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.
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(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.
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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
Ron Paul's brand of naive isolationism is hardly anything new. Isolationism has always had a loyal following in America on both the right and left in this country. It always end up being discredited in the end. Why is this time any different?
Support the only REAL Christian conservative candidate running for President; Dr. Ron Paul. There is Hope For America, but the time is short.
Huckabee is broke, and is desperately starting to flip flop on his positions, why don't you see how much money he gave to planned parenthood for abortions when he was Govenor of Arkansas, Grow up! & Wake up!!! www.saveamericanow.com spread the Truth!!!!!
Defend the right to life, Support Dr. Ron Paul now!
http://www.ronpaul2008.com/issues/life-and-liberty/
Aren't you sick of politicians using this as a political football while babies die?! I'm tired of hearing how "conservative" and "prolife" they are UNTIL they take the office! Check Rep. Paul's 10-term record - he is an honest man.
Also check YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KXZpuIXEzWk
Ron Paul speaks at the National Right to Life Convention
also WWW.PRAYFORPAUL.COM cut & paste & share these links, God Bless you all.
http://www.christiansforronpaul.com/
http://prayforpaul.com/
maranatha7593
People who have come to support Dr. Paul do so, not because of the type of sin they are under but because he speaks truth in the face of great obstacles. He stands for a return to constitutionally-defined, limited government, sound money, respect for life and liberty - ALL life, a strong national defense, no nation-building, etc. Go to his site and read his "issues" articles.
For 10 terms, he has stood almost entirely alone in the Congress for these principles, voting against anything that is unconstitutional while our other "representatives" mock and ridicule him. He stands on Christ's power, believing in His truth and disregarding what the world says is popular. His consistent message of freedom is appealing to many in these last days.
Dagny, can you explain to me why women in Nevada brothe!s want Ron Paul to be elected?
jonathanjkim, how is it 'corrupt' to march in protest of the modern American holocaust? Does not the Lord command us in Proverbs 29 to speak up for the innocents who cannot speak for themselves? Do you think the Separatist Pilgrims would not have spoken out against the killing of the most innocent and helpless among us? That is why they were so persecuted they had to leave England, because they would not submit to the godless 'church' there.
QuoVadisAnima quotes Huckabee:
"I will march with them next year if I am elected president. As president, I pledge that I will continue the fight so that every child can have his or her God-given right to life."
If you elect me President then I will march with you.... huh?
Stop allowing these politicians to manipulate our hearts and start learning more about their records! (You shall know them by their fruit). Let the Lord guide our hearts and our minds and let's stop playing politics while millions die! Test Ron Paul's "FRUIT!" http://www.ronpaul2008.com/issues/life-and-liberty/
For 35 years, millions of innocents have been being killed.
For 35 years our elected officials have claimed to be prolife and promised to "work on it"
Roe v Wade has stood for 35 years because no one has challenged the Constitutionality of the decision - they talk the talk....
For 35 years, Dr. Ron Paul has been delivering babies (more than 4,000)
As a confressman he has put forth legislation that DIRECTLY challenges the constitutionality of ROE v WADE, returning control to the States as the Founders designed. The very instant that occurs, the voices for the unborn can be heard once more!
Will there remain any States that allow abortion? Possibly - if we aren't effective enough, it's possible, however returning the abortion issue to the State level means it will no longer be legal in all of them! How many lives could have been saved if Ron Paul's legislation had been backed long ago??
For what he believes I hope that you and others will go to:
http://www.ronpaul2008.com/issues/life-and-liberty/
Aren't you sick of politicians using this as a political football while babies die?! I'm tired of hearing how "conservative" and "prolife" they are UNTIL they take the office! Check Rep. Paul's 10-term record - he is an honest man.
Also check YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KXZpuIXEzWk
Ron Paul speaks at the National Right to Life Convention
Go HUCK!
God..
I am physically getting sick. America is descendant of Puritans. It is the embodiment of anger against church of England and other corrupt Christians in Europe. We came here through the hardship for the religious freedom and we guaranteed for last 200 some years that exact freedom. Quakers, Mennonites, even the Mormons and Branch Davidian were allowed to practice their religion.
Now we have so called mainstream protestants ganging up together to take back and turn the clock on us back to Theocracy which is Authoritarianism just like Iraq which we turned into Muslim nation. We will burn the witches and bring back the inquisition and stick our hand in other woman's worm.
Where is the real Christians.. Prior to WWII, German was 2/3 Protestant and rest Catholic. You figure what the "Christian Leaders" did during their time. When the soul is corrupt and damage with hurt. Real Christians go out and mend that. Stop the bleeding and feed the hungry. 33"You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell?
cmrk3
OK - lets just look at the errors in your post so we can correct them.
1. Huckabee says he is not campaigning.
Of course he isn't. Campaigning would be telling them why they should be voting for him which he certainly did not do. He has always been a vocal proponent of Christian involvement in government - he didn't just start talking like this when he began running for POTUS.
2. Newt Gingrich championed the cause of kicking a president out of office
NOT for being an adulterer but for PERJURY which is pretty durned serious - just ask Nixon.
3. Why is Huckabee the only presidential candidate speaking at a non-partisan event?
Perhaps these Christian, preacher type guys invited him to speak because they actually wanted to hear him preach rather than, say, Rudy Giuliani?
4. If every life has intrinsic worth - what about the death penalty?
Abortion is the taking of an innocent, helpless life; the death penalty is justice for the taking of a life. While many Christians are against the death penalty, too, it is absurd to try to equate the two morally. There is no moral justification for shredding & evacuating the body of a helpless baby in the womb, but there is certainly justification for 'a life for a life' to protect society.
...what about [causes x, y & z]. I agree that unborn children have intrinsic worth. Be consistant!
As Mother Teresa said, if we can accept that a mother can kill her own child in her womb, how can we tell others not to kill? That has far-reaching applications which encompass all the causes that you apparently expect Mike Huckabee to advocate simultaneously even though they are not morally equivalent. Far better to expend our energy & resources to attack the most base problem - it does not get more anti-life than a mother having her own baby killed - and work our way up from there. That's a rational and consistent approach - and more effective than trying to attack the many heads of the hydra being proposed.
5. This isn't salt - this is yeast. The yeast of the pharisees.
Yes, we could see that at once, but God loves you anyway! ;-)
If I were American I would vote for Mike Huckabee
Yes that he claims that he is a Christian is no safe guard for what he does in the future (Maybe he will take on China like Pres Bush took on Iraq), then again with China soon to take over from America as the worlds super power America in my opinion would be better off with a President that would not disarm his country as the Democrats have done so well.
If ever there was need for America to arm it self morally and physically it is now, if I was a young American I would vote for Mike. Either way remember that GOD has the heart of kings and Presidents in His hand and He turns it which ever way He will, I am praying for your nation, and know that whoever becomes President it will be as GOD purposes, to a blessing or a curse on your nation.
OK - lets just look at the lies in this article.
1. Huckabee says he is not campaigning. Of course he is.
2. Newt Gingrich championed the cause of kicking a president out of office for being an adulterer. It turned out that Newt Gingrich was doing the same thing.
3. Why is Huckabee the only presidential candidate speaking at a non-partisan event? Of course it's partison.
4. If every life has intrinsic worth - what about the death penalty? what about the millions who are starving to death? what about the poor in Iraq who are relocating to dangerous and unhealthy places to get away from our troops and the dangerous conditions that now exist? Why are they not allowed to come to the United States as refugees? What about those who cannot afford medical care. I agree that unborn children have intrinsic worth. Be consistant!
5. This isn't salt - this is yeast. The yeast of the pharisees.
Just because a man is spiritual or moral doesnt make him a good politician.
Huckabee is Liberal he has a horrible record. Stop with the "I like mike because he is evangelical." That is all this is.
Huckabee supports amnesty to illegal immigrants and their families, he raised taxes by billions of dollars, he is not a conservative.
There is still a real conservative left in the race for the GOP nomination. And there is only one viable candidate left who is trustworthy on pro-life & moral issues and has a proven trackrecord of appointing good judges - that's Mike Huckabee.
Today he made a fantastic statement about Roe v. Wade and in it he promised pro-lifers:
"I will march with them next year if I am elected president. As president, I pledge that I will continue the fight so that every child can have his or her God-given right to life."
[http://www.mikehuckabee.com/?FuseAction=Blogs.View&Blog_id=1236]
This is not pandering - he has marched with pro-lifers many times before! Can you imagine a president in the March for Life in DC?
Ask yourself - if he is such an economic liberal, how come he's managed to hit the top tier with a mere fraction of the money of the others and refuses to go into debt? What is liberal about believing in subsidiarity - a very Christian prinicple?
Why is it weak to suggest that we find ways to better work with our allies rather than telling them it's all or nothing they're for us or against us? What is clueless about believing that you cannot reason with or negotiate with the islamic fanatics - they must be eliminated & their breeding grounds rendered sterile?
Too many people have bought into the political propaganda of the well heeled opposition - please consider (or reconsider) Huckabee - take a look at mikehuckabee.com and hucksarmy.com while there is still a chance for us to have a truly pro-life conservative president!!
Huckabee maybe not the most educated in either Government or God (religion) but if He can delegate authority. And knows how to use hisauthority. He can be no worse than the other president that was once from Arkansas. Remember He was elected to two terms.
God help us if we get someone like Huckabee in the office. Once again the evangelical community has misstepped it's understanding of what the best person in office is all about. Just because one has been a pastor or holds closer to your beliefs does not make him or her the best candidate. This reminds me of the issue in Iraq and much of the Islamic world that pits Sunni against Shia.
We must look at the big picture and it is not all just about America or if this person holds closer to my religious beliefs. What scares me is that this mindset has huge repurcussions across the globe. The church when it held positions of leadership in government has done horrible catastrophic things in the name of Jesus. When will we wake up in looking at the fuller picture that in voting for the president it is someone who will make a difference in the whole world not just hold on to my own beleifs.
I find the negative critical statements about Huckabee on here pretty revealing as to your own character. None of us is perfect. You will be judged by the same judgment with which you judge others, the Bible says. I don't approve of Hillary or Obama's positions on a lot of things but I don't smear their intelligence or their character. I don't hold people to a standard of perfection, otherwise God would hold me to that same standard and I would be in trouble like ya'll are.
::begin quote::
It's funny how people who claim to believe in the sanctity of life "from conception" can find it in their hearts and heads to be pro-death penalty. Life is sacred, unless you live in Texas and you're black, and then well, off you go to the death chamber, and we'll let God sort you out later. Oh and woops if we got the wrong guy (which history and DNA testing are showing more and more is the case.)
Hypocrisy bugs me.
::end quote::
I believe you are forgetting that the death penalty is only applied to one who has taken life (murder). It is because we value life, that we will not let this person continue to live when they are a threat to that Sanctity.
However, if you believe locking them in a cell by themselves and denying them contact with people whom they are a threat to, to be more humane. So be it.
Hypocrisy bugs ME.
Why do these pastors let such an uneducated man masquerade as an interpreter of the word of God?
Oh well. Politics is all about smoke & mirrors anyway.
That is what Pat robertson & 'other' pastors & christians said about W. Bush! they tell you to support & pray for this 'christian' president, then blames the liberal, leftist for the misery he has caused this nation!
His bachelor's degree in religious studies is one of the easiest degrees to obtain. It's practically a giveaway degree.
Is a well known scientific fact that salt is bad for health. The same can be said for religion and religion extremists, like Mike.
It's funny how people who claim to believe in the sanctity of life "from conception" can find it in their hearts and heads to be pro-death penalty. Life is sacred, unless you live in Texas and you're black, and then well, off you go to the death chamber, and we'll let God sort you out later. Oh and woops if we got the wrong guy (which history and DNA testing are showing more and more is the case.)
Hypocrisy bugs me.
::begin quote::
Huckabee barely completed any of his Masters of Divinity at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He completed less than a year of graduate work at all. He's not even qualified to be in a pulpit, much less in public office.
::end quote::
Huckabee's first job, at 14, was working at a radio station where he would read the news and weather. He was elected Governor of Arkansas Boys State in 1972 and is a Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership Alumnus. He was president of Hope High School in 1973.
He graduated magna cum laude from Ouachita Baptist University, completing his bachelor's degree in Religion in 2½ years before attending Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas, where he dropped out after one year. He has two honorary doctoral degrees: a Doctor of Humane Letters, received from John Brown University in 1991, and a Doctor of Laws from Ouachita Baptist University in 1992.
Certainly he has a fair level of Education.
To Chicago24: In response to your comments, Abraham Lincoln never had a high school education. Do you not think he was a great President? Also, some of the Lord's greatest preachers weren't well educated either, and some who were, went down in disgrace.
Much more to the point, however, what a man (or women) is, thinks, believes, and acts is a better way to judge their qualifications for President. Let us just remember the disgraceful Bill Clinton who wants to be the Shadow President again. I wonder what will happen in those closets when Hillary isn't around if she is elected. Mike Huckabee brings fresh vision, ideas, compassion, and integrity to the Presidential race.
Huckabee barely completed any of his Masters of Divinity at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He completed less than a year of graduate work at all. He's not even qualified to be in a pulpit, much less in public office.
If today we stand up and honor God by obeying His commandments then when we stand in Judgement before him He will honor us in front of multitudes and multitudes. Thank you Mr. Huckabee for making us aware of our christian duties to be the salt and light in the world and not just good in church.
::begin quote::
“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.”
::end quote::
You hit the nail on the head Mike! Thanks!