1 00:00:00,200 --> 00:00:04,600 Speaker 1: It's Sunday, December fourteenth, twenty twenty five. Welcome to Real 2 00:00:04,640 --> 00:00:09,559 Speaker 1: America's Voice News. This is Sunday the Road Forward. We 3 00:00:09,600 --> 00:00:12,280 Speaker 1: are now in the third week of Advent, drawing ever 4 00:00:12,360 --> 00:00:16,360 Speaker 1: closer to celebrating the birth of our Savior. Even in 5 00:00:16,440 --> 00:00:21,360 Speaker 1: these turbulent times, we remember that God's promises are certain. 6 00:00:21,960 --> 00:00:25,840 Speaker 1: Seven hundred years before Christ was born, the prophet Micah 7 00:00:25,880 --> 00:00:29,920 Speaker 1: declared exactly where the Messiah would enter the world, a 8 00:00:30,000 --> 00:00:33,960 Speaker 1: reminder that nothing catches God by surprise, and his plan 9 00:00:34,040 --> 00:00:37,440 Speaker 1: of redemption was set in motion before the foundation of 10 00:00:37,600 --> 00:00:41,520 Speaker 1: the earth. Our scripture today comes from Micah Chapter five, 11 00:00:41,680 --> 00:00:46,040 Speaker 1: verse two. But you of Bethlehem, who are too little 12 00:00:46,080 --> 00:00:49,200 Speaker 1: to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall 13 00:00:49,240 --> 00:00:52,239 Speaker 1: come forth for me, the one who is to be 14 00:00:52,400 --> 00:00:55,840 Speaker 1: ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, 15 00:00:56,200 --> 00:00:59,600 Speaker 1: from ancient days. As always, we want to be an 16 00:00:59,640 --> 00:01:03,240 Speaker 1: incur ridgement to our viewers and listeners to hold fast 17 00:01:03,560 --> 00:01:06,520 Speaker 1: to the Gospel and the unchanging word of God. I'm 18 00:01:06,560 --> 00:01:09,600 Speaker 1: Ryan Helfenbind filling in for doctor Tim Clinton. I'll be 19 00:01:09,680 --> 00:01:10,360 Speaker 1: your host today. 20 00:01:13,080 --> 00:01:18,840 Speaker 2: Come saw Him, Oh, come us. 21 00:01:21,680 --> 00:01:30,440 Speaker 3: Christ by love Sworthy hoy. 22 00:01:31,680 --> 00:01:42,800 Speaker 4: Swart for more encouragement and to stay connected, follow doctor 23 00:01:42,840 --> 00:01:46,200 Speaker 4: Tim Clinton on Facebook, Instagram, and X. We love being 24 00:01:46,200 --> 00:01:46,960 Speaker 4: a part of your life. 25 00:01:55,640 --> 00:01:58,640 Speaker 1: Joining us now is Lucas Miles. Lucas is the lead 26 00:01:58,760 --> 00:02:01,920 Speaker 1: pastor of Influenced Cheer. He's also the senior director of 27 00:02:02,000 --> 00:02:05,840 Speaker 1: TPUSA Faith and the host of the Strong Church podcast. 28 00:02:06,000 --> 00:02:10,200 Speaker 1: He is author of numerous books, including most recently New 29 00:02:10,280 --> 00:02:14,560 Speaker 1: York Times best selling author of The Pagan Threat, Confronting 30 00:02:14,600 --> 00:02:19,400 Speaker 1: America's Godless Uprising. Lucas, It's great to see you. Welcome 31 00:02:19,440 --> 00:02:21,600 Speaker 1: to Sunday the Road Forward, Ryan, Thanks for having me, 32 00:02:21,639 --> 00:02:24,280 Speaker 1: always going to be with you well, brother, I really 33 00:02:24,320 --> 00:02:27,919 Speaker 1: appreciate what you're doing at Turning Point Faith. You guys 34 00:02:27,960 --> 00:02:31,320 Speaker 1: are growing by leaps and bounds, hosting meetings all across 35 00:02:31,400 --> 00:02:35,680 Speaker 1: the country. You've got a network of thousands of pastors 36 00:02:36,160 --> 00:02:41,720 Speaker 1: that you're reaching, really giving them a great resource. First 37 00:02:41,760 --> 00:02:44,720 Speaker 1: of all, them recognizing they're not alone in what they're doing. 38 00:02:45,160 --> 00:02:48,160 Speaker 1: I think about a lot of blue state pastors. I'm 39 00:02:48,200 --> 00:02:51,720 Speaker 1: in the Commonwealth of Virginia, and things are going to 40 00:02:51,760 --> 00:02:55,960 Speaker 1: be changing. In twenty twenty six, a new administration takes office. 41 00:02:56,560 --> 00:03:01,840 Speaker 1: Many pastors just need encouragement to stand strong, preach boldly 42 00:03:01,880 --> 00:03:06,800 Speaker 1: in the pulpit, and certainly not to balk at political 43 00:03:06,840 --> 00:03:11,520 Speaker 1: cultural issues that are gospel issues that are confronting their churches. 44 00:03:12,400 --> 00:03:20,040 Speaker 1: What really is tp Faith doing in terms of encouraging pastors. 45 00:03:19,639 --> 00:03:20,160 Speaker 5: To be bold? 46 00:03:21,080 --> 00:03:21,520 Speaker 3: Absolutely? 47 00:03:21,720 --> 00:03:23,320 Speaker 6: First off, Ryan is one of my favorite things to 48 00:03:23,400 --> 00:03:27,000 Speaker 6: talk about. I love pastors. Charlie Kirk love pastors. We 49 00:03:27,080 --> 00:03:29,239 Speaker 6: have about eight thousand pastors right now that we work 50 00:03:29,320 --> 00:03:34,000 Speaker 6: with at TPUSA Faith across the country and across denominational lines. 51 00:03:34,000 --> 00:03:36,600 Speaker 6: There's not a lot of groups that can put Charismatics 52 00:03:36,640 --> 00:03:39,000 Speaker 6: and Calvinists in the same room and have them get 53 00:03:39,040 --> 00:03:41,640 Speaker 6: along and all in between. And we're finding unity around 54 00:03:41,680 --> 00:03:45,160 Speaker 6: primary doctrine and really just the importance of preaching the 55 00:03:45,240 --> 00:03:47,360 Speaker 6: full council of the Word of God. Yeah, we might have, 56 00:03:47,640 --> 00:03:51,520 Speaker 6: you know, you know, robust discussions about secondary issues, but 57 00:03:51,600 --> 00:03:53,720 Speaker 6: we understand what's at stake right now. We understand that 58 00:03:53,760 --> 00:03:55,360 Speaker 6: one day we're all going to be in heaven together 59 00:03:55,680 --> 00:03:57,920 Speaker 6: we'll have perfect theology. Then we can work out some 60 00:03:58,040 --> 00:04:00,320 Speaker 6: of these other issues later. But right now, there's a 61 00:04:00,400 --> 00:04:02,200 Speaker 6: job to do, and it's time for the church to 62 00:04:02,280 --> 00:04:04,760 Speaker 6: truly be that city on a hill. So we've created 63 00:04:04,760 --> 00:04:07,400 Speaker 6: a lot of resources for our churches. We have dozens 64 00:04:07,440 --> 00:04:11,080 Speaker 6: of courses and curriculum classes that the churches can utilize 65 00:04:11,120 --> 00:04:14,080 Speaker 6: free of charge, including our first Truce class, as well 66 00:04:14,120 --> 00:04:16,880 Speaker 6: as we're probably one of the larger providers of Rick 67 00:04:16,920 --> 00:04:20,320 Speaker 6: Green's Biblical Citizenship course, which has become a great resource 68 00:04:20,400 --> 00:04:23,440 Speaker 6: for churches to get them started. We also do a 69 00:04:23,520 --> 00:04:25,960 Speaker 6: lot of pastor roundtables, and of course we have our 70 00:04:26,000 --> 00:04:30,040 Speaker 6: flagship pastor summits, so twice a year. We could do 71 00:04:30,200 --> 00:04:31,880 Speaker 6: more in the future, still undecided. 72 00:04:31,920 --> 00:04:32,400 Speaker 3: As we grow. 73 00:04:33,040 --> 00:04:36,960 Speaker 6: We do major pastor summits on both sides of the country, 74 00:04:37,400 --> 00:04:39,280 Speaker 6: and this is a time where we'll get, you know, 75 00:04:39,400 --> 00:04:41,640 Speaker 6: anywhere from I think our biggest one last year was 76 00:04:41,640 --> 00:04:44,120 Speaker 6: eighteen hundred faith leaders. We're going to do one in 77 00:04:44,600 --> 00:04:47,279 Speaker 6: Dallas in the spring. We'll have more on that here soon, 78 00:04:47,440 --> 00:04:50,000 Speaker 6: but that's gonna I'm expecting up to three thousand pastors 79 00:04:50,080 --> 00:04:53,560 Speaker 6: to show up for this. It's a time of training, fellowship, discipleship, 80 00:04:53,920 --> 00:04:56,039 Speaker 6: pouring into these guys, helping them to know that they're 81 00:04:56,080 --> 00:04:58,440 Speaker 6: not alone, They're not that profit in a cave, They're 82 00:04:58,480 --> 00:05:01,200 Speaker 6: not the only one left. There's a full, you know, 83 00:05:01,440 --> 00:05:03,960 Speaker 6: army of men and women in ministry willing to kind 84 00:05:04,000 --> 00:05:07,160 Speaker 6: of lock arms with them and get the job done. Yes. 85 00:05:08,960 --> 00:05:15,320 Speaker 1: More recently, Erica Kirk has actually gone on tour with 86 00:05:15,520 --> 00:05:20,240 Speaker 1: the release of her book, or actually Charlie's book. This 87 00:05:20,400 --> 00:05:24,880 Speaker 1: has been released posthumously. But stop in the name of God. 88 00:05:25,000 --> 00:05:29,520 Speaker 1: This is all about Sabbath rest and keeping Sabbath rest 89 00:05:29,640 --> 00:05:32,840 Speaker 1: and keeping the day holy. But I wanted you to 90 00:05:32,920 --> 00:05:34,880 Speaker 1: talk a little bit about that that was near to 91 00:05:35,040 --> 00:05:38,960 Speaker 1: Charlie's heart, something that he kept as a regular practice 92 00:05:39,560 --> 00:05:42,440 Speaker 1: and he drew great benefit from it. Tell us a 93 00:05:42,480 --> 00:05:44,320 Speaker 1: little bit about what you've learned from this book. 94 00:05:44,560 --> 00:05:46,760 Speaker 6: Yeah, honestly, I'm still reading it right now. 95 00:05:46,880 --> 00:05:47,680 Speaker 3: In it's phenomenal. 96 00:05:47,839 --> 00:05:49,960 Speaker 6: Charlie had shared with me probably about a year ago 97 00:05:50,080 --> 00:05:52,360 Speaker 6: that he was working on the book, maybe a little 98 00:05:52,440 --> 00:05:54,320 Speaker 6: over that and just wanted to get kind of some 99 00:05:54,440 --> 00:05:57,720 Speaker 6: initial thoughts. And by no means did I offer, you know, 100 00:05:58,160 --> 00:06:00,440 Speaker 6: a bunch of help. It was just more encouragement, you know, 101 00:06:00,520 --> 00:06:02,040 Speaker 6: for him as he was working on the topic. It 102 00:06:02,160 --> 00:06:04,839 Speaker 6: was such a revelation for him, this idea of Sabbath 103 00:06:04,960 --> 00:06:07,880 Speaker 6: rest and and you know, Charlie, it was not legalistic 104 00:06:07,960 --> 00:06:10,559 Speaker 6: for him. It wasn't just about you know, checking a box. 105 00:06:10,680 --> 00:06:12,240 Speaker 7: It was really a. 106 00:06:12,800 --> 00:06:15,640 Speaker 6: He saw it as a divine ordering of his of 107 00:06:15,720 --> 00:06:18,480 Speaker 6: his week, a divine ordering of his thoughts, much in 108 00:06:18,560 --> 00:06:21,200 Speaker 6: the same way that you know, as we set aside 109 00:06:21,279 --> 00:06:23,440 Speaker 6: a tithe under the Lord, that you know he's setting 110 00:06:23,480 --> 00:06:25,360 Speaker 6: aside a day. It forces you to kind of get 111 00:06:25,400 --> 00:06:28,120 Speaker 6: the rest of your finances in order in the case 112 00:06:28,160 --> 00:06:30,480 Speaker 6: of a tie, the rest of your time management, and 113 00:06:30,520 --> 00:06:32,800 Speaker 6: the order you know, in regards to the Sabbath. I've 114 00:06:32,839 --> 00:06:35,600 Speaker 6: been reading through this book, I've been honestly, very convicted, 115 00:06:36,880 --> 00:06:39,560 Speaker 6: very moved. I have filled in for quite a few 116 00:06:39,640 --> 00:06:43,440 Speaker 6: interviews for you know, just the team and helping to 117 00:06:43,520 --> 00:06:45,839 Speaker 6: promote this book. Charlie wrote the forward for my most 118 00:06:45,880 --> 00:06:49,400 Speaker 6: recent book, Pagan Threat, and much of its success, honestly 119 00:06:49,680 --> 00:06:52,680 Speaker 6: was was you know, could be pointed to that Charlie's 120 00:06:52,720 --> 00:06:55,520 Speaker 6: involvement with that project. I was honored to have him there. 121 00:06:55,640 --> 00:06:57,440 Speaker 6: It's it's an honor to play any sort of a 122 00:06:57,520 --> 00:07:00,320 Speaker 6: small role in getting the word out about his is 123 00:07:00,440 --> 00:07:03,320 Speaker 6: really final words here in Stopping the Name of God. 124 00:07:03,520 --> 00:07:05,760 Speaker 6: This is a book that every single person needs to read. 125 00:07:05,800 --> 00:07:08,520 Speaker 6: All the chaos around us, all the confusion, all the factions, 126 00:07:09,279 --> 00:07:12,120 Speaker 6: you know, this is all symptomatic of the fact that 127 00:07:12,200 --> 00:07:15,560 Speaker 6: we don't actually understand what really resting in God is. 128 00:07:15,640 --> 00:07:18,880 Speaker 6: It's more than just today. Jesus is our Sabbath day rest. 129 00:07:19,200 --> 00:07:22,640 Speaker 6: When you start understanding that, I believe, it begins to 130 00:07:22,720 --> 00:07:24,720 Speaker 6: frame your world in a different way, and a lot 131 00:07:24,760 --> 00:07:27,520 Speaker 6: of this noise that we're hearing, you know, just begins 132 00:07:27,560 --> 00:07:28,120 Speaker 6: to dissipate. 133 00:07:29,240 --> 00:07:31,960 Speaker 1: I wholeheartedly agree with you. I'm going to park here 134 00:07:32,080 --> 00:07:35,680 Speaker 1: for just a moment, actually, because I think this subject 135 00:07:35,840 --> 00:07:39,280 Speaker 1: is so important for Christians to understand. It's not just 136 00:07:39,400 --> 00:07:42,800 Speaker 1: an old Testament practice. When you go to the book 137 00:07:42,840 --> 00:07:48,360 Speaker 1: of Hebrews, Hebrews unpacks really what Sabbath rest is all about. 138 00:07:49,040 --> 00:07:52,920 Speaker 1: And in Hebrews Chapter four, when we read there, we 139 00:07:53,120 --> 00:07:57,360 Speaker 1: recognize that rest is really entering into this knowledge of 140 00:07:57,480 --> 00:08:03,560 Speaker 1: God and this peace of God. We recognize fundamentally that 141 00:08:03,680 --> 00:08:07,200 Speaker 1: there is a savior and know we are not him. 142 00:08:08,480 --> 00:08:11,840 Speaker 1: The Savior is Jesus Christ. And when we enter into 143 00:08:11,920 --> 00:08:16,240 Speaker 1: his rest, we rest in his work. What work, the 144 00:08:16,360 --> 00:08:20,080 Speaker 1: work at the Cross. Jesus Christ died for us. He 145 00:08:20,200 --> 00:08:24,600 Speaker 1: did a work we could not do. And when we rest, fundamentally, 146 00:08:24,680 --> 00:08:27,240 Speaker 1: when we rest one day a week, it could fall 147 00:08:27,320 --> 00:08:28,640 Speaker 1: any day on any. 148 00:08:28,480 --> 00:08:29,000 Speaker 6: Day of the week. 149 00:08:29,120 --> 00:08:33,439 Speaker 1: If we set that aside, we recognize we are not Messiah. 150 00:08:33,920 --> 00:08:37,439 Speaker 1: There is a savior, he's Jesus Christ, and that our 151 00:08:37,640 --> 00:08:42,080 Speaker 1: work will not save us either. So you know, whatever 152 00:08:42,200 --> 00:08:46,040 Speaker 1: we think that we're restless in Oh my goodness, if 153 00:08:46,080 --> 00:08:48,360 Speaker 1: I don't do this X, Y or Z, whatever it 154 00:08:48,520 --> 00:08:51,319 Speaker 1: is on your agenda, you know, I'm gonna I'm not 155 00:08:51,440 --> 00:08:55,360 Speaker 1: gonna make my mortgage payment this month, or I'm not 156 00:08:55,440 --> 00:08:57,839 Speaker 1: going to be able to afford groceries. All of those 157 00:08:58,320 --> 00:09:02,800 Speaker 1: things are real. Those are concerns. But the Lord is 158 00:09:02,840 --> 00:09:05,760 Speaker 1: a point at a time for us just to rest 159 00:09:05,840 --> 00:09:09,439 Speaker 1: in Him and to rely upon his provision and his 160 00:09:09,640 --> 00:09:13,040 Speaker 1: grace over us. You're a pastor, I know many people 161 00:09:13,120 --> 00:09:20,400 Speaker 1: in churches are exhausted today, They're run raggedy. You want 162 00:09:20,400 --> 00:09:22,760 Speaker 1: to encourage people to come to worship on Sunday morning, 163 00:09:23,200 --> 00:09:28,000 Speaker 1: devote that time for rest and worship. But people need 164 00:09:28,160 --> 00:09:32,600 Speaker 1: to do this because it's not a legal obligation, it's 165 00:09:32,679 --> 00:09:33,720 Speaker 1: actually for their good. 166 00:09:34,679 --> 00:09:36,679 Speaker 6: Yeah, I think it's important that this starts. I mean, look, 167 00:09:36,880 --> 00:09:40,280 Speaker 6: first off, let's just you know, be direct about this. 168 00:09:41,200 --> 00:09:43,560 Speaker 6: If you just did this as a practice, even without 169 00:09:43,600 --> 00:09:47,560 Speaker 6: any spiritual connection, it would benefit you to take time 170 00:09:47,640 --> 00:09:49,320 Speaker 6: to rest and shut down your phone and all those 171 00:09:49,360 --> 00:09:53,480 Speaker 6: sorts of things. That's not solely what Charlie was a 172 00:09:53,600 --> 00:09:57,240 Speaker 6: proponent of. Charlie understood that rest first and foremost was 173 00:09:57,280 --> 00:09:59,400 Speaker 6: found in God. You look at the story of Genesis 174 00:10:00,280 --> 00:10:03,079 Speaker 6: and in chapter one it was evening and morning the 175 00:10:03,240 --> 00:10:06,600 Speaker 6: first day. It's interesting, the day actually started with rest. 176 00:10:06,720 --> 00:10:08,840 Speaker 6: We think of a new day as when we wake up, 177 00:10:09,520 --> 00:10:12,480 Speaker 6: but actually the day started with evening and then morning. 178 00:10:12,600 --> 00:10:15,439 Speaker 6: So the first thing that we do as human beings 179 00:10:15,480 --> 00:10:18,079 Speaker 6: when we start our day, from a biblical standpoint, is 180 00:10:18,120 --> 00:10:21,120 Speaker 6: we rest. We sleep, That's that's the start of the day, 181 00:10:21,520 --> 00:10:24,000 Speaker 6: and then we work afterwards. And so work is an 182 00:10:24,080 --> 00:10:28,240 Speaker 6: overflow from the rest rather than a a you know, 183 00:10:28,400 --> 00:10:30,040 Speaker 6: some sort of thing that we have to rest that 184 00:10:30,080 --> 00:10:32,040 Speaker 6: we have to earn in that sense. And so, but 185 00:10:32,120 --> 00:10:33,920 Speaker 6: I think that more importantly what you touched on is 186 00:10:34,000 --> 00:10:36,280 Speaker 6: so huge is that you know, Jesus is our Sabbath 187 00:10:36,360 --> 00:10:39,640 Speaker 6: day rest. He is where we find our peace. He's 188 00:10:39,679 --> 00:10:42,920 Speaker 6: where we find our freedom from investigation of our lives. 189 00:10:43,600 --> 00:10:46,280 Speaker 6: That we're able to find a faith righteousness in Him 190 00:10:46,400 --> 00:10:50,160 Speaker 6: that allows just to just this deep exhale. It's more 191 00:10:50,240 --> 00:10:52,920 Speaker 6: than just getting a break and more than just you know, 192 00:10:53,040 --> 00:10:56,079 Speaker 6: having time to think. Those things are all very, very valuable, 193 00:10:56,840 --> 00:10:59,199 Speaker 6: but I think that the bigger part of this is 194 00:10:59,320 --> 00:11:04,360 Speaker 6: really see that there is a true piece that can 195 00:11:04,480 --> 00:11:07,319 Speaker 6: come from resting in Christ. And when you understand that, 196 00:11:07,440 --> 00:11:10,480 Speaker 6: it's much easier to devote that day of the week 197 00:11:11,200 --> 00:11:12,959 Speaker 6: to be able to say, you know what, God, just 198 00:11:13,160 --> 00:11:15,480 Speaker 6: as an overflow of what you've given me, as a 199 00:11:15,559 --> 00:11:18,839 Speaker 6: reminder to myself of the relationship that I have with you, 200 00:11:19,240 --> 00:11:21,960 Speaker 6: I'm setting aside this time for you. I've not been 201 00:11:22,000 --> 00:11:23,920 Speaker 6: great at doing this throughout my life. I've been a 202 00:11:24,000 --> 00:11:27,120 Speaker 6: go go go kind of person. I'm being very convicted 203 00:11:27,160 --> 00:11:30,200 Speaker 6: by this book right now. It's Charlie at his best, 204 00:11:30,280 --> 00:11:32,040 Speaker 6: and I would encourage everybody to get a copy. 205 00:11:32,960 --> 00:11:38,040 Speaker 1: You know, speaking of rest, there are some that absolutely 206 00:11:38,320 --> 00:11:45,640 Speaker 1: need to give this whole conspiracy mill, this grift, this 207 00:11:46,120 --> 00:11:53,680 Speaker 1: endless speculation into various theories surrounding Charlie's murder, his assassination. 208 00:11:54,320 --> 00:11:57,079 Speaker 1: They just need to give this a rest. It's time 209 00:11:57,240 --> 00:12:02,480 Speaker 1: to actually let this go and allow justice to be pursued. 210 00:12:03,240 --> 00:12:05,719 Speaker 1: Erica kind of went out. She did. She went out 211 00:12:05,840 --> 00:12:09,640 Speaker 1: very boldly, graciously, got in a in a in a 212 00:12:09,760 --> 00:12:14,120 Speaker 1: godly frame and went out and spoke very publicly about 213 00:12:14,160 --> 00:12:18,080 Speaker 1: that this this past week, even addressing some people asked her. 214 00:12:18,320 --> 00:12:20,520 Speaker 1: She didn't bring it up, but they asked her what 215 00:12:20,720 --> 00:12:24,640 Speaker 1: she thought about Candace Owans, and she asked her to stop. 216 00:12:24,800 --> 00:12:28,920 Speaker 1: She told her, please stop, what are your thoughts about 217 00:12:29,040 --> 00:12:32,800 Speaker 1: this as as somebody who is obviously a representative in 218 00:12:32,920 --> 00:12:36,719 Speaker 1: the organization. And you see the grief not only that 219 00:12:36,960 --> 00:12:41,760 Speaker 1: Erica bears, but many within Turning Point bear that grief. 220 00:12:42,000 --> 00:12:46,080 Speaker 1: They saw the horror that day. And there's no justice 221 00:12:46,280 --> 00:12:53,599 Speaker 1: when people are just endlessly cycling, shamelessly cycling bad information. 222 00:12:54,800 --> 00:12:57,440 Speaker 6: Yeah, there's so much here, right I was an outsider 223 00:12:57,520 --> 00:12:59,640 Speaker 6: when I came into Turning Point. Charlie invited me to 224 00:12:59,679 --> 00:13:01,679 Speaker 6: be part of the team about eighteen months ago to 225 00:13:01,880 --> 00:13:05,960 Speaker 6: take over the uh the lead role for TPUSA Faith, 226 00:13:06,040 --> 00:13:08,800 Speaker 6: and it was an honor to serve underneath him. Erica 227 00:13:08,880 --> 00:13:11,760 Speaker 6: has been doing just a phenomenal job of and honestly, 228 00:13:11,880 --> 00:13:14,400 Speaker 6: she shouldn't have to She shouldn't have to be doing 229 00:13:14,559 --> 00:13:17,319 Speaker 6: a tour, she shouldn't have to be addressing these things. 230 00:13:18,320 --> 00:13:21,239 Speaker 6: And and you know the fact that that's even necessary 231 00:13:21,360 --> 00:13:25,360 Speaker 6: right now is really an indictment against you know, many 232 00:13:25,400 --> 00:13:27,360 Speaker 6: of these podcasters that have been pushing this. What I 233 00:13:27,440 --> 00:13:29,680 Speaker 6: think a lot of people, just the general American people 234 00:13:29,760 --> 00:13:32,640 Speaker 6: don't understand is the way in which social media works 235 00:13:32,679 --> 00:13:33,960 Speaker 6: and the way in which a lot of these people 236 00:13:34,080 --> 00:13:36,920 Speaker 6: make their money. They make their money off of views. 237 00:13:36,920 --> 00:13:38,920 Speaker 6: They make their money on people staying on their page, 238 00:13:39,000 --> 00:13:42,400 Speaker 6: on watching their videos, on how much interaction and engagement 239 00:13:42,480 --> 00:13:45,960 Speaker 6: they have on their post. And so these these individuals 240 00:13:46,240 --> 00:13:49,800 Speaker 6: many times are not They're not. They're disingenuous, I think 241 00:13:49,920 --> 00:13:51,960 Speaker 6: is probably the best way to say it. And they're 242 00:13:52,080 --> 00:13:54,839 Speaker 6: they're pushing information because they know it's going to get 243 00:13:54,920 --> 00:13:56,360 Speaker 6: you know, kind of a rise out of people. They 244 00:13:56,440 --> 00:13:58,400 Speaker 6: know it's going to get comments on their page, they 245 00:13:58,520 --> 00:14:00,880 Speaker 6: know it's going to get views, and they're watching kind 246 00:14:00,920 --> 00:14:04,760 Speaker 6: of that that uh, you know, uh monetization of their 247 00:14:04,840 --> 00:14:08,520 Speaker 6: platform just keep ticking up. And because people don't media 248 00:14:08,600 --> 00:14:09,920 Speaker 6: is different than how it used to be. It's no 249 00:14:10,040 --> 00:14:12,880 Speaker 6: longer just investigative reporters running out and going to get 250 00:14:12,880 --> 00:14:15,240 Speaker 6: a story and just having a salary and they don't 251 00:14:15,240 --> 00:14:18,840 Speaker 6: make any more. It's now they're they're living is off 252 00:14:19,000 --> 00:14:21,640 Speaker 6: of the scandal. They're living is off of the charge. 253 00:14:21,760 --> 00:14:24,200 Speaker 6: Everything else, you know, the Bible says that, you know, 254 00:14:24,280 --> 00:14:26,600 Speaker 6: one of the things the Lord hates is a false witness. 255 00:14:27,640 --> 00:14:30,680 Speaker 6: That that is a that is a major statement that 256 00:14:30,760 --> 00:14:32,480 Speaker 6: I think should cause a lot of people to stop 257 00:14:32,560 --> 00:14:35,080 Speaker 6: in their tracks. And look, I'm not going to get into, 258 00:14:35,200 --> 00:14:36,640 Speaker 6: you know, a ton of the fray on this, but 259 00:14:36,800 --> 00:14:38,840 Speaker 6: I would want to speak to even more than just 260 00:14:38,960 --> 00:14:42,960 Speaker 6: maybe some of those voices that are driving the major conversation. 261 00:14:43,520 --> 00:14:47,520 Speaker 6: The other people that are sharing, retweeting, that have no connection, 262 00:14:47,720 --> 00:14:51,080 Speaker 6: no engagement, you know that think they know everything about 263 00:14:51,160 --> 00:14:53,280 Speaker 6: Charlie Kirk because they've heard from one person. Well, the 264 00:14:53,320 --> 00:14:55,960 Speaker 6: Bible says, the first one to speak is seems right 265 00:14:56,080 --> 00:14:58,760 Speaker 6: until the second one responds. And so you know, I 266 00:14:58,800 --> 00:15:01,640 Speaker 6: think that Erica has been second one to respond right now. 267 00:15:01,880 --> 00:15:03,960 Speaker 6: I think it's very clear where truth lives. Look, I've 268 00:15:04,000 --> 00:15:06,640 Speaker 6: been around you know, TPUSA for the last eighteen months. 269 00:15:06,680 --> 00:15:09,280 Speaker 6: A lot of these podcasters that they haven't all figured out, 270 00:15:09,440 --> 00:15:11,400 Speaker 6: you know what, I've not seen him anywhere to be found. 271 00:15:11,480 --> 00:15:14,120 Speaker 6: Why because they're not on the inside circle of what's happening. 272 00:15:14,400 --> 00:15:17,160 Speaker 6: Charlie had his closest people right there next to him. 273 00:15:17,280 --> 00:15:19,000 Speaker 6: These are the people defending him. These are the people 274 00:15:19,040 --> 00:15:21,800 Speaker 6: who loved him. These are the people that I think, 275 00:15:21,880 --> 00:15:23,760 Speaker 6: you know, want the best for not only him, but 276 00:15:23,960 --> 00:15:25,960 Speaker 6: the organization that he built. And I think that the 277 00:15:26,040 --> 00:15:30,040 Speaker 6: truth is coming out, and hopefully, hopefully the American people 278 00:15:30,160 --> 00:15:34,280 Speaker 6: and especially Christians out there will recognize just the depravity 279 00:15:34,440 --> 00:15:37,520 Speaker 6: of slander, the depravity of gossip, the depravity of a 280 00:15:37,640 --> 00:15:40,480 Speaker 6: false witness and really return and repent and come back 281 00:15:40,480 --> 00:15:42,520 Speaker 6: to the truth. A lot of people owe Erica Kirk 282 00:15:42,560 --> 00:15:43,120 Speaker 6: and apology. 283 00:15:44,000 --> 00:15:48,440 Speaker 1: I agree wholeheartedly they do o her an apology the 284 00:15:48,680 --> 00:15:53,240 Speaker 1: entire Turning Point team, and those are sobering words on 285 00:15:53,280 --> 00:15:57,200 Speaker 1: a Sunday morning. I just want to wish you, though pastor, 286 00:15:57,320 --> 00:16:00,240 Speaker 1: a merry Christmas. Lucas, thank you for all your doing 287 00:16:00,360 --> 00:16:04,000 Speaker 1: to encourage pastors, to encourage Erica Kirk and those at 288 00:16:04,080 --> 00:16:07,800 Speaker 1: Turning Point, and certainly for leading Turning Point faith so well. 289 00:16:08,280 --> 00:16:09,920 Speaker 6: It is great to see you. Good to see you 290 00:16:10,000 --> 00:16:10,640 Speaker 6: Americ Christmas. 291 00:16:10,720 --> 00:16:10,920 Speaker 1: Ryan. 292 00:16:11,560 --> 00:16:14,600 Speaker 3: Do people ever come to you asking for help? Maybe hope? 293 00:16:15,040 --> 00:16:15,760 Speaker 3: How about prayer? 294 00:16:16,920 --> 00:16:19,800 Speaker 2: Do you ever wish you understood the issues better that 295 00:16:19,880 --> 00:16:23,560 Speaker 2: people are wrestling with, or how to use the Bible 296 00:16:23,640 --> 00:16:27,000 Speaker 2: more effectively and caring for people? 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You know what I love most about 307 00:16:56,880 --> 00:16:59,440 Speaker 3: this Bible is that it's so easy to use. 308 00:17:00,040 --> 00:17:04,800 Speaker 2: You can find right upfront an index with subjects, keep 309 00:17:04,840 --> 00:17:08,800 Speaker 2: passages of scripture, personality profiles, and so much more to 310 00:17:08,880 --> 00:17:11,680 Speaker 2: go to so you can use the Bible more effectively 311 00:17:12,000 --> 00:17:14,919 Speaker 2: in caring for other people. The Caring Council Bible right 312 00:17:15,040 --> 00:17:17,840 Speaker 2: now is retailing for eighty five dollars. We're going to 313 00:17:17,880 --> 00:17:20,480 Speaker 2: make it available to you for just forty nine to 314 00:17:20,520 --> 00:17:21,719 Speaker 2: ninety nine plus shipping. 315 00:17:22,280 --> 00:17:23,280 Speaker 3: I think you're going to love it. 316 00:17:23,640 --> 00:17:23,760 Speaker 7: Hey. 317 00:17:23,840 --> 00:17:26,040 Speaker 2: For more information about how you can get this Bible 318 00:17:26,160 --> 00:17:31,360 Speaker 2: right now, go to Careincounsel dot com. That's Care Andcounsel 319 00:17:31,720 --> 00:17:32,280 Speaker 2: dot Com. 320 00:17:34,400 --> 00:17:37,280 Speaker 1: Joining us now is Brad Brandon. He is the founder 321 00:17:37,320 --> 00:17:41,280 Speaker 1: and CEO of Across Nigeria and for over twenty years 322 00:17:41,440 --> 00:17:44,680 Speaker 1: he served in pastoral ministry and for ten years he 323 00:17:44,800 --> 00:17:49,000 Speaker 1: was a daily drive time radio host for Salem Communications. 324 00:17:49,400 --> 00:17:52,800 Speaker 1: He has articles published by Daily Wire, Washington Times, and 325 00:17:52,920 --> 00:17:57,800 Speaker 1: The Christian Post along with other media outlets. Since twenty eighteen, 326 00:17:58,200 --> 00:18:01,480 Speaker 1: he has been actively serving in the foreign mission fields, 327 00:18:02,080 --> 00:18:07,480 Speaker 1: predominantly in high risk areas, especially in Nigeria. Brad Brandam, 328 00:18:07,600 --> 00:18:12,640 Speaker 1: Welcome to Sunday the Road Forward is great to see you, Hey, Ryan, 329 00:18:12,760 --> 00:18:15,359 Speaker 1: good to be on with you. Brad. You are doing 330 00:18:15,480 --> 00:18:18,800 Speaker 1: the Lord's work and you're doing it in a very 331 00:18:18,920 --> 00:18:24,119 Speaker 1: difficult place. Some Americans are aware of what's happening in Nigeria. 332 00:18:24,840 --> 00:18:29,359 Speaker 1: Can't help but notice, you know we're in the advent season. 333 00:18:30,400 --> 00:18:34,400 Speaker 1: It is Christmas time in America. We have to recognize 334 00:18:34,440 --> 00:18:37,720 Speaker 1: that even in the year of our Lord's birth, there 335 00:18:37,760 --> 00:18:42,000 Speaker 1: has been persecution. Herod wanted him dead, and ever since then, 336 00:18:43,440 --> 00:18:46,639 Speaker 1: those who serve the Lord Jesus Christ, wherever they are 337 00:18:46,680 --> 00:18:49,719 Speaker 1: around the world, have faced tremendous persecution. 338 00:18:52,240 --> 00:18:56,200 Speaker 5: Yeah, yeah, that's right. Northern Nigeria is one of those areas. 339 00:18:56,960 --> 00:18:59,919 Speaker 5: Last year, more than seventy percent of all the Christian 340 00:19:00,160 --> 00:19:03,760 Speaker 5: killed in the entire world. We're killed in northern Nigeria. 341 00:19:04,400 --> 00:19:07,159 Speaker 5: We're looking at anywhere from the numbers are coming in 342 00:19:07,280 --> 00:19:10,800 Speaker 5: now anywhere from eighty to one hundred thousand Christians have 343 00:19:10,920 --> 00:19:14,280 Speaker 5: been killed since two thousand and nine. The UN even 344 00:19:14,480 --> 00:19:17,520 Speaker 5: estimates that three hundred and fifty thousand people have been 345 00:19:17,600 --> 00:19:21,480 Speaker 5: killed since two thousand and two, the formation of Bokoharam 346 00:19:21,840 --> 00:19:25,640 Speaker 5: from the instability that's caused, so not from the violence directly, 347 00:19:25,720 --> 00:19:29,200 Speaker 5: but the instability. It is the most persecuted place in 348 00:19:29,359 --> 00:19:34,440 Speaker 5: the world right now, not only in the way of killings. 349 00:19:34,040 --> 00:19:35,440 Speaker 7: But also displacement. 350 00:19:36,280 --> 00:19:41,119 Speaker 5: Nigeria has about three point five million people in internally 351 00:19:41,240 --> 00:19:45,679 Speaker 5: displaced persons camps. Eighty percent of those camps are populated 352 00:19:45,760 --> 00:19:48,919 Speaker 5: by Christians. These are Christians who have lost their homes, 353 00:19:49,000 --> 00:19:52,240 Speaker 5: their villages have been destroyed, They've lost everything, so they 354 00:19:52,320 --> 00:19:55,440 Speaker 5: have nowhere else to go but these camps. The conditions 355 00:19:55,480 --> 00:19:59,800 Speaker 5: are horrible in these camps, and so yeah, the persecution 356 00:20:00,320 --> 00:20:03,440 Speaker 5: is being targeted right now against Christians and it's the 357 00:20:03,520 --> 00:20:06,240 Speaker 5: worst it's ever been. I've been working there for about 358 00:20:06,359 --> 00:20:11,560 Speaker 5: ten years and it's certainly at its peak and looks 359 00:20:11,640 --> 00:20:13,720 Speaker 5: like it's not going to get any better anytime soon. 360 00:20:14,359 --> 00:20:19,000 Speaker 1: President Trump did designate it through the State Department as 361 00:20:19,200 --> 00:20:25,080 Speaker 1: a Country of Particular Concern. He did issue an ultimatum 362 00:20:25,680 --> 00:20:29,159 Speaker 1: to the political leaders in Nigeria to end the killing 363 00:20:29,359 --> 00:20:35,800 Speaker 1: or else. What role does American leadership, particularly from the 364 00:20:35,920 --> 00:20:39,880 Speaker 1: American president, What is that play right now? How important 365 00:20:40,080 --> 00:20:48,280 Speaker 1: is it that Christians in America understand how critical persecution 366 00:20:48,520 --> 00:20:49,280 Speaker 1: is in Nigeria. 367 00:20:50,240 --> 00:20:53,200 Speaker 5: Well, I think the United States government is the only 368 00:20:53,359 --> 00:20:57,280 Speaker 5: government that has the power to intervene and do something 369 00:20:57,359 --> 00:21:00,640 Speaker 5: and put a stop to this. There's really no government 370 00:21:01,680 --> 00:21:04,600 Speaker 5: on the earth right now that can actually do something 371 00:21:04,680 --> 00:21:07,440 Speaker 5: about it. So I think that may causes us to 372 00:21:07,520 --> 00:21:11,680 Speaker 5: have an obligation to respond, and President Trump is doing that. 373 00:21:11,800 --> 00:21:15,159 Speaker 5: He did that in his first term, he designated Nigeria 374 00:21:15,359 --> 00:21:19,520 Speaker 5: country of Particular Concern. When President Biden was elected, one 375 00:21:19,560 --> 00:21:22,760 Speaker 5: of the first things he did was take Nigeria off 376 00:21:22,880 --> 00:21:26,000 Speaker 5: the Country of Particular Concern lists. The year that he 377 00:21:26,160 --> 00:21:29,320 Speaker 5: did that, there were about five thousand Christians that were killed, 378 00:21:29,920 --> 00:21:34,399 Speaker 5: so inexplicably he just took them off the country of 379 00:21:34,480 --> 00:21:37,560 Speaker 5: Particular concern lists. Now that President Trump is back in 380 00:21:37,640 --> 00:21:42,480 Speaker 5: the White House, he's going after the persecution once again 381 00:21:42,800 --> 00:21:45,919 Speaker 5: by putting Nigeria back on that list. It's an official 382 00:21:46,040 --> 00:21:49,359 Speaker 5: designation by the State Department. And what it allows is 383 00:21:50,040 --> 00:21:53,760 Speaker 5: for our government to use number one diplomatic measures to 384 00:21:53,840 --> 00:21:57,000 Speaker 5: put pressure on the Nigerian government to put a stop 385 00:21:57,119 --> 00:22:00,800 Speaker 5: to this, the jihad that's happening, the genocide that's happening 386 00:22:00,880 --> 00:22:04,840 Speaker 5: in Northern Nigeria. It also allows us to put sanctions 387 00:22:04,960 --> 00:22:08,800 Speaker 5: on Nigeria, which puts more pressure on the Nigerian government 388 00:22:08,840 --> 00:22:13,119 Speaker 5: to respond. And then also what that designation does, it 389 00:22:13,200 --> 00:22:16,800 Speaker 5: allows us to withhold aid, so further putting pressure on 390 00:22:16,920 --> 00:22:20,320 Speaker 5: the Nigerian government to put a stop to it. Ted 391 00:22:20,440 --> 00:22:24,240 Speaker 5: Kruz is getting involved. He introduced the Nigerian Accountability Act 392 00:22:24,359 --> 00:22:32,040 Speaker 5: with Representatives Stultzman, and that basically does two things. It 393 00:22:32,119 --> 00:22:37,280 Speaker 5: allows sanctions to be put on Nigeria and not only 394 00:22:37,400 --> 00:22:41,040 Speaker 5: the Nigerian government but the local governors who are promoting 395 00:22:41,520 --> 00:22:45,880 Speaker 5: Sharia law in Northern Nigeria. So the government the Nigeria, 396 00:22:45,960 --> 00:22:49,200 Speaker 5: the United States government is responding and putting pressure on 397 00:22:49,280 --> 00:22:53,160 Speaker 5: the Nigerian government. But the Nigerian government is still outright 398 00:22:53,320 --> 00:22:56,560 Speaker 5: denying that there's any Christian genocide happening. 399 00:22:56,920 --> 00:23:00,400 Speaker 1: Right, and they want to find other ways. The people 400 00:23:00,440 --> 00:23:02,480 Speaker 1: that try to excuse it and try to find other 401 00:23:02,520 --> 00:23:05,600 Speaker 1: ways to say or explain away, well, know, these are 402 00:23:05,640 --> 00:23:11,160 Speaker 1: being motivated by other factors, economic concerns, tribal disputes, those 403 00:23:11,240 --> 00:23:15,399 Speaker 1: types of things, rather than what it actually is. And 404 00:23:15,520 --> 00:23:22,240 Speaker 1: let's be clear. Christians, Christian missionaries, they're responsible for caring 405 00:23:22,320 --> 00:23:26,879 Speaker 1: for orphans, They're responsible for building schools, teaching children how 406 00:23:26,920 --> 00:23:34,160 Speaker 1: to read, they're responsible for medical care, healthcare. When you're 407 00:23:34,320 --> 00:23:40,639 Speaker 1: killing Christians, you're literally destroying the culture of life, but 408 00:23:40,920 --> 00:23:44,719 Speaker 1: life supporting missions that are taking place in that region. 409 00:23:45,320 --> 00:23:48,960 Speaker 1: And that's what makes it so devastating. It's bad enough 410 00:23:49,040 --> 00:23:51,320 Speaker 1: to kill people for wanting to have a Bible study 411 00:23:51,400 --> 00:23:54,119 Speaker 1: and share the love of Jesus, but we're talking about 412 00:23:54,200 --> 00:23:59,359 Speaker 1: people that are helping Muslims, but they're being killed and 413 00:23:59,440 --> 00:24:01,320 Speaker 1: slaughtered by Muslims. 414 00:24:02,480 --> 00:24:05,679 Speaker 5: Yeah, that's one of the focuses of our ministry across 415 00:24:05,800 --> 00:24:09,000 Speaker 5: Nigeria's not only do we help the persecuted Christians in 416 00:24:09,119 --> 00:24:13,240 Speaker 5: Northern Nigeria, but we also help Muslims, the ones who 417 00:24:13,280 --> 00:24:17,240 Speaker 5: are even doing the killing and the persecuting. The Fulani 418 00:24:17,359 --> 00:24:21,520 Speaker 5: Muslims for instance, now some of them are radicalized and militarized. 419 00:24:22,200 --> 00:24:26,159 Speaker 5: But there are socioeconomic issues with the Fulani Muslims that 420 00:24:26,200 --> 00:24:29,280 Speaker 5: are connected to the killing of Christians. But underlying it 421 00:24:29,400 --> 00:24:33,280 Speaker 5: all is the Islamic ideology behind it. We go into 422 00:24:33,320 --> 00:24:36,760 Speaker 5: those areas and will drow wells in Muslim communities. We 423 00:24:36,920 --> 00:24:41,760 Speaker 5: have a education system throughout Northern Nigeria that educates thousands 424 00:24:42,200 --> 00:24:45,880 Speaker 5: of Fulani Muslim children, gives them the opportunity to read 425 00:24:45,920 --> 00:24:48,000 Speaker 5: and write English. If you can read and write English 426 00:24:48,040 --> 00:24:52,160 Speaker 5: in Northern Nigeria, that's like having a college education. Most 427 00:24:52,280 --> 00:24:55,800 Speaker 5: Fulani Muslims can only speak Hausa. The official language of 428 00:24:55,960 --> 00:24:59,000 Speaker 5: Nigeria is English. We go in there and teach them 429 00:24:59,160 --> 00:25:02,880 Speaker 5: English so that it opens the door of opportunities for them. 430 00:25:03,160 --> 00:25:07,520 Speaker 5: Not only are we bringing education opportunities, but medical opportunities. 431 00:25:08,520 --> 00:25:11,680 Speaker 5: We go into Fulani Muslim communities and show them the 432 00:25:11,800 --> 00:25:15,879 Speaker 5: love of Christ and we've been well received. I should 433 00:25:15,920 --> 00:25:19,440 Speaker 5: say most of the Fulani Muslims that we work with, 434 00:25:20,280 --> 00:25:23,160 Speaker 5: they do want peace. They see the value of peace 435 00:25:23,440 --> 00:25:27,359 Speaker 5: and the cost of violence. We travel throughout Northern Nigeria 436 00:25:27,640 --> 00:25:31,119 Speaker 5: and bring Christian and Muslim communities together and talk to 437 00:25:31,240 --> 00:25:34,680 Speaker 5: them about that very thing, the cost of violence and 438 00:25:34,760 --> 00:25:40,800 Speaker 5: the benefits of peace and their community. Anytime we've gone 439 00:25:41,359 --> 00:25:43,479 Speaker 5: through one of our peace tours, we have no less 440 00:25:43,640 --> 00:25:46,800 Speaker 5: than four to five thousand people show up to our 441 00:25:46,880 --> 00:25:50,080 Speaker 5: peace tours to listen to us here about talk about 442 00:25:50,359 --> 00:25:52,800 Speaker 5: listen to us talk about peace. So there is an 443 00:25:52,840 --> 00:25:57,240 Speaker 5: interest in peace and many people in Northern Nigeria want peace. 444 00:25:57,560 --> 00:26:01,240 Speaker 5: It's the radicalized Muslims who are trying to continue to 445 00:26:01,359 --> 00:26:05,040 Speaker 5: destabilize Northern Nigeria so that they can retain power of 446 00:26:05,160 --> 00:26:05,560 Speaker 5: the region. 447 00:26:06,000 --> 00:26:09,120 Speaker 1: You know, I think a lot of Westerners have been 448 00:26:09,320 --> 00:26:14,640 Speaker 1: somewhat naive about Sharia law, and more and more I'm 449 00:26:14,720 --> 00:26:19,000 Speaker 1: seeing trends where that has become a focus a talking 450 00:26:19,119 --> 00:26:23,200 Speaker 1: point now in the West, where people are understanding there's 451 00:26:23,240 --> 00:26:26,040 Speaker 1: a little bit more to this. It's not just about 452 00:26:26,880 --> 00:26:32,760 Speaker 1: religious people having religious services in their religious houses of 453 00:26:32,880 --> 00:26:38,320 Speaker 1: worship that it actually spills over into public policy. It 454 00:26:38,440 --> 00:26:44,000 Speaker 1: spills over into superseding the laws of that particular country 455 00:26:44,119 --> 00:26:49,000 Speaker 1: or nation the UK for instance, or even in city 456 00:26:49,080 --> 00:26:53,399 Speaker 1: council meetings here in the United States. Sharia is an 457 00:26:53,520 --> 00:26:59,000 Speaker 1: all encompassing, totalizing worldview. It's not just some kind of 458 00:26:59,080 --> 00:27:01,480 Speaker 1: religious council. Could you speak to a little bit. 459 00:27:01,440 --> 00:27:03,280 Speaker 3: To that yeah, I can. 460 00:27:03,400 --> 00:27:06,560 Speaker 5: The twelve of the Northern Nigeria states are controlled by 461 00:27:06,640 --> 00:27:09,280 Speaker 5: Sharia law. So most of the year I operate in 462 00:27:09,440 --> 00:27:13,200 Speaker 5: areas that are not only controlled by IWA and vocal Hiram, 463 00:27:13,320 --> 00:27:18,240 Speaker 5: but also under Sharia law. Sharia law has no interest 464 00:27:18,520 --> 00:27:22,159 Speaker 5: in assimilating. What they want to do is dominate and 465 00:27:22,280 --> 00:27:25,320 Speaker 5: they use Sharia law to do that. You only need 466 00:27:25,400 --> 00:27:27,640 Speaker 5: to look at Europe as the canary in the coal 467 00:27:27,720 --> 00:27:30,920 Speaker 5: mine and sort of the predictor of the future of 468 00:27:31,240 --> 00:27:35,359 Speaker 5: what happens when Sharia law takes over. You have entire 469 00:27:35,560 --> 00:27:41,119 Speaker 5: areas of London and other cities throughout throughout Europe, like 470 00:27:41,240 --> 00:27:44,960 Speaker 5: Berlin and other parts of Switzerland. They have no go zones. 471 00:27:45,040 --> 00:27:48,920 Speaker 5: These are areas where first responders police can't even enter 472 00:27:49,040 --> 00:27:53,080 Speaker 5: these neighborhoods because they're controlled by Sharia law. It's about 473 00:27:53,200 --> 00:27:57,360 Speaker 5: domination and even recently under the Arbitration Act in the UK, 474 00:27:58,000 --> 00:28:02,199 Speaker 5: it calls for Sharif courts to be used as precedent 475 00:28:02,400 --> 00:28:05,679 Speaker 5: in their own courts, So now you have Sharia courts 476 00:28:05,840 --> 00:28:10,040 Speaker 5: dictating what's going to happen in UK courts. We see 477 00:28:10,160 --> 00:28:13,000 Speaker 5: that happening here, We see the very beginnings of it. 478 00:28:13,119 --> 00:28:16,160 Speaker 5: Happening here in the United States. Back in two thousand 479 00:28:16,160 --> 00:28:18,840 Speaker 5: and nine in New Jersey, there was a case of 480 00:28:19,119 --> 00:28:24,040 Speaker 5: a superior court judge who consulted a Sharia law expert 481 00:28:24,160 --> 00:28:27,720 Speaker 5: a family's imam in a case of abuse. The wife 482 00:28:27,880 --> 00:28:31,119 Speaker 5: was accusing the husband. Excuse yeah, the wife was accusing 483 00:28:31,160 --> 00:28:35,679 Speaker 5: the husband of abuse, and the judge consulted the imam. 484 00:28:35,920 --> 00:28:39,680 Speaker 5: Under Sharia law, a woman's testimony is worth half that 485 00:28:39,960 --> 00:28:45,040 Speaker 5: of a man's, so under the guide of the imam, 486 00:28:45,920 --> 00:28:48,000 Speaker 5: the judge ruled in favor of the husband. 487 00:28:48,800 --> 00:28:50,000 Speaker 7: That's just one way that. 488 00:28:50,080 --> 00:28:52,760 Speaker 5: We see here in the United States that Sharia law 489 00:28:52,960 --> 00:28:57,280 Speaker 5: is creeping its way in. Now that case was ultimately overturned, 490 00:28:57,880 --> 00:29:00,680 Speaker 5: but it just shows the volition of those who are 491 00:29:00,880 --> 00:29:04,080 Speaker 5: interested in Sharia law and want Sharia law to bring 492 00:29:04,200 --> 00:29:08,160 Speaker 5: that into our country, and they have no interest of assimilating. 493 00:29:08,240 --> 00:29:13,360 Speaker 5: They want to dominate. And Sharia law is absolutely opposed 494 00:29:14,080 --> 00:29:18,520 Speaker 5: to our constitution. The two cannot stand together. And I 495 00:29:18,600 --> 00:29:21,040 Speaker 5: think Americans need to wake up to that and realize 496 00:29:21,120 --> 00:29:23,800 Speaker 5: that there is a push to bring Sharia law and 497 00:29:23,960 --> 00:29:26,480 Speaker 5: radical Islam here to the United States. 498 00:29:26,680 --> 00:29:31,600 Speaker 1: That is absolutely true, that cannot be overstated. The threat 499 00:29:31,720 --> 00:29:35,760 Speaker 1: is real. Brad Brandon, thank you so much for joining 500 00:29:35,840 --> 00:29:38,959 Speaker 1: us on Sunday the Road Forward as founder and CEO 501 00:29:39,200 --> 00:29:43,800 Speaker 1: of Across Nigeria. Merry Christmas to you and to your family. 502 00:29:44,280 --> 00:29:45,720 Speaker 1: We really appreciate you coming on. 503 00:29:45,960 --> 00:29:47,160 Speaker 5: Thanks Ryan, you too. 504 00:29:50,840 --> 00:29:53,680 Speaker 4: For more encouragement and to stay connected. Follow doctor Tim 505 00:29:53,720 --> 00:29:56,920 Speaker 4: Clinton on Facebook, Instagram and x. We love being a 506 00:29:56,960 --> 00:29:57,640 Speaker 4: part of your life. 507 00:30:05,360 --> 00:30:08,400 Speaker 3: Do people ever come to you asking for help? Maybe hope? 508 00:30:08,840 --> 00:30:09,560 Speaker 3: How about prayer? 509 00:30:10,720 --> 00:30:13,600 Speaker 2: Do you ever wish you understood the issues better that 510 00:30:13,680 --> 00:30:17,360 Speaker 2: people are wrestling with, or how to use the Bible 511 00:30:17,440 --> 00:30:20,800 Speaker 2: more effectively and caring for people. If so, I'd love 512 00:30:20,840 --> 00:30:22,960 Speaker 2: to get a copy of our Care and Council Bible 513 00:30:23,040 --> 00:30:26,040 Speaker 2: in your hands, featuring one hundred and sixteen topics written 514 00:30:26,120 --> 00:30:29,280 Speaker 2: by some of the world's best mental health and ministry experts. 515 00:30:29,480 --> 00:30:30,440 Speaker 3: I think you'll love it. 516 00:30:31,000 --> 00:30:36,320 Speaker 2: Topics like discouragement, abuse, depression, divorce, anxiety, abortion, and more. 517 00:30:36,880 --> 00:30:39,280 Speaker 2: So you can learn more about these issues and how 518 00:30:39,360 --> 00:30:43,320 Speaker 2: to use the Bible more effectively, how to share passages 519 00:30:43,360 --> 00:30:47,800 Speaker 2: of Scripture with others, maybe even yourself. As you're sitting 520 00:30:47,840 --> 00:30:49,560 Speaker 2: down over a cup of coffee, you know what I 521 00:30:49,640 --> 00:30:51,840 Speaker 2: love most about this Bible is that. 522 00:30:51,880 --> 00:30:53,240 Speaker 3: It's so easy to use. 523 00:30:53,760 --> 00:30:57,480 Speaker 2: You can find right up front an index with subjects, 524 00:30:58,400 --> 00:31:02,520 Speaker 2: keep passages of scripture, person profiles, and so much more 525 00:31:02,560 --> 00:31:04,800 Speaker 2: to go to so you can use the Bible more 526 00:31:04,880 --> 00:31:08,480 Speaker 2: effectively in caring for other people. The Caring Council Bible 527 00:31:08,600 --> 00:31:11,560 Speaker 2: right Now is retailing for eighty five dollars. We're going 528 00:31:11,600 --> 00:31:14,200 Speaker 2: to make it available to you for just forty nine 529 00:31:14,320 --> 00:31:15,520 Speaker 2: ninety nine plus shipping. 530 00:31:16,080 --> 00:31:17,080 Speaker 3: I think you're going to love it. 531 00:31:17,440 --> 00:31:17,560 Speaker 7: Hey. 532 00:31:17,640 --> 00:31:19,840 Speaker 2: For more information about how you can get this Bible 533 00:31:19,960 --> 00:31:25,160 Speaker 2: right now, go to careincounsel dot com. That's care Andcounsel 534 00:31:25,520 --> 00:31:26,080 Speaker 2: dot com. 535 00:31:27,680 --> 00:31:31,200 Speaker 1: Joining us now is Troy Miller. He is the president 536 00:31:31,400 --> 00:31:36,120 Speaker 1: and CEO of National Religious Broadcasters, one of the most 537 00:31:36,240 --> 00:31:42,320 Speaker 1: important Christian organizations for communication in our nation. Troy, welcome 538 00:31:42,440 --> 00:31:44,640 Speaker 1: to Sunder the Road Forward. It is great to see you. 539 00:31:45,560 --> 00:31:47,360 Speaker 7: It just great to see you again, Ryan, and great 540 00:31:47,400 --> 00:31:48,200 Speaker 7: to be with you today. 541 00:31:48,880 --> 00:31:52,640 Speaker 1: Well, I'm honored as always, and I just want to 542 00:31:52,680 --> 00:31:56,760 Speaker 1: first of all say I'm at Liberty University and I 543 00:31:56,920 --> 00:32:00,040 Speaker 1: see young people all the time. I think about and 544 00:32:00,200 --> 00:32:06,320 Speaker 1: Z often. NRB certainly has gen Z at the top 545 00:32:06,400 --> 00:32:10,280 Speaker 1: of their mind. Your focus is reaching down to that 546 00:32:10,480 --> 00:32:15,280 Speaker 1: next generation, making sure that the oldest generation doesn't die 547 00:32:15,440 --> 00:32:18,200 Speaker 1: with the baton in their hand, but they extended to 548 00:32:18,280 --> 00:32:22,720 Speaker 1: the next generation. We're seeing trends of revival in our nation. 549 00:32:22,920 --> 00:32:27,480 Speaker 1: Bible sales up, Bible app downloads are up, Christian music 550 00:32:27,800 --> 00:32:32,720 Speaker 1: is up, church attendance, baptisms, you name it. All of 551 00:32:32,800 --> 00:32:36,640 Speaker 1: that is starting to trend back. For years, we were 552 00:32:38,120 --> 00:32:42,560 Speaker 1: experiencing some kind of static decline. It seemed like every 553 00:32:42,680 --> 00:32:46,800 Speaker 1: year was worse than the year before. Pe Research More 554 00:32:46,880 --> 00:32:51,920 Speaker 1: recently released a study demonstrating that faith is making a 555 00:32:52,000 --> 00:32:55,000 Speaker 1: comeback in a very big way. This is the Charlie 556 00:32:55,040 --> 00:32:59,000 Speaker 1: Kirk generation that grew up watching him, and many of 557 00:32:59,040 --> 00:33:01,760 Speaker 1: them are saying, I want to give faith a chance. 558 00:33:03,160 --> 00:33:05,520 Speaker 1: I didn't grow up with faith. I think one out 559 00:33:05,520 --> 00:33:08,840 Speaker 1: of three gen Z did not grow up in any 560 00:33:08,960 --> 00:33:12,520 Speaker 1: kind of church whatsoever, any kind of religious experience. And 561 00:33:13,400 --> 00:33:18,920 Speaker 1: now we have this opportunity through Christian broadcasting, through podcasting, 562 00:33:19,080 --> 00:33:23,160 Speaker 1: through all kinds of digital technology to reach them. You're 563 00:33:23,240 --> 00:33:26,200 Speaker 1: doing that, well, yeah, right. 564 00:33:26,200 --> 00:33:28,560 Speaker 7: Our members are doing that, and you're right. We have 565 00:33:28,720 --> 00:33:31,120 Speaker 7: seen over you know it, really it was over the 566 00:33:31,200 --> 00:33:33,720 Speaker 7: last year. We did our own study back in January 567 00:33:34,720 --> 00:33:37,680 Speaker 7: and we found out that sixty four percent of gen 568 00:33:37,840 --> 00:33:40,600 Speaker 7: Z was tuning in to some form of Christian media. 569 00:33:40,760 --> 00:33:42,720 Speaker 7: I mean that's huge. So almost two thirds of the 570 00:33:43,520 --> 00:33:46,200 Speaker 7: of that population we're tuning in. And they were looking 571 00:33:46,320 --> 00:33:49,080 Speaker 7: for very specific things when we did our study. They 572 00:33:49,120 --> 00:33:51,760 Speaker 7: were looking for, first of all, hope and encouragement. They 573 00:33:51,840 --> 00:33:57,400 Speaker 7: were rejecting the world that was constantly just putting despair 574 00:33:57,560 --> 00:34:00,120 Speaker 7: upon them. I mean, that was really the counter to that. 575 00:34:00,600 --> 00:34:02,440 Speaker 7: And then they were also and this was the really 576 00:34:02,520 --> 00:34:06,200 Speaker 7: exciting news. They wanted to know how to better understand 577 00:34:06,240 --> 00:34:09,279 Speaker 7: their Bible and to know God better. And here's the 578 00:34:09,360 --> 00:34:11,560 Speaker 7: third one, because there's a bunch of statistics out there 579 00:34:11,560 --> 00:34:13,160 Speaker 7: that I've talked about. The gen Z is one of 580 00:34:13,200 --> 00:34:19,080 Speaker 7: the loneliest generations that we've seen in years, and they 581 00:34:19,320 --> 00:34:22,200 Speaker 7: really were hoping. We asked them, what is your hope 582 00:34:22,239 --> 00:34:24,960 Speaker 7: when you engage with Christian media? And they said, my 583 00:34:25,120 --> 00:34:30,880 Speaker 7: hope is to have better, stronger, and more meaningful relationships 584 00:34:30,960 --> 00:34:33,120 Speaker 7: with other people. So we have a generation out there 585 00:34:33,560 --> 00:34:36,239 Speaker 7: that realizes, I think that they feel lost. And so 586 00:34:37,320 --> 00:34:42,680 Speaker 7: now we've just seen the spike. Unfortunately since Charlie Kirkson's assassination. 587 00:34:42,880 --> 00:34:47,520 Speaker 7: That unfortunate event, though I think it really affected that 588 00:34:47,800 --> 00:34:50,920 Speaker 7: generation more than any other generation. It affected them and 589 00:34:51,040 --> 00:34:54,200 Speaker 7: they've been seeking the truth since September. 590 00:34:54,920 --> 00:34:59,360 Speaker 1: Yes, I wholeheartedly agree that in the wake of that 591 00:34:59,600 --> 00:35:02,680 Speaker 1: trad I think many people are saying, you know, I'm 592 00:35:02,760 --> 00:35:09,839 Speaker 1: experiencing hell right now, some version of it. Depression, suicide, loneliness, anxiety. 593 00:35:10,000 --> 00:35:12,120 Speaker 1: I think of what Jonathan Hyde calls them as the 594 00:35:12,280 --> 00:35:18,000 Speaker 1: anxious generation, most depressed generation. And yet this is the 595 00:35:19,120 --> 00:35:22,719 Speaker 1: generation of affluent, easy money. I mean, I'm just saying 596 00:35:22,760 --> 00:35:26,200 Speaker 1: in terms of how many people have access to things 597 00:35:26,320 --> 00:35:32,600 Speaker 1: more than ever before, and yet they feel so depressed 598 00:35:32,680 --> 00:35:35,400 Speaker 1: and when they saw what happened to Charlie. Many of 599 00:35:35,440 --> 00:35:38,440 Speaker 1: them are seeking truth. They want a taste of heaven, 600 00:35:38,960 --> 00:35:41,840 Speaker 1: and they want to know what is the good, and 601 00:35:42,080 --> 00:35:43,680 Speaker 1: they need to know Jesus Christ. 602 00:35:43,800 --> 00:35:47,320 Speaker 6: This is an opportunity, right, They're really looking for meaning 603 00:35:47,440 --> 00:35:48,640 Speaker 6: and purpose in their lives. 604 00:35:48,719 --> 00:35:50,880 Speaker 7: I mean, all of the things that lead to that 605 00:35:51,400 --> 00:35:55,200 Speaker 7: despair and that loneliness that excuse me, the root of 606 00:35:55,280 --> 00:35:57,920 Speaker 7: that is trying to understand the meaning and purpose in 607 00:35:57,960 --> 00:35:58,480 Speaker 7: their lives. 608 00:35:58,960 --> 00:36:03,839 Speaker 1: Yes, have some challenges, obviously, we we all experience them 609 00:36:04,000 --> 00:36:09,759 Speaker 1: as Christians today. Uh, the the most persecuted group in 610 00:36:09,920 --> 00:36:14,840 Speaker 1: the world are Christians. Confessing Christians, people have given public 611 00:36:14,920 --> 00:36:17,920 Speaker 1: witness and public testimony to their faith in Jesus Christ, 612 00:36:18,400 --> 00:36:21,480 Speaker 1: the most persecuted group in the world. We are going 613 00:36:21,560 --> 00:36:23,960 Speaker 1: to talk a little bit about Nigerian persecution, but I 614 00:36:24,040 --> 00:36:27,920 Speaker 1: do want to talk about the kind of soft tyranny 615 00:36:28,040 --> 00:36:31,279 Speaker 1: that we experience in the West. It's sort of the 616 00:36:31,600 --> 00:36:38,520 Speaker 1: soft totalitarianism that live not by lies. Rod Dreyer book 617 00:36:38,760 --> 00:36:44,040 Speaker 1: talks about that. We we see where censorship has happened 618 00:36:44,520 --> 00:36:48,400 Speaker 1: in the past, where whether it be the the government 619 00:36:49,200 --> 00:36:54,640 Speaker 1: pressuring social media apps to censor, we see public censorship 620 00:36:54,760 --> 00:36:59,120 Speaker 1: on broadcast of you know, major broadcasting corporations like CNN 621 00:36:59,239 --> 00:37:04,719 Speaker 1: and NBE and ABC viewpoint discrimination happening. Often sometimes there 622 00:37:04,800 --> 00:37:08,080 Speaker 1: will be an interview in which the guest is saying 623 00:37:08,239 --> 00:37:11,480 Speaker 1: something that the network doesn't like and then they mute them. 624 00:37:11,600 --> 00:37:15,880 Speaker 1: It's usually a conservative perspective. It's a targeted kind of censorship. 625 00:37:17,320 --> 00:37:21,040 Speaker 1: But we also see it with the Johnson Amendment. And 626 00:37:21,200 --> 00:37:25,000 Speaker 1: this is not over yet. And I'm thinking more specifically 627 00:37:25,200 --> 00:37:27,680 Speaker 1: of recently a church that I was a part of 628 00:37:27,800 --> 00:37:31,720 Speaker 1: in my youth, First Baptist Church of Dallas, Pastor Robert 629 00:37:31,760 --> 00:37:35,920 Speaker 1: Jeffers just gave testimony at the Religious Liberty Commission, talking 630 00:37:36,000 --> 00:37:39,120 Speaker 1: about we really need to see something happening with the 631 00:37:39,200 --> 00:37:41,160 Speaker 1: Johnson Amenmic, can you talk a little bit about that. 632 00:37:41,960 --> 00:37:44,600 Speaker 7: Yeah, I can. And first of all, I really we 633 00:37:44,719 --> 00:37:48,680 Speaker 7: appreciate the President for putting that commission together to look 634 00:37:48,760 --> 00:37:54,520 Speaker 7: at all of the bias and discrimination and even weaponization 635 00:37:54,719 --> 00:37:58,600 Speaker 7: and gets Christianity, for the most part in this country, 636 00:37:58,680 --> 00:38:02,560 Speaker 7: that's the number one religion that has really discriminated against 637 00:38:02,760 --> 00:38:06,359 Speaker 7: in these various institutions. So they've looked at education, they've 638 00:38:06,360 --> 00:38:08,680 Speaker 7: looked at the government, and now in the part of that, 639 00:38:08,760 --> 00:38:12,280 Speaker 7: they're again looking at the irs. So this Johnson Amendment 640 00:38:12,400 --> 00:38:16,800 Speaker 7: just really quick if your viewers don't understand it. Linda B. Johnson, 641 00:38:16,880 --> 00:38:19,520 Speaker 7: back in nineteen fifty seven, after he won the Senate race, 642 00:38:19,920 --> 00:38:22,879 Speaker 7: he put this amendment into an appropriations bill that said 643 00:38:23,360 --> 00:38:25,479 Speaker 7: that at the core of the problem, there's three things 644 00:38:25,520 --> 00:38:28,640 Speaker 7: in there. Don't give the campaigns the amount of lobby, 645 00:38:28,719 --> 00:38:32,960 Speaker 7: but the corps was he stopped pastors churches from endorsing 646 00:38:33,080 --> 00:38:36,280 Speaker 7: or opposing candidates, And so for one hundred and seventy 647 00:38:36,360 --> 00:38:38,920 Speaker 7: years churches could do this. Pastors did it all the time. 648 00:38:39,000 --> 00:38:42,160 Speaker 7: Matter of fact, he did it because multiple churches had 649 00:38:42,280 --> 00:38:45,360 Speaker 7: opposed his Senate race, and this was a way to 650 00:38:45,480 --> 00:38:49,399 Speaker 7: silence that. So we took this to court a year 651 00:38:49,440 --> 00:38:53,560 Speaker 7: ago under the Biden administration, we took the Irs to court. 652 00:38:53,960 --> 00:38:56,240 Speaker 7: That case is active. We had a hearing on November 653 00:38:56,280 --> 00:38:59,839 Speaker 7: twenty fifth. We came to a what's called a consensus 654 00:39:00,120 --> 00:39:04,480 Speaker 7: to creed with the Justice Department, and now that's before 655 00:39:04,560 --> 00:39:06,800 Speaker 7: the judge and we're waiting for the judges ruling on that. 656 00:39:07,200 --> 00:39:10,520 Speaker 7: So Robert Jeffers and his pastor, he gave his account 657 00:39:10,640 --> 00:39:14,279 Speaker 7: with the IRS where he simply had a sermon, a 658 00:39:14,400 --> 00:39:17,560 Speaker 7: meeting a time where they were praying for candidates, they 659 00:39:17,560 --> 00:39:20,320 Speaker 7: were praying for the election, they were praying for this country. 660 00:39:20,800 --> 00:39:23,280 Speaker 7: And he received one of those letters from the IRS, 661 00:39:23,440 --> 00:39:26,680 Speaker 7: those chilling letters that said, you know, cease and desister, 662 00:39:26,840 --> 00:39:30,040 Speaker 7: we're going to take away your tax exemption. And so 663 00:39:30,200 --> 00:39:33,440 Speaker 7: we said, look, that's a violation of pastor's First Amendment 664 00:39:33,640 --> 00:39:37,280 Speaker 7: rights of both freedom of speech and freedom of religion. 665 00:39:37,680 --> 00:39:39,840 Speaker 7: And by the way, Ryan, the other thing is it 666 00:39:40,000 --> 00:39:44,520 Speaker 7: has been unbalanced in its enforcement by the RS. They 667 00:39:44,640 --> 00:39:47,960 Speaker 7: could not produce a single letter where they had said 668 00:39:48,520 --> 00:39:51,320 Speaker 7: an instance where they had sent the same letter to 669 00:39:51,440 --> 00:39:55,200 Speaker 7: a liberal progressive church in this country. So we're hoping 670 00:39:55,960 --> 00:39:58,600 Speaker 7: this case will get decided in the next sixty days 671 00:39:59,000 --> 00:40:02,600 Speaker 7: and pastors freedom of religion and freedom of speech and 672 00:40:02,719 --> 00:40:05,600 Speaker 7: freedom of conscience will be restored for them once again 673 00:40:05,719 --> 00:40:09,240 Speaker 7: to shepherd their congregations in who governs this country. 674 00:40:09,800 --> 00:40:13,080 Speaker 1: You know it's interesting, I mean, many people watching this program. 675 00:40:13,360 --> 00:40:16,960 Speaker 1: We're not naive, Troy. We have seen time and time 676 00:40:17,040 --> 00:40:20,880 Speaker 1: again exactly as you say, where there is selective enforcement. 677 00:40:21,000 --> 00:40:24,799 Speaker 1: We know of many churches across this country that doo 678 00:40:24,880 --> 00:40:28,799 Speaker 1: lean left and have used their platforms or their pulpits, 679 00:40:29,600 --> 00:40:37,479 Speaker 1: their altars to host candidates. I'm thinking of the historic church, 680 00:40:37,560 --> 00:40:41,840 Speaker 1: Ebenezer Church in Atlanta. I'm even thinking of there was 681 00:40:41,920 --> 00:40:47,080 Speaker 1: some three hundred churches in my commonwealth of Virginia where 682 00:40:47,160 --> 00:40:53,239 Speaker 1: I live that hosted a forum with Kamala Harris. She 683 00:40:53,440 --> 00:40:57,160 Speaker 1: was candidating, very clearly candidating for office, and this was 684 00:40:57,200 --> 00:41:01,680 Speaker 1: back in twenty twenty. They allowed for her to come 685 00:41:01,800 --> 00:41:04,640 Speaker 1: and they did a simulcast. There was three hundred churches 686 00:41:04,719 --> 00:41:10,280 Speaker 1: that broadcast this. There was no warning from the IRS 687 00:41:10,600 --> 00:41:13,680 Speaker 1: that this was sort of undue influence on the election. 688 00:41:14,800 --> 00:41:18,440 Speaker 1: They did not receive any kind of softer general rebuke 689 00:41:18,640 --> 00:41:22,800 Speaker 1: and hey, a warning, don't do that. But we know 690 00:41:23,200 --> 00:41:26,880 Speaker 1: of many organizations that have been targeted by the IRS, 691 00:41:27,040 --> 00:41:30,240 Speaker 1: going back to lewis Lerner, I think of Franklin Graham, 692 00:41:30,320 --> 00:41:33,600 Speaker 1: Samaritan's Purse at the top of that list. They were 693 00:41:33,680 --> 00:41:37,480 Speaker 1: targeted with audits. And this is this is an intimidation, 694 00:41:37,640 --> 00:41:41,640 Speaker 1: a coercion tactic that has been used time and time again. 695 00:41:42,520 --> 00:41:44,880 Speaker 7: Yeah, you can go all the way back. Hillary Clinton, 696 00:41:45,000 --> 00:41:49,840 Speaker 7: Barack Obama, Joe Biden, and Kamala Harris were not only 697 00:41:49,920 --> 00:41:54,920 Speaker 7: did they appear in churches, they were directly endorsed by 698 00:41:55,000 --> 00:41:57,360 Speaker 7: the pastors. It's you can go see the videos. We 699 00:41:57,400 --> 00:41:59,440 Speaker 7: have the videos, we had all the links. They were 700 00:41:59,480 --> 00:42:03,120 Speaker 7: directly endorsed. And yet silence crickets from the I R 701 00:42:03,280 --> 00:42:06,680 Speaker 7: S on that. And yet two churches that that just 702 00:42:06,840 --> 00:42:11,280 Speaker 7: prominent churches, Pastor Jeffers, a church of course in Dallas 703 00:42:11,800 --> 00:42:17,920 Speaker 7: and a church in in your area also had simply 704 00:42:18,440 --> 00:42:22,400 Speaker 7: a prayer Cornerstone Church, Thank you. Cornerstone had just simply prayed, 705 00:42:22,880 --> 00:42:26,120 Speaker 7: prayed for the candidates, didn't endorse, didn't say vote for, 706 00:42:26,800 --> 00:42:30,560 Speaker 7: just prayed for them. And both immediately received that letter, 707 00:42:31,640 --> 00:42:33,839 Speaker 7: throwing that chill into them. That you're going to lose 708 00:42:33,920 --> 00:42:37,560 Speaker 7: your tax exemption status. So so we just keep watching. 709 00:42:38,160 --> 00:42:40,160 Speaker 7: This case is going to come out soon and by 710 00:42:40,239 --> 00:42:46,319 Speaker 7: God's favor that that right, that privilege, that liberty will 711 00:42:46,360 --> 00:42:47,880 Speaker 7: be restored to these pastors. 712 00:42:48,280 --> 00:42:51,120 Speaker 1: Absolutely. We just have a couple of more minutes here, 713 00:42:51,239 --> 00:42:53,520 Speaker 1: and I would be remiss if I did not talk 714 00:42:53,600 --> 00:42:58,719 Speaker 1: about the persecution happening in Nigeria. You took part in 715 00:42:58,840 --> 00:43:02,200 Speaker 1: a trip more recently where you were over there, and 716 00:43:02,440 --> 00:43:05,800 Speaker 1: we're raising international awareness about this. Over one hundred and 717 00:43:05,840 --> 00:43:09,759 Speaker 1: twenty five thousand some odd Christians since two thousand and 718 00:43:09,920 --> 00:43:14,400 Speaker 1: nine have been killed in the name of radical Islam. 719 00:43:15,320 --> 00:43:18,440 Speaker 1: But these are Christian martyrs. This is a reminder of 720 00:43:18,560 --> 00:43:21,720 Speaker 1: Hebrews Chapter eleven, men and women for whom the world 721 00:43:21,960 --> 00:43:24,799 Speaker 1: was not worthy. I wanted you to share a little 722 00:43:24,800 --> 00:43:25,840 Speaker 1: bit about what's going. 723 00:43:25,719 --> 00:43:29,080 Speaker 7: On there, that's right. So I was in Nigeria actually 724 00:43:29,160 --> 00:43:31,560 Speaker 7: for a broadcast conference and to meet with some of 725 00:43:31,640 --> 00:43:36,239 Speaker 7: the leaders there, and of course in northern Nigeria at 726 00:43:36,280 --> 00:43:40,160 Speaker 7: the hands of primarily radical Islamist and that's really the 727 00:43:40,880 --> 00:43:43,759 Speaker 7: ninety nine percent of what's going on there. Their expansion 728 00:43:43,880 --> 00:43:47,960 Speaker 7: across the country, as Islam has done over the last 729 00:43:48,040 --> 00:43:50,719 Speaker 7: several hundred years. Is all done by force, And so 730 00:43:50,880 --> 00:43:54,080 Speaker 7: they'll go into these villages. Sometimes they give them twenty 731 00:43:54,120 --> 00:43:57,160 Speaker 7: four hours to move or be gone, lose everything you own. 732 00:43:57,239 --> 00:43:59,000 Speaker 7: But a lot of times they just go in and 733 00:43:59,160 --> 00:44:03,040 Speaker 7: slaughter everybody in the village simply because they're Christians who 734 00:44:03,120 --> 00:44:06,200 Speaker 7: hold a belief in Jesus Christ. But Ryan, that's just 735 00:44:06,320 --> 00:44:08,239 Speaker 7: the kind of right now, the hot spot, the tip 736 00:44:08,320 --> 00:44:11,480 Speaker 7: of the spear around the world, the most dangerous belief 737 00:44:11,560 --> 00:44:15,040 Speaker 7: you can hold today is Christianity, a belief in Jesus 738 00:44:15,160 --> 00:44:17,440 Speaker 7: Christ is your Lord and savior. That's the most dangerous 739 00:44:17,440 --> 00:44:23,160 Speaker 7: who here, whether you're across other Chad, Sudan, South Africa, 740 00:44:24,080 --> 00:44:28,920 Speaker 7: the Congo, all of these areas, Kenya, high persecution India, 741 00:44:29,120 --> 00:44:34,760 Speaker 7: Northern India. India had over four thousand incidents of arson 742 00:44:35,120 --> 00:44:40,120 Speaker 7: across for churches and Christian related buildings and organizations this 743 00:44:40,360 --> 00:44:45,920 Speaker 7: year alone. Ryan a thousand arson incidents in Europe of 744 00:44:46,480 --> 00:44:52,000 Speaker 7: attacks on Christian churches burned to the ground or damage severely. 745 00:44:52,520 --> 00:44:57,680 Speaker 7: South Korea, a supposedly democratic country, has locked up two 746 00:44:58,320 --> 00:45:01,440 Speaker 7: three pastors. Now simply we are speaking out the truth 747 00:45:01,520 --> 00:45:05,000 Speaker 7: of marriage between a man and a woman, calling out transgenderism, 748 00:45:05,480 --> 00:45:08,719 Speaker 7: so it's very dangerous. We, of course a lot of 749 00:45:08,800 --> 00:45:12,200 Speaker 7: bias and discrimination here in America in the West, but 750 00:45:12,320 --> 00:45:14,759 Speaker 7: there are Christians around the world that are putting their 751 00:45:14,800 --> 00:45:16,960 Speaker 7: lives and have lost their lines. As you said, the 752 00:45:17,000 --> 00:45:20,279 Speaker 7: world is not worthy of them simply because they will 753 00:45:20,400 --> 00:45:22,040 Speaker 7: not denounce their Lord and Savior. 754 00:45:22,520 --> 00:45:25,120 Speaker 1: Wow, we will leave it right there. It is a 755 00:45:25,200 --> 00:45:28,000 Speaker 1: good reminder even in this Christmas season, the season of 756 00:45:28,040 --> 00:45:31,960 Speaker 1: Advent where we celebrate the incarnation of Jesus Christ, the 757 00:45:32,080 --> 00:45:34,840 Speaker 1: manual God with us came into this world, but this 758 00:45:35,040 --> 00:45:38,000 Speaker 1: world did not receive him. Even Herod in the very 759 00:45:38,080 --> 00:45:43,279 Speaker 1: beginning wanted him dead. And it's a good reminder. It's 760 00:45:43,280 --> 00:45:46,320 Speaker 1: a sobering reminder that even today there are many in 761 00:45:46,400 --> 00:45:51,920 Speaker 1: the world that want, sadly Christians dead. Please stay right here. 762 00:45:52,200 --> 00:45:55,600 Speaker 1: I'm Ryan Helfenbayin you're watching Sunday The Road Forward. I'll 763 00:45:55,640 --> 00:45:59,560 Speaker 1: be right back after the short break with my final thoughts. 764 00:46:01,360 --> 00:46:04,399 Speaker 3: Do people ever come to you asking for help? Maybe hope? 765 00:46:04,840 --> 00:46:05,560 Speaker 3: How about prayer? 766 00:46:06,719 --> 00:46:09,600 Speaker 2: Do you ever wish you understood the issues better that 767 00:46:09,640 --> 00:46:13,680 Speaker 2: people are wrestling with, or how to use the Bible more. 768 00:46:13,600 --> 00:46:15,120 Speaker 3: Effectively and caring for people? 769 00:46:15,560 --> 00:46:17,799 Speaker 2: If so, I'd love to get a copy of our 770 00:46:17,880 --> 00:46:20,760 Speaker 2: Care and Council Bible in your hands, featuring one hundred 771 00:46:20,760 --> 00:46:23,839 Speaker 2: and sixteen topics written by some of the world's best 772 00:46:23,920 --> 00:46:25,280 Speaker 2: mental health and ministry experts. 773 00:46:25,440 --> 00:46:26,440 Speaker 3: I think you'll love it. 774 00:46:26,960 --> 00:46:32,279 Speaker 2: Topics like discouragement, abuse, depression, divorce, anxiety, abortion, and more. 775 00:46:32,880 --> 00:46:35,279 Speaker 2: So you can learn more about these issues and how 776 00:46:35,360 --> 00:46:39,320 Speaker 2: to use the Bible more effectively, how to share passages 777 00:46:39,360 --> 00:46:44,120 Speaker 2: of scripture with others, maybe even yourself as you're sitting down. 778 00:46:44,000 --> 00:46:45,799 Speaker 3: Over a cup of coffee. You know what I love 779 00:46:46,160 --> 00:46:49,239 Speaker 3: most about this Bible is that it's so easy to use. 780 00:46:49,760 --> 00:46:53,480 Speaker 2: You can find right up front an index with subjects, 781 00:46:54,400 --> 00:46:58,520 Speaker 2: key passages of scripture, personality profiles, and so much more 782 00:46:58,560 --> 00:47:00,799 Speaker 2: to go to so you can use the Bible more 783 00:47:00,840 --> 00:47:04,480 Speaker 2: effectively in caring for other people. The Caring Council Bible 784 00:47:04,600 --> 00:47:07,680 Speaker 2: right now is retailing for eighty five dollars. We're gonna 785 00:47:07,680 --> 00:47:10,239 Speaker 2: make it available to you for just forty nine to 786 00:47:10,320 --> 00:47:11,520 Speaker 2: ninety nine plus shipping. 787 00:47:12,040 --> 00:47:13,080 Speaker 3: I think you're gonna love it. 788 00:47:13,400 --> 00:47:13,560 Speaker 7: Hey. 789 00:47:13,640 --> 00:47:15,840 Speaker 3: For more information about how you can get this Bible 790 00:47:15,920 --> 00:47:21,160 Speaker 3: right now, go to Careincounsel dot com. That's Care Andcounsel 791 00:47:21,520 --> 00:47:22,280 Speaker 3: dot com. 792 00:47:26,320 --> 00:47:29,160 Speaker 4: For more encouragement and to stay connected, follow doctor Tim 793 00:47:29,239 --> 00:47:32,400 Speaker 4: Clinton on Facebook, Instagram, and X. We love being a 794 00:47:32,440 --> 00:47:33,120 Speaker 4: part of your life. 795 00:47:41,360 --> 00:47:44,120 Speaker 1: Thank you for watching Sunday The Road Forward. J. C 796 00:47:44,480 --> 00:47:48,400 Speaker 1: Ryle once wrote this, the saddest symptom about many so 797 00:47:48,600 --> 00:47:53,480 Speaker 1: called Christians is the utter absence of anything like conflict 798 00:47:53,880 --> 00:47:58,240 Speaker 1: and fight in their Christianity. They eat, they drink, they dress, 799 00:47:58,360 --> 00:48:01,759 Speaker 1: they work, they amuse themselves, They get money, they spend money. 800 00:48:02,160 --> 00:48:06,200 Speaker 1: They go through a constant round of formal religious services. 801 00:48:06,640 --> 00:48:12,360 Speaker 1: But the great spiritual warfare it's watchings, it's strugglings, it's agonies, 802 00:48:12,520 --> 00:48:17,759 Speaker 1: its battle, it's contest, it's wrestlings are matters of which 803 00:48:18,080 --> 00:48:23,080 Speaker 1: they appear to know nothing at all. The hour demands 804 00:48:23,920 --> 00:48:28,080 Speaker 1: more than comfortable Christianity. It demands soldiers of the Cross 805 00:48:28,400 --> 00:48:31,680 Speaker 1: who are willing to stand, to fight, and to endure. 806 00:48:32,400 --> 00:48:36,000 Speaker 1: May we be found faithful in this battle. I'll leave 807 00:48:36,000 --> 00:48:40,439 Speaker 1: you with that until next time. Merry Christmas and God 808 00:48:40,480 --> 00:48:40,880 Speaker 1: bless you 809 00:48:42,880 --> 00:48:44,040 Speaker 3: Day by God