Liberty University and Glenn Beck: Part 3

I have written two posts so far concerning the Glenn Beck sermon at Liberty University.  You can find them here and here.  The both contain emails exchanged between the Vice President of Communications at Liberty University, Johnnie Moore, and myself.  If you haven't read them, it will be important for you to do so as to add context to what I have written below.

I have a couple more things to say concerning Johnnie Moore's response to me.

Why is it so hard for Johnnie Moore and Jerry Falwell Jr. to say that Mormonism is not a Christian denomination?

I don't care if you call it a cult, false religion, or fringe group outside Christian orthodoxy.  I am not asking for Liberty to give Mormonism a label concerning what it is.  I am asking them to state plainly what it is not.  Jerry Falwell Jr. refused to do that in an interview with CNN.

Now, Johnnie Moore says, "Our students have no question about what Liberty’s doctrinal statement is.  It is posted publicly for all to see.  Our doctrinal statement is our public statement on Mormonism.  It is the same statement that Liberty was founded upon and it will never change."

Please interpret that doctrinal statement for me.  Is Mormonism a Christian denomination as Beck claimed, or is it the heretical fringe group that the Christian church has recognized it as since its founding?  I am getting mixed messages, and I am asking you to clear them up for me.  Are you willing to do so?

The end of Moore's email leaves me questioning Liberty's position, "By the way, many conservative evangelical leaders who are closer to Beck than me have told me that they believe Beck has had a born again experience recently.  I do not know his heart but our audience knows that he was speaking only for himself and expressing his personal opinions and beliefs, not those of Liberty University or even of Mormonism generally."

Has Beck rejected Mormonism?  Has Beck forsaken the teaching of his church?  As demonstrated in my first post, Mormonism teaches things about the man, God, and the atonement that are antithetical to the gospel of Jesus Christ.

What if Beck were a Muslim?  Could he have a "born again experience" while still clinging to Islam?  Absolutely not.  Neither can one follow Jesus and continue to cling to the false god and savior espoused in Mormonism.

I am not questioning the intellect of your students; I am questioning the wisdom of allowing a false teacher to preach on the stage of Liberty University.

Moore wrote, "As Jerry Falwell, Sr., our founder, often used to say about speakers at Liberty who had different views than him, Liberty students are smart enough to eat the fish and spit out the bones! I believe that's as true today as it was in his day."

This statement is irrelevant.  I believe that the people in my congregation are just as smart as the students at Liberty University, yet I do not welcome heretics into my pulpit and trust my people to "eat the fish and spit out the bones."

I don't really know what Jerry Falwell Sr. would have done in the same situation.  Neither do I care.  I had a lot of respect for Jerry Falwell Sr.  I didn't always agree with him, but I appreciate the things he accomplished for the kingdom of God.  This isn't about what Jerry Falwell Sr. would have done.  This is about doing what is right.

The student body at Liberty University is very diverse.  It is made up of people from all over the world, people from lots of different backgrounds, and yes, people from different faiths.  Do you really trust those who are not indwelt by the Spirit of God to discern truth from error with regard to Mormonism and Christianity?  I don't. 

Even Christians who are indwelt by the Spirit can be led astray by false teaching.  That is why the Apostle Paul used such strong language when referring to false teaching.  Consider some of the things Paul wrote to his son in the faith Timothy.

1 Timothy 1:3-7

As I urged you when I was going to Macedonia, remain at Ephesus so that you may charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine, 4 nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculations rather than the stewardship from God that is by faith. 5 The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. 6 Certain persons, by swerving from these, have wandered away into vain discussion, 7 desiring to be teachers of the law, without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make confident assertions.

2 Timothy 1:13-14

Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 14 By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you.

2 Timothy 4:2-5

preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. 3 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. 5 As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

Let's be clear.  Mormonism is a false religion, and Glenn Beck is a false teacher.  I have a responsibility in my church to protect God's flock from false teaching.  I will stand before God one day and give an account for my stewardship of that responsibility.  While leading a university and choosing convocation speakers is not even close to the same thing as pastoring a church, the leaders of Liberty University have a responsibility to protect sound doctrine as well.

You want to be the world's largest evangelical university?  Fasten your belt and accept the responsibility that goes along with that label.  You are not irrelevant.  Christians and the world are watching you.  What will they think about Mormonism based on what they see at Liberty University?

I am reminded of Jesus' words in Matthew 18:6, "But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea."  These words haunt me; they should haunt Johnnie Moore and Jerry Falwell Jr. as well.

My next post will address Beck's response to the controversy.  Thanks for reading.

Liberty University and Glenn Beck: Part 2

Yesterday, I began writing about Glenn Beck's recent sermon at Liberty University.  I posted in full the letter that I wrote to Chancellor Falwell and VP Moore.  I also want to provide you with a link to Beck's sermon if you are not familiar with what I am talking about, or doubt that Beck preached a "sermon" at Liberty University.  You can find the message in its entirety here.

I sent my first email on May 1.  On May 11, I sent another email as I had not yet heard back.  That email is below.

Gentlemen,

My name is Adam Blosser.  I am the pastor of Drakes Branch Baptist Church in Drakes Branch, VA and a graduate of Liberty University.  I am writing to follow up on the email I sent on May 1 concerning Glenn Beck’s sermon at Liberty University convocation. 

Unfortunately, I have not received a response.  I know of several others as well who have emailed and have yet to receive a response.  I recognize that the time since my last email has been very hectic on campus with graduation festivities.  I am hoping that now that graduation is over, you will be able to offer a response to some questions that I have. 

I really need to hear from both of you what you believe about Mormonism.  Is it a denomination within the bounds of Christian orthodoxy as Beck said in his sermon, or is it the heretical fringe group that the Christian church has recognized it as since its founding?  If the latter, was anything said to the students about the heresy Beck taught?  If not, why not?  Also, what was the agreement for this convocation message?  Was Beck given complete freedom?  Was he supposed to stick to conservative politics, but instead embarrassed you in front of your students?  I recognize that this may not have unfolded as you planned or expected.  I am hoping that now you will respond in a manner befitting the seriousness of this situation. 

Brothers, this is a gospel issue that demands your attention.  Mormonism is a false religion that claims to be Christian.  Glenn Beck is a false teacher who presented his false teaching in a sermon on the convocation platform of Liberty University.  Please, as Paul instructed Timothy, guard the good deposit by standing for the truth and speaking to this issue. 

Adam Blosser

On May 13, I received a response from VP Johnnie Moore.  That response is below

Adam:

First, I must apologize for my delayed reply to you. We just emerged from an unbelievable graduation weekend at Liberty. We had more than 34,000 people in attendance and we celebrated the graduation of more than 17,000 students. It was quite the celebration, and it consumed my time entirely until this very morning.

Secondly, I would like to thank you for expressing your concern.   Liberty takes concerns like yours extremely seriously, and that's why I'm writing to personally address your concerns.

You should know that Liberty University’s Convocation is not a church service.

We have explained over the decades repeatedly that convocation is an opportunity for students to hear from people of all faiths and from all walks of life.  Liberty has also made it clear repeatedly that it does not endorse any statements made by any convocation speaker.

By contrast, our faculty are all required to profess Liberty’s statement of faith and to affirm our doctrinal statement.  Our students are all required to take many credit hours of theology and Bible courses, regardless of their major.  Our students have no question about what Liberty’s doctrinal statement is.  It is posted publicly for all to see.  Our doctrinal statement is our public statement on Mormonism.  It is the same statement that Liberty was founded upon and it will never change.

College is about learning.  How can you defend what you believe if you don’t understand what others believe?  I believe our students are stronger in their faith because of our convocation speaker series and the wide diversity of views that they have been privileged to hear in person over the last few decades.

The president of Liberty University, Jerry Falwell, Jr. actually spoke to this during his remarks at our 41st annual commencement exercises this weekend. You can watch those remarks here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_Uz82ZHAHg

By the way, many conservative evangelical leaders who are closer to Beck than me have told me that they believe Beck has had a born again experience recently.  I do not know his heart but our audience knows that he was speaking only for himself and expressing his personal opinions and beliefs, not those of Liberty University or even of Mormonism generally.  As Jerry Falwell, Sr., our founder, often used to say about speakers at Liberty who had different views than him, Liberty students are smart enough to eat the fish and spit out the bones! I believe that's as true today as it was in his day.

Thank you for your deep love for, and concern for, our institution. I hope this at least helps to explain our position - and it's a longstanding position - on guest speakers in Convocation.

Blessings,

Johnnie

As I said yesterday, the email that I received from Johnnie Moore is very similar to the one posted by Jonathan Merritt.  You can find that letter here.

I found Moore's email to be gracious and kind.  His love for Liberty and her mission is evident.  I don't question any of those things.  I heard Moore preach many times while I was a student at Liberty.  He loves Liberty University.  He loves the students.  He desires to see God do a great work in and through Liberty.  I am not calling any of that into question.

However, I must question the wisdom of some of the things he says and doesn't say in his response.

He does not address the reality that Beck's message was very different from that given by other secular convocation speakers.

Beck preached a Mormon sermon.  There is no other way to put it.  He stood up and said that he came prepared to say one thing, and God instructed him in his hotel room to say something else.  I stand before my congregation each week and claim to speak for God.  When I do, I call that preaching.  I attempt to unpack the truth of God for the people of God from the Word of God.

Also, as I said in my initial email, "[Beck] spoke of Joseph Smith as a Christian martyr.  He spoke of the 'Grand Councils' which is a Mormon heresy.  He said that we should 'Live in such a way that you can demand miracles. Expect miracles. Call down miracles.'  This too is contrary to the teachings of Scripture.  We do not demand anything of God.  He spoke of the atonement, but as you know, Mormons have a very different view of the atonement than Christians."

Moore said in his email that convocation is not a chapel service.  I hear what he is saying, but it is doublespeak.  Liberty has had men I respect like John MacArthur, John Piper, David Platt, Jerry Vines, Ronnie Floyd and others stand on the stage in convocation and preach.  They have a time of singing worship songs at the beginning of each convocation service.  If Beck was not preaching, what about these other men?  Are you going to tell them that they were not preaching either?

It is not hard to see why this would be viewed as a blurring of the lines.  It is not hard to see why this is troubling to those who believe that Mormonism is well outside of Christian orthodoxy.

This was a sermon.  It was unlike other messages I have heard given on the stage of Liberty University by secular leaders.  Again, had Beck given a political speech, I wouldn't approve, but I wouldn't have even sent my initial email.

I will further address the email received from Johnnie Moore in my next post.  Thanks for reading.

Liberty University and Glenn Beck

I wasn't going to blog about this.  I don't want this page to become a "watchdog" blog.  However, the more I ponder this situation, the more I am convinced that responding thoroughly and in public is the best thing for me to do.

It should be noted that I do not approach this situation as an outsider.  I spent three years living on the campus of Liberty University as a student in the School of Religion.  I completed my B.A. in Pastoral Leadership and Biblical Exposition in December 2009.  I was a freshman at Liberty for the final year that Jerry Falwell Sr. was alive.  I served as a Prayer Leader, Spiritual Life Director, and Resident Assistant on several different dorms on campus.  I am no expert on Liberty, and have been largely disconnected since graduating, but I am not ignorant of the way Liberty works either.

Liberty University holds convocation three times a week.  All resident students are required to attend.  This is basically a chapel service, though they do not use that terminology.  They typically host Christian pastors and leaders.  Some are certainly better and more respected than others.  However, on occasion they have other leaders outside Christianity.  These are typically political speakers, though some are businessmen and women and other secular leaders.

While Liberty has a long history of having secular leaders from various fields speak for convocation and graduation, I do not recall ever hearing one of these leaders present what could only be called a "sermon" when addressing the students.

In the interest of full disclosure, I do have a problem with the criteria used to select convocation and graduation speakers.  However, I recognize it as an area where there may be room for disagreement.  The recent message presented by Glenn Beck is very different though.  He did not give a political speech.  He presented a Mormon sermon.

Let's be clear.  Mormonism is not a denomination under the umbrella of Christianity.  Mormon theology teaches that God used to be a man on another planet and even now has a physical body.  Mormons also teach that we can become gods.  The Mormon Church teaches that Jesus and Satan are brothers, and that Jesus is the product of God the Father's sexual relationship with Mary.  I trust this is enough information to convince you of my point that Mormonism is not within the boundaries of orthodox Christianity.

With this bit of background, I want to share with you the text of the email I sent to Jerry Falwell Jr. and Johnnie Moore.  Jerry Falwell Jr. is the President and Chancellor of Liberty University.  Johnnie Moore is the Senior Vice President for Communications with convocation falling under his direction.

Dr. Falwell and Rev. Moore,

My name is Adam Blosser.  I am a graduate (B.A. in Pastoral Leadership and Biblical Exposition, Class of 2010) of Liberty University and the Pastor of Drakes Branch Baptist Church in Drakes Branch, VA.

I am writing to express my concern over Glenn Beck’s recent sermon at Liberty University’s convocation.  I regret that I have to do this over email.  I wish that I could sit down with the two of you over a cup of coffee.  I hope you will find the tone of my email to be one of gentleness and respect.

Glenn Beck was the commencement speaker the year I graduated.  Mitt Romney was the commencement speaker the year my wife graduated.  In the interest of full disclosure, I opposed the decision to have those men speak at commencement.  However, I also recognize that Liberty has a long tradition of bringing in non-Christians to speak at graduation.  It is typically a time for challenging the graduates as they move on in life.  I also recognize that many non-Christians have been given the opportunity to address the students in convocation.  This happened on many occasions while I was a student at Liberty.  I have not written to you on those occasions because, while I disagreed with those decisions, I did not consider those situations to be the same as what recently happened when Glenn Beck spoke in convocation.

I am writing now because Glenn Beck was given a platform to teach Mormon theology to the students of Liberty University without, to my knowledge, any public rebuttal or refutation of the things he said.  He was given a table with a Liberty University table cloth on which to place the religious items that he brought with him.  In his sermon he clearly equated Mormonism with Christianity.  I watched the entire message this morning via video.  He spoke of Joseph Smith as a Christian martyr.  He spoke of the “Grand Councils” which is a Mormon heresy.  He said that we should “Live in such a way that you can demand miracles. Expect miracles. Call down miracles.”  This too is contrary to the teachings of Scripture.  We do not demand anything of God.  He spoke of the atonement, but as you know, Mormons have a very different view of the atonement than Christians.

I recognize the potential benefit of exposing students to Mormon teaching.  That is not why I am writing.  Had Beck stuck to conservative politics, I would not be writing this letter.  Unfortunately, he delivered a message that he claimed was given to him by God to share with the students of Liberty.  When he finished, a prayer was said and the students were dismissed without any refutation of the heresy that had just been spoken from the stage in convocation.

The responsibility of protecting sound doctrine belongs primarily to the church.  However, that responsibility also belongs to all believers and even to the largest evangelical university.  I was filled with disappointment as I listened to the words Beck spoke and watched as students clapped.  A wolf in sheep clothing was allowed to speak to the students of Liberty University unfiltered.

The Benny Hinn fiasco a few weeks ago was a mess.  Liberty responded promptly.  Not all of my questions were answered then, but I was glad to see Liberty respond quickly.  This situation demands a similar response.  Dr. Falwell, you have been quoted in a CNN interview as saying that Liberty has no official position on Mormonism.  It is time for you to take a position.  Mormons desire to have their faith equated with Christianity.  The enemy would love nothing more.  It is essential that you, in your position of influence, take a stand for truth on this issue.

I really need to hear from both of you what you believe about Mormonism.  Is it a denomination within the bounds of Christian orthodoxy, or is it the heretical fringe group that the Christian church has recognized it as since its founding?  If the latter, was anything said to the students about the heresy Beck taught?  If not, why not?  Also, what was the agreement for this convocation message?  Was Beck given complete freedom?  Was he supposed to stick to conservative politics, but instead embarrassed you in front of your students?  I am not demanding an answer.  I do not have that right.  I am asking these questions for my own peace of mind, and maybe even to challenge you as brothers in Christ as you think through this issue.

Thank you both for the time it took you to read this and respond.

God bless, 

Adam Blosser

I hope that sharing this letter demonstrates several things: 1) why I am concerned about this situation, 2) my love first for the Gospel of Jesus Christ and second for Liberty University, and 3) a way to express concern and sharp disagreement in a way that is honoring to Christ.

I will be writing more on this issue.  I did receive a response to my letter, and will be sharing that in a future post.  I have not compared it word for word with the response received and posted online by Jonathan Merritt, but it is at least very similar.  Glenn Beck has also discussed on his radio program the criticism Liberty has received over his sermon.  I will address that as well.

Thanks for reading, and God bless.

Is There Any Hope?

On Friday, I will walk across the stage at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and receive my Masters of Divinity degree. One of the ways I have benefited most from my education at Southeastern is in the area of biblical counseling. I am indebted to my professors and the authors of the many books I have read for my counseling courses. They have certainly shaped my thinking on this topic a great deal.

My last paper that I wrote for my degree was for a course on counseling parents and children. I chose to write on counseling parents of children who died in infancy or early childhood. I have not included he entire paper below, but rather a summary of some of my thoughts on the issue. These thoughts are not really limited to the specific counseling scenario, but can be applied to suffering in general.

I presented five truths from Scripture that the biblical counselor must help the grieving parent to see in the initial stages of counseling.

1. This is not the way things are supposed to be.

In Genesis 1, we see God create everything and declare it to be very good. There was no pain, sickness, or death prior to the Fall which is recorded for us in Genesis 3. After the Fall, God slaughtered an animal which communicated to Adam and Eve that things were not as they should be. Adam and Eve were once again reminded of this truth when their youngest son murdered their eldest (Gen. 4). The first family knew the pain of losing a child, reminding them that things were not as they should be.

This truth is so important for grieving parents because it reaffirms what they are already feeling. Parents do not expect to bury their child. Affirming this truth from Scripture allows the counselor to grieve with the parents as they mourn the effects of this fallen world. The secular worldview cannot help grieving parents in this way. The best it can do is affirm that death is a part of life. Parents need this truth because they need to know that it is good and right for them to grieve the loss they have experienced.

2. God is good.

This truth is seen throughout the Scriptures. The Psalmist declares that the goodness of God is cause for Thanksgiving (Ps. 136:1). The Psalmist also declares, "For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations" (Ps. 100:5). Job, in the midst of his grief, blessed the name of the Lord because he recognized that the goodness of the Lord had not changed, though his circumstances had changed (Job 1:21). Joseph was able to see the good plan of the Lord despite all of the evil he experienced throughout his life (Gen. 50:20). The goodness of God is a clear teaching of Scripture that must be highlighted for grieving parents.

The biblical counselor will want to set the grieving parent's hope in God as soon as possible. This is best done by reinforcing the goodness of God for the counselee. God may be the farthest thing from the parent's mind at the time. The grieving parent may even be mad at God. He may not feel like God is good. "How could you allow this to happen to my child?" she wonders. The wise counselor will direct the parents' attention away from these questions and onto the goodness of God. While we may not have all of the answers especially concerning how or why this happened, the goodness of God can be clung to as one grieves. The secular worldview can only encourage the counselee to cling to whatever works for her.

3. God loves His saints and children in a special way.

While the previous truth focused more broadly on the character of God, this truth begins to provide specific comfort to the parent. If the parents are believers, they can be directed to the many passages in Scripture that talk about God's special love for His saints. Jesus demonstrates this love in His High Priestly Prayer in John 17 as He prays for all believers everywhere and for all time. There are also many Scriptures that show God's special love for children. Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven" (Matt. 19:14).

The secular counselor once again does not have the ability to root the counselee's hope in God and His love for her and her child. This is unique to the biblical worldview. While the pain of loss is immense, the love of God is even greater. The biblical counselor has the opportunity to be an extension of God's love to parents in the midst of this suffering. The secular counselor can merely try to help the parents cope with the loss.

4. God is able and desires to bring comfort and healing.

Paul, in his second letter to the Corinthians, identifies God as the God of all comfort (2 Cor. 1:3). God is also identified in Scripture as the one who restores, confirms, strengthens, and establishes those who suffer (1 Pet. 5:10). This truth, once again, directs the parents' attention back to God. The secular counselor has no ability to provide this kind of hope. He can be there for the counselee at the height of suffering, but he cannot point to the one who will never leave or forsake His children.

5. There is a long road ahead, but you can trust God.

The secular approach recognizes that grief is a lifelong process that is unique to each person, but it fails to provide any guidance or hope for the future. The only hope it can provide is that the sting of the pain will lessen as time passes. The biblical worldview stands in stark contrast to this perspective. The Apostle Paul wrote, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God" (Phil. 4:6). Jesus said that rather than being anxious, one should "seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness" (Matt. 6:33). Though the pain may never lessen, parents can trust that God's grace is always sufficient.

While these truths are not exhaustive or specifically tailored to every situation, they provide a firm foundation on which the biblical counselor can build. The hope of grieving parents must not be in themselves or even in the counselor. They must be told that there is hope for the future, and it is only found as they place her trust in God. This is help that the secular worldview simply cannot provide.