Posted on 08/30/2010 11:08:30 AM PDT by balch3
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 N
I thought the Baptists got rid of all their liberals? I can't believe Al Mohler, president of SBTS, lets him write this twaddle.
Agree. Ditch Dr Moore...and while I’m at it...I really do not like folks putting “Dr” in front of virtually worthless degrees.
Note” I am NOT belittling study of the bible, or preaching its contents. I AM belittling someone who has demonstrated his almost complete inability to understand what was printed in the bible - and then has the audacity to use the term “Dr”.
Dr Moore, your PhD is worth just about as much as a PhD in “education”.
meeeooowwww......
If you have a point of view on the issue, state it. Stop with the personal attacks on the author that tell us nothing except that you hate him.
obviously this bafoon either does not watch Glenn Beck, did not watch or contribute to this rally and/or has no concept of what true Christianity is about.
In any case...he is speaking utter rubbish here.
Da Coyote: You say he doesn't understand the Bible. Will you give an example of how this pastor has misinterpreted it?
Both: can you disagree with the man without the ad hominem attacks?
Was this idiot listening to Beck's message or anyone who spoke at the rally? Good grief... maybe he may want to listen.
Already done. And this is why the basic premise of Mormonism cannot be true. Mormon’s believe that the Church Christ founded somehow needed a restoration. Unfortunately, this cannot be true, unless Christ is a liar. The LDS claims that God chose Joseph Smith to reestablish the Church of Jesus Christ after it had disappeared some 1,700 years earlier following the death of the first apostles.
“And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” Mat 6:18
Here Christ says his Church will not be destroyed.
“I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.” John 16:12-13
“But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.” 1Tim 3:15
Here Christ says, and Paul reaffirms, that the Church will always teach the TRUTH.
Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Mat 28:18-20
Again, here Jesus assures us that He is always with us, to the very end.
So Christ says His Church will not be destroyed or fall away from him, that the Holy Spirit will guide the Church to always teach the Truth, and He will always be with us. So which Church do you think it is?
The only reason for a ‘restoration’ is that Christ lied.
Ah, I missed that quote the first time. Unfortunately, I don’t know if he means “common good” in the classic (pre-progressive) meaning, or the corruption that it has become in the last 40-50 years.
Dr. Moore misread the entire event.
We watched the entire "Restoring Honor" event and "Pastor" Paul Jails (Not sure of the spelling of his name) OPENING PRAYER in behalf of the nation and everyone assembled to the Lord "gods" (plural) was appalling! This so-called "pastor" made a specific point of calling on the "gods" for various reasons at least three times in his "prayer". Having taught Homiletics, I carefully reviewed his "prayer", my conclusion: I know for a fact that he was not making a mistake or that he had a lisp or speech impediment when he referred to the "gods" because in the very beginning of the "prayer" he prayed to God (no plural) and then shortly thereafter and I believe for the remainder of the "prayer", he prayed to "gods". This is either because "Pastor" Jails is a Mormon or he was being PC and trying to appease all of the other "faiths" and the various false "gods" they serve. In either case what he said and what he "prayed" in behalf of those gathered and America was nothing short of evil and Satanic!
To my knowledge, never before in the history of America has a supposed man of the cloth prayed to the "gods" in a massive national public forum representing America and praying for the gods blessings upon the nation. This is deeply disturbing and raises very real issues regarding the "spiritual " nature of the event, Glenn Beck's relationship to "Jesus", even more so since Mr. Beck was responsible for the event and nothing took place, no one did anything without his direct involvement.
Another very disturbing element to this whole sordid affair is I have tried to find out information on "Pastor Jails" on line and I have not been able to discover anything about him. Anything any Freepers can discover and post regarding this man and his supposed qualifications would be greatly appreciated. As for his "prayer" you can check it out for yourself on Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=47V-dpiLM78 "Pastor" Paul Jails introduction by Glenn Beck and his opening "prayer" begins at approximately 5:14 and you will clearly hear him praying to the "gods" at least three times in his "prayer".
My son, along with 200 others from Oklahoma City attended the rally and my son, along with EVERYONE around him was taken aback when they heard Jails praying to the "gods" and they were also very disturbed by what he said as he said it!
During the event and on his TV and radio shows, Glenn repeatedly talks about the individual and America's need to return to "god". In light of Glenn's Mormonism and his specific choice of "Pastor" Paul Jails to give the OPENING PRAYER to the "gods", which set the tone for the entire event, the preeminent question we must all ask ourselves and Glenn Beck is this = WHICH "god"? Which "gods" are you calling us to cry out to? Which "god" are you calling America and Americans to follow and obey?
As much as I love and respect Glenn Beck, the "jesus" of Mormonism, the "jesus" and "gods" Glenn and Mormonism worships and serves are NOT the Lord Jesus Christ, or the God of the Bible. There is only ONE TRUE and LIVING God, He is a jealous God and He will NOT give His glory to another "god" because ALL OTHER "gods", including "jesus" and ALL of the "gods" of Mormonism, are FALSE "gods":
‘See now that I, I AM HE, And there is NO god BESIDES ME; It is I who put to death and give life. I have wounded and it is I who heal, And there is no one who can deliver from MY HAND.' (Deuteronomy 32:39 Emphasis mine)
You are My witnesses,” declares the LORD, “And My servant whom I have chosen, So that you may know and believe Me And understand that I am He. Before Me there was NO God formed, And there will be NONE after Me.
“I, even I, AM the LORD, And THERE IS NO SAVIOR BESIDES ME.
“It is I who have declared and saved and proclaimed, And there was no strange god among you; So you are My witnesses,” declares the LORD, “And I AM GOD.
“Even FROM ETERNITY I AM HE, And there is none who can deliver out of My hand; I act and who can reverse it?” (Isaiah 43:10-13 Emphasis mine)
“I AM the LORD, that is MY NAME;
I WILL NOT GIVE MY GLORY TO ANOTHER,
Nor My praise to graven images. (Isaiah 42:8, Emphasis mine)
We are living in the Last days, spiritual deception and false "Christs" abound. Given the times in which we are living, it is imperative that all of us who know the true and living God use spiritual discernment in order to avoid following after false Christs, and false "gods", including the false "jesus" and false "gods" of Mormonism because all of the supposed "good works" in the world cannot save us:
"Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. “MANY will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not PROPHESY IN YOUR NAME, and IN YOUR NAME CAST OUT DEMONS, and IN YOUR NAME PERFORM MANY MIRACLES?’ “And then I will declare to them, ‘I NEVER KNEW YOU; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.’" (Matthew 27:10-13, Emphasis mine)
God's Word is clear; as Christians and the Church of Jesus Christ we have a responsibility to maintain spiritual purity for the cause of Christ and in order to maintain purity regarding the genuine Gospel of Jesus Christ:
DO NOT BE BOUND TOGETHER WITH UNBELIEVERS; for what PARTNERSHIP have RIGHTEOUSNESS and LAWLESSNESS, or what FELLOWSHIP has LIGHT with DARKNESS? Or what HARMONY has Christ with BELIAL, or what has a BELIEVER in common with an UNBELIEVER? Or what agreement has the THE TEMPLE OF GOD WITH IDOLS? For WE ARE THE TEMPLE OF THE LIVING GOD; just as God said, “I will dwell in them and walk among them; And I will be their God, and they shall be My people.
“Therefore, come out from their midst and be separate,” says the Lord. “And do not touch what is unclean; And I will welcome you.
“And I will be a father to you, And you shall be sons and daughters to Me,” Says the Lord Almighty. (2 Corinthians 6:14-18, Emphasis mine)
We need to be careful because God may be testing America as to whether or not we will serve Him and Him alone of follow after false "gods":
“If a PROPHET or a dreamer of dreams ARISES AMONG YOU and gives you a SIGN or a WONDER, and the sign or the wonder COMES TRUE, concerning which he spoke to you, saying, ‘LET US GO AFTER O T H E R gods (WHOM YOU HAVE NOT KNOWN) and LET US SERVE THEM,’
YOU SHALL NOT LISTEN TO THE WORDS OF THAT PROPHET or that dreamer of dreams; for the LORD your God IS TESTING YOU TO FIND OUT IF YOU LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL.
“You shall follow THE LORD YOUR God and FEAR HIM; and YOU SHALL KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS, LISTEN to HIS VOICE, SERVE HIM, and CLING TO HIM.
“But that prophet or that dreamer of dreams shall be put to death, because he has HE HAS COUNSELED REBELLION AGAINST THE LORD YOUR GOD who brought you from the land of Egypt and redeemed you from the house of slavery, TO SEDUCE YOU FROM THE WAY IN WHICH THE LORD YOUR GOD COMMANDED YO TO WALK. So you shall purge the evil from among you. (Deuteronomy 13:1-5, Emphasis mine)
As Christians our responsibility is to "seek first the kingdom of God", not the country of America. If that means removing ourselves from future events and rally's promoted by Mr. Beck or others that seek to "restore America" or "restore honor" while promoting "spiritual unity" at the cost of doctrinal purity between those who know the Lord Jesus Christ and individuals, denominations and cults, like Mormonism which do not, then so be it.
For more on this pressing issue please see the following article by Brannon S. Howse regarding:
Following Glenn Beck's Divine Destiny or God's Word
By Brannon S. Howse
http://www.worldviewweekend.com/worldview-times/article.php?articleid=6439
May God bless everyone who seeks to remain faithful to Him and to the Lord Jesus Christ.
*First, this is not, by design, a 'Christian conservative' movement, since Glenn called peoples of all faiths to renew their relationship with God the Creator, the One Whom established this nation to start with. The nation got off track on more than one occasion the way every people in History who have been blessed by God's Providence have gotten off track, eventually.
**Second, Christian Conservatives have no problem with rGod-fearing patriotic revival, but we do have a problem with mouthy naysayers who mischaracterize to try and manipulate their readers.
Russell, you slut, shut the heck up and get out of the way! Take you dnc kneepads off and breath freely, dude.
Left = death
Right = life
Never heard Glenn try to persude me into a Mormon church. Haven’t heard him “preaching” anything radical like, oh say, abortions are a okay...........and I’ll leave it at that because it all goes downhill from there for me.
What I heard Glenn say is go back to your church, whatever faith that may be. If these narrow minded, full of themselves elities would have bothered to listen, they might have figured that out. Well, that doesn’t fit into their meme so they are just running scared.
MESSAGE TO THEM: It’s what’s in your heart, not what’s in your mont blanc pen.
This bothers me a lot.
I am a Christian, and while I strongly disagree with Mormon theology, I have many friends who are Mormon and they are to the last wonderful, righteous people.
Glenn Beck, Mormon or otherwise, is being used by God right now, and doing wonderful things in His name. Right now, I don’t care how many join my faith, or join his. If just one more man in America returns to the principles this nation was founded upon because of Beck’s work, he is a blessing.
While I’ve drifted in my faith throughout my adult life as the pressures of family, work, and plain old selfishness took hold, I feel like I’m right on the cusp of rededication of my life at this point and walking the walk as I did when I was younger.
This was inspired in no small part by seeing the sea of fellow people of faith lining the reflecting pool on Saturday...Feeling like if I did find my faith again, I would NOT be alone by any stretch of the imagination.
The religioius leaders who came together on 8/27 at the Kennedy Center took a huge leap of faith. What would it say to their congregations if they allowed themselves to be shepherded by a man who is a member of what they perceive to be a cult?
Most of them recognized the higher calling...Preservation of our liberties and freedoms, restoration of America as an unabashedly God-fearing nation, and one in which all people of faith maintain the right to disagree peaceably and without hate.
Beware, fellow Christians, of falling into the trap of believing God will only use those who believe exactly the way you do...It’s an act of supreme arrogance to presume we’ll know what He will do at all, and through whom.
Yes; we should all be alarmed when those of the church do not have a problem with those that believe and even preach another gospel:
“I marvel that ye are so soon removed from Him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven from heaven, preach another gospel unto you than that we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.” (Galatians 1:6-9)
“For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.” (1 Corinthians 1:18)
I did hear Glenn Beck bringing up the other Chosen People in the New World that contradicts the Bible. I listened with hope and faith that he would help revive this country. With the opening introduction, I suspect he confused more people than he brought to repentance.
read
ping for later
Wow, Dr. Moore thinks so little of us.
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