Glenn Beck, Come Drink Some Kool-Aid with Me

I knew it was a matter of time before the "they started it" argument would come out. Someone has to stop it, right? Wouldn't you prefer the person on your side of the issue to be the first to take the high road?

"I knew it was a matter of time before the "they started it" argument would come out."

Not at all! Sorry, I should have better directed my question to Patricia and the other bloggers. I actually thought Exley's article was good. There does need to be more civility...on BOTH sides...and I believe that is something we can all agree on.

However, more often than not on Sojo, I see bloggers and responders reference their information from sources like Olberman, The Huff Post, etc. My question to Patricia (and others) is who do they consider the Glenn Becks of the nation.

The Republicans have done plenty wrong. Failure to keep financial
corruption from happening is one thing. Signing the prescription bill
thing is another. We are heading to financial ruin as a country. We
need to get back to God, as you say, and the Constitution. I am for
personally doing income re-distribution, but I am against the
government doing it. God's people in a society need to be the source
of redistributing. If not, Government becomes God. We don't want to
go down that path, since governments are comprised of evil people, as
Jesus said we all are. He didn't die for us because we are good people.

Here is the video:

<object width='320' height='260'><param name='movie' value='http://cloudfront.mediamatters.org/static/flash/player.swf'></param><param name='flashvars' value='config=http://mediamatters.org/embed/cfg2?id=201002020008'></param><param name='allowscriptaccess' value='always'></param><param name='allownetworking' value='all'></param><embed src='http://cloudfront.mediamatters.org/static/flash/player.swf' type='application/x-shockwave-flash' flashvars='config=http://mediamatters.org/embed/cfg2?id=201002020008' allowscriptaccess='always' allowfullscreen='true' width='320' height='260'></embed></object>

When any voice gains a sudden following I often think it most interesting to think about the open door they walked through--and who left the door open. If G Beck touches a nerve with lots of folks--it is possible that whoever left the door open is as problematic as some of Beck's exploitation of that door.

Frankly, I'm not sure if he is genuine or ill. But then I've often thought there to be a fine line between mental illness and a deep spirituality.

Bur I affirm Exley's invitation/call to Beck. I do think Beck has the capacity to change--which is more than I can say for some of his peers.

Thanks Zack, I think that you answered my questions.

I see your point, but I guess it doesn't bother me because I feel
disgust with the beliefs of those he highlights and with what I see in
our country. I see current policy proposals as evil power grabs, and
I don't have a loving feeling toward evil. Jesus definitely could see
into hearts and make accurate judgments, but his statement about the
need to repent or perish was to a general crowd of people, people like
all of us with hearts that are "deceitful above all things and
desperately wicked." In that case his statement was not to self-
righteous, hypocritical scribes and pharisees. As I have stated
before, Jesus said, "the world hates me because I testify of it that
its deeds are evil." Glenn Beck highlights what I consider insidious
and sneaky evil and he seems to be hated by a lot of people. He has
his personality and admittedly isn't nice toward those he targets, but
I also feel righteous animosity toward the same people he targets (who
I do consider to be purveyors of deceitful, evil agenda-driven
policies), not toward him. Glenn Beck wouldn't have an audience if
this evil was not occurring. In the same sense, I would never have
said anything about McLaren except for his positions. Anyway squeaky,
that is my feeling. I was off last week so I had more time to

But if your politics, or your career, only draw energy from hate, then surely you can see there's something wrong.

I watch Glenn periodically, and every time I thank God that someone is pointing out the things out that he is. Every time I've seen him label someone as "left-wing," "Marxist," "Fascist," or "anti-American" he has backed it up with a sound bite or quote. Anyway, we have veered off course in this country. We need to get back to God and the Constitution and the current administration definitely isn't on that road. This is an evil world and human beings in positions of power certainly are not the embodiment of some innate goodness, which is one reason the Bible calls on us to pray for our leaders. I am thankful for Glenn Beck for pointing out the dangers we are facing in this country. Evil historically has gained footholds when everyone was asleep at the wheel. Glenn appears to have taken some
nodoze.

The Glenn Becks of this nation have done and continue to do so much damage with their dishonest hate mongering - It is difficult to muster up compassion for someone who is capable of such blatant, deliberate evil.

But, I keep working at it...it's an article of faith that it's never over until it's over, and all things are possible with God - even for Glenn Beck. I pray he (Glenn) takes you up on your offer, and seriously repents of the harm he's done.

"When any voice gains a sudden following I often think it most interesting to think about the open door they walked through--and who left the door open."

I wonder the same thing about our President!

"sound bite or quote"

taken out of context, no doubt.

Why waste time watching someone who doesn't speak out of Christ's love? Why fill your head and heart with that attitude? Read what Exley wrote--he says he used to BE like Beck, and he REPENTS of those ways! Read about WHY he repented, WHY he sees those ways as wrong. That right there should tell you something.

I will never for the life of me understand what it is about Beck Christians find appealing. Please tell me how he is Christlike, how his words are edifying, how they lift up the downtrodden, how they show forth Christ's love to this world, how they heal the hurting, how they reach those who need Him most, how they draw the lost unto Him, how they inspire us to know God more, how they inspire us to care more about each other. If he is not doing those things, then his testimony is false, and distracts you from the Great Commission. If you feel negative thoughts towards others because of things he has said, then he is not doing the work of God, and is distracting you from that commission.

You just got done lambasting McLaren as a heretic, and yet Beck shows not the way to Christ. In fact his very words inspire Christians not to love their neighbors, but to fear their neighbors, to see their neighbors as nothing but leaches on society. These words may sound good to you, but they are every bit as enticing a spirit as you claim McLarens are. Why waste time on someone who presents a message that does not reflect the love of Christ? Think about it, please. Think about how God would want him to use his voice and what that voice would sound like if it were speaking for His glory.

"Pointing out dangers" gets awfully close to scapegoating, which has been the rage in some circles for nearly two generations. And that is what caused the Holocaust, among other things.

I worry that you are going to be extremely disappointed with Glenn Beck, and Fox, when another Republican takes office and, like George W. Bush, starts spying on us, torturing people, imprisoning people without due process, paying private police and military to do things that we would never vote for our commander in chief to do, and Fox and Beck all of a sudden turn a blind eye. The problem with what Beck (and Fox) does, is that he only points out the wrongs that he disagrees with. He does not point out the infringement on freedoms that occur under "The Chosen Party".

I hope that Beck takes advantage of Exley's offer. I, too, believe that he has the ability to change people's lives, if he were to get closer to God and leave his political biases behind.

Social comments and analytics for this post...

This post was mentioned on Twitter by johnleek: Former liberal atheist issues challenge to Glenn Beck: http://bit.ly/aBNqt5 "Come drink the koolaid of Christian love."...

" "I hate every false way," and also, "I hate
those who regard lying vanities." Your points are good, but this a
sick, evil, fallen world and people do things that, quite frankly,
make me sick. "

And none of that is an excuse to hate. If Jesus, when hanging on the cross, asked God to wipe out all those who hated Him and put Him on that cross through all the evil and deceit they used to put Him there, then, I guess we have a justification to hate. No one has more right to hate the people in this fallen world than He, and yet what does the Bible say?

"For God so loved the world..."

I am interested to know, specifically, the evils you believe Mr Beck and his cronies are bringing to light. Abortion and gay civil marriage - got it. What else?

I am not saying the world is not broken and sinful - I am saying that Glenn Beck and those like him use lies, distortions, misinformation, implication, and other tools of dishonesty to demonize and dehumanize those with whom they disagree (those who do not tow the "conservative Republican" line). I would just like to know exactly what "evils" you are talking about here, beyond abortion and gay civil marriage.

Thanks, Zack, for responding to some posts. Almost no other author does that, and it is refreshing when someone does. Usually it just feels like the authors produce their piece and abandon it to the wolves, doing nothing to defend their thoughts and ideas. It would be more helpful if the authors guided the discussion a lot more. Thank you for your efforts in doing that.

False, outright -- the right loves to dish it out but has never been able to take it. If there were truly a Glenn Beck on the left the conservative movement would, for example, call for a sponsor boycott to shut him/her down, plus he'd be denounced on Christian broadcast media (FOTF and others).

Sadly, Mr. Beck and others in the ENTERTAINMENT industry, for that's what they do, are selling whatever strikes a nerve and boosts ratings, and advertising revenue. I suspect that the real Glenn Beck isn't very much like the fellow we see on his program. It's easy to demonize...I don't agree with a lot of what he says, nor how he says it, and I'm glad that some are taking him to task for that.

Here in America we have lost the ability to have civil discourse; supporting someone who constantly applies hateful labels to others is not only disingenuous but a sin. Mr' Beck and others (of all political pursuasions) are playing to what will satisfy their sponsors...that's the nature of that particular industry.

If you want thoughtful, respectful political information, and further, if you want truly Christian guidance, don't loook for it on the airwaves.

Jesus commands us to love one another, even those who hate us, and who we consider our enemies...a lesson all of us need to be reminded of every day.

Pray for Mr. Beck and other comentators that they will use their voices for the good of ALL, not just those who agree with their politicis, and certainly not just Americans.

Pray For Peace and Dare To Act!

I knew it was a matter of time before the "they started it" argument would come out. Someone has to stop it, right? Wouldn't you prefer the person on your side of the issue to be the first to take the high road?

The Republicans have done plenty wrong. Failure to keep financial
corruption from happening is one thing. Signing the prescription bill
thing is another. We are heading to financial ruin as a country. We
need to get back to God, as you say, and the Constitution. I am for
personally doing income re-distribution, but I am against the
government doing it. God's people in a society need to be the source
of redistributing. If not, Government becomes God. We don't want to
go down that path, since governments are comprised of evil people, as
Jesus said we all are. He didn't die for us because we are good people.

I don't think you get the point. It isn't what he says (well, it is that, too, since much of what he says has been shown time and time again to be distortions and outright lies), but HOW he says it. If he is producing the facts, there is no need for him to insult people and demonize them. Really, be honest. It doesn't bother you when he does that? That really sounds Christ-like to you? When we speak the truth, aren't we supposed to do so in love? Can you really say Beck does that?

Next time you listen to him, plug in the name of a prominent Conservative you like and tell me how it sounds. Give it a try, it might be eye-opening to you.

And to say Jesus wasn't always nice is little more than making excuses for bad behavior. We may be able to justify such behavior, but only if we direct it at the same kinds of people He directed it at (arrogant, self-righteous religious leaders--did He ever rebuke political leaders?), and ONLY if we have His ability to truly see into someone's heart and judge him. And, far as I know, Beck hasn't even claimed to be a Christian, so how is it that a non-Christian has the right to speak prophetic truth to power anyway?

Hi, interesting post. I have been pondering this issue,so thanks for writing

Be advised you're getting close to slander here; I just told you that a true Marxist rejected the spiritual. May I remind you that a certain pastor born in 1929 in Atlanta was called a Communist because he dared take on the status quo.