Is Mitt Romney a Christian?

In response to the question “Is Mitt Romney a Christian,” three people’s answers are listed below:

Response #1

Yes, as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (sometimes referred to as “The Mormon Church”), Mitt Romney is a Christian. I am also a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Jesus Christ is my Savior and King. He suffered in Gethsemane that my sins might be forgiven. He died on the cross and was resurrected on the third day that I might also live again. One of my favorite scriptures in the Book of Mormon says, “And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins” (2 Nephi 25:26). Mormons are Christians, because they look to Jesus Christ as their Savior. Therefore, if Mitt Romney is practicing member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he is also a Christian.

Jennifer

Response #2

Everybody knows that Mitt Romney is a Mormon, but is he Christian? There is a lot of confusion out there as to whether or not Mormons are Christians, mostly because many people don’t really know or understand what Mormons believe. Any Mormon asked this question will typically first refer you to the proper name and title of our church—The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints—and consider that answer enough.

We tend to prefer using the full name of our church and/or referring to ourselves as Latter-Day Saints in order to avoid the confusion which titles like “Mormons” or “Mormonism” can create. These titles are nicknames given to us by people of other faiths. We believe in an extra book of scripture called the Book of Mormon, which is where this mis-label comes from, but we do not worship or follow Mormon, and the Book of Mormon is a second testament of Jesus Christ. As followers of Christ who recognize Him as our Lord God, Savior, and Redeemer, members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, like Mitt Romney, consider themselves Christians.

I, personally, have had many conversations with other Christians, some of whom claim Mormons or LDS members are not Christian, because our foundational beliefs about Christ are very different from those of mainstream or traditional Christianity. Here is where we are alike and different:

Like all other Christians, we believe that the Bible is the word of God and that it contains the history of Christ’s earthly ministry. We believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and that He suffered for our sins so that we may be forgiven and return to live with Him and our Father in Heaven. We pray in His name, as He is our intercessor and mediator. We believe it is necessary to have faith in Him, repent of our sins, be baptized in His name, and receive His Holy Spirit in order to be accepted as His in the eternities.

Unlike other Christians, we believe that Christ suffered for our sins in Gethsemane before dying on the cross. The acts were two separate things for different purposes. Taking on our sins in Gethsemane is what makes repentance possible, and his death on the cross and subsequent resurrection are what allows us to also overcome death and be resurrected. We also believe that Christ visited His children in the Americas after His resurrection and that the record of this visit can be found in the Book of Mormon. We believe that He retained His earthly body, which is like ours, and that it was perfected at His resurrection. He is a separate physical being from God the Father, literally His Son and Only Begotten. Those I’ve spoken with who claim these differences mean Mormons are not Christians say that we worship a “different” Jesus than they do.

I do not think it is necessary for all Christians to believe everything that I do about our Savior, and I think that all of us will be judged on the condition of our hearts more than the specific religion we hold ourselves to. I consider myself a Christian and hope that my heart is aligned with Christ as I strive to follow His example.

As a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, I would say that Mitt Romney is, like myself, Christian. What we as Latter-day Saints believe about Christ and His eternal nature may be different from what other Christians believe, but we still consider Him our God, our Lord and Savior, our Redeemer, and we strive to bring our lives in line with His teachings. If that doesn’t make us Christians, I don’t know what does.

Melissa

Response #3

When asked what he thought of Christ, Mitt Romney said “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and the Savior of mankind.” This statement is central to the beliefs of members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (sometimes referred to by the nickname of “Mormons”), of which Mr. Romney is one.

This confession is good evidence that Mitt Romney is a Christian. For those who still doubt Mr. Romney on this question, CS Lewis responds much more meaningfully than I ever could:

“It is not for us to say who, in the deepest sense, is or is not close to the spirit of Christ. We do not see into men’s hearts. We cannot judge, and are indeed forbidden to judge. It would be wicked arrogance for us to say that a man is, or is not, a Christian in this refined sense” (Mere Christianity, Touchstone, 1996, pp. 10–11).

Cliff