Fox News Host and conservative commentator, Glenn Beck opened up a stream of criticism when he remarked on his March 2 TV show, "I beg you, look for the words 'social justice' or 'economic justice' on your church website. If you find it, run as fast as you can. Social justice and economic justice are code words (for Communism and Nazism). Am I advising people to leave their church? Yes!" Admittedly, these words are taken out of context, but even in the context from which they are taken they weigh heavy on the hearts of Christians in a world where most people are self-centered and uncharitable when it comes to poverty issues.
Immediately following Beck's tirade about social justice and communism, Rev. Jim Wallis, president of Sojourners, a network of progressive Christians, challenged Beck to a debate of the issue, stating, "social and economic justice is at the heart of Jesus' message. It is doubtful Beck will respond favorably to a debate. Meanwhile, church leaders across the country are discussing the meaning of Beck's remarks. While Wallis adamantly contends that "biblical justice involves changing structures, institutions, systems, and policies, as well as changing hearts to be more generous," Jerry Falwell, Jr., president of Liberty University, disagrees, saying that Jesus wasn't interested in politics.
Lisa Pierce, executive director of Alabama Rural Ministry based in Auburn, AL and an ordained deacon in the United Methodist Church, offered the following response:
"As a founder and director of a ministry that serves the poor, economic justice and social justice for marginalized families are very close to our heart. However, it has little to do with the government, whether Republican or Democrat or conservative or liberal, and everything to do with Jesus. We can't get away from the Bible. The book of Deuteronomy describes what the faith community should look like and the book of Amos is a stinging chastisement of people taking advantage of the poor. The church and Christians remain focused on spiritual matters. We cannot get away from the parables and teachings of Jesus that unashamedly showed Jesus favoring the weak, the poor and the marginalized. Where I would most likely agree with Beck is that the Church shouldn't be doing the work of government nor the government the work of the Church."
At the end of 2009, Beck promised 2010 was going to be different. He was going to stop being politically correct and start saying what needed to be said. Right or wrong, he opened up a dialogue that Christians need to pray about, discuss and decide what the mission of the church should be.
According to Sojourners the closest faith and justice church located within 100 miles of Montgomery is St. Catherine's Episcopal Church in Chelsea.
For Glenn Beck's defense of his statements, click here.
Comments
After reading your criticism of Glenn Beck, I was curious what the Sojourners stood for. So, I looked at up on their website. I couldn't even tell whether they were opposed to abortion! Their abortion FAQ page just had a couple of Biblical passages that faintly hinted at abortion and the rest appeared to be the Democratic Party's stance that alternatives to abortion should be available. Reading between the lines, I gather they support keeping it legal for women to abort their unborn children for any reason. And they set themself up to challenge the Christianity of Beck!!!
Glenn beck has done more to protect the government from being investigated in conjunction with 911 than any other talking head. When America gets justice and to the bottom of things and heads start rolling. Glenn Beck needs to be held accountable too for trying to throw the public off the trail of criminal cover ups and the murder of 3000 people.
"Reading between the lines, I gather..."
also "reading between the lines", I gather you are lazy and presumptuous. just because you couldn't find what you were looking for, doesn't justify jumping to unsupported conclusions. if you have real evidence about the sojourners position, please post.
and are you aware of the stance of beck's mormon church on abortion?
"In his address at Brigham Young University on 1999-FEB-09 Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles reaffirmed that an abortion is permissible, after "counseling with the local presiding priesthood authority and after receiving divine confirmation" if any of four grounds existed:
* The life of the mother is seriously endangered.
* The good health of the mother is seriously endangered.
* The pregnancy was caused by rape.
* The pregnancy was caused by incest.
does that make Mormons better Christians than the Sojourners, or vice versa? Beck deserves criticism for his boneheaded comment, not tenets of hi
"Beck deserves criticism for his boneheaded comment, not tenets of his faith."
hit the character limit.
"Beck deserves criticism for his boneheaded comment, not tenets of his faith."
hit the character limit.
@todd You're an idiot.
Beck's new smear target? Van Jones? Nope... Jesus Christ. Good luck with that one Glenn. How could a modern educated person listen to this lunatic? Or did I just answer my question... Stay in School.
Doth Glenn Beck speaketh in parables? Doeth the blessed words of my new Lord and Savior say one thing, yet mean another? Must my nation's seers interpret the parables of Beck for this humble shepherd? Yea, I heard the Great White Hope Beck say: "I beg you, look for the words "social justice" or "economic justice" on your church Web site. If you find it, run as fast as you can. Social justice and economic justice, they are code words." And I turned to the wisest men in my village to tell me what the code words meant, and they said: "Glenn Beck's a jackass. Turn him off."
The gospels say you and I should help the poor AND call them to Repentance from Sin. However, neither of those commands is addressed to government. They are addressed to you and I personally. Communism as a governmental tool for taking from the rich and giving to the poor has always been rooted in a rejection of Biblical commands about righteousness while advocating psuedo compassion for the poor. Compassion for the poor coupled with rejection of Biblical righteousness is ...Not Biblical. Put the righteousness back with the compassion and you are free to appeal to the Bible's authority all you want. Until then, government care for the poor will continue to appeal to the authority of atheist Karl Marx and rightly so. He rejected Biblical claims of righteousness. So, if you are so interested in claiming Biblical authority for government action, then maybe you are prepared to enforce no adultery, no idolatry, no dishonoring of parents...
It is a travesty that many of today's liberal clergy do not understand true charity. It requires volition on the part of the giver and gratitude on the part of the receiver. Glenn's church and some others understand this.
When the government extorts resources from Peter to pay Paul so Paul will vote for "progressive" candidates, true charity is not being displayed. Both Peter and Paul believe they're being used, and Paul considers the payment a "right".
When will the liberal, progressive clergy learn that when Jesus Christ said "render unto Caesar", He didn't say "render unto Caesar, so that Caesar can keep folks under subjection via "social justice or income re-distribution", so they'll vote for Caesar".
Since we live in a democracy, we ARE the government. We, the people, dedicate ourselves to social justice. If we are to call ourselves "a Christian nation" (though some would logically dispute that) we must do what Christ would do, give to the poor, through both our governmental and church-based programs.
UMMM...Hello... are any of you aware that Wallis is Barack Obama's "spiritual advisor?" Yah, and the last time I checked, Obama's idea of "Christian" (i.e. Jeremiah Wright, bowing to Muslims, etc.) and his buddy Wallis' version are not in line with mainstream Christian theology or belief! Wallis is nothing more than a socialist masquerading as a Christian.
I say that if your church believes Joseph Smith was a prophet then you should leave your church immediately.
AGGGGGGGGGHHHHHH! Tarah said the "s" word! Head for the hills!!!! That's one of them code words my new Lord and Savior Glenn Beck told me to run away from! AGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHH! I'm so afraid! The sky is falling!
We would not have to accept handouts from the government if the Church would just do what it used to do.
Acts 2: 44-47
I find Lisa Pierce's comments to be wise and insightful.
This article is very thought provoking, Jill.
If comments like those made my Glenn Beck cause the church to take a second look at themselves it is all for the good--in my opinion.
Continued blessings!
Glenn Beck must be the second coming of Joseph Smith.
Glenn Beck is a liar and a false rophet and liely doesn't actually worship christ. In his interveiw he basicly attacked the idea of giving to the poor. Saying that once a church starts preaching doing such things you should leave it. This man is not a christian I am sorry conservatives but you have been lied to by this cowardly traitor, he is no christian he is a Randoid* Any true God fearing Americans know what to do with this person.
*Randoid is a follower of the anti christian ayn rand who was fine with letting the poor die in the streets.
Beck it a Tool. I wish he would just shut his stupid ignorant yapper and go back to doing something he knows about like drinking.
What Glenn Beck was talking about was denominations that support abortion, homosexuality, euthanasia, racism, laws like healthcare that pay for abortions and sex change operations and other unAmerican values like redistribution of wealth. One example would be denominations like United Church of Christ that Obama belonged to: www.ucc.org/justice/issues.html
or pastors like Jeremiah Wright (he married the Obamas) at Obama's old church Trinity United Chrurch of Christ, the same UCC.org denomination above, who spew racism and curse America: www.trinitychicago.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=114
This just in... Glenn Beck opposes reciting the Pledge of Allegiance because it ends with "liberty and justice for all."
Take time and read the book of Matthew:23, 1-4. Matthew is a book of the Bible.
We live in a culture where compromise has become accepted and tolerance of hypocrisy is common. I believe Mr. Beck(of whom I am not an ardent follower) is trying to draw out the very hypocrisy that Jesus himself rebuked. Examine closely Mr. Wallis's responses. Remember that the so-called religous leaders of Jesus's day challenged his insights and ultimately met with his rebuking of them.
Mr. Falwell's comment is short yet accurate. Jesus was enraged most by those who sought to mix law of the land with law of Moses in order to elevate their own worldly status. The principle of separation of church and state was founded on this very Christian principle. Seek truth in the word. Alot of this is smoke screen. Mr. Wallis has a designation of Reverend and President. Think about it!
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