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Evangelical Scholar Troubled by Theological Ambiguity at Beck Rally (Many Christians Seem Confused)
Christian Post ^ | 09/02/2010 | Nathan Black

Posted on 09/02/2010 6:59:52 AM PDT by SeekAndFind

In the days following Glenn Beck's highly publicized rally in Washington, D.C., conservative Christians have come out expressing their concern not over the increasingly popular broadcaster, but over the apparent confusion among Christ followers.

"There is something very strange going on here. I don't understand the disconnect on the part of Christians," said Dr. R. Albert Mohler, Jr., president of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky.

Americans from across the country converged on the National Mall on Saturday for the "Restoring Honor" rally led by Fox News commentator Beck. Reports indicate that the event drew anywhere from 87,000 to 500,000 people. Beck, a Mormon, was joined by a diverse group of religious leaders – including evangelical Christians – as he called on America to turn back to God.

Mohler, one of the nation’s pre-eminent evangelical theologians, found that Beck's rally cries were resonating with many Christians.

"What concerned me about that event on the mall was not so much Glenn Beck and the politicians in the program; it was the picture of those religious leaders standing together," he said Tuesday on The Janet Mefferd Show.

During Saturday’s three-hour event, over 200 religious leaders stood behind Beck, linking arms at certain points. Dr. Richard Land, a well-known Southern Baptist, and Bishop Harry Jackson of Hope Christian Church in Maryland were among the conservative Christians standing there.

While Land does not agree with Beck's theology, he told National Public Radio that the event was about a deep concern of Americans that the country has taken "a fundamentally wrong turn and is headed in the wrong direction."

Jim Garlow, pastor of Skyline Wesleyan Church in San Diego, Calif., who was also at the event, said the rally was about extolling virtue and honoring God.

And the event was evangelical in tone, he said in a commentary on CNN.

"Despite the pre-rally discussions of Beck’s Mormonism, the rally’s litany of evangelical speakers gave it the Jesus-centeredness of a Billy Graham Crusade. All theological references were clearly evangelical and biblically based," Garlow wrote.

After observing the rally, Mohler came away with a different take and a big concern.

"The bottom line is ... we've been used and we've allowed ourselves to be used at times by politicians and others who co-opted God talk," he said Tuesday on The Janet Mefferd Show.

"We (conservative Christians in America) … have just assumed that because they were using our language, they were talking about the same Gospel or talking about the same understanding of God or talking about the same theological structure and that's just not true," he stressed.

Mohler doesn't disagree on uniting with others on common concerns and moral convictions.

But he underscored the need to "distinguish that from standing together in the faith."

"One of the healthiest things that can happen among conservative Christians is the ability to recognize, to discern the difference between civil religion and authentic Christianity," he explained.

The conservative theologian said he and many other believers agree with Beck on many of his political views. He also expressed appreciation for how Beck identifies "many really horrible and very dangerous liberal ideas."

But "[j]ust to debunk liberal ideas does not give you then the authority to be taken at your word ... to be speaking truth when then you talk about the Gospel," he cautioned.

"We just have to be mature Christians [and say] 'let's look at the Scripture. Let's look at what is being said here. We have a problem."

Continuing, Mohler outlined the fact that Mormons hold to a very different understanding of God than that of Christian theism.

"We're talking about very different deities here," he said. "And I think many Christians just have no idea as they were watching that event."

"How many American Christians who are watching that (rally) and resonating with the call for spiritual revival know that the man who is up there speaking, using words about Gospel and God and all the rest, believes that there was a male and a female deity, that the Godhead is a reproductive pair, that eventually we will be divine ourselves if indeed we follow the path of righteousness?" Mohler added.

Since January, Beck has been working on the themes of faith, hope and charity. He said his aim is to restore history, honor, and "our faith" in the country.

The popular commentator has discussed the Gospel of Jesus Christ repeatedly on his television program, even using evangelical language such as atonement through the shed blood of Christ.

But Mohler commented, "That's bizarre language for a Mormon to be using in this light and to have evangelical Christians affirm that he's talking about the same Gospel we are ... it's the same language but it's not the same Gospel."

What both Mohler and Mefferd believe is happening is spiritual rallying on vague terms.

"When we see some of the talk that has come out of the rally and some of the people associated with the rally, all about God, God, God, I just have really strongly felt that it needs to be a very precise definition when we bring God into the discussion on anything," radio host Mefferd stated.

Mohler described the scenario as having all the cards on the table but turned over so that the faces are not seen.

"You're having the language, but you're not having the definitions here," he noted.

"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."

While Mohler recognized that some Christians would be irritated listening to his take on Beck and the rally, the theologian hopes they'll be irritated enough to go and look at Scripture.

Amid the theological ambiguity and confusion, Mohler reminded Christians that a revival or spiritual renewal cannot happen without a heart that has known salvation through Jesus Christ.

"You can't have spiritual renewal where biblically speaking there's spiritual deadness," he said. "The reality is we can't biblically believe that they really know the one true and living God unless they know Him through Jesus Christ, our Lord."


TOPICS: Current Events; Ecumenism; Religion & Culture; Religion & Politics
KEYWORDS: beck; evangelical; glennbeck; inman; lds; mohler; mormon; rally; restoringhonorrally; theology
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To: ansel12

Could be maybe when he was with CNN


241 posted on 09/02/2010 4:04:38 PM PDT by RnMomof7
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To: Genoa

a BIG A-M-E-N!!!


242 posted on 09/02/2010 5:04:57 PM PDT by Kimberly GG ("Path to Citizenship" Amnesty candidates will NOT get my vote! DeMint, 2012)
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To: Joann37

Do you ask people to pray for you? Bet you do.

So what is wrong with asking the saints (real people — only in heaven) to pray for us. We ask.

Worship Mary — Please don’t repeat this untruth. Catholics do not worship Mary. Instead they venerate her — do you honor your own mother? Then what is so terrible about the Catholics of the World honoring the Mother of Jesus Christ, true man and true God. We honor her and venerate her and ASK her to pray for us.

We WORSHIP Christ, true God and true man.

I sincerely hope that you will not repeat those propaganda untruths again.

Catholics do not deviate from Scripture, in fact many Catholics read more Scripture than many protestants.

Daily — haven’t you seen the Daily Mass Readings? Usually a reading from the Old Testament, but it can be the New Testament for Daily Mass, and a Gospel. In fact, I believe that Catholics read and study the Gospels more that Protestants do.


243 posted on 09/02/2010 6:26:33 PM PDT by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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To: r9etb
"The Glenn Beck rally is confusing people.

Why?

He is aiming far beyond what most people consider to be the goalposts.

Using Boyd’s continuum for war: Material, Intellectual, Moral.

Analogously for political change: Elections, Institutions, Culture.

Beck sees correctly that the Conservative movement had only limited success because it was good at level 1, for a while, weak on level 2, and barely touched level 3. Talk Radio and the Tea Party are level 3 phenomena, popular outbreaks, which are blowing back into politics.

Someone who asks what the rally has to do with the 2010 election is missing the point.

Beck is building solidarity and cultural confidence in America, its Constitution, its military heritage, its freedom. This is a vision that is despised by the people who have long held the commanding heights of the culture. But is obviously alive and kicking.

Beck is creating positive themes of unity and patriotism and freedom and independence which are above mere political or policy choices, but not irrelevant to them. Political and policy choices rest on a foundation of philosophy, culture, self-image, ideals, religion. Change the foundation, and the rest will flow from that. Defeat the enemy on that plane, and any merely tactical defeat will always be reversible. Beck is attacking the enemy at the foundations of their power, their claim to race as a permanent trump card, their claim to the Civil Rights movement as a permanent model to constantly be transforming a perpetually unjust society.

He is nuking out the foundations of the opposition’s moral preeminence, the very thing I proposed in this post.

Ronald Reagan said we would not defeat Communism, we would transcend it.

Beck is aiming to have America do the same thing to its decaying class of Overlords, transcend them.

Beck is prepping the battlefield for a generation-long battle.

He is that very American thing: A practical visionary.

See, simple.

Restore pride and confidence to your own side, and win the long game.

As Ronald Reagan also said, there are simple solutions, just no easy solutions.

God bless America.

chicagoboyz.net

244 posted on 09/02/2010 6:37:57 PM PDT by BlueMoose
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To: Salvation; Joann37
Worship Mary — Please don’t repeat this untruth. Catholics do not worship Mary. Instead they venerate her — do you honor your own mother? Then what is so terrible about the Catholics of the World honoring the Mother of Jesus Christ, true man and true God. We honor her and venerate her and ASK her to pray for us.

Please include why you are able to 'venerate' her in heaven, Salvation, for it is a very important reason. Your Church teaches that Mary was bodily assumed and is now sitting on the right hand of Jesus CHrist, making intercession for those on earth. Just as it is of utmost importance to point out that your Church believes that she, Mary was immaculately conceived herself, and without sin. It is important that you include the WHOLE reason Mary is venerated, not just the 'overview' that she should be honored. As no other person, with the exception of Jesus Christ has been bodily resurrected, don't you think that would be a very important belief to be given to others? As Mary is called upon to intercede, dispense all graces, and advise her Son, this should be of utmost importance to a non-catholic. It is not as innocent as you would make it out to be. It's what you conveniently leave out that makes all the difference in our disagreement with the Catholic Church. Whether it is intentional or accidental, it is the crux of the argument non-catholics have with Catholics, and I think you know this. Or should, by now.

And yes, I am well aware of Enoch and Elijah. But we are not talking about them, and they are not venerated the way Mary is by your religion.

245 posted on 09/02/2010 6:42:44 PM PDT by smvoice (smvoice- formally known as small voice in the wilderness. Easier on the typing!)
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To: BlueMoose
I said much the same thing here.

Political change can't happen until there is broad agreement on the moral plane.

246 posted on 09/02/2010 6:55:46 PM PDT by r9etb
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To: r9etb

Thank you for pointing that out.


247 posted on 09/02/2010 6:58:22 PM PDT by BlueMoose
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To: r9etb

Thank you for pointing that out.


248 posted on 09/02/2010 6:58:30 PM PDT by BlueMoose
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To: SeekAndFind
This is the problem with Evangelicalism. It is theologically and doctrinally squashy. It is based almost totally on enthusiasm and emotionalism with a little law thrown in for good measure. There is no there, there. For a Christian religious leader to declare that Beck believed in the same Jesus or the same gospel as Christianity is shockingly false. It only goes to show how theologically shallow these Evangelical religious leaders are. If someone wants to say that he shares Beck's political ideology, I have no problem with that; however, to try and make Beck sound Christian is something the Anti-Christ would do.
249 posted on 09/02/2010 7:03:48 PM PDT by Nosterrex
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To: colorcountry

Does anyone know if Glenn is a temple mormon or not?


250 posted on 09/02/2010 7:35:02 PM PDT by Texas Songwriter
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To: Texas Songwriter
I suspect that he is. It isn't something that is generally telecast.

You can look closely under his light colored shirt to see if he is wearing the sacred garment - sometimes you can tell.

This picture looks like he is wearing just a T-shirt, but it also looks like an older picture.


251 posted on 09/02/2010 8:34:42 PM PDT by colorcountry ("The power of facts is much greater than the power of argument.")
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To: Pete
The Gospel he proclaimed was NOT consistent with the teachings of the Mormon church.

Funny, I am a Mormon and didn't hear anything from Glenn that I don't hear in church.

Care to share any examples?

252 posted on 09/02/2010 9:25:47 PM PDT by GreyMountainReagan ("Pray for America")
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To: 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).

In Mormon culture this is a common inside joke..emphasis on joke.

253 posted on 09/02/2010 9:31:34 PM PDT by GreyMountainReagan ("Pray for America")
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To: Walts Ice Pick
Fact is, he may know little or nothing about Mormon doctrine.

Do you know anything Mormons? Beck sounds just like a Mormon.

254 posted on 09/02/2010 9:34:46 PM PDT by GreyMountainReagan ("Pray for America")
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To: LadyPilgrim

ping


255 posted on 09/02/2010 9:43:20 PM PDT by del4hope (The Inalienable Rights Movement is here for all Americans)
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To: SeekAndFind

“confusion among Christ followers”

I am not confused. This is an Anti Mormon alert.


256 posted on 09/03/2010 4:09:41 PM PDT by Saundra Duffy (For victory & freedom!!!)
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To: BlueMoose

http://atlah.org/atlahworldwide/?p=9648


257 posted on 09/03/2010 5:39:20 PM PDT by BlueMoose
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To: ducttape45
This is what started to draw me into the web until I woke up, thanks to a few here on FR. He sounded so believable but yet something gnawed at me and I couldn't quite but my finger on it. Then when I listened to Brannon Howse it all fell into place. Now I have to try and wake up the rest of the misguided crowd.

I had a wake-up call myself and asked God for forgiveness over my lack of discernment. In the opening when he spoke of God's chosen people being Native Americans, my hinky meter shot up, but then I got carried away with the emotion of everything else.

My eyes are opened now.

258 posted on 09/04/2010 12:52:14 AM PDT by Shelayne (He who testifies to these things says, "Yes, I am coming quickly" Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! *Rev 22:20)
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To: Shelayne; ducttape45; greyfoxx39

dt you mentioned Brannon Howse, so I cheked on him

He mentions in his Sept 1 blog of his show

Topic One: A Mormon writer for the LDS Examiner declares a 200 year victory because Glenn Beck has succeeded in getting evangelical pastors to declare that Mormons are Christians. Is this not what we warned these pastors about? Did we not tell them this would happen?

http://www.worldviewweekend.com/brannon-howse/radio.php

This interested me so I looked up the Examiner...

Sure enough there was a mormon apologist atricle..

and GF it was written by none other than our old friend Greg West...who used to be among us here in FR..

Greg in his “Glenn Beck and the ‘Restoring Honor’ rally” article in the Examiner on August 28th, 2010 11:00 pm
siad some amazing things...

1. No matter what people tell you about Glenn Beck, he’s the real thing. He isn’t a put-on. He is a believer in God and in the American religion.

Nana: AMERICAN RELIGION ??? what American religion ??? Mormonism ?? What ?? Which ??? Beck is the real what ???

2. Beck’s program was very much a religious revival, not a political rally.

Nana: WOW And Greg’s mormon FRiends here told us it wasnt. Guess hey havent read Greg yet...

3. He called together patriotic Americans from all over the United States. For a moment, he was able to reach across boundaries of race and creed and bring people together—and together, they cried out to God for mercy, forgiveness, and his assistance.

Nana: Gosh I wonder if the 100s of 1000s of attenees all knew thats what they were doing ???

4. I never heard any of them tell their followers to shun sexual immorality, pornography, stealing, taking God’s name in vain, or to honor the Sabbath and keep it holy.

Nana: I dont recall Glenn Beck saying that either..

5. Glenn Beck, a rank-and-file elder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,

Nana: WOOOOOO Nellie Glenn is a mormon ELDER ???? Did those Christian ministers on the platform with him know that ??? Did the attendees have that on their programs on Friday night or any time saturday ???

6. boldly invited Americans to come back to God.

Nana: It cant be asked enough.. Which god ???

7. He called upon them to exercise faith, hope, and love.

Nana: But what kind and faith in what ???

8. He called on them to practice charity and to tithe to their churches.

Nana: To save Conservatism and Democracy ??? This Republic was not founded on tithing, which is something Abraham did in the Old Testament and is a Mormon doctrinal requirement for salvation now. It was never a Christian doctrine, however christians do tithe. They are only reqired to “give”

9. He called on them to open their Bibles and to go back to their own churches.

Nana: Which church were they in ??? Is this “any church but the LDS is the wrong one (Joey Smith)

10. He challenged them with the words of Thomas Jefferson to “question with boldness the very existence of God.”

Nana: Another Joey Smithism. He went to the grove to check on God...supposedly

11. He urged them to put their families first and to set a good example.

Nana: FAMILIES FOREVER a mormon doctrine...

12. He asked parents to humble themselves and pray on their knees in front of their children.

Nana: There is no mention of Moses or Abraham praying on their knees. and Jesus never told us to do that. God will answer a prayer just as easily when the prayee is standing up on his or her face, driving the car, at a baseball game, in the shower...

13. It was a pure gospel message.

Nana: But not the Gospel of the LORD Jesus Christ of the Christ Bible. What is Beck considered now ??? The Billy Graham of the mormons ???

14. The rally’s focus was on the principles of faith, hope, and charity with a strong dose of ‘honoring the troops” thrown in for good measure.

Nana: What a mixure. What confusion...

15. During one symbolic moment, Beck introduced some 200 clergymen from various religions and denominations. He dubbed them the “Black-Robed Brigade,” a reference to Revolutionary War America, where the preachers proclaimed “No king but Jesus” from their pulpits.

Nana: However Beck added Moslem and Mormon religious leaders, neither of which were represented during the American revolution...50 years before mormonism was invented..

16. Beck acknowledged that there would be inevitable doctrinal differences between these pastors, but they could find unity in knowing that God was the answer.

Nana: I strongly doubt it..

17. I believe that Glenn Beck’s desire, in some measure, was to create a “King Benjamin moment.”

Nana: AH now the mormon “history” bit..I hope the attendees said “King Who” ??? There is no King Benjamin in the Christian Bible...

18. The Book of Mormon relates a landmark gathering of some of the ancient inhabitants of the Americas to hear the words of one King Benjamin. Benjamin declared principles of piety, humility, service, and faith to his people. He preached to them repentance and faith in Jesus Christ, who would be born in centuries to come, relative to his time. The result was a turning back to God by his audience that brought the Holy Spirit upon them. It was a moment of national renewal and personal recommitment to do good in God’s name. This was Beck’s template for the event that took place today.

Nana: And they said it wasnt about mormonism. LOL

19. Despite nearly two centuries of misrepresentation and religious envy by sectarian Christianity, Beck has achieved the visibility, prominence, and has had the time day after day, week after week, to speak openly and truly about his core beliefs.

Nana: Well this doesnt need me to explain that Greg thinks mormonism is now the religion de jour for America. that mormonism is now a creditable accepted part of the Christian family..except the Christians still dont believe it Greg.. At least not the Berean Christians (Brannon Howse)

20. The light bulb has been switched on after nearly two centuries! Every single member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints believes that a person must be “born again” and receive Jesus Christ as his Savior and Redeemer. Our holy books teach that salvation comes only in and through the atonement of Christ and that there is no other way a person can be saved. Those beliefs obligate us to do our best to keep God’s commandments and to follow the example of Jesus in doing good. Glenn Beck’s beliefs are mainstream Mormon beliefs. JOSEPH SMITH, THE cHURCH’S FOUNDER, WAS A CHRISTIAN PROPHET. He was an apostolic witness of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Nana: Greg your mormon doctrines and prophets say otherwise...and Joey Smith was there when Jesus arode from the dead ??? BTW Joey Smith HATED the Christians anbd Christianity Much of his early mormon doctrines were rants AGAINST Christianity, and his followers continued the rants...to the point of calling for the anialation of all who were non-mormon..

http://www.examiner.com/lds-church-in-national/glenn-beck-and-the-restoring-honor-rally


259 posted on 09/04/2010 5:02:55 AM PDT by Tennessee Nana
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To: Shelayne
I got carried away with the emotion as well and I didn't really listen to his words too much. When the remarks about the Natives Americans was pointed out to me by Brannon House I re-listened to the audio tape of his speech and I was aghast at what he said.

I also had to ask forgiveness for my lack of discernment even though I knew to beware of Glenn Beck because of his Mormon beliefs. I've read and heard of many others who felt duped by the rally and wish now that they didn't attend. Let's hope the discernment spreads.

Thank you for your kind words and let's not forget each other and others who are expressing similar sentiments.

260 posted on 09/04/2010 5:39:23 AM PDT by ducttape45
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