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Political Advocacy Tracker is a roundup of what Christian activist organizations have been talking about over the last week.

Helping Beck Bash Social Justice

Activists responded again to Glenn Beck's criticism of social justice. This time, however, Beck had help from some evangelicals. Jerry Falwell, Jr., chancellor of Liberty University, and Peter Lillback, president of Westminster Theological Seminary, joined Beck's television program on Tuesday.

In March, Beck received national attention for his attacks on churches that promote social justice and on Sojourners president Jim Wallis.

On Tuesday's show, Beck called on church leaders to "stand up for individual rights." Beck, a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, said the gospel is about individual salvation only.

"It's individual salvation. The Lord doesn't call us up, review our salvation and go, 'Ok now hang on just a second. Now serving group number 10!' It's individual. Your church is either for socialist government or the living of the gospel. It's either about God or government. Tonight you're going to find out which is which," said Beck.

Introducing his interview with Falwell and Lillback, Beck said, "I don't care what God it is that you worship or what church you go to. We just need to get back in to correct principles."

Lillback said that "social justice is taking away each individual getting his due … It's liberalism in the cloak of Christianity."

Noting how well Beck helped increased sales of Lillback's recent book Sacred Fire, Lillback told Beck, "I hope your influence will really impact our culture in this area, and that is we need to remember what the scriptures say about justice."

Lillback also encouraged the audience to read and sign the Manhattan Declaration. "If we don't stand boldly for [religious liberty], there will be no real church, no free speech. There will be no 'Glenn Beck' show," Lillback said.

Falwell said that pastors need to be reminded that Jesus taught personal charity. He cited the parable of the talents as evidence that Jesus valued the free market and capitalism. Beck received an honorary doctor of humanities degree from Liberty last week before giving the school's commencement address.

Falwell was not alone this week in referring to Jesus' parable to discuss social justice. The day before the Beck broadcast, the American Family Association's (AFA) Bryan Fischer said the talents parable runs counter to "the worldview of Jim Wallis."

"Bottom line," said Fischer, "Jesus, as much as Wallis will hate to admit it, had capitalism in his DNA."

Efrem Smith wrote on Sojourners' God's Politics Blog that this interpretation of the parable is wrong because it roots the gospel in "individualism and capitalism."

"The church is called to make disciples and to do justice and love mercy," said Smith. "Let the Word of God drive the evangelical church and its theology, not a political talk show host."

Wallis responded to Beck's show with a point-by-point critique. He also said he still welcomed a dialogue with Beck about social justice.

Glenn, this line of attack against the faith community is a wrong one for you. I thought you might have realized that in the flood of responses from so many pastors and church leaders (including your own Mormon church) to your earlier accusations that social justice is "code" for Marxism, socialism, and Nazism. You're wrong, and I thought you were beginning to see that. But I guess I was wrong, as you have gone on the warpath again against the community of faith. This is about our faith, not our politics; and the truth is that your attack is really just about your politics.

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May (Web-only) 2010, Vol. 54

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