Rev. Patrick J. Mahoney, director of the Christian Defense Coalition, says Obama would have “the most extremist policies on abortion of any President in history. Senator Obama’s views on abortion are so radical that he even wants American citizens to pay for them. This would include Catholics, Evangelicals and all people of faith. He would also expand abortion rights through his passionate support of The Freedom of Choice Act.”

Related Links:

1. Christian Defense Coalition Joins Call Asking Pastor Rick Warren…
2. Senator Barack Obama Wants You to Pay for Abortions – Christian…
3. why the controversial Christian Defense Coalition is launching a new campaign
4. ABC News report

This blog wholeheartedly recommends the resources published by Crossway Books and we encourage you to consider their many titles, old and new alike. One of Crossway’s crowning achievements is their publishing of the English Standard Version Bible.

Apparently, should one of Barack Obama’s daughters make a mistake [conceive a child], he would not have them ‘punished’ with a baby.

Barack’s open and unapologetic devaluation of the life of the unborn child is beyond comprehension. Senator Obama claims to be a Christian yet his words clearly mark his disregard for the authority of Scripture.

Scripture makes it abundantly clear that God is the author of life and no child, unborn or otherwise, is a mistake but God’s creation, fashioned in His image. Who is Senator Obama that he would presume to have more understanding than God with regard to the unborn.

Jeremiah 1:5 — “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.”

Psalm 22:10 — On you was I cast from my birth, and from my mother’s womb you have been my God.

Psalm 139:13 — For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.

Genesis 1:27 — So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

Related Links:

1. Barack Obama Would Back Daughters’ Abortion, “Don’t Punish Them With a Baby”
2. Barack Obama before Planned Parenthood Action Fund, July 17, 2007 (transcript)
   
3. Barack Obama video speaking before Planned Parenthood Action Fund, July 17, 2007
4. Youtube of #3

Although we have not yet reviewed this Crossway title, we whole heartedly commend the ministry of Paul David Tripp, and recommend anything currently available from him.

Watch an interview with Paul David Tripp about Whiter than Snow

Publisher: Crossway/Good News Publishers
Author: Tripp, Paul David
ISBN-13: 9781433502309
Binding: Paperback
List Price: $12.99
Westminster Bookstore: $9.74 – 25% Off

You can read the complete article here but I would like to focus on something Franklin Graham said.

After the meeting, Franklin Graham issued a statement praising the Arizona senator’s “personal faith and his moral clarity.”

“The senator and I both have sons currently serving in the military, and also have a common interest in aviation,” Franklin Graham said. “I was impressed by his personal faith and his moral clarity on important social issues facing America today.”

I resonate with the patriotic sentiment, I am thankful for those who are willing to die in service to protect their country. It’s that statement about McCain’s personal faith and moral clarity that just floors me. Given other statements by Franklin in the past, maybe this should not be so scandalous to me, but I am sorry, it is.

McCain, to be praised for his “personal faith and his moral clarity”. Wait a minute, did I read that correctly.

I would like to know what’s so impressive about McCain’s faith and morality.

The McCain machine sees evangelicals as only having one choice, McCain obviously. Check out this quote and see how it sets with you.

Bob Heckman, who leads McCain’s outreach to conservatives, said voters will see clear differences — and McCain’s values better dovetail with their views than do Obama’s, he added.

“Part of our job is to remind them they’re down to a binary choices,” Heckman said. — Fox News

I think the ones needing the reminder are those running the McCain campaign. I challenge anyone to show me a portion of scripture from God’s Word (a Christian’s rule for faith and practice) where he must vote for the ‘best of the worst’ if you will. I will vote my conscience thank you very much. That conscience tells me McCain is a politician first and foremost and he is doing everything he can to win the Christian vote. All the while, very little is really known about McCain’s “personal” faith. That’s one of the big problems we should have with McCain, his unwillingness to boldly make statements about his faith.

I would say, Personal faith in what? What kind of faith are you referring to? Are you talking about the kind of faith that would characterize someone standing firm on the biblical gospel as intolerant? As Christians we are to boldly uphold the truths of the bible in love. To withhold these truths for fear of offense is certainly offensive, but not in the way many would expect. It is an offense to God when we hold back the truth in our fear of men.

In my way of seeing things, the so called “binary choice” is no choice at all.

All English Standard Version Personal Size Reference Bibles
at 40% discount
Poythress on the ESV

TEXARKANA, Texas — Huckabee accused the Rev. John Hagee of playing politics over principle by endorsing McCain, and criticized the Republican front-runner for not accepting a debate.

Speaking after a rally in Texarkana, Huckabee said he was surprised by Hagee’s endorsement because of McCain’s lack of fervor on abortion — despite his 100% anti-abortion rights voting record. (McCain has, however, voted for stem-cell research.) Huckabee also said Hagee told him he endorsed because he assumed McCain would win the nomination.

“He just thought that the political rationale was he wanted to get on Sen. McCain’s team, and he thought he was gonna win the nomination,” Huckabee said. “I don’t think that’s a foregone conclusion, and even if I did, I would stand on principle more than I would politics.”

Huckabee said he spoke with Hagee, expressed his “disappointment and surprise” and asked him to hold off on publicly backing McCain.

“I felt that it was totally out of character for what I knew he believed,” Huckabee said, “or at least I thought he did.”

Huckabee also criticized McCain for not accepting a debate among the remaining Republican presidential candidates, after suggesting his interest earlier in the week.

“I would debate anywhere, anytime, there’s no issue that I would be afraid to sit down in front of Sen. McCain and discuss, none,” Huckabee said. “And if you’re going to be president, you ought to be willing to sit down in front of any group.”

I agree with Huckabee that Hagee should not have endorsed McCain and is most likely playing politics. Guys like John Hagee and Rod Parsley are just as interested in, if not more so, in politics and power as they are operating on principals. Huckabee, even with his problems, is clearly the more conservative Republican candidate. It’s beyond my understanding how ‘christian leaders’ like Hagee and Parsley can, in good conscience, endore a liberal candidate like McCain.

To make things even more complicated; even though I agree with Huckabee on the issue at hand, I don’t think he is running his own campaign with principals alone. They call it politics for a reason. Huckabee wants votes and he is willing to compromise what should be his own biblical principals by legitimizing the Catholic Church. More on that in a future post.

How do I thank Cecile Richards for being the president of this great organization and committing herself to not only continuing and protecting the work that Planned Parenthood has done for so many years, but bringing these issues into the political debate. No one is better suited to do that than Cecile, and I’m so grateful to her for her leadership and her friendship.

And I have to make a special thank you to all my friends from New York who have been stalwart on behalf of women’s rights and women’s reproductive rights for so many years really leading the way in the movement for a woman’s right to choose—being the very first state to really put that on the map and thank you so much.

And I am extremely grateful to you for that, because for, too many women, you are the only place to turn.

I want to ask Hillary and those planning to vote for her:

1. What makes an organization that murders babies a great organization?
2. What kind of Christian (Hillary is a Baptist) calls a killer a leader and friend.
3. Stalwart for women’s rights, excuse me, what about the rights of the unborn child created in the image of God.
4. The only place to turn, that is simply not true, what about all those who desire to adopt.

Following this interview with Mike Huckabee there was an intimation of anti-Catholicism by several pundits and commentators.

Here are some details from a second interview with Mike Huckabee addressing some concerns of Catholic Online readers.

However, shortly after its publication, you spoke at a Church in Texas, on a Sunday morning. Of course, there is nothing unusual about that.

What caught the attention of many of our readers and viewers was a concern that the Pastor of the Church has written some material that insults the Catholic Church and has been labeled by some as anti-Catholic.

Our readers understand that you, like all of the candidates, are running for the Presidency. In other words, we know that you seek to govern the whole Nation and, of course, you must reach out to all Americans.

However, there has, unfortunately, been a history of anti-Catholicism in this Nation that we all love.

Your campaign quickly noted the presence of Catholics in many of the top positions of your campaign staff. However, the issue and the concern raised by your visit, has not gone away.

Would you comment upon your visit and on your views concerning Catholics in America?

GOVERNOR HUCKABEE: “I am invited to speak at thousands of diverse venues each year. My willingness to address a group says nothing about whether or not I agree with every tenet, policy or belief espoused by a group.

To be honest, I have never thought about having “a view” about Catholics in America.

Rather, I have enjoyed strong, personal relationships with many Catholics over the years and I would hate to think about my life without those relationships having been there.

For more than a decade, I marched side-by-side with Catholic Bishops in Arkansas’ annual March for Life.

Throughout my years as Lieutenant Governor and Governor, I enjoyed a very close relationship with leaders and members of the Catholic Church in Arkansas.

My pro-life record is largely the result of this close working relationship.

My relationships with Catholics predated my entry into politics. When I was pastoring a Baptist church in Texarkana, I had the opportunity to work closely with the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word at the St. Michael Hospital near my church. I was always welcomed warmly by the sisters when I visited the sick.

As a pastor, I held joint services with my neighboring Catholic congregation, was invited to speak in Catholic churches for special services, and had regular breakfast meetings with the Bishop of the Arkansas Diocese, Bishop Peter Sartain, now in Illinois.

Those early years of ministry showed me the value of working with caring people whether or not every one of our religious tenets line up exactly.

In short, if I held any animosity toward Catholics, I don’t think Justice Scalia would have ever taken me up on my invitations to go duck hunting.

As I mentioned before, many of my top-level staff and closest advisors are Catholic, including my national campaign manager, national campaign director, my policy advisor and my campaign’s chief operating officer

Having read this follow-on interview, as an evangelical Christian, I have some concerns regarding Mike Huckabee’s faithfullness to biblical Christianity.

1. Huckabee says he has never had a ‘view’ on Catholics in America. This is a shocking statement to me. As a former Baptist minister, Huckabee sure should have had a ‘view’ on Catholics in America and around the world. Did Huckabee some how forget about the Reformation and what it was all about. If the Reformers where correct in their views, and I think they where, the Catholic Church is nothing short of apostasy. This should be no small matter for a Baptist minister. I guess it was for Huckabee.
2. Huckabee held joint services with neighboring Catholic congregations and spoke at Catholic churches. Sounds very ecumenical to me. I don’t see a Baptist pastor, holding to a biblical standard, being yoked together with an apostate church.
3. Huckabee does say his willingness to address a group does not mean he agrees with everything the group believes. I am sure Huckabee does not agree with everything that a group may believe, however, it does seem he considers Catholicism as truly Christian.

This kind of talk from Huckabee makes me wonder what he is willing to do to become President. As true Christians, we should never compromise our stand on the Gospel. In my view, Huckabee may not see it, but I think he has compromised the Gospel.

To be sure, the President has to uphold freedom of religion. However, if he claims to be a Christian, he must not compromise the truth of the Gospel in upholding the freedom of others to practice their religion.

To conclude this post I would like to commend Huckabee for his position on ’social issues’ such as abortion, marriage, family, etc.

WASHINGTON (BP)–The National Right to Life Committee’s Nov. 13 endorsement of Fred Thompson for president came just days after other pro-life advocates scattered their support among Republican candidates.

Read the complete post here.

Posted on Nov 5, 2007 | by Michael Foust

PLANO, Texas (BP)–Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee told a large audience at Prestonwood Baptist Church Nov. 4 he wasn’t there to deliver a political speech, but the congregation nevertheless responded with a reception that would make any politician envious.

Receiving two standing ovations, Huckabee avoided political issues and instead spoke about the promises of God found in the famous verse, Jeremiah 29:11. The Plano, Texas, church has approximately 25,000 members.

“There’s no guarantee that following Jesus means that we’re going to be wealthy,” Huckabee, a former Southern Baptist pastor, told the congregation. “Neither is it His goal to make us poor. His goal is to make us like Jesus, and that is prosperity — to put in us the character of Christ so that whatever happens in our lives, we’re able to reflect the personhood and the very life of the Savior who is in us.”

A graduate of nearby Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Huckabee added, to applause, “The only thing in this world that really makes sense is to follow Him. If you lose everything but you still have Jesus, you have what you need to finish at the finish line with success.”

In introducing Huckabee, Prestonwood pastor Jack Graham said the church doesn’t endorse candidates, although Graham made it clear he admires Huckabee’s beliefs.

“It’s very important that we vote our values, that we select folks and nominate folks who stand by principle and who live and proclaim and legislate according to the values we cherish,” he said to applause, according to The Dallas Morning-News.

Graham added, “Here’s a man who comes and says: ‘I’m not looking for your endorsement. I endorse what you believe. I endorse your values.’”

A former Arkansas governor, Huckabee drew a spiritual parallel to a time in the 1980s and 1990s, when his beloved Arkansas Razorbacks’ basketball team was a national powerhouse but wasn’t always televised live within the state. If he knew they had won, Huckabee would watch the replay of the game beginning at 10:30 that night. He said he never became nervous during the game, since he already knew the outcome.

“There are a lot of uncertainties in my life. There are a lot of uncertainties in your life…. But here’s one thing — if you’re in Jesus Christ, we know how it turns out at the final buzzer,” he said. “I’ve read the final chapter in the Book, and we do end up winning at the end…. [T]he game’s already been played at the cross. Jesus paid the price that has to be paid for us to have eternal life and for us to have victory.”

Read the complete story here.

Mike Huckabee on Charlie Rose Special Edition: The Candidates

• Chuck Colson
• Pat Robertson
• Jay Sekulow
• Wayne Grudem

Well, here are some quotes that communicate another thought on this issue.

“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

“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.

Tim: How will your faith affect how you run your campaign? If elected, how will it affect your presidency?

Gov. Huckabee: My faith is my life – it defines me. I don’t separate my personal and professional lives. My faith doesn’t influence my decisions, it drives them, both in how I am running this campaign and how I will govern if elected president. For example, when it comes to the environment, I believe in being a good steward of the earth. Real faith makes us humble and mindful, not of the faults of others, but of our own. It makes us less judgmental, as we see others with the same frailties we have. Faith gives us strength in the face of injustice and motivates us to do our best for “the least of us.” Our nation was birthed in a spirit of faith — not a prescriptive one telling us whether to believe, but one acknowledging that a providence pervades our world. We need a president who leads in that spirit.

Here are some articles of Interest:

Why Some Evangelicals Won’t Vote for Romney
An interview with Mike Huckabee
Huckabee

Update: Tim Ellsworth interviews Huckabee.

Slate interviews Huckabee.

Podcast: “Fred Sanders and John Mark Reynolds think through why someone might or might not want to heart Huckabee.”

Joe Carter and Lucas Roebuck will be on the Paul Edwards radio show today (5pm ET; click “Listen live”) to discuss Fund’s column on Huckabee.

(HT: Justin Taylor)

Rudy Giuliani remains precariously atop the pack with support from 20% of Likely Republican Primary Voters nationwide. Fred Thompson is close behind at 19% while John McCain enjoys a second straight day in third place with 14% of the vote. Huckabee continues to gain ground and is just two points behind McCain at 12%. This is the first time all year that Huckabee has surpassed Mitt Romney. The former Massachusetts Governor slipped another point and he is now at just 11% nationally. No other Republican attracts more than 3% support while 18% are undecided. (see recent daily numbers).

Read the complete post here.

I am also very pleased that some other Christian brothers are doing the same.

We think Mike Huckabee is the right chose for President. Apparently there are others. Believe it or not, Romney has not fooled all the evangelical Christians out there.

Joe Carter, Justin Taylor, and Matthew Anderson have written an endorsement of Mike Huckabee as the right choice for conservatives.

Make the informed chose for 2008, vote Huckabee for President.

Here is a link to more on Huckabee.

Visit Westminster Books for great deals on Christian books.

The GOP is in a deep hole and keeps digging. Even after Mike Huckabee won big among attendees at last week’s “Values Voters Convention,” many evangelicals have been telling the former Arkansas governor—and onetime Baptist minister—that they like him but won’t back him because he can’t beat Hillary Clinton. They have it exactly backward. He may be the only Republican candidate with a decent chance to beat the Democrats next November.

Huckabee? Yes, Huckabee.

Read the complete article here.

I’m not sure how to explain this. Let’s start with this. Technically, Mitt Romney won the big Value Voters Straw poll but it’s not that simple. The vote was open to people online and in that sense, Romney won with 1595 votes compared to Mike Huckabee’s 1565 votes. It was just a 30 vote difference. But for the people that actually voted onsite, it was no contest. Huckabee won 488 votes to Romney’s second place 99. That’s called a thumpin’. Look at the results here.

Here’s what I make of all of this. Romney might be able to claim victory but the onsite voting is a better barometer. Still, the press release the Family Research Council sent out says it’s Romney and doesn’t even mention the onsite polling. Read it here. We should point out that there’s already stories about emails circulating to pump the online vote for Romney. Read more here. Clearly, the people that actually heard the speeches thought Huckabee was the best candidate there. It would be one thing if Huckabee and Romney were neck and neck for onsite voting but for Huckabee to be such an overwhelming onsite winner, that is saying something.

Here’s what it says. It says that you have social conservatives that are ready to embrace him and he’s ready to embrace them. That speech he made on Saturday was electric. I was there. I saw the crowd. They ate it up. See more on Huckabee’s speech here. But let’s call a spade a spade. You have Evangelical leaders that are reluctant to back him because he’s having a hard time raising money and putting what they see as a top notch organization in place. He needs their support. He’s going to have to earn it. If social conservatives really want Huckabee so bad, then they’ll need to put their money where their mouths are.

Having said all that, Huckabee is poised now to really take off. Why? Two words: Sam Brownback. With Brownback out of the race, many of the votes may go to Huckabee. That could translate into some marginally better poll numbers. Plus, Huckabee can claim victory here and go around the country saying that social conservatives have spoken and that he’s the guy. Romney will make that same claim but don’t tell me for a second that the onsite margin differential doesn’t have some in the campaign concerned. Maybe because Huckabee is financially challenged, they’re not too worried.

It’s going to be interesting to watch the spin coming out of both the Huckabee and Romney camps. Each will claim victory. Each campaign will be right. Read more here and here.

By the way, in terms of onsite polling, Fred Thompson finished with 77 votes after people heard him speak. Rudy Giuliani finished with 60 votes. I think the Giuliani team will take that number and as for the Thompson number, I’m sure they were hoping to do better than that.

The story today is Huckabee.

Read the column here.

Visit Westminster Books for great deals on Christian books.

I tell people that my faith is my life. It defines me. I see no separation between my faith from my personal and professional lives. Real faith should make us humble and mindful, not to the faults of others but of our own. It should not make us more judgmental, but rather less judgmental, as we see others living a life with the same frailty we acknowledge within ourselves.

Both speakers fingered the “Religious Right” as a threat to American democracy. Moyers specifically warned against the Institute on Religion and Democracy for supposedly attempting to disrupt the UCC. Neither speaker offered any criticisms that might apply particularly to their left-leaning UCC audience.

(Read the full story here)

Mobilizing Voters to Save Lives and Secure our Future

ONE Vote ‘08 is an unprecedented, bi-partisan campaign to make global health and extreme poverty foreign policy priorities in the 2008 presidential election.

The next president will take office in a time of great hope: there are effective and affordable solutions that save lives. AIDS drugs can now cost as little as $1 a day. A $5 bed net can keep a child from dying from a mosquito bite. With the force of more than millions of members from all 50 states and a coalition of more than 100 non-profit, religious and charitable groups, ONE Vote ‘08 will educate and mobilize voters to ensure that the next American president is committed to using “strategic” power to end global poverty and keep America strong.

ONE Vote ‘08 is part of ONE, a broad and growing movement of Americans from every state and walk of life. More than millions of people have added their voices to ONE by visiting ONE.org.

Learn more about effective, affordable solutions that save lives and how you can help.

This organization claims to be bi-partisan but the deck seems to be stacked with liberal entertainer types. Watch the videos, see for yourself, and share your thoughts here.

Of special interest to me is Rick Warrens involvement with this group. The following video is just one more example of Mr. Warrens cobelligerence in action.

 

You can find the article at this link. The title of the article is Romney Pursues Christian Electorate and again, I am discusted that men like Jay Sekulow, Pat Robertson, Chuck Colson, James Dobson, and maybe even Franklin Graham would even consider Romney a viable candidate for Christians to support. Jay Sekulow has even agreed to be an advisor to Romney and even travel the campaign trail with him.

Christians, wake up and smell the coffee. Raise your voice. May a standard of righteousness be lifted up again in this land.

Please, consider contacting these ‘evangelicals’ and demand they retreat from even a hint of support for Romney. I will be doing just that.

Stay tuned for more on this issue tomorrow and the weeks and months ahead.

The (2008 Presidential Race) presents some interesting challenges. One of particular interest for Christians is the fact that we have a Presidential candidate who is a Mormon (Mitt Romney).

For the Christian, should the fact that Mitt Romney is a Mormon have any impact on their evaluation of his candidacy?

From the article, ‘Mitt Romney’s Evangelical Problem’ John L. Smith, a Southern Baptist who runs Utah Mission–an organization that tries to convert Mormons–told Christianity Today: “Mormonism is either totally true or totally false. If it’s true, every other religion in America is false.” To be tolerant of Mormonism is to put evangelical Christianity at risk. And to put a Mormon in the White House would be to place a stamp of approval on that faith.

In the article, ‘A Long Way from Mainstream’ Chuck Colson has a very different perspective.

Mr. Colson says …

This question is prompted, I assume, by Mitt Romney’s candidacy for President. I do not believe, nor should any Christian believe, that there should be a religious test of any kind for public office.

I think I can honestly say as an evangelical Christian that I would assess Romney’s candidacy independent of his religious beliefs. Christians support public officials who have the ability to carry out the trust which they have been given. I would be more interested in Romney’s values than his Mormonism.

So, it is my belief that as Christians, we should not check our Christian beliefs at the door when it comes time to vote for our next President.

I would love to hear your thoughts on this matter. Join in on the debate: should our worldview have any impact on how we vote?

Here are some links that you might find of some interest:

• Should Christians Vote for Mormons?
• Jay Sekulow supports Mitt Romney for President (it appears)
• Regent students upset at Romney’s choice as speaker
• Romney Takes Two
• Mitt Romney’s Presidential Candidacy

1. IRS says a church can’t back candidates or engage in partisan activism
2. Issues can not be substantial part of ministry (abortion, same sex marriage, homosexuality, etc.

Sounds to me like the Church is being ask to lay down, shut up, and play dead.

Associated Press Staff Reports
OneNewsNow.com
April 15, 2007

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – A lawyer for the United Methodist Church is cautioning clergy against getting caught up in the presidential race as the 2008 election heats up.

The Internal Revenue Service has been warning churches and nonprofits that they risk losing their tax-exempt status by backing a candidate or engaging in partisan activism.

“Churches should take stands on appropriate issues, but it cannot be a substantial part of their ministry,” said Jim Allen, general counsel of the Methodist Council on Finance and Administration.

To protect themselves, Allen said congregations should not invite candidates to speak from the pulpit and avoid statements at any church function that could be interpreted as endorsing or opposing a candidate. Churches, however, are allowed to distribute voters education guides and encourage people to vote.

All Original Content Copyright 2006-2007 American Family News Network – All Rights Reserved

Original post found here.

You can read the article here.

I would like to comment on the following portion of the article.

In a follow-up phone conversation, Focus on the Family spokesman Gary Schneeberger stood by Dobson’s claim. He said that, while Dobson didn’t believe Thompson to be a member of a non-Christian faith, Dobson nevertheless “has never known Thompson to be a committed Christian—someone who talks openly about his faith.”

“We use that word—Christian—to refer to people who are evangelical Christians,” Schneeberger added. “Dr. Dobson wasn’t expressing a personal opinion about his reaction to a Thompson candidacy; he was trying to ‘read the tea leaves’ about such a possibility.”

From a biblical perspective, it is news to me that the definition of ‘committed Christian’ is one who openly shares his faith. It is sad that such a weak description of Christianity would come from a respected organization like Focus on the Family.

John 8:32

I am asking all true Christians out there to wake up. Find the candidate that will best represent a truely Christian worldview and govern with support from God.

Beset by questions about his committment to social conservatism, Gov. Mitt Romney today adds two validators to his team.

Gary Marx, the current exec. dir of the Judicial Confirmation Network and formerly the Bush-Cheney campaign’s chief staff liaison to social conservatives, will join Gov. Mitt Romney’s PAC as an adviser, a Romney aide said.

If Romney runs for pres, Marx, along with Romney aide Peter Flaherty, will be in charge of outreach to the Republican base and will advise Romney on his contacts with them. Marx is a vet of Focus on the Family’s VA affiliate and has also worked with Ralph Reed when Reed hung his shingle at Century Strategies.

Also, Jay Sekulow, a constitutional lawyer who’s argued numerous cases of import to social conservatives before the Supreme Court, has endorsed Romney and will serve as an adviser. Sekulow is chief counsel for the American Center for Law and Justice, although his endorsement does not mean that the organization is partial to Romney. Sekulow is close to Karl Rove and to virtually every conservative judicial luminary in the country. [MARC AMBINDER]

Are any of you conservative evangelical Christians concerned that Jay Sekulow is getting involved with someone who is part of a cult.

In 2005, TIME Magazine named Sekulow one of the “25 Most Influential Evangelicals” in America and called the ACLJ “a powerful counterweight” to the ACLU.

Download the MP3.

I would encourage everyone to really research the candidates. Even those who are billed as conservative should be checked out. Keep in mind that even shows like Crosstalk America, which I like, should be listened to with a critical ear.

I think the following is a case in point.

In this program, it is clear why Romney is a candidate any true christian should discount. Romney’s faith in the Jesus of the bible is considered, as well as other issues any Christian would not support. As an alternative, Sam Brownback is suggested as a candidate with values that are compatible with a Christian world view. As for values, this may be true. However, when it comes to faith in the Jesus of the bible, Sam Brownback comes up short too.

Mr. Brownback is a Roman Catholic. Roman Catholic doctrine among other things, denies that salvation is in Christ alone, by His grace alone, and by faith in Him alone. I will eat my words if Sam Brownback, a Roman Catholic, will articulate that salvation comes through Christ alone, by His grace alone, through faith in Him alone (this is the biblical doctrine of justification). That the ‘Church’, it’s traditions, it’s sacraments, etc, have nothing to do with salvation.

How you should vote is up to you. I just think it is important that we know as much as possible about the candidates we are considering. Personally, I am looking for a candidate who has trusted in the Jesus of the bible for the saving of their soul and for direction in every aspect of their life. This includes how they would govern if elected President of the United States of America.

I could continue for pages, but enough has been said for now. Please prayerfully ask the Lord for direction as you cast your vote in 2008.

Ultimately, for the Christian, the question becomes, do I vote with faith first in mind or values? I don’t have to tell you that someone can have values yet be void of an authentic faith in Jesus Christ. Notice, I said, ‘first in mind’. There is no question that both faith and values are important considerations.

In His service,

Shane

VIRGINIA BEACH – Selecting presidential candidate Mitt Romney as its May commencement speaker has riled some of Regent University’s students and alumni who say his Mormon faith clashes with the school’s bedrock evangelical Christianity.

“What we’re against is the fact that Mormonism is on the complete opposite end of the spectrum from Christian values and what we believe,” said Doug Dowdey, a Virginia Beach pastor who said he graduated from Regent’s divinity school last year.

The controversy over Romney’s visit has bubbled for two weeks among students, spilling onto Regent’s internal electronic bulletin board, “The Branch.” Scores of e-mails on both sides of the debate have been posted, a student said.

Pat Robertson, the Christian broadcaster who is Regent’s founder and chancellor, invited Romney to be the keynote speaker, said Sherri Stocks, a Regent vice president. Romney is the former Republican governor of Massachusetts.

Another Republican presidential candidate, ex-New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, will speak at Regent’s executive leadership program in April. Giuliani is Catholic.

“When we issue these invitations, we don’t ask what their political or religion views are,” Stocks said of guest speakers. “The criteria really is proven leadership ability. Clearly, these two individuals have a proven record.”

Robertson made the same point in a memo received last week by Regent alumni, staff and students.

“Gov. Romney is running for the post of Chief Executive Officer, not Chief Theologian,” Robertson stated. He said neither Romney nor Giuliani was expected to talk about his personal religious beliefs.

In the memo, Robertson said that having “people of note” as commencement speakers yielded publicity for Regent and a chance for students “to hear first-hand thinking from prominent individuals.

“I hope this answers some of the questions that have been raised about the choice of speakers at our school,” he added.

Mormons belong to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- day Saints, which espouses some scripture, such as the Book of Mormon, and theology that departs from mainstream Christianity.

Some Christian groups, including the Christian Broadcasting Network, which Robertson heads, are suspicious of Mormonism. CBN’s Web site discusses Mormonism on a page titled, “How Do I Recognize a Cult?”

“When it comes to spiritual matters, the Mormons are far from the truth,” states the site, which adds that Mormon religious beliefs are, “to put it simply, wrong.”

The site also says that the Mormon church has produced “many people of exemplary character.”

Regent regards itself as the nation’s premier Christian university. It has about 5,000 students. According to Regent’s Web site, the university’s goal is to generate leaders who will embody biblical Christian values in their public and professional roles.

But Regent seeks out a cross-section of notable leaders, including non-Christians, as speakers, Stocks said.

“The fact that theologically they may not completely align with us does not eliminate them from speaking on our campus, especially given the fact they’ve been asked to come and speak about their leadership experience,” she said.

Stocks said Regent received positive as well as negative comments from its members about the selection of Romney.

“Our campus is open – they are free to write to the chancellor, they are free to engage and express their opinions,” she said. “We encourage open debate and dialogue and engagement.”

Dowdey said he welcomed diverse viewpoints at Regent but that the university’s commencement should reflect the school’s distinctive religious values.

“If Pat wants to hold a political rally, well, hold one. Why not? Just don’t hold it at commencement,” Dowdey said.

Political scientist John C. Green said the invitations to Romney and Giuliani continue Robertson’s long involvement in national politics. Robertson ran for president in 1988 and in the 1990s, his Christian Coalition was a major force in heightening evangelicals’ influence in presidential races.

“Rev. Robertson has often thought of himself as a bit of a kingmaker in the Republican Party,” said Green, a scholar at the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life in Washington, D.C.

Robertson remains a force among conservative Christians, who carry major clout in Republican primary races, said Larry J. Sabato, who directs the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia.

He said any candidate seeking the Republican nomination will court evangelicals, as Romney and Giuliani are, by accepting Regent’s invitations.

Last year, U.S. Sen. John McCain, another leading Republican candidate, gave the commencement address at Liberty University at the invitation of evangelical preacher Jerry Falwell, the school’s founder.

McCain’s visit was seen as an attempt to build bridges with evangelicals he had attacked in previous years.

For evangelicals, each of the top Republican candidates has flaws: McCain as a past critic, Romney as a Mormon, and Giuliani as a moderate on social issues such as abortion rights, which he supports. None of the three is considered an evangelical Christian.

But Mark Rozell, a George Mason University political scientist, disagreed with commentators who say evangelicals such as Robertson might abandon the Republican ticket.

Rozell predicted that Robertson eventually will back a specific Republican because “a non-evangelical politician who is sympathetic to the evangelical cause can do a lot of good” on issues important to conservative Christians.

He said Robertson also will be guided by self-interest.

“Robertson, as the saying goes, wants a seat at that table in the next Republican administration, even if it’s moderate or socially progressive,” Rozell said.

Sekulow, the leader of the American Center for Law and Justice, told National Review

I don’t think Mormonism will play as an issue [in 2008]. It isn’t a disqualifier. We’re past that. I’m practical, and I’m impressed with [Gov. Romney] on the things that really matter.

Does Sekulow’s endorcement of Romney concern you, why or why not?