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When Glenn Beck attacks Christianity, some just see red. Others -- they spy opportunity.
Dan Nejfelt, a communications associate with advocacy group Faith in Public Life, has been high on Beck's smear-list ever since his group began running Christian radio ads quoting scripture as a way of encouraging believers to stop paying attention to the right-wing Fox News personality.
They do realize that what Beck is doing, using religion to rally people to his cause has been done over majority of the course of human history right?
IMHO, it is high time that Christians stood up to the non-Christian messages that keep coming over the air waves.
If you want to talk about government usurping the rights of the people, that is one thing, but if you use morality and Christianity as a political tool, then Christians have an equal right to call you to account on it, especially when the message distorts and misrepresents what Christianity is all about.
Examples?
How has Beck misrepresented Christianity?
Reading the linked articles is a good practice to partake in.theLink said:The conversation took place following a recent exploration by RAW STORY into Beck's latest assault on the teachings of Christ. Beck claimed, in the second such attack since March, that "liberation theology" is the driving force behind Christian efforts to help the poor and make peace among men, and that President Obama is a secret subscriber to such a philosophy, which he thinks has become the front for humanity's evils.
IMHO, it is high time that Christians stood up to the non-Christian messages that keep coming over the air waves. If you want to talk about government usurping the rights of the people, that is one thing, but if you use morality and Christianity as a political tool, then Christians have an equal right to call you to account on it, especially when the message distorts and misrepresents what Christianity is all about.
Article is here.
Kingsjester's Blog40 religious leaders throughout the United States were instrumental in FPL’s founding. The main founders, however, were Jim Wallis of Sojourners; Rabbi David Saperstein, Director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism; Melissa Rogers, Director of the Center for Religion and Public Affairs at Wake Forest University; Rev. Dr. Jim A. Forbes, Jr., founder of Healing of the Nations Foundation; Ricken Patel, co-founder and Executive Director of Avaaz.org, which is a project of Moveon.org and Res Publica; and last, but certainly not least, Sister Catherine Pinkerton, a NETWORK lobbyist who gave the closing benediction at the 2008 Democratic National Convention.
FPL also is very closely connected to John Podesta‘s Center for American Progress (CAP). Two of CAP’s senior fellows, Fred Rotondaro and Rev. Susan Brooks Thistlethwaite, are currently members of FPL’s board. Other well-known Liberal groups affiliated with FPL include People Improving Communities through Organizing (PICO); ACORN; Children’s Defense Fund; the Interfaith Alliance; People for the American Way; the Center for American Values and Public Life; and Pax Christi USA.
A bunch of well-known leaders in the progressive movement serve as speakers and organizers for FPL. Among these are Greg Galluzzo, national director of the Gamaliel Foundation; Kim Bobo, founder of Interfaith Worker Justice; Sister Simone Campbell, national coordinator of NETWORK; and Rabbi Jonah Presner of the Industrial Areas Foundation.
FPL is an advocate for open borders and is a leader in organizing for progressive change. FPL helped to found the New Sanctuary Movement (NSM) in 2007, along with Kim Bobo and Interfaith Worker Justice. This organization provides sanctuary for illegal immigrants facing deportation and tries to create sympathy for radical immigration reform.
One of FPL’s top priorities during the 2008 election was to try to change the view of the America public that evangelicals made up a conservative voting bloc.
There's absolutely nothing materialistic about the teachings of Christ. Certainly Liberation Theology's relationship to a 2 thousand year old text is interesting and worthy of debate, but I fail to see much support for Beck's ideas about being judged by your works as some affirmation of meritocracy in Christianity.
There's also passages like this that Beck probably doesn't want to talk about:
All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need.
40 religious leaders throughout the United States were instrumental in FPL’s founding. The main founders, however, were Jim Wallis of Sojourners; Rabbi David Saperstein, Director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism; Melissa Rogers, Director of the Center for Religion and Public Affairs at Wake Forest University; Rev. Dr. Jim A. Forbes, Jr., founder of Healing of the Nations Foundation; Ricken Patel, co-founder and Executive Director of Avaaz.org, which is a project of Moveon.org and Res Publica; and last, but certainly not least, Sister Catherine Pinkerton, a NETWORK lobbyist who gave the closing benediction at the 2008 Democratic National Convention.
FPL also is very closely connected to John Podesta‘s Center for American Progress (CAP). Two of CAP’s senior fellows, Fred Rotondaro and Rev. Susan Brooks Thistlethwaite, are currently members of FPL’s board. Other well-known Liberal groups affiliated with FPL include People Improving Communities through Organizing (PICO); ACORN; Children’s Defense Fund; the Interfaith Alliance; People for the American Way; the Center for American Values and Public Life; and Pax Christi USA.
It certainly does seem to be a Christian thing to do though doesn't it?That was something they chose to do in some places for some period of time. Nothing is said that they did so by commandment of God; nor about how that worked out for them (if history is any guide, 'not so good').
Mind you there is no government involved in any of this, but it does look like giving up your worldly possessions for the good of many is quite a bit more than something that seemed like a good idea at the time.All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had. With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all. There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need.
...
Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. With his wife's full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles' feet.
Then Peter said, "Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? Didn't it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn't the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied to men but to God."
When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard what had happened. Then the young men came forward, wrapped up his body, and carried him out and buried him.
There's absolutely nothing materialistic about the teachings of Christ. Certainly Liberation Theology's relationship to a 2 thousand year old text is interesting and worthy of debate, but I fail to see much support for Beck's ideas about being judged by your works as some affirmation of meritocracy in Christianity.
There's also passages like this that Beck probably doesn't want to talk about:
All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need.
, but that Glen Beck is putting forth a conveniently warped idea about Christianity as an alternative.
Yes although the man keeling over and dying when he didn't give everything implies that giving up your material goods was a very serious and Christian gesture.You're right. THEY GAVE, not "the government passed a law to force them to give". It was of their own choosing.
What I saw was short on specifics, but the values seem to be around keeping what you've earned, as well as a confusion of being judged by your "works" and by work and merit.And what is his alternative?
Bolding mine. The document is critical of the intensely political viewpoint of Liberation Theology but affirms the values that Beck seems to be scared of.In order to answer the challenge leveled at our times by oppression and hunger, the Church's Magisterium has frequently expressed her desire to awaken Christian consciences to a sense of justice, social responsibility, and solidarity with the poor and the oppressed, and to highlight the present urgency of the doctrine and imperatives contained in Revelation.
That explains it very well. I remember when Michael Moore was pushing his ideas by using his Christianity as the basis. There seem to be no limits to who will use religion for their own political goals.
What I saw was short on specifics, but the values seem to be around keeping what you've earned, as well as a confusion of being judged by your "works" and by work and merit.
He takes issue with the idea of Christ being a victim. This isn't just a word choice it's about whether Christ is identified with the oppressed.
The document is critical of the intensely political viewpoint of Liberation Theology but affirms the values that Beck seems to be scared of.
There's an extensive video excerpt of beck at the bottom if you want to learn more.
In attack on Christian philosophy, Glenn Beck sides with Nazi propaganda | Raw Story
From my point of view, many conservatives use religion for their political goals :shrug:
Of course he does. What's the religious justification for this though?Beck believes you should be able to keep what you earned (with the exception of reasonable taxes, of course).
I understand the point about politics in liberation theology, yet if you are indeed working on the behalf of the poor and oppressed there will almost always be political consequences.The term "social justice" in the way Jim Wallis and Faithful America define it, is about politics. They are perverting the Gospel into something it was never meant to be. It's not about politics - it's about personal character and responsibility to others.
All of this is academic outside the context that Beck was using it, which was to refute:Christ isn't/wasn't a victim. If you believe the Bible, He could've stopped his crucifixion at any moment. He CHOSE to let it happen because He knew why it was needed.
Bolding mine.At the same time, the requirements of justice and mercy, already proclaimed in the Old Testament, are deepened to assume a new significance in the New Testament. Those who suffer or who are persecuted are identified with Christ. [10] The perfection that Jesus demands of His disciples (Matthew 5:18) consists in the obligation to be merciful "as your heavenly Father is merciful".(Luke 6:36)
Of course, but they are about as traditional as it gets. In the context of Beck's discussion of perversion, it suffices.I'm not a Catholic, nor do Catholics speak for all Christians (Beck's a Mormon, ya know).
Pretty much my reaction too.Beck is "scared" of charity and justice? LOL! What?
*yawn*There's an extensive video excerpt of beck at the bottom if you want to learn more.
In attack on Christian philosophy, Glenn Beck sides with Nazi propaganda | Raw Story
Yes although the man keeling over and dying when he didn't give everything implies that giving up your material goods was a very serious and Christian gesture.
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But NOT many liberals? :lamo:lamo:lamo
Holy hypocrisy Batman...
And why was this lie more serious than any number of other lies they could have told? Why would the other believers give so much to begin with?No. Their lives were taken because they lied about what they had done, and sought to cover themselves with hypocritical "glory" using falsehood.
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