Voting for a Mormon – A 21st Century Mega-Shift

By Scott Brown, CP Guest Contributor Saturday, November 03, 2012

Although controversies abound in the church, pastors and Christian leaders have all agreed on one thing: Mormonism is a false religion. Since its founding almost two centuries ago, Mormonism has fought for legitimacy, billing itself as a conservative sect of the Protestant Church, and has eyed the White House as their golden ticket for acceptance. Founder of Mormonism Joseph Smith actually ran for president himself in 1844. However, from that time until now the entire Protestant church has stood firm unanimously agreeing that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is a bona fide cult and Christians should not endorse them. Not a single major Christian leader has publicly backed down from that position. That is, until now. All that has changed almost overnight. Now, the majority of Christian pastors across America are endorsing a devout Mormon for the highest office in the land. National leaders have even changed their official position on Mormonism to endorse a presidential candidate who they formerly condemned as a cult member. With this mega-shift, we have begun an unprecedented endorsement of the legitimacy of Mormonism, while the unified front of the church standing against this false religion, has crumbled before our eyes.

How you decide is more important than what you decide

I am not as concerned with who you vote for as I am to know how you determine who you vote for. What are the principles you use? How do you make the decision? What is the screen through which you look at the candidate? It is too easy to be driven by fear, the media, your friends, and respected spiritual leaders. But God has made you responsible for your vote, so you need to have principles to guide your conscience or else you will be subject to other people's consciences.

I am reminded of the great exhortation from the prince of preachers – Charles Spurgeon who gave this great advice to his congregation when they were presented with two evil choices: "Of two evils, choose neither."

What is a huge win for Mormonism is a great loss for the true church because it strikes at the heart of the gospel and dulls the Christian conscience. Widespread acceptance and growth of Mormonism means more people thinking they are "saved" when in fact they have not truly put their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior and God. Don't be surprised that in a few years, the new accepted view of the church will be that Mormonism is treated as a Christian denomination.

Before JFK was elected president in 1960, the discussion was, "We could never elect a Roman Catholic for president." Today the majority in the Church are endorsing a Mormon for president with a Roman Catholic running mate.

If the conservative choice for president in four years is a homosexual from the Log Cabin Republicans will the church rush to endorse him? If this happens, evangelicals will say, "He's a conservative, he's a republican, he gets my vote." This is nothing different than what evangelicals are saying today.

We've given up holding to our principles and the justification for our pragmatism leaves us stuck with supporting what was previously unthinkable. Rather, hope for America is found in the truth that sets people free.

Scott T. Brown is a pastor at Hope Baptist Church and the director of the National Center for Family-Integrated Churches, spending his time as an expository preacher and helping people think through the two greatest institutions God has provided — the church and the family. Scott graduated from California State University in Fullerton with a degree in History and received a Master of Divinity degree from Talbot School of Theology.