My parents attended the rally too and they thought it was amazing. They stayed up all night to get a good spot, as many others did. They said there was nothing but good friendly people there – so don’t believe any reports that say anything about trouble-makers. I think everyone was surprised by how religious the rally was – I certainly didn’t think it was going to be a religious revival, especially since Beck knew he’d be taking all kinds of persecution about his religion. But it was not the first time he’d talked about God, about faith, hope or charity. So it shouldn’t have been too surprising.

But it is what it is and was a good message – I particularly liked his message about changing ourselves and families, since that’s what will truly make a difference in our nation. Stronger families=stronger nation.

(Oh, by the way, I am LDS too. You probably already knew that. :) Come on – give us a break. I think you need to study into our religion a little more and not just make false assumptions. Our God is not different than yours. Regardless of whether you believe that or not, that’s not the point. Beck didn’t ask you to believe in “his God”, he asked everyone to come together, having faith in a higher power, with hope and charity in their hearts.)

I have a co-worker who actually attended the rally. She hopped on a charter bus with her 5 year old nephew, driving more than 24 hours (one way!) for a rally she didn’t know exactly what it was about.

Disappointed was she (her words, not mine) to learn it was a hodge podge of Christian and quasi-Christian slogans thrown together. She vowed never to watch Beck again, as she felt misled about the intent of the rally.

Be that as it may, there are certainly many issues in which God-fearing people should, and indeed must, stand together. Among those is life and the pursuit of Godliness. To that end, I see your point about the rally.

Acting herein as the middle road between you and Jason, I would have to say I agree with each of you–and disagree with each of you. I agree that we must stand as “one nation under God,” but do share Jason’s fear that Mr. Beck may not be the most-suited to lead us there.

Certainly, Beck, if he is anything like other Mormons I’ve talked to, considers himself to be a Christian. In fact, if hard pressed, his church would argue that THEY are the One True Church of Christ and that I (and the other authors on this site, as well as Russell Moore) are the apostates. But setting that aside, the Mormon church and the Christian church (Sorry. I can’t help it :) would agree, I think, that the Muslim god is no real god at all, and is certainly not the Yahweh/Jehovah/Pick-your-favorite-name that we worship. For Beck, then, to call them to renewed dedication and faith in what he considers (assuming I’m right) to be a false God is a little odd, it seems to me.

Having said all of that, I know I don’t have a lock on the Truth. I don’t have it all right, and I never will. I also know that those beliefs I do hold I don’t practice perfectly. I fail, sometimes miserably, every single day. With that in mind, yes, indeed, I need revival. I need the Spirit of God moving in me daily, molding me into the image of God, and it is, indeed, good to hear messages that inspire me to let the Lord have his way in me. Glenn Beck, though, all things considered, with all due respect, is not the right man for that job.

Today, we have the opposite problem in which Christianity is reduced to a private hobby. We have turned personal into private, as you say. May the Lord help us to be balanced Christians, close to God within and out.