I’ve just read an article entitled, “Where Have All the Bold Pastors Gone?” by Jerry Newcombe published on March 13, 2012 (http://worldviewchurch.org/columns/featured-column/1221-where-have-all-the-bold-pastors-gone). The article is about pastors speaking up and being bold in their pronouncements, particularly presidential candidates. He does find one pastor who seems to be boldly speaking out; here is a quote by Mr. Newcombe that I found interesting:
“Another outspoken minister has been Dr. Robert Jeffress of Dallas, who was castigated about half a year ago for stating he preferred a Christian politician to a Mormon one” (the first minister mentioned was a Catholic priest).
Although not so stated Mr. Newcombe, Dr. Jeffress was speaking about Mitt Romney (http://www.christianpost.com/news/interview-robert-jeffress-refuses-to-back-down-on-mormonism-is-a-cult-57933/). This statement by Dr. Jeffress, and the fact that it is quoted by Mr. Newcombe, does bring up some questions.
The first question would be to ask them both to name a Christian politician running for president. As far as I know, there isn’t one. Yes, I know that Rick Santorum and Newt Gingrich both are Roman Catholics; but, Roman Catholicism is not a Christian denomination.
Here is a small sampling of the heresies that Catholics believe; people must believe this to be a member of the RC church! A true Christian would not dare to be a member of a group whose statement of faith contained any of these anti-Christian beliefs. The Roman Catholic Church’s Catechism published in 1992 (http://kwing.christiansonnet.org/church-news/theo_Catholicism.htm) says:
- 82 As a result the Church, to whom the transmission and interpretation of Revelation is entrusted, "does not derive her certainty about all revealed truths from the holy Scriptures alone. Both Scripture and Tradition must be accepted and honoured with equal sentiments of devotion and reverence.
- 494 ... As St. Irenaeus says, "Being obedient she [Mary] became the cause of salvation for herself and for the whole human race." ...
- 495 ... the Church confesses that Mary is truly "Mother of God" (Theotokos).
- 508 From among the descendants of Eve, God chose the Virgin Mary to be the mother of his Son. "Full of grace," Mary is "the most excellent fruit of redemption" (SC 103): from the first instant of her conception, she was totally preserved from the stain of original sin and she remained pure from all personal sin throughout her life.
- 966 "Finally the Immaculate Virgin, preserved free from all stain of original sin, when the course of her earthly life was finished, was taken up body and soul into heavenly glory, and exalted by the Lord as Queen over all things, so that she might be the more fully conformed to her Son ..." The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin is a singular participation in her Son's Resurrection ... "In giving birth you kept your virginity... You conceived the living God and, by your prayers, will deliver our souls from death" (Byzantine Liturgy, Troparion, Feast of the Dormition, August 15th.).
- 846 Basing itself on Scripture and Tradition, the Council teaches that the Church, a pilgrim now on earth, is necessary for salvation ... thereby affirmed at the same time the necessity of the Church which men enter through Baptism as through a door. Hence they could not be saved who, knowing that the Catholic Church was founded as necessary by God through Christ, would refuse either to enter it or to remain in it.
- 841 The plan of salvation also includes those who acknowledge the Creator, in the first place amongst whom are the Muslims; these profess to hold the faith of Abraham, and together with us they adore the one, merciful God, mankind's judge on the last day.
- 891 The Roman Pontiff, head of the college of bishops, enjoys this infallibility in virtue of his office, when, as supreme pastor and teacher of all the faithful -- who confirms his brethren in the faith -- he proclaims by a definitive act a doctrine pertaining to faith or morals. ... The infallibility promised to the Church is also present in the body of bishops when, together with Peter's successor, they exercise the supreme Magesterium," above all in an Ecumenical Council. ... This infallibility extends as far as the deposit of divine Revelation itself.
- 1263 By Baptism all sins are forgiven, original sin and all personal sins, as well as all punishment for sin.
- 980 It is through the sacrament of Penance that the baptized can be reconciled with God and with the Church: "Penance has rightly been called by the holy Fathers `a laborious kind of baptism.' This sacrament of Penance is necessary for salvation for those who have fallen after Baptism, just as Baptism is necessary for salvation for those who have not yet been reborn" (Council of Trent (1551): DS 1672; cf. St. Gregory of Nazianzus, Oratio 39, 17: PG 36,356).
- 1030 All who die in God's grace and friendship, but still imperfectly purified, are indeed assured of their eternal salvation, but after death they undergo purification [purgatory], so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven.
- 1129 The Church affirms that for believers the sacraments of the New Covenant are necessary for salvation. ... The fruit of the sacramental life is that the Spirit of adoption makes the faithful partakers in the divine nature by uniting them in a living union with the only Son, the Saviour.
- 1365 Because it is the memorial of Christ's Passover, the Eucharist is also a sacrifice. ... In the Eucharist Christ gives us the very body which he gave up for us on the cross, the very blood which he "poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins."
- 1493 One who desires to obtain reconciliation with God and with the Church, must confess to a priest all the unconfessed grave sins he remembers after having carefully examined his conscience. The confession of venial faults, without being necessary in itself, is nevertheless strongly recommended by the Church.
- 1497 Individual and integral confession of grave sins followed by absolution remains the only ordinary means of reconciliation with God and with the Church.
- 1471 An indulgence is a remission before God of the temporal punishment due to sins whose guilt has already been forgiven, which the faithful Christian who is duly disposed gains under certain prescribed conditions through the action of the Church which, as the minister of redemption, dispenses and applies with authority the treasury of the satisfactions of Christ and the saints. ... Indulgences may be applied to the living or the dead.
- 1478 An indulgence is obtained through the Church who ... intervenes in favour of individual Christians and opens for them the treasury of the merits of Christ and the saints to obtain from the Father of mercies the remission of the punishments due for their sins. ...
So clearly, the RCC is not a Christian denomination; likewise, its members are not Christians. So, there is no Christian for Dr. Jeffress to vote for; like the rest of us, come voting time in November, he’ll have to settle for socialist Muslim or a capitalist cultist. Come soon Lord Jesus, come soon!
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