Pastor Jeffress’ Crusade
By Norman Leahy | Sunday, October 23rd, 2011 | Politics, VirginiaBeing that it is Sunday, here is an item worth considering: Texas Pastor Robert Jeffress’ op-ed in the RTD on “Why a candidate’s faith matters.” You may recall that Jeffress is the one who called Mormonism a “cult” and in the past has taken a swing at the Catholic Church as being a front for the Devil.
He’s also made it known that he supports Gov. Rick Perry in the GOP presidential sweepstakes.
His op-ed is a slick piece of writing that basically boils down to this:
Finally, discussion of a candidate’s faith is multifaceted. I believe I have been misquoted repeatedly as telling the GOP not to vote for Romney. I have never made such a statement; I realize I might very well end up voting for Romney if he is the Republican nominee. While I prefer a competent Christian over a competent non-Christian, religion is not the only consideration in choosing a candidate. Frankly, Christians have not always made good presidents. We must also consider whether a candidate is competent to lead and govern according to biblical principles.
During this firestorm I’ve reignited over the role of religion in politics, some have quoted Martin Luther as saying he would rather be governed by a competent unbeliever than an incompetent Christian. Yet evangelicals should remember that the purpose of the primary process is to keep us from having to make such a choice. At this point we have the opportunity to select both a competent leader and a committed Christian.
Elsewhere, Jeffress is careful to say that the state is barred from imposing a religious test upon candidates. But individuals are free to do so, and should.
Folks may indeed impose such tests. It’s their right to do so. As for me, I would prefer a candidate who is competent to lead and govern according to constitutional principles. That’s also a test.
But I propose a different test, one that Virginians ought to take to heart as it springs from one of our most important legacies.
It goes like this…
Read the following statement to each candidate and get their reactions to it:
…that our civil rights have no dependence on our religious opinions, more than our opinions in physics or geometry; that, therefore, the proscribing any citizen as unworthy the public confidence by laying upon him an incapacity of being called to the offices of trust and emolument, unless he profess or renounce this or that religious opinion, is depriving him injuriously of those privileges and advantages to which in common with his fellow citizens he has a natural right…
Sound familiar? It should, as it comes from the preamble to Virginia’s Statute of Religious Freedom (a prominent foe of which was who? Patrick Henry).
The words will go over the heads of some of the candidates and others might wonder whether it came from the Communist Manifesto. I tend to think Mr. Jeffress would look upon it disapprovingly.
But the ones who understand it, and the rest of the Statute, are keepers.
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About the author
Norm Leahy has written about Virginia and national politics online since 2002, beginning with One Man's Trash (OMT), and continuing through Bacon's Rebellion (both the blog and the e-zine), Sic Semper Tyrannis, NBC12's Decision Virginia, Richmond.com and Tertium Quids. He is the chief blogger at "The Score" and a producer of "The Score" radio show as well as being a Washington Examiner contributor.
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Comments
5 Responses to "Pastor Jeffress’ Crusade"
I will vote 4 the nominee whomever that may be, but Mormonism can not be placed alone side Catholics nor Protestants. In both Jesus the Creator, took on flesh and paid our sin debt by living a perfect life and dying & most importantly He rose from the grave. You see, Jesus lives that might live w Him if we accept His FREE gift.
This is the Gospel. Is Jesus this same Jesus? I think not. Can you become a god by practicing a good life…they believe you can. Their Jesus is not the Creator God I believe in. But if Romney is nominated then he’ll get my vote! Obama stands for so much antithetical to my Christuan beliefs. I am a man of grace and love, so am slow to say who is a man of God or not. God judges the heart not me. Just see how how public schools have declined and our government without following biblical standards. Remove the Bible and see how we fall. See what the stare constitutions required…I also understand 59 of the signers of the Declarstion of Independence were ministers of the Christisn religion. So let the best candidate win the nomination and he/her will lead us tback to prosperity. Jim Wright
Sorry for the typos as it was difficult to see the text on my iPhone. But I believe the message came through. Jim
Considering many of our founding Fathers of the Constitution, including George Washington, was a deist and not an evangelical Christian, we do need to be careful of religious rhetoric. Would I like someone to represent me that believes as I do? Yes, but I had that in Carter, I don’t want another Carter.
Yes, faith should be a measuring guide in grading out candidates. However, competence should trump faith in the end.
In my case, I’m a devout Catholic who supported Mike Huckabee for President in 2008 – and would have had he run again in 2012. On how matters of faith apply in the public sphere, he was largely right.
The poet William Blake said: “If Morality is Christianity then Socrates was the Savior.” Morality as such is not a matter of faith but a matter of rationality and human decency; qualities granted by God to the human mind. Religion is a matter of faith and of the heart concerning the mystery of life and the Universe. I hope no President will trouble themselves about those while in the Oval Office. They have time enough before and after. I do want them to be mindful of morality and human decency everyday though in their political decisions.
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