Posted on 08/31/2010 6:42:35 PM PDT by 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.
Thanks for the explanations. That helps understand the greater context.
Beautifully said, and very, very classy.
Sometimes I stay away from this site because of the rabidly anti___(fill in the blank). Then, people like you remind me why I am here.
Thanks,
Did you read post 104?
No, what did it say?
Wrong again!. It weren't no insult, just gifted insight... ;)
Why the personal insults?
Post 104 is still there, it is related to your Catholic inquiry.
When it’s all ya got...
Ansell, I’m sure you’re a great guy, but 1) please don’t post something without giving a bit of information about it. It may or may not be something I want to take the time to read, but without any info, I’m not going to bother. If you really think it’s important enough for me to take my time to read it, then give me a bit of information as to what and why.
Secondly, you asked a few minutes ago about why the personal insults, and I didn’t see any particularly personal insults, but sometimes people come on so strong, so impervious to any opinions or ideas other than their own that they come across as self-righteous and obnoxious. I’m not saying that’s what you did, but I am saying that that sort of approach makes it hard for others to hear what you have to say. Communication is a two-way street and all that stuff.
Oddly enough, many of us tend to believe what we have to say is just as important and informed as what others may have to say. Sometimes we’re even correct in that belief.
You had an exchange about Catholics and baptism, and I helpfully directed you to a post on this thread, as someone that reads every post on a thread anyway, I sure assumed that people would at least look at a post that they missed on the very thread that they are on.
He is working to godhood.
This is the religious forum, lay off the purely personal attacks and insults.
Ansell - I think you missed most of my points, but that’s your choice. There might be a little nugget of wisdom to be gleaned from them.
I did now go back and read #104. The material there appears to be sort of peripheral to my question, but that’s OK because the other two posters I was corresponding with answered my question directly. I do appreciate your passion for the subject though.
Well, you seem to be having a bad night ansel. I just jumped back in the thread and didn’t realise it I’m afraid. How impertinent of me. Please forgive...
I believe you are doing what the moderators call, making it personal.
Wow, you are having a bad night! Maybe you need a break... I’ll check back with you some other time. :)
[So it sounds like you're "against" certain posters...which makes you anti-______(fill in the blank). How 'rabid' are you about that "anti" dimension of yours? Also, it sounds like your "anti-ness" is based upon your disagreement with their stated religious beliefs. So, tell us. Why is it OK for you to be anti____(fill in the blank) based upon disagreement with their states religious beliefs; but somehow you find it offensive that ___(fill in the blanks) disagree with others religiously?]
And so to counter all of the above you kind of propose perhaps a Bahai faith 2.0 version? (With Glenn at the lead?)
Yeah, Delf. I find it interesting that Many will tell fLDS they are not a "Mormon" when it appears they clearly are. Perhaps what they should be saying is that they are not "heretical anti-D&C 132 Mormons" - the first strips them of their Mormonism (not to mention their right to hold to D&C132)...
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.