Glenn Beck as been a recent driving force for (neo?) Conservative politics in America. His big push is to bring God back to the center of American life both politically and socially. I understand his sentiment. There is a sense in which I agree.
In recent times when Glenn Beck has spoken on the issue of putting God back into American culture he mentions God, Jesus, the atonement, etc. On the surface, these sound like something Christians should embrace. And they should as far as understood from the biblical Christian perspective. Yet, Glenn Beck is a Mormon and the Mormon definitions of these positions are not the same as the Christian definitions.
As I recall, I’ve written three posts concerning Glenn Beck and his acceptance by Conservative Christianity despite his theology: One Nation Under A Mormon God?, Liberty University, Glenn Beck and the Gospel and The Political Gospel of Glenn Beck and Liberty University? I’m not alone in airing my concerns as a Christian for the integrity of the gospel. However, there has not been much in response to Beck from more popular, visible Christian leaders until now.
Enter fellow Southern Baptist Dr. Russell Moore, Dean of the School of Theology and Senior Vice-President for Academic Administration at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He gives a needed and welcome voice in God, the Gospel, and Glenn Beck. Moore begins:
"A Mormon television star stands in front of the Lincoln Memorial and calls American Christians to revival. He assembles some evangelical celebrities to give testimonies, and then preaches a God and country revivalism that leaves the evangelicals cheering that they’ve heard the gospel, right there in the nation’s capital."[Read the whole thing!]
I offer my thank you to Dr. Moore. I appreciate his stand for the gospel in this area. As expected, he is already getting some push back in the comments.
One commenter said:
"Much like Moore’s inept commenting on this event, there is an integrity crisis in government leadership and the media which supplies only half truths to appease their audience and leave them clapping (like comments above)."
Moore’s comments are not inept, but right on! At the same time I agree that there is an integrity crisis in government leadership and the media. These integrity issues exist on the right and the left and did not appear yesterday. The bigger issue for Christians is that there is an integrity crisis in Christian leadership. Too many find comfort in conservative political ideology as the motivating force for change while the gospel sits waiting for the right laws to be passed. (See my posts above on Beck and Liberty U.) For Christians, the engine for change is not a political rally to call everyone to the generic god of their choosing. Rather, the motivation is the exclusive gospel of Christ.
But it was non-political event says Beck. I’m not sure how a revival rally with a God and Country theme can be non-political. Actually, I wish it were political so that it would be easier to support. The religious themes make such an event difficult to support for this Christian. As one live blogger of the event noted:
"Dave Roever closed the rally in prayer. Glenn calls people to “spread the word” after they leave. A gospel tune concludes the rally: Hallelujah, Thank You Jesus. Jo Dee Messina sang “Heaven Was Needing A Hero Lyrics” and “America, the Beautiful”."
The same blogger noted that it was stated at the event that “Mosques, churches, and synagogues must stand for the truth..” What truth is that? Religious truths that don’t ultimately agree? As Beck and his supporters call people of all faiths to turn American back to God my question is – which god will people of many religions turn America to?
I asked Glenn Beck this question on twitter and someone else responded with, “When you are a Christian there is only one God. What God do you worship?” The best reply was sent from a friend who told me, “Right and Glenn Beck is not a Christian!” Although some Christian leaders have asked whether or not those of us who take this position if we’ve heard Beck’s testimony. I’ve heard him claim to be a Mormon. And until I hear his testimony that he no longer believes the Mormon doctrines of God which are redefinitions of the Christian view, I will continue with the position that Beck is not a Christian.
To the issue of Mormonism I don’t think Joseph Smith would hold me or other Christians today in any higher regard than he originally held. He criticized the very professions of faith that are still used today which contain the same doctrines that Christians’ today hold.
"In his first vision in 1832, he claimed that God told him not to join any of the churches of his day because “all their creeds were an abomination in his sight; that those professors were all corrupt; that: “they draw near to me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me, they teach for doctrines the commandments of men, having a form of godliness, but they deny the power thereof.” (Official Mormon source)"
As Dr. Moore said in his article, “What concerns me is about what this says about the Christian churches in the United States.“
Comments
I agree with you what you say about Beck. If he gives up To be a Mormon. He is on a high one minute. Then a low where he swears like the Devil. You cannot serve two masters. I hear him swear and I shake my head. Beck,beck. No he is not a Christian. At first i thought yes but like you said here.
He needs to be saved. It is like the catholics. They go to church, show good works. Drink and swear the rest of the week. I will say though. I find in the Baptist and other churches of Born-again churches.
They are drinking and swearing.. They do not take the bibles. I asked why is that. They say the do not want to discouraged new people coming in the church wit the bible or they will flee. Drinking. Why is that. Christians should be drinking of his Spirit not the Spirit of the booze. The church people are going to the way side of faith and believing the word of God. I am a Canadian so it is not just the Americans.
Please take what I say and lets take it to prayer. The christians of to-day are more wordly then spiritual.
You can not serve two master or two worlds. Come out of the carnal living.
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