God, the Gospel, and Glenn Beck

— Sunday, August 29th, 2010 —

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.

The news media pronounces him the new leader of America’s Christian conservative movement, and a flock of America’s Christian conservatives have no problem with that.

If you’d told me that ten years ago, I would have assumed it was from the pages of an evangelical apocalyptic novel about the end-times. But it’s not. It’s from this week’s headlines. And it is a scandal.

Fox News commentator Glenn Beck, of course, is that Mormon at the center of all this. Beck isn’t the problem. He’s an entrepreneur, he’s brilliant, and, hats off to him, he knows his market. Latter-day Saints have every right to speak, with full religious liberty, in the public square. I’m quite willing to work with Mormons on various issues, as citizens working for the common good. What concerns me here is not what this says about Beck or the “Tea Party” or any other entertainment or political figure. What concerns me is about what this says about the Christian churches in the United States.

It’s taken us a long time to get here, in this plummet from Francis Schaeffer to Glenn Beck. In order to be this gullible, American Christians have had to endure years of vacuous talk about undefined “revival” and “turning America back to God” that was less about anything uniquely Christian than about, at best, a generically theistic civil religion and, at worst, some partisan political movement.

Rather than cultivating a Christian vision of justice and the common good (which would have, by necessity, been nuanced enough to put us sometimes at odds with our political allies), we’ve relied on populist God-and-country sloganeering and outrage-generating talking heads. We’ve tolerated heresy and buffoonery in our leadership as long as with it there is sufficient political “conservatism” and a sufficient commercial venue to sell our books and products.

Too often, and for too long, American “Christianity” has been a political agenda in search of a gospel useful enough to accommodate it. There is a liberation theology of the Left, and there is also a liberation theology of the Right, and both are at heart mammon worship. The liberation theology of the Left often wants a Barabbas, to fight off the oppressors as though our ultimate problem were the reign of Rome and not the reign of death. The liberation theology of the Right wants a golden calf, to represent religion and to remind us of all the economic security we had in Egypt. Both want a Caesar or a Pharaoh, not a Messiah.

Leaders will always be tempted to bypass the problem behind the problems: captivity to sin, bondage to the accusations of the demonic powers, the sentence of death. That’s why so many of our Christian superstars smile at crowds of thousands, reassuring them that they don’t like to talk about sin. That’s why other Christian celebrities are seen to be courageous for fighting their culture wars, while they carefully leave out the sins most likely to be endemic to the people paying the bills in their movements.

Where there is no gospel, something else will fill the void: therapy, consumerism, racial or class resentment, utopian politics, crazy conspiracy theories of the left, crazy conspiracy theories of the right; anything will do. The prophet Isaiah warned us of such conspiracies replacing the Word of God centuries ago (Is. 8:12–20). As long as the Serpent’s voice is heard, “You shall not surely die,” the powers are comfortable.

This is, of course, not new. Our Lord Jesus faced this test when Satan took him to a high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the earth, and their glory. Satan did not mind surrendering his authority to Jesus. He didn’t mind a universe without pornography or Islam or abortion or nuclear weaponry. Satan did not mind Judeo-Christian values. He wasn’t worried about “revival” or “getting back to God.” What he opposes was the gospel of Christ crucified and resurrected for the sins of the world.

We used to sing that old gospel song, “I will cling to an old rugged cross, and exchange it some day for a crown.” The scandalous scene at the Lincoln Memorial indicates that many of us want to exchange it in too soon. To Jesus, Satan offered power and glory. To us, all he needs offer is celebrity and attention.

Mormonism and Mammonism are contrary to the gospel of Jesus Christ. They offer another Lord Jesus than the One offered in the Scriptures and Christian tradition, and another way to approach him. An embrace of these tragic new vehicles for the old Gnostic heresy is unloving to our Mormon friends and secularist neighbors, and to the rest of the watching world. Any “revival” that is possible without the Lord Jesus Christ is a “revival” of a different kind of spirit than the Spirit of Christ (1 Jn. 4:1-3).

The answer to this scandal isn’t a retreat, as some would have it, to an allegedly apolitical isolation. Such attempts lead us right back here, in spades, to a hyper-political wasteland. If the churches are not forming consciences, consciences will be formed by the status quo, including whatever demagogues can yell the loudest or cry the hardest. The answer isn’t a narrowing sectarianism, retreating further and further into our enclaves. The answer includes local churches that preach the gospel of Jesus Christ, and disciple their congregations to know the difference between the kingdom of God and the latest political whim.

It’s sad to see so many Christians confusing Mormon politics or American nationalism with the gospel of Jesus Christ. But, don’t get me wrong, I’m not pessimistic. Jesus will build his church, and he will build it on the gospel. He doesn’t need American Christianity to do it. Vibrant, loving, orthodox Christianity will flourish, perhaps among the poor of Haiti or the persecuted of Sudan or the outlawed of China, but it will flourish.

And there will be a new generation, in America and elsewhere, who will be ready for a gospel that is more than just Fox News at prayer.

(Image Credit)

This entry was posted on Sunday, August 29th, 2010 at 4:57 pm and is filedunder Blog. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

259 Responses to “God, the Gospel, and Glenn Beck”

Kamilla August 29th, 2010 at 5:15 pm
Dr. Moore,

Thank you for this — just what I’ve been thinking. I understand Sarah Palin appeared as well. If she gets the Republican nomination in 2012 and wins the election — it will be in large part because of this confusion and Beck’s support.

And that would be a tragedy on several fronts.

Kamilla

P.S. I haven’t been over here in a while — just wanted to say it’s nice to see that picture of you with you beautiful bride!
Lori August 29th, 2010 at 5:17 pm
I am a lurker here, but I just wanted to say you nailed it on the head what I have been wrestling in my soul. A big sounding AMEN!! Thank you.
J Kent Kroencke August 29th, 2010 at 5:18 pm
I have so many to things to say on this topic right now that I don’t know where to start. For now, let’s just say Amen and pray that cooler heads prevail.

I think it is time to fire up the blog again….
Jason Chambers August 29th, 2010 at 5:26 pm
Very well said!
Sean August 29th, 2010 at 5:28 pm
“Our Lord Jesus faced this test when Satan took him to a high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the earth, and their glory. Satan did not mind surrendering his authority to Jesus. He didn’t mind a universe without pornography or Islam or abortion or nuclear weaponry. Satan did not mind Judeo-Christian values. He wasn’t worried about “revival” or “getting back to God.” What he opposes was the gospel of Christ crucified and resurrected for the sins of the world.”

Wow. I’ve been looking for a way to describe these same sentiments. While these are important issues, the talking heads are distracting us from our true mission: preaching the Gospel of Christ and making disciples of the nations.

Thank you Dr. Moore.
Glen Land August 29th, 2010 at 5:31 pm
Informed, articulate and dead on the money. Thank you!
James W. Pope August 29th, 2010 at 5:33 pm
Dr. Moore,

I agree, point for point, with your article here and I’ve had many of the same conversations with people at my church and in my family. I’m saddened that it has taken a Mormon to get Evangelicals to listen to a call for revival in this nation. I’m worried this is the very thing that Peter, Paul, James and, our Lord, Jesus, warned us about relative to false prophets/teachers/doctrines leading the church astray.

Chad in reply August 29th, 2010 at 7:00 pm
@James W. Pope, I dont think that him calling for American revival is leading anyone astray. To be honest if it takes a mormon to light a fire the so be it. He hasnt once pushed his mormonism on his show or at his speech. Everyone is grasping at straws to make things more dramatic than they are. Get over it and move on and use the momentum to do something great.

Freda in reply August 29th, 2010 at 9:23 pm
@James W. Pope, I agree w/ Chad on all points. I think Sat. was what we needed in this country. No one church pushing their point of view. It was not political and Palin was there as a Mother of a soldier. We need more people to speak out in Restoring Honor. I do think God looked down in favor of Sat. It’s about time someone stood up and was counted!

James in reply August 29th, 2010 at 9:30 pm
@Chad read Arthur’s post below and you will understand why this is so important.
Matthew August 29th, 2010 at 5:34 pm
Is Beck running for President?
http://jumpinginpools.blogspot.com/2010/08/is-glenn-beck-running-for-president.html
Mark August 29th, 2010 at 5:44 pm
Thank you! I’m glad a Christian leader has finally spoken up. We little guys need some support out here. :)
Laurie M. August 29th, 2010 at 5:54 pm
I’m actually in tears. Tears of relief to hear someone - some Christian- saying this. Thank you.
Arthur August 29th, 2010 at 6:02 pm
Absolutely dead on. There are many Christians who are following this false prophet and don’t seem to even notice. God saved my wife and I out of mormonism a decade ago and I see Glenn Beck as an incredible threat to the church. Worse yet there are many men in the church who are gladly holding the door open for this man.
Everett August 29th, 2010 at 6:14 pm
Russell,

I think this might be the most prophetic piece that I’ve read from you yet. Remain discerning, probing, and gracious brother. You are an encouragement.
Kevin Chen August 29th, 2010 at 6:17 pm
Thank you.
Darrel August 29th, 2010 at 6:29 pm
Kudos sir…If the church spent more time proclaiming the gospel message than confronting the culture, we would be in a totally different place.
Melissa Fitzpatrick August 29th, 2010 at 6:33 pm
Thanks for writing on this, Dr. Moore. This whole thing is astonishing. We’re to honor Dr. King’s legacy by supporting the troops?! Oh the irony. Instead of addressing the relevant issues in hope of concrete change, we’re content to settle for a bunch of vague spiritual rhetoric? Are people really buying this (whatever “this” is)?
Terry August 29th, 2010 at 6:39 pm
I was hoping that someone of your caliber would write or say something like this. Thank you!
John Gardner August 29th, 2010 at 6:43 pm
Amen, Amen, and Amen!
Sharon Miller August 29th, 2010 at 6:48 pm
Thank you for your words! I have been extremely concerned by how easily this charismatic Mormon has captured the hearts and minds of evangelical Christians in America.
Paul Clutterbuck August 29th, 2010 at 6:53 pm
I’ve heard a number of critiques of the religious Right in the last 30 years, from insiders like Chuck Colson, Michael S. Horton and Tony Campolo. This one must surely be the hardest hitting of them all. I hope that anyone in the world who has any connection whatsoever with contemporary American Christianity will take note of this. Thank you so much, Dr Moore, for saying just what needed to be said!
Paul Emery August 29th, 2010 at 7:03 pm
Dr. Moore:

When I originally read your article it seemed to me to be speaking out against working with others of a conservative mind in politics, however as I have re-read it now I must admit that you are dead on with this blog. It is truly a shame to see that so many “Christians” will call for a revival of country, and forget about the true revival that is needed, a heart turned towards God based off of the sacrifice of our LORD and Savior Jesus Christ, and His death on the cross, and His resurrection, and requires the admittance of our sins.

Truly it is a sad day when even Christian news sources called Beck a Christian, when in fact the Jesus he teaches is certainly not the Jesus who is. Thank you for taking your time to share this informative blog, and may the LORD bless those who hear the Great Commission as the true call to revival, and not some political talker calling for a revival of politics only.

In Christ,
Paul Emery
dianna flake August 29th, 2010 at 7:10 pm
So what is your complaint? That a non-Christian might be the person to lead us out of this mess? If that’s the case, then how do you explain God using Cyrus? Why is it so far-fetched to believe that God might be using Beck to bring the Christians back together?

Kevin Bowker in reply August 29th, 2010 at 10:54 pm
@dianna flake,
FINALLY, someone who got it. Thank you Dianna!!! Until now it was just more blind leading the blind. :)

Lynne in reply August 29th, 2010 at 11:00 pm
@dianna flake, Not to respond for Dr. Moore, but what mess do you think we need to be lead out of? The deepest and most significant need of every human heart is that we are sinners under the judgment of a just and holy God - we need a Savior for our souls, not for our country. Certainly God is sovereign in all the workings of our nation and political leadership, He may or may not change the political landscape in a way that pleases conservatives, but regardless He will build His church.

As Christians, that is the mission He has given us to accomplish. Many of the Jews of Jesus’ day missed their Messiah because they were expecting a political king to establish an earthly kingdom. American Christians ought to remember their folly and recommit ourselves to faithful Gospel ministry. We must stand boldly against false gospels and not compromise for the sake of short-sighted political expediency.
Mike August 29th, 2010 at 7:19 pm
Read this immediately.. here is the reason why the American Church should be careful of listening to Glenn Beck when he talks about God.
http://goo.gl/b/Z4e1
David Flake August 29th, 2010 at 7:44 pm
It appears that your main issue is that Glenn Beck is a Mormon. If he were one of the mainline Christian faiths and said word-for-word the same things he has been saying, would you then have found them acceptable? I get the Mormon thing. There are definite beliefs that they hold that I do not and cannot hold. But the things he is talking about do not point to the Mormon interpretation of God. They point to God. Don’t lose the message because you don’t approve of the messenger. He may just be the Samaritan we need to jolt us out of our inertia and complacency. God will reveal His message through whomever He chooses…..and He does have a flair for the ironic.

Kevin Bowker in reply August 29th, 2010 at 10:59 pm
@David Flake, You must be related to Dianna! Thank you too David!!

darinbrill in reply August 30th, 2010 at 2:31 am
@David Flake, you said: “the things he is talking about do not point to the Mormon interpretation of God. They point to God.”
If Jesus said “no one knows.. who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.” in Lk. 10:22, how can someone who doesn’t know the Son (the Jesus of Mormonism is a different Jesus), somehow point the way to the Father? Doesn’t scripture teach that in Jesus all the fullness of deity dwells (Col.1), the image of God is exactly seen (Heb.1:3, Col. 1:15), and that those that are not “in him” cannot bear good fruit (Jn. 15:4,5)? If God has chosen to reveal himself in the Son, it’s erroneous to think that God would be pleased with anything less, or that any true good could come about through that attempt.

ron in reply August 30th, 2010 at 7:29 am
@David Flake, But the things he is talking about do not point to the Mormon interpretation of God. They point to God.

I think you meant “god”
Phil August 29th, 2010 at 7:47 pm
Great message, and I do agree with it. I had an encounter with people from the Tea Party the other night at a goth club.. I kid you not.. a goth club.. two very white preppy young Beck/Palin enthusiasts at a goth club for reasons unknown to all but God Himself. They were telling me how Beck is going to “unite all Americans together in Christ” and how he wants us “all united”.

I simply asked them, “Do you think Beck and Palin, etc., and their followers, want US GOTHS to be united with them? After all, you’re here among us!” They looked confused and continued their rhetoric w/o ever answering the question, though they invited me to join them for brunch the next day to talk more..

I showed up.. they didn’t.. yes, a Goth gets stood up by the Tea Party who wants us all united.
Wade nelson August 29th, 2010 at 7:53 pm
Dr. Moore:

Thank you for your article. I have noticed that American “Christianity” has been hijacked since the early 90’s (maybe before that as well, I was just unaware). We Christians have become increasingly spiritually lazy. Expecting that God’s kingdom and glory will come with electing a political leader (preferably a Republican, since anyone with that label are apparently God’s chosen ones), or with our elected leaders passing a particular law. We attend mega-churches, so that we do not need to be involved (but the service does make us feel so good and the pastor is such a good speaker), We read Christian books and magazines (but increasingly have a difficult time applying Christ’s commands to our daily living. That is too difficult and we just don’t have the time.)

Our laziness has led us to be influenced by celebrities and authors we know little about. Their personal lives and spiritual condition may be a mess, but we’d rather have our “beliefs” be reinforced than be personally challenged by God’s word.

How can a Christian ministry like Focus on the Family be effective when its leader, James Dobson, relishes his role as a king maker in the Republican party. Has he lost his “focus”. Time does not a listing of the many Christian spokesman becoming increasingly political. We do live on this earth for a short time, but this is not our home. Nations are a drop in the bucket. Leaders of countries rise and fall, but God is in control. Let us always have this foremost in our thinking.

His kingdom come. His will be done. His glory above all. That should be our mission. All else pales.

Thank you for great insight. May Jesus Christ be praised.

Wade Nelson
James McMahon August 29th, 2010 at 8:03 pm
Dr. Moore,
THANK You for saying what needs to be said…Lord, Please bring TRUE revival to this land!
Jeff August 29th, 2010 at 8:17 pm
Amen!
Glenn W August 29th, 2010 at 8:19 pm
Well, I was there at the rally and Mr. Moore obviously did not even watch the event (streamed live on FaceBook). If he had even tried to do his homework he might have mentioned that the primary point of the rally was to raise money/awareness for the Special Operations Warrior Foundation whose Mission Statement reads as follows; “The Special Operations Warrior Foundation provides full scholarship grants and educational and family counseling to the surviving children of special operations personnel who die in operational or training missions and immediate financial assistance to severely wounded special operations personnel and their families.” Funny how Moore conveniently ignored this, “just maybe” he had an axe to grind and didn’t want to confuse his viewpoint with the actual facts of the event. Unlike any other country in the world, whom God obviously has blessed to be among the greatest (for now), and like many other great countires, the USA is headed for ruin because the people “forgot their God” as Deuteronomy repeatedly warned and accurately predicted the nation of Israel would do, and in my opinion, so has Christianity. The United States of America was founded upon the US Constitution, a document for governing the country forged by a group of the ‘Lord Jesus Christ’ believing men… there is a movement to vacate many of the principles in the Constitution. 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). The issue at hand and secondary purpose for the event, Mr. Moore, was the integrity crisis America is facing in every facet of her infrastucture. This was not an event for the church or even a presentation for the gospel of Christ, but a cry for the American people to return to their knees and acknowledge the providential God of creation, individuals and governments. In essence, like the name of the rally, Restoring Honor to America, in every part of our lives is mandatory. No one is promoting or embracing Mormonism, however, the most popular TV voice, Glenn Beck, is challenging us as individuals, families, churches, communities, states and country that nothing will happen until we cry out to God and become obedient to His Word (the bible). Just like the comments of many of the event speakers believe. And yes, that Word is Jesus Christ and where I agree Mormons have some serious doctrinal issues, pointing the masses back to the bible (Mormons use King James Version) and to their knees actually provides opportunities for churches to minister further to their communities. I don’t believe in the charasmatic movement or that one can lose their salvation, but I will join forces with those Christians to feed the poor and visit those in prison. I disagree with most of where the Mormons have taken the Word, but if a Mormon were to walk up to me and asked me to pray, I would gladly do so and be ready to share the gospel of jesus Christ, using their bible. FYI, here’s a note from Special Operations Warriors, “Thank you to all those that attended 8/28 both in person and online — With your support and help we were able to raise more than $5-million dollars for the Special Operations Warrior Foundation.”
If you would like to donate, you can do so online here. http://www.specialops.org

Maria in reply August 29th, 2010 at 10:13 pm
@Glenn W,

Thank you for stating that. I didn’t think of this as some sort of religious revival like apparently others did. Still, as a Christian I have to say that it’s still sad to see how divided Christianity itself has always been, and continues to be.

DW in reply August 30th, 2010 at 12:09 am
@Glenn W,

Actually, the Mormons use The Book of Mormon, not the King James Version. Glenn Beck doesn’t believe anything you as a Christian believe and he has totally brainwashed you.
Joshua A. Dodd August 29th, 2010 at 8:29 pm
Glenn Beck sold out to Rupert Murdoch for $50 million dollars and has become a con artist profiteer by duping disconcerted sheeple into false “hope” by playing the card of a patriot, and although 75-80% of what he says–100% with progressivism–is right, he plays the tactic of psychological warfare to keep people blind and stuck in the false left vs right paradigm and calls true hope for America, Ron Paul and libertarians, terrorists. Who Beck supports are all neocons and he supports a tax to the illegal Federal Reserve to pay our false debt accumulated illegally and not by the consent of Americans and he preaches imperialism and nation building. Although he may try to defend capitalism, he knows nothing about true capitalism, because with true capitalism, nation building and these worthless wars are bad and only support a mercantilist system, the dangerous military industrial complex.
Kevin in Manila August 29th, 2010 at 8:33 pm
Thanks for this post, Dr. Moore. Very good thoughts here. Both the right and the left are both guilty of adopting liberation theology.
Lois Bartell August 29th, 2010 at 8:48 pm
Interesting comments until the last one. If I recall, Tony Campolo would not even say the Jesus Christ is Lord and the only one true God when Dr. Jerry Falwell questioned him a few years ago, so why would we call him a Christian. Yes, Beck is Mormon according to reports, but what if, God is using this to convert him to Christianity? What if? This has been a concern of mine, but if I am afraid to stand up for Christ and “rub shoulders” with him for the right reason, to bring this nation back to what our founding fathers declared it to be, then what good am I? Just curious!
Mark August 29th, 2010 at 8:48 pm
This was a fundraiser and yes evangelicals were involved. Are you really going to find any way you can to slap this down. You are just a young man trying to find his own bully pulpit.
Lee August 29th, 2010 at 8:59 pm
Dr. Moore, you totally missed the point of this weekend’s rally. It was a call for Americans to begin living by the teachings of Jesus. It was a declaration that no political party or king can save us. God bless Glenn Beck for having the courage to make such a declaration. GB taught on Saturday that, if Americans begin to live according to the teachings of Jesus, exercising faith, hope and charity in their daily lives, then conditions in our nation will improve. If Americans do not restore their honor, we can expect the same old choice between the lesser of two evils–often Republicans or Democrats. Dr. Moore, you exhibit religious bigotry when you proclaim that Christians should ignore GB’s message simply because he is a Mormon. Because Mormon theology is off base, do you believe that an individual Mormon cannot be correct about anything. Sorry, but that type of closed-mindedness is not healthy and gives Christians a bad name. The Christians in attendance Saturday know the real Jesus and they are intelligent enough to determine where they agree with GB and where they do not. You insult all of them when you say that they are being sold a different Jesus. People like you give Christians a bad name.

Kamilla in reply August 29th, 2010 at 9:44 pm
@Lee,

If Dr. Moore and Glenn Beck were serving the same Jesus, he wouldn’t have written the post. Beck, as a Mormon, follows a false god and a false saviour.
Kati Auton August 29th, 2010 at 9:02 pm
Thank you. My sentiments exactly!
WHAT????? August 29th, 2010 at 9:06 pm
#
I agree with Beck not on his mormonism but on his truth and facts of the history of this country which is not being taught in our classrooms anymore thus the people are straying from our forefathers judeao-christian heritage..this IS a christian nation and it WAS started by christians and it should be christians that continue to make it so….as one blogger stated under this article if it takes a mormon to light a fire under our pants to get out there and prod us CHRISTIANS to STAND UP for our CHRISTIAN HERITAGE than so be it!!! I know he is a mormon..I don’t listen to his preaching of mormonism (mostly because he HASN’T done so) I listen to him because he states facts of our history, as I said…and he is TEACHING what our classrooms don’t and wont..and this is what the people are listening to..Are we to just allow the progressives who want to lead us astray more than Beck and his mormonism wants to do??? Are we to just lie down like dogs and allow muslims to enter this country and cut our heads off??? We are not a misplaced peoples! We are AMERICANS and this is OUR country given to us by the Grace of God and we true christians know this!!! And we are standing up and fighting back!!!!I am teaching my kids of the Lord and I am teaching them of our Godly heritage…Godly men back in the 1700’s stood up and defended their right to speak freely and to create a FREE nation, thus, so should we!!!

All I have to say is WHERE WERE THE EVANGELICAL PASTORS AT THIS RALLY????

WHERE were the Billy Grahams??? the Jack Grahams??? The John MacArthurs lately??? Why are they not standing up for their rights??? For their rights too are at stake…their right to preach in their churches will soon be taken away if they …do not start teaching their flock that as well!! Liberalism, socialism, Islam are slowly but methodically taking away more and more of our freedoms and the rights that our forefathers fought for….as well as my dad in WWII…and I for one will not let it happen!!!

So if we are to just to sit idly by then why not just walk over to a mosque and tell them to slice you in 2 now????
Berate us for supposedly not following after Christ, but you will also need to berate Washington and Jefferson and the rest of those who fought for this country and are still doing so today!!!!

Jane in reply August 30th, 2010 at 12:09 am
@WHAT?????, you nailed it!!

Michael in reply August 30th, 2010 at 7:43 am
@WHAT?????,

Billy Graham, Jack Graham, and John MacArthur are still alive. And they weren’t at the rally.
CalinCA August 29th, 2010 at 9:08 pm
None of you are going to like what I’m about to say, so for the hard core “I’m right and you’re wrong no matter what” just skip me and go on. For the true lovers of Jesus Christ, listen up:

I know the history of so called “Christians” around the world, and it’s not pretty. I’m not anti, quite the contrary, I just have a probelm with all the Prostestent Churches that are all splinter groups to begin with (they all spun off Roman Catholics) saying their original church is wrong. That being the case, what does that make the spin offs? Who are you to say what is right and what is wrong? If you study the orgins of Christianity from Constantine, you’d be running the other way asking, “where is the true Church of Jesus Christ?”

I’m not pro Catholic, pro Islamic, pro Judism, pro Hindu, or pro Buhdist, either. I spent 1/2 my life growing up in a mainstream Protestent church, got thrown out of Bible classes by Phd. theologians because of questions I would ask such as, “when Christ came up out of the water from baptism, a voice came out of the heavens saying, “this is my son in whom I’m well pleased” with the Holy Ghost coming down in the form of a dove. One of two things, either God is an egomaniac because he’s pleased with himself, or they three destinct people, which is it?” Didn’t make the preacher happy, something about being blasphmamist.

Who is to say the Mormons are wrong? A bunch of preachers in a bunch of Prostestent Churches that get paid well for what they preach? What did Christ or any of his apostles get paid?

I could go on, I just get tired of seeing people bash other religions when they really don’t have any basis for what they say other then some concocted interpretation of the scriptures. What makes them the expert? Some teacher who gave them a degree? The only one in Jesus Christ’s group that was educated was Judas. Wow, what have we evolved into? A bunch of “hate” people.

Grow up America. I didn’t see Beck bash anybody, but you are.

Jordan in reply August 29th, 2010 at 9:35 pm
@CalinCA, you decry people who “bash other religions” … but what do you call what you did in your own comment?

You might be addressing some of the people in above comments, and you are partially right (about some of them) in that their speech was not loving as Scripture says it should have been (Ephesians 4:15). But your speech was not loving, either, and you asked many of your rhetorical (and contentious-sounding) questions from experience rather than from Scripture.

You spoke derogatively about Christians who have become “a bunch of ‘hate’ people,” but you yourself sounded rather hateful in your comment. I pray that you would search Scripture for the truth. That is what Dr. Moore has done (he was gospel-centered in this blog, as he is in all of his blogs that I have read), and that is what I pray you do, not so that you agree with EVERYTHING Dr. Moore says in all his posts (even I don’t agree with him on every doctrinal issue), but so that your mind would be enlightened by Scripture rather than be darkened by misleading experiences.

darinbrill in reply August 30th, 2010 at 3:26 am
@CalinCA,
“None of you are going to like what I’m about to say” - this could be because some of what you said is just plain wrong.
You assume that the Roman Catholic church is the “orignal church” of Protestants, when this statement itself betrays either a belief that is distinctively Catholic, or just contradictory. The apostles of Jesus themselves wouldn’t have fit the modern mainline catholic criteria for the priesthood, as they were married men (1 Cor 9:5-6).
And while we’re in 1 Corinthians 9, we could address your implication that Jesus’ apostles did not get paid and that it’s hypocritical to preach against error if you’re getting paid for it. Continue on from v.7-14.
And speaking of disciples, are you assuming that because Judas was in charge of the money that he was the only educated one of the disciples? That seems like sloppy reasoning when Matthew was surely educated as a tax collector, Paul had a substantial education, and many others, like Luke, who were discipled by the 12 were educated men as well.
To address your question to a former professor of yours, yes, the members of the trinity are distinct persons, and no, God is not an egomaniac as a human might be. God’s finding joy within himself in the trinity would not be a negative thing for God, because, well, God is God! He’s perfectly self-sufficient, perfect, and is the only one who can rightly be proud, have joy in himself, and create all and do all for his own glory and fame! Our worth is only in Christ, and in the image of God that we were created in, not in ourselves, and so it would be ridiculous to assume that because we have no reason to boast in ourselves, that God doesn’t.
Max August 29th, 2010 at 9:09 pm
Well said. Thank you for speaking for me
Chuck Holt August 29th, 2010 at 9:20 pm
Dear Sir, I know nothing of your organization or beliefs but this article greatly saddens me. Have you personally talked to Glenn Beck? Have you asked him to share his conversion experience with you? I find it very confusing why so many so called Christians are so quick to judge Glenn Becks faith. Do you know what his theology is? scandal? Political agenda? If Glenn Beck has accepted salvation by faith alone in Jesus Christ and professes that Christ as his redeemer and the atonement for his sin then who are you or anyone else to judge him? I could go one and one but I am sure that you nor your readers will step down from your judgement seat. I bet if you were around when Jesus himself gave his mission statement in Luke 4:18-19, you would think it was a social gospel with no depth to it. Isnt it time that christians stop judging someone salvation (especially when they recognize salvation by faith through grace) and motives and start thinking God that someone is calling people to turn back to God and to Jesus Christ??

PS please tell me what Glenn Beck has actually said that would dub his message as “Mormon Politics”?

eastern ky pastor in reply August 29th, 2010 at 9:44 pm
@Chuck Holt, with deep respect, you do realize that Beck is an active member of the Latter Day Saints? Mormonism is not true Christianity on a vast number of things, namely their vision of Who Christ is radically departs from what the Bible describes. Mormonism uses a lot of common words that orthodox Christians use. However, they redefine them, so that they do not reflect the Scripture.

michael in reply August 30th, 2010 at 12:20 am
@eastern KY pastor, sir, also with deep respect, have you listened to what Beck has been saying? Are you writing him off merely because of his background when his (broadcast at least) comments are in line with any historical protestant or catholic theology?
Please save your darts for when the man actually says something heretical rather than preemptively attacking him.
Consider Acts 5:38-39.
Jay North August 29th, 2010 at 9:30 pm
I ran across this from my Google Reader that gives me “What’s Popular”. I find this message very interesting, though somewhat off. Glen Beck is a Mormon, that is known very well, especially by him telling everyone that he is a Mormon. I’m a Mormon as well, though I do not believe what Glen Beck to be doing is following the teachings of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. From the first time I heard him speak on his TV show (I can’t remember which network), I decided that he was pompous and was in this for money.

I get saddened every time I hear someone praise or agree with Glen Beck, especially those who are Mormon, because I know they are not truly trying to follow the Gospel of Jesus Christ. There are 2 politicians I know, who are members of the LDS church, that I continue to be saddened by their continual lack of following the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

I hope that the public in general will understand that Glen Beck does not speak for the church and is only preaching his own gospel.

Again - thank you for your view, I enjoyed almost all of it.

Jay North
eastern ky pastor August 29th, 2010 at 9:38 pm
What bothered me about this event was the “Black Robe Brigade”. Beck kept saying that these men and women of all faiths were going to help turn America back to God. I know that is the politically correct thing to say. However, only the Gospel of Jesus Christ can turn people to God.
mama harper August 29th, 2010 at 9:46 pm
AMEN! Amen, and well AMEN again.
Brian Zahnd August 29th, 2010 at 9:59 pm
Wow! I was lamenting over this whole sad fiasco yesterday. Thank you for articulating what so desperately needs to be said and heard.
Jim Digby August 29th, 2010 at 10:16 pm
Dr. Moore,
I have been waiting for a scripture based response to this “American Christianity” that blurs country, God and human rights and freedom. Knowing the example of the first Christians and their sufferings, begs the question, why do we Americans think we have these temporal rights? We only have the rights that the our sovereign God affords us. Thanks for your post.
Jim Digby
Sean August 29th, 2010 at 10:21 pm
“Jesus will build his church, and he will build it on the gospel.” http://jesuschrist.lds.org

Jane in reply August 30th, 2010 at 12:08 am
@Sean, beautiful website honoring the Savior. Thank you for sharing.
Richard August 29th, 2010 at 10:25 pm
Beck can take his generic interfaith turning back to God and shove it. The only thing that will bring America is the recognition of Jesus Christ’s eternal Lordship…. not some pseudo theistic moralism. That is a false gospel that offers no eternal hope to Americans nor the world.
Elmo August 29th, 2010 at 10:39 pm
Thanks, Dr. Moore, for being an eloquent voice in what is too often a wasteland of Southern Baptist commentary.

Your comments are a reminder that I can sometimes be proud to be a Baptist.
Wayne Brooks August 29th, 2010 at 10:43 pm
Preach on Brother….there are more of us out here praying for the “Gospel”….pure, plain, and simple to be preached, resulting in True-God-Defined-REVIVAL. That “Powerless form of Christianity” (2 Timothy 3) sickens me, as I know it sickens God (Revelation 3:14-22). We must move beyond this Materialistic form of Christianity….Humble Ourselves….Call out to God….Repent….and Seek God’s Face….(2 Chronicles 7:13-15)….and HE….HE….HE….not by the efforts of man….HE will heal our Land.
JS August 29th, 2010 at 10:48 pm
I don’t care if Beck is a Mormon or not, he’s leading a movement of gullible people using fear mongering and lies. This movement that he’s leading has convinced me that the Christiianity that I have proudly professed all of my adult life is a farce. Now I cringe when I hear someone say they are a Christian. I’m tired of God being used as justification for bigotry. I’m done with Christianity.

Jarrod in reply August 29th, 2010 at 11:50 pm
@JS, It saddens me that you are willing to respond toward God in this way because of the offensiveness of human sin. Your repsonse does not fit the “crime”. Please coside you folly and turn to God. He is our only hope in the storms of life…only He can save us from the consequences of our sins and the impact of the sins of others.
David Rogers August 29th, 2010 at 10:51 pm
Thank you, thank you, thank you for your courage in speaking up on this! You have renewed my hope that discernment is not dead among us.
Glenn Moore August 29th, 2010 at 10:53 pm
Russ (Dr Moore)

Been a while since Bay Vista Days and I’ve always read your articles and observations since then, but this was a classic piece that someone had to write. I’m glad you did it.

Take care

Glenn Moore
Oklahoma City
Brandon August 29th, 2010 at 11:09 pm
Awesome stuff! You’ve communicated very clearly the message that Christians need to hear. I agree with Glenn Beck on certain political issues, but when he starts talking about the Bible it is downright scary! I think this guy really believes he’s the modern day Moses, endorsed by God to lead the people (conservatives in this case) out of oppression. It’s crazy stuff. Thank you, thank you, thank you for your work in writing this article.
RJB August 29th, 2010 at 11:25 pm
Dr. Moore,

While I agree with you about Mormonism and American political religion, there may be many people who agree with the general tone and comments of Glenn Beck. The country is in a mess, and yes, God can heal our land, not just necessarily make the USA an unbeatable geopolitical superpower. God is not a Republican or Democrat, or an American.

Can you please list in Beck’s pubic statements, from the event on Saturday, or his tv/radio shows where he contradicted good theology and the Gospel? Where is he inconsistent on history and the role of Christianity in the shaping of America? I do not want to validate or give gravitas to Mormonism, but, Glenn Beck is sharing a message that is resonating with many. All I have seen in the comments are blanket statements and no specifics. Please share specifics and be clear with examples so people on the fence can have more information.

Thanks.
RJB
Joan Deering August 29th, 2010 at 11:38 pm
Thank you…I was out of sorts listening to the re-broadcast of the day. It horrifies me that my brothers and sisters in Christ and my now lapsed Republican Party embrace this false self-serving prophet. This has been going strong since the Bush years…breaks my heart that Christians are embracing as you say, a Pharaoh over our Messiah…this in itself is very revealing of who we are as a people and whether or not we are truly followers of Christ!
michael August 29th, 2010 at 11:54 pm
Forgive me for interjecting an opposing opinion here, but I think if you read the book of Jonah you will find God calling people to repent for self-serving means as well. I daresay, I’ve not heard an altar-call that did not appeal to a self serving aspect of the listener (which is one reason they are not biblical).
Furthermore, if you are looking for a perfect messenger, again, Jonah ran away then whined and pouted- Is that who you are looking for to call you to repentance?
lastly, as to message, I didn’t see the hooplah the other day but I have been listening to Glen Beck’s show occasionally and what I have heard is his call for people to 1) read their Bible 2) get on their knees and repent 3) spend time daily worshiping with their family. That, to me, is the message of the First Great Awakening and the Reformers and exactly what we need.
Seriously, he’s got more in common with the Book of Common Prayer than the book of mormon.
Stop looking for the splinter and pray for national revival.
Kevin Bowker August 29th, 2010 at 11:58 pm
My cousin sent me this article on FB. Below is my reply to him…
I’m guessing this guy didn’t watch the rally, or if he did, he never watches the Glenn Beck show, because it’s obvious, to someone who did and does, that he missed the entire point of the rally. Not that it matters, but there were some speakers who were evangelical and proclaimed that Americas only hope, is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ was proclaimed many times and all the music played was Christian. Ever heard 500,000 ppl sing Amazing Grace to the bagpipes? It was pretty awesome. The last song was an AMAZING song which I can’t remember the name of right now, but it will send chills up and down any Christian and most non-Christians because Jesus was being glorified by 5 ppl in perfect harmony at the top of their lungs and I bet it could be heard in every corner of D.C.
The message was clear… GOD started this country through His divine providence, and only HE can preserve it, and He will only do that if we join Him in His will, and stop asking Him to bless ours.
I wonder if the good Dr. can tell me how many Southern Baptists were at the Constitutional Convention. God uses all kinds of ppl to accomplish His purposes, if he wants to use a few million$$$ of a Mormons money to have JESUS CHRIST His son’s name proclaimed to the whole world, from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, who are we to question? Like Glenn said, maybe the next George Washington was in that crowd in the form of an 8 yr old boy and the whole purpose of that rally, was to inspire him to act on what God is leading him to do.
Other than the whole article missing the point, I guess it was ok. LOL
Love ya cuz
…END
I’ll just add that, it may not sound like it, but I was born and raised and I still am, 42 years later, a Southern Baptist, so don’t think I’m knocking SB’s

ron in reply August 30th, 2010 at 7:50 am
@Kevin Bowker, “GOD started this country through His divine providence, and only HE can preserve it, and He will only do that if we join Him in His will”

Really? He will only do it if we join him? I was with you until the last clause. It seems the scriptures teach us to submit to His will other than joining it.
Paul August 30th, 2010 at 12:00 am
@Ken, You do realize that Beck and those associated with this rally have gone to great lengths to contend that this was NOT a political rally. So either you agree that it was not a political rally, thus validating Dr. Moore’s point; or you are calling Beck & Co. liars and frauds for contending one thing while presenting something quite different.
Jane August 30th, 2010 at 12:02 am
The Mormon Church’s actual name is “The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.” We believe that Jesus Christ is the ONLY way that we can return to the presence of God. It is hurtful when some say that I am not a “true” Christian. I have knowledge and peace in my heart I AM a Christian. I know that Christ died for me and that He loves me. He did this for ALL of us. I know that He is the way, the truth, and the life. I love Him with all my heart. I know that I am a Christian, and HE knows, and that’s all that matters.
Bobby B August 30th, 2010 at 12:08 am
Dr. Moore is right on,

While I applaud Mr. Beck and it has been fun watching him awake to the amazing and wonderful group of men and women who were America’s founders. We, citizens of heaven, must realize that we are to be ready to give an account for that Hope that we have in and through Jesus THE Christ…Period. Our family has been wondering if Mr. Beck in his search for truth has dug very deep in his Mormon theology…He proclaims that the truth shall set you free. I believe that if he keeps digging he will; meet the real Jesus…The one who proclaims Himself through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit in Isaiah and every other book of that perfect and inerrant book called “The Bible”.

That all being said, Mr. Beck is right on that America needs to repent! God does grant a blanket of natural cause and effect; living by the Golden Rule while it will certainly bring about harmony in this country—it will not bring about eternal life. That can only be done by the miraculous activity of the Lord of Glory—saying: Live!
rick satterthwaite August 30th, 2010 at 12:18 am
I was at the rally and in my spirit I felt an uneasyness. I am a former mormon and a Southern Baptist pastor. I was there for another consertive gathering, Americans for Prosperity and also wanted to go to the rally to see what would transpire. He did make a clear referrance to Mormon theology when he mentioned that while the gospel was spreading in the area of the first church, it was also being preached here in the Americas. Clearly referrance to their teaching that Jesus came to South America after He left the disciples.
On one hand, there was a great sense of religious patriotism that this country lacks, but I know what Glen believs when he says we need to turn to God….They believe in a temporal, created god in a long line of temporal, created gods. Seeing all those pastors up there, even one leading in a great prayer made me wonder if all of them were like Loel Osteen and didn’t understand the fact that Beck believes in a different god and jesus than the true and only God and Jesus! It was an interesting event to say the least!
Aaron August 30th, 2010 at 12:21 am
I stumbled upon this article browsing tonight. It saddens me that so many people claiming to know Christ can be so judgmental and blinded by hate.
Butch Maltby August 30th, 2010 at 12:39 am
Thank you. Dead on!
bossmanham August 30th, 2010 at 1:16 am
I’ve been working this over in my mind as well. As excited as I am to have someone telling people to turn to God at this level in the media (since no one else even wants to say the G-word) I am somewhat baffled that it is through a Mormon. However, notice that Beck hasn’t pushed his Mormonism on anyone. He is telling people to turn to God, seemingly which ever God they worship. It seems to me he’s striving to turn people to some sort of objective morality or something instead of the sleaziness of Washington DC.

You also says people are “confusing Mormon politics or American nationalism with the gospel of Jesus Christ.” Can you tell me where this is happening? I think people are concerned about the direction of their country. I don’t know how that would make them confuse Mormonism or American patriotism with the gospel. I keep the three very separate in my mind, and while I like Beck’s politics I am very aware that he is not under the blood of Christ if he holds to the doctrines the LDS church proclaims.

Is what happened at the memorial what we as humans ultimately need? Obviously not. There was no talk of sin, no talk of the forgiveness found in Jesus Christ, the second person of the Trinity, and no talk of the need to repent and to submit our lives to Christ. But is it harmful for a nation to hear that we need to turn to God? I don’t think so. Beck isn’t presenting it in a Mormon-specific way, nor any religion-specific way. It’s not enough, but at least it’s something.

The real big question is, why is a Mormon doing this instead of an evangelical? Have we really lost this much ground?
kevin swymer August 30th, 2010 at 2:29 am
Excellent. Dr. Moore is right on the mark. The church needs this kind of discernment today.
Jennifer August 30th, 2010 at 4:27 am
A couple of things:

In Matthew, Jesus teaches about fruit and about how a tree is known by its fruit. A bad tree is not going to produce good fruit and a good tree is not going to produce bad fruit. This is where we as Christians can sometimes say that someone is probably not a Christian based on their life and fruit. Does that mean we are right all the time? No, only God and the individual knows who is actually a Christian and who is not. However, legally using the legal definition of judge, we are not judging Glenn Beck and others. We are simply cross examining.

There are going to be several who in the end, Christ will say, “I never knew you. Depart from me.” There are so many who believe they are Christians but they do not have a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. It is nice that perhaps Glen Beck is getting people talking, but way too many people follow him as if he were a prophet just like they follow Joel Osteen and others. When questioned on salvation, Joel Osteen couldn’t even give a direct answer. We are seeing what was spoken of in the Bible. We have a lot of false prophets out there and a lot of people are being led astray. That is why pastors and scholars such as Dr. Moore, Dr. Stanley, Dr. Vines and others are very concerned about what is going on and being said. They see how these people are looked on as if they are Saviors. How many so called Christians think they are a Christian because they embrace Glen Beck’s gospel or because they are a Republican? Catholics call themselves Christians. Good people consider themselves to be Christians because they are good people. Want true revival? Get our churches back to God and a personal relationship with Him and away from Fox news, Glen Beck, and others. Our battles are fought best on our knees not in rallies.
Lori August 30th, 2010 at 5:12 am
Thank you so much for this message. I have been stating the same thing for years, but only getting cold shoulders. It’s so refreshing to hear this from someone else. I have been sending this to everyone I know.

I think it is so important for the body of Christ to regain its focus… Jesus. I think we lost Him somewhere between the polling place and the cable news networks. The only true way to defeat sin in society is to let Christ work through us; changing people from within… not through a vote.
diane August 30th, 2010 at 7:51 am
Amen! Amen and Amen! I’ve been saying the same thing except you said it so much more succinctly and eloquently! Thank you!

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