I realize even talking about this is futile. Facts, logic, and other trivial details of rational analysis are utterly lost on anyone who finds Beck persuasive. And Beck himself is laughing all the way to the bank. But, whatever.
His recent bit of idiocy was to condemn any church that advocates social justice.
“I beg you, look for the words ‘social justice’ or ‘economic justice’ on your church web site,” Beck urged his audience. “If you find it, run as fast as you can. Social justice and economic justice, they are code words. Now, am I advising people to leave their church? Yes!”
Today, Beck returned to the subject, insisting that the notion of social justice is “a perversion of the Gospel,” and “not what Jesus would say.” He wasn’t kidding.
The Slacktivist had some nice commentary on how utterly stupid this was.
Glenn Beck continued his attack on “social justice” today, arguing that it entails “a perversion of the gospel” and is “not what Jesus would say” (MediaMatters has the audio).
This is an astonishing claim to anyone who’s ever had a Bible and their eyes open at the same time. Justice is an inescapable, relentless, pervasive, nearly omnipresent theme of that entire volume. It is impossible to read the law and the prophets, the Gospels and epistles, the histories, wisdom literature and apocalypse without being confronted incessantly with the theme of justice, justice, justice, justice, justice, justice, justice.
That accounts for justice, in the Christian teaching of every Christian church, being regarded as a cardinal virtue and an attribute of God.
But, for my part, I think Al Franken pre-emptively disposed of this kind of crap when he wrote The Gospel of Supply Side Jesus.
It is easier for a rich man to enter heaven seated comfortably on the back of a camel than it is for a poor man to pass through the eye of a needle. . . . if you are prosperous on earth, that means that God is rewarding your rugged individualism. If you are poor, it is a sign that God frowns on your reliance on handouts.
I heard neither Beck’s remarks nor any of the potentially relevant context. What I can say is that:
a.) The Bible clearly speaks to social and economic justice.
b.) “Social justice” and “economic justice” are typically code words among those on the Religious Left for a legislative agenda that cannot be squared with a coherent reading of the Bible. (I strongly suspect this is what Beck is identifying.) Most notably, the chosen means to various ends generally fail in terms of being ethical/biblical, appropriate, or practical.
c.) Few of those on the Religious Right care a whit about “economic justice” of any robust type– and they mostly care about social justice in the context of abortion. In contrast, Biblical/Christian ethics cannot (properly) be reduced to sexual morals or abortion.
For those interested in this topic, I (immodestly) recommend by book on Christianity and public policy. Enjoy…eric
‘God given rights’are best paralleled with Humanism and specifically the revolt against organized religion ,which at the time of our Declaration of Independence was despotic government from afar..’God given’ means ‘naturally bestowed rights’ in the spirit of Rene Descartes, “I think therefore I am’,so I can figure out myself who I am,and he gave us a pattern to observe and evaluate.When and if I need God,then I’ll be able to figure that out in my own time. I won’t have to accept someone else’s pre-defined concept of God.
Ironic that now The Bible for some is supposed to be the guide to moral rule.If it is,then its become our individual choice. Our Constitution, in all its secularity, is our guide in the USA,and Thomas Jefferson was not a clergyman hoping to become Pope,or elected King.He was at heart a Humanist,in my view.Our Bill of Rights and our Constitution are more closely patterned after ‘Godless humanism’ than it is after God and church and Scripture. Why don’t Americans know this?
But Im free to go to Catholic mass every Sunday ,but live as religiously or as ‘atheistically’as I choose, as long as I dont break secular laws, so we don’t have any religious laws in this country .
Pundits like Glenn Beck seem foreigners to me. I have heard him often when visiting my family so I know the snake oil he sells.
I do think Beck may be correct if he was saying that Jesus wouldn’t want the government mandating wealth distribution or something like that. Jesus seemed pretty consistent that he really didn’t care to much about the government, even a horrible Roman one.
However, Beck is such a ranting lunatic, I can’t ever really figure how what he is really trying to say.
It’s obvious that Beck has never read Matthew 25:31-46.
And what does Mt 25:31-46 imply for public policy above and beyond a call to individual Christians?
Eric,
Beck didn’t confine his statements to Christians who suggested using government as a tool for social justice. He can’t be so nuanced. Shades of gray don’t arouse the kind of fear that’s useful in getting people to buy gold or seeds for their “crisis garden” or the other crap his sponsors are selling.
In the quote you’ve provided, he seems to be talking about a brand of (unbiblical) “social justice” preached in many churches. If so, that’s exactly what I was referring to in my previous remarks.
The social justice concerns in these circles are often well-placed. (This is a good start– and sometimes better than what one hears in conservative circles.) But the means to the ends are often not. (This is not sufficient– and is deserving of critique as well.)
Perhaps an example from the other side would be helpful: If theologically or politically conservative churches were known for talking about “righteousness” (a prominent Biblical theme), but we all knew that this was code for a condemnation of homosexuality or extending carte blanche to those who murder abortionists– then this should be criticized Biblically.