Matt Slick And The Carm Posters Break The Law

[Zakuska]

The following post was originally posted as an article on the Front page of Matts Slicks CARM website.

# 2168050

Is Mitt Romney a Christian? No, he is not, because being a Mormon he denies core christian doctrines. But does this mean he can't be president, or that a Christian shouldn't vote for him simply because he is a Mormon?

First of all, consider what Mormonism teaches. These doctrines are taught by official Mormon writers and contradict biblical truth.

• There are many gods throughout the universe, (Mormon Doctrine, by Bruce R. McConkie, p. 163, McConkie was very high up in the Mormon church and was one of its 12 apostles)
  
• There is a mother goddess (the wife of Elohim, a man who became a god), (Articles of Faith, by James Talmage, p. 443) God used to be a man on another planet, (Mormon Doctrine, p. 321).
  
• After you become a good Mormon, you have the potential of becoming a god, (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, pages 345-347, 354; Joseph Smith is the founder of Mormonism.)
  
• God resides near a star called Kolob, Pearl of Great Price, pages 34-35; Mormon Doctrine, p. 428. The Pearl of Great Price is official Mormon scripture)
  
• The Trinity is three separate gods, (James Talmage, Articles of Faith, p. 35)
  
• God is increasing in knowledge, (Joseph Smith, Journal of Discourses, Vol. 6, p. 120)
  
• God has the form of a man, (Joseph Smith, Journal of Discourses, Vol. 6, p. 3).
  

It is precisely because of such teachings that Mormonism is considered to be non-Christian. Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints say they believe in Jesus and are Christians, but the Jesus they believe in is a reconstruction, an invention, and is not the one of the Bible. In Mormonism, Jesus is the brother of the devil and you and I, begotten via sexual intercourse between him and his goddess wife. That is definitely not biblical teaching. Joseph Smith, the founder of Mormonism, said that God appeared to him and told him that all religions were false and that he was to restore the true gospel. What followed was the Mormon version of Christianity. Basically, it teaches that if you become a good Mormon, pay a full 10% tithe of your income to the Mormon church, you then get a Temple recommend. This recommend allows a faithful Mormon to enter into one of the LDS Temples located throughout the world. Inside the Temple, the Mormon is exposed to "sacred and secret" rituals while they wear special undergarments and learn secret handshakes (among other things). All of this is to help them in the afterlife so that they can become gods and goddesses of their own worlds. That is simply not what the Bible teaches; hence, it isn't Christian since Christianity is based on the Bible...not the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price (which are all additional LDS scriptures that the Christian church rejects).

In contradiction to all of this, Christianity teaches that there is only one God and that God was never a man on another planet (Psalm 90:2). It teaches that God does not even know of any other gods (Isaiah 44: 8 ), and that God is the only God (Isaiah 45:5). There are many other things about Mormonism that are not biblical, such as their doctrine of salvation, atonement, etc. But we won't get into that in this short article (see related articles below for more information). There are a host of books that compare Mormonism with biblical theology, and a plethora of ministries designed to reach the lost Mormons with the gospel. You should check these out for yourself.

So, is Mormonism Christian? No, it's not. And since Mitt Romney is a Mormon, he is not a Christian.

What about a true Christian voting for Mitt Romney? Is that okay?

There are many Christians who may disagree with me and may automatically say that we should never vote for a Mormon -- simply because he is a Mormon. This is called the Genetic Fallacy, an error in thinking that says because he is Mormon he can't be a good president. Though Mr. Romney is not a true Christian, the issue is whether or not he would remain faithful to the Constitution of the United States and uphold moral values. But, since he is a Mormon there is the issue of his allegiance to Mormonism in contrast to the Constitution. That is what needs to be examined. To what extent is Mitt Romney a dedicated Mormon, and would he use his office to promote Mormonism and to help the LDS church gain power, etc.? These are issues that cannot be ignored.

As Christians, we are to balance our conviction of moral truth and biblical fidelity when we vote. The issue of who to vote for among a crowd of less-than-stellar-candidates is complicated. Each person must vote to the best of his/her ability. Hopefully, people will vote for a person who will uphold the Constitution, protect our civil rights, and promote the welfare of society and the family without supporting abortion abortion, homosexuality homosexuality, and liberalism. The issue is more than a simple, "I won't vote for a Mormon" or "I won't vote for a Catholic" (i.e., John F. Kennedy).

Furthermore, a Mitt Romney Presidency would be used by Mormons everywhere to promote Mormonism. This would be bad. But, on the other hand, it would also mean that the strange doctrines of Mormonism would be more readily exposed when people learn what Mormonism teaches, i.e, god coming from another planet, a goddess wife, becoming gods, Jesus and Satan are brothers, secret handshakes for exaltation to godhood, etc. In fact, at the time of writing this article, the traffic to CARM has increased 33% and it is due to the inquiries people are making about Mormonism.

Now, CARM does not approve or disapprove of Romney as President. We are not endorsing him or not endorsing him as a candidate and we are not participating in any campaign for or against him. The fact that he is a Mormon (and therefore a non-Christian) shouldn't be the deciding factor when voting. Personally, I would vote for an atheist over a "Christian" if the former would uphold the Constitution and the latter did not, just as I would vote for someone who was Mormon and uphold the Constitution over someone else who would not. So, Romney is not a Christian, but that doesn't mean a Christian can't vote for him.

This is my personal opinion

He was made aware of the violation yesterday and took the article off the front page and created a thread so he could keep the article up. In this form it has been edited with the disclaimer that this is Matts opinion instead of CARM Ministries opinion.

http://forums.carm.o...l=1#post2168050

What Matt has failed to notice is even in the current form he is still violating 501c3 campaign intervention laws.

What is Political Campaign Intervention?

Political campaign intervention includes any and all activities that favor or oppose one or more candidates for public office. The prohibition extends beyond candidate endorsements. Contributions to political campaign funds or public statements of position (verbal or written) made by or on behalf of an organization in favor of or in opposition to any candidate for public office clearly violate the prohibition on political campaign intervention. Distributing statements prepared by others that favor or oppose any candidate for public office will also violate the prohibition. Allowing a candidate to use an organization’s assets or facilities will also violate the prohibition if other candidates are not given an equivalent opportunity. Although section 501©(3) organizations may engage in some activities to promote voter registration, encourage voter participation, and provide voter education, they will violate the prohibition on political campaign intervention if they engage in an activity that favors or opposes any candidate for public office. Certain activities will require an evaluation of all the facts and circumstances to determine whether they result in political campaign intervention.

http://www.irs.gov/n...=154712,00.html

Because he is using his Ministries assets to diseminate such information, not only of his opinions but the opinions of others, "Opposing and Promoting" specific candidates.

So apparently any 501c Ministry who says a word about Mitt Romney, or diseminates any imformation to vote for a "Christain" over a Mormon is violating the law. Even if they simply provide a forum for people to post said information and opinions.

I think we might just see Matts 501c status disappear soon.

Edited October 15, 2011 by Zakuska

[DarkScythe]

Am I surprised? No. Matt, my opinion if stated is quite low.

[Ariarates]

I think we might just see Matts 501c status disappear soon.

I wouldn't hold my breath if i were you. There's no endorsement or opposition in this piece. In fact, there isn't very much at all in this piece, except a few incoherent religious ramblings.

[Zakuska]

I wouldn't hold my breath if i were you. There's no endorsement or opposition in this piece. In fact, there isn't very much at all in this piece, except a few incoherent religious ramblings.

Thats not the point Ariarates. He allows all kinds of threads on his Minsitries 501c assests that do specifically allow people shuch as Catherine Arelia and other EV-OMBIES to promote against Romney. Thats a clear violation of the law.

Edited October 15, 2011 by Zakuska

[altersteve]

I think we might just see Matts 501c status disappear soon.

Good.

[sethpayne]

Slick is a twit.

[altersteve]

I believe MRM is doing, or has done, the same thing.

[Damien the Leper]

I'm not impressed with CARM. I'm even less impressed with Slick and his followers. Russ, Theo, Catherine, NHisMage, Golden, etc...are hardly worth taking seriously. I can't find a reason to post over there or engage especially with all the juvenile hostility that is allowed.

[Zakuska]

Shawn McCraney's parent company is a 501c too. But im not sure about "Heart of the Matter". There is quite a lot of 501c violation evidence of his Anti-Romney rants on youtube.

Edited October 15, 2011 by Zakuska

[Zakuska]

I believe MRM is doing, or has done, the same thing.

http://mrm.tv/mitt-r...y-and-mormonism

http://www.mrm.org/m...the-white-house

Even though these ministries are careful to state that this is the "opinion" of said persons and not the Ministries they are still in violation of using 501c assests to diseminate that opinion.

Aaron Schafovaloff too:

http://blog.mrm.org/...valoff/page/34/

Edited October 15, 2011 by Zakuska

[Zakuska]

Looks like Mr Bowman might have some splainin too.

link removed.

[Zakuska]

Clearly what these groups are engaging in is a law violation...

Certain activities or expenditures may not be prohibited depending on the facts and circumstances. For example, certain voter education activities (including presenting public forums and publishing voter education guides) conducted in a non-partisan manner do not constitute prohibited political campaign activity. In addition, other activities intended to encourage people to participate in the electoral process, such as voter registration and get-out-the-vote drives, would not be prohibited political campaign activity if conducted in a non-partisan manner.

On the other hand, voter education or registration activities with evidence of bias that (a) would favor one candidate over another; (b) oppose a candidate in some manner; or (c ) have the effect of favoring a candidate or group of candidates, will constitute prohibited participation or intervention.

The Internal Revenue Service provides resources to exempt organizations and the public to help them understand the prohibition. As part of its examination program, the IRS also monitors whether organizations are complying with the prohibition.

http://www.irs.gov/c...=163395,00.html

I wonder if Matt and the others have registered their questionable "voter education" activities with the IRS?

Matts in Idaho: http://www.whois.net/whois/C***.org

MRM is in Utah: http://www.whois.net/whois/mrm.org

IIR is in Pennsylvania: http://www.whois.net/whois/irr.org

Shawn McCraney: http://www.whois.net/whois/hotm.tv

Edited October 16, 2011 by Zakuska

[Zakuska]

Perhaps under the circumstances we should change the name of the thread to...

"MRM, IRR,CARM & Heart of the Matter break the law"

[Storm Rider]

Yawn, a bit of bodilly scratching...the mundane ceases to impress me. I wonder if this kind of silliness makes God laugh or cry? Or maybe he just shakes his head in wonder at what some of his children think is the purpose of the Gospel of Jesus? These individuals actually get up every day filled with a desire to destroy and pacify their actions with "the Jesus they believe in is a reconstruction, an invention, and is not the one of the Bible." They must also believe that when LDS kneel in prayer the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob does not hear our prayers.

All I can do is just shake my head; what pitiful, sorry people they have become. Their hearts are full of darkness and they follow quietly after the evil one and know not whom they serve.

[Zakuska]

Well it looks like Matt has removed the Law breaking thread from the CARM message board now.

Good for Matt. "Quick hide the evidence."

Edited October 16, 2011 by Zakuska

[diglot]

I'm not impressed with CARM. I'm even less impressed with Slick and his followers. Russ, Theo, Catherine, NHisMage, Golden, etc...are hardly worth taking seriously. I can't find a reason to post over there or engage especially with all the juvenile hostility that is allowed.

Juvenile hostility is a very apt description for some of the posters over there. Catherine Aurelia kept accusing me of being a secret Mormon just because I corrected an Evangelical member about the Greek language.

Lol, it is fun to watch them try and exegete the Bible and end up only showing how they don't understand Greek (and sometimes English).

[altersteve]

Yawn, a bit of bodilly scratching...the mundane ceases to impress me. I wonder if this kind of silliness makes God laugh or cry? Or maybe he just shakes his head in wonder at what some of his children think is the purpose of the Gospel of Jesus? These individuals actually get up every day filled with a desire to destroy and pacify their actions with "the Jesus they believe in is a reconstruction, an invention, and is not the one of the Bible." They must also believe that when LDS kneel in prayer the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob does not hear our prayers.

All I can do is just shake my head; what pitiful, sorry people they have become. Their hearts are full of darkness and they follow quietly after the evil one and know not whom they serve.

Could not have said it better myself. It was people like them who Jesus was talking about in Mark 9:42. I only pray that they would realize it.

[ERayR]

It doesn't make a bit of difference whether they break the law or not unless someone/s lodges a complaint nothing will be done.

[california boy]

Yawn, a bit of bodilly scratching...the mundane ceases to impress me. I wonder if this kind of silliness makes God laugh or cry? Or maybe he just shakes his head in wonder at what some of his children think is the purpose of the Gospel of Jesus? These individuals actually get up every day filled with a desire to destroy and pacify their actions with "the Jesus they believe in is a reconstruction, an invention, and is not the one of the Bible." They must also believe that when LDS kneel in prayer the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob does not hear our prayers.

All I can do is just shake my head; what pitiful, sorry people they have become. Their hearts are full of darkness and they follow quietly after the evil one and know not whom they serve.

I agree. Thank goodness we are not like they are.

[Storm Rider]

I agree. Thank goodness we are not like they are.

Is this another sarcastic comment before going off on how those bad old Mormons don't like homosexuals? Please leave off the one-track, incessant diatribe. It really is quite boring and unfruitful.

[Bill “Papa” Lee]

Slick is a twit.

Could not agree more.

[seriously honestly]

The following post was originally posted as an article on the Front page of Matts Slicks CARM website.

He was made aware of the violation yesterday and took the article off the front page and created a thread so he could keep the article up. In this form it has been edited with the disclaimer that this is Matts opinion instead of CARM Ministries opinion.

http://forums.carm.o...l=1#post2168050

What Matt has failed to notice is even in the current form he is still violating 501c3 campaign intervention laws.

http://www.irs.gov/n...=154712,00.html

Because he is using his Ministries assets to diseminate such information, not only of his opinions but the opinions of others, "Opposing and Promoting" specific candidates.

So apparently any 501c Ministry who says a word about Mitt Romney, or diseminates any imformation to vote for a "Christain" over a Mormon is violating the law. Even if they simply provide a forum for people to post said information and opinions.

I think we might just see Matts 501c status disappear soon.

"made by or on behalf of an organization in favor of or in opposition to any candidate for public office clearly violate the prohibition on political campaign intervention"

If it is his opinion, and not the position of CARM, then I don't believe he is in violation. Also, he was not opposing or promoting Romney; he admitted "CARM does not approve or disapprove of Romney as President".

[Zakuska]

"made by or on behalf of an organization in favor of or in opposition to any candidate for public office clearly violate the prohibition on political campaign intervention"

If it is his opinion, and not the position of CARM, then I don't believe he is in violation. Also, he was not opposing or promoting Romney; he admitted "CARM does not approve or disapprove of Romney as President".

He was distributing his opinion, it doesn't matter if he disclaimed it. That would violate:

Distributing statements prepared by others that favor or oppose any candidate for public office will also violate the prohibition.

501c3 have to be completely neatural. They can tell people to get out and vote but they can't favor one candidate over another, by distributing infromation such as they are.

Edited October 17, 2011 by Zakuska

[seriously honestly]

He was distributing his opinion, it doesn't matter if he disclaimed it. That would violate:

Distributing statements prepared by others that favor or oppose any candidate for public office will also violate the prohibition.

501c3 have to be completely neatural. They can tell people to get out and vote but they can't favor one candidate over another, by distributing infromation such as they are.

If he was distributing statements prepared by, say, Perry's campaign, then sure. But he's not, and the statement is not being made by CARM, nor is he making it on behalf of CARM. And agian, he wasn't opposing or promoting him as president.

Edited October 17, 2011 by seriously honestly

[seriously honestly]

Thats not the point Ariarates. He allows all kinds of threads on his Minsitries 501c assests that do specifically allow people shuch as Catherine Arelia and other EV-OMBIES to promote against Romney. Thats a clear violation of the law.

Then the promotion of Romney here or there by LDS members would also violate the law.