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Thursday, March 11, 2010

Glenn Beck Afraid of Social Justice

"I'm begging you, your right to religion and freedom to exercise religion and read all of the passages of the Bible as you want to read them and as your church wants to preach them . . . are going to come under the ropes in the next year. If it lasts that long it will be the next year. I beg you, look for the words 'social justice' or 'economic justice' on your church Web site. If you find it, run as fast as you can. Social justice and economic justice, they are code words. Now, am I advising people to leave their church? Yes!" (http://www.politicsdaily.com/2010/03/08/glenn-beck-urges-listeners-to-leave-churches-that-preach-social/)

This morning I reported myself to Glenn Beck as a social justice Christian. I was outed through the Sojourners website, where Jim Wallis has asked all members of diverse Christian faith traditions to admit their justice tendencies and let Mr. Beck know that we have no intention of running screaming from our churches (http://go.sojo.net/campaign/glennbeck_socialjustice). If we report to him en masse it is quite possible that he will run screaming from the newsroom, a not unpleasant thought.

What is Mr. Beck afraid of? Christ and his social justice workers as Robin Hood riding in with bows and poison-tipped arrows to steal from the wealthy and give to the poor? The New Testament does not speak to such a change. Rather, the Gospel seems to call for a change of heart, a willingness and desire for us to protect the fragile among us and restore a modicum of justice to an unjust world. We all fear the wrath promised to nations and individuals who put property and individual status above others . . . I understand if Mr. Beck fears that kind of judgment promised by the Old Testament. But the new teachings from the New Testament ask for conversion, do not promise wrath but blessings in this life for those who try to follow and restore justice.

In case Mr. Beck missed notable passages from both the old and new testaments, our Christian faith text is replete with encouragements to stand for justice. I listed my favorites at the end of the blog. Poetic verses hold the truth that our work as Christians should focus on this world and not on the hereafter. Enough changed hearts working together can change the internal structures of governance to protect the fragile among us, to bring a small modicum of justice to an unjust world.

"Communists are on the left, and the Nazis are on the right. That's what people say. But they both subscribe to one philosophy, and they flew one banner. . . . But on each banner, read the words, here in America: 'social justice.' (http://www.politicsdaily.com/2010/03/08/glenn-beck-urges-listeners-to-leave-churches-that-preach-social/)

I freely admit to not understanding this at all. I would welcome a follow-up to explain how working for the widow, the orphan, the imprisoned, the immigrant equates to Nazism or Communism. I ask again, what are you afraid of? Where would you have us run, if we run screaming from our churches? Such a path of logic as he uses should lead us to an interesting locale . . . a casino, a stock exchange, or quiet cave, perhaps? I hope that educated Christians and religious and moral folk of all persuasions see right through this terror-based rhetoric and quietly continue to pursue the ways of justice as best they can.

Verses

31"When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. 32All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.33He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.

34"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.' Matthew 25: 31 – 36 New International Version

But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!” Amos 5:24 New International Version

"The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed . . . “ Luke 4:18 New International Version

1 comment:

  1. I am one of the voices on Sojourner's taking him to task on his understanding of Christianity. Mr. Beck proves that Fame comes easy to those willing to play the buffoon.

    visit www.life-and-faith.org for a more through analysis of how Mr. Beck does not understand the Gospel.

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