Glenn Beck Explains That He Does, In Fact, Love Jesus

your moment of glenn

by Glynnis MacNicol | 6:23 pm, March 23rd, 2010

» 53 comments

I think this may be Glenn Beck’s version of backpedaling. Nearly ten days after Time posted an article titled “Why Does Glenn Beck Hate Jesus?” — which itself followed a New York Times piece about certain church leaders encouraging their followers to stop watching Beck — Beck has addressed the issue. Sort of.

Beck, you may recall, got in some hot water for encouraging church goers to leave their churches if they heard the words “social justice,” according to Beck, code words for “communism” and “nazism.” Needless to say, this did not go over well with church leaders who feel quite strongly that “social justice” is actually a code word for charity, one of the tenets of the the New Testament’s teachings. Beck dialed back his language…slightly.

Social justice seems like an innocuous phrase, doesn’t it? It paints a picture of fairness. Many churches all over the country use this term as an outreach to the poor. Now who could possibly be against that?

Not Glenn Beck, is the point. Though perhaps he will be issuing special language decoder rings to parse various usages of the phrase “social justice.” All this confusion is, of course, the “darn” media’s fault.

Well if you’ve read the news lately, apparently I am. I hate the poor and I question Jesus, too…Well, I’m just full of hate and I want to stop justice, I hate the poor too, I’d like to stomp on them. I’m glad to see Time suddenly cares about God. Or am I? The other news from the New York Times was that I recommended leaving church if those churches were helping the poor [this is not actually what the story, or Beck said]. Oh and I would have gotten away with it too if it wasn’t for those pesky meddling journalists. Oh I hate those guys.

Cue Scooby Doo voice. Beck goes on to clarify that while the phrase “social justice” definitely means bad things when used by progressives, it doesn’t necessarily mean bad things from your church. But, you know, be very, very, careful, etc. And maybe get that decoder ring. Video below.

Glenn Beck, Jesus, New York Times, Scooby Doo, Swampland, Time, Your Moment of Glenn

Ted

Today was the first time that I actually felt sorry for the guy. He is insane and if he has any friends at all they would do the guy a great favor and reel him in. Seriously, it’s been mildly entertaining watching a guy with mental issues, but, if there isn’t the mercy rule in television, there ought to be.
thomas nast

Whether or not you like Glenn Beck, agree with his assessments, or find him to have “mental issues”, you have to put aside your personal feelings for not only him, but for the people he exposes day in and day out on his eloquent FoxNews and radio show programs and ask yourself this question: What if Glenn is correct? It is a monumental undertaking to put aside the paradigms of perception. It may take copius amounts of ginseng for most of you brainwashed by ABC et al. Some will never be able to have an open mind at all. Please, for the love of God, TRY to have an open mind when asking yourself this question: WHAT IF GLENN BECK IS CORRECT????
Snipzor

Thomas, this isn’t Pascal’s Wager, the debate over whether or not he is correct ends before it even begins because it is based on empirical evidence. But just like Pascal’s Wager, there’s much more than just belief vs non-belief, but rather entire belief systems outside of his own…

Wait, this still isn’t like Pascal’s Wager at all.
MichelleF

Ah watched the show and he wasn’t backpeddling at all, Today’s show was GREAT!

Ted and Snip, until you can use actual evidence to support your claims regarding Beck, no one will take you seriously. I know you on the left think that if you say it enough, it’s correct, but that’s not how it works.

Thomas,
Sorry to break it to you, but you are barking up the wrong tree, especially with these 2. They will never listen to him with an open mind. They take their cues from Glynnis and the daily kos and aren’t at all interested in facts.
Snipzor

*facepalm*

Michelle, do you even know what Pascal’s Wager is? Religious folk use the “logic” all the time, you should know all about it. Also, here’s a fun fact about the phrase “social justice” (as a change of topic from Pascal’s Wager), if progressives really hijacked it since Nazis (Because you know, Progressives are all nazis despite how nazis believe in killing anyone who isn’t white and Christian, and progressives don’t in any shape or form. Shocking that Glenn would get that wrong, wait, no it isn’t), then why is it that Ronald Reagan used it in his speeches? Is Ronald Reagan a SEKRIT communist nazi fascist?
MichelleF

If you listened to Glenn, he says depending on how it is used. If you church is for it and it means that they has a congregation should do the giving, he’s all for it, it’s if your church is saying it’s up to the government to take from one segment of society and give to another, that’s where he disagrees and do I.

And as a response to your condescending question, I do know what Pascal’s Wager is. And I indeed have “faith” that god exists and will sort th is all out in the end.
MichelleF

excuse the typos, i’m multi-tasking.
Fidoohki

What makes me smile is that he used the argument I made a week ago about
Social justice, as progressives defined it, being theft. Only he did it better. I’m not sure
whether to be proud, scared or get a lawyer..:P
JunkJunk

Just keep making it up as you go along, Glenn…
imnotyourkind

I believe Glenn would sell his soul for ratings.
MichelleF

Junk, exactly what did he made up again? I’m getting really tired of the libs drive-by accusations with nothing to EVER back it up. Please expand.
Big Sir

Michelle, I’m with you. As a once 40 year democrat, I’m loving every moment of Glenn Beck. I wrote him and said he should consider running for President next election. I wouldn’t miss his honest, caring and direct evaluation of not only our country’s history but his methodical board work. This man knows his stuff. No wonder he’s so popular.
http://www.sailrabbits.com Magister

MichelleF: As usual, I’m just going by the clip, but all he really says is that he defines “social justice” one way, everybody else defines it another, but he thinks the President and Vice-President have a copy of his private dictionary that’s full of imagined or enhanced definitions.

I don’t doubt that Beck believes this, so what is there to disprove?
SWWT

Look there’s different meanings between the one the church uses and the social justice that Beck describes liberals using. And if a church uses the Liberal version of it, he suggests that you leave. But if your church describes social justice as giving to the poor then he’s okay with it.

Was it really that hard to get?
Big Sir

SWWT, some people have a hard time getting things and we need to be patient with them.
But if your church describes social justice as giving to the poor then he’s okay with it. is exactly what Beck
meant.
http://trickletown.vox.com/ Trickletown

Poor Beck, he is afflicted with the disease of “Truths” flying into his head, and the desperate need to share them. YAWN.
the real john t

Beck is a damn idiot that needs to be in an asylum somewhere.
writer

Then don’t watch.
JunkJunk

MichelleF,

Just as you tire of “drive-by liberals,” I’m getting tired of neocons and teabaggers (such as yourself) who are in denial about reality. So I refuse to waste my time with you when you’re not even honestly willing to listen. You’re just looking for the next opportunity to bash those nasty “liberals.” If that makes you feel like a BFD, then go for it. I couldn’t really GAS.
MichelleF

Do you libs ever get tired of the vulgarity? And what is the reality that i’m in denial about. Do tell.
the real john t

writer says:
March 23, 2010 at 11:45 pm
Then don’t watch.
————————————-

I don’t watch him. I tried one time and had to switch channels after about 2 mins. he was so sickening.
MichelleF

Yeah, the truth is hard to hear sometimes, John.
the real john t

MichelleF says:
March 24, 2010 at 12:12 am
Yeah, the truth is hard to hear sometimes, John.
——————————————

No, I like hearing the truth. But what I’ve read that Beck has said comes no where near the truth. It’s the lies I don’t like.
Bias-Media

Back Peddling? You’ve got to be kidding me!

Al Sharpton states on the air over the weekend that “Americans voted in Socialism when they elected Obama”; guess that was okay with you.

Glenn Beck shows evidence of this, but to you, he’s an extremist?

Back Peddling? Are you kidding?

Glynnis, you should try to stay objective…I know it’s hard given that you’re a Beck hater; but you’re giving Mediaite a bad name…
the real john t

Bias-Media says:
March 24, 2010 at 12:25 am
Back Peddling? You’ve got to be kidding me!

Al Sharpton states on the air over the weekend that “Americans voted in Socialism when they elected Obama”;
——————————————-

Is that what Sharpton actually said or was it what Beck interpreted to say?
Bias-Media

@real john t

if you’ve only watched 2 minutes of Beck, you’ve judged him out of context. If you watch his whole show, he makes an argument, shows you the evidence, then reinforces the arguments he’s making.

If you’ve only spent 2 minutes watching Beck, then you really haven’t watched Beck at all…your arguments are thus based on hearsay.

Noticed how the MSM doesn’t try to argue the evidence that he has presented? They don’t even try to defend the people who said the things that Beck presents in his shows…rather, they engage in shooting the messenger; rather than investigate the message…

funny how the MSN and those on the left never seem to have a problem with Beck when he was doing the same thing against the Bush Administration…I guess he’s only an extremist when he attacks a Democrat; and not when he attacks a Republican…forgetting the fact that, it’s CORRUPTION and Progressivism that he’s attacking…

I dare say that the only people who would truly find Beck offensive are the Progressives. I believe everyone else who dismisses Beck w/o ever listening / watching his show have been mislead by the Progressive Media…and just so you’ll know…they are ABC ,CBS, and especially NBC…
Bias-Media

@real john t

Re: Al Sharpton

hear it for yourself…and btw…Beck never reported this…so don’t blame Beck…

http://video.foxnews.com/v/4121126/talking-points-323#/v/4119639/sharptons-socialism-shocker/?playlist_id=86923
Bias-Media

@real john t

Re: Al Sharpton

in case you don’t watch Fox News…

http://www.mediaite.com/online/al-sharpton-socialism-and-obama-reserve-your-judgment/
the real john t

@Bias-Media

Maybe you should go back and listen more carefully to that interview. When asked if that was Socialism Sharpton said ” well then you’d have to say Americans voted in Socialism when they elected Obama”. Let’s not leave out words. It’s not nice to do that.
The Real Royal King

I guess what bothers me most about this particular Beck break-down is the assumption that faith is the absence of intellect and rationality. In fact, faith begins only when we have exhausted reason to our fullest extent. For Beck, there can be no Augustine, no Aquinas, indeed no reason at all. If our reason were whole and complete, there would be no need for faith beacuse we would reach that Presence. Bit as men and women, we never reach that point. Our understanding is always incomplete, and God’s grace always surpasses our understanding, inviting in faith. Beck has diminished Christianity in an effort to get his derriere out of the fire he created. I think it may be unforgiveable.
Bias-Media

@real john t

no arguments; and I saw the whole show. But my argument is….

what if BECK had said EXACTLY the same thing that Al Sharpton said…do you honestly think the MSM will give him a pass like they have done with Sharpton?

…honestly?
The Real Royal King

Maybe you should go back and listen more carefully to that interview. When asked if that was Socialism Sharpton said ” well then you’d have to say Americans voted in Socialism when they elected Obama”. Let’s not leave out words. It’s not nice to do that.

—

Let’s be fair. If he had quoted the entire text, he would not have been able to make his point.
Bias-Media

addendum…

Becks original “social justice” comment was taken completely out of context by the Progressive MSM. This is my argument and why I pitted the two stories together…
Bias-Media

@TRRK

to be really fair, you need to first listen or watch Beck…which I know you don’t from our previous posts…
the real john t

Bias-Media says:
March 24, 2010 at 1:05 am
———————-

Now you’re just spinning around in circles. You were debunked on your Sharpton theory, now you’re just going off ranting.
Bias-Media

@real john t

Yes; spoken like someone who’ve never watch Beck, but somehow believes Beck is an extremist..

Go listen to Becks original comment and you be the judge…but I suspect that you won’t…

…so much for objectivity…
Bias-Media

btw…still waiting for the Progressive MSM to jump on Sharpton for his comment (they’ll twist what Sharpton says, of course…like they twisted Beck’s words)…

…still waiting…

(not)
the real john t

Bias-Media says:
March 24, 2010 at 1:55 am
@real john t

Go listen to Becks original comment and you be the judge…but I suspect that you won’t…
—————————————

You never gave a link to what Beck said, and I’m not about to go looking for one.
http://www.sailrabbits.com Magister

@real john t: Perhaps the better challenge would be for Beck (or his followers) to produce a real world example of a church applying his definition during the last decade. Sure, thirty years ago maybe, but with the possible exception of a hardline, old-time liberal from a single pulpit somewhere or a perversion of someone calling for a change in tax policy, I don’t think it can be done.
writer

As the Tawana Brawley case proved, Sharpton is never one to jump to conclusions.
MichelleF

the real john t says:
March 24, 2010 at 12:17 am
MichelleF says:
March 24, 2010 at 12:12 am
Yeah, the truth is hard to hear sometimes, John.
——————————————

No, I like hearing the truth. But what I’ve read that Beck has said comes no where near the truth. It’s the lies I don’t like.

To quote you, please provide a link to his lies, I’m not going to go look for it.
Bias-Media

@Magister

Jeremiah Wright’s church…go see their website…(or just watch the embeded video where Beck shows what their website is linked to)

My gosh…is it too much to ask that if you’re going to judge something, at least have the courtesy of having at least read the source / hear the source before judging it? It’s obvious you didn’t read the transcript OR watch the embeded video because Beck shows you exactly what Jeremiah Wright’s church’s website advocates…

Christianity is about GOD. I’ve said this many many times even before this Beck thing erupted. Christianity is NOT about social justice … I don’t recall any biblical history where God told the Bible leaders to take from the rich and give to the poor. The God of the Bible is NOT Jeremiah Wright, nor anyone like him who preaches Black Libertarian Theology…
Bias-Media

@ real john t

yes; google is really hard to use. I understand.

Even if I give you the link…not likely that you’re going to listen to it…you’ve already made up your mind…so I won’t waste my time either…even if it’s just to type it into google…
Kraus

Since this has devolved into a convoluted argument about theology, I have something I’d like to point out: Glenn Beck is Mormon, NOT Christian. There are MAJOR theological differences. Yes, they believe Jesus was the son of God, but they believe Adam was too…And Joseph Smith, and Brigham Young. If you doubt what I’m saying please try to remember your own words about having an “open mind” and research it yourself. Ask a Mormon. It seems to me that if Glenn Beck implies that he is in fact a Christian, and goes so far as to dictate what should and shouldn’t be protocol in a Christian church then he has in fact lied and manipulated people.
Throwing out something that Al Sharpton said is just silly. Al Sharpton is the same type of person as Glenn Beck. These people do not wish to help society move forward. They are not interested in solving social issues so that we may actually solve some differences amongst us. Rather, they spit stupid, inflammatory statements with the intention of fanning the flames on either side of the debate. They get paid to piss you off.
To call someone who doesn’t like Beck a “lib” while chastising them for vulgarity is SO arrogant and poorly thought out Michelle, that I cannot honestly believe you meant it. Rather, I will choose to believe you were angry and misspoke/typed. I do not believe that someone with an “open mind” would allow themselves to be used by a talking head who uses childish pictures and a chalkboard to get their point across. Of course, when someone does something you don’t like you can always resort to calling them a Nazi.

Grow up. Understand your own faith. and for God’s sake, THINK before you speak.
Bias-Media

@Kraus

Thanks for the context. But to clarify,

I know Beck is a Mormon; and I am familar with the Mormom faith. Thanks.

I never said Beck is a Christian. The context of this discussion dates back to Becks comment on the radio, which the MSM conveniently spun into a generic message about how Beck hates “The church”; which the MSM includes all Christians…then somewhere in between, the MSM spuned it to say “The Church” preaches “social justice”

well…my answer to all of that spin from the MSM is that, Christianity is about GOD…not about “social justice”

…so now you have the context….for an open minded discussion…

I don’t know if Beck ever implied that he is a Christian….(which is not to say he didn’t…but I’ve not heard it).
Kraus

I 100% agree with you about the fact that Christianity is about God. Now, some people feel that having a relationship with God involves donating to the poor. Some do not. However, for Glenn Beck to invoke the name of Jesus very much implies that he is Christian. He may not have said that, I believe you made a very fair point about that, Bias-Media, however through that implication he went so far as to recommend how church’s charities should be run, all while harping his favorite tunes of “communism” and “nazism.” I agree that the media is biased. Humanity is biased. Its a far cry to point out MSM versus Fox though. Fox News Network is almost entirely opinion based news shows passing off as fact. So is MSNBC. I am ok with that, I guess, as I am a believer in free speech and also think that it causes open minded discussions. HOWEVER, to try and manipulate a person’s faith is way outta line. I don’t care if it was Bill O’Reilly or Bill Maher. Its almost as if this red/blue thing is becoming a new form of racism. I hate Repubs so much I don’t care what they have to say, or “libs” will say anything to win. Its BS. Here is a link as to what Mr. Beck said –

http://www.politicsdaily.com/2010/03/08/glenn-beck-urges-listeners-to-leave-churches-that-preach-social/

I am unfamiliar w/that website but found it was a short, sweet summarization w/few speculations. Mr. Beck is NOT a freedom fighter. He is a liar. I am not saying the Left is correct, or that Blue rules, but as so far I have to point out that they have not (to my knowledge) called anyone a Nazi or Communist nor tried to hijack a faith.
Kraus

I need to correct myself about that last line. Neither has the right. Most people on the right are normal, competent people whose opinions can be expressed w/out resorting to name calling. That was my frustration getting the better of me and my own words (Think b4 u speak) not being heard. I believe that some of this rhetoric is causing an extreme divide. I know that Glenn Beck does not speak for all of the right. Olberman & Maher & Stewart do not speak for the left. But they damn well sure try.
Kraus

BTW – Michelle F. To whine about profanity while calling people “Libs” and “progressives” is just stupid. You regurgitate things like “drive by” as if they mean something…Wtf does “drive by liberal media” mean exactly? How does it compare to regular media? And Bias-Media…Jeremiah Wright? Seriously? You brought him up? That fool was forced into retirement because his mouth out ran his ass and the publics foot found it lagging behind. At least use examples of people who are relevant.
Bias-Media

@Kraus

nice summary. I think we are in agreement for the most part. Everyone of us have a beef to hold with *somebody*. Beck has it with the Progressives. Mahar with the Conservatives. Stewart with Beck and the Republicans. etc..

Mine is with the MSM, which is *suppose* to be news. I understand your point about Fox being mostly opinion shows. But I do see them as a balance to MSM only because the MSM have trended towards opinion shows disguised as news. Katie Couric opens her news cast with an opinion statement (much like OReilly does with Talking Points); Brian Williams reports his news by invoking someone else’s opinion (watch his method…he’s really good at it…for example, he’ll say something like “Sarah Palin has a new book out to which Vice President Joe Biden calls a comic book” or something along that line…rather than just say “Sarah Palin has a new book out”)…and so on…

…btw…for fear that someone will accuse me of misquotes, the example I cited is not a quote; I’m merely trying to give an example of how Brian Williams reports his *news*

Fox (and for the most part, MSNBC except for Andrea Mitchell) at least doesn’t deny that they are opinion shows. Beck certainly went out of his way on many occasions to say his show is an opinion show; that he’s not a journalist, etc..

so, that’s my beef with MSM…
Kraus

I understand your frustrations. MSM deserves it. There are so many of these outlets that are, as you put it, *supposed* to be news. I just get angry w/the way people talk to each other in these forums (though lets be honest, arguing on the internet just ain’t worth it). But each side makes sweeping accusations that just antagonize the other with no real talking points. Instead its a “Na-na-na-na” tongue out kinda thing. We can come to an agreement but we have to talk for ourselves. Thanx, btw. I appreciate the rational convo.
writer

Kraus, the term drive by has come to mean that someone makes an accusation, but has no examples or proof to back it up. Just FYI.
Kraus

Ok, that makes sense. I believe there is an actual term for that (like, for example the “straw man” argument) but for the life of me I cannot think of it. Thank you for explaining it. It is kinda funny that of all people to coin that term it was Rush Limbaugh. Oh, the irony.
http://www.facebook.com/people/David-Vzdds/1803196213 David Vzdds

“social justice” is code for socialism.
Charity comes from Capitalism.

Charity is voluntary; “social justice” is coercive.
Charity is private; “social justice” is collectivism.

Capitalism is the just and moral source of charity.
“Social justice” is just a dishonest way for socialists to excuse their evil schemes.