Is Glenn Beck Saved? (A Short Review of Mormonism)

The Ignorant Fishermen Blog ^ | 8/5/10 | Kelly Sensenig

[The Ignorant Fisherman]

Glenn Beck is one of the most popular political commentators in the United States. Between his TV show, and nationally syndicated talk-radio show, Beck reaches millions of Americans every day with his commentary about politics. Glenn Beck is also a convert to the Mormon faith, joining the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1999 along with his wife and children. However, his recent comments regarding God, salvation, and the Gospel on his TV show have caused some evangelical Christians to contemplate the salvation of Glenn Beck, even as a member of the Mormon Church.

We know that it’s the desire of political conservatives, constitutionalists, and Christians to take back America and stop the socialistic trends in this country. We are grateful for Glenn Beck and others like him who are standing behind the constitution and foundational basis of this country. Every evangelical Christian should support them in these goals. However, in sharing this common goal and desire we must be careful to not cross the line and become undiscerning in our theology and assessment of those who may only be masking as Evangelical Christians or “transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ” (2 Cor. 11:13-15).

[smvoice]

He is my prayers daily. I LOVE Glenn and believe he is a voice to be heard. I just do NOT understand how he can have so much knowledge politically, and so little knowledge, religiously.

[CynicalBear]

from post 34 “The trouble is that he does not belong to a Christian church, he left Christianity and joined a different religion.”

“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved... (Acts 16:31)”

That’s the all of it. Where in scripture do you find that any organized church is involved???

[Larry Lucido]

He can’t “come” to Christ any more than can you or I. He has to be drawn to Christ.

At least, from a Calvinist perspective.

So, Glen Beck is either elect or he is not. Nothing else matters, and no one but God knows the answer to that.

[ansel12]

That was cute, sending Christians to Mormon sites for the “truth” about the non-Christian Mormon religion.

I think that it would be more relevant to send Christians to their particular Christian denomination’s statement on the non-Christian religion of Mormonism.

CATHOLIC:
http://www.catholic.com/thisrock/2002/0210qq.asp

http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_con_cfaith_doc_20010605_battesimo_mormoni_en.html

http://www.catholic.com/library/noncatholic_groups.asp

GREEK ORTHODOX:
http://www.goarch.org/ourfaith/ourfaith7101

LUTHERAN:
http://www.lcms.org/pages/internal.asp?NavID=2239

SOUTHERN BAPTIST:
http://www.4truth.net/site/c.hiKXLbPNLrF/b.3471385/k.6CD7/Are_Mormons_Christians.htm

ASSEMBLIES OF GOD:
http://pentecostalevangel.ag.org/Articles2002/4579_spencer.cfm

UNITED METHODIST:
http://archives.umc.org/umns/news_archive1999.asp?story=%7B3BE161B2-8603-4B32-A64F-0C9D2CBFAF85%7D&mid=3368

[ansel12]

Beck’s problem isn’t a church or no church, it is that he left Christianity to join a different religion than Christianity.

[WayneS]

It doesn't have to mean that at all.

One can instruct a person (or persons) regarding one's beliefs about the process by which salvation may be achieved and then leave them alone to consider your beliefs. One can also keep one's consultation with a person or persons in confidence. There is NO requirement that one's discussions with a particular person or persons be uploaded to web-sites and blogs, accompanied by one's personal commentary as to whether or not said person or persons have been “saved”.

Making public pronouncements of one’s judgment as to whether a particular person has achieved salvation strikes me as running dangerously close to bearing false witness against one’s neighbor.

[CynicalBear]

You said: “Beck’s problem isn’t a church or no church, it is that he left Christianity to join a different religion than Christianity.”

Please find in the Bible for me where Jesus said that the “religion” we belong to was how we are saved.

Beck has stated several times that the only way to be saved is to believe in the Lord, Jesus Christ. I CAN find that in the Bible.

[ansel12]

How do you think that all the Christian scholars get it wrong when they explain that Mormonism is not a Christian religion, but a new, separate religion of it’s own, I know that Mormons use the word Jesus, but many of our now Christian, ex-Mormons can explain that.

[Paragon Defender]

That was cute, sending Christians to Mormon sites for the “truth” about the non-Christian Mormon religion.

I think that it would be more relevant to send Christians to their particular Christian denomination’s statement on the non-Christian religion of Mormonism.

---

You must have missed the part where I said read and talk to both sides of the issues.

And members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints are very much Christian.

[RnMomof7]

Glen has a false god , a false jesus and he is counting on a false salvation ... God calls all men everywhere to repent and believe and yes to come.. I happen to like Glenn and pray that God will convert his heart that he will come ... but until he repents his false gods, and believes, he is damned to an eternity ....not as a god with his own planet, but in the burning fire

[ansel12]

Someone is wrong, either all the Christian denominations scholars, or else the cult that a Missouri guy created in the 1800s. Christianity seems unified in the analysis that the Joe Smith religion is a different religion than Christianity.

“The Decree on Ecumenism (Unitatis Redintegratio) of Vatican II teaches that “all who have been justified by faith in baptism are members of Christ’s body, and have a right to be called Christian, and so are correctly accepted as brothers by the children of the Catholic Church.”

Because Mormonism is polytheistic and rejects the Trinity, Mormon baptism is not valid, and Mormons are not considered separated brethren. For the same reason, outreach to them, while certainly a good thing, is not ecumenism, though it can include dialogue and social cooperation as well as efforts to evangelize them.”

[Colofornian]

As far as I know there is no tenet of that Church which enjoins, or even advocates, its members to publically “contemplate the salvation” of another person.

Specific people? (Yeah, I understand the very reluctance to even go there in thought or contemplation). But generically?...like people groups at home & abroad? If all the missionaries & missionary agencies & those who support them took your word above as "gospel" on that, might as well call 'em all back home -- if it doesn't matter if a group of people has plenty of "lost" people in its midst.

That's almost like saying "why care about the effects of broken homes upon children? Why should we have social science theories & studies which enjoins or advocates the public contemplation of other people's divorces?" 'Tis a HUGE difference between over-navelgazing your nextdoor neighbor goin' thru a divorce -- and social scientists taking a broader look at the impact of divorce upon children...like some of what Judith Wallerstein has done thru the years.

This parallel example can also be applied to missionaries & intercessors who study people groups around the world. (So yes, Wayne, millions of Christians worldwide do indeed "contemplate the salvation" at least of groups of people -- and they lift them up in prayer daily.)

My bottom-line assessment of your comment: This is simply screwed up libertarian theology taken to its max...where "loving thy neighbor" becomes "who cares about thy neighbor?"

[Colofornian]

Does Christ’s grace extend to Beck and other Mormons?

Of course it does! But you've misjudged the foundational Q if you think that's where it begins in Mormonism. The real question within Mormonism when it comes to grace is to ask the individual Mormon, "do you need to work for God's grace to kick in? Is it something you earn by your worthiness? Is it a merit badge?"

I mean, #1, I won't try to pretend I know how every Mormon applies grace vs. merit to their lives...but we can take a look at Book of Mormon passages and make a few surface conclusions:

Q. According to the Book of Mormon, who initiates grace -- man or God?
A. Man

Q. Where is that found?
A. Helaman 12:24 and 2 Nephi 25:23

And may God grant, in his great fulness, that men might be brought unto repentance and good works, that they might be restored unto grace for grace, ACCORDING TO THEIR WORKS. (Hel. 12:24)

If grace is "merited" "according to...works" -- then, sorry, "grace" is no longer "free." It's been turned on its head & 100% redefined. (Just try teaching your kids to merit their birthday & Christmas "gifts" "according to their works.")

...for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, AFTER ALL WE CAN DO. (2 Nephi 25:23)

And here, grace only kicks in like some afterburner on a rocket after you've used all your own fuel to get to a certain location. Tell us, what Mormon would actually have the gall to say to God, "Lord, I've done EVERYTHING I could possibly do. Spiritually. Physically. Emotionally. Mentally. Relationally. Etc. I've 'initiated' it, Lord, for your grace" ???

[Colofornian]

And members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints are very much Christian.

Tell us, PD, what kind of "Christians" exist who...
...believe many true gods exist? [by definition, polytheism vs. Christian monotheism]
...believe Heavenly Father didn't exist as God from eternity? [he became a god]
...believe that you, too, can join God as a fellow-god in the "council of gods"? [by all means, let's "grow" polytheism 'cause we don't have enough people on earth thinking they are "divine"]
...and then defines "salvation" to include non-temple Mormons & "non-Mormons" who will reach a level of "salvation" -- yet defines that to mean they won't live eternally with Heavenly Father? [in light of John 17:3, what kind of false "salvation" is this you're peddling when the God of salvation is excluded from the very eternal-life relationship proclaimed in the Christian gospel???]

Until Mormons can begin to answer these 4 basic questions in a "straightforward" manner (for once), I suggest they quit banding about "Christian" so loosely.

(And for those who might suggest I'm a bit narrow-minded on this, be consistent: If you're going to challenge me on this, then I'm going to ask you if you think mainstream Mormons have a right to define "Mormonism" and exclude fundamentalist, polygamist Mormons from being referenced as "Mormons." If they have a "right" to distinguish themselves from the fLDS, then Christians are simply claiming the same privilege).

[Colofornian]

There’s something seriously wrong with FReepers who want to attack...

Show us the "attack" words. If you ever had a neighbor where you were concerned about their spiritual lifestyle, and raised an issue about their spiritual direction, I don't see that as "attacking" (automatically anyway). Especially if you're raising it about the spiritual group that person represents, and the larger Q about the eternal destiny of that group.

For some people raising the issue, it might reflect a sense of urgency; not attacking. It may reflect concern, much like God expressed concern about the people group He sent Jonah to witness to...Jonah, in proclaiming repentance, wasn't "attacking" the people group...(And here, he actually did despise the people he was sent to because of their track record of utter ruthlessness)

[aMorePerfectUnion]

Dear Mr. Paragon Defender,

Thank you for the opportunity to learn much more
about Mormonisms. It seems to be a very tricky
topic and often confusing to me.

On the FreeRepublics, I see lots of things posted
directly from the Mormonisms website. But then I
read posts from Mormons that say those things are
propaganda. How can that be? Does Mormonisms put
out propaganda about itself? This doesn’t seem
to make sense. Can you explain this? Is this to keep
the publics from understanding the real secrets of
Mormonisms?

Also, I am confused about how a person could
possibly become a god. I would very, very much like
to become a god. I would like to have powers
and have worshippers. Is there anything in writing
or do you have an interwebs links that would tell
me how I can become a god? I have cash for the
tithes. Is there a minimum tithes? [this may not
matter, but I am Canadian and our Loonie is worth
more than your US Dollar right now. It seems I
will have to do a conversion of Loonies to join
your group and I should probably get a discount
because of exchanging the Loonies]

Other than the New Age Movement (I saw Shirley
McClain on TV), I can’t find any other religion
that can tell me how to become a god. When I first
heard that Mormonisms can tell me how to become
a god, I leaped with excitement. Where is the link
I can follow to get the godhoods?

Also, if this is not one of the non-member secrets
of Mormonisms, can you tell me about “celestial s&x”.

I’ve read once I become a Mormonisms god, I will have
a Mormonisms goddess wife - or even multiple Mormonisms
goddesses - for, well, you know. Anyway, if you could
show me a link that gives some details, I would like
to read about that too! For sure! The links you give in
the post #1 do not cover becoming a Mormonisms god or
the other thing. I’m not sure why?

Thank you for posting this thread for us who are
interested in Mormonisms to learn the very
real stuff that is pretty much held secret from the
publics.

I am excited to learn more.

Very thankfully,

A More Perfect Unions

PS - Mr. PD, I had a very traumatic experience in 4th grade
of falling off a bicycle and hitting myself where it hurts.
Please tell me I do not have to ride a bicycle again, if I
become a Mormonisms.

[The Ignorant Fisherman]

Come on….. now…Why are you offended... Try being a Biblical Fundamentalist.. lol.. It’s 10 times worse.. Especially here in stone cold CT.

Mormons are great American’s.. not questioning that at all.. (Except for dirty Harry...)
Not slandering or bashing any one...also. Just disagree with many of their Biblical positions... and In the end… the God of the Bible will hold all to this eternal standard in spirit and truth.

http://www.theignorantfishermen.com/2009/04/take-gospel-of-john-challenge.html

[The Ignorant Fisherman]

Well.. my friend then you have serious problems.. The Bible states that you CAN know and should want others to know in Spirit and truth (John 4:24,1 John 5:10-15). We are to test and see if an individual is in the faith (1 Tim 1:19, 2 Thess. 2:3, 1 John 4:1). That is a command from God. It is not to be some personal deep dark secret.. Do YOU know for sure that you will go to God’s RIGHTEOUS HOLY HEAVEN. I ask in love... be sure you are as God’s Word teaches... you do not want to end up with this crownd in that day..

Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
(Matt 7:21-23)

http://www.theignorantfishermen.com/2009/04/take-gospel-of-john-challenge.html

[The Ignorant Fisherman]

well... many are dear and sincere but oblivious to the basic ABC’s of Biblical salvation. All depends on... what does God’s Word say!

[The Ignorant Fisherman]

I agree.. and that is our prayer for him and all. That they would all have a saving relationship to the Lord in Spirit and truth (John 4:24)!

Even so!