LOVE HIM or hate him, there’s no denying the syndicated radio and Fox News host Glenn Beck, a Mormon, has become the de facto spokesman for conservative Christians in America. But his “Restoring Honor” rally at the Lincoln Memorial yesterday shows that his call for political change has morphed into a call for revival:
“Something beyond imagination is happening. America today begins to turn back to God. For too long, this country has wandered in darkness.”
Pastor Ken Silva, president of Apprising Ministries, talks about Beck’s message and whether Christians should align themselves with a professing Mormon in what has become a religious movement.
We also touch on the emergent church, contemplative spirituality, and the ELCA’s recent decision to admit openly homosexual clergy into the pulpit, and trace these movements — including the call to “take America Back” on religious grounds — to the rejection of sola scriptura in favor of new “revelations”.
Don’t forget: Sharon and Derek will speak at the Supernatural Science and Prophecy Conference in Canton, Ohio October 1 and 2. Other featured speakers include Tom Horn of Raiders News Network, Russ Dizdar of Shatter The Darkness Ministries, and Jeff Radt of Look Up Fellowship. Details at www.ControlledMinds.com.
The Revelations Radio Network has a new website! Take a look and check out a great group of like-minded Christian podcasters.
Click the arrow on the player below to listen now, or right-click (control-click if you have a Mac) the “download” link to save the mp3 file to your hard drive.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | Android | iHeartRadio | Email | RSS
I AM FOREVER GRATEFUL FOR THIS SITE…………..BUT I CONSTANTLY HAVE TO GET ARTICLES SENT THROUGH OTHER SITES………..IS THERE ANY WAY THAT I CAN SIGN UP TO RECEIVE THIS PERSONALLY????????????????????// THANK YOU……………….
I’ve been reading Ken Silva’s site for several years. Heard him on the radio last week, warning about cancer in the church. I look forward to listening to this. Many thanks!
Glen Beck, being a Mormon, is almost certainly a Mason.
If you have a chance, check out “The Order Of The Bell”. An old Glen Ford movie that covers this very topic.
Wish I’d seen this before I replied to the previous one….Ken Silva is absolutely spot on…I agree with what he said and couldn’t have put it better if I’d tried…
Have his site and often go there too! God Bless you both for putting this on!
Voice – the Glen Ford film as “Brotherhood of the Bell”. I had forgotten about it; may have to find it and watch it again.
I’m always amused when either the left or the right take seriously cartoon caricatures of buffoons, blowhards, or constantly rambling ego maniacs like that of Beck or Rush. Which is not to say that those portraying them are not snared in their depiction like Michael Jackson was lost to the persona he helped contrive.
There’s no more apt example of mockery than what they purport to represent, “on loan from god” or “the fusion of enlightenment & entertainment.”
Ecclesiates 10: 1 Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour: so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honour.
Which doesn’t mean that a jack-*ss can’t tell the truth — balaam considered — who nonetheless taught Israel to err for gain.
Let those with discernment attest whether or not the spirit of false prophecy (aka the false prophet) is at work in them? Remember our enemy pulls their strings. And if so be — then consider Enoch’s conclusion about what drives them, as follows:
2 Pt 2: 17 These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever. 18 For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error. 19 While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.
Jude: 11 Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core. 12 These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots; 13 Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever. 14 And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, 15 To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him. 16 These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men’s persons in admiration because of advantage.
There is that which rises out of the sea of humanity … Look past the actors to see the spirit behind. Lord Jesus (Y’shua Messiah) deliver them.
Beck doesn’t strike me as a stable individual; the theatrics and weeping on command that he has become famous for makes it difficult to take him serious half the time.
He also has a tendency to look solely at the socialists and not at the power elite that is not chained down to any one given ideology. While some elites flirt with varieties of socialism, most of them are pragmatists that periodically support socialist causes. That occurs strictly when the socialists can help them further their own agenda.
Beck’s shortcomings aside, I have yet to see him proselytize on behalf of the Mormon faith, so I don’t see the point in drawing attention to his Mormonism. I could be wrong, but it seems like a real cheap and petty move.
Do the Mormons believe things that are extraneous to the Christian faith? Absolutely. That does not preclude them, however, from having some understanding of the deep political machinations at work in the world today.
Case in point: Cleon Skousen. Skousen was a mormon who, in 1970, wrote the book the Naked Capitalist. If it wasn’t for the book, most people in the research field today would have no clue who Carroll Quigley was. Skousen carefully reviewed Quigley’s book Tragedy and Hope, which provided one of the first insider accounts of the Rhodes/Milner/Round Table axis and its influence on the world today.
Given that fact, it would be foolish for a Christian not to pick up the Naked Capitalist and read it simple because the author is a mormon. At no time is anybody in danger of being converted just by reading that book.
“Glen Beck, being a Mormon, is almost certainly a Mason.”
This is bad logic. Being a mormon does not instantly make one a mason. Smith used a lot of masonry when he was constructing his religion, but you cannot conclude from that fact that Mormonism is somehow controlled by Masonry. The similarities between the two may have led to some mormons joining a lodge or some masons becoming members of the LDS church, but you still cannot conflate the two. That would be irresponsible.
Mormonism is a cult, and its ties to the intelligence community are legendary (just look at Howard Hughes’ employment of key aides that belonged to LDS). But there’s too many Christians out there who fancy themselves junior heresy hunters that are trying to make an issue where there is none.
Until the day that Beck uses his program to hype the LDS church, his faith, in my view, should remain a non-issue.
His faith would be a non-issue if his program in recent months and his rallies Friday and Saturday weren’t exclusively about faith.
Christians, let’s partner with our Mormon, Hindu, Muslim, Jewish, Buddhist, atheist, and pagan brothers and sisters on social issues when we have common cause. But when Beck starts his rally at the National Mall by saying, “America today begins to turn back to God,” it’s not unreasonable for Christians to call a time-out and ask which playbook he’s using.
And even then, we must recognize that he’s got the right to say whatever he likes. My beef is with the Christian pastors who signed on to a call for revival led by a Mormon.
Dr. Jim Garlow defends his decision by claiming that Beck understands that his salvation is by faith in Jesus Christ. If that’s true, then Beck’s beliefs are contrary to Mormon doctrine. Jesus the created being is not the Jesus of the Trinity any more than Allah is Yahweh.
When Beck’s message crosses the line from politics to preaching, Christians must disagree. Doctrine matters, and Mormons follow a different god.
“But when Beck starts his rally at the National Mall by saying, “America today begins to turn back to God,” it’s not unreasonable for Christians to call a time-out and ask which playbook he’s using.”
This is not proof of anything. He hasn’t asked anyone to become a mormon. If you want him to clarify, so be it. But so far as I can tell, his call seems to be for people to return to religious denominations that promote morality and moderation. He’s supportive of Christian churches, thinkers, and organizations that do not subscribe to mormon ideas, so I don’t see the threat.
“Doctrine matters”
I never said it didn’t.
Doctrine, by the way, does not support sola scriptura. In 1 Corinthians 11:2 Paul plainly states: “I praise you for remembering me in everything and for holding to the teachings, just as I passed them on to you.” If the early Christian were solely relying on what had been written at that time, they would have turned a deaf to what Paul had said to them.
The whole idea of sola scriptura actually leads to cults such as mormonism who, in the absence of sound teachers and theologians, construe the scripture to mean whatever they want.
If you have cancer, and the best onocologist in town is a mormon, will you refuse to be seen by him simply on the basis that he is a mormon. He’s not going to convert; he’s simply going to cut the growth out and save your life.
The same principle extends to this case as well as the case of William Norman Grigg and Cleon and Joel Skousen, all mormons who have done some decent work.
Hi, Paul,
I appreciate the opportunity to sharpen my thinking! Forgive me for implying, inadvertently, that you somehow take Christian doctrine lightly. The body of your work clearly proves otherwise.
It was of utmost importance to your namesake, too. The teachings he passed on to the churches he planted in Asia are the ones he so clearly expressed in 1 Corinthians 15. He transmitted them verbally because, as you’ve noted, the New Testament was still being written.
But those teachings have been preserved for us down the centuries in written form. The problem with Mormons–and Muslims, Seventh Day Adventists, Jehovah’s Witnesses, and Roman Catholicism–is that they’ve added traditions and teachings that contradict the writings of Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Paul, et al.
That’s the difference with the radical ideas of “The Way” in the first century. Jesus’ death and resurrection didn’t contradict scripture; they fulfilled scripture. And Paul praised the Bereans for checking his teachings against scripture to make sure he wasn’t off the reservation.
Partnering with Mormons, Hindus, Jews, Muslims, atheists, Buddhists, or pagans on social issues when we have common cause is not a problem. Nor is Beck’s decision to talk about faith in connection with politics. I agree with him on most political issues, and what we believe obviously directs the way we behave.
Nor do I advocate shunning Mormons. That’s not scriptural; we’re supposed to make disciples of all nations, and it’s kind of hard to do when we never interact with them!
My point is simply this: when a Mormon, or a Hindu, or a Scientologist, or anyone else calls for an ecumenical revival, as Beck clearly has done, then responsible Christian pastors need to point out that the leader of the revival, regardless of that person’s politics, is worshiping and following a different god. Let’s work together to support political initiatives and candidates that are consistent with Judeo-Christian morality. But if Beck uses faith as the glue to bind and guide this coalition, then I’ll have to politely decline.
Look if the God of the universe decides to pick someone other than some hot shot well dressed spit and polished Pastor, that’s His business , not yours. Isn’t He the one who spoke through a donkey, because His people were so stiff necked they could not hear anymore? He can use a Glen Beck, outside of our main stream religious circles to get the peoples attention. Pick, Pick, Pick, when you better be praying, praying, praying. What other hot shot from our Christian Churches could he have used, and got that many people to listen to Him. God will take care of Glen Beck, He will be just fine. Wake up America your time is running out.
Pete,
Agreed. I’m no fan of Beck; I think he has a while to go before he fully grasp the nature of the beast he’s wrestling with. That being said, his mormonism should not preclude him from speaking out on the issues, faith’s place in the political realm included.
The obsessive hunt for heretics (a term most Christian have not properly defined, mormonism’s heretical status notwithstanding) is becoming inquisitional in nature.
Case in point: Some of the best writers over the antichristic movement are Catholics. But excellent researchers such as E. Michael Jones, William Kennedy, and Stephen Hand aren’t even heard out because of the assertion that “Catholics are not real Christians.”
There is an infantility that informs all this thinking. It says, “I cannot cooperate or commune with you because you’re different from me.” Adults work and collaborate in a world filled with differences of opinion.
If Beck starts to become messianic, thinking of himself as the new Joseph Smith, then I’ll step up to the plate and object.
Until that time, I’ll just say that the crying on commanding, the theatrics, and that condescending black board does not help the man’s cause.
Let me clarify.
When I say differences should not matter, I mean superficial or benign ones.
Beck’s faith remains a benign issue until he tries to use his program or charisma to convert people to mormonism.
I seriously doubt that will happen.
One hypothesis is that Beck may, at some point, try to construct a new religion using mormonism as a model. But I see no evidence at present to suggest that is going to happen. So far, he respects other people’s religious persuasions and honors their right to worship according to the dictates of their own conscience.
So that possibility, while interesting as a hypothetical ball to kick around, is remote at best. While I sometimes think Beck’s mental stability is shaky, I don’t think he’s gone completely bonkers. And that is what it would take to get Beck to try to convince people that he can walk on water.
Will Beck develop a messiah complex? Maybe. But there’s no evidence that he has at the present time so, for crying out loud, stop being so judgmental. It gets obnoxious. Just be cautious and discerning and you’ll be just fine.
Again, my problem isn’t with Beck. I was one of his biggest fans when I programmed the station in Columbia, and I was delighted we could send contest winners to his live show in St. Louis. His Mormon faith was not an issue. He’s free to believe and discuss whatever he likes, and I generally watch his show when I get home from work because it’s the best thing on TV at 5:00PM.
Great googly moogly, if I was really that judgmental, I’d never turn on the television again, much less subject myself to the humanist claptrap that fills the (painfully misspelled) SyFy channel.
The pastors who use Beck’s platform to promote a political agenda based on a doctrine of God-n-country sloganeering are the ones I have the problem with. The true issue with the United States is that too many professing Christians don’t know enough Bible to know right from wrong, or even know why they should trust it to tell them right from wrong. And our most prominent pastors obviously aren’t much help.
They’re content to bypass the problem behind our problems, focusing on the symptoms rather than the disease.
Derek,
I don’t think you are being judgmental. I do think that Silva and A Voice in the Wilderness are over the top in their assertions.
There is really no reason, in my estimation, to draw attention to Beck’s mormonism at this time. No more than there is call to do it for William Norman Grigg or the Skousens.
In the movie The Insider, the whistleblower Jeffrey Wigand, portrayed by Russell Crowe, summed up best what I am trying to say: “Whose life, when placed under a magnifying glass, doesn’t have flaws? I told the truth. That’s all that matters.”
Sorry if I came off accusative or rude.
William Grigg is an ex-Morman…you can google his testimony of his conversion.
I’ve got a query out to Will Grigg asking for an interview.