Glenn Beck's Great Commission
By Susan Stilley
I have tried my best to ignore Glenn Beck for well over a year now. It's been tough. As a political independent who leans conservative, I agreed with some of the analysis on his Fox program early on, but certainly not all. As a Christian, I grew disturbed as he injected more and more of his Mormon views. What started as a soft universalism quickly hardened to full blown blasphemy with admonitions that we should take the, "I Am That I Am" title for God alone and in 'positive thinking' style, apply it to ourselves.
Towards the cause of getting our country back on track, he declared, "We need a Jesus or a Buddha." Sorry, Glenn - Buddha is still dead and he absolutely did not pay for my sins or reconcile me to God.
His series extolling the Founding Fathers seemed less about patriotic reflection of what makes America great, but more a subtle indoctrination of the belief that the Constitution is a 'divine document' on an equal level with Scripture. According to Mormon theology, there are prophecies of America and the 'Divine Constitution' teetering on the brink of collapse until a Mormon savior rides in on a white horse (or perhaps a bicycle) to save the day. Romney? Huntsman? Beck himself? One can only wonder.
But even if Beck's audience is oblivious to the pitch for Mormonism's prophetic peculiarities, many gladly embrace the 'Constitution As A Divine (or near enough Divine) Document' view, in the cause of 'reclaiming America for God'. With the help of David Barton, this has been a central theme of Beck's for a while now, but what 'god' is he reclaiming for America? The Mormon god, Elohim, who was once a man but 'evolved' to become a god and is currently living on a planet near the star system, Kolob, with his many goddess wives? Is it that god, Glenn?
If Beck would be honest I could at least admire him for that, but for him to continually speak of the Mormon 'god' as if it is the God of the Bible reveals he is either intentionally deceptive or theologically confused. Either way, I don't trust him. As for the Christian leaders who jumped on the Beck bandwagon, do they understand these problems or are they so anxious to sell their books and further their own agendas that they simply don't care?
As troubling as all of that is, I could easily and happily dismiss Glenn Beck from my thoughts and concerns except for one thing. I have friends and family who are apparently besotted by this man!
They follow him faithfully for hours each week, read all his books, and attend his productions held at select movie theatres. They drove to San Antonio to see him in front of the Alamo and flew to Washington D.C. for his Lincoln Memorial rally. I sent a few e-mails before the D.C. 'spiritual event', suggesting that this appeared to have all the trappings of an ecumenical love fest but since there was no response, I decided to keep my mouth shut. I had learned from past experience that even a small criticism of Beck evoked a sharp reaction in his defense. Obviously, they feel an emotional bond to this man I couldn't understand and considered downright weird, but I sure wasn't going to fracture relationships over a talk show host! Besides, these are all intelligent people. They go to Bible believing churches. Sooner or later, they'll figure this guy out.
Well, it's now a year later and Beck euphoria is stronger than ever. My family arranged for space at a large Dallas church and hosted an Israel 'Restoring Courage' viewing party. I declined my invite. Though I also believe we should stand with Israel, I was sort of afraid of what would happen if Beck or John Hagee should let loose with a real doctrinal whopper. Would I hear someone yelling, "Heresy", only to discover I was the one with her mouth open? I just couldn't take that risk.
Later that evening, I second guessed my decision. I had seen enough promo clips/previews of the Israel event to know that it was strong on the 'all paths lead to God' universalism, that the 'peace of Jerusalem' would be encouraged but without the Prince of Peace, that the gospel would be rendered irrelevant. Perhaps I should have attended and used the event as an opportunity to prompt discussion, even if I appeared as the theological stick-in-the-mud, spoiling everyone's good mood.
Worse still, I realized the Glenn Beck millstone around my neck won't be lifted anytime soon. He is moving to the DFW area and will be my neighbor, of sorts. Even MORE talk of Glenn Beck in the local news, friend's conversations, and family get-togethers. Yippee.
So I decided to go listen to Beck myself at an Arlington church where he was speaking the following Sunday. I suspected that some people I care about would attend as well and I wanted to see/hear for myself, precisely what kind of Moses figure he would be impersonating.
His performance was Oscar worthy.
After the warm-up speeches by a local messianic rabbi and David Barton, Glenn Beck takes the stage and declares, "The God of Abraham is alive and active!" I wince. I can't quite get the picture of the Mormon god, Elohim, out of my head - chillin' with his goddess wives near Kolob, bouncing his 'spirit babies' on his knee whilst deciding which lucky Kolob-ite chick he will engage in celestial sex. THIS is who Mormons believe to be the 'God of Abraham', but of course no one in the congregation understands this. They are shouting, "Hallelujah!"
Beck begins with his bio of how messed up his life was before he came 'to faith', carefully leaving out any reference to Mormonism but using Christian terminology which leaves the hearers to believe that he had a salvific experience with which they can relate. He says, "I was missing one thing - the redeeming power of Jesus Christ. Period. When I accepted the atonement and 'worked it' every single second of my day...my life changed."
He 'worked it'? How does one 'work' the atonement? Obviously, Beck has a misunderstanding of what the atonement is - "...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith." (Romans 3:23,24) The work done in the atonement was done by God. There is nothing we can add to it and no way of 'working it' to increase it's efficacy.
It is possible that Beck just used poor wording here, except that 'working one's way to godhood' is the very essence of Mormonism. I believe his words and views on redemption, salvation, and Jesus Himself, all flow from that starting premise.
Glenn then launched into what he sees as his present mission and the message he claims God has clearly told him - to stand with Israel. I agree with him that we should continue to support Israel's right to exist among hostile neighboring countries bent on her destruction. As freedom loving Americans, we want to see democracy flourish all over the world - particularly in the Middle East. Yet for all the rhetoric about standing for Israel, most of Beck's emphasis was on his own courage in standing for Israel. He regaled us with stories of how he has braved all sorts of enemies; threats from Hugo Chavez, intimidations from the White House, suicide bombers lying in wait in Jerusalem.
Help! Stop This Freight Train, Billy!
Beck clearly sees himself as the man of the hour, as the central figure of a great movement at a pivotal moment in history. He says, "There is something that is happening around the world and it is powerful...and I don't know if you are feeling it yet."
This 'something happening' appears to be a movement originating in part with God talking to Glenn Beck. While Beck was experiencing inner struggles as to what his mission might be, God supposedly impressed on Beck that he had to talk with Billy Graham. He contacted Graham's people but Rev. Graham was not disposed to meet with Beck at that time. According to Beck, he was talking to some of his staff months later about this deep need to meet with Graham when on that very day, Graham's people called him back.
Beck ascribes a kind of "ooh, ahh" mystical element to this development, that Graham called him back when the time was just right. He called the meeting, "a miracle for me" and says, "I knew he had an answer for me."
Interestingly, Beck never tells us what this answer is. In fact, the only quote he shares from Graham actually sounds a little suspicious of Beck. Beck says, "He asked me a lot of questions. I told him about a lot of things, where I think my life is headed. This is what I think I'm supposed to do. "Help...stop this freight train, Billy!"" Billy Graham responds, "How do you know that's coming from the Lord?"
Beck responds to Graham that he knew "because there is no confusion with the Lord." He goes on to explain, "If He said it in the Scriptures and He's now telling you something else, that ain't the Lord. It has to be consistent. The second thing is it comes with peace."
There are several points to consider regarding this meeting. First, the way in which Beck sets up the story gives it a tone which says, 'Look what a coincidence this is - it must be the Holy Spirit at work'. That is exactly how the audience interpreted it. I observed from the nodding heads and smiles that the audience clearly accepted the notion that this was in some sense a 'divine appointment'.
Secondly, the manner in which he describes the meeting leaves one with the impression that Billy Graham is approving of Glenn Beck and whatever this mission is. Unless you listen carefully, it is easy to miss the fact that Graham never says anything positive about Glenn or what he heard from Glenn. Only the question, "How do you know that's coming from the Lord?" Had Graham offered some grandiose affirmation, surely Beck would have shared it.
It is no accident that Glenn Beck chose Billy Graham in the first place. Graham is a beloved figure to Christians of all stripes, all over the world. Any kind of endorsement by him would go a long way in propelling Beck forward and making Mormonism appear to be a strain of Christianity, rather than the counterfeit that it is. I believe that Beck was counting on the fact that because Graham is in his nineties and has been in poor health, that Beck would be able to use his charm and sway Graham into giving some kind of endorsement upon Beck's 'great calling'. I don't think he received it. He certainly didn't quote anything from Graham, indicating as much. This entire episode strikes me as rather unseemly. Billy Graham has been used by God in mighty ways for decades and is now at that season in his life where he is reflective on his ministry. He has shared some of his regrets, including certain involvements with politics. He should be left alone to spend time with his family, friends, and church as he awaits his reward. Now Glenn Beck shows up on his doorstep, scrounging around for any crumbs of blessing he can extricate from the aged Graham who has undoubtedly had more fruitful things to do with his time of late than follow the path of this talk show host - turned prophet, and is therefore probably unaware of Beck's agenda.
Thirdly, Beck responds to Graham that he knows God is talking to him because "there is no confusion in the Lord" and that the message he is hearing is in accordance with Scripture.
No confusion?? Mormonism is a convoluted mixture of science fiction tales, undocumented archaeology, Mormon 'holy books' that completely contradict both the Old and New Testaments, and a cast of phony Bible characters that bear no resemblance to the historical figures. Elohim, who has sex and impregnates the virgin Mary? Jesus as the half-brother of Lucifer? Fallen, pre-existent spirit beings who side with Lucifer and are therefore cursed to be born with black skin? Strange genealogies regarding a lost tribe of Israel popping up in Native America? Blood transference in which Mormon's 'gentile blood' is magically changed into 'Jewish blood'? According to 'Prophet' Brigham Young, "[Joseph taught] that the Gentile blood was actually cleansed out of their veins, and the blood of Jacob made to circulate in them; and the revolution and change in the system were so great that it caused the beholder to think they were going into fits." (Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, v. 2, p. 269.)
Mormonism is the epitome of confusion! Whoever is talking to Glenn Beck is not giving him a message according to Scripture within any kind of Christian framework. Beck's other reason for believing God is talking to him is, "because it comes with peace." What kind of peace? A 'burning in the bosom' peace which Mormon missionaries assure me I will feel to alert me that Mormonism is true? There is such a thing as a 'false peace'. Jesus says, "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?' And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.'" (Matt. 7:21-23)
The King's Speech
Glenn moves on to discuss the Israel rally and all the courage and personal sacrifice he displayed to make it happen. For safety's sake, he claims he didn't want to deliver his main speech from the Temple Mount but that God kept telling him it must be on that spot. A rabbi in Israel evidently received the same memo from God. According to Beck, the rabbi said, "I have spoken with the Lord about this. I don't understand what he's doing. You don't understand what he's doing, but he's doing something and it must happen HERE."
The build-up Glenn employs is unmistakable. Billy Graham thinks Glenn Beck is 'the One'. The rabbi in Jerusalem thinks Glenn Beck is 'the One'. Move over Colin Firth! Glenn Beck is about to deliver the REAL 'King's Speech'!
Reflecting on the speech, Beck states triumphantly, "For the first time in the history of Christianity a Christian stood in that space and declared support for the Jewish people and Israel! Never before...has it happened before and things are changing!"
Beck describes his zealous activity in spreading his message, his travels to South America, Africa, his meetings with members of British Parliament, leaders of Russia, etc. He issues a call for others to join him in this endeavor. "Millions around the world are waking up and they are coming and they are coming!"
As he makes this appeal, I can't shake the nagging feeling that there is something else he is getting at. After all, the belief that we should stand with Israel seems pretty obvious. Maybe not in Syria, but certainly it does in Texas. No one wants to see another Holocaust. No one wants to see Ahmadinejad wipe Israel off the map. Amidst all Glen's talk of duty and responsibility and love and commitment, what specifically does he want us to do? What approach is he advocating?
I didn't have to wait long to get my answer.
Regarding the Jewish people, Glenn bellowed, "We need to honor them and bolster. NOT TRY TO CONVERT THEM! Love them! Honor them! Just like the Levites and Judah were separate and had separate responsibilities...they came together like this. (Beck links hands together) Let us link arms of all faiths all around the globe and say, "Lies end here!"
At this point, the whole congregation is on it's feet, cheering. I am sitting down, still stuck on his words, "NOT TRY TO CONVERT THEM!" We are not to share the gospel with Jews? Is that not a reversal of the Great Commission, in which our Lord instructs believers to "make disciples of all nations"? (Matt 28:19) There was no 'except for the Jews' clause. Jesus even specified that we are to be "my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." (Acts 1:8)
I also think of the Apostle Paul, who was so grieved over the lost condition of his fellow Jews that he said he would willingly give up his own salvation if only they would come to faith in Jesus. He wrote, "For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh." (Romans 9:3)
Paul said he would willingly face an eternity separated from God as a trade if only his fellow Jews would come to recognize Jesus as the Messiah and believe on Him. THAT is real love for the Jewish people! Not this shmarmy spectacle of straight up universalism that Glenn Beck is orchestrating.
Beck spoke of how we are to 'love' the Jews but specifically WITHOUT the gospel of Christ, the One who is Love incarnate. Instead of being moved by Glenn Beck's tears over Jerusalem, the congregation would do well to read the account of when Jesus weeps over Jerusalem as he is about to enter the city:
"And when he drew near and saw the city, he wept over it, saying, "Would that you, even you, had known on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. For the days will come upon you, when your enemies will set up a barricade around you and surround you and hem you in on every side and tear you down to the ground, you and your children within you. And they will not leave one stone upon another in you, because you did not know the time of your visitation." (Luke 19:41-44))
I Am Prepared To Stand Under A Tree!
There is also a certain irony in the fact that while Glenn Beck fancies himself a modern day Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the mood in the room actually seemed more akin to the old Nazi news reels of crowds leaping to their feet when Hitler issued proclamations and the right buzz words. Bonhoeffer fought against rabid nationalism, the replacing of the cross with the swastika atop German churches, and the dismissal of the gospel. Beck is advocating a faithless internationalism, the replacing of the cross with an empty peace symbol, and yet another dismissal of the gospel. Bonhoeffer was asphyxiated with piano wire and hung for his beliefs. Beck is enjoying a warm reception in Christian churches for his.
Yet, Beck sets himself up as a martyr figure. He declares, "I am prepared to stand under a tree like George Whitfield did! Go ahead! You wanna pee on me while I deliver the message? And I have nothing and I stand under a tree? Bring it on! I have the God of Abraham and Jesus Christ on my side!"
Excuse me Glenn, but I believe George Whitfield stood under a tree proclaiming the gospel. What you are offering is NO gospel! As a friend observed, the more Glenn Beck opens his mouth, the more clear it becomes that he hates the gospel. He hates the exclusivity of it. He hates the way it counters the 'working your way to godhood' message of the Mormon church. He hates that it is the polar opposite of the 'all paths lead to God - your truth, my truth' line. He hates that Christians apply it to determine if what Beck speaks is according to God's Word.
As for Beck's insistence that the God of Jesus Christ is on his side, it bears repeating that the Mormon Jesus is NOT the historical Jesus, the risen Lord with nail scars in his hand. The Mormon Jesus is a pathetic science fictionesque figure. He is either non-existent , the figure of Joseph Smith's imagination, or else he is a masquerading demon, hell bent on deception. The very idea that someone could be allowed anywhere near a platform in a Christian church to make such a declaration is a sign that Satan has won a major victory.
Listening to the applause and 'amens' from my seat, I started to feel physically ill.
I asked an usher if Glenn Beck would be meeting people after the service. He told me that no, he and David Barton left immediately after Glenn finished speaking. So he is willing to stand under a tree like Whitfield and get peed on, but unwilling to stand in a church foyer for a little q & a? It figures.
The more I have thought of Beck's presentation, the more horrified I become. Part of what makes it so disturbing is that I estimate that ninety-nine percent of that audience did not pick up on the subtle manipulations and straight out contradictions of God's Word.
The Light Shines In The Darkness....
Without question, Glenn Beck is issuing his own brand of a great commission. He is charging adherents to 'stand with Israel' (a good, in and of itself) but stipulates this should be done without sharing the gospel with anyone, least of all Jews. How does this approach benefit Israel in the long term? Of course we want Israel to live in safety. Of course we don't want to ever see another Holocaust, but let us not forget the worst part of the Holocaust. It wasn't just the fact that millions of Jews were wrenched from their homes, starved in concentration camps, and sent to die in gas chambers. The WORST part was that they were sent to die in gas chambers WITHOUT A SAVIOUR.
Satan's agenda has always been to keep people living in spiritual darkness. Because Jesus came from the Jewish people, Satan appears to take a gleeful pleasure in encouraging persecution of the Jews in this life while simultaneously keeping them spiritually blind and cut off from God for eternal life. Jesus said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." (John 8:12)
The apostle John also writes, "There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.
The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God." (John 1:6-13)
Satan knows this and offers a counterfeit 'light'. To primitive peoples, he offers the light of idols and false gods. To the more sophisticated, he offers humanistic enlightenment and the idea that the 'light' is actually inside of us already, that we have the 'god within'. This ploy was marvelously successful when he told Eve, "you will be like God" (Genesis 3:4) and so he is continuously repackaging it to appeal to successive generations and demographics.
Now along comes Glenn Beck in his latest book, 'Seven Wonders That Will Change Your Life', with the same 'light within' appeal:
“You have a polestar inside you. It is connected with all the energy in the universe. When you begin to follow that star you align yourself with immeasurable, inexplicable forces that will actually help you manifest your best intentions.” (Page 79)“Pray to whatever higher power you believe in…Praying that God or Nature or the Cosmos or your own internal, immeasurable reservoir of spirit allows you the courage and faith to find and then face the truth…” (Page 132)
Christians who would have never embraced sixties era, hippie-fied, eastern mysticism or eighties styled 'Shirley MacLaine running on the beach declaring she is god' New Age mantras, or even 'A Course in Miracles', are now embracing Glenn Beck? Why? Because he gained the trust of those on the political right who agreed with him. Because he is now using and taking advantage of Christians (particularly evangelicals) who have an affinity for Israel in a spiritual sense.
This guy is really starting to tick me off.
Go Ye...Into All The World!
Glenn Beck's great commission is not merely to 'stand with Israel', but to push forward a universalistic vision in which the gospel has no place. Does this conflict with Mormonism? No. Within Beck's own religious view, other faiths will be accepted to some level of 'heaven', even if they don't get to evolve into Mormon godhood and receive their own planet, fully equipped with a harem of goddess wives.
The conflict of Beck's great commission is with that of the REAL Great Commission, that of our Lord.
And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." (Matt. 28:17-20)
As believers, we should offer Glenn Beck our prayers. We pray he will come to know the REAL Jesus who declares, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father, except by me." (John 14:6) We should not offer our support for him in any other way. We should not offer him money, an audience, or our own credibility. We dare not offer him our pulpits.
A lost and already confused world is watching.
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