Sorry to offend any of my readers who are Glenn Beck fans, but I think I need to add him to my list from a few days ago (with Pat Robertson, et.al.) based on his comments on Hurricane/Tropical storm Irene. I realize that he is a convert to Mormonism, and thus not an evangelical, let alone a Christian. Still, due to his influence on Christians, I wish he would give up his apparent need to speak for God. Here is a quote from his broadcast (you can hear/see the segment at the bottom of this page).
How many warnings do you think you’re going to get, and how many warnings do you deserve? This hurricane that is coming thorough the East Coast, for anyone who’s in the East Coast and has been listening to me say ‘Food storage!’ ‘Be prepared!’
… If you’ve waited, this hurricane is a blessing. It is a blessing. It is God reminding you — as was the earthquake last week — it’s God reminding you you’re not in control. Things can happen. Be prepared and be someone who can help others so when disaster strikes, God forbid, you’re not panicking.
Well, Glenn, thanks for the tip, but I’d rather you not speak for God.
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See my original post calling for some people to be quiet, rather than speak for God, here.
No Longer Normal 
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Let me paraphrase what Glenn was saying: “This storm could be a blessing because it allows us to see the fragility of our lives and our supplies, and if we are wise and learn from this experience we can better prepare so as to be in a position to help others.” That is just plain common sense. It seems a bit silly to pick on how he was “speaking for God” while apparently ignoring the wisdom of the larger message.
As to your comment about Glenn’s mormonism… I would welcome a thoughtful discussion about some of the theology behind Glenn’s “solutions.” Glenn Beck has had an amazing track record of looking ahead and predicting many events that have played out in the past couple of years. I do, however, have grave concerns about the influence he can have on undiscerning Christians.
Francis Schaeffer said (and this is a very rough paraphrase!): Christianity cannot simply be a pragmatic means to a better end; it will only work to the betterment of society if there is a true adoption of a Christian worldview by converted believers. In other words, we change hearts, and by doing so society changes. One of my concerns is that the focus of Glenn’s “movement” seems to be a kind of deistic ecumenism reminiscent of the founders. The founder’s approach “worked” because America was built on a Christian consensus that is now lacking. Any attempt at reviving America that doesn’t start first with a revival of true biblical Christianity will simply revert back to the only other real option: secular humanism. This is, I fear, the false hope of Glenn’s approach. It is also, the false hope of any approach which starts with, and focuses on politics. No morman will lead a revival of true biblical Christianity.
Another concern is that Glenn speaks often about being your best or “highest self.” I don’t see a similar concept in biblical Christianity. Christians are called to die to self, not to improve self.
These are just a few of the problems I have regarding Glenn’s influence on Christians; there are certainly others. I think there is a legitimate discussion for Christians to have regarding GB, however it should not be focused on politics or a poor choice of words. Rather it should focus on the real and concrete problems with Glenn’s message, and how that should affect discerning Christians as we hear Glenn speak.
As I’ve admitted, I am not a regular listener. I don’t know if this was a poor choice of words, but he had opportunities in there to say “could” be a blessing, and didn’t. He keeps repeating that God is warning people. I admit that this could be true, one might even think it likely. I’m just not sure how he can be so sure that he knows God’s purposes for allowing the storms. Preparedness makes sense, even if I could do without his alarmist tone. I have no problem with that part of things, we certainly should be prepared.
As for my concerns about his Mormonism is similar to my concerns about Mormon candidates. If they are perceived as simply another “brand” of Christian, simple minded Christians may trust them on theological issues about the relationship between faith and public life. I would agree that Beck appears to be more “Religious” than specifically Mormon. (I’m not an expert on Mormonism, but my guess is that he is not on the traditional/conservative edge of the theology there.)
If this was simply poor wording, I still have issues, as do you. I simply worry that his “poor choice of words” might not have been an unintentional gaffe, but more indicative of his true thoughts.
[…] respect for Glenn Beck, this might have been the final straw. Of course, I lost my respect for Beck long ago, and this situation seems in conflict with his pledge of nonviolence which promised more […]