New Voice Media | Associated Baptist Press
Thursday, September 09, 2010
| Jim Wallis urges Christians to turn off Glenn Beck |
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| By Bob Allen | |||
| Thursday, March 11, 2010 | |||
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WASHINGTON (ABP) -- Jim Wallis, a politically progressive evangelical and longtime advocate for the poor, said Christians should stop watching or listening to broadcaster Glenn Beck for remarks urging people to leave churches that preach "social justice." The Fox News personality recently warned listeners on both his daily radio and television shows that the term used by many Christian churches to describe their efforts to address poverty and human rights is a "code word" for communism and Nazism.
On his March 2 television show, Beck held up cards with a hammer and sickle and a swastika. "Communists are on the left, and the Nazis are on the right. That's what people say. But they both subscribe to one philosophy, and they flew one banner," he said. "One had the hammer and sickle. The other had a swastika. But on each banner, read the words, here in America: 'social justice.' They talked about economic justice, rights of the workers, redistribution of wealth and, surprisingly, I love this, democracy." Wallis, CEO and editor in chief at Sojourners, a group formed in the 1970s to promote peace and justice issues from an evangelical point of view, said Beck's message "attacks the very heart of our Christian faith, and Christians should no longer watch his show." Wallis said Christians should put Beck in the same category with Howard Stern, who was banished from the airwaves in 2005 and now broadcasts uncensored on satellite radio.
Beck, who is a Mormon, said the message of social justice has infected all faiths. He called it a "perversion of the gospel." Beck advised people who attend churches where pastors preach a message of social justice to report it to their bishop or other church authority. Wallis encouraged members of the Sojourners community to "turn ourselves in" by the thousands with letters to Beck identifying them as church leaders and church members who believe the Bible calls for social justice. Beck responded on his March 11 radio show by mocking Wallis as a "leftist," "operative for the Democratic Party" and "dedicated foe of capitalism." -30- This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it is senior writer for Associated Baptist Press.                 Comments (33)
 Wallis off base as well
written by rusjen, March 11, 2010
Wallis has as much a right to say to not listen to Beck as has to tell me to run away from a church with a social justice agenda. Wallis is forgetting that Beck is a political entertainer and I happen to like his form of entertainment. He does not make me do anything. I think for myself. Wallis should keep his opinions to himself. Beck is paid to broadcast his and Wallis isn't. Very silly, Mr. Wallis.
The Guilty Dog
written by Mark Osgatharp, March 11, 2010
The old saying is, the dog hit hardest yelps the loudest. Seems to me Mr. Beck hit the nail right on the head.
Mark Osgatharp Wynne, Arkansas stop watching Glen Beck! Amen!
written by bbagbygrose, March 11, 2010
I agree 100 percent with Him Wallis when he says that:
"Beck denies the central teachings of Jesus and the Bible. So Christians should stop watching the Glenn Beck show and pray for him..." And I definitely agree that "Christians should put Beck in the same category with Howard Stern." Another great article from Associated Baptist Press. ...
written by javadave61, March 11, 2010
So rusjen, because Wallis isn't "paid" to broadcast his opinions, he should keep his opinions to himself? Really? What kind of "free speech" philosophy is that? I guess if Beck (a Mormon, let's not forget) called your church by name and told your members to leave your "communist" church (because you feeding poor people, let's remember) you'd not say a word? Right.
And so Mark... do you think Jesus was a Communist or a Nazi? Beck can't be comfortable with Jesus urging a rich man to sell everything to give to the poor or for inspiring his followers to hold everything in common. Just curious which label you'd attach to our Savior. Oh, so silly!
written by dlhunt, March 11, 2010
@ rusjen: Apparently, from your comment title, you believe that Mr. Beck is off base too. And, apparently you prefer the silliness that comes from Mr. Beck. Myself, I much prefer the silliness that comes from Mr. Wallis because he neatly captures the silliness of Jesus commanding us to love God and to love our neighbour. Feeding the hungry, healing the sick, helping the poor, visiting people in prisons -- oh what silliness! And, I get all this silliness for free!
...
written by KT2005, March 11, 2010
Beck's words do take aim at Wallis' life work: to move evangelical church's left toward the Democratic Party. I can understand why he is upset.
The statism advocated by "social justice" is very much at odds with the founding principles of our country. Social Justice has a big problem because there is no absolute meaning of "justice". Yesteryear justice was about giving women and minorities equality, but now its about gay rights, children's rights to not be influenced by parents regarding religion, and even animals have somehow acquired rights. We are now told that all have a right to health care, food, education, etc. Yet for all their emphasis on rights, responsibility is lacking. Social Justice would be wonderful if their adherents had the True definition of justice. Yet the only definition those who advocate this philosophy have is what leftist elites believe today. . . which will be quite different in 30 years. As you can see, social justice ends up being a vehicle of elites to impose their favorite values upon the rest of the country. Ideological influence can be good or bad, but when Nancy Pelosi and her leftist friends are driving the "Social Justice" ship there are huge problems. Who can be against "Social Justice" right? Well, with no solid definition of justice (which can be found in the Bible), this concept is reduced to a club elites use to oppress regular people. It is this club that Beck wants to break. . . and Wallis is threatened. He should be. It will be interesting to see how far right the country will swing in response to Obama. Carter created Reagan, what will Obama bring the U.S. ...
written by javadave61, March 11, 2010
Wallis and Beck are at the two ends of the extremes. And the extremes get the press (hence the article). But most of us live in between those extremes. Beck sees any kind of compassion as antithetical to free market democracy. Wallis sees no compassion or justice unless it is government endorsed. But most of us desire a middle ground... where the government maintains a fair playing field and a few referees, and where the church (and private individuals/institutions) bring compassion and justice to a world that is often self-centered and cut-throat. Beck is wrong to connect social justice with communism/Nazism, and Wallis is wrong to think that government can do that better than Christ's church.
But to react to Wallis' extreme inclusion of government in "social justice" by saying that there is no biblical command to pursue it at all... That's nonsense. JAMES 2:14 - 19
written by onehappydemocrat, March 12, 2010
14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?
15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, 16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? 17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. 18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. 19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. Do you really listen to Glenn?
written by jiggsh, March 12, 2010
One would gather from the comments here that Glenn is the "messiah" of the right. He rails against the progressives as being either Nazi or Communist, these two philosophies are diametrically opposed to each other. Glen should make up his mind. Are Christians who believe in a social gospel really Communists or Nazis?
I have listened to Glenn and he turns my stomach. His attacks on the essence of the message of Jesus is not only ill conceived but borders on blasphemy. Glenn is not atypical of some believers today. They disguise themselves as Holy. They are more concerned with personal wealth than spiritual wealth. Glenn and his listeners are just looking for some one to blame. Glenn is an entertainer, but too many people take his message as gospel fact. Clearly he has not read any of the Scripture that disagrees with his view. Clearly he has not read the preamble to the Constitution or he has selectively read. Since he and his supporters fail to read it in its entirety. We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America. Yep, right there in the first paragraph, "promote the general Welfare". It seems that the deaf do not hear. Soon and very soon, Christ will come again and restore their hearing. He will feed the poor, heal the sick and judge the unrighteous. I guess that makes the Savior a Communist or is it a Nazi, I'm confused. ...
written by Hal Eaton, March 12, 2010
My view: Whether (or not) I am a Democrat, Republican, Baptist, Mormon, atheist, Libertarian, or assignable to any other self-limiting category, if I have knowledge of a hungry person, I think I will try to feed him. If efficient corporate efforts to feed the hungry exist, they will get my support (both financial and verbal).
I suggest we consider a psychological analysis of Bro. Beck -- and of any who believe in and follow his rants. Beck's talents are amazingly similar to those of most old-time preachers. The arm-waving and loud-mouthed exclamations of absolutes are familiar tactics, proven as workable by such luminaries as many TV preachers -- and Adolph Hitler as well (remember him?). It's interesting that Beck cites
written by JeffF, March 12, 2010
both Nazi Germany and Communist USSR. In each case the church of the country was sickly silent while the government oppressed and exploited its own population and foreign populations as well. Is Beck wishing to replicate the same model here?
How nice to have a faith that espouses that you can love God and at the same time cleanse yourself of any responsibility or compassion for anyone else. ...
written by zdbu, March 12, 2010
It's certainly Glenn Beck's right to share his opinions on these matters. It's even his right to tell people not to attend churches that speak on social justice matters. But, it's also Jim Wallis' right to share his opinion and tell people not to watch the Glenn Beck show. It's wrong to assume one has the right to voice their views and not the other. I personally think Beck is way off-base, but nevertheless it's his right to express his views. The only thing I would ask him (and those who agree with him) to do is explain how social justice is distorting the good news of Jesus when matters of social justice (care for the poor, justice for the oppressed, liberty for those in captivity, etc.) are at the heart of everything Jesus talks about in the gospels? In fact, in Luke 4, Jesus says that these issues (the issues that most people are including under the term social justice) are the very reason he came. So how is social justice anti-Christian or a distortion of the gospel when social justice is the good news Jesus came proclaiming--a different, a redeeming, a healing way of life in which the harmony of heaven is brought into the affairs of humanity ("let your kingdom come, your will be done ON EARTH as it is in heaven")?
...
written by KT2005, March 12, 2010
"promote the general Welfare" has a historical context that is not even close to what progressives argue for. If progressives are right, then why was there no welfare state until FDR? Was the country ignoring her founding principles for a 150 years?
I'm lamenting public education right about now. . . what are people learning in social studies??? Perhaps there is another problem?
written by glennd1, March 12, 2010
The problem might be in relying on divine authority for one's political beliefs in the first place. For those of us who have decided that believing in a god who hides from us, but is omnipresent and omniscient, and who condemns at least two thirds of humanity to fiery damnation (with no proof of this damnation at all), is not reasonable or wise. well y'all just look silly trying to 'out-holy' each other. You're relying on unreliable texts written by men, not a god, not even written contemporaneously with Jesus life.
It's lost on all of you that the U.S. constitution represents a declaration that "We the people" are the source of authority in our society, and rely on no divinity for this authority. Wake up - you believe in ridiculous, superstitious nonsense that is rotting your brains and destroying our world. Beck
written by ernie1241, March 12, 2010
Beck is merely advancing the most virulent form of what has been standard extreme right dogma in our country for 8 decades.
Essentially, it is a Darwinian perspective which totally rejects the idea of any commonweal and substitutes, instead, a cult-like belief in salubrious laissez faire capitalism as the single most compelling organizing principle of society. If we eliminate from our minds and hearts the idea of "social justice", and "community" and any notion of what Beck and his soul mates sneer at as "progressivism" -- then, ipso facto, we devolve and eviscerate government activism to the point where individuals either take care of themselves in all conceivable circumstances or they perish. Naturally, the strongest (and wealthiest) will prevail -- which is precisely what Beck et al want. Beck has identified as his philosophical mentor, former FBI Special Agent W. Cleon Skousen. Like Beck, Skousen believed that "liberalism", "progressivism", "socialism", "communism", "nazism" and "fascism" are various forms of "collectivism" (i.e. government activism) -- and in their scheme of things, collectivism represents a cancer which must be excised from the body politic if genuine freedom and prosperity are to exist. For more details about Skousen, see my report at: http://ernie1241.googlepages.com/skousen ...
written by KT2005, March 12, 2010
Yes Glen, the atheists have set up such wonderful governments in the past century. The U.S.S.R. was a people's paradise. No genocide there! The Declaration does say our rights come from God. The historical context makes this God the Christian God. Human Rights and Natural Rights are concepts created in Christian nations. You can thank the Puritans for the foundations of your government. These Christians have created the most successful civilization in history: the UK and U.S. Give Christians a little credit.
The Protestant Reformation created the literate civilization that created the world you live in. Now that the West is rich she has abandoned her God. We are no better for our new found love of secularism. Divorce, drug abuse, ignorance of history, sexual promiscuity, and gross laziness are the fruits of our new found freedom from Christianity. As the Bible says, one knows a tree by its fruit. Secularism is self-centered and without purpose. Where there is no word from God the people perish. One of the ways God punishes people is the removal of His good presence. The Bible calls this God giving people over to their sins. This said, God can be found. I and others have found Him. Christ has changed our lives and made us new. There is real power in knowing God. If you truly seek after God with all of your heart, you will find Him. Yet most individuals love their sin and refuse to do so. Fun debate
written by rusjen, March 12, 2010
This is very fun.
First, I want to clarify something - I was nost saying that Wallis had no right to an opinion, but that he is not paid to air his thoughts. He has to make a special effort to do so, looking like he is desperate for media attention, and that people likely don't care what he thinks. Beck, on the other hand, is literally paid to voice his opinion and then we, the public, get to react by watching/listening or ignoring. If you look at the ratings for his TV show, which I have only caught a few times, I think the public likes it - number two news/info/entertainment show in the country between The No Spin Zone and Hannity - all conservative thinkers. Wallis has every right to believe something or say what he believes, but there is no evidence that the public at large wants to hear it. If not for this article, then nobody would even know he was ticked. I also realize that Beck in a Mormon and that his religious views do no match with mine, but his conservative side - without the religion element - attracts me. He went well over the top in saying that churches who do "social justice" are all led by communists - very wrong assumption. However, there are churches who have abandoned the Kingdom goals for more earthly, social justice goals and they are totally wrong. I have a feeling that Beck was not painting with as broad a brush as he made it sound, but that draws more attention. We can't forget that drawign that attention is really a big part of his job. Entertainer or political pundit?
written by dlhunt, March 12, 2010
@ rusjen: What difference does it make whether someone is paid or not to voice their opinions. So, Mr. Beck is an entertainer as you suggest. He is paid by an employer to do what he does. It is not a measure of whether people want to hear him or not. It is a measure of what the Fox folks want the public to hear.
Mr. Wallis on the other hand, is a writer, editor and publisher of a magazine sold (paid for) on a subscription basis to people who WANT to hear what he has to say. He also has a voice in the wider community on blogs, email lists and speaking engagements. He is also an ordained minister and people buy his books. In the few clips I have seen of him, I find Mr. Beck unappealing, puerile and frankly quite boring. He is not offering an alternative to Mr. Wallis and if what he is doing is supposed to be comedy, I think he could learn a thing or two from the Saturday Night Live crowd. ...
written by bevadon74, March 12, 2010
i have great pity for Glen Beck, he is so far out. i love Jim Wallis, trust Jim Wallis and read his books. i would never watch or listen to GB or read one of his books (if he has any). he's so pathetic it's sad.
Strange...
written by Ken, March 12, 2010
When Don Wildmon or some other conservative urges people not to watch certain programs, he's accused of promoting "censorship." The older I get, the more I realize Ronald Reagan was right: liberals will defend to the death your right to agree with them.
...
written by John Bunyan, March 12, 2010
Amen, Ken! I've been afflicted with Wallis ever since my seminary days at Southeastern. I had to go to Germany for theological education where no one cares who he is. Liberals: They never learn!
John Bunyan
written by Ken, March 12, 2010
I don't know anything about Jim Wallis, but the term "politically progressive" always raises a red flag in my mind. If the last forty or fifty years are what they call progress, then I think a little regression may be in order.
According to another ABP article, Wallis is one of the "evangelical leaders" who has come out in favor of the Senate's health care bill. In my opinion, that doesn't speak well of his good sense. ...
written by PA Redhead, March 12, 2010
*This* Christian LIKES Glen Beck.
Me thinks he's struck yet another nerve!! Too funny! :D liberal, conservative?
written by dlhunt, March 13, 2010
The terms liberal and conservative keep getting thrown around and politicise the discussion. I get the idea that for most commenters here Mr. Wallis is not a liberal nor is Mr. Beck a conservative depending on what your idea of the terms is. Each is something else entirely. What is clear is that they are at odds with each other. I cannot understand why Mr. Beck hates "social justice" nor how he can connect it with two the diametrically opposed political philosophies Nazism and Communism. Neither of these philosophies ever cared about social justice, in fact the practice of social justice would be antithetical to their existence. I do understand something of what Mr. Walls's idea of social justice is and I can understand why he is a proponent. He communicates that very well.
"Social justice" is a vague term...
written by Ken, March 13, 2010
What exactly is "social justice"? Is it socially just to legalize the killing of the unborn? Is it socially just to re-define marriage to please a few sexual perverts? Is it socially just to undermine the work ethic with government welfare programs? Is it socially just to pour millions of dollars into schools where children aren't learning anything? A lot of liberals seem to think so. If that's your idea of "social justice", this Christians wants no part of it.
...
written by singer2, March 13, 2010
Ken, you've missed the point and you took the bait of associating social justice with specific and politicized causes. We must not allow our stance on such causes to completely to lead us to ignore Christ's example and Christ's clear call. I am amazed that we have all of these responses, and yet we spend very little time with the scriptures that commit us to caring for our neighbor...that is, unless there are some who don't regard the story of the good Samaritan as being inspired scripture, especially when it gets in the way of the agenda of the right or the left.
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written by wadotson, March 13, 2010
This whole article and a good portion of the comments are totally asinine. It seems a great many of our "christian leaders" have totally forgotten our God given responsibilities to teach and preach the gospel, and make and encourage deciples. I suppose it's just so much more fun to create political duststorms. We pulled away from the SBC because of their narrowed thinking and list of do's and do not's and now we have Mr Social Justice attempting to tell us whom we can and cannot listen to. Compare Beck to Stearn? You have got to be kidding! Last time I checked, there was no agency (church or state) requiring me to listen to or watch or read anything or not, even this article--that's the way it should be for "real" Baptists!
@ wadotson: How about LIVE the gospel?
written by dlhunt, March 14, 2010
If we stop at preaching and teaching the gospel, then we have only taken first steps. We are called to LIVE the gospel and so our actions would naturally flow out of that life. CHRIST (Jesus) gave Christians the two great commandments, to love the Lord your God and love your neighbour as yourself. If we are learning from the preaching and teaching we will naturally demonstrate love for neighbour in many ways, such as feeding the hungry, championing the poor, including the marginalised, healing the sick, caring for God's creation and standing against worldly "authorities" that kill and destroy for the sake of pride and profit.
Beck's Religion
written by Bobby McCord, March 15, 2010
Glenn Beck is not a Christian. He is a Mormon. I disagree with his religion but agree with his veiw of the progressive movement toward socialism and even communism in our country. Any church that disregards the Bible as true and authoritative or denies that Christ is the only way of salvation is a false church. Anyone who beleives that giving the government control over health care or any other part of our free lives is a socialist. The government bankrupts everything it touches, post office, social security, medicare, are just a few examples.
singer2
written by Ken, March 16, 2010
"Ken, you've missed the point and you took the bait of associating social justice with specific and politicized causes."
Then what exactly is it? You didn't answer my question. "We must not allow our stance on such causes to completely to lead us to ignore Christ's example and Christ's clear call." Does Christ have a "clear call" to support gay marriage or the killing of the unborn? Is His "clear call" for us to look the other way while these things are going on? As for this business about "loving our neighbor", I hardly think massive government spending and bureaucracy is what Christ had in mind. Anyone can be generous when they're spending someone else's money. ... written by robber, March 16, 2010
Wallis, an adviser to Obama, is just trying to stir the water and make a name for himself and help his agenda. His decree to turn Beck off will affect no one. Either you like Beck or you don't. This changes nothing. Except it confirms to me that Beck must be right or there would not be such outrage.
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