Burning Bridges Over Glenn Beck

ReviewAtlas.com ^ | September 1, 2010 | Jim Bennett

[greyfoxx39]

I’ve entitled this column “Burning Bridges over Beck” only because the original title, “How to Lose Conservative Friends and Alienate Readers While Drawing a Line in the Sand on the Banks of the Rubicon” was, as the Mrs. put it, “a bit verbose.”          
Let’s get down to it.

Glenn Beck is an influential figure; no one can deny that he has made considerable advances for the conservative movement.

I have never watched his television program, so most of what I know about him I have learned by watching the response to him. That response is very impressive.
The rally in Washington this past weekend proved that he certainly has a unique gift for inspiring and mobilizing people. It is a gift I envy.

I also have to admit that the hilarious fits of sputtering, frothy-mouthed panic that he invariably elicits from the Left have brought me many a chuckle. I appreciate him for that too.

I clearly can’t deny that he is one of the most efficacious figures among Conservatives. Something has happened of late, though, and it’s something that concerns me deeply. Glenn Beck is increasingly holding himself out as a religious figure. Now, I happen to be someone who treasures my own freedom to express my spiritual beliefs in the public realm, so I celebrate his own right to do the same. This is America, so by all means have at it, sir.

But my concern is for my Evangelical brethren who not only accept him as a political spokesperson but ALSO embrace him as a legitimate Christian leader. Glenn Beck must not be given such legitimacy among such a people. As a Mormon, he is an adherent to teachings that fly wildly in the face of Biblical Christian orthodoxy.

This, however, is but a symptom. The diagnosis is a particularly virulent strain of Spiritual Discernment Deficiency. Though it affects only one demographic – Christians who should know better — it has three causes.

The first cause is biblical illiteracy. Modern American believers have little knowledge of the scriptures, ergo they have no understanding of the vast doctrinal chasm that separates what the Bible teaches from what Mormons believe. Of course, the LDS (Latter-day Saints) juggernaut is more than happy to help that along through a remarkable public relations effort aimed at presenting themselves as just one of several “Christian” denominations. Even the most cursory comparison of Mormonism to the Bible, however, shows that this could not possibly be the case. The LDS Church preaches a different Christ, a different scripture and a different church.

The second cause is patriotic idolatry. Informed patriotism and ardor for conservative political activism are both fine ideals in my book, ideals to which I myself aspire. Yet when our passion for these begins to rival our zeal for the purity of the Gospel, then we have lost our way. If Evangelicals accept Glenn Beck as a spiritual leader because of the perceived “good he is doing for this country,” then the line which divides things spiritual and eternal from things earthly and temporal has been dangerously compromised.

Believer, ask yourself: Are you first a citizen of Heaven or are you first a citizen of this republic?

The third cause of this Spiritual Discernment Deficiency is religio-political pragmatism. Many conservative Christ-followers so want to excoriate President Obama as a Christian poseur that they’re willing to exalt Glenn Beck as a Christian paragon by default. I don’t presume to judge the heart of either man, but the followers of Jesus Christ should be every bit as skeptical of the heretical pronouncements of Beck’s Mormon “prophets” as they are of the Marxist liberation theology taught to President Obama by his chosen mentors, Rev. Jeremiah Wright and Father Michael Phleger.

I pray for President Obama. I also pray for Glenn Beck.

That’s the diagnosis. But what’s the prescription? First, read your Bible every day and seek the Holy Spirit’s counsel in this and all things. Know what you believe and why you believe it. Accept the Bible as authoritative. Second, you may also want to pick up a copy of "When Salt Lake City Calls," an eye-opening book by Rocky Hulse, and visit Steve Dealy, the missionary who directs the Christian Visitors Center in Nauvoo.

Some will undoubtedly conclude that I’m only giving liberals what they want most: Right-wing infighting. Perhaps I am, but Beck abandoned Social Conservatives like me with his recent announcement that he has “bigger fish to fry” than speaking out on “culture war” issues like so-called same-sex marriage. In a stunning display of short-sightedness, he quoted Thomas Jefferson: “If it neither breaks my leg nor picks my pocket, what difference is it to me?”

Great googly-moogly.

[greyfoxx39]

He is not a leader, he is not asking anyone to follow him

That's your opinion. Some of differ with it..time will tell.

[greyfoxx39]

I heard this remark by Beck on the radio the other day and was waiting for it to show up online.

Beck: Tea party protesters should "model yourself after what happened on 8/28" or "you're a fool"

I did a double-take and asked myself, "Did he REALLY say that?"...yeah, he did.

In Beck's own words

I for one, don't think the Tea Party members (like JR and myself) are fools and wonder why Beck felt compelled to make a "neener neener" statement like that. It sounds very much like alcoholic grandiosity to me.

Note my tagline.

[Tennessee Nana]

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm

[humblegunner]

Give him some time. He grows on you.

So does fungus if you are unclean.

[GreyMountainReagan]

.I did and was very concerned...who are the Gods they were calling on?...The Islam God...the LDS Gods....just who.

You know this really is pathetic. Neither opening prayer or closing prayer were Mormon or Islam.

You really are showing how uninformed you are about the whole event.

[Tennessee Nana]

You really are showing how uninformed you are about the whole event.
_______________________________________

Yeah ya gotta have a temple recommend to find out eh ???

Kind of a mormon milk before meat thingy

[MozarkDawg]

He meant stop bringing the signs, as the lamestream use them against you. Not only did he mean that, he said it.

He's not wrong in that either ... anyone who has witnessed how the left portrays them should know this themselves. This is really getting ridiculous.

[greyfoxx39]

He meant stop bringing the signs, as the lamestream use them against you. Not only did he mean that, he said it

He meant stop bringing the signs, as the lamestream use them against you. Not only did he mean that, he said it.

I was listening to him when he said it. Did you even click on the link? He went on to gloat, "We WON!". Your spin is an

EPIC FAIL!

[WorldviewDad]

I am trying to understand the logic here...don't bring the signs because we should be concerned with how the left (lamestream media) will portray us. If we used this logic then maybe we should not meet at all because the left won't like the words used when we speak, and portray us negatively. I would think that if we went down this road then we just gave all of the power over to the left...

Or am I miss understanding the thought process?

[hennie pennie]

Hey... it's always been my impression that although each male Mormon seeks to become God, Himself, on His very own "Kolob," that the whole idea of being good charitable community minded Mormons is to create utopia here on earth, a Mormon Utopia, a one world Mormon Theocracy, by first usurping the U.S. Government.

Today - D.C., tommorrow - the World!!

The global theocracy one world government envisioned by Mormons is why they continue to run for president, no matter how much it costs or how poorly they fare.

It's a matter of belief, of faith, it's irrational, and it's dangerous.

OF COURSE Glenn Beck is obsessed with the Constitution of the United States of America!!

NOT because he's a 'conservative,' but because his RELIGION teaches all sorts of weird "prophecies" about their Utopia and about the constitution - and THAT is the basis of his interest.

Mormon Jihad!!

Besideswhich, I believe him to be a stealth Mitt-bot, so I don't him trying to be all chummy with Governor Palin who is Romney's chief contender.

John Birch Society and Mormon Prophecies about the US Constitution

Note the words of Mormon Prophet Brigham Young:

"Will the Constitution be destroyed? No; it will be held inviolate by this people; and, as Joseph Smith said, 'The time will come when the destiny of the nation will hang upon a single thread. At that critical juncture, this people will step forth and save it from threatened destruction.' It will be so." (Journal of Discourses,7:15.)

Young also made another "prophecy" about the same circumstances:

"Brethren and sisters, our friends wish to know our feelings towards the Government. I answer, they are first rate, and we will prove it too, as you will see if you only live long enough, for that we shall live to prove it is certain, and when the Constitution of the United States hangs, as it were, upon a single thread, they will have to call for the "Mormon" Elders to save it from utter destruction; and they will step forward and do it." (Journal of Discourses, 2:182.)

There is yet a third voice explaining this" prophecy," and that is the voice of Orson Hyde, a contemporary of Joseph Smiths because he was one of his Twelve Apostles, who wrote this, also quoted in Journal of Discourses:

"It is said that brother Joseph in his lifetime declared that the Elders of this Church should step forth at a particular time when the Constitution should be in danger, and rescue it, and save it. I believe he said something like this - that the time would come when the country would be in danger of an overthrow; and said he, If the Constitution be saved at all, it will be by the Elders of this Church. I believe this is about the language, as nearly as I can recollect it." (Journal of Discourses, 6:152) Does Vance Smith believe that this is a prophecy made by his Prophet that has yet to be fulfilled, and does he see the Birch Society in all of its endeavors striving to be the group to "step forward and do it" to save the Constitution in junction with the LDS Church? Is this why he is systematically removing longtime Birchers from leadership positions and replacing them with Mormons? Time will tell."

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2425050/posts

[hennie pennie]

Alcoholic grandiosity?

Sounds more like dry drunk delusion, IYAM.

[Tennessee Nana]

P)ersonally I would love to have seen a sea of signs...

so I could know what Becks religious revival was all about..

and why the people thought they were there..

[hennie pennie]

Although insofar as your comment about "alcoholic grandiousity" it is a known fact that CONVERTS to any religion frequently are archetypal ardent True Believers to the max -- but in Glenn's case I've frequently wondered if the whole mormon gig was a Replacement Addiction -- a frequent consequence for alcoholic druggies who are too weak to successfully complete treatment.

[ducttape45]

Wow. That was very arrogant of Beck to say that and he has now lost all credibility with me. He is NOT the Tea Party movement, or someone for them to model themselves after. Beck should be modeling himself after the Tea Party movement. I see a possible problem with this because if the MSM picks up on this and runs with it, it could split the movement right down the middle.

[GreyMountainReagan]

Yeah ya gotta have a temple recommend to find out eh ???

Not really, but at least listen to the prayers at the event.

Really only takes about 10 minutes of listening to not sound like an absolute idiot.

Not too much time or effort really.

But at least an honest mind.

[WorldviewDad]

I have always enjoyed the signs when I have been at the Tea Parties...although the ones on the far reaches of the group seamed out of place (those protesting the Tea party)...:)

[EDINVA]

Beck sets himself up as a ‘religious figure’ as much as anyone who’s ever run an AA or Al-Anon meeting. Given Beck’s history, it is only logical that he would promote spirituality as a healer, with each person following God as that person perceives Him.

Beck happens to be in the position of bringing that principle to a larger stage. Unless, of course, the writer doesn’t think AA works because it doesn’t fit his definition of Christianity?

[Mad Dawgg]

Why do I ge the feeling that I am watching a Magician’s “Flourish Hand” when I am reading this article?

[hennie pennie]

>>>> "I have watched Glenn, and when he talks about politics, I have much in common with him. On the other hand, when he crosses over into areas of religious thought, I have little in common with him. Even before I learned that he was Mormon, there were many troubling aspects of his intertwining of political and religious ideologies. He often speaks of the US Constitution as if it were divinely inspired and the Founding Fathers as if they were prophets from God. It is very dangerous to invoke the "God is on our side" view when it comes to politics."

37 posted on 09/04/2010 1:46:06 AM PDT by Nosterrex <<<<<

Please check post no. 70, just above, where I've mentioned that the U.S. Constitution figures prominently in Mormon Prophecies, and that's the entire reason that Glenn Beck has become a Modern Day Expert about same, it has nothing to do with politics, it has to do with millenial mormon utopianism.

Seriously!!

[hennie pennie]

I presume that Glenn wanted to cut down on the Sarah~2012 signs.

Seriously.

I don't care how he apparently treats Governor Palin, nor do I care what she thinks or feels about him.

I believe that G.Beck is a stealth Mitt-bot who pompously believes that HE will deliver the multitude of the tea party unto Willard.

These people are nuts, they are CULTISTS, who belong to a cult.