Good Thoughts on "Restoring Honor" from another Practitioner Dean

I don't write (or preach) a whole lot about politics because I generally find the political co-opting of the American Church that has taken place over my lifetime both tragic and dangerous. I also find that if people are going to get irrational it will be over political dialogue, so I avoid the divisiveness it creates.

But a friend sent me a link to a very well written blog post regarding the August 28 "Restoring Honor" rally held in Washington DC this weekend by Glenn Beck. There are two things I like about the post. The first is that it speaks beautifully to many of the things that make me very uncomfortable about Beck and Christians who are supportive of the movement he represents.

The second thing I like is that Russell Moore is the Dean of Theology at Southern Baptist Seminary and the pastor of a church. There's another PRACTITIONER DEAN out there! How cool is that, even if he is Southern Baptist :).

Here is the link to his very thoughtful post: http://www.russellmoore.com/2010/08/29/god-the-gospel-and-glenn-beck/

Comments

[Marty Alan Michelson]

Thanks for the comments/link.

I think the fact that you know about Russell Moore will only feed your desire to sign up for another vocational pursuit! ha!

You need to become the only pastor who is Dean who is "x" to beat him, Scott! ha!

So happy to share friendship with you, Scott!

[Connie Morrow]

It is true that official Mormonism is so far outside orthodox Christian biblical truth that it does not provide the life-giving Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is also true that a tinge of political and mercenary enterprise cling to many of Glenn Beck's communications and events. But he is also onto some valuable insights and many who follow him may do so knowing full well that he is not offering what they really need. The good that Beck has done, or perhaps what the Holy Spirit is doing through a flawed instrument, is to reveal to many people how desperately they need Jesus Christ to save them from sin and death. He also reveals how very little our broken political system provides in the way of any kind of liberation or wholeness. Beck is of great benefit to Americans in the way he urges them not to trust him but to return to reading the original souces, our founders and the philosophers, clergy and statesman who truly authored and then saved the idea of America from its beginnings through the Civil War era. In our time "Restoring Honor" could only be done by the American people but Beck is right to point to this as a worthy (spiritual) goal even if it may be too late for the American experiment.

[Michael Rodgers]

Interesting post. I've actually been surprised more evangelicals aren't demonizing Beck for being Mormon. I can't tell you how many Sunday School lessons I heard 20 years ago about the evils of Mormonism.

That being said, and as articulate as Moore is in the first half of his blog post, the problem with Beck has nothing to do with his being a Mormon. Moore has most everything else right, but Beck does not speak for the CLDS (they've made this clear), nor have I ever heard even the slightest tinge of Mormon theology in his rhetoric (I doubt he cares).

Demonizing Beck makes sense, especially if you consider the Demonic in the way that Wink does. But we don't need to do that by scapegoating Mormonism.

[Mikel Bullis]

Seems like us "Christians" have plenty of time to sling our arrows at someone with a different spiritual belief. We don't agree with his beliefs so let's dismiss everything he says... as Moore states "He's an entrepreneur, he's brilliant, and, hats off to him, he knows his market". THIS COMMENT MAKES ME CRINGE. Please forgive my lack of higher education, but simply stated, I don't believe in his theology, but doubt he's solely motivated by book sales or ratings. I do believe we have something to learn, even from a crazy Samaritan.

It would be nice to know how many of us "Christians" (including Mr. Moore) listened to or watched the event before smirking, commenting or passing judgment.

[Laura Rector]

"Even if he's Southern Baptist?"

i had a very nice email from Dr. Moore a few weeks ago when I thanked him for this. He's a great guy, and he's keeping things interesting for us Baptists:-) The article was reprinted in Relevant. He's also taking leadership on creation care and ecology in the SBC (which isn't so popular in his social location), pushing adoption, and said recently that Christians need to spend more time worrying about divorce than putting their focus on homosexuality (or something like that). :-)

You might have more in common than the surface shows.

[Mikel Bullis]

Hey Pastor Scott (and others that visit this blog), I want to sincerely apologize for my earlier comments. This post has been on my mind since 09/30 and candidly, I misunderstood the intention of your message, making a few incorrect presumptions. My comments were unfair to you and the other readers and I'm truly sorry!

[Scott]

No problem, Mike. That's why there's a comment section. To get other's thoughts. Thanks for yours... Scott