Posted on 01/13/2008 9:36:30 AM PST by TornadoAlley3
SPARTANBURG, S.C. (AP) Republican Mike Huckabee spoke from the pulpit Sunday, not as a politician but as the preacher he used to be, and delivered a sermon on how merely being good isn't enough to get into heaven.
Huckabee is vying for support from the Christian conservatives who dominate the GOP in South Carolina, which on Saturday chooses a Republican presidential nominee. A former Baptist minister and Arkansas governor, Huckabee is competing for their votes with fellow southerner Fred Thompson.
As in Iowa, where Huckabee won the Jan. 3 caucuses, Huckabee is rousing pastors to marshal their flocks for him. He pitches himself as someone who not only shares their views against abortion and gay marriage but who actually comes from their ranks.
On Sunday, Huckabee avoided politics entirely, instead preaching about humility and trusting in Jesus to open the gates of heaven.
"The criteria to get into heaven is you have to be not good, but perfect. That's the real challenge in it," he said at First Baptist North Spartanburg, a megachurch with 6,000 members.
"On that day, when I pull up, I'll be asked, `Do you have what it takes to get in?'" Huckabee said. "And if I ask, `Well, what does it take to get in?' 'Gotta be perfect.'"
"Well, I'm afraid I don't have that, but you know what, I won't be there alone that day. Somebody is going to be with me. His name is Jesus, and he's promised that he would never leave me or forsake me," he said.
Huckabee didn't ask for votes or discuss the campaign, but senior pastor Michael S. Hamlet encouraged the congregation to vote according to how they try to live their lives, by the principles of Bible scripture.
"I'm going to tell you something, when you go vote, you ought to follow those principles," Hamlet said.
In contrast to Huckabee, Thompson held no public events Sunday in South Carolina. Huckabee has the edge following his Iowa caucus win.
Huckabee also is hoping for a majority of the Christian conservative vote in Michigan, where the primary is Tuesday. He emphasized his opposition to abortion there during a meeting with about 100 pastors in Grand Rapids on Saturday, urging them to use their address books and e-mail lists to mobilize others.
He was to return to Michigan later Sunday. Polls there have shown him in third place, behind former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and Arizona Sen. John McCain, winner of the New Hampshire primary last week.
He’s also hoping it isn’t necessary to be a perfect Republican to get into the White House.
Thank God we have a weasly leftist Bishop running for President Of the United States Of America, disguised as a conservative Republican.
Barry Goldwater, Congressional Record, 16 Sept. 1981:
“There is no more powerfull ally one can claim in a debate than Jesus, God, or Allah, or whatever one calls the supreme being. But like any powerful weapon, the use of Gods name on ones behalf should be used sparingly... Im frankly sick and tired of the political preachers across this country telling me as a citizen that if I want to be a moral person, I must believe in A,B,C, and D. Just who do they think they are? And from where do they presume to claim the right to dictate their moral beliefs to me?... I am warning them today: I will fight them every step of the way if they try to dictate their moral convictions to all Americans in the name of conservatism.”
I never once lied about unknowingly putting a White Cross in my Christmas Message in Iowa. I don't like, I am a pastor. I never lied about completing Theology school, not once.
He’s right, and he needs to remain a preacher.....
How does he know?
BS! EVERYTHING a presidential candidate does is political.
As a member of a Reform congregation (Baptist) he is exactly correct in his preaching, in a pastoral secession that goes back to Martin Luther. At least he got his Scripture right.
I seldom say that something “offends” me; but if I ever did it would be this. I am also appalled and disgusted.
As a member of a Reform congregation (Baptist) he is exactly correct in his preaching, in a pastoral secession that goes back to Martin Luther.
Which one of the Twelve Apostles was this Luther guy?
How does a Presidential candidate expect to win the general election if he is preaching that all of his fellow American citizens who do not follow his own particular branch of his own particular religion are going to go to Hell?
Did he pick up that trick by reading "How to Win Friends and Influence People"?
Huckabee makes a good Protestant evangelical preacher. He needs to stick to that occupation.
So, you live a perfect life?
He's simply not ready for prime time. Fred got it right - "leading on training wheels"
Came in loud and clear to me!
Preach your brains out Huckster.
Preaching does not change the facts about your past (which I won’t reiterate here, everyone knows it).
“If I knew God I’d be Him.”
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.