Jan 02 2009
Focus on the Family Explains Decision to Pull Mormon Interview
Focus on the Family got to work this week in explaining in detail why it pulled from its website an interview with a Mormon author.
“We intended no insult,” expressed ministry spokesman Gary Schneeberger, in a statement. “[W]e merely miscalculated on how best to feature Glenn [Beck], whom we greatly appreciate.”
Last week, some time before Christmas celebrations, Focus on the Family took down the interview with Beck amid complaints from the evangelical community over the former CNN host’s Mormon ties.
The interview, produced by a freelance reporter in Colorado Springs and not Focus on the Family, focuses on Beck’s recently released book, The Christmas Sweater, which has been on the New York Times Best Sellers list for Hardcover Fiction for six consecutive weeks and currently ranks at No. 1.
In the interview, Beck talked about what Christmas means to him, how he came to write the book, and what message he hoped readers would take away from the book.
“Sometimes redemption has been made into a word that people don’t understand,” he said. “They need to know it’s true, it’s real. It’s not a word, it’s a life-changing force. It’s transformed my life, who I was to the very core of my being. If it wasn’t for me accepting the gift that the Lord gave to me, I’d be dead today.”
Since the interview was published, a number of Christians throughout the blogosphere raised flags and sounded alarms, concerned that Focus on the Family was compromising central doctrinal truths to win the culture war.
“They use Mr. Beck’s story as a way to show that hope can be found in God, which is true enough; the problem is that Mr. Beck’s god is not the Triune God of the Bible nor is his Jesus the Jesus of the Bible,” commented Dustin S. Seger, pastor of Shepherd’s Fellowship of Greensboro, N.C., in the co-authored blog “Grace in the Triad.”
Beck, however, maintains that the book’s message can be and has been embraced by people of different faiths and should not be “censored” because of his own personal religious views. tells the narrative of a boy named Eddie who embarks on a dark and painful journey on the road to manhood.
Read more here.
[From me]
I’m sure Mr. Beck is a nice man. I even agree with a lot of his politics. But is it wise for a Christian Ministry to promote anything by a person in a cult? Focus on the Family takes donations from Christians to operate their ministry. If I gave I would be offended that my money was being used to promote a cult. Mormons are nice but nice isn’t good enough. There is only one way to heaven and that is through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. I see many of the self appointed religious spokesman becoming cozy with some strange people in the name of politics. To me that is scary.
What do you think?
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Tom Minnery should know that Mormons’ theology is based on the Jesus Christ of the New Testament. Tom’s theology is based on the Jesus Christ of the Nicene Creed. Both are Christians, as are any denomination which considers Him divine, and the Savior of the world.
http://www.MormonsAreChristian.blogspot.com
If Evangelicals keep bashing Mormons, Catholics, and Jehovah Witnesses because of theological differences, we will never elect people of faith to responsible positions in the U.S. The Secular-Progeressives will have completely decimated our Culture, our Constitution by appointing flaming liberal judges who impose Atheism on us and our schoolchildren.
Kevin,
I get what you are saying, but weren’t you listening to Journey the other day? Doesn’t Journey have songs that promote bad things? (Yes, they do. I own the same cd’s.)
My point is, if I send financial support to you, and you spend your money on Journey music, then even though Journey is not a cult, my money has gone to support something that can be seen as against God.
I reviewed The Christmas Sweater on my blog. The book on it’s own does not a thing to promote Mormon theology. For someone to get drawn into Mormonism from reading the Christmas Sweater, or from listening to Glenn Beck, they would have to go searching for it.
On the other hand, if I am listening to Journey, the messages that are contrary to Christianity are right there up front.
Don’t get me wrong, I love me some Journey. I just think you may be pushing this point a little too far.
Love ya!
dm
Oh yeah…to be clear, I dont think pointing out the theological differences among Mormonism, JW’s, etc is “bashing.” I also dont think that electing people of faith is the most important thing in the world. The world will not be saved by electing people of faith. It will be saved by turning to Christ.
dm
davidbmc’s last blog post..We Have Lift Off!
Interesting discussion. Now this is totally off topic…
John Quincy Hooks told me about your site when I asked a question about finding a blog on the ‘how’ of Christianity. I had started a conversation on a blog on this topic but can’t find the blog again.
Anyway, when I asked, John recommended this site. So that’s why I’m here. You look like you have some interesting articles posted. I’m looking forward to reading you in the future.
Blessings,
Marshall Jones, Jr.
Marshall | bondChristian’s last blog post..New Year, New Microblog, New E-Newsletter, And FREE Prayer, January 2009: A bondChristian Site Update
Marshall,
Welcome.
David,
I have no problem w/a person @ Focus reading the book or liking it. But as an organization should they promote a Mormon? I don’t think “Don’t Stop Believing” is going to upset God. Plus I wouldn’t promote any non-Christian band on a ministry site.
I posted this quote last night on the Green Bible “confession.” I think it is just as applicable on this discussion today.
————————–
A quotable quote from someone much wiser than I.
A new Decalogue has been adopted by the neo-Christians of our day, the first word of which reads “Thou shalt not disagree;” and a new set of Beatitudes too, which begins “Blessed are they that tolerate everything, for they shall not be made accountable for anything.” It is now the accepted thing to talk over religious differences in public with the understanding that no one will try to convert another or point out errors in his belief.
Imagine Moses agreeing to take part in a panel discussion with Israel over the golden calf; or Elijah engaging in a gentlemanly dialogue with the prophets of Baal. Or try to picture our Lord Jesus Christ seeking a meeting of the minds with the Pharisees to iron out differences.
The blessing of God is promised to the peacemaker, but the religious negotiator had better watch his step. Darkness and light can never be brought together by talk. Some things are not negotiable.
A.W. Tozer, Gems From Tozer, 47-48
Some things just are not negotiable. Period.
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Nor are they aren’t worth arguing about. It’s foolish. No Mormon, Muslim, Hindu or Athiest was ever converted because of our correct apologetics and what our theology is and how wrong they are. It’s by our witness, which is quite poor at times. Let someone encounter a real Christian who lives a life markedly different because of their incredible passion and service as Kevin recently did, and the results are astounding. It’s not us. It’s Jesus. It is HIS kindness that draws men to repentance.
I would be reticent to do what Dobson did, but then again, that’s probably why I don’t have my own radio show. : )
In Christ
Andrew
What about Loving Touching Squeezing?
davidbmc’s last blog post..We Have Lift Off!
LOL… The church I go to in Fort Smith Arkansas is Journey Church. Our pastor is not named Steve Perry, but he does wear a “Journey Frontiers” T-shirt often on Sunday mornings.
http://www.metalkingdom.net/album/img/d44/493.jpg
http://www.journeychurchfortsmith.com
In Christ
Andrew
“But is it wise for a Christian Ministry to promote anything by a person in a cult?”
If it is, then you guys had better consider not using the Sermon on the Mount, or the entire New Testament. Because that’s basically what early Christianity was – a Jewish offshoot “cult.”
That’s how the Romans viewed it, that’s how the Jews viewed it, that’s how the vast majority of the civilized world at the time viewed it.
Really though, it’s an utterly useless word.
You say the word cult in today’s society and people think of Waco Texas or Jim Jones. That’s not what Mormonism today is, so to use the word is misleading for most people.
Truth is, the LDS Church is no more a “cult” than Catholicism is, or the Southern Baptist Convention, or your local high school football team for that matter.
Really all the word seems to mean to you is “that religion I don’t like.”
Hardly the most useful message in the world.
I think the word cult in this instance means a religion or sect considered to be false and unorthodox. The fact that Mormonism is such a drastic departure from orthodox Christianity (orthodox meaning conforming to the Christian faith as represented in the creeds of the early church.), they are a cult.
In Christ
Andrew
All you Mormons parse words. OK then…I won’t say cult-I will call your religion Heresy or False Religion. You are not followers of my Jesus!
Kevin – thanks for your contribution – I personally know a number of Mormons who have become Christians and they all would have no hesitation in saying they were delivered from a cult . If people are interested they can put in the Google search engine Reformed Ministry to Mormons and look at the section concerning the definition of the word – cult .
Thank you too Kevin.
Kevin I agree with you.
Debbie Kaufman’s last blog post..CBMW On Kids And What They Wear
Only God really knows what is in one’s heart. I shall leave it to God to sort things our when it comes to Mormons et al.