Liberty University and Glenn Beck: Part 4

At this point, I am tired of writing about the Beck at Liberty situation.  I expect you are tired of reading about it as well.  This will be the last post.  You can read the three previous entries on this topic here, here, and here.

I am devoting this entry to Beck's response to those who were upset about his sermon at Liberty University.  One thing about his response makes me happy: Liberty must have heard enough from people who were upset for Beck to get wind of it.  That is a good thing.  Liberty responds to pressure.  We saw that with the Benny Hinn situation.  It saddens me though that the outrage over Beck's sermon did not equal that of the reported Benny Hinn partnership.

Embedded below is the clip from The Blaze TV where Glenn Beck addresses the controversy.  Following the video is my commentary.

Beck starts the segment out by saying that Liberty University is being smeared.  A little later he said that the "so-called Christian right" is hammering Liberty for having him speak.  I have not read the reports where Liberty has been smeared.  I also do not consider myself to have hammered Liberty.  I will have to let you be the judge of whether that is what I have done.

In fact, a quick Google search with the words "liberty university glenn beck" pulls up several stories related to this issue.  Jonathan Merritt asked lots of questions about the situation, but stopped well short of smearing Liberty.  I am not sure Merritt is a part of the "so-called Christian right" that Beck refers to anyway.  My Google search also pulled up a couple stories from the Christian News Network and a blog post by Denny Burk.

Nothing I have read about the situation hammers or smears Liberty.  In fact, I have attempted to express sorrow over the situation rather than anger and hatred.  I love Liberty University.  My degree from LU hangs on the wall behind my head as I type.  While I don't agree with everything Liberty does, and didn't agree with every convocation speaker I heard at Liberty, I love Liberty University.

I am pretty opinionated (understatement of the year).  I even disagree with myself sometimes.  I expressed my concerns to Jerry Falwell Jr. and Johnnie Moore and now on this blog because I love first the precious gospel of Jesus Christ and also Liberty University.

Beck misunderstands the motives behind those of us closest to Liberty.  Unfortunately, in his effort to defend himself and Liberty, he is guilty of the very same thing of which he so passionately accuses us.  He said, "If your kids are so moronic, I guarantee your kids will not even be able to get into Liberty University, if they're that stupid."  He later says, "This is why your churches are dwindling."  Then he refers to those who are opposed to his sermon at Liberty as "monsters."

Besides the fact that Beck knows nothing about the admissions standards of Liberty, he is the one who is guilty of smearing, hammering, and spewing hatred.  His seven and a half minute rant against those of us speaking up about our concerns really is sad.  I wish I could say that this wasn't typical of Glenn Beck.

I am not sure why he addresses it, but Beck states in the beginning of the segment, "I can't find the place [in the Bible] where it says, 'You'll know the tree by its fruit.'"  I assume that someone has quoted or referred to Matthew 7:15-20 in calling Beck's supposed Christianity into question.  I also assume that those referring to this passage are saying that since Beck still identifies with the Mormon faith and Mormonism is not Christianity, then he must not be a Christian.  They make a valid point based on a passage that is clearly found in Scripture.

I'll end with this quotation and my commentary on it: "I encourage you to join me, join others of multiple faiths, never asking anyone to change their faith, asking you to strengthen your faith.  Whatever it is, unless it's telling kill people, burn their books, shut them up, torture them, imprison them, kill them."  He goes on to say, "If your faith says learn about love, learn about goodness, learn about the power of faith, learn about the miracles of God, don't trust in the arm of flesh, but trust in the Spirit, I'd love to meet you."

The religious pluralism of Beck's quotes above is antithetical to the Christian gospel.  The Christian gospel is both inclusive and exclusive.  It is inclusive in the sense that anyone who repents of their sin and places their faith in Jesus Christ will be saved.  It is exclusive in the sense that only those who repent of their sin and place their faith in Jesus Christ will be saved.  Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me" (Jn. 14:6).

While I am not going to waste my time forming Moral Majority coalitions in hope that this country can be turned around through the political system, I am also not going to waste my time railing against those who do.  That is not what this is about.  Glenn Beck preached a Mormon sermon from the stage of Liberty University.  Nothing was said to the students before or after he did so.  No public statement has been issued by the University since.  And when questioned about it, Liberty responded with fluff that fails to address the heart of the matter.

Mormonism is not Christianity.  The gospel of Christ is at stake.  May we all be faithful to "guard the good deposit" that has been entrusted to us, the good news of Jesus Christ and the forgiveness of sin He offers to all who repent of their sin and believe on the Lord Jesus (2 Tim. 1:14).  Will you heed this call, Liberty University?  Will you do so for the sake of your students' souls?  Will you do so for the sake of the souls of those who may be led astray by this false teaching in convocation?  Will you do so for the sake of Glenn Beck's eternal soul?  Please, I plead with you.  Do the right thing.