Christians Urged to Boycott Glenn Beck

[Mickey]

Of course as are you!

I did not give my opinion (as you did) regarding either Glenn Beck or Bill Donahue.

But thanks anyway!

 

[CMatt25]

Well said! The important thing is that we are looking after our neighbor, not ‘by which economic model.’

Indeed and although we have Christ as THE model and He should be enough, some perhaps need an economic model to nudge them a bit further?

 

[CMatt25]

I did not give my opinion (as you did) regarding either Glenn Beck or Bill Donahue.

But thanks anyway!

Just for whenever you do.

 

[Palaeologos]

Amen to that. The Church, both individually and corporately, is called to love and serve its neighbor. Good Christians disagree on the best economic models that can be used toward this end. Some think capitalism, some think socialism. The virtues of any system can be debated outside the context of religion. To bring theological doctrine into the mix is an egregious confusion of the two kingdoms.

Thanks for that. The “two kingdoms” idea is one thing I admire greatly in Lutheran theology. I’ve caught flak from totalizing Calvinists and RCs alike for it, but I see that as their problem.

 

[Havard]

Indeed and although we have Christ as THE model and He should be enough, some perhaps need an economic model to nudge them a bit further?

Hmm, I guess the best I can offer is that I appreciate your ultimate intentions.

 

[TriuneUnity]

Thanks for that. The “two kingdoms” idea is one thing I admire greatly in Lutheran theology. I’ve caught flak from totalizing Calvinists and RCs alike for it, but I see that as their problem.

Although to say that Roman Catholicism confusing the two kingdoms during the medieval period is an understatement, they’ve largely, and correctly, abandoned this concept. I still meet a few RC’s that long for the days of the papal states lol. However, at least in the last several hundred years, it has been Calvinism that is at fault on this one. That goes for the modern neo-evangelical Christian right movement, too, which is itself an outgrowth of Reformed theology and Puritan theocratic notions.

 

[Mickey]

Just for whenever you do.

Cool!

 

[crazzeto]

ablsolutely agree on this issue. And I always don’t agree with Glen. But the whole idea of social equality is wrong as expalined above.

Please show me any church body that is socially equal? We are One Equal only as beleivers in Christ. I am not saying that we shouldn’t help our fellow man. if we can afford it, we absolutely should.

Please show me any scriptural reference that shows social equality.

Now I do have to say that the law should be for all not the few. but unfortunatly we live here on a earth full of corruptable people who will use, manupulate, and corrupt the law to there advantage.

I believe bad character cannot be correct by mans law.

The thing is, true social and economic justince isn’t about so called “equality”. Economic Justice isn’t about everyone making the same amount of money, or even so called entitlments.

Rather true economic and social justince is about ensuring the dignaty of the individual. Because Glenn Beck choose and eyes and ears closed approch, I can’t support him. Per his logic, I should be running as fast as I can from my Church. Well forget him, I’m sticking with God over the precepts of the Republican Party.

I think a good primer for anyone interested in knowing what Social and Economic Justice really are all about, you should read the CCC on Social Justice, and Caritas In Veritate

Caritas
vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/encyclicals/documents/hf_ben-xvi_enc_20090629_caritas-in-veritate_en.html

CCC on Social Justice
usccb.org/catechism/text/pt3sect1chpt2art3.shtml

 

[CMatt25]

Hmm, I guess the best I can offer is that I appreciate your ultimate intentions.

and backatcha

 

[Ridgerunner]

Well forget him, I’m sticking with God over the precepts of the Republican Party.

“…with God over the precepts of the Republican Party” And there are some who say the “social justice” folks aren’t politicizing religion?

Odd that Republicans give more to charity than do Democrats.

We ought to be sticking with God and the Church over the precepts of any party, any state, any country, to the extent there is a conflict.

If one reads the Social Encyclicals, one sees certain things as prominent and common among them. First, of course, a condemnation of both socialism and unfettered capitalism. Second, discouragement of dependency on government or big business, either one. Third, a social structure, based on principles of subsidiarity, ensuring that those who CANNOT HELP THEMSELVES have a decent and dignified material life. Fourth, encouragement of the individual and family acquisition of productive assets. A lot follows from all that, and the list is not exhaustive.

But we don’t see those things emphasized in social justice circles. Know who is worst off in America? The disabled needy who don’t have 40 quarters of withholding. Those people truly can’t help themselves. They receive a maximum of $600/month from SSI, often less. Nobody; not the Democrats, not the Republicans, no “social justice” promoter I have ever seen, has proposed any kind of improvement for them.

One would have to be blind not to see the politicization of many church organizations or organizations purporting to be church-related organizations. Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good, for example, is a Soros-funded organization on the far left; totally dominated by Democrats and with SEIU members on its board. Not strong on abortion, but very strong on supporting Barack Obama. It describes itself as a “social justice” organization. Indeed, its supporters were in this very forum prior to the election pushing Obama’s candidacy. That’s just pure politics.

we have seen the USCCB donate to political causes; some of which also support abortion. It has donated to ACORN in the past and nearly gave ACORN a million dollars two years ago, and only backed out when the brother of the head of it was found to have stolen a million or more from the organization. Supposedly, ACORN’s purpose is “social justice”. We have all seen the pictures of the ACORN workers encouraging prostitution and tax evasion. This kind of thing is “social justice”?

Most “social justice” promoters I, at least, have seen, always seem to promote state power to do things they believe are socially just. Well, oftentimes care for those in need is in the eye of the beholder when it comes to means. Why is there always the resort to the strong arm of the state? Why are there so many pleas to confiscate somebody’s assets to give them to others or to organizations that support political agendas? The state is all about violence. If the state taxes us and we don’t pay, it will jail us. If we resist being jailed with sufficient vehemence, the state will shoot us. Why this alliance? Why do we see this so much?

Why, indeed, has the topic changed over the years from “charity” to “justice”. “Charity” is that which we do voluntarily, out of a sense of moral obligation. “Justice” is that which another may demand of us by right. And if that other does not obtain his “just due”, the arm of the state is there to enforce his right. The very shift in terminology concerns me.

Let’s talk about “the poor” some more. Yesterday I talked to a lady with MS whose husband is in the final stages of Alzheimer’s. She is trying to take care of him herself. His nursing care would cost about $4,000/month. She would be required to “spend up” most of their assets to provide him with nursing care her income is insufficient to pay for. Where is the hue and cry over that? We’re all “social justiced” up about subsidizing the health insurance of people making up to $78,000/year, and taking money from those who make more than that to pay for it. Why is that “social justice”? Where is it written that the person making $60,000 and can afford health insurance has a right to have the person making $90,000 pay for it? Why is there a right to that? Yet the “social justice” people sure seem to favor it. Meanwhile, the lady with MS and the husband with Alzheimers are out of luck. Nothing in any of these “social justice” health insurance plans for them.

I’ll believe in the “social justice” promoters as soon as they abandon middle class welfare (which none of the popes ever promoted) and focus on people like those on SSI and the ones who are breaking their backs caring for disabled spouses. In short, as soon as I see real charity, I’ll give some consideration to their thoughts about justice.

I have only seen Beck a few times, so I can’t say what is in Glenn Beck’s heart, and neither can this guy calling for a boycott of Beck. The latter doesn’t know what Beck contributes to, or how much. It’s the terminology that’s at stake, really. Beck, I have read, is fully favorable toward “charity”, but not “social justice”. But there is meaning in the terminology, and it’s troubling to me. In other words, Beck supports giving from one’s heart rather than being forced to do it at the state’s gunpoint. I’m not so sure that’s a terrible position to take.

 

[gurneyhalleck1]

I think there’s a serious danger in putting all of one’s faith and devotion into any of these conservative or liberal gurus. I have a friend who is a 100% totally devout, hardcore, 24/7 Rush Limbaugh ditto-head. He’s a Rush apologist who believes Rush is never wrong and any criticism of Rush is always, always unwarranted. It’s the liberal media out to get Rush. Rush is a defender of freedom, truth, and he’s incapable of being wrong.

I have family members who worship Ed Shultz, Olbermann, and the liberal left wing spin doctors. They believe anything Republicans say to be desperate, poisoned attempts to defaim the good work that the poor Dems are trying to get accomplished for Americans. They refuse to even acknowledge hard, public, recorded truths about the Dems. It’s all “made up by the GOP.”

I have listened to Beck. Sometimes he points out good stuff. I enjoyed watching his history of socialism. It was especially fascinating and creepy to see guys like George Bernard Shaw talking about REAL death panels and how he thought people should all have to go before local courts once per year to prove their worth and why they should be kept alive. If they can’t prove their industriousness and worth, they’ll be euthanized humanely and with great care. Beck’s documentaries can be quite good.

But on other nights Beck can level accusations and draw conclusions that are off the hook. As a public education teacher, I’ve heard more nasty stuff about my union (I happen to be a union rep) that wasn’t true and accusations against teachers and brainwashing and other things we supposedly do and think that are insane.

I see a lot of hypocrisy on both sides. Never in my life have I been more desious of being NEITHER a democrat nor a republican. If dems had their way, this whole country from head to toe would be government-run. If the GOP had their way this whole country would have to be dog eat dog, fend for yourself, buddy, tough luck on your ownsville. Both are extreme. Neither offer real solutions. Both their solutions do nothing but pad their own extreme philosophies. I’m fed up with this stuff.

Glen Beck or any of these gurus don’t influence my religion at all nor should they. There is truth and a lot of lies in both parties right now.

 

[Ahimsa]

Dear Glenn,

Since I challenged your claim that “social justice” was a code word for Communism and Nazism, and your calling on Christians to leave their churches if their pastors preach social justice, you have begun to modify what you are saying – and I appreciate that. You said social justice was a “perversion of the gospel,” and I countered that to assert that, instead, it is at the heart of the gospel and part of the core meaning of biblical faith. And the church authorities you wanted Christians to turn their pastors in to would all agree that social, economic, and racial justice are integral to the message of Jesus.

But now you’ve moved from labeling social justice as Communist or Fascist to saying that it only means “big government” and that it violates the separation of church and state. Then you said that some Christians mean Marxism by that term and some do not. Finally, you said that if social justice means “empowering” people to act individually, then that might be okay. Well, that’s progress, but there’s still some need for conversation here.

 

[AJTheMan]

Glenn Beck is a perpetual enemy of the middle and lower classes.

Anything to bring him down or drown his elitist message is of my support.

Social justice pastors remind us to stand up for our rights and our dignity.

This, obviously, poses a problem for multimillionaires like Beck.

 

[dsears]

I have mixed emotions regarding Beck. While I think he in this statement he was probably talking about those who use liberation theology in the disguise of social justice (and if that is what he meant I would agree with him.) He is way over the top. While I am a Conservative and I watch O’Reilly occasionally and Hannity and such, Beck just annoys me. I have no idea why

 

[Alethiaphile]

lease show me any scriptural reference that shows social equality.

“The community of believers were of one heart and one mind. None of them claimed anything as his own; everything was held in common… nor was there anyone needy among them, for all who owned property or houses sold them and donated the proceeds. they used to lay them at the apostles’ feet to be distributed to everyone according to his need.” Acts 4: 32-35.

 

[gurneyhalleck1]

I think to see the whole scene clearly we have to realize that both sides are enemies of the middle class to some degree. Republicans favor the top, we all know that. While tax cuts help the middle, the Republicans would prefer to see no regulation on anything, a wide-open policy on the environment to be exploited for commercial gain, health insurance premiums would continue to skyrocket despite record profits and nothing would be done about it, accusations of not being patriotic enough would abound, deficits would balloon, and the rich get richer. Just do a tad of tort reform and have some portability and somehow the entire health care system will be affordable and wide open available for all.

The Democrats are one-trick ponies: government government government…Got a problem? Regulate it. Have the gov’t assume control of it. Tax and take from the private sector, grow the size of the public sector and give it to them. No jobs? Tax people higher and create a handfull of public sector gov’t jobs and consider that job creation. Create a healthcare bill that robs from medicare and gives money to medical that is already proven to be a pathetic system that gets milked and fleeced and overextended. Tax gasoline so high people will want to drive jellybean cars. Put abortion in your bills, meet behind closed doors, merit pay for teachers, and accuse anyone who disagrees with you of being intolerant, bigoted, homophobic or insensitive, uncaring. Tell people who cut school lunch funding that they want to starve children. Make a 2,000 plus page of idiocy and call it reform. Blame Republicans for stalling a bill when it’s your own majority that can’t get it done.

A plague on both their houses. Dems and GOP both don’t care about the middle class. I actually think Bill O’Reilley is about the closest thing to a more moderate conservative that “looks out for the folks.” He has a middle class appeal and I think he actually gives a crud. That’s just my take. I know a lot of people feel the opposite. Beck is a loon most of the time. I mean, for God’s sakes, who uses a chalkboard in 2010!? LOL

Glenn Beck is a perpetual enemy of the middle and lower classes.

Anything to bring him down or drown his elitist message is of my support.

Social justice pastors remind us to stand up for our rights and our dignity.

This, obviously, poses a problem for multimillionaires like Beck.

 

[TriuneUnity]

Beck is a loon most of the time. I mean, for God’s sakes, who uses a chalkboard in 2010!? LOL

I agree with Beck about 99% of the time. The 1% I don’t is anytime he says anything about religion lol.

A chalkboard? Well, if he used PowerPoint, he’d look too much like a non-denominational megachurch pastor lol.

 

[KathleenGee]

Ahimsa,

You also know that Beck is very knowledgeable about the violent jihadists already at work preparing for eventual overthrow.

He is also about the the falseness of modern culture and how it has blinded people’s perceptions and the inability to enjoy simple every day life with one’s family, and opposing idealogues who are at present working to destroy our economy from within and replace it with socialism.

Socialism makes you receive in turn only a portion for what you have worked very hard for…and those who work little get more. Injustice.

Alot of spin and confusion out there.

 

[Dokimas]

It’s also a value that the current Pope has promoted. I suggest you read his encyclical Caritas in veritate.

It’s a terrible mistake to assume that the values of either the right or the left are Christian. I’m not aware of God having given his blessing to any economic system in particular, and the system of governance that most closely resembles God’s is absolute monarchy.

It’s very dangerous to confuse political opinion with religion. Both capitalism and communism can be Christian, but both need significant modification to be compatible with Christian values.

ETA : Oh, and Glenn Beck is at best a complete loon, at worst a power-mad demagogue.

The NT church people gave all they had to help the needy.​

The NT writers have very little good to say about being rich in this world’s goods. In fact, it warns about it.

 

[Dokimas]

“The community of believers were of one heart and one mind. None of them claimed anything as his own; everything was held in common… nor was there anyone needy among them, for all who owned property or houses sold them and donated the proceeds. they used to lay them at the apostles’ feet to be distributed to everyone according to his need.” Acts 4: 32-35.

How is that about ‘social equity’? IMO, it’s about helping the needy while protecting one’s self against the wiles of the worldly desire to gather wealth.