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Listening to Hebrew prophets or false prophets?
(Originally published in Sightings)
Are 68.1 million Americans connected with a Communist front movement? Yes, if they are Roman Catholic. Are another 20 million citizens listening to "coded" Nazi messages? Yes, if they are mainline Protestant. Are tens of millions more in danger of being part of a similarly coded Fascist front? Yes, if they are in a growing wing of Evangelicalism; and yes, if they keep hearing social justice messages in thousands of African-American congregations. Those four "yeses" pick up on oft-repeated accusations by Fox News host Glenn Beck. They provoked the least underreported public religion news of the week, which appeared in the March 12th New York Times as well as "all over the internet."
The fact that Mr. Beck charms millions of devotees tells more about the sad state of truth-telling and the high state of lie-receiving than civil citizens should want to hear. The broadcaster has picked up an ally in folk like Jerry Falwell, Jr. and a few other fundamentalists on the right who have been at least as condemnatory as he. Their most cited biblical passage is from the gospels, where Jesus announces that his kingdom is not of his world; therefore they conclude that Christians should avoid political life. A test of ironies: Quick, now, can you think of any element in American religion which has been more publicly engaged in recent politicking than these "not-of-this-world" dwellers in glass houses?
Where should they direct the stones they must throw? And how should they follow through? Mr. Beck knows: Leave any church which talks about, supports, or "does" works of justice beyond what an individual or a church charity can do. "Leave!" "Run!" Do it fast, he says, because of the way things are going. He might as well be wearing a beard, a robe, and a sign: "THE END IS NEAR." Before that end, these "social justice" churches might at least fling some pebbles back while they seek consistency. Ask: Would all the Christians and the churches which accept any benefits of Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, tax exemption and other such programs cut them off tomorrow? They all involve the government and all were backed by "social and economics minded" leaders and followers in churches, often against the odds raised and symbolized by the Glenn Becks of their past.
Sightings likes to be fair and to see more than one side of things as it does its observing and commenting. So let it be noted that some sane and serious Christians also think that believers should pay no attention to public order, structures, circumstances, and possibilities. "Don't talk justice! Just be just!" "Don't support programs which support widows and orphans, just share your bread and coat and cold water with your innocently needy neighbor." Thereafter do the math: It will become obvious that the limits on the individual responses to need at their highest won't meet needs if reckoned at their lowest.
Biblical verses wisely do remind readers, "Put not your trust in princes." That usually means governments; "princes" in the media, banking, punditry, universities, and, yes, churches demand scrutiny, and their programs deserve careful evaluation, as well. But those who say that you have taken care of biblical injunctions if you simply keep government out of everything face biblical reminders with which they have to contend: The Hebrew prophets all dealt with "nations," and the apostle Paul, writing to people suffering under Nero, also said that civil "authority...is God's servant for your good (Romans 13:4). Paul even goes so far in 13:6 to urge believers to "pay taxes, for the authorities are God's servants." Come on, Paul, don't press your luck in Beck's world!
By
Martin Marty
|
April 13, 2010; 11:09 AM ET
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Posted by: citizenconcerned | April 16, 2010 3:04 PM
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Yes, Sad state of truth-telling and the high state of lie-receiving indeed. Archaeologists have found that the story of the Jew Bible about the covenant that God signed with the Israelites has been plagiarised from an Assyrian text dated to 670 BC
http://indianrealist.wordpress.com/2010/04/15/source-of-bible-covenant-with-god-discovered/
Posted by: futuralogic | April 16, 2010 10:31 AM
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Mr. Marty; Your one of me favorite Religious "Authority" and I respect your reasoning here or elswhere. In todays Moderen World, YES, Modern; there is a big contradictions in the NT at ROMANS: 13:4 & 13:6., It's like a double-edge Sword.
1) The Roman Catholic Church FUNDAMENTALIST Does Not Pay "Taxes" here (to "Uncle-Sam", not Ceasar). 2) Prince & Princes of NERO/PAUL's time, anywhere on Flat-Earth, Did Not Know What a Round-Earth was like. 3) Novelator Paul, or SAUL of Tarsas was a Wealthy Man. And also a Mass-Murderer which crimes (unforgivenable) is no different than What GERMANY (A Catholic/Protestant Nation) did twice via WWI & WWII. And others, like TURKEY did to ARMENIANS (1905) et al, not-long-ago, or the Chinese MAO or USSR Stalins, Polpots... 4) But AMERICA and their eager Christian Soldiers? is a "REPUBLIC" such that that the "DEMOCRACY" Niro or Paul et al knew is now Absolete/Old.
Note: Glenn Beck (Who Ever He Is; I did'nt know or still don't know who he is; and I don't give a Darn) is friends with the JERRY FALWELL'S and that Friendship is a Dangerous/Evil Alliance/Axis to US, not Fundamentalists. This is All a Game, but a Sharade to distract, but for entertaining or signaling a certain "Secret Religious Group/Society" laying in wait somewhere in America or elswhere, to Take over our REPUBLIC.
Is today's AMERICA a PLUTOCRACY (A government Controlled by the Rich)?
Example: Mr. FALWELL, not long ago said, "Assassinate CHAVEZ!" (An "Elected" President). Now It is only right that Mr. Falwell should instruct his would be "christian Assassins" (Marks Men/Woman) to turn their sites/Cross hairs on Mr. Glenn Beck and Company instead. Note: I'm glad I don't know who Glenn Beck is; but I (WE) wouldn't miss him if he Disapeared Today.
Oh, and I Agree; That CHURCHES (leaderships and their Congregant/Perishoners/Customers/Clients) should stay the Heck out of STATE business, as our (not Their) Holy U.S. Constitution Commands Ceasar, to prevent. It is time.
The BIBLE (NEW or OLD & In BETWEEN) and all similar god story Books are DEAD! The PISCES AGE, not Horoscope thinking, is DEAD. Behold; The AQUARIUS-AGE (not Astrology thinking), a Prophecy who's time via time is Coming with a vengence, +2013.
Example: Does not the Exposure of the PEDOPHILIA/HOMOSEXUAL Vatican-Gates THEOCRACY scandal Reveal US (SECULARISTS) something, like a Prophecy? Does not today's spewing Valcanoe in Iceland which is choking the Modern-World but REVEALING something NEW? Does Not the Haiti Earth-Quake disaster (not because of Voodoo or Coocoo thinking)? Does not the callapse of the 2 Islamic Minarets in Morrocco was telling the THEOCRACY and MONARCHY of Islam something?
Posted by: citizenconcerned | April 16, 2010 9:24 AM
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"...social justice that is politicized and not related to religious issues..." What are you talking about? Do you mean, as long as we give a buck to a beggar, it's o.k., but when we try to eliminate the reason he's sleeping on the street, it's not o.k.? Or is it just that it's up to the churches to take care of society's refuse, while the job of politicians is to create more?
Even a cursory reading of the prophets makes it clear that the first job of government is to protect those who cannot protect themselves. The assumption was that the king, as the most powerful person in society, would take the part of the least powerful. When they did not do that, they were called to account by the prophets. That sounds pretty "political" to me!
And, "IgnorantHillbilly," if you don't understand what he's saying, it's not Dr. Marty's fault that you are an "ignorantHillbilly!" Maybe you wouldn't set yourself up for this if you at least used a different name on this blog!
Well, said, Dr. Marty!
Posted by: garoth | April 15, 2010 4:45 PM
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Boy; what a long-winded, incomprehensible response. Maybe the reason Beck has so many viewers is that people can actually understand him.
Beck never advocated abandoning widows and orphans; he said "social justice" churches are essential mouthpieces for the liberal welfare state (see, Jim Wallis, Jeremiah Wright, and Barack Hussein Obama). This is pretty obvious. I've never read a passage in the Bible that says the government should promote and fund fornication and illegitimacy, but that is essentially what these programs do. Of course, the Bible does say the following: For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat. That’s biblical social justice.
Posted by: IgnorantHillbilly | April 15, 2010 10:26 AM
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all true martin, but that is NOT what glenn beck is talking about....he is referring to the social justice that is politicized and not related to religious issues.
just fyi.
arnie draiman
www.draimanconsulting.com
Posted by: soochaz | April 13, 2010 11:51 AM
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FUTURALOGIC:
Please know that what the Arciologists found was a recording of the Assyrians JEW citizens living there at the time and was only an account or what they belief. So 2,680 Years ago many Jews lived among Idol/BAAL worshipers.
But the Most interesting of All Modern ARCHIOLOGICAL finds is in the American past (not Mid East, Asia, East et al) is the MAYAN Civilization. Way before 670 BC. Interestingly Zoroastrian Faith of Persia minor/greater was an original MONO theo Religion that was Copied some durin the BABYLONIA Freedom act via King CYRUS of Iran. See
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maya_civilization
MAYAN's Do Make HINDU's, Buddhists, JEWS, Muslims, Christians, ARABS etc.. History look contradictary! Remember; All of the Above , except Mayan Religion System, are Not-Made-In-America. So, who cares if JEW BIBLE is Borrowed, Stolen or Plagerized? Note: I'm an Ex-JEW, and I want to strive to become part of the Real-AMERICAN-Religion. My Religion is no longer immported or stinks of such Foreign (un-American) Yoke of competing for a Name-For-Gods Religions.
There are Judeo-ABE-JU's, There are Copy cat Judeo abe-Christians, there are Copy Cat Judeo-Abe-Islamics, there are also Judeo-abe-Mormons; And There are also Judeo-Vedic-Hindu's, and Judeo-Vedic-Buddhist copy cats... but
But, there is JUDEO-MAYAN-AMERICAN" Religion. So get Ready Post 2013+!
Note: JUDEO = a SNAIL. and an
ABERAHAMIC or VEDIC or MAYANIC = a LABEL (i.g., My RELIGION, BELIEF, FAITH). Yet All are JUDEO's; regodless of how far apart they are from each other on Round-Earth or flat-Earth; which is a Space-Ship in it's own natural-right.
POINT: If your Living in AMERICA then renounced your, not Made in America, imported Religion; and exchang it for the "RELIGION OF EVERYTHING" as promised here and there.
Who needs Europe-made Religions? Who Needs Middle-East made Religions? Who Needs Far/Near-East Religions? Yet We speak AMERICAN, not English chap, and so "AMERICAN" is my RELIGION and U.S.A., N.Y. is me Holy-Land, not Jerusalem, not Mecca, not Tibet... how about You?