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Pastor Defends Mormonism 'Cult' Comment

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    Says Mormons are not Christians

  • Duration 6:03
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Back to FOX & Friends pastor Robert Jeff Frist has stirred -- a lot of controversy for liking likening Mitt Romney's Mormon religion to a cult He told a reporter quote.

Rick -- a Christian he's an evangelical Christian follower of Jesus Christ Mitt -- is -- good moral person but he's not a Christian.

Mormon is and is not christianity.

So we've been considered a cult by the mainstream of christianity and faster -- Robert -- is where this now.

Pastor thank you for me on the show this morning so we'll quickly.

Do you stand by that statement and in what way is Mormon is and I call.

What do you mean.

Well first of all when I introduced governor Perry I did not use the words Mormon is sound cult or even Mitt Romney.

It came afterwards in an interview win -- reporter asked me personally what I'd vote for a Mormon.

And I do you believe mormons are good moral people but they've never been considered.

A part of mainstream christianity when I'm talking about a cult I'm not -- about a sociological.

-- But a theological cult.

-- this in ways invented 18100 years after Jesus Christ in the founding of christianity.

It has its own founder Joseph Smith its own set of doctrines and even its own book the book of Mormon -- edition of the Bible.

That by definition is a deal -- -- use our call.

I was saying -- the word cult it stirs up negative feelings it's if you have a lot of people to negative word.

That that's right but again I'm not talking sociological and talking ideologically.

And by the way I'm a part of the southern -- this convention the largest Protestant denomination.

In the world.

And the Southern Baptist Convention has labeled mormonism as a cult so as much is Bill Bennett and others would like to make me out to be the Jeremiah -- -- -- but right.

I'm not.

I even said that I would vote for Mitt Romney if the choice was Mitt Romney or Barack Obama.

But I believe guys when we as evangelical Christians have the choice to select a leader to unseat Barack Obama -- to give preference to a Christian and son instead of someone who doesn't embrace historical christianity.

Well -- -- out of count then Barack Obama is a Christian and then if you are saying that if you -- you running against Mitt Romney He wouldn't be a Christian if He were.

If He if he's a Mormon right.

-- that's right and and and the reason I would probably selected Mitt Romney over Barack Obama is.

I -- -- think being an evangelical area Christian is important but it's not the only criteria.

By which we select it leader and I personally would rather have a non Christian like Mitt Romney who at least embraces some biblical principles.

Then eight professing Christian like Barack Obama.

Who embraces on biblical principles there are those who believe your statements hurt Rick Perry because this thrusts religion back into the spotlight again of course the discussion had been over the economy let me play for you what Bill Bennett as you brought -- didn't say.

About this and called it bigotry take a listen.

I would say the pastor -- for us He stepped.

And obscured the words.

Perry and Santorum.

In -- And but and Bachmann.

And everyone else who has spoken here.

He did Rick Perry no good sir and what she had -- not give voice to bigotry.

Do not give voice to bigotry.

Your response.

If it's bigotry.

To say we should prefer evangelical Christians and non Christians that John -- who was the first Chief Justice of the Supreme Court was so big it.

Because He said we have is our duty to prefer and select Christians as our leader -- this is a -- Right in your friend yesterday governor Mike Huckabee who was on the show way in yeah that's our friends and and spoke highly of you said -- that He doesn't think that a person's faith should.

Be on a person's mind when they go into the ballot box to make a decision that.

That a person's conviction should what drives that person should be something that's that's a matter of fact for them when they go -- to vote for someone but not their faith.

What do you say to that.

Well I I loved life He is a wonderful -- He wrote the forward to my new book but I would say religion is a very much a part.

Of the discussion but here's our religion defines who we are.

It's the very essence of who we are and to say you can compartmentalize.

Your faith.

From your behavior I think is really ridiculous -- believe guy's religion is going to be a part of the discussion in 2012.

We ought to be public talk about it in a sane rational way and I believe this will be -- continuing discussion.

Are you worried that you have maybe hurt Rick Perry's campaign and -- if you had to do it again would you not use that would call.

Well again I wanna remind the viewers -- never used that word help in my introduction of Rick Perry.

Our Rick Perry expressed his excitement about the introduction -- finished speaking.

This is all that happened afterwards right outward want to remind people I'm not -- First and when asked is a -- About what I considered to be false religions.

I have to tell the truth as a pastor regardless of how unpopular -- might be I would get your comments on what -- Rick Perry has said his spokesman had come out and said Robert -- to the governor does not believe mormonism is a call.

He's not in the business of judging people.

That's God's job now you know Rick Perry very very well and manually or in a day of prayer together.

Do you believe that statement is that playing politics or do you believe that governor Perry does think Mormon as -- as a -- what's your sense.

I'd never discussed this issue warm in this and -- governor Perry.

I have no idea what He believes here and really it doesn't matter in the end it in that regard I respect that governor.

And I believe guys there are reasons to prefer Rick Perry they go way beyond his Christian which -- write in music it.

Yeah He is a consistent conservative.

-- -- conservative out of convenience like Mitt -- pastor thank you for being with us on the -- morning.

Thank you perhaps -- have the church.

Put up on the.

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