Tell Glenn Beck: I’m a Social Justice Christian

by Jim Wallis 03-10-2010

Glenn Beck says Christians should leave churches that use the word “social justice.” He says social justice is a code word for communism and Nazism.

But since the Catholic Church, the Black Churches, the Mainline Protestant churches, and more and more Evangelical and Pentecostal churches including Hispanic and Asian-American congregations all consider social justice central to biblical faith, Glenn Beck is telling all those Christians to leave their churches. Of course, Christians may disagree about what social justice means in our current political context — and that conversation is an important one — but the Bible is clear: from the Mosaic law of Jubilee, to the Hebrew prophets, to Jesus Christ, social justice is an integral part of God’s plan for humanity.

Beck says Christians should leave their social justice churches, so I say Christians should leave Glenn Beck. I don’t know if Beck is just strange, just trying to be controversial, or just trying to make money. But in any case, what he has said attacks the very heart of our Christian faith, and Christians should no longer watch his show. His show should now be in the same category as Howard Stern. Stern practices pornography and Beck denies the central teachings of Jesus and the Bible. So Christians should stop watching the Glenn Beck show and pray for him and Howard Stern.

Beck also said that if his church was about “social justice” he would report his church to the church authorities. What authorities? Church bodies as diverse in their theology as the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and the National Association of Evangelicals have explicitly endorsed social justice as a biblical imperative.

So here’s an idea: how about reporting ourselves to Glenn Beck as church members and pastors who practice and preach social justice.

Since Sojourners’ mission is “to articulate the biblical call to social justice,” I’ll be the first to turn myself in. And I invite you to join me in turning yourself in to Glenn Beck as a Christian who believes in social justice. Let’s send him thousands of names.

Jim Wallis is the author of Rediscovering Values: On Wall Street, Main Street, and Your Street — A Moral Compass for the New Economy, CEO of Sojourners and blogs at www.godspolitics.com.

Categories: Faith and Politics, Theology

The Glenn Beck Review

Beck is motivated by fame and wealth. He may believe the things he says, but it's so easy to check fact him and find out how wrong he is. One doesn't need a subscription to Media Matters to do this.

It's pretty easy to see that he's a hypocrite as well.

hamstabob

Why do I need Mr Wallis or Glenn Beck to tell me what "Social Justice" is? My walk with God is my responsibility. In regards to using the "Torah" to validate "social justice"; I think Mr Wallis is losing site of Its' main objective: "To prepare the way for the Messiah"! Any other use of the scriptures to promote or discredit various political ideologies is folly!

BlueDeacon

Beiler -- the moderator.

steamboathunter

Who's Rod?

podocarp

I believe you are confused about the meaning implied therein?
I view those words a 'discriminating' evaluation.

BlueDeacon

That's the point I was trying to make; in my city a lot of Christians are actually afraid of me. As you may know, some unbalanced person (I'm trying to be kind here) actually tried to steal my identity on this very blog and make ignorant statements in my name that I didn't say; as I mentioned to someone else, I guess I should have taken that as a compliment. (Yes, Rod is aware.)

steamboathunter

Dear Blue,

Of course gifts are misused, and that's sad. But don't employ that as a shell to hide in. If you are a prophet, give what God gives you and great crowds will hear you----and kill you. The word of prophecy is very powerful and its power is seen by all as real; but the cost of speaking God's word is high. Elijah was on Jezebel's most-wanted list; Jeremiah was thrown in a deep muddy hole and left to die; tradition reports Isaiah was put in a hollow log and cut in two; John the Baptist lost his head; and so on. Also, there is very little proof the prophets went around announcing their gift. Their lives were strong enough to garner opposition without any advertising.

BlueDeacon

I have one of those gifts -- prophecy. However, all of these gifts can be misused for the sake of maintaining some authority, which is why I don't have the right to throw my weight around, telling people that "you have to listen to me because I have this gift" -- in fact, for that reason I hesitate to call myself a prophet.

steamboathunter

Dear Blue,

There are countless accounts of supernatural discerning of spirits in the bible. To rob God of his power to give gifts to mankind for the building of the church, is close to blasphemy.

BlueDeacon

Actually, people of the conservative persuasion have often accused me of "discerning the motives of others," to which I have responded that their motives were made obvious by their words and actions. That's not inconsistent with your reference.

steamboathunter

Read Acts 13:7-12

steamboathunter

Dear Blue;
Regarding your understanding that God only is able to discern the motives of others, you are so wrong. If you would but read the story of Paul preaching to Sergius Paulus (who sent for him) and the intent of Elymas the sorcerer to turn Sergius away from the gospel, you would see that Paul correctly discerns the subtle and nefarious desires of the sorcerer and calls down a temporary judgment of blindness.

Just good ole bible reading will correct your attempts of wisdom.

oscarhap

Here's a thought. Assuming what Glenn Beck is correct (I don't listen or watch his show) but maybe if we didn't rely on our government to do our job as the church (social justice) he and others wouldn't say such things. Why would we put such an important task in the hands of men and women (including our president) who's only goal is to get re-elected and enjoy the power and luxury our tax dollars provide? Social justice is our responsibility not theirs. Oh how people of faith continue to disappoint.

jfhunt

Glenn Beck is correct. The “Social Justice”of the leftists I knew in college in the ’60s is just another term for Communism - although they would now hate the term.

I think the issue is: Is a secular government-run charity equal to independently run or personal charity. First and foremost how is God most glorified? Second what is the nature of the spiritual transaction between the giver and receiver - does that edify the parties involved and glorify God.

I think a secular government-run charity breeds resentment and contempt, while independent and personal charity builds relationships and understanding of our brothers. I think that we and not the secular government are called to be our brothers keeper. Overbearing government programs are nothing more than prideful human-centered efforts designed to create a Utopia, all without God’s will and His glory as the center of the effort. The humanistic, secular, worldwide Utopian effort to redistribute wealth and manage humans as sheep is simply a modern day Tower of Babel. Nothing is new under the sun.

Different terms should be used to differentiate between “Social Justice” as directed by the government and “charity” or “fairness” promoted by brothers in Christ.

Glenn Beck is correct - we must make sure the goal of our charity or fairness - or Social Justice - should be to glorify God, not to glorify the works of the hands of man.

oldercitizen

Yes, Glenn Beck has a focus on the Constitution and those who are changing America and trying to change the Constitution. I am still waiting for someone from the White House to call and tell him he is incorrect in what he is saying. They can't because, in many cases, he uses their own taped conversations to prove a point - like Sharpton saying Americans voted for Obama because he is Socialist. It's on tape, man.

oldercitizen

So, a Mormon is not a Christian? Is it not the fastest growing church in the nation? Didn't Sharpton say that the Americans voted for Obama because he is a Socialist (it's on tape). Didn't Wallis call himself a Marxist (it's on tape). I was born in this nation 69 years ago and don't remember living in such turmoil as we have now thanks to Obama and his spiritual advisor. Obama who doesn't even attend a church, not since he was forced to leave Wright's church. I give to the poor because I choose to do so - not because the Dems and Obama insist that I have to. I believe each man is responsible for himself - Give a man a fish (per Obama) and he eats for a night, teach a man to fish, he eats for the rest of his life......Let the morons in Hollywood who support this administration give up their millions to help the poor. Let Obama and his family give millions of their money to the poor. I am, in my old age, supporting a handicapped son and I don't want to have to support others who are too lazy to get out there and take care of themselves. I remember the woman who, after Obama's election, claimed he was going to give her money....She didn't know where it was coming from - perhaps his stash, but she didn't have to do anything but elect him to get it! It's time for an election revolution in this country.

oldercitizen

So, is a Mormon not a Christian? Is it not the fastest growing church in the world? I watch Glenn Beck and feel that he is right on the mark. I am 69 years old and have never experienced the nation in such turmoil as it is now - thanks to Obama and his "spiritual advisor". I don't believe that Obama is a Christian, especially using the excuse that he doesn't want to be tied down to one church (except the Wright church) so he doesn't go. Are his daughter's growing up "faith based?" I give because I choose to do so. You know, if you give a man a fish (Obama theory) he eats for a night, if you teach a man to fish, he eats all his life. I don't believe in taking from those who work for things and giving them to those who don't want to work. I believe that people should be responsible for their out outcome. American use to be the land of opportunity - now it's the land of the handouts! So, how does Wallis explain calling himself a Marxist? It's on tape so he can't deny it.

wirkal

Social justice from the Bible mixed with the social justice from the politics? come on, give me a break! Obama is a politic or a Mason? what is first?, I tell what: Mason, 33 degree. Like the others presidents in this country, I'm Christian , and I can't believe in a man or religious organization, believe ONLY in Jesus! This situation is not a joke! Is a war for your soul! Jesus come back soon!

http://discernthesignsofthetimes.blogspot.com/

vernaldwhitesidejr

I am more and more certain that the arguement is not an arguement for those who believe that Christ is Saviour, and an agenda that usurps - whether under the guise of chritianity or not - the concepts set forth by Christ and His ministry, is not worthy of attention. This said I further understand the dangers of allowing unbelievers to claim undo influence (power) in the lives of christians. It is unfortunate that the concept of plagiarism has not been suggested in that many of the non christian organizations seek, produce and elicit 'good' - an unarguably christian assertion of the teachings of Christ. Don't argue the semantics of this time frame, although Jesus began His earthly existence a mere 2000 plus years ago, He is - according to scripture - the timeless one the "Word". People who have made their fucus to do 'the right thing' need to appreciate that God, our higher power, has placed the message of salvation on the hearts of all of those that He created. This means that 'good' is not a product of the unbeliever rather it is an inadvertent witness of the power of Christ to save. Knowing that we have salvation has become, for christians, an excuse to serve self since there is no longer any risk. It is selfserving, congregation building, for any church to invoke 'worldly views instead of the message of the gospel. This thing 'social justice' is, to the christian, 'christianity' and should be set forth as such to avoid confusion. Further, as well as controversially, it is invoking the purpose of satan ie to replace God to embracing any other definition for social justice.

ThirstyJon

Now that I have read this article, I am very interested in checking out Glen Beck and what he has to say. He must be saying something good.