Last week, Mr. Glenn Beck, of Fox News, urged Christians to leave churches that preach social and economic justice, and comparing such churches to Communists and Nazis.
Well, I’m encouraged that Jim Wallis, president of Sojourners, a network of progressive Christians, wasn’t afraid to stick it to Glenn Beck:
“[Beck] wants us to leave our churches, but we should leave him,” Wallis says of Beck. “When your political philosophy is to consistently favor the rich over the poor, you don’t want to hear about economic justice.” (emphasis added)
And I particularly like this quote from Marty Duren, a Southern Baptist pastor:
“If I had any authority at Fox News right now, Glenn Beck would be seeking economic justice.”
But it’s this piece from Jim Wallis that is most applicable to the Glenn Becks of News Networks:
“Beck is confusing his personal philosophy with the Bible.” (read entire article…)
Mr. Glenn Beck: Stick to what you do best!
Whatever that is.
He should be scribbling on a chalkboard in a psychiatric facility.
Noh8,
Some would venture an agreement.
The problem T.C.R is that many Christians are doing the same thing (the last quote).
Many Christians that God is pro-America, pro-capitalism, pro-socialism, pro-health care reform or anti-health care reform. Is God was so for either He would have it, because the last time I checked God gets what God wants or He ceases to be God.
that should read:
Many Christians believe and “if God was so for either”
Lionel,
I quite agree. Yes, we have made God into our own image.
TC, I haven’t watched FOX news since Obama became president. I just figured they were never going to give him a fair chance and I didn’t want to hear all the negative things they were going to report. I watched Beck once, and thought he was crazy. Occasionally I’ll watch Bill O’Reilly, but I don’t think I have seen it all year.
Robert,
Politicking isn’t easy, esp. when mixed with enough God-talk.
I used to be an O’Reilly fan until he started talking Bible dogmatically. That was it!
The Bible easily becomes a club. In the 1930s Hitler threw God talk around like an evangelist. Very scary.
Uh oh. Hitler is mentioned in the 8th reply already. This must be a hot one.
Jeff
(Not being serious but it’s a serious thing)
If “Social Justice” is defined by a CHURCH as well as some on the political left as being…
“A concept that some use to describe the movement towards a socially just world. In this context, social justice is based on the concepts of human rights and equality and involves a greater degree of economic egalitarianism through progressive taxation, income redistribution, or even property redistribution, policies aimed toward achieving that which developmental economists refer to as more equality of opportunity and equality of outcome than may currently exist…”
In this case, I too would have to walk out of my church as well.
Thank You Glenn Beck
S,
So defined, then I can see why Mr. Beck would be calling for Christians to leave churches that are clearly embracing what could only be called a twisted version of social and economic justice.
But is this really what is going on?
I agree with Sylentwolf. The commies talked Social Justice all the time and murdered millions getting there. The church needs to stay out of it on both sides. The religious left is just as bad.
Then we need a balance.
Hitler really is an archetype of manipulation in a Chrisitan culture, whether that manipulation is intentional or not. In our day, the church is generally illiterate and unfamiliar with the sacred text (much more so than Germany between the wars). Those who take the Word seriously have a lot of work to do, certainly in the US. The crusader spirit is alive and well without the central call to servanthood.
Kyle,
I’m with you, but I’d put Emperor Constantine at the head of the list. I believe he set the stage for ill.
Glen Beck is bats*** crazy and I’m surprised anyone takes him seriously. He should be considered entertainment more than anything. That interview he did with Massa was funny especially considering the way he hyped it up and how big of a let down it was. Hah!!
I’ve actually enjoyed some of O’Reilly’s interviews. The one with Obama was great. Marilyn Manson was interesting and Sarah Palin was funny at times.
Bryan L,
It says a lot more about our culture when a Glenn Beck has such a following and continues to wield his influence.
That is what scares me the most!! It is not the Glenn Becks of the world (or for that matter Bill Mahers, O’Reillys, and Olbermans!!) It is the people who listen without discernment to any of these talking heads. Each listener (viewer) picks their favorite and then it becomes less about finding solutions and just arguing over why their guy (or gal) is better.
I am generally a liberal but I find Olberman and Jon Stewart (who is not just a comedian) just as offensive as Limbaugh, and Beck etc. etc.
NONE of them really add anything positive to the public discourse.
Tomgdrums,
I’m with you on the need for “discernment.” People aren’t thinking for themselves anymore. Sad.