Glenn: Don't be THAT church person

June 30, 2015

WRITER

Ok, don’t just read the headline and freak out!

On radio Tuesday, Glenn delivered a passionate monologue on the difference between people who just go to church, and people who really bring the church with them and live their testimony in all of their actions. For too long, Americans have failed to take a stand on the issues that matter. In the words of Thomas Paine, “these are the times that try men’s souls” - will we have the strength to endure them?

Listen to Glenn’s powerful message from the opening of today's radio show below:

Below is a rush transcript of this segment, it mat contain errors:

It was December 23rd, 1776. We were six months into the Revolution. We had lost every single battle. George Washington was on the southern side of -- of the Delaware. And he needed to turn his troops around and cross the Delaware and go up and fight the Hessians. They were the Navy SEALs of the day.

Everyone was saying that George Washington was a failure, and we had gone from 20,000 troops. And we were down to less than 2,000 troops. And nobody wanted to get into the boat and go across the river. Somewhere in the countryside, Thomas Paine, a guy who later became an atheist, was marching in the mud. And he was marching next to a drum.

And a few words kept pounding through his head, and he finally asked the drummer for the head of his trust me, because he didn't have any paper on him. He wrote a few words down. Rolled them up. Gave them to a writer. And said, get this to Philadelphia. Have them print it. And then find George Washington, he needs these words.

They arrived at the side of George Washington on December 24th, 1776. He read them. He wept. He went to his troops. And he read them.

Out loud, he said, these are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will in this crisis shrink from the service of their country. But he that stands by it now deserves the love and thanks of many men and women. Tyranny, like hell, isn't easily conquered, yet we have the consolidation with us that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain to cheap, we esteem too lightly. It is dearness only that gives everything its value. Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods, and it would be strange indeed if so celestial an article as freedom should not be highly rated.

Whether we should have started this movement long ago or we started too soon, I'm not going to enter the argument. I had my own simple opinion. We didn't use the proper use of the time that we have had. However, the fault, if there be one, is our own. We have no one to blame, but ourselves.

As I read this this morning, I thought to myself, how true that is. Why are we so surprised? We went along to get along. We went along because we didn't want any trouble. I don't want any trouble, and it doesn't matter anyway. Whatever they say, that's fine. It's not going to change anything.

I don't want to hurt anybody's feelings. I'll just be quiet. Don't talk about religion. Don't talk about politics in public. I'm going on to see that movie anyway because I really -- I mean, I know -- my kids know the difference.

It's our failure. It's our failure to stand. Should we have started this long ago? Yeah, probably. But why debate that now?

The only one we have to blame on any of this is us.

How many of us just stopped going to church, and we stopped going to church for a couple of reasons. One, lazy. It's not going to be make a difference. I'm not really sure God exists. Whatever. I'm tired. I'm working all the time.

Or some good reasons. They're not teaching me anything. There's no relevance there. It really doesn't make a difference. Because I go into church and then by the time I hit the parking lot, everybody is honking at each other. Nobody knows each other.

It doesn't make an impact in my life at all. Why am I going to church? That's a failure, not only of the pulpit, but, again, of us. Because we didn't demand that our pulpits would stand. How many of us -- how many of us go to a church right now that isn't talking about things? And have we thought, they're not talking about things because they're afraid. They're afraid that you're going to say something.

Have you thought about getting a bunch of the people that you go to church with and signing a petition and saying, we want you to talk about these things, pastor, priest, rabbi. We want a few things addressed. And all of us are going to stand behind you if you do. Don't worry about what comes. This storm, we will be the shelter from your storm. Because we need to hear the truth on these things.

How many of us went to church and we never talked about -- we never talked about the traditional family. We never talked about abortion. We never talked about euthanasia. We're not talking about the Christians being killed now overseas. We're not talking about the four homosexuals that were thrown off the roof Friday in celebration that love always wins.

We can argue about when we should have started it. What we should have done. We can have that discussion. But why? It's worthless. How about we start right now. How about we start standing right now.

I had to give a talk at church, a youth conference on Saturday. They were about 1500 kids. And I think I took their breath away because I walked up in front of them and I said, you know what, I have to tell you, I don't really like church people. There's kind of a nervous laughter, but they knew that I was serious.

I don't like church people. I don't like church people in most churches because church people are the most judgmental people I've ever met in my life. Church people will tell me their testimony. Oh, that's fantastic. Thank you very much for sharing that.

Here's what I like: I like people who live their testimony. I don't have to ask you for your testimony because I see it in your life.

I don't have to ask you if you go to church because you bring church with you everywhere you go. Everywhere you go is a sacred place.

You live those principles. Not on Sunday when you go. Not on Saturday. But you live them all the time. I don't like church people because church people understand that church is a place that I go on Sunday, and testimony is something that I share occasionally when asked or I have the opportunity to change someone's heart, so I'll share my testimony. I like the people that understand that church is wherever you are and testimony is exactly how I live my life.

I like people that happen to look at church as a hospital. Because that's what it is for me. It's a hospital for my soul. Because I'm on the verge of losing my soul every day. I don't know about you. And if you don't think that you're going to come under attack because these are the times that try men's souls, if you don't think you're going to come under attack with your soul, and everything that, you know, you're fooling yourself.

I need to get in there because I'm so badly wounded, by the time I get to Sunday, I need some medicine. I need some help. I need to be able to make it the next seven days. I don't like church people generally because they worry so much about everybody else's soul. And that's nice. And I appreciate that. And I appreciate their prayers. I really do. But church people generally worry about everybody else's soul so much more than theirs. Because they've accepted Jesus Christ, and that's all they have to do. I'm good. No, no, no, I accepted him. What?

I'm sorry. But I don't buy that. I buy that if you have accepted him, that -- people can spot you a million miles away. When you walk into a room, the room changes. You're different. Because you've accepted him, you've changed. You're not like everybody else. You're quieter. You're more gentle. You understand what your citizenship means, and you're concerned about your citizenship in the kingdom.

See, we've all been so concerned about this kingdom. We've been so concerned about this country. And our citizenship in this country. TIME Magazine said we're exiles in our own land. That's TIME Magazine over the weekend. We're exiles in our own land. We've lost our citizenship, gang. Why? Because we've been quiet.

And we haven't trusted the power of God. We say a bunch of stuff, but I don't think we even believe that stuff. Why are we so defeated? Do you not -- tell me that everything that you don't understand and you don't believe, that everything is according to his will. That everything will be used for the good of those who love him.

I do. So why are we defeated? We're defeated because we worry about everybody else. We're defeated because we see what's happening on television. We see what people are like in colleges. We see what people are like in our own business. We see what people are posting. But we don't see what he's doing. Because we're not taking any time to be quiet enough, humble enough, to listen to what he's doing. To find out what he's doing. And what he's doing right now, I'm convinced, is he's preparing his people. Gird up your loins.

Do you know what that means? Gird up your loins. It's when those guys used to wear those -- I don't know -- what do you call those -- dress things. And they didn't have pants. So what you had to do was you reached down from behind your legs and you grabbed the skirt thing that you were wearing -- your tunic, and you pulled it up behind you. Then you took each end of it and you tied it in front of you so it became almost like a diaper. Why? Because you were about to go into battle. You needed to move quickly. You couldn't be tripping on your tunic.

Gird up your loins. That's what he's telling his people right now. Gird them up. Get ready. You haven't seen anything yet. You haven't seen evil yet. You don't even know what's coming your way. But have faith in me because evil doesn't have any idea what's coming its way.

We lost our first citizenship. I'm not going to lose my second citizenship. And that's the only one I care about. And, yes, I care about your citizenship, and I will pray for you. My family and I pray for you every day. And I hope you pray for me every day. And I will worry about others. And I will talk to them about the truth at any time that I can. But I will live my testimony. So I don't have to talk to everybody because there's too many people to talk to.

Hopefully they will see it, and they will say, I want to be more like that guy. Because that's the way I learned. My friend, Pat, I wanted to be more like that guy. He could weather the storms that I couldn't. Why?

Because he knew what the truth was.

Now is the time. You let him and his word be your sword. You let him be your shield. But we must be gentle. We must be loving. We must clothe ourselves in humility. We must be bold, yet humble. Bold, yet kind. Bold, yet loving.

That's hard. We've never done that before.

There's a lot coming. Thomas Paine said, I once felt that kind of anger which men ought to feel. But I was standing at the door of a tavern with a man who had a pretty child at his hand, about eight or nine years old. And after speaking his mind as freely as he thought was prudent, he said, just give me peace in my day.

But if there be trouble, let it be in my day, that my child should have peace.

He said, I thank God that I fear not, for I see no real cause for fear. I'm going to quit this class of men. Men who are smarter, perhaps than I. Or wealthier than I. I turn with warm ardor of a friend, those who have nobly stood and are yet determined to stand the matter out. I call not upon a few, but upon all. Not on this state or that state, but on every state to help us. Lay your shoulder to the wheel. It's better to have too much force than too little.

Let it be told to the future world, that in the depth of winter, when nothing, but hope and virtue could possibly survive, that the city in the country alarmed at one common danger, came forth to meet it and repulse it. Say not that thousands were gone. Turn out your tens of thousands. Throw not the burden on the day to Providence, but show your faith by your works that God may bless us.

It matters not where you live or what rank of life you hold. The evil or the blessing will reach you all. The far and the near. The home counties and the back. The rich and the poor. Will suffer or rejoice alike. That heart that feels it not right now is dead. And the blood of his children will curse his cowardice. The man who shrinks back at a time when a little might might have saved the whole and made them happy. I love the man that can smile in trouble, that can gather strength from distress, and that can grow brave by reflection.

'Rage against the dying of the light': Charlie Kirk lived that mandate

PHILL MAGAKOE / Contributor | Getty Images

Kirk’s tragic death challenges us to rise above fear and anger, to rebuild bridges where others build walls, and to fight for the America he believed in.

I’ve only felt this weight once before. It was 2001, just as my radio show was about to begin. The World Trade Center fell, and I was called to speak immediately. I spent the day and night by my bedside, praying for words that could meet the moment.

Yesterday, I found myself in the same position. September 11, 2025. The assassination of Charlie Kirk. A friend. A warrior for truth.

Out of this tragedy, the tyrant dies, but the martyr’s influence begins.

Moments like this make words feel inadequate. Yet sometimes, words from another time speak directly to our own. In 1947, Dylan Thomas, watching his father slip toward death, penned lines that now resonate far beyond his own grief:

Do not go gentle into that good night. / Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Thomas was pleading for his father to resist the impending darkness of death. But those words have become a mandate for all of us: Do not surrender. Do not bow to shadows. Even when the battle feels unwinnable.

Charlie Kirk lived that mandate. He knew the cost of speaking unpopular truths. He knew the fury of those who sought to silence him. And yet he pressed on. In his life, he embodied a defiance rooted not in anger, but in principle.

Picking up his torch

Washington, Jefferson, Adams — our history was started by men who raged against an empire, knowing the gallows might await. Lincoln raged against slavery. Martin Luther King Jr. raged against segregation. Every generation faces a call to resist surrender.

It is our turn. Charlie’s violent death feels like a knockout punch. Yet if his life meant anything, it means this: Silence in the face of darkness is not an option.

He did not go gently. He spoke. He challenged. He stood. And now, the mantle falls to us. To me. To you. To every American.

We cannot drift into the shadows. We cannot sit quietly while freedom fades. This is our moment to rage — not with hatred, not with vengeance, but with courage. Rage against lies, against apathy, against the despair that tells us to do nothing. Because there is always something you can do.

Even small acts — defiance, faith, kindness — are light in the darkness. Reaching out to those who mourn. Speaking truth in a world drowning in deceit. These are the flames that hold back the night. Charlie carried that torch. He laid it down yesterday. It is ours to pick up.

The light may dim, but it always does before dawn. Commit today: I will not sleep as freedom fades. I will not retreat as darkness encroaches. I will not be silent as evil forces claim dominion. I have no king but Christ. And I know whom I serve, as did Charlie.

Two turning points, decades apart

On Wednesday, the world changed again. Two tragedies, separated by decades, bound by the same question: Who are we? Is this worth saving? What kind of people will we choose to be?

Imagine a world where more of us choose to be peacemakers. Not passive, not silent, but builders of bridges where others erect walls. Respect and listening transform even the bitterest of foes. Charlie Kirk embodied this principle.

He did not strike the weak; he challenged the powerful. He reached across divides of politics, culture, and faith. He changed hearts. He sparked healing. And healing is what our nation needs.

At the center of all this is one truth: Every person is a child of God, deserving of dignity. Change will not happen in Washington or on social media. It begins at home, where loneliness and isolation threaten our souls. Family is the antidote. Imperfect, yes — but still the strongest source of stability and meaning.

Mark Wilson / Staff | Getty Images

Forgiveness, fidelity, faithfulness, and honor are not dusty words. They are the foundation of civilization. Strong families produce strong citizens. And today, Charlie’s family mourns. They must become our family too. We must stand as guardians of his legacy, shining examples of the courage he lived by.

A time for courage

I knew Charlie. I know how he would want us to respond: Multiply his courage. Out of this tragedy, the tyrant dies, but the martyr’s influence begins. Out of darkness, great and glorious things will sprout — but we must be worthy of them.

Charlie Kirk lived defiantly. He stood in truth. He changed the world. And now, his torch is in our hands. Rage, not in violence, but in unwavering pursuit of truth and goodness. Rage against the dying of the light.

This article originally appeared on TheBlaze.com.

Glenn Beck resurrects the 9-12 Project to support Charlie Kirk's family

Glenn Beck is once again calling on his loyal listeners and viewers to come together and channel the same unity and purpose that defined the historic 9-12 Project. That movement, born in the wake of national challenges, brought millions together to revive core values of faith, hope, and charity.

Glenn created the original 9-12 Project in early 2009 to bring Americans back to where they were in the wake of the 9/11 attacks. In those moments, we weren't Democrats and Republicans, conservative or liberal, Red States or Blue States, we were united as one, as America. The original 9-12 Project aimed to root America back in the founding principles of this country that united us during those darkest of days.

This new initiative draws directly from that legacy, focusing on supporting the family of Charlie Kirk in these dark days following his tragic murder.

The revival of the 9-12 Project aims to secure the long-term well-being of Charlie Kirk's wife and children. All donations will go straight to meeting their immediate and future needs. If the family deems the funds surplus to their requirements, Charlie's wife has the option to redirect them toward the vital work of Turning Point USA.

This campaign is more than just financial support—it's a profound gesture of appreciation for Kirk's tireless dedication to the cause of liberty. It embodies the unbreakable bond of our community, proving that when we stand united, we can make a real difference.
Glenn Beck invites you to join this effort. Show your solidarity by donating today and honoring Charlie Kirk and his family in this meaningful way.

You can learn more about the 9-12 Project and donate HERE

The dangerous lie: Rights as government privileges, not God-given

Bloomberg / Contributor | Getty Images

When politicians claim that rights flow from the state, they pave the way for tyranny.

Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) recently delivered a lecture that should alarm every American. During a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing, he argued that believing rights come from a Creator rather than government is the same belief held by Iran’s theocratic regime.

Kaine claimed that the principles underpinning Iran’s dictatorship — the same regime that persecutes Sunnis, Jews, Christians, and other minorities — are also the principles enshrined in our Declaration of Independence.

In America, rights belong to the individual. In Iran, rights serve the state.

That claim exposes either a profound misunderstanding or a reckless indifference to America’s founding. Rights do not come from government. They never did. They come from the Creator, as the Declaration of Independence proclaims without qualification. Jefferson didn’t hedge. Rights are unalienable — built into every human being.

This foundation stands worlds apart from Iran. Its leaders invoke God but grant rights only through clerical interpretation. Freedom of speech, property, religion, and even life itself depend on obedience to the ruling clerics. Step outside their dictates, and those so-called rights vanish.

This is not a trivial difference. It is the essence of liberty versus tyranny. In America, rights belong to the individual. The government’s role is to secure them, not define them. In Iran, rights serve the state. They empower rulers, not the people.

From Muhammad to Marx

The same confusion applies to Marxist regimes. The Soviet Union’s constitutions promised citizens rights — work, health care, education, freedom of speech — but always with fine print. If you spoke out against the party, those rights evaporated. If you practiced religion openly, you were charged with treason. Property and voting were allowed as long as they were filtered and controlled by the state — and could be revoked at any moment. Rights were conditional, granted through obedience.

Kaine seems to be advocating a similar approach — whether consciously or not. By claiming that natural rights are somehow comparable to sharia law, he ignores the critical distinction between inherent rights and conditional privileges. He dismisses the very principle that made America a beacon of freedom.

Jefferson and the founders understood this clearly. “We are endowed by our Creator with certain unalienable rights,” they wrote. No government, no cleric, no king can revoke them. They exist by virtue of humanity itself. The government exists to protect them, not ration them.

This is not a theological quibble. It is the entire basis of our government. Confuse the source of rights, and tyranny hides behind piety or ideology. The people are disempowered. Clerics, bureaucrats, or politicians become arbiters of what rights citizens may enjoy.

John Greim / Contributor | Getty Images

Gifts from God, not the state

Kaine’s statement reflects either a profound ignorance of this principle or an ideological bias that favors state power over individual liberty. Either way, Americans must recognize the danger. Understanding the origin of rights is not academic — it is the difference between freedom and submission, between the American experiment and theocratic or totalitarian rule.

Rights are not gifts from the state. They are gifts from God, secured by reason, protected by law, and defended by the people. Every American must understand this. Because when rights come from government instead of the Creator, freedom disappears.

This article originally appeared on TheBlaze.com.

POLL: Is Gen Z’s anger over housing driving them toward socialism?

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A recent poll conducted by Justin Haskins, a long-time friend of the show, has uncovered alarming trends among young Americans aged 18-39, revealing a generation grappling with deep frustrations over economic hardships, housing affordability, and a perceived rigged system that favors the wealthy, corporations, and older generations. While nearly half of these likely voters approve of President Trump, seeing him as an anti-establishment figure, over 70% support nationalizing major industries, such as healthcare, energy, and big tech, to promote "equity." Shockingly, 53% want a democratic socialist to win the 2028 presidential election, including a third of Trump voters and conservatives in this age group. Many cite skyrocketing housing costs, unfair taxation on the middle class, and a sense of being "stuck" or in crisis as driving forces, with 62% believing the economy is tilted against them and 55% backing laws to confiscate "excess wealth" like second homes or luxury items to help first-time buyers.

This blend of Trump support and socialist leanings suggests a volatile mix: admiration for disruptors who challenge the status quo, coupled with a desire for radical redistribution to address personal struggles. Yet, it raises profound questions about the roots of this discontent—Is it a failure of education on history's lessons about socialism's failures? Media indoctrination? Or genuine systemic barriers? And what does it portend for the nation’s trajectory—greater division, a shift toward authoritarian policies, or an opportunity for renewal through timeless values like hard work and individual responsibility?

Glenn wants to know what YOU think: Where do Gen Z's socialist sympathies come from? What does it mean for the future of America? Make your voice heard in the poll below:

Do you believe the Gen Z support for socialism comes from perceived economic frustrations like unaffordable housing and a rigged system favoring the wealthy and corporations?

Do you believe the Gen Z support for socialism, including many Trump supporters, is due to a lack of education about the historical failures of socialist systems?

Do you think that these poll results indicate a growing generational divide that could lead to more political instability and authoritarian tendencies in America's future?

Do you think that this poll implies that America's long-term stability relies on older generations teaching Gen Z and younger to prioritize self-reliance, free-market ideals, and personal accountability?

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