I am sorry Glenn but I cannot join you

Reformation Theology ^ | Pastor John Samson

[Gamecock]

I really like Glenn Beck. Though I have never met him in person, I have often watched his television programs and thought it would be so nice to have that kind of a guy as a friend. I imagine that he is far too busy and way too inaccessible for that to become a reality, but I do genuinely like the man. He is insightful, articulate, funny, and seems to want some great things for his family and our nation. I do think that sometimes he has one or two conspiracy theories that may not be fully justified - we shall see - but all in all, Glenn seems to be a really nice guy.

I share many of the same goals as Glenn. I speak as one born in England but now very much a U.S. citizen. All my children were born here in these United States and I live and pray for America to become in all reality, "one nation under God." I love America. I sincerely believe Glenn does too.

But I do have a problem - not a problem with him as a person in any way at all, but when he asks me to join him in praying for the very same things I wish for my country, I just cannot. I can pray for these things privately, and with fellow Christians, of course, and I do. I just cannot stand with Glenn in a public setting and be comfortable while I know he is praying to a false god. How could I ever say "Amen" at the end of his prayer that people would turn back to the god he serves? I just cannot do it. That is because Glenn Beck is a Mormon. The "god" he prays to is not in any way the same God as mine.

I know.. I know.. even saying this is politically and religiously incorrect, but I cannot help but say it. When Glenn Beck speaks of "god" we need to remember that he uses a different dictionary to Christians. The God of the Bible is One in essence and eternally exists in three co-equal Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Mormons reject this completely, believing that there are many worlds controlled by different gods and the god of this planet was once a man. The Jesus of Mormonism is the begotten offspring of this exalted man in sexual union with one of his many wives, and this god lives on a planet circling a star named Kolob, and his "gospel" is the message of how you, too, can be exalted to godhood. Christianity is Monotheistic. Mormonism is the most polytheistic religion in the world. Doctrine matters folks and deceived people, deceive people!

A dear fellow Christian, in coming to understand where I am on this issue wrote to me today saying, "I like Glenn Beck and appreciate his effort to bring America back to her godly roots. He is doing a great job in uniting government, church, and media. He does speak from a Mormon perspective but still has a heart of seeing America return to God even though he might not have the same theological view as we do."

I responded by saying, " I understand you - but I cannot agree that Mormonism is in any way "godly." According to the Bible, there is nothing at all godly about false religion. Godliness is not just about acts of service, honor, integrity, courage and the like, as wonderful as these things are, but it also includes worship of the One true God and the avoidance of all forms of idolatry. Mormonism is idolatrous worship and when Glenn Beck prays, despite his intentions, he prays to a false god who cannot help either Mr. Beck or America."

I can remember reading about the worshippers of the golden calf. They had high family values and were absolutely sincere in their worship. Now I may not be the sharpest tool in the drawer, but I do tend to get the distinct impression that God didn't like the worship - yeah, the ground opening up and swallowing the worshippers.. hmmm... it does lead me to believe that God was somehow ticked, wouldn't you say?

And then I wonder what God would feel about a "prophet" in the Old Testament asking Baal to bring Israel back to its godly roots. I think in such times, he would be stoned. In Deuteronomy 18:20 God says to His people, "But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in my name that I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that same prophet shall die."

God often tested His people by seeing if they would be true to Him even as false prophets tried to lure them away from Himself. God says, "If a prophet or a dreamer of dreams arises among you and gives you a sign or a wonder, and the sign or wonder that he tells you comes to pass, and if he says, ‘Let us go after other gods,’ which 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 know whether you love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul. You shall walk after the Lord your God and fear him and keep his commandments and obey his voice, and you shall serve him and hold fast to him. But that prophet or that dreamer of dreams shall be put to death, because he has taught rebellion against the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt and redeemed you out of the house of slavery, to make you leave the way in which the Lord your God commanded you to walk. So you shall purge the evil from your midst" (Deuteronomy 13:1-5).

Thank God for grace!!! (we don't stone false prophets now) but I believe God's feelings about false worship have not changed. As Glenn Beck calls this nation to pray for some very valuable, important and even vital things, I ask now, is God testing us in the same way today? Perhaps God has raised Glenn Beck up for this very purpose, to test our hearts. Just a thought!

As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord, the one and only God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the eternal One, Yahweh, the great I AM, the Alpha and Omega, who is from everlasting to everlasting.

So, though I really like you Glenn, thanks for the invite, but I cannot join you.

[SuzyQue]

Well, I guess since most of us on this thread aren’t Catholic, we’re not your kind of Christian either?

[colorcountry]

From the replies on this thread I wonder what some Freepers think. Who is going to save this nation? Is it God or Glenn Beck.

No contest, without God we are nothing. Glenn Beck is a vapor in the wind.

[TheGunny]

Ok, Ill look for that on the map...the #1 producer of the spiritually bankrupt and theologically illiterate! I weep for that product and for your spawn! No doubt the Methodists, unitarians and Episcopalians of tomorrow.

[ansel12]

"MORMONS ARE CHRISTIANS. From a Polish Catholic, like the late, great Pope John Paul II, who lives in the township next to Kirtland, Ohio. GET OVER IT!"

Do you think that you reflect the truth of the Catholic Faith when you tell people that?

CATHOLIC ANSWERS:
Question: I read recently that the Catholic Church had rejected Mormon baptism, since their view of Christ and the Trinity is so unusual. But I have to ask: Are Mormons considered separated brothers and sisters? While their views are strange to say the least, they are still separated, and we should reach out to them. If we view them as something other than separated, doesn't that exclude ecumenism? I know that many view them as a cult, but aren't cult members separated as well?

Answer: The reason Mormons are not considered separated brethren is not because they aren't "separated" from the Church-they are-but they aren't "brethren" in the sense required.

The phrase separated brethren refers to those who, though separated from full communion with the Catholic Church, have been justified through baptism and are thus brethren in Christ. 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.

[TheGunny]

Not at all, I agree with the message of returning to God! (Not Glenn’s god)The one true God, the God of the Bible!

[ADSUM]

Let the Pastor know that there is only one God.

Reason teaches that God is one simple and infinitely perfect spiritual substance or nature. Sacred Scripture and the Church teach the same. The creeds, for example, usually begin with a profession of faith in the one true God, Who is the Creator and Lord of heaven and earth.

[nowandlater]

Jesus was asked by a Pharisee who was his brother.
Jesus responded with a parable of the the good Sumaritan.

The Sumaritans in the Pharisee’s and Saducee’s eyes were fake Jews. A false ethnic religion. Heretics who should as their religious duty be shunned.

Gee, it looks to me that Mormons are the modern-day Sumaritan equivalents.

Christians, who is your brother? And if Mormons should be shunned then would you shun the Sumaritans?

[hosepipe]

Sounds like someone has their dogmas all bunched up..

[ansel12]

Well, I guess since most of us on this thread aren’t Catholic, we’re not your kind of Christian either?

There isn't disagreement among Christians about Mormonism not being Christian.

The Greek Orthodox, the Catholics, and the Protestants agree on Mormonism being a polytheistic, non Christian religion.

[GOP_Lady]

Weep if you wish, but I don’t weep over GOOD PEOPLE OF FAITH, because I have things in COMMON with them.

[terycarl]

Get Over yourself you brainless twit. I Refuse to deal with bigoted idiots like you..

WOW name calling, I love it....you refute nothing that I say, but you stoop to calling me names because you know nothing of which you speak. That’s O.K. and that’s how protestants ususlly argue with Catholics.about 20,000 different protestant denominations, all of which they claim are right.....only 1 Catholic church which KNOWS that they are right.....remember Christ promised that His church would be without error until the end of time......we’re doing real good so far......how’s the protestant revolution doing for you?????

[Bodleian_Girl]

No, gods like allah and Beck’s jesus, the brother of Lucifer, are not Jehovah,

1 Corinthians 8:6  But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.

[Bodleian_Girl]

Cool pic but not me. :-)

[BlessingsofLiberty]

I don’t normally discuss religious matters in a public forum. So, I am probably going to regret doing this now. But, I have got to say this in defense of Glenn Beck.

I was deeply moved by the Honor Rally. It was probably one of the most beautiful things I have seen in a very long time. It gave me a great deal of hope and inspired me to think beyond the bitterness I feel about what has happened to this wonderful country.

It gave me courage and I don’t feel quite so alone in what I know we all are going to be facing in the future. This will be the times that will test our very souls.

The true patriots of this country will be called upon to save this nation. These people will come from all walks of life and religious persuasions. I stand with Beck on this. He has stood against great odds in his life and has succeeded in overcoming them. Now, he is here in this time and place to face the perils with us.

Like Samuel Adams, “I will pray with any man”. And, I will stand and fight with any Patriot.

God Bless You Glenn Beck.

[Bodleian_Girl]

And you are gonna listen to a guy who prays to a false god that he believes is Lucifer’s brother???

Just d*mn.

[Ransomed]

All I wanna know is what religion is Flapp Jackson of the famous morning zoo radio show “Flapp Jackson in the Morning this Morning”!!?? The fate of the republic hinges on this vital information.

Freegards (it’s the big frog)

[Bodleian_Girl]

1 John 4:1  ¶Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

[rickb308]

“and Mormon missionaries will be showing up at Christian homes capitalizing on this and selling Mormonism as Christian.”

I gave at the office.

[ansel12]

Oh, pish. Glenn Beck isn’t considered any Christian’s ‘minister’. That’s really over-reacting.

I said that Beck is becoming the leader of Christians, and Beck is becoming our national Minister (of conservative Christians), he is the biggest, most public, national religious leader, currently.

If the Mormon Beck had not suddenly turned his show and his work efforts into the GOD movement, then there would not be this controversy and the forcing of Christians to speak up and take a stand.

[TheGunny]

Ok, this is my attempt to meet you halfway...can you draw anything from the Bible that validates your perspective? If not, we really are done here. To the Christian, the Bible is the inspired Word of God that is true and reliable for teaching, correcting, rebuking and training in righteousness. It is the rule...well?