Who Said That?

"For Christians concerned about Glenn [Beck]'s faith, I would ask the following questions: What fruit do you see produced by Glenn? . . . Good or bad?  If you judged Glenn only by the fruits he has produced, would you still hold concerns over his faith?  Christians concerned about Glenn's faith should judge the tree by its fruits, not its labels . . .  After all, Nancy Pelosi and Bill Clinton openly call themselves Christians... Although these individuals have the right labels, they have the wrong fruits."

You know the drill!  Leave your guess in the comments section below.  Please, no google searches or cheating.



Update on Friday, August 27, 2010 at 11:49AM by Kim Riddlebarger

This is from Barton's facebook page (as cited in a recent CNN story--http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2010/08/27/some-evangelicals-on-defensive-over-partnering-with-glenn-beck-a-mormon/). 

Apparently, Beck's political views constitute the appropriate "fruit of the Spirit," despite the fact that Beck is a member of a heretical sect, the LDS.

Confusion of the two kingdoms at its finest!

Comments

[reg]

Is this MLK's niece who has been going on talk shows supporting Beck? She appears to be a clergy person of some kind, although her theology in the little I listened to was a confused blend of universalism, "all you need is love" and "can't we just all get along" pap. As an aside, the only fruit Beck has produced is the fruit of the tree of crazy. Plus since he is a Mormon, he is not a Christian even nominally, regardless of the "appearance" of his fruit.

[Scott Roper]

Peter Lillback? He's been on Beck's show a few times and thinks Washington was a Christian.

[Paul L.]

Jerry Falwell, Jr.

[John Stebbe]

I cheated and found out the answer. I am very surprised. I know this person has been on Beck's show, but I thought he had more discernment than that.

[Irenicum]

I would guess David Barton, the revisionist "historian" who Beck has had on his show repeatedly. But any of the above guesses seem just as likely. And as for any "fruit" he's produced, I'd stay as far away as possible from that bitter fruit.

[Jesse Light]

David Barton, the WallBuilders guy.

How awful. I am as sick of the radical humanist leftists co-opting the Christian label as the next guy, but I am getting just as sick of the socially conservative, civil religionists co-opting it as well. And I am getting sick of people who should know better sticking up for them.

Glenn Beck may be right about many political and economic issues, but he is not Christian by any orthodox definition. Conservative Christians have to remember that just because we share a common cause politically with some people, that doesn't put them in the faith. I fear that the reason Barton can make a statement like this is because he and many other professed Christians in our time have defined the faith in completely moral and political terms, such that being pro-life, pro-family, and fiscally conservative equals biblical Christianity. I would argue that biblical Christianity leads to all of those views, but they are not the Gospel!

Moralism is the enemy of the Gospel, whether the morals be wrong (liberal) or right (conservative). The fact that this sort of civil religious revival movement from Beck and Barton gets so much traction in the churches is a very bad sign.

Semper Reformanda!

[pb]

Kingdom confusion, Exhibit A, now showing.
Whether it's Beck, or Obama saying "we can bring in the kingdom of heaven right here on earth" (check it out, he did say this in a campaign speech) it's all the same. Thanks so much, Constantine.

[Barbara Vracin]

David Barton, evangelical activist - creator of WALLBUILDERS who has appeared on Beck's radio and tv show. Jim Garlow and Richard Land are also big fans, along with many modern-day Dominionists.

[Irenicum]

We see in this unholy alliance a conflation of nation with church leading to nationalistic idolatry. The gospel is nowhere to be found.

[Neal P.]

I was hoping the Ted Haggard scandal would mark the end of politicized Christianity in America.

[Chris S.]

Sarah Palin?

[Aaron]

My mother-in-law.

[Rick]

I'd say David Barton...one of Beck's favorite guest.
They love to push the Manhattan Declaration so they can create their one world religion and usher in the Anti-Christ.
Oops...Did that make me sound like a conspiracy theorist?

[Richard]

D.G. Hart? KIDDING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Eloquorius]

Rick Warren... in another one of his moments of theological compromise bordering on senility.

[Zrim]

Jesse, I'm tired of those things as well, and I'd heartily agree that our time has wrongly defined faith in moral and political terms (well said). But isn't it a little confusing to then turn around and say true faith leads to certain political and economic views?

[Jesse Light]

Zrim,

I would not say true faith leads to clear views about ALL issues, and it does not tell us which party to join and which specific legislation to support or oppose, but it does speak to many of the major political and economic issues of our time. And, in case you thought I was saying this, true faith does not lead to these views as if they are the intended end of true faith, but it does lead to them as a by-product.

The Scriptures make it clear, for example, that abortion is murder, the homosexual agenda is sinful and destructive to society, and that radical wealth redistribution and deficit spending is irresponsible. The Bible does not necessarily get into specifics on how best to correct these things in the political arena, but I am certain that when it comes to whether these things are right or wrong all Christians should be on the same page.

I am not trying to say that true faith will lead us all to be Republicans.

[Zrim]

So, Jesse, does true faith lead one to understand that the problem with Roe was that it violated states' rights? That's my political view as a believer, but I'm wary to say my faith has anything to do with that outlook or that other believers, who think the problem is that Roe federally legalized abortion (and conversely say that it should be federally criminalized), have failed to let their faith lead them to the correct by-product.

So, if you are saying that true faith leads to certain political (or economic) conclusions then what is the principled difference betweent that and what we find in modernity where, as you say, faith is defined in political terms?

[Jesse Light]

The positions I am referring to are not the Gospel message. Thus, we are not saved by believing abortion is wrong. We are saved by trusting in Christ alone as He is presented to us in Scripture alone. But when we believe in Christ and His Word, we find that His Word calls the taking of human life without just cause murder, and that murder is wrong. We also find that His Word recognizes that life begins in the womb. Thus to terminate a fetus is to commit murder and is therefore wrong.

So then, a consistent Christian will be led to oppose abortion as a consequence of their faith. How exactly they go about opposing abortion can be debated. But the basic morality of the issue is clear. And the issue in our time is political, therefore it is a political view that all Christians should agree on at a basic level.

Now a question for you, since you seem to suggest true faith should not inform our political views. Do you suggest that someone with true faith could legitimately run an abortion clinic or go out and raise funds for Planned Parenthood? Does this issue have nothing at all to do with our faith?

["lee n. field"]

"I have interviewed persons who have talked specifically with Glenn about his personal salvation - persons extremely well known in Christianity - and they have affirmed (using language evangelicals understand), 'Glenn is saved,' " Garlow said in his memo, which was dated Wednesday. "He understands receiving Christ as savior."

(Just one thing Google dredged up.)

Oy Vay!