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Glenn Beck, Another Whitefield? The 8/28 Revival of Pluralism
Caffeinated Thoughts ^ | July 25, 2010 | David Shedlock

Posted on 08/10/2010 5:14:31 PM PDT by grassboots.org

Talk show host Glenn Beck regularly provides conservatives with a wealth of useful information. He can be witty, self-deprecating, and endearing on the radio while dead serious and engaging on TV. Sometimes you laugh until you cry. Sometimes you just cry. There is a great deal to commend in his efforts. Dr. Beck (who received an honorary doctorate from the late Jerry Falwell’s Liberty University), diagnoses the Progressive Movement as the disease killing our land, then courageously goes after people in high places, especially the latest menu of Marxist fruits, flakes, and nuts the Barack Obama administration serves us up for breakfast every morning. According to Deseret News, “Beck also doesn't shy away from religious topics, spending much of another show this week talking about salvation through Jesus Christ.”

Speaking of religion, The Number Three Talker in the Land recently traveled around the country holding “American Revival” meetings in preparation for a huge “Restore Honor” rally in Washington, DC next month, to be held at the foot of the Lincoln Memorial. Tens of thousands will probably attend the August 28th and 29th events, perhaps more. Because showman Beck knows how to generate buzz by only dishing out rally information in small doses, details are sketchy. We do know former Vice-Presidential candidate Sarah Palin is an integral part of the event though Beck denies the emphasis will be on politics. It is almost a certainty there will be a heavy dose of Patriotism and religion. The rallies are set to promote the ethics of Faith, Hope, and Charity, show support for the military, and emphasize putting God back at the forefront of our lives.

(Excerpt) Read more at caffeinatedthoughts.com ...


TOPICS: Apologetics; Ecumenism; Evangelical Christian; Religion & Culture
KEYWORDS: beck; georgewhitefield; glennbeck; greatawakening; inman; lds; mormon; revival
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To: Drumbo

“I believe the good must stand against the evil”

It is evil to say it does not matter which god you serve.

You cannot measure “good” and “evil” by politics alone, but only by the Word of God. Glen is quick to label anybody who doesn’t agree with him a progressive (his version of the boogie man). He begged Tea Partiers not to let “birthers” take a lead (I am no birther), but doesn’t speak at all against social liberals involvement in the TP movement. His priorities are skewed.


41 posted on 08/10/2010 11:32:19 PM PDT by grassboots.org (I'll Say It Again - The First Freedom is Life.)
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To: Legatus

“I think the concern is that the Mormon Jesus isn’t THE Jesus. Which leads to the question: How correct do we have to be about who/what Jesus is?”

I understand - really, I do. I’ve said I reject Joseph Smith as a prophet and therefore Mormonism. I’ve read the Book of Mormon and “tested” it’s spirits and come to a personal decision that it is not “of God”. However, I refuse to judge another’s faith or lack of - I believe that was the message in Matthew 7:1.

I reject tenets of many Protestant denominations. I reject ordinances and rituals of Catholicism and Orthodox churches. I am a cult of one, in a personal relationship with my Lord and Saviour as I have come to know Him over 55 years. Still, I seek out fellowship with other Christians of all stripes and testify to non-Christians who are open to it through friendship and love. “Love thy neighbor” has no exceptions that I can find. Even “Love thy enemies” has no asterisk despite the difficulty.

I know Jesus Christ as my Redeemer and Lord and through him I am saved and an heir to the covenant of Abraham. It is personal, it cannot be otherwise. As Glenn has hammered, there is no “collective salvation”. Christ’s teachings are personal and difficult to follow because to be Christian is to be “Christ-like”, but to be human is to be imperfect. To me, that is challenge enough without questioning how correct we must be about who/what Jesus is or challenge another’s personal relationships with Him.

Did all the Apostles have the same relationship with Jesus or see Him the same? Why do some accounts differ? Why did Judas betray Him? These are all questions that make interesting debates but, divert from the real message and will matter not one whit in the end. Hell or no hell? Baptism by immersion or sprinkling? Paradise at the moment of death or resurrection when Christ returns? These questions are just as controversial, but does any of it really matter? If a person professes salvation through Christ Jesus it is between them and God. When Beck professes Christianity in public, I cherish his blessing, celebrate his salvation but, I cannot and will not judge his sincerity. Matthew 7:1 reads more like a command than a suggestion imo. Just my 2¢.


42 posted on 08/11/2010 12:03:56 AM PDT by Drumbo ("Democracy can withstand anything but democrats." - Jubal Harshaw (Robert A. Heinlein))
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To: grassboots.org

Not that I am aware of...


43 posted on 08/11/2010 12:09:31 AM PDT by irishtenor (Tag lines, they are not what they used to be...)
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To: Drumbo

I fear you trust Glenn Beck more than you do the apostles. You express doubt at every turn about the perspicuity of Scripture, the reliability of God’s Word.

Apparently we don’t have to be right about whether Jesus has always existed or not, whether he was really Resurrected from the dead or not, but we must give Glenn the benefit of the doubt because he supposedly made a public profession of faith. But this is the GB that said it doesn’t matter which God you serve, Muslim, Hindu or Christian.

Why do you trust Beck, but doubt the apostles?


44 posted on 08/11/2010 3:36:36 AM PDT by grassboots.org (I'll Say It Again - The First Freedom is Life.)
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To: Drumbo
When Beck professes Christianity in public, I cherish his blessing, celebrate his salvation but, I cannot and will not judge his sincerity

Well no, I don't think anyone is questioning his sincerity about his faith.

If I sincerely believe that Jesus Christ is/was a poodle and then went on to profess most of the orthodox Christological doctrines would that whole poodle thing matter? Nobody freak out please, as best I can understand it Mormons believe that Jesus Christ is a creature... which on the scale of things puts Him in the poodle class right along with us.

It goes beyond that of course because Mormons believe and teach that God the Father is also a creature.

Is it just the names that matter? If I say I believe in God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ and I have fixed in my mind the idea of vishnu and a poodle does my sincerity do any good?

45 posted on 08/11/2010 6:05:10 AM PDT by Legatus
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To: Revelation 911
fyi - im a former free methodist pastor

And now? retired?

46 posted on 08/11/2010 6:39:33 AM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: irishtenor

Whenever I am talking; NO one can tell if I misspell a wurd or not!


47 posted on 08/11/2010 6:40:42 AM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: irishtenor
Which Jesus does he believe in, the Mormon one or the Christian one?

Just guessing; I'd say the CHRISTIAN one; for his BACKGROUND would influence him that way.

I'd go so far to say that he has NOT 'researched' all the things that MORMONism teaches.

yet...

48 posted on 08/11/2010 6:43:22 AM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: Drumbo
FYI, Baptists are a denomination of Protestantism (as are LDS, like it or not).

Uh, no; they are not.

49 posted on 08/11/2010 6:44:28 AM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: Drumbo
And Yes, I acknowledge and believe there are false prophets and those who teach and follow a false Christ, but I was admonished to “test the spirits that they are of God” - not to sit in judgment, that’s above my pay grade.
 
It's not above mine!



Acts 2:42
  They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
 
 
 Acts 4:2
 They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead.
 
 
Acts 5:42
  Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ.
 
 
Acts 13:1
  In the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul.
 
 
 Acts 13:12
   When the proconsul saw what had happened, he believed, for he was amazed at the teaching about the Lord.
 
 
Acts 17:18-19
 18.  A group of Epicurean and Stoic philosophers began to dispute with him. Some of them asked, "What is this babbler trying to say?" Others remarked, "He seems to be advocating foreign gods." They said this because Paul was preaching the good news about Jesus and the resurrection.
 19.  Then they took him and brought him to a meeting of the Areopagus, where they said to him, "May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting?
 
 
Acts 18:11
    So Paul stayed for a year and a half, teaching them the word of God.
 
 
Romans 15:4
 For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
 
 
Romans 16:17
   I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them.
 
 
1 Corinthians 4:17
   For this reason I am sending to you Timothy, my son whom I love, who is faithful in the Lord. He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus, which agrees with what I teach everywhere in every church.
 
 
1 Corinthians 11:2
 2.  I praise you for remembering me in everything and for holding to the teachings,  just as I passed them on to you.
 
 
Ephesians 4:14-15
 14.  Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming.
 15.  Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.
 
 
2 Thessalonians 2:15
   So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the teachings  we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter.
 
 
2 Thessalonians 3:6
  In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers, to keep away from every brother who is idle and does not live according to the teaching  you received from us.
 
 
1 Timothy 1:3-4
 3.  As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain men not to teach false doctrines any longer
 4.  nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. These promote controversies rather than God's work--which is by faith.
 
 
1 Timothy 1:7
  They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not know what they are talking about or what they so confidently affirm.
 
 
1 Timothy 2:7
   And for this purpose I was appointed a herald and an apostle--I am telling the truth, I am not lying--and a teacher of the true faith to the Gentiles.
 
 
1 Timothy 4:1-2
 1.  The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.
 2.  Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron.
 
 
1 Timothy 4:6
   If you point these things out to the brothers, you will be a good minister of Christ Jesus, brought up in the truths of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed.
 
 
1 Timothy 4:11
  Command and teach these things.
 
 
1 Timothy 6:3-5
 3.  If anyone teaches false doctrines and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching,
 4.  he is conceited and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions 
 5.  and constant friction between men of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain.
 
 
2 Timothy 1:13
  What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus.
 
 
 2 Timothy 2:15-17
 15.  Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.
 16.  Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly.
 17.  Their teaching will spread like gangrene.
 
 
2 Timothy 3:16-17
 16.  All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,
 17.  so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
 
 
 2 Timothy 4:3-4
  3.  For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.
  4.  They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.
 
 
Titus 1:11
   They must be silenced, because they are ruining whole households by teaching things they ought not to teach--and that for the sake of dishonest gain.
 
 
Titus 2:1
  You must teach what is in accord with sound doctrine.
 
 
Titus 2:15
  These, then, are the things you should teach. Encourage and rebuke with all authority. Do not let anyone despise you.
 
 
 Hebrews 13:9
 Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings.
 
 
 2 Peter 2:1-3
 1.  But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them--bringing swift destruction on themselves.
 2.  Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute.
 3.  In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.
 
 
2 John 1:10
  If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take him into your house or welcome him.


50 posted on 08/11/2010 6:46:57 AM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: grassboots.org

Don’t be so frumious!

Keep your vorpal sword in hand!


51 posted on 08/11/2010 6:48:35 AM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: irishtenor; Drumbo
Which Jesus does he believe in, the Mormon one or the Christian one? They are REALLY two different things. All I have to say to that is that the inside of an elevator smells vastly different to a midget. LOL

Not meaning to pick on you, irishtenor, but your response to Drummie was brief and an apt one for what follows. (Meaning I hope to myself be brief, & then off to bed.)

I am his non-Christian friend who will, if at all possible, be at Beck's Restoring Honor rally standing next to Drumbo. I do so with the knowledge that none of the enemies arrayed against my country & constitution gives a rat's patoot about sparing a token non-believer in the crowd. I don't care either. Should the SHTF I will die on my feet among my Christian fellow American friends and family before I bend a knee to my enemies.

I'll leave the jots & tittles to my betters.
52 posted on 08/11/2010 7:28:57 AM PDT by Titan Magroyne (Freedom is taken, not given.)
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To: grassboots.org; taildragger

If the Pope, Billy Graham and Glenn Beck walk into a bar, we’ll have something....


53 posted on 08/11/2010 7:37:18 AM PDT by Larry Lucido
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To: grassboots.org

Have no fears FRiend. Facts are what they are - and words mean things.

I never said I doubt the Apostles, but you said I do, evidently because I state the fact that Gospel accounts differ, illustrating that everyone doesn’t see all things the same. To me, saying I “doubt the Apostles” is bearing false wittiness - but as I’ve said, Matthew 7:1 admonishes me not to judge your heart. You shift the focus of my statement that personal perceptions differ and demonize me as Saul Alinsky’s “Rules for Radicals” teaches, divert and attack.

That Matthew and Luke differ, or that John differs from the Synoptic Gospels (”Synoptic” is a Greek word meaning “having a common view)” is well established in Christian theology. Changing the subject to latch onto red herrings in order to discredit seems to me a curious approach to a fellow Christian, but I can see that you do not consider anyone out of step with you to be saved.

The blogger takes Beck’s words out of context using MediaMatters/huffingtonpost out of context quotes to attack Beck and you have no trouble embracing them as facts, yet you say I doubt the Gospels when you have little insight into what I believe. Saying Beck mocks God for judging sin is simply untrue, but God bless you, you are entitled to your opinions and misunderstandings.

Saying I’m “worried about throwing stones” is also untrue. I made an observation - I’m really not “worried”, but it illustrates again how you twist words to serve your agenda.

That I, “don’t really deal with any of the substance of the article” is perhaps true, since I see no substance in it, only an attack on someone who’s personal views may differ.

I have read enough of George Whitefield’s sermons to know that I disagree with many of his thesis and beliefs. I believe that’s allowed - you may not. I still respect him for his persistence as I do you, but I feel he perhaps played a larger role in the founding of the country than you, and I feel Beck’s positive reenforcement of values (Faith, Hope & Charity) go farther to benefit the country than the parroting of MediaMatters talking points to demonize Beck here at Free Republic. I believe intelligent people can disagree on whether Mormons are Christian without resorting to tactics unbecoming of all Christians (like your claim that I doubt the Apostles when I said no such thing).

While I doubted some (many) actually read the entire article, I do not recall “mocking” them as you say I did, but you seem to like throwing that accusation at anyone who differs from your opinions. It’s that Saul Alinsky attack style again. If that’s your narrow-minded brand of Christianity, you are free to practice it, but I prefer a more tolerant Christianity that honors Beck like Liberty University with whom I have no affiliation and have theological differences with as well.

Differences are not always bad. There are many flavors of Christianity and my freedom of religion allows me to differ from yours without personal attacks on you and having words put into my mouth. Perhaps your Christianity doesn’t allow for those freedoms and you must twist words to say Beck believes, “the idea that every god is the same”, when he actually said it doesn’t matter your religion, your skin color or your political persuasion when attending the 8/28 “Restoring Honor” event, the same way you twist my words illustrating that perceptions differ to say I, “doubt the apostles” and by inference, the Gospels.

I agree to disagree with you. I believe Christians, putting differences aside and uniting is more productive than Christians dividing, but the long history of the church is one of division, so I concede you may be correct in all you say. I believe the same about conservatives uniting for a common goal, but, in the end, I think we can agree that neither you, nor I is the ultimate arbitor.


54 posted on 08/11/2010 7:48:19 AM PDT by Drumbo ("Democracy can withstand anything but democrats." - Jubal Harshaw (Robert A. Heinlein))
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To: Drumbo; brent13a; Revelation 911
Lots of these comments remind me of rocks from glass houses - of course, I may be mistaken and these critics are without sin and perfect in every way. I notice Beck’s loudest detractors here aren’t proselytizing about what they’ve personally done lately for this country, only criticizing him for trying and I wonder what they gain from conservatives eating their own.

I'm criticizing Beck for using his influence to try and woo Christians away from Christianity. The mormons send out more that 50,000 missionaries every day to do the same. Whether Beck OR any mormon is patriotic does not give them leeway to falsely paint the religion as Christian.

In my opinion, Beck will go too far with this proselytizing and damage the conservative position.

Figure 4

 

Pew Forum Survey

You state, "I wonder what they gain from conservatives eating their own."...well, in the current situation, with the country in dire straits, I'd say that Beck using his platform to proselytize mormonism is an example of his setting the table for "conservatives eating their own".

55 posted on 08/11/2010 8:24:48 AM PDT by greyfoxx39 (The most daunting challenge for Zero as POTUS is fitting all the speeches in between vacations.)
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To: Revelation 911
Whitfield was a Calvinist Methodist - Beck is a Morg - his heart is in the right place - But he aint no Whitfield

Here is the interesting fact... Joseph Smith was a methodist before he founded mormonism.. he taught that all Christian religions were from the devil ..and the temple initiation rite the devil is a preacher..

Joseph Smith also hated Calvinism and implied that was the solution offed by Lucifer (Christ's brother) for the salvation of the world.. that is what "the heavenly father" rejected and that led to the "war in heaven"

beck is taking us all for a ride on the mormon tour bus

56 posted on 08/11/2010 9:14:41 AM PDT by RnMomof7
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To: brent13a
When I heard his little blurb advertising his fiction novel the past few weeks (played constantly on my local radio) the only thing that ran through my head was: Beck honestly believes himself to be a living breathing prophet. Apparently he's transcended from being a mere commentator on into the mystical realm of prophet.

I think he really believes he is the fulfillment of the "White Horse " prophecy

link

57 posted on 08/11/2010 9:17:09 AM PDT by RnMomof7
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To: irishtenor

Exactly !!


58 posted on 08/11/2010 9:18:14 AM PDT by RnMomof7
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To: brent13a
I see. I knew something of that.....and that’s what I’m figuring is happening. Unfortunately, in the long run I think there’s a strong chance of him hurting the conservative movement if he continues to allow his mormonism to bleed too far into his show. Liberal blogs and commentators already use him as a “zealot” symbol of the rightwing.

I agree .. he is very bright and delivers his message with great humor ... he is great informative entertainment ..BUT he is a danger to the conservative movement and so many do not see it

59 posted on 08/11/2010 9:21:30 AM PDT by RnMomof7
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To: grassboots.org

The indisputable definition of a Christian:

“I believe in one God,
the Father almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all things visible and invisible.
And in one Lord Jesus Christ,
the Only Begotten Son of God,
born of the Father before all ages.
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
consubstantial with the Father;
through him all things were made.
For us men and for our salvation
he came down from heaven,
and by the Holy Spirit
was incarnate of the Virgin Mary,
and became man.
For our sake
he was crucified under Pontius Pilate,
he suffered death and was buried,
and rose again on the third day
in accordance with the Scriptures.
He ascended into heaven and is seated
at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory
to judge the living and the dead
and his kingdom will have no end.
And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord,
the giver of life, who proceeds
from the Father and the Son,
who with the Father and the Son
is adored and glorified,
who has spoken through the prophets.
And one, holy, catholic
and apostolic Church.
I confess one baptism
for the forgiveness of sins
and I look forward to the resurrection
of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen”

Mormons, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Unitarians, and Seventh day Adventists do not qualify as Christians.


60 posted on 08/11/2010 9:23:19 AM PDT by StuLeo (BuckeyeStu)
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