Evangelical Scholar Troubled by Theological Ambiguity at Beck Rally (Many Christians Seem Confused)

Christian Post ^ | 09/02/2010 | Nathan Black

[Joann37]

“I thought I heard Beck say at one time that the reason he “converted to Mormonism” was so that he could marry his “hot” wife (who is a Mormon).”

That’s what I heard, too! He seems so perceptive about politics and concerned with authenticity (our Constitution, for example), so I’m surprised he’d deviate from Scripture and go for Joseph Smith’s brand of Christianity.

[FairWitness]

I thought I heard Beck say at one time that the reason he "converted to Mormonism" was so that he could marry his "hot" wife (who is a Mormon).

I suspect a great many men (myself included) could give a similar reason for the church they attend. As I also said above, I suspect Glen appreciates the support that family and friends in the Mormon community give to avoiding alcohol.

[colorcountry]

Some good Christian sources.

http://www.irr.org/mit/is-mormonism-christian.html

http://contenderministries.org/mormonism/comparison.php

A Mormon source, (you will find little overt information here, you will have to dig deeper.)
http://www.lightplanet.com/mormons/response/general/christians/

[r9etb]

Jesus saved us by dying on the cross for our sins and being resurrected.

Not so sure about that.

Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. (Mark 16:16)

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. (John 3:16-18)

Salvation apparently comes to any ... any ... who believe in Jesus (and, apparently, are willing to admit and act on that belief). Distressingly simple.

I suspect that nobody -- not Glenn Beck, nor even Dr. Mohler -- really understands Jesus well enough to believe in what He truly is. And yet I suspect that Jesus understands and makes allowances for our lack of knowledge: it is the fact of believing at all, our basic mindset, that matters, not the correctness of our personal image of what Jesus really is.

The meaning of the crucifixion is discussed in Hebrews 10: "And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all." (Heb. 10:10)

Sanctification means "to free from sin: Purify."

Jesus' sacrifice was "for all" -- it's sanctification for everyone who ever lived. And yet He says that not everyone will be saved. So although sanctification is no doubt necessary for salvation (we must be clean before we can be with God), it is not sufficient.

The resurrection is interesting: Jesus, who is co-eternal with God (John 1), cannot die. The resurrection was not necessary for Jesus' sake. The resurrection of Jesus was done for our sake -- to show us, I guess, that even death cannot stand up to God.

[Godzilla]

http://www.mrm.org/

http://www.irr.org/

http://www.4witness.org/index.php

http://www.utlm.org/

http://www.hotm.tv/

All good sources of mormon doctrine, history and teachings with sound Biblical contrasts.

[caww]

Your link was exxcellant in pin-pointing where Beck inserted Mormonism into his speech. But to those without understanding of Mormonism they would not at all pick up on those references. I even noted the covered wagon slide used as they presented America...”overtone” could easily have been understood to a Mormon.

I say again...caution with Beck on his beginning to preach about God....should he press the Mormonism slant much further he will loose the Christian community.

[allmendream]

Mike Huckabee grounded in true scripture?

Oh, really?

Do you agree that it is “Unchristian” for the government to deny illegal aliens benefits?

Is this belief of Huckabee “grounded in true scripture”?

How about his “Soggy Bottom Boys” theology that if one is forgiven by God, they should be pardoned for their crimes?

Pete: Well I'll be a sonofabitch. Delmar's been saved.
Delmar O'Donnell: Well that's it, boys. I've been redeemed. The preacher's done warshed away all my sins and transgressions. It's the straight and narrow from here on out, and heaven everlasting’s my reward.
Ulysses Everett McGill: Delmar, what are you talking about? We've got bigger fish to fry.
Delmar O'Donnell: The preacher says all my sins is warshed away, including that Piggly Wiggly I knocked over in Yazoo.
Ulysses Everett McGill: I thought you said you was innocent of those charges?
Delmar O'Donnell: Well I was lyin’. And the preacher says that that sin's been warshed away too. Neither God nor man's got nothin’ on me now. C’mon in boys, the water is fine.

****************

Pete: The Preacher said it absolved us.
Ulysses Everett McGill: For him, not for the law. I'm surprised at you, Pete, I gave you credit for more brains than Delmar.
Delmar O'Donnell: But they was witnesses that seen us redeemed.
Ulysses Everett McGill: That's not the issue Delmar. Even if that did put you square with the Lord, the State of Mississippi's a little more hard-nosed.

[Salvation]

**”Despite the pre-rally discussions of Beck’s Mormonism**

I wish all the media would get it correct. Beck is a Catholic, a lapsed one, at that, but, nevertheless a Catholic.

His wife talked him into joining the Mormon Church (guess who has the strong arm in that family? <sarc off)

[RnMomof7]

"It really is not so much a concern politically, it's a concern theologically. If we are Christians, we have to understand the name of God is not just some kind of generic noun we can throw around."

The problem is the seeker friendly, prosperity churches that never teach the gospel or scripture..so the members are theologically, scripturally ignorant of the gospel or people that are willing to compromise their faith for politics sake..

God is jealous for His name ..and has no patience for false gods..

[RnMomof7]

Couldn’t one just believe, non-biblically?

Sure.. we call that lost

[Tennessee Nana]

BTTT

[RnMomof7]

It seems to me that I disagree mostly with Beck on doctrine, not on the basics about Christianity.

Becks doctrine is not Christianity

[r9etb]

First, clearly each of those people believed in Jesus. That is why they were saved. But, note, that was before his death and resurrection and before God provided the New Testament.

But Jesus makes it clear that it is belief that saves, even now. (see, e.g., John 3, Mark 16).

Paul makes it clear that there is a specific Gospel that must be understood and that it can only be understood if it is preached. Thus the call to evangelism in the Great Commission.

Knowing and understanding the Gospel is good and necessary. Teaching people about the Gospel helps people to know about Jesus, and therefore believe in Him. But many people who do not believe, nevertheless know and understand the Gospels -- just knowing and understanding does not confer salvation. Only belief does that.

don't believe that a correct understanding of doctrine is a check list. It isn't equivalent to legalism (saved by what we do rather than what we believe).

But it's not necessary for salvation, either.

[svcw]

lds use that same words but they mean completely different things. Beck as all lds is working for godhood, which is something they teach.

[caww]

The crucifiction cannot stand without the ressurection.... ‘Sin brings forth death’...the crucifiction paid the price....the ressurection brought salvation to eternal life.

[Mrs. Don-o]

"It seems to me that I disagree mostly with Beck on doctrine, not on the basics about Christianity."

I'm not sure what you mean here. "Doctrine" means "anything that is taught" --- indicating all teachings, at whatever level. It is a very general term, and includes "the basics about Christianity".

[Gamecock]

****The purpose of Beck’s meeting was to bring together people who believe that America was founded on Judeo-Christian values. There are many variances in doctrine among that group, but they do share that one thing in common.****

Ahhhh, but let’s look at where Mormonism and Christianity differ, that is really more useful:

-Mormons believe that you can become your own god, Christians believe in one God.
-Mormons believe you can convert after death, Christians don’t
-Mormons deny the Trinity, Christians embrace that truth.
-Mormons believe that Jesus and Satan are spiritual brothers, Christians, well don’t
-Mormons believe the Holy Spirit had sexual relations with Mary. Christians don’t.

The above are not a couple of minor difference, but more akin to the difference between say, Pelosi and Palin.

[Gamecock]

****The purpose of Beck’s meeting was to bring together people who believe that America was founded on Judeo-Christian values. There are many variances in doctrine among that group, but they do share that one thing in common.****

Ahhhh, but let’s look at where Mormonism and Christianity differ, that is really more useful:

-Mormons believe that you can become your own god, Christians believe in one God.
-Mormons believe you can convert after death, Christians don’t
-Mormons deny the Trinity, Christians embrace that truth.
-Mormons believe that Jesus and Satan are spiritual brothers, Christians, well don’t
-Mormons believe the Holy Spirit had sexual relations with Mary. Christians don’t.

The above are not a couple of minor difference, but more akin to the difference between say, Pelosi and Palin.

[Gamecock]

Considering Christ taught us to guard our doctrine, Christians are right to call Beck out whenever he invokes God’s name.

[CynicalBear]

>>I mean, what was the theology of the paradise-bound thief on the cross next to Christ?<<

Those are my thoughts also. The “believe on the Lord Jesus and you will be saved” from the Bible has been polluted by most religions in America today. They act as if you need to “add to” what was said.