Could we say that the church has failed to wake up very
many people so, by default, a Mormon -- Glenn Beck --
has made quite a stir and has become an official
spiritual leader? He rallied hundreds of thousands
last weekend with themes of faith and love of our
country. Americans are desperate and fearful of what
is coming upon this land so they look to a Mormon for
leadership. I am glad his Saturday event was
successful for just some of these reasons:
* Americans came to celebrate America after the highest
leaders in our land have trashed her around the world.
* They focused on what was right in America and they
also honored our military.
* Faith and patriotism were lifted up -- two items that
the Left despises.
* Attendees were passionate -- traveling thousands of
miles and, once arriving in D.C., walking for miles,
even if handicapped.
* Conservative Americans must gather together to fortify
one another. Such events strengthen one another and
offer hope. Finding kindred spirits in a depressing age
is essential.
* Whether the Left heard or not, the attendees sent a
message that they are fed up. November is around the
corner and they had better look out.
In light of the positive aspects of the honoring America
weekend, could there possibly be a down side?
I
tried to do a fair and balanced radio program last
Saturday, August 28, with Brannon Howse, former Mormon
Ed Decker, and apologetics' expert Eric Barger.
We raised a few issues, and you can hear them
here. I have received some thanks for the honesty
and integrity of the two hours, and a few hate e-mails
and calls for the position the panel took, which will be
explained in the paragraphs below.
The theme of the Friday gathering of spiritual
leaders and the Saturday rally was an encouragement
to turn back to God. The not-so-subtle theme was
"many faiths, but one God."
I believe many conservative Christians would have been
relieved if Glenn had not brought out Mormon doctrine
that very few are familiar with.
He stated at the
Saturday event that the American Indians are the
"chosen people" -- blatant Mormon doctrine. The crowd
applauded in approval. You can
view that here at the 4:30 mark.
He stated -- and has affirmed this on his radio and
television programs -- that God is the only answer.
While much was troublesome last weekend, who else is
sticking their neck out saying we have to turn back to
God and gathering hundreds of thousands in the process?
It would be wonderful if Franklin Graham or even Joel
Rosenberg could attract a half-million people and
deliver the true gospel. We aren't quite there yet.
Again, by default, we defer to Glenn Beck.
The weekend opened on Friday night, Augsust 27, with
Glenn's "Divine Destiny" program which again, is
straight out of Mormonism. Many participants have
implied, or blatantly stated, that Glenn is a "saved
Mormon" or on the way to becoming one.
Friend and frequent radio guest John McTernan,
was present both days just to observe.
He writes on his blog, "There were several
prayers offered at the Friday event and none were made
in the name of Jesus. I was deeply grieved after I left.
"On Saturday, I attended the rally. If it had been
just political, I could accept Beck as a leader;
however, it went way beyond that. I am not questioning
anything about Beck's character or motives. What I am
deeply grieved about is that this was not led by the
real church of the Lord Jesus Christ. Is America in such
desperate spiritual condition that masses of Christians
will follow a Mormon for spiritual revival?"
McTernan continues, "The sheep in America are
desperate and fearful of what is coming, so they look to
a Mormon for leadership. A Mormon leading a meeting like
this for America turning back to God should have
God-fearing pastors in America on their knees crying out
to God for mercy. I am grieved, not so much with Glenn
Beck, but that the church is so pitifully weak that a
Mormon can now lead God's people, and they do not see
the spiritual danger."
What are major Mormon beliefs and how do they
play into this scenario? When God is the professed focus
of the August 27-28 weekend, what is the deeper meaning?
And Glenn is outspoken about his Mormon faith. He
so-stated that fact many times over the weekend and in
the weeks and months leading up to it. It was not subtle
or hidden. But Glenn does not bring out the bullet
points below because it reads like science fiction.
Mormon theology teaches:
* God was born and raised on another planet.
* He has a harem of wives.
* They produce spirit-babies that are sent to earth;
there they gain bodies and earn sainthood.
* Jesus is the brother of Lucifer.
* Jesus is the chosen/elected savior by a council of
gods from other worlds.
* America is the promised land, not Israel. The holy
city is Independence, Missouri, not Jerusalem. Jesus'
latter-day agenda is to return to Missouri.
* The U.S. Constitution is as sacred as the Book of
Mormon. In the latter days, it will be under siege and
will be saved by Mormons. Thus, we must "reclaim
America" to save the Constitution and usher in a genuine
age of Mormon leadership. They want to build a Mormon
kingdom on earth, similar to modern day Dominionists/Kingdom
Now proponents within Christianity. Founder Joseph Smith
had a socialistic philosophy and wished to have a
society that shared things in common.
* America's founding fathers were "spirit babies" who
created a "sacred Constitution."
* Salvation is works-based and not through grace and
faith.
This is what Glenn Beck believes. Is the god of this
system, this faith, the one he referred to when he
stated, "Today, America turns back to God?" Is his
god concept one we can turn back to?
For greater insights,
visit the Web site of former Mormon and radio guest,
Ed Decker. Also visit the
apologetics' site of
Eric Barger.
Brannon Howse has done extensive radio
programs and written cutting-edge articles on this
issue for over a week.
Jim Garlow, a popular and influential
pastor who partnered with the Mormon faithful in
California to defend traditional marriage, was quoted
recently in
CNN's Belief Blog, saying, "I have interviewed
persons who have talked specifically with Glenn about
his personal salvation -- persons extremely well known
in Christianity -- and they have affirmed (using
language evangelicals understand), 'Glenn is saved. He
understands receiving Christ as Savior.' "
In short, Mormonism has a different holy book, father,
Jesus, concept of grace, salvation, end-times, etc.
You cannot be a "saved Mormon." Evangelicals who
should know better already call him a "brother in
Christ." Some of those share the Mormon "dominion" of
the earth and this is their connection.
Promoting
this false end-time theology of making the earth perfect
seems to trump everything else.
We can't save
the earth and make it perfect. Jesus Christ has to
return to do that.
So, was the following the purpose? Brannon Howse has
posted a story at his
Worldview Weekend site that the
LDS Examiner
states through Mormon writer Greg West, "As a
Mormon, I have to consider an unintended message
throughout Beck's work, which has culminated in this
event. That message is: '
Mormons are Christian
believers. Despite nearly two centuries of
misrepresentation and religious envy by sectarian
Christianity, Beck has achieved the visibility,
prominence, and has had the time day after day, week
after week, to speak openly and truly about his core
beliefs. Those statements of faith have disoriented
and confused those who had previously believed the
lies about Mormons."
West has proved our point. "Evangelicals
and Mormons Together" will be next. Why not? A
Mormon successfully called a nation back to God.
Most who stand with Glenn, however, do not embrace this
theology. Some Christian leaders are just deceived and
others think it is hip and cool to align themselves
with a man who is so prominent and so pro-America.
John McTernan states, "I know Mormonism real
well. There is a Mormon prophecy that America is going
to be nearly destroyed with the Constitution hanging by
a thread. A Mormon savior would arrive and lead the
Mormon church to save America. I can see this coming
into play real soon. Maybe the revival Beck is talking
about is a massive conversion to Mormonism."
We sincerely hope Glenn Beck will become a true brother
in Christ.
We can pray to that end and also that
Christian leaders will sharpen their discernment and
understand the disservice they are doing to the body of
Christ by exalting an unsaved man, and allowing him to
be a virtual shepherd over millions of Americans who
just want to take back America.
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Saturday, August 28, with Jan's guests Brannon
Howse, Eric Barger, and Ed Decker,
visit this link.
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