The sanctimonious, and self destructive, rejection of Mitt Romney

 “If then there is any encouragement in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by thinking the same way, having the same love, sharing the same feelings, focusing on one goal.”  Philippians 2: 1-2

With the 2008 primaries just underway, the media is already pronouncing republican candidate Mitt Romney politically DOA. He is ”unacceptable to the Christian right”. He is of the Mormon Faith.

Inter-denominal bias and anti-Mormon bigotry in the Christian world are hardly unheard of. And some registered republicans in Iowa have received “Christmas cards” wishing them Merry Christmas from Mitt Romney and “his wives”. The hopeless sad sacks involved may consider themselves the cleverest of junior political operatives, but they disgrace Paul’s call to unity in Christ as espoused above.

And any anti-Mormon boycotts against Gov Romney, for not being “Christian enough”, are completely without foundation. Such bias may also be politically suicidal for the already battered Christian and conservative interests in our country.

A small minority of atheists and secularists have succeed in having the Ten Commandments removed from the courthouse, nativity scenes outlawed in town squares and Christmas carols banned in the schools. Currently before the courts is a third attempt to have the national motto “In God We Trust” declared unconstitutional. The ACLU in concert with MoveOn.org, et al, have God slated for extinction in America, and they are gaining ground every year.

A few noble organizations, such as the Thomas More Law Center, fight the good fight on behalf of all Christians in our country. But where is the public outrage from the Christian majority in America? Illegal aliens storm our streets demanding their “rights”, while the 80% Christian majority stands by idly as our country’s Christian heritage is being swept into the gutter.

But suddenly some Christians are so militant that they will outright reject a strong, conservative presidential candidate, committed to Jesus Christ as the Savior of mankind, and family man exemplar, because he is a different type of Christian? A candidate committed to the sanctity of life and a constitutional amendment protecting marriage. A candidate who will actually secure our nation’s borders. Someone who stands in opposition to amnesty for the millions of illegal aliens overburdening our economy and crushing our education and health care systems. A successful businessman (as opposed to career politician) who actually understands the American economy and how businesses and jobs are created. Such a man is not worthy of our pious consideration because of the type of relationship he has with Christ?

Christianity was instituted by God. But churches are the products of men. No Christian denomination has a perfect Christian theology or history.

Mitt Romney has repeatedly and eloquently expressed his belief in Jesus Christ. He should be accepted by the entire Christian community in the spirit of Christian unity espoused by Paul. It is a spirit that often seems scarce as those who would silence us keep gaining political ground in America. While we keep arguing about who is, and who isn’t, a real Christian.

The 2008 elections are critical for America and for its Christian majority. We need to be very careful over what we may thoughtlessly reject. If in doubt, stop and think ahead to what kind of Christian you’ll see in the mirror on the morning of Wednesday, November 5.