Is God Glorified by Michael Phelps, Tom Brady, Michael Jordon, Shaq, LeBron, Tony Stewert, or any other major athlete that you can name?  I have heard the argument that since God created these gifted people God is glorified by them using their talents in sports.

Let’s see what scripture says about this:

¹⁰His delight is not in the strength of the horse,
nor his pleasure in the legs of a man,
¹¹but the LORD takes pleasure in those who fear him,
in those who hope in his steadfast love. (Psalm 147:10)

or how about:

²³Thus says the LORD: ”Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, ²⁴but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the LORD.” (Jeremiahs 9:23-24)

God is NOT glorified by these athletes if they are not actively seeking Him and giving Him the glory.  Otherwise they are playing for themselves, to lift up their own name, to make their own selves great… and this is appalling to God.

God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble (James 4:6, 1 Peter 5:5)

Maybe we should think twice about celebrating, honoring, applauding, and enjoying those people God is opposed to.

CJ Mahaney has a good e-book on how we should play sports in our own lives and how using it for our own glory is a waste: Don’t Waste Your Sports

By faith Enoch was taken up (out of this world) so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God. And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. (Hebrews 11:5-6 ESV, comments mine)

I once had a coworker who had his car stolen.  He was actually quite happy about it because he didn’t want the car and as it turns out he got more money back from insurance than he could have gotten if he would have sold it.  For him, being robbed resulted in getting a better car without a loss, so the outcome was greater than the loss and hence he was happy about it.

We read about a similar situation in the book of Hebrews, where the author is addressing his readers and referencing how they lived when they had first become believers in Jesus Christ:

34 For you had compassion on those in prison, and you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one.  (Hebrews 10:34)

Go back and read the verse again.

Now picture something you value greatly.  Maybe your house or your wedding ring or your bed or your stock portfolio.  Now picture it being “plundered”, “robbed”, “seized”.  It is taken away from you without recompense.  How would you feel?

Would you be “joyfully accepting” what has happened?  Would the outcome of the situation – having a greater possession in heaven - outweigh the loss and result in joy?

Is the reality of heaven greater and more desirable and more exciting and more pleasing to us than the reality of our worldly possessions?  This is a hard word for me and prompts even deeper reflection on what I am truly setting my heart on.

This week we went through this verse with my mentor group.  It even more finely highlights the reality of heaven for us:

29 This is what I mean, brothers: the appointed time has grown very short. From now on, let those who have wives live as though they had none, 30 and those who mourn as though they were not mourning, and those who rejoice as though they were not rejoicing, and those who buy as though they had no goods, 31 and those who deal with the world as though they had no dealings with it. For the present form of this world is passing away. (1 Corinthians 7:29-31)

Let me reiterate a truth worthy of dwelling on every day:

the present form of this world is passing away

or as the writer of Hebrews says in Hebrews 13:14:

For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come.

Glenn Beck is one of the most influential people in America.  I’m sure you’ve heard of him, as his radio show and television show are some of the most popular talk shows in the nation.  He claims to speak on behalf of God and talks as if he can predict the future.  He clearly represents himself as a “prophet”.  I even have Christian friends who believe he is a prophet and that we need to buy gold and store up canned goods because Glenn said so.  I try not to pay too much attention to Beck, but he is affecting enough people around me that I have to point some things out.

I’m not here to debate his politics, I’m here to point out that Glenn Beck is not a mouthpiece of God and hence should be treated with much skepticism because he is not proclaiming truth.

I believe in prophecy

First off, I need to say I believe in prophecy.  God continues to send prophets to direct His people (Ephesians 4:10).  Prophets direct people to God.  Sometimes this is by foretelling coming events (as with Agabus and the famine in Acts 11:28), but most often it is encouraging others toward Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 14:3).

With the understanding that prophets are for today, I will now point out why Glenn Beck is clearly not a prophet.

Glenn Beck lacks the Fruit of the Spirit

Prophecy comes from the Holy Spirit.  As the Apostle Peter tells us:

For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

(2 Peter 1:21 ESV)

So if Glenn Beck was a prophet of God, he would be a prophet by the Holy Spirit.  Now, the Holy Spirit’s presence in our lives is obvious, as the Apostle Paul tells us:

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. (Galatians 5:22-23 ESV)

Do any of those adjectives describe Glenn Beck?  Is he patient?  No, he is rude and interrupting.  Is he gentle?  Not a bit, instead he is quite rough with people.  Is he kind?  No, he spends most of his time slandering.  Is he peaceful?  No, he’s quite violent and aggressive with his words and actions.  Is he joyful?  He mostly sounds angry and upset, not joyful.  Is he loving?  No, he promotes quite a lot of hate.  Don’t believe me?  Watch this group of clips of his show.

Glenn Beck inspires anger and fear, not peace in God

Everyone I know who watches Beck is angry with our government and fearful about our future (I’ve written previously about how we shouldn’t fearfully store up canned goods).  But here is the truth:  God is in complete control of absolutely everything, including our government (Rom. 13:1).  God is good and trustworthy (Ps. 145:13).  And God promises to bring His beloved safely into His Heavenly Kingdom (2 Timothy 4:18).  Given these truths, God’s message to us in the Bible is clear:  Do not be anxious! (Matt. 6:27, 1 Cor. 7:32, Phil. 4:6).

Glenn Beck worships America and not Jesus Christ

Glenn Beck promotes what I’ve coined as “Americolatry” (see my post on Justin Taylor’s blog).  This is the worship of America as our savior.  It sounds like this:  ”If we just get the right government in place (or go back to the constitution, or whatever else is on the agenda) THEN everything will be perfect, THEN we’ll achieve heaven on earth”.  Glenn Beck (along with many others) uses God as a stepping stool to get what he really wants (I’ve written previously about using God to get other desires).  Our true heart’s desire demonstrates what really is our God, and Glenn makes his heart’s desire very obvious.

Glenn Beck promotes war

I’ve written previously about how God hates violence.  God really does hate violence.  Glenn Beck talks about invading countries (Britain, the Middle East, etc.) often.  A prophet of God would point people to following God’s heart, not straying from it to murder and kill.

What should our reaction be?

A few things.  First, we should pray for Glenn Beck, as he clearly needs God to save him from dead works and show him that only Jesus can save.  Second, we should gently and loving inform others about Satan’s lies propagated through Beck.  Third, we should live out a peaceful faith in Jesus Christ by showing dependence on Him and not anxiety about our government.  Finally, we should pray and thank God that He is in sovereign control of all things and praise Him that one day He will set up an eternal kingdom with no more pain, crying, mourning, or death (or politics!).