Someone asked me earlier about the 8/28 Glenn Beck deal at the Lincoln Memorial and what I thought of it.

I'll let Admiral Ackbar tell ya:





Let me tell you about a phenomenon I've seen repeated a number of times in my area.

A church has declining attendance. The old pastor has retired, or moved, and possibly they've had a string of squishy preachers who always talk love and tolerance and feelgood-isms.

Then along comes someone who'll preach brimstone and judgment. Someone who says, "Hey, this is wrong, stop it." And attendance goes up.

But eventually, the cracks begin to show. First comes the "I'm the only one brave enough to tell you the truth." Then all the talk of about sin becomes centered unpopular sins. No, no more railing against gossip or backbiting; in a right-wing town, he's all against Obama or gay marriage; in a left-wing town, he's against Bush's war.

Eventually the leader will go so far over the edge that half to two-thirds of the people flee, while those who stay become crazy ardent followers. Until he turns on them, too.

It happens in the political arena. It happens in the blogosphere. (See lgf for example primo; hot air and red state as well. Can't speak for the left, they seem to start out that way.) Captain Queeg! My ex-boss! Controllers, all. It happens in every group of people, for whatever purpose.

And Beck's about due for his meltdown. I want no part of it.

Does that mean the stuff he says isn't true?

Well, no. Not necessarily.

You can't dismiss info just because you don't LIKE the source. The best way to manipulate people is to include at least some truth. So with all the things you see or hear, investigate.



Be Berean:

Acts 17:11 - Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.

Search multiple sources:

Deuteronomy 19:15 - One witness is not enough to convict a man accused of any crime or offense he may have committed. A matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.

Seek God first:

Matthew 6:33 - But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.


Do these things and you will do well.