1 00:00:00,400 --> 00:00:01,520 Speaker 1: The Michael Berry Show. 2 00:00:01,920 --> 00:00:07,680 Speaker 2: Pastor Gary Hamrick is the senior pastor of Cornerstone Chapel, 3 00:00:08,320 --> 00:00:15,840 Speaker 2: a non denominational church in Leesburg, Virginia. He is known 4 00:00:15,960 --> 00:00:25,800 Speaker 2: for his very straightforward, direct, Bible centered preaching style. He 5 00:00:25,880 --> 00:00:29,800 Speaker 2: has a big following both locally there in Virginia and 6 00:00:30,240 --> 00:00:38,360 Speaker 2: online around the world. He tries to take the Bible 7 00:00:39,200 --> 00:00:42,239 Speaker 2: and the Word and take it out to the world. 8 00:00:42,600 --> 00:00:45,640 Speaker 2: He doesn't want it to be inaccessible. Tries to connect 9 00:00:45,680 --> 00:00:50,160 Speaker 2: on cultural and political issues. He doesn't believe the church 10 00:00:50,280 --> 00:00:52,440 Speaker 2: should just be within the four walls of the church. 11 00:00:53,960 --> 00:00:57,720 Speaker 2: He wants Christians to engage in the world. A lot 12 00:00:57,760 --> 00:01:01,920 Speaker 2: of Christians, hopefully not you, but plenty of them go 13 00:01:01,960 --> 00:01:04,280 Speaker 2: to church on Sunday and they're real pious, and then 14 00:01:04,800 --> 00:01:06,600 Speaker 2: they leave church and they don't want to have to 15 00:01:06,640 --> 00:01:13,400 Speaker 2: talk about politics because politics is controversial. Well yeah, Israelis 16 00:01:13,400 --> 00:01:16,319 Speaker 2: don't want to have to deal with Hamas either. But 17 00:01:16,360 --> 00:01:18,840 Speaker 2: when they show up to kill you, at some point, 18 00:01:18,880 --> 00:01:23,080 Speaker 2: you've got to confront your enemy, don't you. So this 19 00:01:23,240 --> 00:01:33,800 Speaker 2: is his election day sermon, and I think especially for 20 00:01:34,040 --> 00:01:37,440 Speaker 2: Christians of conviction and faith, I think some of you 21 00:01:37,520 --> 00:01:39,120 Speaker 2: are going to get a lot out of this his 22 00:01:39,240 --> 00:01:43,920 Speaker 2: name is Gary Hamric. He's the senior pastor of Cornerstone Chapel. 23 00:01:43,959 --> 00:01:47,240 Speaker 2: If you enjoy this podcast, share it with one person. 24 00:01:47,440 --> 00:01:50,720 Speaker 1: Well, welcome to corner Stunschapel, Welcome to our online viewers 25 00:01:50,800 --> 00:01:55,559 Speaker 1: as well, and welcome today to Election Sermon twenty twenty four. 26 00:01:56,200 --> 00:02:03,560 Speaker 1: Who's ready for this? So it has been said that 27 00:02:03,720 --> 00:02:06,240 Speaker 1: if you don't want to ruin a good dinner party, 28 00:02:07,320 --> 00:02:11,919 Speaker 1: then don't talk about faith or politics. Well, today I'm 29 00:02:11,919 --> 00:02:15,399 Speaker 1: about ready to ruin a good dinner party because we're 30 00:02:15,400 --> 00:02:17,680 Speaker 1: going to talk about both today in the House of 31 00:02:17,720 --> 00:02:21,200 Speaker 1: the Lord. Now, if you're new to Cornerstone, let me 32 00:02:21,360 --> 00:02:23,959 Speaker 1: explain what's going on and why today is different from 33 00:02:24,080 --> 00:02:28,400 Speaker 1: most Sundays. In two thousand and eight, I was asked 34 00:02:28,480 --> 00:02:32,639 Speaker 1: by David Barton, an historian and the founder of Wall Builders, 35 00:02:33,600 --> 00:02:38,000 Speaker 1: whether or not I ever preached election sermons. I said, David, 36 00:02:38,040 --> 00:02:41,240 Speaker 1: I don't even know what an election sermon is, and 37 00:02:41,360 --> 00:02:45,399 Speaker 1: he pointed out two resources to me that I have here. 38 00:02:45,400 --> 00:02:48,560 Speaker 1: It's a two volume set entitled Political Sermons of the 39 00:02:48,600 --> 00:02:53,519 Speaker 1: American Founding Era seventeen thirty to eighteen oh five. These 40 00:02:53,520 --> 00:02:58,880 Speaker 1: are sermons the pastors preached over these many decades, during 41 00:02:59,240 --> 00:03:03,360 Speaker 1: the period prior to the Revolutionary War and subsequent to 42 00:03:03,440 --> 00:03:07,720 Speaker 1: the Revolutionary War, because pastors understood their duty to stand 43 00:03:07,760 --> 00:03:10,440 Speaker 1: in the pulpit and to take God's word as the 44 00:03:10,520 --> 00:03:14,320 Speaker 1: lens through which we evaluate everything, and the pastors would 45 00:03:14,400 --> 00:03:17,320 Speaker 1: speak out about the issues of the day, the policies 46 00:03:17,360 --> 00:03:19,399 Speaker 1: of the day, the politicians of the day, and even 47 00:03:19,400 --> 00:03:23,480 Speaker 1: the candidates running for office. They were unashamed in their pulpits. 48 00:03:24,320 --> 00:03:30,440 Speaker 1: That two volume set records many of those sermons. And yes, 49 00:03:30,680 --> 00:03:34,480 Speaker 1: even during the colonial period there was voting in America. 50 00:03:35,320 --> 00:03:37,760 Speaker 1: In fact, we have the privilege of living here in 51 00:03:37,800 --> 00:03:41,400 Speaker 1: the Commonwealth of Virginia, and the Virginia General Assembly is 52 00:03:41,440 --> 00:03:47,000 Speaker 1: the oldest continuous lawmaking body in the Western Hemisphere, established 53 00:03:47,120 --> 00:03:51,120 Speaker 1: July thirtieth, sixteen nineteen. So we have a great heritage 54 00:03:51,120 --> 00:03:54,120 Speaker 1: here in Virginia of voting. We have a great heritage 55 00:03:54,160 --> 00:03:58,320 Speaker 1: here in Virginia and in other states of pastors proclaiming 56 00:03:59,360 --> 00:04:03,160 Speaker 1: God's were as the standard by which we evaluate all 57 00:04:03,200 --> 00:04:07,000 Speaker 1: the issues of the day. And so the church has 58 00:04:07,160 --> 00:04:11,720 Speaker 1: always played, historically, at least in our country, a critical 59 00:04:11,800 --> 00:04:16,520 Speaker 1: role in speaking out about faith and politics and how 60 00:04:16,600 --> 00:04:20,800 Speaker 1: faith should shape our politics. Now some of you might say, well, 61 00:04:20,839 --> 00:04:23,839 Speaker 1: what about the separation of church and state? Pastor g 62 00:04:24,040 --> 00:04:28,880 Speaker 1: and shouldn't churches stay out of politics? Well, that phrase 63 00:04:28,880 --> 00:04:31,839 Speaker 1: separation of church and state is not found anywhere in 64 00:04:31,880 --> 00:04:35,719 Speaker 1: our founding documents, not the Declaration of Independence, not the 65 00:04:35,720 --> 00:04:38,760 Speaker 1: Bill of Rights, not the Constitution. Where did it come from? 66 00:04:39,440 --> 00:04:42,360 Speaker 1: Why are people throwing that phrase around so much these days? 67 00:04:43,120 --> 00:04:46,160 Speaker 1: In eighteen oh two, when Thomas Jefferson was President of 68 00:04:46,240 --> 00:04:50,599 Speaker 1: the United States, he received a request to answer a 69 00:04:50,720 --> 00:04:56,400 Speaker 1: question concerning religious freedom that was posed to him by 70 00:04:56,440 --> 00:05:01,919 Speaker 1: the Baptist Convention in Danbury, Connecticut. In a personal letter, 71 00:05:02,040 --> 00:05:06,080 Speaker 1: not some executive order. Jefferson in eighteen o two wrote 72 00:05:06,120 --> 00:05:10,200 Speaker 1: to the Danbury Baptist and he explained the importance of 73 00:05:10,240 --> 00:05:16,000 Speaker 1: the First Amendment to protect religious liberties. And in that 74 00:05:16,120 --> 00:05:19,200 Speaker 1: letter in eighteen o two, he did write about building 75 00:05:19,240 --> 00:05:22,680 Speaker 1: a wall of separation between church and state, But the 76 00:05:22,720 --> 00:05:27,159 Speaker 1: intent behind the letter was to help the Baptist understand 77 00:05:28,320 --> 00:05:32,720 Speaker 1: that government intrusion was limited by the First Amendment and 78 00:05:32,800 --> 00:05:39,560 Speaker 1: that they had religious freedom to exercise freely without religious intrusion. 79 00:05:39,640 --> 00:05:42,440 Speaker 1: And so therefore the First Amendment is given to us 80 00:05:42,560 --> 00:05:47,680 Speaker 1: in part to keep the government out of the business 81 00:05:47,680 --> 00:05:50,440 Speaker 1: of the church, not the church out of the business 82 00:05:50,440 --> 00:06:01,400 Speaker 1: of government. But over the years, for since Prase, separation 83 00:06:01,480 --> 00:06:06,080 Speaker 1: of church and state in that personal letter has been 84 00:06:06,240 --> 00:06:11,000 Speaker 1: used to remove God from the public square and to 85 00:06:11,080 --> 00:06:16,800 Speaker 1: remove church from government influence. And it has also intimidated 86 00:06:16,880 --> 00:06:21,159 Speaker 1: a lot of pastors from addressing things that are referred 87 00:06:21,200 --> 00:06:24,719 Speaker 1: to as political in the pulpit. And if that didn't 88 00:06:24,720 --> 00:06:28,960 Speaker 1: intimidate passors, then the nineteen fifty four Johnson Amendment did. 89 00:06:29,960 --> 00:06:33,320 Speaker 1: In nineteen fifty four, Congress approved an amendment by then 90 00:06:33,400 --> 00:06:37,320 Speaker 1: Senator Lyndon Johnson to prohibit five oh one c three 91 00:06:37,400 --> 00:06:42,000 Speaker 1: organizations which include charities and churches, from engaging in any 92 00:06:42,080 --> 00:06:47,120 Speaker 1: quote political campaign activity under the threat of losing their 93 00:06:47,160 --> 00:06:55,159 Speaker 1: tax exempt status. By the way, receiving election registration to 94 00:06:55,320 --> 00:06:59,400 Speaker 1: vote and recruiting election officers as we're doing today is 95 00:06:59,440 --> 00:07:02,520 Speaker 1: perfectly legalists not a violation at all of this particular law. 96 00:07:02,800 --> 00:07:07,040 Speaker 1: But the nineteen fifty four Johnson Amendment did again intimidate 97 00:07:07,120 --> 00:07:11,560 Speaker 1: pastors from speaking out for fear of losing their tax 98 00:07:11,600 --> 00:07:13,680 Speaker 1: exempt status. Let me just say a couple of things 99 00:07:13,720 --> 00:07:22,160 Speaker 1: about this. Number One, I appreciate that having tax exempt 100 00:07:22,400 --> 00:07:27,480 Speaker 1: status is a nice benefit from the government, But if I, 101 00:07:27,680 --> 00:07:32,360 Speaker 1: as a pastor, don't say to you what I'm confident 102 00:07:32,440 --> 00:07:35,040 Speaker 1: God wants me to say, for fear of losing our 103 00:07:35,080 --> 00:07:39,080 Speaker 1: tax exemption, then I am bowing to government instead of God. 104 00:07:40,320 --> 00:07:46,480 Speaker 1: And I can't do that. But let me hasten to 105 00:07:46,480 --> 00:07:50,560 Speaker 1: also say that if you're giving to the church is 106 00:07:50,680 --> 00:07:53,520 Speaker 1: only to get a tax right off instead of giving 107 00:07:53,520 --> 00:07:57,040 Speaker 1: to the Lord, then your giving is bowing to government 108 00:07:57,080 --> 00:08:02,960 Speaker 1: instead of God. Thanks to one of our elders here 109 00:08:03,000 --> 00:08:05,800 Speaker 1: at Cornerstone and a constitutional attorney who was arguing before 110 00:08:05,880 --> 00:08:08,960 Speaker 1: the US Supreme Court on several occasions. Thanks to Mike Ferris, 111 00:08:09,560 --> 00:08:14,040 Speaker 1: the Johnson Amendment is currently being challenged in US District 112 00:08:14,120 --> 00:08:17,560 Speaker 1: Court in the Eastern District of Texas because it prohibits 113 00:08:17,760 --> 00:08:23,000 Speaker 1: free speech, and our church is listed in that filing 114 00:08:23,520 --> 00:08:30,000 Speaker 1: as a witness in this case because last year, three 115 00:08:30,080 --> 00:08:34,559 Speaker 1: years after my twenty twenty election sermon, the Irs came 116 00:08:34,600 --> 00:08:39,680 Speaker 1: after us threatening to remove our tax exem status because 117 00:08:39,679 --> 00:08:44,319 Speaker 1: of that sermon. Now, thankfully, with the help of our 118 00:08:44,880 --> 00:08:47,760 Speaker 1: lawyer friends at Alliance Defending Freedom, we were able to 119 00:08:47,800 --> 00:08:52,160 Speaker 1: retain our tax exem status. I don't know for how long, friends, 120 00:08:53,480 --> 00:08:57,640 Speaker 1: and I do pray that the court throws the Johnson 121 00:08:57,720 --> 00:09:01,320 Speaker 1: Amendment on the ash heap of history where it belongs. 122 00:09:07,840 --> 00:09:11,200 Speaker 1: So since two thousand and eight and every four years since, 123 00:09:11,960 --> 00:09:16,280 Speaker 1: around a presidential election cycle, I have simply revived an 124 00:09:16,280 --> 00:09:21,040 Speaker 1: old tradition here in America by bringing to you today 125 00:09:21,040 --> 00:09:25,600 Speaker 1: an election sermon and to encourage you to vote. To 126 00:09:25,760 --> 00:09:32,000 Speaker 1: vote according to your personal consciences and biblical values. You see, 127 00:09:32,200 --> 00:09:34,280 Speaker 1: that's all I really need to do, is to say, 128 00:09:34,559 --> 00:09:38,440 Speaker 1: please vote according to your personal consciences and Biblical values. 129 00:09:38,920 --> 00:09:40,600 Speaker 1: I don't need to tell you who to vote for, 130 00:09:41,840 --> 00:09:44,640 Speaker 1: because I have done my best to be faithful in 131 00:09:44,720 --> 00:09:49,640 Speaker 1: this pulpit, week after week after week, to speak about 132 00:09:49,679 --> 00:09:52,880 Speaker 1: the current issues of our day through the lens of 133 00:09:52,880 --> 00:09:57,280 Speaker 1: the Bible, so that you will be equipped to know 134 00:09:57,880 --> 00:10:00,200 Speaker 1: who to vote for or who not to vote for, 135 00:10:00,800 --> 00:10:06,400 Speaker 1: based on whether that candidate's policies more closely aligns with 136 00:10:06,559 --> 00:10:10,920 Speaker 1: Biblical values or not. So if I've done my job 137 00:10:11,080 --> 00:10:15,640 Speaker 1: consistently over the years, you should already know I don't 138 00:10:15,679 --> 00:10:17,160 Speaker 1: need to stand up here and say vote for a 139 00:10:17,200 --> 00:10:21,920 Speaker 1: particular candidate, because you hopefully have been equipped enough to 140 00:10:22,120 --> 00:10:26,480 Speaker 1: understand what Scripture says and to have your god given 141 00:10:26,600 --> 00:10:32,560 Speaker 1: sanctified consciences guide you in this very important decision, and 142 00:10:32,600 --> 00:10:37,320 Speaker 1: it should be based on their policies, if hopefully they 143 00:10:37,360 --> 00:10:48,280 Speaker 1: have told us what their policies actually are. And by 144 00:10:48,320 --> 00:10:55,640 Speaker 1: the way, by the way, please save the emails accusing 145 00:10:55,679 --> 00:10:59,880 Speaker 1: me of being political today, because I'm not being political. 146 00:11:00,080 --> 00:11:03,960 Speaker 1: I'm just being biblical in today's teaching. To see the 147 00:11:04,000 --> 00:11:07,360 Speaker 1: fact of this that the culture has hijacked the narrative 148 00:11:07,679 --> 00:11:11,640 Speaker 1: on social and moral issues that the Bible has already addressed, 149 00:11:12,280 --> 00:11:15,800 Speaker 1: and then the culture has twisted those things, distorted and 150 00:11:15,920 --> 00:11:20,480 Speaker 1: perverted those social and moral issues into political issues and 151 00:11:20,520 --> 00:11:24,160 Speaker 1: then told pastors like me and Christians like you to 152 00:11:24,200 --> 00:11:27,840 Speaker 1: stop being so political. Well, I have news for our culture. 153 00:11:28,760 --> 00:11:31,520 Speaker 1: God had to say on all these subjects long before 154 00:11:31,559 --> 00:11:35,440 Speaker 1: there was even a word political. God in the Bible 155 00:11:35,520 --> 00:11:42,680 Speaker 1: speaks about life, national borders, immigration, economic prosperity, biological sex, marriage, 156 00:11:42,920 --> 00:11:47,240 Speaker 1: parental authority, Israel, even the environment. It's all in the Bible. 157 00:11:48,120 --> 00:11:53,040 Speaker 1: God had the first word long before anybody, and so 158 00:11:53,120 --> 00:11:56,000 Speaker 1: it's important to understand we're just talking about the biblical issues, 159 00:11:56,600 --> 00:11:58,560 Speaker 1: and we're looking at what is happening in our culture 160 00:11:58,559 --> 00:12:01,920 Speaker 1: and especially on the presidential election level, and saying who 161 00:12:02,120 --> 00:12:06,720 Speaker 1: most closely aligns with the things that the Bible talks about. 162 00:12:06,840 --> 00:12:10,200 Speaker 1: And if Christians would come together and vote their values, 163 00:12:10,440 --> 00:12:19,080 Speaker 1: we can change America. We can change America, and we 164 00:12:19,120 --> 00:12:22,880 Speaker 1: can change America not because we believe in Christian nationalism. 165 00:12:22,920 --> 00:12:25,600 Speaker 1: That is a disparaging term that the left has thrown 166 00:12:25,640 --> 00:12:28,480 Speaker 1: at the Church because they're accusing us of trying to 167 00:12:28,520 --> 00:12:31,680 Speaker 1: turn America into a theocracy. I have no illusions. We 168 00:12:31,720 --> 00:12:34,720 Speaker 1: will not be a theocracy until Jesus comes again, and 169 00:12:34,760 --> 00:12:37,319 Speaker 1: I pray he would come quickly. That's when we will 170 00:12:37,360 --> 00:12:42,960 Speaker 1: really be a theocracy in the world. But I say 171 00:12:42,960 --> 00:12:45,640 Speaker 1: that we can change America just because we as Christians 172 00:12:45,679 --> 00:12:47,800 Speaker 1: love God and love our country. What's wrong with that. 173 00:12:48,520 --> 00:12:51,760 Speaker 1: We love God, we love our country, We hold our Bibles, 174 00:12:52,440 --> 00:12:56,040 Speaker 1: we understand the importance of religious freedom and the values 175 00:12:56,080 --> 00:12:59,160 Speaker 1: that the Bible speaks about. Because Psalm thirty three twelve 176 00:12:59,240 --> 00:13:01,920 Speaker 1: is true. Is the nation who's God is the Lord. 177 00:13:02,160 --> 00:13:07,280 Speaker 1: That's what we want for our country. And so now 178 00:13:07,320 --> 00:13:09,240 Speaker 1: that you can see where all this is going today, 179 00:13:09,280 --> 00:13:14,079 Speaker 1: all that was just an introduction, free of charge. I'm 180 00:13:14,120 --> 00:13:15,880 Speaker 1: going to pray in a minute, and it will give 181 00:13:15,960 --> 00:13:18,200 Speaker 1: any of you cover if you want to slip out 182 00:13:18,240 --> 00:13:22,120 Speaker 1: while I'm praying because you feel too uncomfortable with all 183 00:13:22,120 --> 00:13:24,920 Speaker 1: of this. Listen, you came in freely, and freely you 184 00:13:24,960 --> 00:13:29,320 Speaker 1: can go no judgment. All I would ask is that 185 00:13:29,400 --> 00:13:35,120 Speaker 1: if you remain, you stay courteous in God's house. This 186 00:13:35,280 --> 00:13:38,600 Speaker 1: is not a place for you to protest or a 187 00:13:38,640 --> 00:13:40,640 Speaker 1: time to disrupt the service so that you can get 188 00:13:40,679 --> 00:13:43,960 Speaker 1: your two minutes of fame. I know the saying really 189 00:13:44,040 --> 00:13:46,079 Speaker 1: is fifteen minutes of fame, but I guarantee you it 190 00:13:46,120 --> 00:13:48,960 Speaker 1: will only take two minutes for our security to show 191 00:13:49,000 --> 00:13:57,559 Speaker 1: you a Bible study at loud and detention cent And 192 00:13:57,679 --> 00:13:59,520 Speaker 1: let me say this too, You're free to disagree with 193 00:13:59,559 --> 00:14:01,880 Speaker 1: anything I have to say today. You're free to disagree, 194 00:14:02,040 --> 00:14:05,679 Speaker 1: and you're still welcome to be here. We don't practice 195 00:14:05,679 --> 00:14:08,320 Speaker 1: the cancel culture the way the world does. They have 196 00:14:09,600 --> 00:14:14,040 Speaker 1: intolerant tolerance to people who have a different view. Okay, 197 00:14:14,640 --> 00:14:16,720 Speaker 1: you can have a different view from what I'm about 198 00:14:16,720 --> 00:14:19,800 Speaker 1: to say today, and you're still welcome here as long 199 00:14:19,880 --> 00:14:25,040 Speaker 1: as you are not divisive and you strive for unity 200 00:14:25,160 --> 00:14:31,280 Speaker 1: and harmony in the body of Christ. Frankly, I will 201 00:14:31,280 --> 00:14:34,800 Speaker 1: probably offend just about everybody at some point today in 202 00:14:34,920 --> 00:14:38,120 Speaker 1: something that I'm going to be saying here, but I'm 203 00:14:38,120 --> 00:14:41,680 Speaker 1: going to do my best to speak the truth and 204 00:14:41,760 --> 00:14:46,040 Speaker 1: to please an audience of one and his name is Jesus. Amen. 205 00:14:47,720 --> 00:14:54,000 Speaker 1: So so with that, let's pray together, Father in heaven. 206 00:14:54,040 --> 00:14:56,080 Speaker 1: We thank you for this beautiful day that you've given us. 207 00:14:57,160 --> 00:15:00,440 Speaker 1: We gather here in your house. We open up your word. 208 00:15:01,200 --> 00:15:03,600 Speaker 1: We want to understand our world and our culture through 209 00:15:03,640 --> 00:15:07,280 Speaker 1: the lens of the Bible. We have two candidates running 210 00:15:07,280 --> 00:15:09,640 Speaker 1: for president. We have Kamala Harris, we have Donald Trump. 211 00:15:10,680 --> 00:15:15,360 Speaker 1: We have a lot of elections in other offices that 212 00:15:15,440 --> 00:15:20,000 Speaker 1: are also on the ballot. And we just pray for wisdom, 213 00:15:20,120 --> 00:15:22,960 Speaker 1: and we pray God for your mercy, and we pray 214 00:15:23,040 --> 00:15:26,600 Speaker 1: God for your guidance, and we pray God, as Daniel 215 00:15:26,680 --> 00:15:29,080 Speaker 1: two to two says, you raise up kings and you 216 00:15:29,200 --> 00:15:33,520 Speaker 1: depose them. And we trust your righteous hand to be 217 00:15:33,640 --> 00:15:40,240 Speaker 1: involved in this whole process to guide us, to help us. 218 00:15:41,080 --> 00:15:43,200 Speaker 1: And we thank you Lord for the freedom that we 219 00:15:43,320 --> 00:15:45,560 Speaker 1: enjoy of living in the greatest country on earth, in 220 00:15:45,600 --> 00:15:48,120 Speaker 1: the United States of America. And we give you the 221 00:15:48,160 --> 00:15:50,720 Speaker 1: praise and the glory and the honor. Together in Jesus' name, 222 00:15:51,000 --> 00:15:54,720 Speaker 1: and everybody said Amen. I'm going to read five verses 223 00:15:54,720 --> 00:15:57,120 Speaker 1: out of the Book of Ezekiel. If you have your bibles, 224 00:15:57,160 --> 00:15:59,240 Speaker 1: if you would turn to the Book of Ezekiel, chapter 225 00:15:59,280 --> 00:16:03,640 Speaker 1: thirty three. Ezekiel is not quite in the middle of 226 00:16:03,720 --> 00:16:07,160 Speaker 1: your Bible. It's about two thirds in the Book of 227 00:16:07,160 --> 00:16:11,160 Speaker 1: Ezekiel from chapter thirty three. You can listen if you 228 00:16:11,160 --> 00:16:12,840 Speaker 1: don't have a Bible. I'm just going to read the 229 00:16:12,840 --> 00:16:24,400 Speaker 1: first five verses Ezekiel, chapter thirty three. Verse one, Again, 230 00:16:24,440 --> 00:16:26,400 Speaker 1: the word of the Lord came to me, saying, son 231 00:16:26,440 --> 00:16:28,720 Speaker 1: of Man, speak to the children of your people, and 232 00:16:28,840 --> 00:16:32,680 Speaker 1: say to them, when I bring the sword upon a land, 233 00:16:32,720 --> 00:16:34,800 Speaker 1: and the people of the land, take a man from 234 00:16:34,840 --> 00:16:39,800 Speaker 1: their territory and make him their watchmen. When he sees 235 00:16:39,840 --> 00:16:42,400 Speaker 1: the sword coming upon the land, if he blows the 236 00:16:42,440 --> 00:16:46,680 Speaker 1: trumpet and warns the people, then whoever hears the sound 237 00:16:46,720 --> 00:16:49,160 Speaker 1: of the trumpet and does not take warning, if the 238 00:16:49,200 --> 00:16:52,480 Speaker 1: sword comes and takes him away, his blood shall be 239 00:16:52,560 --> 00:16:56,480 Speaker 1: on his own head. Verse five. He heard the sound 240 00:16:56,480 --> 00:17:00,000 Speaker 1: of the trumpet but did not take warning, his blood 241 00:17:00,400 --> 00:17:05,200 Speaker 1: shall be upon himself. But he who takes warning shall 242 00:17:05,240 --> 00:17:10,439 Speaker 1: save his life. This is a reference in ancient Israel 243 00:17:10,480 --> 00:17:14,720 Speaker 1: to how they would select one individual to be upon 244 00:17:14,880 --> 00:17:19,760 Speaker 1: the city walls to watch out for any approaching enemy 245 00:17:20,000 --> 00:17:25,040 Speaker 1: or any potential attack against that walled city. And if 246 00:17:25,080 --> 00:17:31,399 Speaker 1: the watchman saw such impending disaster coming or some threat 247 00:17:31,480 --> 00:17:35,199 Speaker 1: on its way, the watchmen would blow a trumpet. Then 248 00:17:35,240 --> 00:17:37,560 Speaker 1: it was up to the people whether they're going to 249 00:17:37,640 --> 00:17:40,960 Speaker 1: heed the sound of the warning or not. And if 250 00:17:40,960 --> 00:17:43,679 Speaker 1: they would heed the sound of the warning, then they 251 00:17:43,680 --> 00:17:46,400 Speaker 1: would save their lives. If they just decided, oh well, 252 00:17:46,480 --> 00:17:49,720 Speaker 1: no big deal, then their life might very well be 253 00:17:49,840 --> 00:17:53,520 Speaker 1: required of them, and the watchmen would not be responsible 254 00:17:53,880 --> 00:17:56,400 Speaker 1: because he at least did his part to sound a trumpet. 255 00:17:57,359 --> 00:18:02,200 Speaker 1: And kind of that ancient parallel, I hope to serve 256 00:18:02,240 --> 00:18:05,920 Speaker 1: as like a watchman today sounding a trumpet, and then 257 00:18:06,040 --> 00:18:08,320 Speaker 1: you have to decide what you do with all of that. 258 00:18:09,119 --> 00:18:11,119 Speaker 1: And the reason I think it's important to sound the 259 00:18:11,200 --> 00:18:16,000 Speaker 1: trumpet is because the freedoms that we have enjoyed and 260 00:18:16,040 --> 00:18:19,440 Speaker 1: the country that we love are in jeopardy. And I 261 00:18:19,480 --> 00:18:23,399 Speaker 1: say that not as hyperbole. I say that based on 262 00:18:23,480 --> 00:18:26,400 Speaker 1: reality because of the way that our country and our 263 00:18:26,440 --> 00:18:29,360 Speaker 1: culture has been trending over the past few years, really 264 00:18:29,400 --> 00:18:34,639 Speaker 1: even the past few decades. Of course, I am proud 265 00:18:34,680 --> 00:18:39,200 Speaker 1: to be an American. I believe in America's America's exceptionalism, 266 00:18:39,760 --> 00:18:43,040 Speaker 1: but I, like many of you, are concerned for her future. 267 00:18:44,520 --> 00:18:46,560 Speaker 1: And I need to say this at the onset of 268 00:18:46,600 --> 00:18:50,879 Speaker 1: this study. Together, do not look to a person to 269 00:18:50,920 --> 00:18:54,280 Speaker 1: save us. Do not look to a person to save us. 270 00:18:54,320 --> 00:18:58,840 Speaker 1: Our faith is not in a political hero. Our faith 271 00:18:58,920 --> 00:19:01,679 Speaker 1: is in the Savior. His name is Jesus. He is 272 00:19:01,720 --> 00:19:07,600 Speaker 1: our only hope for America. Jesus is our only hope 273 00:19:07,600 --> 00:19:12,360 Speaker 1: for America. But until he comes again, he has charged 274 00:19:12,440 --> 00:19:19,240 Speaker 1: us with being his ambassadors in this world, to represent him, 275 00:19:19,600 --> 00:19:23,040 Speaker 1: and He's charged us to be like salt and light, 276 00:19:24,200 --> 00:19:31,040 Speaker 1: Salt to be sprinkled upon a decaying culture as a preservative, 277 00:19:31,720 --> 00:19:37,000 Speaker 1: as an antiseptic, and light to shine the truth into 278 00:19:37,040 --> 00:19:40,960 Speaker 1: a dark world. To that end, we have a moral 279 00:19:41,000 --> 00:19:46,960 Speaker 1: obligation to represent Christ as ambassadors and to be salt 280 00:19:47,000 --> 00:19:52,240 Speaker 1: and light in this world, reflecting Him well. And so 281 00:19:52,440 --> 00:19:58,560 Speaker 1: political engagement is one way, one way to be ambassadors 282 00:19:59,000 --> 00:20:01,399 Speaker 1: and to be salt in light in the world. And 283 00:20:01,440 --> 00:20:07,280 Speaker 1: by political engagement I mean advocating for policies that promote righteousness, 284 00:20:07,800 --> 00:20:12,880 Speaker 1: voting for candidates who most closely represent our biblical values, 285 00:20:13,160 --> 00:20:16,719 Speaker 1: praying for our elected leaders and holding them accountable and 286 00:20:16,800 --> 00:20:21,360 Speaker 1: even running for elected office. If Christians do not stay 287 00:20:21,400 --> 00:20:26,400 Speaker 1: politically engaged, guess what will fill the vacuum every evil, 288 00:20:26,520 --> 00:20:32,880 Speaker 1: demonic practice. Good government cannot save us, but bad government 289 00:20:32,920 --> 00:20:36,800 Speaker 1: can destroy us. And so the question I want to 290 00:20:36,920 --> 00:20:40,960 Speaker 1: challenge us with as we approach this presidential election is this, 291 00:20:41,600 --> 00:20:44,640 Speaker 1: what can we do to advance the Kingdom of God 292 00:20:44,680 --> 00:20:47,159 Speaker 1: for the glory of God and to stem the tide 293 00:20:47,160 --> 00:20:51,320 Speaker 1: of evil in our land until Jesus comes. That's the 294 00:20:51,400 --> 00:20:55,760 Speaker 1: question I want to challenge us with. Affecting public policy 295 00:20:56,000 --> 00:20:59,840 Speaker 1: and staying politically engaged is something you see throughout the Bible. 296 00:21:00,080 --> 00:21:02,320 Speaker 1: You look in the Old Testament, look at the prophets 297 00:21:02,320 --> 00:21:06,720 Speaker 1: of old like Moses, Elijah, Daniel, Isaiah, Jeremiah. They all 298 00:21:06,760 --> 00:21:10,800 Speaker 1: spoke truth to power, They all confronted kings, they all 299 00:21:10,840 --> 00:21:16,520 Speaker 1: influenced national laws, and they also influenced social conscience. In 300 00:21:16,560 --> 00:21:18,960 Speaker 1: the New Testament, you see John the Baptist. He wasn't 301 00:21:19,000 --> 00:21:22,480 Speaker 1: afraid to confront King Herod, the most politically powerful person 302 00:21:22,720 --> 00:21:26,080 Speaker 1: in that area at the time. Jesus even weighed in 303 00:21:26,119 --> 00:21:30,040 Speaker 1: on the topic of taxes. He didn't stay disengaged, and 304 00:21:30,080 --> 00:21:33,040 Speaker 1: when he stood before Pontius Pilot, the governor of Judea 305 00:21:33,040 --> 00:21:36,000 Speaker 1: at that time, before he was crucified, he said, everyone 306 00:21:36,040 --> 00:21:38,960 Speaker 1: on the side of truth listens to me. He was 307 00:21:39,040 --> 00:21:42,520 Speaker 1: okay speaking truth to power. He was okay speaking about 308 00:21:42,560 --> 00:21:46,080 Speaker 1: things that would otherwise be labeled today as political. And 309 00:21:46,119 --> 00:21:48,040 Speaker 1: so I want to share three things with us that 310 00:21:48,119 --> 00:21:50,320 Speaker 1: I believe will help us advance the Kingdom of God 311 00:21:50,320 --> 00:21:52,439 Speaker 1: for the glory of God, to stem the tide of 312 00:21:52,480 --> 00:21:55,520 Speaker 1: evil in our land until Jesus comes. And here's the 313 00:21:55,560 --> 00:21:58,520 Speaker 1: first one. If you're taking notes, we got to get this. Friends, 314 00:21:58,560 --> 00:22:05,360 Speaker 1: God uses flaweds people. God uses flawed, sinful people. One 315 00:22:05,400 --> 00:22:09,960 Speaker 1: of my biggest concerns this election cycle is the Christian 316 00:22:10,040 --> 00:22:14,120 Speaker 1: who wants to do the right thing but can't vote 317 00:22:14,160 --> 00:22:18,199 Speaker 1: for a Canada who doesn't have the total package. And 318 00:22:18,240 --> 00:22:21,320 Speaker 1: I hear Christians talk like this. I hear them say 319 00:22:21,359 --> 00:22:23,600 Speaker 1: things like, I don't like a few things about this 320 00:22:23,720 --> 00:22:27,520 Speaker 1: person's personality or a couple of their positions, but I 321 00:22:27,520 --> 00:22:30,120 Speaker 1: can't vote for the other Canada because they're they're they're 322 00:22:30,160 --> 00:22:33,040 Speaker 1: too far from my biblical values. And so I'll just 323 00:22:33,119 --> 00:22:35,960 Speaker 1: sit it out, or I'll vote for a write in, 324 00:22:36,280 --> 00:22:38,560 Speaker 1: which is a vote for nobody, nobody. This is a 325 00:22:38,560 --> 00:22:46,400 Speaker 1: binary election. That's it, and listen. I understand elections are 326 00:22:46,480 --> 00:22:53,480 Speaker 1: serious things with serious consequences, but please please tell me 327 00:22:54,200 --> 00:22:58,120 Speaker 1: what other decisions do you make in your life that 328 00:22:58,359 --> 00:23:02,800 Speaker 1: must meet one hunt hundred percent of the criteria? What 329 00:23:02,840 --> 00:23:04,800 Speaker 1: other decisions do you really say if it doesn't have 330 00:23:04,800 --> 00:23:07,439 Speaker 1: one hundred percent, I'm not doing this. I suspect that 331 00:23:07,560 --> 00:23:11,520 Speaker 1: everybody here attends Cornerstone, but we don't meet one hundred 332 00:23:11,560 --> 00:23:15,480 Speaker 1: percent of what you would like. Like some of you are, like, 333 00:23:15,600 --> 00:23:18,760 Speaker 1: really love the worship, the preaching guys a little, you know, 334 00:23:19,840 --> 00:23:21,719 Speaker 1: but I still come because I love the worship. Or 335 00:23:21,800 --> 00:23:24,080 Speaker 1: the other one I hear is you know, worship's too loud. 336 00:23:24,119 --> 00:23:26,560 Speaker 1: Don't really like it, it sounds too rock and roll. I'll 337 00:23:26,600 --> 00:23:28,960 Speaker 1: come twenty minutes late because I like the guy who preaches. 338 00:23:30,320 --> 00:23:34,000 Speaker 1: I've heard you, I know, or I got to wear 339 00:23:34,000 --> 00:23:35,880 Speaker 1: my earplugs. I don't really like, you know, how loud 340 00:23:35,880 --> 00:23:39,000 Speaker 1: the worship is. But they do have good children's ministry. 341 00:23:39,080 --> 00:23:41,520 Speaker 1: Or they're not quite as charismatic as I might like, 342 00:23:41,600 --> 00:23:45,000 Speaker 1: but they have good youth ministry. Or I wish they'd 343 00:23:45,000 --> 00:23:49,480 Speaker 1: emphasize missions more. But they do have a good Women's Ministry. Listen, 344 00:23:49,720 --> 00:23:52,600 Speaker 1: you don't make a decision based on one hundred percent. 345 00:23:52,920 --> 00:23:56,119 Speaker 1: You make a decision based on does this in the 346 00:23:56,160 --> 00:24:00,480 Speaker 1: majority sense seem to fit and does it make sense 347 00:24:00,600 --> 00:24:05,360 Speaker 1: for you? Nothing is one hundred percent based on certain criteria. 348 00:24:06,400 --> 00:24:15,080 Speaker 1: Are you married? Are you married? You listen to me. 349 00:24:15,320 --> 00:24:19,520 Speaker 1: You did not choose that spouse because they met one 350 00:24:19,600 --> 00:24:25,520 Speaker 1: hundred percent of everything. You love them and you're like, 351 00:24:25,640 --> 00:24:31,600 Speaker 1: this is the best of any other choices, and don't 352 00:24:31,600 --> 00:24:32,920 Speaker 1: some of you look at me. I'm like, no, that 353 00:24:32,960 --> 00:24:35,320 Speaker 1: isn't true. I'm married her because she meets one hundred 354 00:24:35,320 --> 00:24:38,360 Speaker 1: percent of my criteria. Yes, she does. Pastrog she makes 355 00:24:38,400 --> 00:24:41,320 Speaker 1: one hundred percent of my criteria. Well, guarantee you don't. 356 00:24:45,920 --> 00:24:49,200 Speaker 1: Guarantee you don't. She's gotten snoring and fungus toenails. That 357 00:24:49,400 --> 00:24:57,280 Speaker 1: was not part of the original deal. So listen. There's 358 00:24:57,320 --> 00:25:00,000 Speaker 1: no perfect spouse, there's no perfect church, there's no perfec, 359 00:25:00,560 --> 00:25:04,159 Speaker 1: there's no perfect job, there's no perfect neighborhood, and Jesus 360 00:25:04,280 --> 00:25:07,000 Speaker 1: is not on the ballot. There is no perfect candidate. 361 00:25:07,359 --> 00:25:16,679 Speaker 1: Get over looking for the most perfect person. But you 362 00:25:16,720 --> 00:25:22,160 Speaker 1: had better vote for the better choice, not a perfect choice. 363 00:25:22,280 --> 00:25:25,479 Speaker 1: Proverbs fourteen thirty four says righteousness exalts in nation, but 364 00:25:25,560 --> 00:25:28,960 Speaker 1: sin is a reproach to any people. Every candidate is 365 00:25:29,000 --> 00:25:34,119 Speaker 1: a flawed, sinful human being, including Kamala Harris, including Donald Trump. 366 00:25:34,400 --> 00:25:37,679 Speaker 1: And I think personally that evangelicals have for too long 367 00:25:38,040 --> 00:25:42,000 Speaker 1: looked for the candidate based on likability and how strong 368 00:25:42,040 --> 00:25:45,320 Speaker 1: their faith was in Jesus. And if those things don't 369 00:25:45,359 --> 00:25:48,159 Speaker 1: line up, then they're not good enough for me to 370 00:25:48,240 --> 00:25:51,399 Speaker 1: vote for, because I need to vote for a good person, 371 00:25:51,520 --> 00:25:58,119 Speaker 1: because good people promote good policies right, not always, not always, 372 00:26:00,560 --> 00:26:05,000 Speaker 1: are always more important than personalities because personalities come and go, 373 00:26:05,240 --> 00:26:09,960 Speaker 1: but policies will live long after them. A nation will 374 00:26:10,000 --> 00:26:12,879 Speaker 1: not thrive because of the righteousness of the leader, but 375 00:26:13,000 --> 00:26:18,080 Speaker 1: because the leader promotes righteous policies. And that's a big difference, 376 00:26:19,280 --> 00:26:22,359 Speaker 1: because here's the reality. When you read your Bibles. The 377 00:26:22,400 --> 00:26:26,119 Speaker 1: reality is that there were some righteous leaders who did 378 00:26:26,240 --> 00:26:30,000 Speaker 1: unrighteous things, and there were some unrighteous leaders who did 379 00:26:30,080 --> 00:26:35,200 Speaker 1: righteous things, and God used them both. God used them both. 380 00:26:35,320 --> 00:26:38,040 Speaker 1: What mattered most was the righteous thing the king did, 381 00:26:38,160 --> 00:26:42,920 Speaker 1: not the righteousness of the king. Per se, God used 382 00:26:42,920 --> 00:26:45,959 Speaker 1: both the righteous leaders and the unrighteous leaders. In the Bible. 383 00:26:46,320 --> 00:26:48,320 Speaker 1: David was a righteous leader. He was a man after 384 00:26:48,359 --> 00:26:51,560 Speaker 1: God's own heart, but he committed adultery, and he counted 385 00:26:51,560 --> 00:26:54,959 Speaker 1: the fighting men, which incurred the wrath of God as 386 00:26:55,040 --> 00:26:57,880 Speaker 1: judgment upon the nation. Though he was a righteous king 387 00:26:57,920 --> 00:27:03,280 Speaker 1: after God's heart, God used David. God used Hezekiah. Hezekiah 388 00:27:03,400 --> 00:27:06,560 Speaker 1: was also a righteous king, but Hezekiah had terrible foreign 389 00:27:06,600 --> 00:27:09,359 Speaker 1: policy that also incurred the wrath of God as a 390 00:27:09,440 --> 00:27:12,920 Speaker 1: national judgment. He was a righteous king, but God used 391 00:27:13,000 --> 00:27:15,680 Speaker 1: him even though he did an unrighteous thing. Look at Samson. 392 00:27:16,560 --> 00:27:20,439 Speaker 1: Samson was a righteous judge who had a weakness for women, 393 00:27:21,359 --> 00:27:23,840 Speaker 1: and God still used him for the benefit of the nation. 394 00:27:24,880 --> 00:27:27,399 Speaker 1: And Samson ends up in Hebrews eleven as part of 395 00:27:27,400 --> 00:27:30,879 Speaker 1: the Hebrew Hall of Faith. Now listen, I'm not making 396 00:27:30,960 --> 00:27:34,359 Speaker 1: excuses for their bad behavior or their sin. They all 397 00:27:34,400 --> 00:27:38,119 Speaker 1: paid consequences for their sin. My point is that God 398 00:27:38,320 --> 00:27:42,240 Speaker 1: uses flawed people to promote good policies for a nation. 399 00:27:42,520 --> 00:27:45,200 Speaker 1: You see it all through the Bible. And God used 400 00:27:45,280 --> 00:27:48,280 Speaker 1: unrighteous people too for the same reason. You look at 401 00:27:48,359 --> 00:27:52,480 Speaker 1: King Nebeknzar in your bibles, King of Babylon, King Cyrus 402 00:27:52,480 --> 00:27:56,080 Speaker 1: in your Bible, King of Persia. Those two guys were 403 00:27:56,080 --> 00:27:59,240 Speaker 1: pagan as pagan comes, and you had God put it 404 00:27:59,280 --> 00:28:02,239 Speaker 1: on their hearts to do righteous things for Israel and 405 00:28:02,280 --> 00:28:05,840 Speaker 1: for the Jewish people. And for that reason, they were 406 00:28:05,920 --> 00:28:10,720 Speaker 1: unrighteous kings that God used because of their righteous policies 407 00:28:11,400 --> 00:28:14,560 Speaker 1: that promoted good for the benefit of the nation. Please 408 00:28:14,640 --> 00:28:19,120 Speaker 1: stop looking at the person and look at their policies. 409 00:28:20,080 --> 00:28:21,639 Speaker 1: Some of you say, well, I can't vote for the 410 00:28:21,640 --> 00:28:24,199 Speaker 1: Orange man. The Orange man's a bully, he sends out 411 00:28:24,320 --> 00:28:27,480 Speaker 1: mean tweets, and I don't like the guy in a 412 00:28:27,600 --> 00:28:30,480 Speaker 1: terrible personality. Or on the other hand, you're like, I 413 00:28:30,520 --> 00:28:33,480 Speaker 1: can't vote for her. She's a cacklin hen. She'd always 414 00:28:33,480 --> 00:28:37,040 Speaker 1: has cackling about stuff. She repeats the same dumb phrases 415 00:28:37,119 --> 00:28:42,080 Speaker 1: about unburdened by what has been. And people make it 416 00:28:42,120 --> 00:28:44,600 Speaker 1: about the two of their personalities. Let me tell you something, 417 00:28:44,680 --> 00:28:47,760 Speaker 1: on a personal level, I'd rather have a mean orange 418 00:28:47,800 --> 00:28:50,880 Speaker 1: man who gave us three Supreme Court justices to overturn 419 00:28:50,960 --> 00:28:54,800 Speaker 1: Roe v. Wade than a joyful hen who believes in 420 00:28:54,920 --> 00:29:06,640 Speaker 1: killing babies in the ninth one. So we have to 421 00:29:06,640 --> 00:29:09,760 Speaker 1: stop focusing on who's a good candidate, because Jesus said 422 00:29:09,800 --> 00:29:12,360 Speaker 1: in Luke eighteen nineteen, no one is good except God. 423 00:29:13,880 --> 00:29:17,280 Speaker 1: So there is no good candidate, there is no righteous person. 424 00:29:17,360 --> 00:29:20,760 Speaker 1: But God can still use the righteous and the unrighteous 425 00:29:21,320 --> 00:29:24,360 Speaker 1: to accomplish his good purposes, which leads me to the 426 00:29:24,400 --> 00:29:29,600 Speaker 1: second point number two vote policies over personalities. I'm going 427 00:29:29,680 --> 00:29:31,560 Speaker 1: to share with you seven, and you know I could 428 00:29:31,560 --> 00:29:36,320 Speaker 1: have chosen different ones. This is not, as you know, 429 00:29:36,400 --> 00:29:38,320 Speaker 1: the only list he could come up with. But I 430 00:29:38,400 --> 00:29:42,560 Speaker 1: have chosen seven top policies with biblical support that I 431 00:29:42,600 --> 00:29:45,680 Speaker 1: think are worth considering in this year's election, in no 432 00:29:45,720 --> 00:29:50,880 Speaker 1: particular order. Here's the first one. Judges Isaiah one twenty 433 00:29:50,960 --> 00:29:53,360 Speaker 1: six says. God says, I will restore your judges as 434 00:29:53,360 --> 00:29:57,120 Speaker 1: at the first, and your counselors as at the beginning. Afterward, 435 00:29:57,160 --> 00:30:00,360 Speaker 1: you shall be called the city of righteousness, the faithful city. 436 00:30:00,560 --> 00:30:03,200 Speaker 1: What is God saying there? He's saying, when you choose 437 00:30:03,480 --> 00:30:08,480 Speaker 1: right judges, they will bring righteousness to the land by 438 00:30:08,560 --> 00:30:12,360 Speaker 1: virtue of their decisions. It is important that we have 439 00:30:12,600 --> 00:30:18,240 Speaker 1: good judges, and don't underestimate the importance of the President 440 00:30:18,280 --> 00:30:23,800 Speaker 1: of the United States in selecting federal judges. In Donald 441 00:30:23,800 --> 00:30:28,920 Speaker 1: Trump's single term, he appointed two hundred and twenty six 442 00:30:29,120 --> 00:30:34,280 Speaker 1: federal judges. That is an amazing number proportionally more than 443 00:30:34,280 --> 00:30:38,160 Speaker 1: any of his predecessors who had two terms. Again, Donald 444 00:30:38,200 --> 00:30:41,400 Speaker 1: Trump appointed two hundred and twenty six federal judges. Obama 445 00:30:41,520 --> 00:30:45,440 Speaker 1: in his two terms appointed three hundred and twenty. George W. 446 00:30:45,600 --> 00:30:48,600 Speaker 1: Bush in his two terms three twenty two, Bill Clinton 447 00:30:48,600 --> 00:30:52,480 Speaker 1: in his three two terms three sixty seven. So proportionally 448 00:30:53,080 --> 00:30:55,560 Speaker 1: Trump comes in two hundred twenty six. I mean, federal 449 00:30:55,640 --> 00:30:59,480 Speaker 1: judges is an important aspect of who is president of 450 00:30:59,480 --> 00:31:01,360 Speaker 1: the United slate dates and when it comes to the 451 00:31:01,440 --> 00:31:05,200 Speaker 1: nation's thirteen federal appeals courts, which have final word on 452 00:31:05,320 --> 00:31:08,800 Speaker 1: most legal appeals around the country. Trump appointed, get this, 453 00:31:09,000 --> 00:31:13,400 Speaker 1: fifty four federal appellate judges in his single term. You 454 00:31:13,480 --> 00:31:16,160 Speaker 1: know how many Obama appointed in his two terms fifty five. 455 00:31:17,320 --> 00:31:20,680 Speaker 1: So it is important that you consider when you're electing someone, 456 00:31:21,200 --> 00:31:25,680 Speaker 1: what's the ramification on judges who will get appointed. And obviously, 457 00:31:25,720 --> 00:31:29,400 Speaker 1: of course that also includes Supreme Court justices. They play 458 00:31:29,400 --> 00:31:32,000 Speaker 1: a huge role in the future of our nation in 459 00:31:32,080 --> 00:31:36,200 Speaker 1: terms of judging and ruling in righteousness. And so ask 460 00:31:36,240 --> 00:31:39,880 Speaker 1: yourselves what I'm not asking for a verbal response. I'm 461 00:31:39,920 --> 00:31:41,840 Speaker 1: just saying, these are the things we need to consider 462 00:31:41,920 --> 00:31:45,560 Speaker 1: going into to vote, which candidate will appoint the best 463 00:31:45,640 --> 00:31:50,120 Speaker 1: judges and justices. Number two, we have to consider border 464 00:31:50,160 --> 00:31:52,840 Speaker 1: security these days, and let me tell you God's in 465 00:31:52,880 --> 00:31:55,600 Speaker 1: favor of borders. Just in case you don't know, this 466 00:31:55,720 --> 00:31:58,720 Speaker 1: is Acts seventeen twenty six. And God has made from 467 00:31:58,760 --> 00:32:00,960 Speaker 1: one blood every nation of men to dwell on the 468 00:32:01,000 --> 00:32:03,800 Speaker 1: face of the earth, and has determined their pre appointed 469 00:32:03,840 --> 00:32:07,640 Speaker 1: times and the boundaries of their dwellings. God's not a 470 00:32:07,720 --> 00:32:10,680 Speaker 1: post of boundaries or borders. In fact, when he divides 471 00:32:10,760 --> 00:32:13,360 Speaker 1: up the land of Israel between the twelve tribes of Israel, 472 00:32:13,520 --> 00:32:17,880 Speaker 1: he gives land allotments according to particular boundaries and borders. 473 00:32:18,400 --> 00:32:21,040 Speaker 1: And if God is in favor of boundaries and borders, 474 00:32:21,040 --> 00:32:24,960 Speaker 1: then surely he's in favor of defending those defined borders. 475 00:32:25,960 --> 00:32:28,800 Speaker 1: So national defense is an important thing. At the same time, 476 00:32:29,440 --> 00:32:31,520 Speaker 1: know the heart of God, He's also favorable toward the 477 00:32:31,520 --> 00:32:34,959 Speaker 1: alien and Zechariah seven ten, it says, do not oppress 478 00:32:35,040 --> 00:32:37,840 Speaker 1: the widow or the fatherless, the alien, or the poor. 479 00:32:38,840 --> 00:32:41,880 Speaker 1: We should take care of the widow, the fatherless, the alien, 480 00:32:41,920 --> 00:32:45,320 Speaker 1: and the poor. But when it comes to immigration, there 481 00:32:45,400 --> 00:32:48,360 Speaker 1: is a right way and a legal way for aliens 482 00:32:48,400 --> 00:32:53,240 Speaker 1: to come into our country. There's a right way, there's 483 00:32:53,280 --> 00:32:58,120 Speaker 1: a legal way. I know many people who were not 484 00:32:58,160 --> 00:33:00,440 Speaker 1: born in the United States who have immigrated to the 485 00:33:00,520 --> 00:33:04,160 Speaker 1: United States. Praise God, we should be pro immigration. But 486 00:33:04,240 --> 00:33:06,960 Speaker 1: I know many people who have done it the legal way, 487 00:33:07,000 --> 00:33:10,800 Speaker 1: the hard way. It's taken them years, years to get 488 00:33:10,800 --> 00:33:13,680 Speaker 1: their American citizenship. All the while, there are millions, how 489 00:33:13,720 --> 00:33:16,520 Speaker 1: many now twenty million who have been streaming across the 490 00:33:16,560 --> 00:33:22,480 Speaker 1: southern border into our country, getting free hotels, free cell phones, 491 00:33:23,040 --> 00:33:28,840 Speaker 1: free college education. And why ultimately, because some people think 492 00:33:28,880 --> 00:33:33,080 Speaker 1: it'll develop into a voting block at the expense of 493 00:33:33,120 --> 00:33:37,640 Speaker 1: our national security. I have a personal friend who this 494 00:33:37,680 --> 00:33:40,200 Speaker 1: is first ten information, who was down at the border 495 00:33:40,280 --> 00:33:42,800 Speaker 1: last year. He said, Gary, I saw on the other 496 00:33:42,840 --> 00:33:47,959 Speaker 1: side of the border pulling up several coach buses. And 497 00:33:48,000 --> 00:33:51,040 Speaker 1: you know who got off. Every single person in those 498 00:33:51,080 --> 00:33:56,440 Speaker 1: several coach buses was a young military age male from 499 00:33:56,560 --> 00:34:02,080 Speaker 1: China coming right into our country. Where's the borders are? 500 00:34:03,120 --> 00:34:08,160 Speaker 1: Where's the borders are? So ask yourselves the question which 501 00:34:08,320 --> 00:34:14,160 Speaker 1: candidate will best protect our national security? Number three, I 502 00:34:14,160 --> 00:34:18,120 Speaker 1: think the subject of Israel is important. Genesis twelve three, 503 00:34:18,160 --> 00:34:20,480 Speaker 1: God says clearly, I will bless those who bless Israel, 504 00:34:20,480 --> 00:34:22,960 Speaker 1: and I will curse him who curses Israel, and then you, 505 00:34:23,080 --> 00:34:28,200 Speaker 1: all the families of the years shall be blessed. I 506 00:34:28,239 --> 00:34:33,040 Speaker 1: don't think it's appropriate to support every policy of every 507 00:34:33,120 --> 00:34:36,320 Speaker 1: foreign nation. I'm sure every foreign nation doesn't support ours. 508 00:34:36,400 --> 00:34:38,520 Speaker 1: I don't support our own, you know. So I'm not 509 00:34:38,560 --> 00:34:42,640 Speaker 1: saying that carte blanche everything Israel does is right. But 510 00:34:42,719 --> 00:34:45,040 Speaker 1: what I do know is God says we better be 511 00:34:45,160 --> 00:34:49,200 Speaker 1: Israel's ally, because He will bless those who bless Israel, 512 00:34:49,239 --> 00:34:52,560 Speaker 1: and God will curse those who curse Israel. And we 513 00:34:52,600 --> 00:34:56,040 Speaker 1: cannot have our politicians cozying up to the enemies of Israel. 514 00:34:57,160 --> 00:34:59,680 Speaker 1: There must not be daylight between the United States and 515 00:34:59,760 --> 00:35:02,760 Speaker 1: Israel in terms of our support. We have to stop 516 00:35:02,800 --> 00:35:06,319 Speaker 1: criticizing the Prime Minister of Israel. That man is in 517 00:35:06,360 --> 00:35:09,640 Speaker 1: the most difficult position I could possibly imagine someone to 518 00:35:09,680 --> 00:35:14,640 Speaker 1: be in, and he's under tremendous pressure and scrutiny. When 519 00:35:14,680 --> 00:35:18,280 Speaker 1: Benjamin Natanyahu came and addressed a joint session of Congress 520 00:35:18,520 --> 00:35:21,239 Speaker 1: on July the twenty fifth, twenty twenty four, I think 521 00:35:21,239 --> 00:35:24,600 Speaker 1: it was a disgrace that Vice President Harris, as President 522 00:35:24,640 --> 00:35:27,400 Speaker 1: of the Senate, was not sitting behind him on the Daias, 523 00:35:29,320 --> 00:35:33,600 Speaker 1: but in all fairness, Senator JD. Vance was out campaigning 524 00:35:33,600 --> 00:35:37,799 Speaker 1: and he wasn't there either. The United States must show 525 00:35:37,920 --> 00:35:42,319 Speaker 1: its unwavering support for the nation of Israel because the 526 00:35:42,360 --> 00:35:46,360 Speaker 1: threat against Israel is great from Hamas Hasbolah the proxies 527 00:35:46,360 --> 00:35:49,560 Speaker 1: of Iran, and we must be putting pressure on Iran 528 00:35:49,680 --> 00:35:53,600 Speaker 1: and stop unfreezing their assets and doing all we can 529 00:35:53,880 --> 00:35:57,040 Speaker 1: to show our unwavering support for Israel. Because he who 530 00:35:57,040 --> 00:35:59,719 Speaker 1: blesses Israel will be blessed, and whoever curses Israel will 531 00:35:59,719 --> 00:36:02,920 Speaker 1: be first. And you need to ask yourself which candidate 532 00:36:03,480 --> 00:36:08,760 Speaker 1: will best support the nation of Israel. Number four. Religious 533 00:36:08,800 --> 00:36:12,880 Speaker 1: liberty is important, especially to us. There are six hundred 534 00:36:12,920 --> 00:36:15,959 Speaker 1: and thirteen laws in the Old Testament when you count 535 00:36:16,000 --> 00:36:19,680 Speaker 1: them all, and God summarizes the most important in ten 536 00:36:19,760 --> 00:36:22,560 Speaker 1: of them that are found in Exodus chapter twenty. The 537 00:36:22,600 --> 00:36:24,840 Speaker 1: first of the ten commandments is what we call the 538 00:36:24,920 --> 00:36:28,440 Speaker 1: conscience clause. It's Exodus twenty, verse three, you shall have 539 00:36:28,520 --> 00:36:31,920 Speaker 1: no other gods before me. Why is this a conscience clause? 540 00:36:31,960 --> 00:36:34,960 Speaker 1: Because it means that if my allegiance is supremely to God, 541 00:36:34,960 --> 00:36:37,279 Speaker 1: there are no other gods, nothing else, and no one 542 00:36:37,280 --> 00:36:41,240 Speaker 1: else I worship above God. Then that means I should 543 00:36:41,280 --> 00:36:45,440 Speaker 1: not be required to bow down to or submit to 544 00:36:46,080 --> 00:36:51,160 Speaker 1: anything or anyone that conflicts or competes with my loyalty 545 00:36:51,200 --> 00:36:54,440 Speaker 1: and allegiance to the Supreme God of Heaven. So this 546 00:36:54,480 --> 00:36:57,040 Speaker 1: is why we call it the conscience clause. We need 547 00:36:57,080 --> 00:36:59,359 Speaker 1: to start to ask ourselves in this election, who will 548 00:36:59,360 --> 00:37:03,640 Speaker 1: defend a Mayoramerican's conscience, particularly on the level of religious freedom. 549 00:37:04,120 --> 00:37:08,239 Speaker 1: It means that doctors who object to performing abortions on 550 00:37:08,320 --> 00:37:12,160 Speaker 1: religious grounds won't be forced to. It means that cake 551 00:37:12,200 --> 00:37:16,160 Speaker 1: makers and graphic designers and photographers who object to providing 552 00:37:16,160 --> 00:37:19,560 Speaker 1: their services on religious grounds won't be forced to. It 553 00:37:19,640 --> 00:37:23,399 Speaker 1: means that companies that object to providing abortifacient drugs as 554 00:37:23,480 --> 00:37:26,640 Speaker 1: part of their health care program won't be forced to. 555 00:37:26,760 --> 00:37:30,160 Speaker 1: It means that Christians who object to taking a vax 556 00:37:30,239 --> 00:37:34,600 Speaker 1: on religious grounds won't lose their jobs. So ask yourselves 557 00:37:34,680 --> 00:37:39,080 Speaker 1: which candidate is going to preserve religious liberties and America's 558 00:37:39,239 --> 00:37:43,160 Speaker 1: conscience Because we only have one supreme God that we 559 00:37:43,160 --> 00:37:48,480 Speaker 1: should bow down to. Number five the issue of biological sex. 560 00:37:49,520 --> 00:37:52,120 Speaker 1: God makes it clear in Genesis one twenty seven God 561 00:37:52,160 --> 00:37:54,560 Speaker 1: created man in his own image and the image of God. 562 00:37:54,600 --> 00:37:59,360 Speaker 1: He created him male and female, He created them. God 563 00:37:59,400 --> 00:38:03,200 Speaker 1: assigns biological sex in the womb. We don't get to 564 00:38:03,239 --> 00:38:06,160 Speaker 1: decide if we want to be a different gender and 565 00:38:06,200 --> 00:38:11,520 Speaker 1: to support that, legitimize it, or celebrate that is contributing 566 00:38:11,600 --> 00:38:15,759 Speaker 1: to mental illness instead of helping people to realize the 567 00:38:15,800 --> 00:38:20,080 Speaker 1: beautiful design that God created them to be. And that's 568 00:38:20,080 --> 00:38:29,120 Speaker 1: what we should be about. Booker T. Washington said, quote 569 00:38:29,120 --> 00:38:31,680 Speaker 1: A lie doesn't become truth, wrong doesn't become right, and 570 00:38:31,760 --> 00:38:34,560 Speaker 1: evil doesn't become good just because it's accepted by a 571 00:38:34,600 --> 00:38:39,839 Speaker 1: majority end quote. Fourteen states currently have what are called 572 00:38:39,840 --> 00:38:45,680 Speaker 1: transgender health care shield laws. Among them, Minnesota Governor Tim 573 00:38:45,719 --> 00:38:51,360 Speaker 1: Waltz signed legislation last year making Minnesota a trans refuge state. 574 00:38:51,960 --> 00:38:55,920 Speaker 1: Listen to this. If a minor child has been unable 575 00:38:56,040 --> 00:39:00,880 Speaker 1: to obtain gender affirming care because one or both parents object, 576 00:39:01,719 --> 00:39:06,719 Speaker 1: the Minnesota law allows courts to have quote temporary emergency 577 00:39:06,840 --> 00:39:12,439 Speaker 1: jurisdiction over the child. Governor walt signed that into law. 578 00:39:14,760 --> 00:39:20,080 Speaker 1: They're coming after your children and all. This gender confusion 579 00:39:20,120 --> 00:39:24,680 Speaker 1: has led to biological boys competing in girls' sports, using girls' restrooms, 580 00:39:24,680 --> 00:39:29,640 Speaker 1: and denying girls their fundamental protection and the title nine 581 00:39:29,719 --> 00:39:36,080 Speaker 1: rights that they deserve. So which candidate will best protect 582 00:39:36,239 --> 00:39:42,680 Speaker 1: God's design of biological sex? Number six Family. This is 583 00:39:42,719 --> 00:39:45,160 Speaker 1: out of Psalm one twenty seven to three. Behold, children 584 00:39:45,160 --> 00:39:47,560 Speaker 1: are a heritage from the Lord. The fruit of the 585 00:39:47,600 --> 00:39:51,319 Speaker 1: womb is a reward. I don't need to tell you. 586 00:39:51,840 --> 00:39:56,839 Speaker 1: We've all seen parental rights have been incrementally stripped. We've 587 00:39:56,880 --> 00:40:01,239 Speaker 1: had to fight for parental rights and are being targeted 588 00:40:01,880 --> 00:40:06,600 Speaker 1: by progressive evil agendas. That's not an overstatement. That is happening. 589 00:40:07,680 --> 00:40:10,840 Speaker 1: We have to fight for our children. God has designed 590 00:40:10,840 --> 00:40:14,319 Speaker 1: the family, and he has entrusted children to our care. 591 00:40:14,520 --> 00:40:17,280 Speaker 1: They don't belong to the state. They belong to God, 592 00:40:17,800 --> 00:40:21,240 Speaker 1: and God has entrusted them to us. So we better 593 00:40:21,600 --> 00:40:25,839 Speaker 1: manage what he is entrusted well and realize that if 594 00:40:25,880 --> 00:40:29,480 Speaker 1: government tries to intrude in the family, it's a violation 595 00:40:30,080 --> 00:40:34,200 Speaker 1: of what God's design is intended. Children are heritage from 596 00:40:34,239 --> 00:40:38,160 Speaker 1: the Lord. They are fruit of the womb from him. 597 00:40:38,760 --> 00:40:41,600 Speaker 1: Number seven and I'll end with this one the topic 598 00:40:41,640 --> 00:40:45,439 Speaker 1: of life. In Acts three point fifteen, God has called 599 00:40:45,480 --> 00:40:49,120 Speaker 1: the author of life, and in Proverbs six seventeen it 600 00:40:49,120 --> 00:40:54,560 Speaker 1: says God hates hands, that shed innocent blood. So the 601 00:40:54,640 --> 00:41:01,399 Speaker 1: question is which candidate will best protect life. Now, this 602 00:41:01,440 --> 00:41:03,279 Speaker 1: is where some of you may not like to hear 603 00:41:03,320 --> 00:41:05,320 Speaker 1: what I have to say on this, but I gotta 604 00:41:05,320 --> 00:41:07,600 Speaker 1: say it anyway, because the truth of the matter is this, 605 00:41:09,160 --> 00:41:11,799 Speaker 1: we do not have a pro life candidate in this 606 00:41:11,960 --> 00:41:18,479 Speaker 1: race for president. We don't. Donald Trump has moved much 607 00:41:18,520 --> 00:41:20,960 Speaker 1: more in the center, much more left than what he 608 00:41:21,080 --> 00:41:24,640 Speaker 1: was in twenty sixteen and twenty twenty. He is now 609 00:41:24,680 --> 00:41:28,280 Speaker 1: going around advocating for a fifteen week ban on abortion. 610 00:41:29,440 --> 00:41:34,040 Speaker 1: In case people understand, because I think it's a misleading label. 611 00:41:34,320 --> 00:41:36,640 Speaker 1: I think it should be referred to as a fifteen 612 00:41:36,680 --> 00:41:40,960 Speaker 1: week allowance. Okay, The fifteen week ban that he's in 613 00:41:41,000 --> 00:41:44,360 Speaker 1: favor of means that you can have abortions through fifteen 614 00:41:44,400 --> 00:41:48,279 Speaker 1: weeks and then we shouldn't have anymore. All right, let 615 00:41:48,280 --> 00:41:50,799 Speaker 1: me quote to you CDC zone number. Are you ready 616 00:41:50,800 --> 00:41:54,880 Speaker 1: for this? Ninety five percent of all abortions in America 617 00:41:54,960 --> 00:41:58,879 Speaker 1: happened in the first fifteen weeks. When someone is going 618 00:41:58,920 --> 00:42:02,640 Speaker 1: around saying I'm for allowing abortions for fifteen weeks, you 619 00:42:02,680 --> 00:42:06,200 Speaker 1: are in effect saying I'm for killing babies. Just a 620 00:42:06,200 --> 00:42:09,959 Speaker 1: little bit less than the other person. OK. I gotta 621 00:42:10,000 --> 00:42:14,920 Speaker 1: say this. I gotta say this. Donald Trump, by his influence, 622 00:42:15,280 --> 00:42:20,400 Speaker 1: has stripped the Republican national platform of its language, the 623 00:42:20,440 --> 00:42:24,440 Speaker 1: strong language that used to support life in twenty sixteen 624 00:42:24,480 --> 00:42:27,920 Speaker 1: and in twenty twenty. The number of words and the 625 00:42:27,960 --> 00:42:32,280 Speaker 1: Republican platform protecting life in twenty sixteen and twenty twenty 626 00:42:32,520 --> 00:42:36,240 Speaker 1: thirteen hundred words, it's been pared down to in twenty 627 00:42:36,280 --> 00:42:40,600 Speaker 1: twenty four ninety words. The protection of life is not 628 00:42:40,760 --> 00:42:45,520 Speaker 1: there like it once was. And this is of great 629 00:42:45,560 --> 00:42:49,879 Speaker 1: concern to me. What is tragic in our nation right 630 00:42:49,920 --> 00:42:56,480 Speaker 1: now is that, in all truthfulness, the Republican Party today 631 00:42:56,760 --> 00:42:59,959 Speaker 1: in the area of abortion is what the Democrat Party 632 00:43:00,080 --> 00:43:04,200 Speaker 1: he was thirty years ago. Thirty years ago, Bill Clinton 633 00:43:04,239 --> 00:43:06,760 Speaker 1: was the one who said that abortion should be safe, legal, 634 00:43:06,800 --> 00:43:10,799 Speaker 1: and rare. That's basically what many in the Republican Party 635 00:43:10,800 --> 00:43:15,160 Speaker 1: are saying today. We've become the Democrat Party of thirty 636 00:43:15,239 --> 00:43:21,480 Speaker 1: years ago on this topic. Now, of course, the other 637 00:43:21,520 --> 00:43:25,040 Speaker 1: side is far worse. The other side is far worse. 638 00:43:26,200 --> 00:43:29,160 Speaker 1: The Democrat Party has gone even further left on abortion 639 00:43:29,280 --> 00:43:32,000 Speaker 1: and believes that it should be legal in all cases 640 00:43:32,120 --> 00:43:36,080 Speaker 1: up until the moment of delivery. This is Kamala Harris's 641 00:43:36,160 --> 00:43:41,319 Speaker 1: position advocating for no restrictions on abortion, celebrating murder and 642 00:43:41,360 --> 00:43:46,160 Speaker 1: then using as a campaign slogan it's just reproductive rights. No, 643 00:43:46,280 --> 00:43:49,799 Speaker 1: it's murdering babies. And in case you don't think she's 644 00:43:49,840 --> 00:43:52,440 Speaker 1: serious about it, why is it that it was allowed 645 00:43:52,760 --> 00:43:56,200 Speaker 1: outside the doors of the Democratic National Convention for there 646 00:43:56,239 --> 00:44:00,400 Speaker 1: to be a mobile abortion clinic aborting babies as they 647 00:44:00,440 --> 00:44:04,680 Speaker 1: were having their convention. If that does not speak to evil, 648 00:44:04,800 --> 00:44:07,960 Speaker 1: I don't know what does and how can someone vote 649 00:44:08,040 --> 00:44:18,280 Speaker 1: for that? That is what is being reflected by that party. 650 00:44:18,920 --> 00:44:21,520 Speaker 1: As my friend Seth Gruber said, those who murder the 651 00:44:21,719 --> 00:44:31,400 Speaker 1: unborn cannot be trusted to govern the born. My last 652 00:44:31,400 --> 00:44:34,759 Speaker 1: point is this number three. Voting is not just a right. 653 00:44:35,000 --> 00:44:39,280 Speaker 1: I'm convinced it's a duty. In Luke chapter twelve, Jesus 654 00:44:39,320 --> 00:44:42,680 Speaker 1: teaches a parable about two servants who work for the 655 00:44:42,719 --> 00:44:45,799 Speaker 1: same master. The master goes away and he entrusts his 656 00:44:46,000 --> 00:44:48,920 Speaker 1: work and his possessions to the servants. And when he 657 00:44:48,960 --> 00:44:51,400 Speaker 1: comes back, what does he find. Well, well, one he 658 00:44:51,480 --> 00:44:54,399 Speaker 1: calls an evil servant, because that one did not take 659 00:44:54,440 --> 00:44:56,120 Speaker 1: care of He was not a good steward of what 660 00:44:56,160 --> 00:44:58,520 Speaker 1: God had entrusted to him. But the other one he 661 00:44:58,560 --> 00:45:03,040 Speaker 1: calls a wise and faith full servant because he took 662 00:45:03,120 --> 00:45:06,600 Speaker 1: care of what the Master had entrusted to him. It's 663 00:45:06,640 --> 00:45:09,320 Speaker 1: a picture of Christ. Christ has gone away. He's the Master. 664 00:45:09,840 --> 00:45:12,920 Speaker 1: We are just serving him. And God entrusts a lot 665 00:45:13,000 --> 00:45:15,400 Speaker 1: to us. And one of the things he has entrusted 666 00:45:15,480 --> 00:45:18,600 Speaker 1: to us is the wonderful privilege as Americans of living 667 00:45:18,760 --> 00:45:20,920 Speaker 1: in the greatest and freest country in the world, the 668 00:45:21,000 --> 00:45:25,359 Speaker 1: United States of America. And He's entrusted this freedom to us. 669 00:45:25,520 --> 00:45:28,279 Speaker 1: And we know the saying freedom is never free, And 670 00:45:28,320 --> 00:45:29,960 Speaker 1: so what are we going to do with what He's 671 00:45:30,200 --> 00:45:32,520 Speaker 1: entrusted to us? Are we just going to sit it out? 672 00:45:32,840 --> 00:45:35,360 Speaker 1: Are we just going to say, well, let everybody else vote. 673 00:45:35,480 --> 00:45:37,080 Speaker 1: I don't like this, I don't like that, so I'm 674 00:45:37,120 --> 00:45:40,760 Speaker 1: just gonna sit it out. Listen. As disparaging as this sounds, 675 00:45:40,840 --> 00:45:44,560 Speaker 1: every election has been about the lesser of two evils, 676 00:45:45,960 --> 00:45:49,000 Speaker 1: the lesser of two evils. And we have to decide 677 00:45:49,080 --> 00:45:51,399 Speaker 1: what can we do to advance the Kingdom of God 678 00:45:51,440 --> 00:45:54,040 Speaker 1: for the glory of God and stem the tide of 679 00:45:54,239 --> 00:45:57,000 Speaker 1: evil in our land until Jesus comes. Because if we 680 00:45:57,040 --> 00:45:59,800 Speaker 1: do nothing, if we check out. If we remain silent, 681 00:46:00,120 --> 00:46:03,759 Speaker 1: evil will rush into the vacuum. That's why it is 682 00:46:03,760 --> 00:46:06,160 Speaker 1: an incumbent upon every single one of us to be 683 00:46:06,280 --> 00:46:09,279 Speaker 1: engaged in all of this. Yes, I know you might 684 00:46:09,320 --> 00:46:12,040 Speaker 1: have to hold your nose when you go to vote, 685 00:46:12,239 --> 00:46:17,120 Speaker 1: but the alternative is far worse. What will happen if 686 00:46:17,160 --> 00:46:19,640 Speaker 1: we don't stay engaged. Listen to me on this. There 687 00:46:19,640 --> 00:46:24,200 Speaker 1: are ninety million self identified evangelicals in America who are 688 00:46:24,239 --> 00:46:28,760 Speaker 1: eligible to vote. Ninety million. Of that ninety million, forty 689 00:46:28,800 --> 00:46:33,840 Speaker 1: million do not vote. And of that ninety million, fifteen 690 00:46:33,920 --> 00:46:38,320 Speaker 1: million are not even registered to vote. That's fifty five 691 00:46:38,480 --> 00:46:42,279 Speaker 1: million evangelical Christians who are saying I'll let evil take 692 00:46:42,320 --> 00:46:45,759 Speaker 1: over because I'm going to do nothing. That's a disgrace. 693 00:46:47,400 --> 00:46:49,840 Speaker 1: We have no one to blame except ourselves, and we 694 00:46:49,960 --> 00:46:54,080 Speaker 1: have wicked policies. Righteousness exalts nation. Sin is a reproach 695 00:46:54,160 --> 00:46:57,480 Speaker 1: to any people. When the righteous are in authority, the 696 00:46:57,480 --> 00:47:00,240 Speaker 1: people rejoice. When the wicked are in authority, the people grow. 697 00:47:00,440 --> 00:47:03,239 Speaker 1: I don't know about you. I'm tired of groaning. I 698 00:47:03,239 --> 00:47:07,480 Speaker 1: don't want to groan. So it's a duty. It's not 699 00:47:07,560 --> 00:47:10,359 Speaker 1: just to write and a privilege. It's a duty. We 700 00:47:10,400 --> 00:47:14,480 Speaker 1: can remain silent. God used I think a great person, 701 00:47:14,600 --> 00:47:20,440 Speaker 1: William Wilberforce. God used Wilberforce in British Parliament to effectively 702 00:47:20,480 --> 00:47:24,400 Speaker 1: outlaw slavery throughout the British colonies. It was his Christian 703 00:47:24,520 --> 00:47:27,560 Speaker 1: faith that moved him to take the lead on this. 704 00:47:27,640 --> 00:47:30,600 Speaker 1: And Wilberforce said, quote, let it not be said that 705 00:47:30,719 --> 00:47:37,520 Speaker 1: I was silent when they needed me. Now listen, I'll 706 00:47:37,560 --> 00:47:40,000 Speaker 1: wrap this up. I'll be honest with you, and maybe 707 00:47:40,000 --> 00:47:41,720 Speaker 1: you can tell through some of the things I've said. 708 00:47:41,800 --> 00:47:45,000 Speaker 1: I'm not an enthist. I am not an enthusiastic voter. 709 00:47:45,160 --> 00:47:48,040 Speaker 1: This year. I'm going to vote, but I'm not enthusiastic, 710 00:47:48,360 --> 00:47:50,160 Speaker 1: not as much as I was in twenty sixteen or 711 00:47:50,200 --> 00:47:52,640 Speaker 1: twenty twenty, not as much as I was the first 712 00:47:52,640 --> 00:47:55,440 Speaker 1: time I voted in nineteen eighty four to for Well. 713 00:47:59,000 --> 00:48:08,320 Speaker 3: But but but it is our right and our duty 714 00:48:08,360 --> 00:48:09,760 Speaker 3: to vote. 715 00:48:11,719 --> 00:48:17,080 Speaker 1: I will say this. I've never met Vice President Harris. 716 00:48:18,480 --> 00:48:23,279 Speaker 1: I have met Donald Trump twice. He is as raw 717 00:48:23,360 --> 00:48:28,960 Speaker 1: and unfiltered in person as he is in public. I 718 00:48:29,000 --> 00:48:31,520 Speaker 1: was sitting with a group of about ten pastors up 719 00:48:31,600 --> 00:48:37,000 Speaker 1: in New Jersey at his place in New Jersey, and 720 00:48:40,760 --> 00:48:44,160 Speaker 1: he was unfiltered, even in front of us and using 721 00:48:44,200 --> 00:48:46,279 Speaker 1: foul language. And I'm sitting there going we're pastors, and 722 00:48:46,520 --> 00:48:49,919 Speaker 1: he still doesn't even care enough to watch his mouth 723 00:48:49,960 --> 00:48:55,359 Speaker 1: around us. There are things I personally don't appreciate about him, 724 00:48:56,800 --> 00:49:03,120 Speaker 1: but his policies some of them. And so I think 725 00:49:03,160 --> 00:49:07,360 Speaker 1: of what Frederick Douglas once said, quote, I will unite 726 00:49:07,400 --> 00:49:09,560 Speaker 1: with anyone to do right and no one to do wrong. 727 00:49:10,960 --> 00:49:13,719 Speaker 1: I will unite with anyone to do right and no 728 00:49:13,760 --> 00:49:17,440 Speaker 1: one to do wrong. In World War Two, the United 729 00:49:17,440 --> 00:49:23,120 Speaker 1: States joined forces with a bad guy Stalin to defeat 730 00:49:23,160 --> 00:49:27,680 Speaker 1: a worse guy Hitler. And sometimes that's what we do. 731 00:49:29,280 --> 00:49:33,200 Speaker 1: We say, I don't particularly like this individual, don't even 732 00:49:33,239 --> 00:49:37,560 Speaker 1: agree with all their policies, but I got to fight 733 00:49:37,560 --> 00:49:41,200 Speaker 1: a greater evil, and so sometimes we do what we 734 00:49:41,280 --> 00:49:45,279 Speaker 1: need to do. Not because it's an enjoyable thing to do, 735 00:49:46,680 --> 00:49:50,200 Speaker 1: but it's the better of the choices. And I close 736 00:49:50,280 --> 00:49:56,680 Speaker 1: with this. In the nineteen forties, Adolf Hitler gathered all 737 00:49:56,680 --> 00:49:59,400 Speaker 1: the prominent clergy in Germany at his place in Berlin, 738 00:50:00,960 --> 00:50:03,960 Speaker 1: and he wanted to reassure them that he had their backs. 739 00:50:04,960 --> 00:50:08,920 Speaker 1: Churches in Germany were state subsidized, and Hitler said to 740 00:50:08,960 --> 00:50:11,719 Speaker 1: all these prominent clergy, He said, don't worry With me 741 00:50:11,840 --> 00:50:16,960 Speaker 1: in charge, I will take care of your subsidies. Your 742 00:50:17,080 --> 00:50:22,840 Speaker 1: churches would not be harmed. One of those clergy in 743 00:50:22,880 --> 00:50:26,080 Speaker 1: the room at that time, a great man of faith, 744 00:50:26,160 --> 00:50:33,000 Speaker 1: Dietrich Bonhoeffer, stepped up to confront Hitler, and when he did, 745 00:50:33,120 --> 00:50:38,000 Speaker 1: the other clergy took a step back. And Bonheffer said, Eh, Hitler, 746 00:50:39,200 --> 00:50:43,120 Speaker 1: we are not concerned for the church. For Jesus Christ 747 00:50:43,440 --> 00:50:46,920 Speaker 1: will take care of his church. We are concerned for 748 00:50:47,000 --> 00:50:52,879 Speaker 1: the soul of Germany. And Hitler said to him, Eir Bonheffer, 749 00:50:53,320 --> 00:50:55,800 Speaker 1: you do not need to worry about the soul of Germany. 750 00:50:56,120 --> 00:51:01,640 Speaker 1: I will take care of the soul of Germany. Friend's 751 00:51:01,760 --> 00:51:05,759 Speaker 1: government is not the answer for the soul of a nation. 752 00:51:06,640 --> 00:51:10,880 Speaker 1: Jesus is. And may God bring revival again to the 753 00:51:10,960 --> 00:51:24,359 Speaker 1: United States of America. He's our only hope. He's our 754 00:51:24,400 --> 00:51:27,439 Speaker 1: only hope. 755 00:51:28,560 --> 00:51:41,239 Speaker 4: So so until Jesus comes, until Jesus comes, get out there, 756 00:51:41,800 --> 00:51:46,560 Speaker 4: vote be his ambassadors, be salt and light in this world, 757 00:51:46,800 --> 00:51:47,640 Speaker 4: and advance the. 758 00:51:47,640 --> 00:51:49,920 Speaker 1: Kingdom of God for the glory of God, to stem 759 00:51:49,960 --> 00:51:52,560 Speaker 1: the tide of evil in our land. Until Jesus comes, 760 00:51:52,840 --> 00:51:56,440 Speaker 1: let your voices be heard, let your votes be counted, 761 00:51:56,640 --> 00:51:59,560 Speaker 1: and let God arise, and let his enemies be scattered, 762 00:52:00,520 --> 00:52:03,360 Speaker 1: and a math for the glory of God, for the 763 00:52:03,400 --> 00:52:04,080 Speaker 1: glory of God. 764 00:52:05,440 --> 00:52:08,400 Speaker 2: If you like the Michael Berry Show and Podcast, please 765 00:52:08,640 --> 00:52:12,759 Speaker 2: tell one friend, and if you're so inclined, write a 766 00:52:12,880 --> 00:52:17,920 Speaker 2: nice review of our podcast. Comments, suggestions, questions, and interest 767 00:52:18,040 --> 00:52:21,919 Speaker 2: in being a corporate sponsor and partner can be communicated 768 00:52:21,960 --> 00:52:26,399 Speaker 2: directly to the show at our email address, Michael at 769 00:52:26,560 --> 00:52:31,040 Speaker 2: Michael Berryshow dot com, or simply by clicking on our website, 770 00:52:31,400 --> 00:52:35,920 Speaker 2: Michael Berryshow dot com. The Michael Berry Show and Podcast 771 00:52:36,200 --> 00:52:41,359 Speaker 2: is produced by Ramon Roeblis, The King of Ding. Executive 772 00:52:41,400 --> 00:52:50,240 Speaker 2: producer is Chad Knakanishi. Jim Mudd is the creative director. 773 00:52:51,040 --> 00:52:56,640 Speaker 2: Voices Jingles, Tomfoolery, and Shenanigans are provided by Chance McLain. 774 00:52:57,480 --> 00:53:01,919 Speaker 2: Director of Research is Sandy Peterson. Emily Bull is our 775 00:53:01,960 --> 00:53:09,400 Speaker 2: assistant listener and superfan. Contributions are appreciated and often incorporated 776 00:53:09,600 --> 00:53:13,160 Speaker 2: into our production. Where possible, we give credit. Where not, 777 00:53:13,719 --> 00:53:16,880 Speaker 2: we take all the credit for ourselves. God bless the 778 00:53:16,920 --> 00:53:22,600 Speaker 2: memory of Rush Limbaugh. Long live Elvis, be a simple 779 00:53:22,640 --> 00:53:28,480 Speaker 2: man like Leonard Skinnard told you, and God bless America. Finally, 780 00:53:29,200 --> 00:53:32,960 Speaker 2: if you know a veteran suffering from PTSD, call Camp 781 00:53:33,000 --> 00:53:38,880 Speaker 2: Hope at eight seven seven seven one seven PTSD and 782 00:53:38,960 --> 00:53:42,799 Speaker 2: a combat veteran will answer the phone to provide free 783 00:53:42,840 --> 00:53:43,280 Speaker 2: counseling