Or maybe King just wasn’t big enough for what Beck had in mind. In any case, Beck went, well higher, invoking the name and hand of God. Why mess with a mere mortal when you can bring the Main Man to the party?
The Aug. 28 Sermon on the Mall in Washington became a coming-out party for Beck, who emerged as a powerful leader of the religious right.
I doubt that those Baptists, Protestants and evangelicals understood that their presence at the gathering was staged to give Beck the instant credibility and approval he needed to seize their mantle: “Something that is beyond man is happening,” Beck said at the rally. “America today begins to turn back to God.”
Notice that Beck now is the one leading that something-beyond-man-happening. (There is even talk of another conversion for the Catholic turned Mormon.)
At the event, which drew a huge crowd, religious leaders stood behind Beck. He dubbed them the “black-robed regiment.” The term is a reference to Protestant clergymen who helped rally the populace to take up arms against the British during the American Revolution.
Beck’s brigade, which included Southern Baptist Convention official Richard Land and fundamentalist pastor John Hagee, looked like backup singers to the main entertainer — the Head Televangelist in Charge.
The Amen Corner included the Rev. C.L. Jackson, who leads Houston’s Pleasant Grove Missionary Baptist Church. He gave Beck the biggest props of the day by comparing Beck with Christ. He was quoted in the Houston Chronicle as saying, “God sent his son to this earth so we could gather, and I think that’s the dream and vision of Glenn Beck.”
Now you must admit, that’s one better than King’s dream.
Beck presented the African-American pastor something shiny — a badge of merit as an acknowledgment of his faith.
I don’t recall King giving out awards to religious leaders and ordinary folks who braved dogs, batons and angry mobs to march for civil rights. Some were jailed, some were beaten, some died.
Beck’s spiritual ascension gives him leadership credentials over two influential movements — the Tea Party and fundamentalist Christians. It’s kind of amazing (perhaps one of those miracles Beck speaks of) when you consider that Beck, a Mormon, is in the position of instructing Protestants and Baptists on their Bible. That is deep.
And it was a much easier sell to cast himself as a messenger of God (a job that has few requirements) than to imitate King, with deep roots to Christian ministry and impeccable credentials. He was an ordained minister, son, grandson and great-grandson of Baptist preachers, graduate of divinity school and doctor of philosophy. But miracles do happen, and far be it from me to judge anyone’s faith.
And for the record, Mormons are OK by me. (I do have some residual issues over the racist policies the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints practiced well into the 20th century.)
As for Beck, well, people are free to follow whom they want and practice their religion as they choose. That is a right guaranteed all Americans.
And I confess that I admire Beck for all that he has overcome and achieved. He is a role model for the millions of people struggling with addiction.
But I have a difficult time following folks who claim God in one breath and peddle gold in another. I have little patience for ministers who preach that God is a Republican, Democrat or Tea Party member.
I’m suspicious of pastors who are more about empire building than feeding the poor, striving for justice, helping people keep their families together and raise their children on a righteous path.
I’m drawn to ministers who try their best not just to preach, but live the gospel of our Savior. King was such a man. Yes, he was flawed. But he walked his talk.
King — unlike Beck — did not engage in amassing wealth and did not use his name, fame or the movement to turn a buck or hawk a political ideology. He was first and foremost a Baptist preacher who prayed humbly to be on God’s side — and not the other way around.
No wonder Beck chose not to rip off King. That was a trick he could not pull off.
But with tears at the ready, black robed regiments, visits from the Holy Spirit, voices from heaven, Beck has nailed the role of televangelist.
Alberta Phillips is an editorial writer for the Austin Texas) American-Statesman. E-mail: aphillips@statesman.com.