewpoints!! I am unwavering in my support of Mike Huckabee!!
I am surprised to see so many Ron Paul supporters commenting on this article. Could you guys not find an article about Ron Paul to comment on?
Ok all you Ron Paul supporters. I see why you like him, he fits many people who arent totally conservative but still cling to some aspects of the conservative movement. Im an ultra conservative and it is hard for me to support Paul. That being said I think the guy has a lot of guts to be as outspoken as he has been, he has integrity and doesn't budge from his positions. I just think he has the wrong postitions....
As far as Romney's beliefs you can find them at http://www.mormon.org
maranatha7593: you are a blind man. There is not worst than what you said we do it for those that can't speak for themselves. You are one sick man. So you are suggesting you have been involved in politics for modern slavery in terms of illegal alien in US? Poor who got poorer last decades in US? Innocent dead in Iraq? Can you get a clue? US became worse nation because of your activity in politics. If you went out and fed the hungry, if you went out and cry for the illegals, if you went out and shake the hands of Iraqi, we won't be in a mess that we are in.
Read Matthew 23 carefully and meditate the meaning. It gives me incredible insight on life. Follow Jesus, no other man. Only Jesus is my teacher. Life changes when you realize that. And you can possible stop being a used puppet.
There is one group that Jesus was constantly bashing on and called them vipers. They were the teachers of law and Pharisees. Guess what this snakes are attacking Christians too. Google All Saints Episcopal Pasadena. Read the sermon and THINK why they were attacked.
SummaTheologica -
Just visited the site you linked to, Evangelicals For Mitt, and I've got to say, all I find there is politics and politicking... Am I missing something?
Ron Paul has been very courteous to Mitt Romney, even stating in interviews that Romney's Mormonism should have absolutley nothing to do with whether or not to vote for the man. He said that if people were applying a "religious test" that would be wrong, and unconstitutional. On the other hand, Romney has laughed at, and insulted Dr. Paul during live debates. He even went so far one time as to question Dr. Paul's loyalties, suggesting that he was "...reading Ahmadinajad's talking points." I found that very immature for a Presidential candidate, schoolyard-bullyish, not to mention how offensive it was considering what an intelligent and patriotic man Dr. Paul is.
Then there's the whole question of fiscal conservatism. Didn't Romey just win Michigan by promising them lots of our money?? We need sound ideas, not soundbites. We need a plan that will get this country back om track - fast!
Ron Paul has such a plan, and his plan doesn't rely on more debt and bigger government: www.ronpaul2008.com/Prosperity
SummaTheologica -
Could you post a link to Mitt Romney's Statement of Faith? I would like to compare it to Ron Paul's, posted at Covenant News: http://www.covenantnews.com/ronpaul070721.htm
This request goes out to supporters of all other candidates. I promise to read your candidate's Statement of Faith but ask that you do the same and read Dr. Paul's too, please.
Liberty. Peace. Prosperity.
http://www.evangelicalsformitt.com
This is important! With what we are facing, economically, we don't need more sound bites, we need sound ideas! Please, if not for yourself, then for your children and grandchildren, read this through: www.ronpaul2008.com/Prosperity
And don't be misled! This man is a true brother in Christ as his lenghty record (his "FRUIT") attests. Why do you think they choose to mock him? Scripture doesn't tell us to trust others to make our decisions for us, God tells us that WE are to judge a man by his fruit. Find out for yourself.
GreatNW -
"Ron Paul comes down from the Mount holding the tablets engraved with the constitution..."
Oh! I'm sorry if I've caused any confusion here, the terms I've used (isolationist VS non-inteventionist; [friendly trade] alliances VS entangling [meddling in the internal politics of sovereign nations] alliances) CAN cause misunderstandings without the right context... It was the TEN COMMANDMENTS that were carved in stone, but I was actually talking about the US Constitution.
The Founders warned that we'd lose the Republic if we failed to pay attention, and I suppose we've proven them right.
As to your jab at Ron Paul supporters:
Are you suggesting we are all nuts because to be elated to hear a politician - ANY politician - speak the truth!? Oh boy, that's another one of those terms: "truth," so for clarity's sake, "truth" here is not meant in a Messianic way as in the Lord saying, "I am the Truth," instead I'm talking in human terms, you know, about a statesman that stands for the principles that made this country great: limited gov't, fiscally conservative, life [ALL life], liberty, etc..
Dr. Paul has been speaking the same consistent truth for almost 30 years. (no "canned speeches," no sound bites, just the plain, simple truth while his fellow congressman laugh and spend us into oblivion...)
Its very rare for anyone to stand on principle these days, especially when its not popular, and I don't know about anyone else but I find that refreshing and yes, even inspiring: his courage makes ME want to be a better person.
He's a decent, humble and honorable "man." Is he perfect? Heck no! He is honest though and that places him above most men in positions of power, and honesty still stands for something, doesn't it?
Should I be ashamed for admiring his integrity? Should I feel stupid for hoping he reaches more of us with his call for a speedy return to the Constitution? Of course not, but there sure are a lot of people that imply I should.
Instead of arguing with me, why don't you spend some time reading what he says on his "issues" page. Or, you could check his record - how has he voted, and why? You'll discover that every vote, for or against, has always aligned with the Constitution.
I've probably already stated this clearly enough but in ending let me reiterate:
Anyone who can serve 10-terms in Congress and not be "changed" by that power, who can continually stand up for the documents that distiguished the American form of government from every other government in history, (while others take handouts, waste the taxpayers money, and deride his standards!), well, personally I think such a person deserves our respect. (it's late, please excuse any typos)
Alliances by their very nature are entangling- that is the whole reason for their existence. It is very hard to have an alliance where one side agrees to be bound by its terms and conditions while the other side is not similarly bound.
Gosh, there is an insightful remark. I have read the constitution, but I will admit I have not found the part where Ron Paul comes down from the Mount holding the tablets engraved with the constitution, Most of his followers seems to feel this is somewhere in the preamble.
GreatNW -
Not only is there a huge difference between isolationist and non-interventionist, there is a like difference between "alliances" and "entangling alliances."
Have you read the US Constitution, or is that something we no longer need?
http://www.ethicsdaily.com/article_detail.cfm?AID=10001
Interesting article on Huckabee's comments about changing constitution to align it with God's will as set forth in the Bible.
Fortunately, the Founding Fathers did believe in alliances or we would have never won our independence. The French fleet came in very handy at Yorktown. On a practical level there is not much difference between a non-interventionist and an isolationist.
GreatNW-
Ron Paul is not an "isolationist," he is a non-interventionist, and there's a stark difference. Dr. Paul believes that the Founders were right when they said that we should trade with other nations but avoid entangling "alliances." He believes in a strong defense, just not in policing the world. He says we should be patrolling our own border rather than borders in far off nations, and that "war" should never be pre-emptive and must always be constitutional, ie declared by congress.
Dr. Paul also talks about how insane it is that we spend billions blowing up infrastructure in let's say, Iraq, then we spend billions more to rebuild their roads and bridges...meanwhile our bridges are falling down!
Why not read his "issues" page?? What can that hurt?
www.ronpaul2008.com/issues