By Brannon S. Howse
Would you approve or disapprove if some of America's evangelical pastors and religious leaders announced they were going to show up at "Oprah's Divine Destiny" meeting at the Kennedy Center for an evening that would include uplifting music and nationally-known religious figures from all faiths as they unite in prayer and recite historical speeches? Would it concern you if you knew that on her radio program Oprah has taught the book called A Course in Miracles written by Helen Schucman? This book and the workbook include such quotes as:
"A slain Christ has no meaning."
"The recognition of God is the recognition of yourself."
"Do not make the pathetic error of 'clinging to the old rugged cross'."
"My salvation comes from me."
True Bible-believing Christians would not approve of evangelical pastors and leaders uniting with Oprah in a self-described, religious and spiritual meeting. Why? Because most Biblically thinking Christians do not agree with Oprah's liberal politics and they know that the truth of God's Word and Oprah's pagan spirituality do not mix.
However, many of these same Christians will have no problem when some of America's evangelical pastors join radio personality and television host Glenn Beck for a spiritual program, because unlike Oprah, they share Beck's conservative, political views. To many it makes no matter that Beck is a self-described Mormon because his politically conservative views seem to trump his religious views and for this reason many will justify taking part in "Glenn Becks Divine Destiny" program at the Kennedy Center on August 27th.
The Apostle Paul warns Christians against uniting with unbelievers in spiritual endeavors in 2 Corinthians 6:14 where we read, "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?" In verse 16 Paul declares that Christians must be spiritually separate from non-believers. Remember Paul is talking about being spiritually separate. "Glenn Beck's Divine Destiny" program at the Kennedy Center on Friday evening August 27, 2010 has been specifically described by as "a unique spiritual event."
While I applaud and agree with many of Glenn Beck's conservative and constitutional views, that does not give me or any other Bible-believing Christian justification to compromise Biblical truth by spiritually joining Beck in an event, that according this his own website, will include an evening in which "nationally-known religious figures from all faiths will unite…". The website continues "The audience for the event will be overwhelmingly made up of pastors, ministers and clergy..." The event is also described as an evening "that will help heal your soul." This event is clearly a spiritual event with Glenn declaring on a video on his website that the hymn Eternal Father Strong to Save "is the message of 8/27". The problem is that as a Mormon, Glenn's definition of God the Father is not the same as that described by Jesus Christ Himself in the Bible. Glenn says, "I have been reaching out to the biggest names in faith for the last year…I have meet with the biggest leaders of faith in the country privately and I have asked them to help me put differences aside and to reach out with one another so we can remind people to get down on their knees for our brethren's shield in our dangerous hour."
Christians that want to be consistent in our commitment to Biblical truth cannot "put aside" the cross and Gospel of Jesus Christ nor the supremacy of Scripture by spiritually uniting with those that proclaim another Jesus, another gospel, and declare the cross foolishness.
Many American Christians will allow their commitment to reclaiming the country, reclaiming Congress, lowering taxes, and defeating the progressives trump their commitment to the Biblical mandate declared in 2 Corinthians 6 as well as the mandate of 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 which commands Christians to expose every high and lofty thing lifted up against the principles of the Lord.
American Christians should not and cannot rate our success on whether or not we return our country and culture to its Christian roots. As Christians the cross must be higher than the flag. Our success or failure must be based on whether or not we have been faithful servants of the one and only true God and have earnestly contended for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints (Jude 3).
I, and millions of other Christians, appreciate the strong and courageous stands that Glenn has taken but Christians must understand that Glenn is now, by his own choice, promoting something that is not compatible with Biblical Christian doctrines. While Christians can join Glenn in opposing tyranny, socialism, cultural Marxism, and the like; we cannot join him spiritually. We can be co-belligerents on many moral issues with non-Christians but we cannot find common ground theologically, doctrinally, and spiritually. This is not according to me, Brannon Howse, but according to the Word of God. Christians must understand that the Jesus of the cults is not the Jesus of the Bible.
Please remember that I started the website http://www.keepglennbeck/.com to support Glenn when the radicals wanted his advertisers to stop advertising in his program because at the time he was not promoting spirituality but simply providing excellent information about what was happening in the arena of civil government and law. However, Glenn has now moved into an area where we must draw a clear line theologically, doctrinally and spiritually.
I have yet to see anything that would cause me to have a problem with the 8-28 event at the Lincoln Memorial because I have not seen that event described as a "spiritual event" or a "uniting of all faiths" for the purpose of "healing your soul." My concern is really focused on the 8/27 event for the reasons I have articulated.
Some misinformed Christians have e-mailed me Mark 9:38-41 to try and convince me that partnering with Glenn Beck for a "unique spiritual event" is acceptable Biblically even if Glenn Beck is not a Christian, but indeed a Mormon by his own admission. Verse 40 says "For he who is not against us is on our side." There is just one big problem; the people emailing me these verses are taking this scripture completely out of context. Mark 9 is not speaking of a non-Christian that is doing something good but it is clearly speaking of a true follower of Jesus Christ that was successful in casting out a demon.
If you do not think it is Biblically acceptable for a Biblically committed Christian to be united in a spiritual event with Oprah Winfrey then why is it not also unacceptable to unite spiritually in the 8/27 event with Glenn Beck or any other religious leaders that do not adhere to Biblical orthodoxy? How much different is the religious beliefs of Oprah and the beliefs of Mormons? According to Christian author Ed Decker who was a Mormon for 20 years of his adult life and was a member of the Melchizedek priesthood, a Temple Mormon and active in many church positions before becoming a Christian has revealed to me such facts as:
· Mormons believe the cross of Christ is foolishness and thus you will not find a cross in or on top of a Mormon temple. Thus a Mormon could say "Do not make the pathetic error of 'clinging to the old rugged cross'."
· Mormons believe the blood Jesus Christ shed on the cross is not what saves and thus Mormons will not use red wine or red juice for communion but they use water. Thus a Mormon could say "A slain Christ has no meaning."
· Mormons believe that salvation is not found in repenting of your sins and placing your faith and trust in Jesus Christ alone but in good works. Thus a Mormon could say "My salvation comes from me."
· Mormons believe that God is one of many gods and that every good Mormon man can become a god himself. This belief is called the law of eternal progression and is best described in this popular Mormon saying, "As man is, God once was, and as God is, man may become." Thus a Mormon could say that "The recognition of God is the recognition of yourself."
