MY KINGDOM IS NOT OF THIS WORLD …
Do we listen to men who are not born again speak about God? Men like Glenn Beck who is a Mormon, and Sean Hannity who is a Roman Catholic. Do we read World Net Daily and other similar material? If so, we are being led into deception. These people do not speak for Jesus but rather they are drawing us away from Jesus.
John 18:36 Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary:
Art thou the King of the Jews? That King of the Jews who has been so long expected? Messiah the Prince; art thou he? Dost thou call thyself so, and wouldest thou be thought so?
Christ answered this question with another; not for evasion, but that Pilate might consider what he did. He never took upon him any earthly power, never were any traitorous principles or practices laid to him.
Christ gave an account of the nature of his kingdom …
Its nature is not worldly;
it is a kingdom within men, set up in their hearts and consciences;
its riches spiritual, its power spiritual, and its glory within.
Its supports are not worldly;
its weapons are spiritual;
it needed not, nor used, force to maintain and advance it, nor opposed any kingdom but that of sin and Satan.
Its object and design are not worldly.
When Christ said, I am the Truth, he said, in effect, I am a King.
He conquers by the convincing evidence of truth;
He rules by the commanding power of truth;
the subjects of this kingdom are those that are of the truth.
Pilate put a good question, he said, What is truth? When we search the Scriptures, and attend the ministry of the word, it must be with this inquiry, What is truth? and with this prayer, Lead me in thy truth; into all truth. But many put this question, who have not patience to preserve in their search after truth; or not humility enough to receive it. By this solemn declaration of Christ’s innocence, it appears, that though the Lord Jesus was treated as the worst of evil-doers, he never deserved such treatment. But it unfolds the design of his death; that he died as a Sacrifice for our sins. Pilate was willing to please all sides; and was governed more by worldly wisdom than by the rules of justice. Sin is a robber, yet is foolishly chosen by many rather than Christ, who would truly enrich us. Let us endeavour to make our accusers ashamed as Christ did; and let us beware of crucifying Christ afresh.
Sadly the majority of Christian leaders are so sadly lacking when it comes to the sort of things that Glenn Beck addresses.
Without the strong support of multitudes of Christian leaders which endorsed Obama he would never have been elected.
I agree that it is sad that the likes of Glenn Beck and Hannity are not Christian, but if we dismiss what they says solely on account of that, then we should dismiss all non christian sources which might have input into our lives. Doctors, lawyers, teachers, etc should all be therefore rejected.
What we actually need is “wisdom”, which God promises to those who ask. This will give us the discernment to know whether we are being taken into deception.
I am British and have watched what has happened over the water. I only wish that we had men of the calibre of Beck, who would speak a non politically correct view of life.
I think you missed the point. It’s not that we should not listen to anyone who is not a believer. The issue is the danger of ungodly influence from anyone, especially people who are part of a bogus Christianity. I think that it would be true, godly and biblical wisdom to distance oneself from such.
As far as “men of the calibre of Beck” … I would ask that you consider the information at the following site …
http://pjmiller.wordpress.com/2009/10/24/glenn-beck-teetering-closer-to-the-brink/