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David Barton: Biblical Citizenship: Faith in Action | Praise

July 9, 2026 | 53:30

Matt and Laurie welcome author and activist David Barton for a discussion on America’s biblical heritage, civic engagement, and the role of Christians in shaping their communities.

#Praise #Law #CivilRights #Honor #Live #Patriot #Patriotic #Inspirational #Encouragement #Author #Testimony #SocialMedia #Culture #MattCrouch #LaurieCrouch #DavidBarton

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Praise | David Barton: Biblical Citizenship: Faith in Action | Praise | July 9, 2026

>> male announcer: tonight on "praise"
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Matt and laurie crouch sit down with historian and
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Wallbuilders founder, david barton,
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For a compelling look at the extraordinary sacrifices made by
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The signers of the declaration of independence.
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>> matt crouch: give us the way it was
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And how far we've kind of strayed.
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>> david barton: okay, that right there is a short bio
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On each of the 56 who signed the declaration.
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So here we are, celebrating the 250th,
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And we don't even know who these guys are and what they did,
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What sacrifices they made, or what their beliefs were or
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Anything else.
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>> announcer: discover the powerful role the bible played
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In shaping our nation's founding documents and the true
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Foundation of american freedom.
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>> david: the average length of a governing document in a nation
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Is 17 to 19 years.
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>> matt: my goodness.
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>> david: so we're celebrating 250.
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We just think-- we've had stability so long,
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We think it's normal.
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As americans, we don't appreciate how unique we are.
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>> announcer: and be inspired to answer the call to civic
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Responsibility and faith-filled influence
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In today's culture and politics.
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>> david: why are we picking and choosing?
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Why are we saying, "oh, god doesn't want me involved
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In politics"?
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Then why did he create it?
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Why did he give us so many books on it?
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Why did the first five books of the bible cover civil government
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And civil laws?
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>> matt: okay, dave barton,
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It's been a little bit of time ago that we sat together
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Across from each other and did the "american heritage" series,
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Okay?
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I would call that about--
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Are we pushing 25 or 30 years ago?
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>> david: it's been a while, brother.
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It's been a while.
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>> matt: it's been a minute.
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>> laurie crouch: that's crazy.
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>> matt: so i remember sitting back with you,
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Doing 26 half-hour tv shows, and i still remember some of the
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Quotes that you were making, and that imprinted in laurie and i
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All these years,
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And i promise you, you are a national treasure.
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Thank you for being with us.
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You hit my social media feed with something that shocked me
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To my core.
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Explain it to everybody as we get started.
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>> david: so where we are in america today,
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Probably one of the biggest social issues that has biblical
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Ramifications has been on gender issues.
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Gender-- particularly men, women, trans, et cetera--
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It's been so much now that we find--
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President trump made a comment several months ago.
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He said, "you know, i used to think that the men in women's
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Sports was a 80/20 issue."
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He said, "i was wrong."
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He said, "it's a 90/10 issue."
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And he's exactly right.
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And so what we've seen is now 29 states have passed laws
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Saying "no men in women's sports."
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Real simple.
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You can tell the biological difference.
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Anybody who doubts that, come to our ranch.
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I'll take you out to the ranch.
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[laughter]
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I'll put you behind the cattle herd,
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And you're only gonna find two genders.
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For mammals, there's only two genders.
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Really simple stuff.
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But the whole nonsense of not knowing what the gender is
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And the whole nonsense of let kids at school choose any
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Bathroom they want,
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Any locker room they want, any shower they want,
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Which we've gone through over the last several years--
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It came out of fort worth, texas.
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Fort worth, texas, now of the top 20 cities in the nation--
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They're all deep progressive, deep, deep, deep
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Progressive blue except fort worth.
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Fort worth is the only red city in the top 20 in the nation.
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It is considered to be a conservative city.
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Its nickname is cowtown usa.
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So, i mean, we literally, twice a day in fort worth,
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We have cattle drives up and down main street
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In north fort worth.
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And by the way, you can follow those cattle and see what the
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Genders are-- really easy.
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[laughter]
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There's only two genders.
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>> laurie: no confusion.
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>> david: so out of cowtown usa,
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The fort worth school board said,
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"we're gonna let kids choose whatever locker room they want,
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Whatever bathroom they want,
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Whatever gender they want to be.
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They can do that." now, from there,
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What happened was secretary of education at the time,
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Arne duncan, who was under president obama, said,
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"why didn't i think of that?"
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And he said, "that's a national policy."
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And so it went across the nation,
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And that's where it started was out of fort worth.
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It went across the nation, and that's what we've been fighting,
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For the last number of years, is confusion.
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And there's really no confusion over gender,
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But they teach it and act like there is--
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Now there is because they've been teaching confusion.
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So with all of that going on,
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It really infuriated me 'cause
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Fort worth is my backyard.
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That's where i grew up.
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And i was sayin', "how did this happen?"
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And so i went and looked--
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And, again, it's the 13th largest city.
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There's 918,000 people in fort worth.
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That's right at a million.
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And i looked at the president of the school board,
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Who came up with this stupid policy,
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And i looked at his election, and he received 1,600
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Votes in the election.
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And so i thought, "all right, 1,600.
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You're talkin' about nearly a million.
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So you're way under the 2 percent level."
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And so i started looking in his district,
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And i quickly found an evangelical
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Bible-believing church with more than 3,000 adults
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In that district.
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That one church could've kept that guy from being on the
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School board, which would've saved the whole nation from what
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We've been fighting for the last 15 to 20 years.
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One church right there--
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If they had just taken ownership and said,
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"hey, we're not gonna let crazy people on the school board.
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If you don't--"
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And by the way, just to put this in perspective,
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We're so crazy now that,
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If you go to the website called
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"helpful professors," where our "good ole professors"
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Talk to us,
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They point out that there's 81 different genders.
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>> matt: oh gosh.
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>> david: you have lost your ever-lovin' mind.
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There's two.
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Again, come to any farm you want.
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Any farmer will show you.
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You choose whatever the mammal is-- only two genders.
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So all of this came out of fort worth,
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And we found that to be the case all over.
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Now, what was interesting was, across the nation,
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People started saying,
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"hey, we're not gonna do that."
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So there was a christian lady up in bentonville, arkansas;
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In bentonville, hometown of walmart.
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Bentonville has got about 40,000 people in the town,
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And she said, "i'm runnin' for school board.
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We're not gonna do that here."
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And she got elected to school board.
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In a town of 40,000, she received a total of 35 votes.
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So in other words, i just get five neighbors' houses to come.
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>> laurie: yeah.
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>> david: i mean, it's so low, so simple.
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And then, there was a guy in riceville, iowa,
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Who said-- he was a farmer, country guy-- he said,
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"that sure ain't comin' to our school."
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And so he ran for school board.
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He got his name on the ballot and ran.
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And when the election happened, that election-- he was busy on
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The farm and never got in to vote.
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And it's not that he lost by one vote.
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It's that nobody voted in the entire election.
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If he had voted for himself,
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He would be sitting on the school board.
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That's how poor we do at school board elections.
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"well, i don't know who they are."
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Make a phone call.
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Call the guys.
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They wanna be elected.
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Say, "hey, i see you're runnin' for office.
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Tell me what you think about this, this, this."
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I mean, it's so easy to find out,
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And in this day and age,
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They've got social media posts you can read.
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There's so many ways to see what they believe.
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And so, for christians not to step up and take ownership of
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Their own community and protect their own kids and protect--
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And by the way, fort worth--
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Another thing about fort worth was planned parenthood
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Is the most radical antitraditional sexual group
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In the nation.
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They're behind abortion big time and trans stuff, et cetera.
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And they have a curriculum that's so bad that only,
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I think, it's 27 school districts in the nation have
00:07:46.222 --> 00:07:49.926
It-- san francisco and new york city,
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Stuff like-- it's really bad curriculum.
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Fort worth was one of the 27 cities that had that
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Terrible curriculum.
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So here in this somewhat conservative state,
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Conservative city, you've lost control,
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And the bible tells us in luke 6:40, jesus says,
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"every student, when he's fully taught,
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Will be like his teacher."
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Well, we're creating a generation of conservative
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Bible-kind of kids
00:08:15.418 --> 00:08:18.788
Now to be super-progressive secular liberals,
00:08:18.788 --> 00:08:20.923
Because we're not payin' attention to what they're
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Bein' taught in the classroom.
00:08:23.259 --> 00:08:25.294
And this is where christians can make such a difference and do it
00:08:25.294 --> 00:08:27.096
Really quickly.
00:08:27.096 --> 00:08:29.865
We got active in colorado, helpin' a group in colorado--
00:08:29.865 --> 00:08:31.467
Said, "we wanna make a difference in school boards."
00:08:31.467 --> 00:08:33.603
And so we created voters' guides for school boards,
00:08:33.603 --> 00:08:37.139
And about 1,500 churches took those voter guides and put 'em
00:08:37.139 --> 00:08:41.477
Out to their people, flipped 78 seats on the school board.
00:08:41.477 --> 00:08:44.513
>> laurie: my goodness.
00:08:44.513 --> 00:08:45.848
>> david: here, in fort worth, after all the craziness went on,
00:08:45.848 --> 00:08:49.151
Some of the churches here said, "no,"
00:08:49.151 --> 00:08:51.487
That "we're not doin' this again."
00:08:51.487 --> 00:08:52.989
One church-- out of that one church,
00:08:52.989 --> 00:08:56.425
They ran 21 candidates for school boards,
00:08:56.425 --> 00:08:59.261
And they elected 20 of the 21 out of the one church.
00:08:59.261 --> 00:09:02.398
There was another effort in the area, fort worth/dallas area,
00:09:02.398 --> 00:09:06.669
Where that 70 churches came together and said,
00:09:06.669 --> 00:09:09.739
"okay, from among us,
00:09:09.739 --> 00:09:10.940
Let's recruit some people out of our own churches that
00:09:10.940 --> 00:09:13.976
Are educators; they're good, competent people;
00:09:13.976 --> 00:09:15.811
They're biblical thinkers." and they ran those 15,
00:09:15.811 --> 00:09:19.382
And all 15 got elected-- 15 out of 15 flipped it.
00:09:19.382 --> 00:09:22.551
In houston, two elections ago, houston had gone crazy too,
00:09:22.551 --> 00:09:26.722
And so churches got together, and they won every seat on the
00:09:26.722 --> 00:09:31.627
Houston school board in that election.
00:09:31.627 --> 00:09:32.561
So we're seein' seats flip.
00:09:32.561 --> 00:09:36.298
The trouble we sometimes have is christians don't stay engaged.
00:09:36.298 --> 00:09:38.501
"i won.
00:09:38.501 --> 00:09:39.468
Now i can go home.
00:09:39.468 --> 00:09:40.903
Everything's fine."
00:09:40.903 --> 00:09:41.537
>> matt: yeah.
00:09:41.537 --> 00:09:42.004
>> david: no.
00:09:42.004 --> 00:09:43.339
You gotta show up every election and monitor and keep good people
00:09:43.339 --> 00:09:44.507
Rollin' in because others roll off.
00:09:44.507 --> 00:09:46.042
And so this is a thing where it's easy to fix,
00:09:46.042 --> 00:09:49.311
And we've gotten in a really deep hole,
00:09:49.311 --> 00:09:52.314
And it's a self-inflicted wound, but it's also a curable wound.
00:09:52.314 --> 00:09:55.518
>> matt: yeah.
00:09:55.518 --> 00:09:57.920
>> david: and that's what we can do if we'll get involved.
00:09:57.920 --> 00:09:59.321
>> matt: okay, david, you are talking like
00:09:59.321 --> 00:10:03.893
"this isn't that difficult."
00:10:03.893 --> 00:10:06.162
You just have to get, kind of,
00:10:06.162 --> 00:10:08.898
A community-organizer person in place.
00:10:08.898 --> 00:10:11.834
You gotta find somebody.
00:10:11.834 --> 00:10:14.170
A pastor could get maybe a staffer--
00:10:14.170 --> 00:10:15.104
>> david: mm-hmm.
00:10:15.104 --> 00:10:16.439
>> matt: -- that would act as that person to start, kind of,
00:10:16.439 --> 00:10:19.108
Communicating with the other churches.
00:10:19.108 --> 00:10:21.043
You know, maybe we'll figure out a way to get that done here at
00:10:21.043 --> 00:10:24.547
Tbn and get some employees that are, you know,
00:10:24.547 --> 00:10:27.550
Around the nation to start,
00:10:27.550 --> 00:10:31.387
Because it feels like we need to just get everybody a little bit
00:10:31.387 --> 00:10:33.522
Of a head start, you know, a little bit of a packet.
00:10:33.522 --> 00:10:35.658
>> david: yeah.
00:10:35.658 --> 00:10:36.859
>> matt: there's information on the screen,
00:10:36.859 --> 00:10:39.929
And if you want a packet, we'll figure out what that packet is
00:10:39.929 --> 00:10:41.764
And get it to 'em, and we wanna do that.
00:10:41.764 --> 00:10:43.499
Let's go back.
00:10:43.499 --> 00:10:49.672
I'm looking at the "lives, fortunes, & sacred honor"
00:10:49.672 --> 00:10:50.406
Your newest book.
00:10:50.406 --> 00:10:54.610
And if you would, you've given us this snapshot of 2026.
00:10:54.610 --> 00:10:59.381
What we need is some historical connection.
00:10:59.381 --> 00:11:07.389
So wherever you wanna start the story, you know,
00:11:07.389 --> 00:11:10.459
If you want the deep dive, here it is: just released, available,
00:11:10.459 --> 00:11:14.263
Amazon or-- probably the quickest-- or go to the website,
00:11:14.263 --> 00:11:18.033
David barton's website, wallbuilders.com.
00:11:18.033 --> 00:11:22.505
Give us the way it was and how far we've, kind of, strayed.
00:11:22.505 --> 00:11:25.841
>> david: okay, that right there is the-- it's a short bio on
00:11:25.841 --> 00:11:29.211
Each of the 56 who signed the declaration;
00:11:29.211 --> 00:11:31.046
So maybe 1,500 words.
00:11:31.046 --> 00:11:32.181
We do that because we can put as the big picture
00:11:32.181 --> 00:11:37.787
The signers of the declaration.
00:11:37.787 --> 00:11:42.191
Everybody goes, "signers of the declaration."
00:11:42.191 --> 00:11:43.492
And tim my son--
00:11:43.492 --> 00:11:44.860
He and i both speak at a lot of universities and law schools,
00:11:44.860 --> 00:11:46.195
Et cetera, and i will put that picture up and ask the students,
00:11:46.195 --> 00:11:48.230
"call by name the people that are up there,"
00:11:48.230 --> 00:11:50.800
And they nearly always get
00:11:50.800 --> 00:11:52.234
Thomas jefferson and ben franklin,
00:11:52.234 --> 00:11:53.402
And that's where it stops.
00:11:53.402 --> 00:11:54.503
I was at duke university law school, and i said,
00:11:54.503 --> 00:11:56.372
"come on, give me some more."
00:11:56.372 --> 00:11:58.007
Two is all they can give.
00:11:58.007 --> 00:11:59.408
Tim actually carries a gift card with him and says,
00:11:59.408 --> 00:12:01.577
"if you can name five signers of the declaration,
00:12:01.577 --> 00:12:03.813
I'll give you this gift card.
00:12:03.813 --> 00:12:05.481
[laurie chuckles]
00:12:05.481 --> 00:12:06.448
He's had the same gift card nine years.
00:12:06.448 --> 00:12:07.483
[laughter]
00:12:07.483 --> 00:12:08.117
Nobody knows.
00:12:08.117 --> 00:12:09.518
So here we are, celebratin' the 250th,
00:12:09.518 --> 00:12:11.220
And we don't even know who these guys are and what they did,
00:12:11.220 --> 00:12:14.356
What sacrifices they made, or what their beliefs were or
00:12:14.356 --> 00:12:15.958
Anything else.
00:12:15.958 --> 00:12:17.927
>> tim barton: not many nations have lasted 250 years under
00:12:17.927 --> 00:12:20.930
Their original foundation, the declaration.
00:12:20.930 --> 00:12:23.299
And then, of course, 11 years later, we did the constitution.
00:12:23.299 --> 00:12:25.668
But as we look at our nation, we've been one of the most free,
00:12:25.668 --> 00:12:28.771
Prosperous nations in the history of the world.
00:12:28.771 --> 00:12:31.574
How did we get here?
00:12:31.574 --> 00:12:32.641
Well, what allowed us to become a free nation?
00:12:32.641 --> 00:12:34.043
And this is what we celebrate on the fourth of july,
00:12:34.043 --> 00:12:36.579
Going back and remembering.
00:12:36.579 --> 00:12:38.247
We used to be british colonies.
00:12:38.247 --> 00:12:40.883
We were british subjects, and our leaders in america-- they
00:12:40.883 --> 00:12:44.153
Were appointed by the king.
00:12:44.153 --> 00:12:45.421
Our governors were appointed by the king,
00:12:45.421 --> 00:12:47.790
And we were represented by the british parliament,
00:12:47.790 --> 00:12:49.058
And we didn't even have full representation.
00:12:49.058 --> 00:12:50.793
We couldn't send all of our leaders over there
00:12:50.793 --> 00:12:52.094
To represent us.
00:12:52.094 --> 00:12:53.362
And then the king actually suspended the british bill of
00:12:53.362 --> 00:12:55.865
Rights 'cause he thought we weren't doing a good enough job.
00:12:55.865 --> 00:12:57.867
And this led the founding fathers goin',
00:12:57.867 --> 00:13:00.102
"you know, there might need to be somethin' different we do."
00:13:00.102 --> 00:13:02.504
In fact, if you go back and look,
00:13:02.504 --> 00:13:03.839
When the first continental congress got together,
00:13:03.839 --> 00:13:06.008
It was september 6, 1774,
00:13:06.008 --> 00:13:09.111
And to understand their motivation, if you look,
00:13:09.111 --> 00:13:12.147
The very first motion that was made-- thomas cushing made a
00:13:12.147 --> 00:13:14.984
Motion that they should open with prayer.
00:13:14.984 --> 00:13:17.586
And they did, but recognizing the severity of the situation
00:13:17.586 --> 00:13:20.990
They were in,
00:13:20.990 --> 00:13:22.358
Looking at potentially going to war against their own nation,
00:13:22.358 --> 00:13:26.228
The most powerful nation in the world at that time,
00:13:26.228 --> 00:13:28.397
That opening prayer went for about two hours.
00:13:28.397 --> 00:13:31.967
And in the midst of that prayer, they also read some bible
00:13:31.967 --> 00:13:34.103
Passages,
00:13:34.103 --> 00:13:35.971
Things that were so encouraging to them.
00:13:35.971 --> 00:13:37.206
In fact, john adams wrote abigail letters about how
00:13:37.206 --> 00:13:39.008
Inspired they were by the verses they read that day.
00:13:39.008 --> 00:13:41.343
Well, as the story goes on, you then have, in april of 1775,
00:13:41.343 --> 00:13:47.216
You have the
00:13:47.216 --> 00:13:48.517
"shot heard around the world" at lexington green,
00:13:48.517 --> 00:13:49.985
And then you have the battle at concord bridge.
00:13:49.985 --> 00:13:51.954
And actually, the reason even this happened is the king sent
00:13:51.954 --> 00:13:54.723
Troops to go disarm the people.
00:13:54.723 --> 00:13:56.358
He said, "you know, i don't think we can trust them with
00:13:56.358 --> 00:13:58.060
Guns, with gunpowder.
00:13:58.060 --> 00:13:59.495
We need to take those things away."
00:13:59.495 --> 00:14:00.596
And once that happened,
00:14:00.596 --> 00:14:03.432
It was very clear for the founding fathers,
00:14:03.432 --> 00:14:05.467
"this looks like a full-on war is coming."
00:14:05.467 --> 00:14:07.836
You have the forming of the continental army.
00:14:07.836 --> 00:14:10.773
To go a little further, you have the congress recognizing that
00:14:10.773 --> 00:14:12.841
"we're gonna have to split and go in a different direction."
00:14:12.841 --> 00:14:15.010
And so you have richard henry lee from virginia,
00:14:15.010 --> 00:14:17.780
Who makes the motion that
00:14:17.780 --> 00:14:20.282
"we need to separate from great
00:14:20.282 --> 00:14:21.850
Britain."
00:14:21.850 --> 00:14:22.985
The congress determined that "before we separate,
00:14:22.985 --> 00:14:24.119
We probably should have some kind of explanation
00:14:24.119 --> 00:14:25.754
For why we're separating."
00:14:25.754 --> 00:14:27.723
It became known as the declaration of independence.
00:14:27.723 --> 00:14:29.558
There was a committee of five that came up with it.
00:14:29.558 --> 00:14:30.893
It was jefferson and john adams and franklin and livingston
00:14:30.893 --> 00:14:33.696
And sherman.
00:14:33.696 --> 00:14:34.930
They're the ones that come up with this although thomas
00:14:34.930 --> 00:14:36.598
Jefferson's the primary author.
00:14:36.598 --> 00:14:38.734
And if you look over my shoulder--
00:14:38.734 --> 00:14:40.369
The original draft of
00:14:40.369 --> 00:14:41.770
The declaration.
00:14:41.770 --> 00:14:43.372
That's a first printing of the original draft of the
00:14:43.372 --> 00:14:44.740
Declaration, hanging on the wall behind me.
00:14:44.740 --> 00:14:47.276
You actually can get online and see it today
00:14:47.276 --> 00:14:48.077
In jefferson's own handwriting.
00:14:48.077 --> 00:14:49.144
It's amazing.
00:14:49.144 --> 00:14:51.180
And the second paragraph is where he lays out the american
00:14:51.180 --> 00:14:53.549
Philosophy of government that
00:14:53.549 --> 00:14:55.117
"we hold these truths to be self-evident,
00:14:55.117 --> 00:14:56.819
That all men are created equal.
00:14:56.819 --> 00:14:58.654
They're endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights,
00:14:58.654 --> 00:15:01.090
And among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of
00:15:01.090 --> 00:15:03.792
Happiness.--
00:15:03.792 --> 00:15:04.526
That to secure these rights,
00:15:04.526 --> 00:15:06.595
Governments are instituted among men,
00:15:06.595 --> 00:15:07.896
Deriving their just power from the consent of the governed."
00:15:07.896 --> 00:15:10.132
They opened the acknowledgement, like, "why are we separating?
00:15:10.132 --> 00:15:13.602
We have a different idea of government."
00:15:13.602 --> 00:15:14.803
We have a different philosophy than great britain does,
00:15:14.803 --> 00:15:16.672
'cause we believe that there's a creator,
00:15:16.672 --> 00:15:19.241
And he gave us our rights.
00:15:19.241 --> 00:15:20.776
And the main role of government is to protect those rights,
00:15:20.776 --> 00:15:23.946
And then we believe in control of the people,
00:15:23.946 --> 00:15:27.249
Consent of the governed.
00:15:27.249 --> 00:15:29.251
That's why, in the constitution, it starts off with
00:15:29.251 --> 00:15:30.486
"we the people of the united states."
00:15:30.486 --> 00:15:31.487
They believed that we should
00:15:31.487 --> 00:15:33.088
Have power, not just one arbitrary figure thousands of
00:15:33.088 --> 00:15:35.691
Miles away.
00:15:35.691 --> 00:15:38.627
And they go through incredible effort to make this happen.
00:15:38.627 --> 00:15:40.362
In fact, at the end of the declaration,
00:15:40.362 --> 00:15:41.597
They conclude the thoughts by saying that
00:15:41.597 --> 00:15:44.366
"...with a firm reliance on the divine providence,
00:15:44.366 --> 00:15:47.036
We mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes,
00:15:47.036 --> 00:15:48.971
Our sacred honor."
00:15:48.971 --> 00:15:50.072
And when they signed up for that,
00:15:50.072 --> 00:15:52.307
That's exactly what they did.
00:15:52.307 --> 00:15:53.575
In fact, john adams later wrote abigail a letter,
00:15:53.575 --> 00:15:56.278
And he was reflecting on the cost for the founding fathers
00:15:56.278 --> 00:15:59.681
And, for the rising generation, how they might not even fully
00:15:59.681 --> 00:16:02.418
Understand it.
00:16:02.418 --> 00:16:03.719
And i'm gonna read you part of the letter he wrote abigail.
00:16:03.719 --> 00:16:06.288
He said, "posterity! --"
00:16:06.288 --> 00:16:08.390
Talkin' about the next generation.
00:16:08.390 --> 00:16:10.192
He said, "you will never know how much it costs to preserve
00:16:10.192 --> 00:16:12.694
Your freedom!
00:16:12.694 --> 00:16:14.396
I hope you will make a good use of it.
00:16:14.396 --> 00:16:15.731
If you do not, i shall repent in heaven that i ever took half the
00:16:15.731 --> 00:16:18.467
Pains to prevent it."
00:16:18.467 --> 00:16:20.035
He recognized the cost was so high for them.
00:16:20.035 --> 00:16:23.205
And if you go back and read their story,
00:16:23.205 --> 00:16:24.473
You realize that many of them died.
00:16:24.473 --> 00:16:27.409
Some of them lost their wives, their children.
00:16:27.409 --> 00:16:29.344
Many of them lost their homes.
00:16:29.344 --> 00:16:30.546
Many of them gave all of the money they had that they
00:16:30.546 --> 00:16:32.981
Actually ended up in poverty.
00:16:32.981 --> 00:16:34.683
Some of them were even arrested in debtors' prison 'cause they
00:16:34.683 --> 00:16:37.953
Couldn't pay the debts from the loans they took out
00:16:37.953 --> 00:16:40.589
To fund the revolution.
00:16:40.589 --> 00:16:43.459
As we look at the fourth of july, go back,
00:16:43.459 --> 00:16:45.094
Study some of the founding fathers.
00:16:45.094 --> 00:16:47.362
Look at the price they paid for us to be free,
00:16:47.362 --> 00:16:49.465
And then think about what price should we be paying?
00:16:49.465 --> 00:16:54.470
What do we need to do to preserve freedom for the
00:16:54.470 --> 00:16:56.605
Rising generations?
00:16:56.605 --> 00:17:00.142
>> david: let me back up for a minute.
00:17:00.142 --> 00:17:01.710
>> matt: okay.
00:17:01.710 --> 00:17:03.212
>> david: because 250 years--
00:17:03.212 --> 00:17:05.814
Put that in perspective.
00:17:05.814 --> 00:17:08.984
University of illinois and the university of chicago law school
00:17:08.984 --> 00:17:13.088
Said there's 5,800 years of recorded human history.
00:17:13.088 --> 00:17:15.224
We have thousands of nations.
00:17:15.224 --> 00:17:18.427
What's the average length a nation survives?
00:17:18.427 --> 00:17:19.661
The average length of a governing document in a nation
00:17:19.661 --> 00:17:23.799
Is 17 to 19 years.
00:17:23.799 --> 00:17:25.801
>> matt: my goodness.
00:17:25.801 --> 00:17:27.936
>> david: so we're celebrating 250.
00:17:27.936 --> 00:17:29.538
We just think-- we've had stability so long,
00:17:29.538 --> 00:17:30.372
We think it's normal.
00:17:30.372 --> 00:17:31.507
No, no, no.
00:17:31.507 --> 00:17:32.574
France was our ally in the american revolution.
00:17:32.574 --> 00:17:34.376
They had a revolution 20 years after we did.
00:17:34.376 --> 00:17:38.447
They've been through 15 constitutions while
00:17:38.447 --> 00:17:39.882
We've had one.
00:17:39.882 --> 00:17:41.683
And we consider france to be a stable nation.
00:17:41.683 --> 00:17:42.985
So, as americans, we don't appreciate how unique we are.
00:17:42.985 --> 00:17:46.355
And so university of houston said, "okay, we're different.
00:17:46.355 --> 00:17:50.959
Where did our founders get their ideas?"
00:17:50.959 --> 00:17:52.828
And so what they did was they collected 15,000
00:17:52.828 --> 00:17:55.764
Seminal writings of the founding fathers.
00:17:55.764 --> 00:17:59.835
They reduced it to a thousand writings;
00:17:59.835 --> 00:18:00.936
Said, "okay, we're gonna take these thousand--"
00:18:00.936 --> 00:18:02.638
It's like their state constitutions, et cetera--
00:18:02.638 --> 00:18:04.006
"and we're gonna go through and see what's in quotation marks.
00:18:04.006 --> 00:18:06.742
And if we see what's in quotation marks,
00:18:06.742 --> 00:18:08.944
We'll know that they quoted someone else,
00:18:08.944 --> 00:18:10.779
And we're gonna find out who that is."
00:18:10.779 --> 00:18:12.814
So they found 3,154 direct quotes
00:18:12.814 --> 00:18:15.551
In those thousand documents.
00:18:15.551 --> 00:18:17.519
It took 'em ten years, but they found the original source of
00:18:17.519 --> 00:18:19.755
Every quote.
00:18:19.755 --> 00:18:20.956
It turned out that the number one most-cited source
00:18:20.956 --> 00:18:23.325
Was the bible.
00:18:23.325 --> 00:18:24.660
Thirty-four percent of all the quotes came out of the bible.
00:18:24.660 --> 00:18:27.062
Now, nobody knows that today.
00:18:27.062 --> 00:18:30.065
And the next three guys that were cited after that-- the
00:18:30.065 --> 00:18:32.434
Bible is one, and then you had montesquieu and
00:18:32.434 --> 00:18:34.870
Blackstone and locke.
00:18:34.870 --> 00:18:36.605
Those three guys cited the bible for their reasoning.
00:18:36.605 --> 00:18:38.607
So you've got all this-- you go, "wait a minute-- bible?
00:18:38.607 --> 00:18:40.409
I wasn't taught that."
00:18:40.409 --> 00:18:41.810
Let's back up again.
00:18:41.810 --> 00:18:43.845
The lady who founded the women's program at duke university,
00:18:43.845 --> 00:18:48.116
Mary alice baldwin, she was a history professor there,
00:18:48.116 --> 00:18:52.154
And she wrote a book in which she documented that,
00:18:52.154 --> 00:18:54.756
When you read the declaration of independence,
00:18:54.756 --> 00:18:56.625
There's 27 grievances there.
00:18:56.625 --> 00:18:58.694
Declaration-- a real cool document-- starts with here's
00:18:58.694 --> 00:19:01.563
Six principles of government, and then it gives 27 grievances
00:19:01.563 --> 00:19:04.733
Showing how great britain violated these six principles.
00:19:04.733 --> 00:19:07.002
She documented that every single grievance in the declaration to
00:19:07.002 --> 00:19:11.840
Show bad government--
00:19:11.840 --> 00:19:15.544
Show how great britain is doin' it wrong.
00:19:15.544 --> 00:19:16.845
Every single grievance had been preached from the american
00:19:16.845 --> 00:19:18.981
Pulpit prior to 1763.
00:19:18.981 --> 00:19:20.816
>> matt: my goodness.
00:19:20.816 --> 00:19:22.217
>> david: so what you've got is the declaration of independence
00:19:22.217 --> 00:19:24.753
Is a listing of sermon topics that our founding fathers had
00:19:24.753 --> 00:19:28.223
Been hearing for 30 years before the declaration.
00:19:28.223 --> 00:19:30.425
So the declaration is nothing more than a list of
00:19:30.425 --> 00:19:32.928
"here's what we've been hearing from our pastor
00:19:32.928 --> 00:19:34.563
About government,
00:19:34.563 --> 00:19:35.897
And great britain's violating these six principles that come
00:19:35.897 --> 00:19:39.268
Out of the bible for government."
00:19:39.268 --> 00:19:40.302
Founders-- that would be unthinkable to them
00:19:40.302 --> 00:19:44.406
Not to have had pastors
00:19:44.406 --> 00:19:45.874
Giving them guidance on what the bible says.
00:19:45.874 --> 00:19:47.309
>> matt: wow.
00:19:47.309 --> 00:19:48.343
>> david: and let me take another example.
00:19:48.343 --> 00:19:50.345
We all know paul revere.
00:19:50.345 --> 00:19:51.947
I mean, that kind of starts the american revolution.
00:19:51.947 --> 00:19:55.450
"shot heard around the world."
00:19:55.450 --> 00:19:56.418
Paul revere--
00:19:56.418 --> 00:19:57.653
He left boston to ride,
00:19:57.653 --> 00:20:01.056
And he was not riding through the countryside, saying,
00:20:01.056 --> 00:20:03.025
"everybody, wake up.
00:20:03.025 --> 00:20:03.659
The british are coming."
00:20:03.659 --> 00:20:05.260
He was looking for john hancock and sam adams
00:20:05.260 --> 00:20:09.131
Because, that night, the british had said,
00:20:09.131 --> 00:20:10.899
"okay, we're gonna send out 800 soldiers to go find
00:20:10.899 --> 00:20:14.770
Hancock and adams,
00:20:14.770 --> 00:20:16.004
And you can forgive any other american except those two.
00:20:16.004 --> 00:20:18.874
Those two are to be executed."
00:20:18.874 --> 00:20:20.375
So he's riding to find hancock and adams, saying,
00:20:20.375 --> 00:20:23.312
"there's a death warrant out for you,
00:20:23.312 --> 00:20:24.846
And they're sendin' 800 soldiers to find you and bring you back."
00:20:24.846 --> 00:20:27.616
Massachusetts on horseback is a pretty big state.
00:20:27.616 --> 00:20:31.153
>> matt: yeah.
00:20:31.153 --> 00:20:32.321
>> david: where do you go to find hancock and adams?
00:20:32.321 --> 00:20:34.089
Revere knew exactly where to go.
00:20:34.089 --> 00:20:36.391
He went to the home of the reverend jonas clarke,
00:20:36.391 --> 00:20:38.827
Who was the pastor at lexington, because that's where hancock and
00:20:38.827 --> 00:20:40.829
Adams were staying-- was with pastor clarke.
00:20:40.829 --> 00:20:42.898
And so he rode there.
00:20:42.898 --> 00:20:44.933
And along the way,
00:20:44.933 --> 00:20:46.802
He told people,
00:20:46.802 --> 00:20:47.803
"hey, the british regulars are turning out.
00:20:47.803 --> 00:20:49.338
There's 800 comin' out tomorrow morning.
00:20:49.338 --> 00:20:51.273
You need to be prepared.
00:20:51.273 --> 00:20:52.240
They're gonna be comin' through here."
00:20:52.240 --> 00:20:53.375
And so, when he got to the home,
00:20:53.375 --> 00:20:56.745
Found hancock and adams and said,
00:20:56.745 --> 00:20:58.046
"the british have issued a death warrant for you.
00:20:58.046 --> 00:20:59.848
They're coming in the morning, 800 soldiers,
00:20:59.848 --> 00:21:01.216
And so you need to get out of here."
00:21:01.216 --> 00:21:03.785
Hancock and adams turned to pastor clarke and said,
00:21:03.785 --> 00:21:06.755
"pastor, are your people ready for this?"
00:21:06.755 --> 00:21:08.690
And he got really indignant.
00:21:08.690 --> 00:21:11.793
He said, "of course, they are."
00:21:11.793 --> 00:21:13.228
He said, "i've trained them for this very hour."
00:21:13.228 --> 00:21:14.696
So the next morning,
00:21:14.696 --> 00:21:16.231
When the british arrive in lexington and shoot
00:21:16.231 --> 00:21:17.499
At the colonists,
00:21:17.499 --> 00:21:20.302
It's his church.
00:21:20.302 --> 00:21:21.236
It's 82 members, his church out there,
00:21:21.236 --> 00:21:24.005
That took on the 800 british to defend the city.
00:21:24.005 --> 00:21:25.273
And john parker, who was the chief deacon of the church,
00:21:25.273 --> 00:21:28.643
Is the guy who led the minutemen out of his church.
00:21:28.643 --> 00:21:30.779
And he said,
00:21:30.779 --> 00:21:31.980
"now, remember what pastor taught us.
00:21:31.980 --> 00:21:33.415
He taught us just war.
00:21:33.415 --> 00:21:34.950
You can't fire the first shot.
00:21:34.950 --> 00:21:36.485
God won't bless it if you start the war.
00:21:36.485 --> 00:21:39.254
But if it's a defensive war, he'll bless that."
00:21:39.254 --> 00:21:40.522
And that's why 17 americans hit the ground that morning
00:21:40.522 --> 00:21:43.225
'cause the british got the first shot.
00:21:43.225 --> 00:21:44.860
Now, after they shot at us, the british then go on to concord,
00:21:44.860 --> 00:21:48.363
Where the reverend emerson had his church out, 400 guys.
00:21:48.363 --> 00:21:51.500
He had 'em out.
00:21:51.500 --> 00:21:52.801
They met the british.
00:21:52.801 --> 00:21:54.569
The british said, "this is not good."
00:21:54.569 --> 00:21:55.270
They turned and went back.
00:21:55.270 --> 00:21:57.406
And all along the way, you had these churches turning out to
00:21:57.406 --> 00:21:59.474
Defend their rights.
00:21:59.474 --> 00:22:00.175
It was pastors doing this.
00:22:00.175 --> 00:22:01.777
It was pastors leading this.
00:22:01.777 --> 00:22:03.178
The white house, two weeks ago,
00:22:03.178 --> 00:22:06.948
Put up 12 new statues outside the white house
00:22:06.948 --> 00:22:08.917
On the eastern side,
00:22:08.917 --> 00:22:10.585
What they call freedom plaza.
00:22:10.585 --> 00:22:12.487
There are 12 statues of heroes in the american revolution.
00:22:12.487 --> 00:22:13.555
There's six statues of black heroes,
00:22:13.555 --> 00:22:15.690
Six statues of white heroes,
00:22:15.690 --> 00:22:20.562
And three of the statues are of pastors who were leaders
00:22:20.562 --> 00:22:23.432
In the american revolution.
00:22:23.432 --> 00:22:25.066
So today, we would think it's unusual to hear
00:22:25.066 --> 00:22:26.902
A sermon on government.
00:22:26.902 --> 00:22:29.070
At the founders day, that's where they got all their ideas.
00:22:29.070 --> 00:22:31.006
That's where the declaration came from.
00:22:31.006 --> 00:22:32.307
The declaration is a product of the american pulpit for all
00:22:32.307 --> 00:22:36.845
Those decades and centuries.
00:22:36.845 --> 00:22:39.848
That's-- and today, we won't even elect school board members?
00:22:39.848 --> 00:22:41.516
>> matt: wow.
00:22:41.516 --> 00:22:42.818
>> david: and they're choosin' governors and state reps and
00:22:42.818 --> 00:22:44.953
Judges and everything--
00:22:44.953 --> 00:22:48.056
Man, government is god's institution.
00:22:48.056 --> 00:22:49.324
He created it.
00:22:49.324 --> 00:22:50.292
>> matt: the conventional wisdom, dave,
00:22:50.292 --> 00:22:52.928
Would've been that pastors, i think,
00:22:52.928 --> 00:22:57.332
Would've avoided politics, thinking they couldn't get
00:22:57.332 --> 00:22:59.568
Inside of politics.
00:22:59.568 --> 00:23:02.204
Some pastors say,
00:23:02.204 --> 00:23:04.439
"well, we didn't really get into politics.
00:23:04.439 --> 00:23:05.841
Politics really came into, you know,
00:23:05.841 --> 00:23:08.543
Our faith issues and our-- and our religious issues."
00:23:08.543 --> 00:23:10.879
So where are we on that?
00:23:10.879 --> 00:23:15.317
You know, you're saying you wouldn't have been a pastor not
00:23:15.317 --> 00:23:19.554
Involved in the formation of government back in, you know,
00:23:19.554 --> 00:23:24.025
250 years ago, and now we're afraid to step up on our pulpits
00:23:24.025 --> 00:23:27.896
And say anything about it.
00:23:27.896 --> 00:23:29.698
>> david: you know, i love the book of genesis,
00:23:29.698 --> 00:23:32.968
And i love the fact that it's called the "seed-plot"
00:23:32.968 --> 00:23:34.836
Of the bible.
00:23:34.836 --> 00:23:38.707
Theologically, everything we believe can be found in the book
00:23:38.707 --> 00:23:41.576
Of genesis; so the origins of everything.
00:23:41.576 --> 00:23:42.377
And so, in genesis,
00:23:42.377 --> 00:23:46.348
God establishes four jurisdictions
00:23:46.348 --> 00:23:48.583
And three institutions.
00:23:48.583 --> 00:23:49.684
He first, genesis 1 and 2, creates man.
00:23:49.684 --> 00:23:51.419
He makes man.
00:23:51.419 --> 00:23:52.120
And then he makes woman.
00:23:52.120 --> 00:23:56.458
And then they have children.
00:23:56.458 --> 00:24:00.095
And so-- but genesis 3, you have the family established,
00:24:00.095 --> 00:24:01.630
But the first is the individual.
00:24:01.630 --> 00:24:02.264
He makes the individual.
00:24:02.264 --> 00:24:04.900
Then he puts the individual with other individuals to make the
00:24:04.900 --> 00:24:06.101
Family.
00:24:06.101 --> 00:24:07.202
And that's genesis 1 and 2, on the individual.
00:24:07.202 --> 00:24:09.738
And then genesis 3, on the family.
00:24:09.738 --> 00:24:12.908
Then, as a result, they have children, cain and abel;
00:24:12.908 --> 00:24:16.044
And cain kills abel, and the whole world spirals down
00:24:16.044 --> 00:24:18.079
From that.
00:24:18.079 --> 00:24:19.147
And it gets so bad that god eventually says,
00:24:19.147 --> 00:24:23.218
"let's just wipe 'em all out."
00:24:23.218 --> 00:24:26.054
And so he saves noah and his family,
00:24:26.054 --> 00:24:28.456
And the flood wipes everybody else out.
00:24:28.456 --> 00:24:31.860
When noah is getting off the ark in genesis 9:6,
00:24:31.860 --> 00:24:35.297
The first thing god says
00:24:35.297 --> 00:24:37.232
To him is
00:24:37.232 --> 00:24:38.567
"we have a new way of doing things."
00:24:38.567 --> 00:24:39.501
He says, "starting right now,
00:24:39.501 --> 00:24:41.970
Whoever--" says in genesis 9:6-- "whoever sheds man's blood,
00:24:41.970 --> 00:24:44.806
By man will his blood be shed."
00:24:44.806 --> 00:24:46.942
In other words,
00:24:46.942 --> 00:24:48.476
We're gonna have capital punishment.
00:24:48.476 --> 00:24:49.978
That's the creation of civil government.
00:24:49.978 --> 00:24:52.480
That's called the noahide laws.
00:24:52.480 --> 00:24:54.816
There were six categories of laws that god gave.
00:24:54.816 --> 00:24:57.452
God is the one who originated government.
00:24:57.452 --> 00:24:58.820
That's the second institution.
00:24:58.820 --> 00:25:00.789
Church is the third institution.
00:25:00.789 --> 00:25:02.891
That's the last part of genesis, where he says,
00:25:02.891 --> 00:25:04.092
"hey, let's get the people together.
00:25:04.092 --> 00:25:05.827
Let's have a congregation.
00:25:05.827 --> 00:25:07.028
Let's meet at the temple."
00:25:07.028 --> 00:25:08.630
And so the church came after government.
00:25:08.630 --> 00:25:10.498
So god creates the individual.
00:25:10.498 --> 00:25:14.169
He puts the individual in a family.
00:25:14.169 --> 00:25:16.004
He puts the individual in government.
00:25:16.004 --> 00:25:18.306
He puts the individual in the church.
00:25:18.306 --> 00:25:21.076
So your jurisdictions is--
00:25:21.076 --> 00:25:23.812
And this is what we should ask on every law that comes down:
00:25:23.812 --> 00:25:25.447
"does that pertain to me individually,
00:25:25.447 --> 00:25:26.581
Or does that pertain to the family?
00:25:26.581 --> 00:25:29.284
Does that pertain to the government,
00:25:29.284 --> 00:25:32.087
Or does that pertain to the church?"
00:25:32.087 --> 00:25:33.321
And this is where, if you separate-- because progressive
00:25:33.321 --> 00:25:37.225
People who are not biblical-- they will try to legislate for
00:25:37.225 --> 00:25:39.194
All of those areas.
00:25:39.194 --> 00:25:40.562
If you're a biblical legislator, you understand that god doesn't
00:25:40.562 --> 00:25:43.665
Want legislation for all those areas.
00:25:43.665 --> 00:25:45.300
What i'm supposed to do as an individual--
00:25:45.300 --> 00:25:47.435
That's up to me and god.
00:25:47.435 --> 00:25:49.270
God's-- the government doesn't tell me what to do,
00:25:49.270 --> 00:25:53.041
How to think, or what to believe-- but it does today.
00:25:53.041 --> 00:25:55.210
It does in our schools.
00:25:55.210 --> 00:25:56.478
It does all-- so we've lost genesis,
00:25:56.478 --> 00:26:00.515
Which gives us the institutions.
00:26:00.515 --> 00:26:03.351
And so for pastors today to think,
00:26:03.351 --> 00:26:04.819
"i shouldn't be involved in civil government,"
00:26:04.819 --> 00:26:06.554
Have you not read genesis?
00:26:06.554 --> 00:26:09.157
Have you not read the book of deuteronomy?
00:26:09.157 --> 00:26:10.825
Have you not seen that god gave 613 laws to his people and that
00:26:10.825 --> 00:26:15.363
Those laws include the ten commandments,
00:26:15.363 --> 00:26:17.165
Which produce a civil society, a just society, a tame society?
00:26:17.165 --> 00:26:23.972
I mean, all of this is god's word.
00:26:23.972 --> 00:26:26.708
So why are we pickin' and choosing?
00:26:26.708 --> 00:26:27.776
Why are we sayin',
00:26:27.776 --> 00:26:30.879
"oh, god doesn't want me involved in politics?"
00:26:30.879 --> 00:26:31.579
Then why did he create it?
00:26:31.579 --> 00:26:32.647
Why did he give us so many books on it?
00:26:32.647 --> 00:26:34.249
Why do the first five books of the bible cover civil government
00:26:34.249 --> 00:26:37.152
And civil laws?
00:26:37.152 --> 00:26:38.553
You know, why does paul tell us in romans 13 that government is
00:26:38.553 --> 00:26:41.723
Ordained by god and that those who serve in government are
00:26:41.723 --> 00:26:45.160
Ministers of god, just like ministers of the gospel?
00:26:45.160 --> 00:26:46.928
Both testaments-- old testament, new testament--
00:26:46.928 --> 00:26:50.465
Filled with that.
00:26:50.465 --> 00:26:53.201
It's a pick and choose kind of theology that we've come into
00:26:53.201 --> 00:26:56.204
Today, where that-- and i agree.
00:26:56.204 --> 00:26:57.338
If you get involved in politics, it's messy.
00:26:57.338 --> 00:26:58.840
You're gonna get involved in arguments.
00:26:58.840 --> 00:27:00.141
You're gonna have people yellin' at you.
00:27:00.141 --> 00:27:01.876
You're gonna have people who hate you and dislike you.
00:27:01.876 --> 00:27:03.011
Guess what?
00:27:03.011 --> 00:27:04.179
That happens in church too.
00:27:04.179 --> 00:27:05.947
[laughter]
00:27:05.947 --> 00:27:06.848
There's no difference.
00:27:06.848 --> 00:27:07.549
I mean, both places.
00:27:07.549 --> 00:27:09.517
And so tryin' to stay-- "oh, that's messy."
00:27:09.517 --> 00:27:13.254
Anywhere you have people is messy.
00:27:13.254 --> 00:27:14.489
You know, the proverb says that "where there's no oxen,
00:27:14.489 --> 00:27:16.691
The stall is clean."
00:27:16.691 --> 00:27:18.193
If you're gonna have productivity,
00:27:18.193 --> 00:27:21.062
Which comes from oxen, you're gonna have messes to clean up.
00:27:21.062 --> 00:27:21.730
That's the way it is.
00:27:21.730 --> 00:27:23.865
And it's that way in government.
00:27:23.865 --> 00:27:24.699
It's that way in family.
00:27:24.699 --> 00:27:25.500
It's that way in church.
00:27:25.500 --> 00:27:27.135
>> matt: you and i have been in board meetings.
00:27:27.135 --> 00:27:28.002
We know what "messy" is.
00:27:28.002 --> 00:27:29.637
>> david: that's right.
00:27:29.637 --> 00:27:30.905
>> matt: okay, let's do a bit of--
00:27:30.905 --> 00:27:32.307
>> david: especially as christians with the board
00:27:32.307 --> 00:27:32.841
Meetings.
00:27:32.841 --> 00:27:33.675
>> matt: yes.
00:27:33.675 --> 00:27:34.109
[laughter]
00:27:34.109 --> 00:27:35.243
>> david: i hear they're worse than secular people.
00:27:35.243 --> 00:27:36.144
>> matt: so let's do a bit of a reset.
00:27:36.144 --> 00:27:38.279
Some of-- what this really started with-- and laurie has
00:27:38.279 --> 00:27:43.118
German blood in her, and she gets feisty.
00:27:43.118 --> 00:27:47.055
>> david: awesome.
00:27:47.055 --> 00:27:47.822
>> matt: her dad was very feisty.
00:27:47.822 --> 00:27:48.857
>> matt: runs hot.
00:27:48.857 --> 00:27:49.924
>> david: awesome.
00:27:49.924 --> 00:27:50.992
[laughter]
00:27:50.992 --> 00:27:52.327
>> matt: so she's the last one you want to attack, you know?
00:27:52.327 --> 00:27:53.728
She's-- scratch your eyes out.
00:27:53.728 --> 00:27:55.296
So she's very feisty, and she gets very intense over
00:27:55.296 --> 00:28:01.936
These things.
00:28:01.936 --> 00:28:02.570
>> david: yeah.
00:28:02.570 --> 00:28:04.072
>> matt: okay, but you've got some of 'em just
00:28:04.072 --> 00:28:05.607
Highlighted here.
00:28:05.607 --> 00:28:06.941
But what we started with on this program was a simple post.
00:28:06.941 --> 00:28:09.377
You did a simple post.
00:28:09.377 --> 00:28:10.979
>> david: mm-hmm.
00:28:10.979 --> 00:28:11.713
>> laurie: yeah.
00:28:11.713 --> 00:28:12.680
>> matt: it came to my feed.
00:28:12.680 --> 00:28:14.849
And it said that, basically, this nonsense of gender
00:28:14.849 --> 00:28:17.652
Started in--
00:28:17.652 --> 00:28:18.319
>> laurie: home.
00:28:18.319 --> 00:28:19.754
>> matt: -- you know, not in san francisco.
00:28:19.754 --> 00:28:20.688
>> david: that's right.
00:28:20.688 --> 00:28:21.623
>> matt: it started right here in--
00:28:21.623 --> 00:28:23.491
>> david: in cowtown usa.
00:28:23.491 --> 00:28:25.126
>> matt: -- cowtown usa, which was just a shocker to me.
00:28:25.126 --> 00:28:26.694
>> laurie: appalling.
00:28:26.694 --> 00:28:28.863
Yeah, well, so, i think people get to where, i think, like,
00:28:28.863 --> 00:28:32.367
Small elections--
00:28:32.367 --> 00:28:34.803
>> matt: the little--
00:28:34.803 --> 00:28:35.537
>> laurie: -- by the local--
00:28:35.537 --> 00:28:36.638
>> matt: local, local elections.
00:28:36.638 --> 00:28:38.773
>> laurie: -- local elections, get ignored so much,
00:28:38.773 --> 00:28:40.975
But that's where everybody kind of starts creepin' in, you know?
00:28:40.975 --> 00:28:43.011
>> david: yeah.
00:28:43.011 --> 00:28:45.780
>> laurie: and so i think the information that people get--
00:28:45.780 --> 00:28:48.850
That's what we need, you know?
00:28:48.850 --> 00:28:49.684
>> david: that's right.
00:28:49.684 --> 00:28:50.785
>> laurie: so sometimes i'm going down the road,
00:28:50.785 --> 00:28:52.887
And all of a sudden, i see all the, you know,
00:28:52.887 --> 00:28:53.721
The signs on the side of the road.
00:28:53.721 --> 00:28:54.689
I'm thinkin', "oh, there's an election,
00:28:54.689 --> 00:28:55.723
And it's for school board, and it's for--"
00:28:55.723 --> 00:28:58.560
>> matt: and you don't know anything of these people--
00:28:58.560 --> 00:28:59.861
>> laurie: and you don't know any of these people.
00:28:59.861 --> 00:29:01.362
>> matt: -- so it feels like we have to educate--
00:29:01.362 --> 00:29:02.964
Get more information--
00:29:02.964 --> 00:29:07.402
>> laurie: yeah.
00:29:07.402 --> 00:29:08.736
>> matt: -- and we wanna be in the middle of helping people get
00:29:08.736 --> 00:29:09.270
That information.
00:29:09.270 --> 00:29:10.572
>> david: you know, this is-- it's a really cool ministry.
00:29:10.572 --> 00:29:11.472
I mentioned about the school boards
00:29:11.472 --> 00:29:12.807
Across the state of colorado--
00:29:12.807 --> 00:29:14.175
78-- we got 78 seats flipped.
00:29:14.175 --> 00:29:16.945
And one of the things we did was we just had individuals,
00:29:16.945 --> 00:29:21.883
Just church individuals say,
00:29:21.883 --> 00:29:24.919
"hey, in your community, we want you to call around
00:29:24.919 --> 00:29:28.223
And see who's running for school board
00:29:28.223 --> 00:29:30.358
And get the names,"
00:29:30.358 --> 00:29:30.959
'cause that's easy.
00:29:30.959 --> 00:29:33.895
People are runnin' for school board.
00:29:33.895 --> 00:29:35.396
It's not a highly publicized race.
00:29:35.396 --> 00:29:37.031
There's not a lot of money in it.
00:29:37.031 --> 00:29:37.899
There's not a lot of advertising.
00:29:37.899 --> 00:29:39.267
But you can call.
00:29:39.267 --> 00:29:42.103
You can even call the election office and say,
00:29:42.103 --> 00:29:43.738
"who's registered to run for school board?"
00:29:43.738 --> 00:29:44.906
And that's public record.
00:29:44.906 --> 00:29:46.441
So call the election office, and you get their names.
00:29:46.441 --> 00:29:49.544
And then we say, "we want you to call these folks,
00:29:49.544 --> 00:29:50.645
And we want you to ask them five questions.
00:29:50.645 --> 00:29:53.047
Ask them about five issues.
00:29:53.047 --> 00:29:55.483
What do they think about men in women's sports?
00:29:55.483 --> 00:29:58.920
What do they think about planned parenthood, sex ed,
00:29:58.920 --> 00:30:02.090
Just stuff like that."
00:30:02.090 --> 00:30:03.558
And then we get those answers back,
00:30:03.558 --> 00:30:04.993
And we create a voters' guide.
00:30:04.993 --> 00:30:07.161
"there's five candidates running for this seat,
00:30:07.161 --> 00:30:09.464
And here's what each of them believe on these five issues."
00:30:09.464 --> 00:30:12.433
And you go,
00:30:12.433 --> 00:30:14.002
"oh, well, this guy doesn't believe what i believe.
00:30:14.002 --> 00:30:15.803
This guy does." well, then, good.
00:30:15.803 --> 00:30:18.606
Go vote for that guy.
00:30:18.606 --> 00:30:20.108
And so it's a very easy process, and we use people within
00:30:20.108 --> 00:30:24.045
Churches to just get the names of people in their community--
00:30:24.045 --> 00:30:25.947
>> matt: do a little bit of the legwork.
00:30:25.947 --> 00:30:28.049
>> david: little bit of legwork.
00:30:28.049 --> 00:30:29.317
Just call and ask 'em five questions.
00:30:29.317 --> 00:30:31.119
And part of the questions was "is it the right of parents to
00:30:31.119 --> 00:30:35.657
Direct the education and upbringing of their children?"
00:30:35.657 --> 00:30:37.959
That's an old supreme court case.
00:30:37.959 --> 00:30:39.627
But it means "are the teachers in charge of my kids,
00:30:39.627 --> 00:30:41.462
Or am i in charge of my kids?"
00:30:41.462 --> 00:30:42.630
"do i have a voice in the classroom?"
00:30:42.630 --> 00:30:44.065
And that's a big deal.
00:30:44.065 --> 00:30:45.800
>> matt: her blood pressure's going up
00:30:45.800 --> 00:30:48.236
When you asked that question.
00:30:48.236 --> 00:30:49.203
>> david: that's right, and it should.
00:30:49.203 --> 00:30:50.138
>> matt: yeah.
00:30:50.138 --> 00:30:50.638
>> laurie: yeah.
00:30:50.638 --> 00:30:52.006
>> david: and it's because we put so many people in who don't
00:30:52.006 --> 00:30:53.007
Think that children belong to parents.
00:30:53.007 --> 00:30:54.108
>> laurie: yeah.
00:30:54.108 --> 00:30:55.176
>> david: "we are the professionals.
00:30:55.176 --> 00:30:55.777
We're the educators.
00:30:55.777 --> 00:30:57.011
We know how to raise your children better than you do."
00:30:57.011 --> 00:30:57.912
>> laurie: yeah.
00:30:57.912 --> 00:30:58.846
>> david: that ought to set you off.
00:30:58.846 --> 00:30:59.847
>> laurie: yeah.
00:30:59.847 --> 00:31:00.949
>> david: that ought to sit every parent off.
00:31:00.949 --> 00:31:02.283
But it's something with a little bit of like-- a sunday school
00:31:02.283 --> 00:31:04.886
Class could take this on as a civic project and say,
00:31:04.886 --> 00:31:07.155
"hey, we're gonna provide a voters' guide
00:31:07.155 --> 00:31:08.489
For everybody in our church,
00:31:08.489 --> 00:31:09.791
In our community.
00:31:09.791 --> 00:31:10.692
We're gonna find out who--
00:31:10.692 --> 00:31:11.960
And it's the same thing with
00:31:11.960 --> 00:31:13.928
Find out who's runnin' for mayor.
00:31:13.928 --> 00:31:14.896
Find out who's runnin' for city council.
00:31:14.896 --> 00:31:16.230
Find out those local races because that's a published
00:31:16.230 --> 00:31:19.133
Ballot, and that's done months before the election,
00:31:19.133 --> 00:31:22.470
And you can say, "who's gonna be on the ballot?
00:31:22.470 --> 00:31:24.572
Who's applied, and who's runnin' in the primaries?
00:31:24.572 --> 00:31:27.542
I need their name, and i need their contact information."
00:31:27.542 --> 00:31:29.677
You get that.
00:31:29.677 --> 00:31:30.745
You just start askin' them questions.
00:31:30.745 --> 00:31:32.447
Then you publicize that, and that's where you create a
00:31:32.447 --> 00:31:35.550
Voters' guide, and it can be just as simple as a phone
00:31:35.550 --> 00:31:38.219
Voters' guide.
00:31:38.219 --> 00:31:38.987
Some people have done that too
00:31:38.987 --> 00:31:40.221
>> laurie: since we're from the los angeles area--
00:31:40.221 --> 00:31:44.659
[laurie laughing]
00:31:44.659 --> 00:31:45.226
Can i say the names?
00:31:45.226 --> 00:31:46.294
>> matt: sure.
00:31:46.294 --> 00:31:46.828
>> laurie: okay.
00:31:46.828 --> 00:31:48.363
>> david: before you do that, can i point out somethin'?
00:31:48.363 --> 00:31:49.097
>> laurie: could you please?
00:31:49.097 --> 00:31:49.864
Yeah, please.
00:31:49.864 --> 00:31:51.232
>> david: los angeles is an example of a massive city.
00:31:51.232 --> 00:31:55.036
It's the second largest city in the u.s.
00:31:55.036 --> 00:31:59.240
So if you're mayor of los angeles,
00:31:59.240 --> 00:32:02.510
You have more people in that city than 23 governors have in
00:32:02.510 --> 00:32:05.013
Their entire states.
00:32:05.013 --> 00:32:07.015
So bein' the mayor of los angeles is like being a governor
00:32:07.015 --> 00:32:10.118
In 23 different states.
00:32:10.118 --> 00:32:11.719
>> matt: my goodness.
00:32:11.719 --> 00:32:12.353
>> laurie: wow.
00:32:12.353 --> 00:32:15.890
>> david: so eric garcetti, mayor of los angeles, two terms,
00:32:15.890 --> 00:32:18.726
Bragged about the fact that he was elected mayor of los angeles
00:32:18.726 --> 00:32:23.097
With 2.9 percent of the vote.
00:32:23.097 --> 00:32:26.667
Now, there's enough mega churches--
00:32:26.667 --> 00:32:28.703
>> laurie: absolutely.
00:32:28.703 --> 00:32:30.038
>> david: -- and tiny churches in los angeles to own that city.
00:32:30.038 --> 00:32:30.905
>> laurie: yeah.
00:32:30.905 --> 00:32:33.174
>> david: and he-- it's like choosing the governor of the
00:32:33.174 --> 00:32:35.076
State with 2.9 percent of the vote?
00:32:35.076 --> 00:32:36.244
>> laurie: yeah.
00:32:36.244 --> 00:32:38.613
>> david: but that's because the church was not involved.
00:32:38.613 --> 00:32:39.514
And it's the same in all big cities.
00:32:39.514 --> 00:32:41.416
Those numbers-- when they elected annise parker mayor of
00:32:41.416 --> 00:32:46.954
Houston and she came in and said,
00:32:46.954 --> 00:32:48.923
"hey, none of this anti-marriage stuff--
00:32:48.923 --> 00:32:50.892
If you preach a sermon
00:32:50.892 --> 00:32:53.961
Saying that same-sex marriage is wrong,
00:32:53.961 --> 00:32:56.030
I'm going to get you on a misdemeanor"-- whatever.
00:32:56.030 --> 00:32:58.499
And so she had what she called the "houston five,"
00:32:58.499 --> 00:33:01.035
I think it was, and she went after five pastors and said,"
00:33:01.035 --> 00:33:02.904
I want--" she subpoenaed all their sermons,
00:33:02.904 --> 00:33:04.839
All their text messages, all their voice mails to see if they
00:33:04.839 --> 00:33:09.177
Had talked about marriage.
00:33:09.177 --> 00:33:10.344
She was elected with 4.9 percent of the vote.
00:33:10.344 --> 00:33:13.581
And houston-- this is in a red state.
00:33:13.581 --> 00:33:17.218
>> laurie: yeah.
00:33:17.218 --> 00:33:18.886
>> david: but, see, people don't show up.
00:33:18.886 --> 00:33:20.154
So back to what you were asking about l.a.-- but you say,
00:33:20.154 --> 00:33:21.089
In l.a.-- reminded me of garcetti.
00:33:21.089 --> 00:33:21.856
You have a guy that level--
00:33:21.856 --> 00:33:23.825
>> laurie: i was gonna give that stat.
00:33:23.825 --> 00:33:25.359
>> matt: yeah.
00:33:25.359 --> 00:33:25.960
>> david: yeah, 2.9.
00:33:25.960 --> 00:33:27.195
And that's right.
00:33:27.195 --> 00:33:27.995
>> laurie: yeah, just shocking.
00:33:27.995 --> 00:33:28.996
>> david: it's shocking.
00:33:28.996 --> 00:33:29.831
And it should shock everybody.
00:33:29.831 --> 00:33:33.701
And, hopefully, goin' back to that bible verse you mentioned
00:33:33.701 --> 00:33:35.336
Earlier, the scripture says god says,
00:33:35.336 --> 00:33:36.471
"i'm going to shock you out of your complacency,"
00:33:36.471 --> 00:33:37.738
>> laurie: yes.
00:33:37.738 --> 00:33:39.941
>> david: and hopefully, that's what's happening as people will
00:33:39.941 --> 00:33:41.609
Wake up and say, "that's crazy.
00:33:41.609 --> 00:33:42.977
That's crazy-land." that's right.
00:33:42.977 --> 00:33:45.546
You can fix that by getting out and get in with your neighbors.
00:33:45.546 --> 00:33:48.282
>> laurie: so when you think of running for city council or a
00:33:48.282 --> 00:33:50.885
School board, to me, it's like,
00:33:50.885 --> 00:33:54.522
"okay, where do you find the time?
00:33:54.522 --> 00:33:55.723
What do i have to know to do that, you know?"
00:33:55.723 --> 00:33:58.292
Can, just, someone like me--
00:33:58.292 --> 00:34:01.429
I have two kids that went to school,
00:34:01.429 --> 00:34:04.398
Go run for city council in colleyville, texas, or--
00:34:04.398 --> 00:34:08.469
>> matt: dave and i will vote for you.
00:34:08.469 --> 00:34:09.403
[laughter]
00:34:09.403 --> 00:34:10.371
So you'd probably win in some category.
00:34:10.371 --> 00:34:12.273
>> laurie: i could-- i can get taye and d, maybe,
00:34:12.273 --> 00:34:14.575
To vote for--
00:34:14.575 --> 00:34:15.643
Would you vote for me, pastor d?
00:34:15.643 --> 00:34:17.145
>> matt: yeah, okay.
00:34:17.145 --> 00:34:18.279
>> laurie: okay.
00:34:18.279 --> 00:34:19.614
But i think we just have this big job that "maybe i can't
00:34:19.614 --> 00:34:21.616
Handle right now."
00:34:21.616 --> 00:34:22.984
Is it that much of a--
00:34:22.984 --> 00:34:26.354
>> david: it's not-- it's not what people think.
00:34:26.354 --> 00:34:28.923
And they get intimidated without having looked at it.
00:34:28.923 --> 00:34:31.259
You know, if you go back to the first selections at
00:34:31.259 --> 00:34:34.095
Exodus 18:21,
00:34:34.095 --> 00:34:36.264
The scripture says "choose out from among you
00:34:36.264 --> 00:34:39.467
Leaders of tens, fifties, hundreds, thousands.
00:34:39.467 --> 00:34:41.602
Choose able men, such as fear god, men of truth,
00:34:41.602 --> 00:34:43.404
Hating covetousness."
00:34:43.404 --> 00:34:44.939
And that's your qualifications for office:
00:34:44.939 --> 00:34:46.207
Able men, such as fear god-- you want god-fearing people.
00:34:46.207 --> 00:34:49.076
There's a lot of people in office who are competent,
00:34:49.076 --> 00:34:52.046
But they're not god-fearing, and that's why we get all the
00:34:52.046 --> 00:34:55.316
Leftist stuff that we get, all the anti-god stuff.
00:34:55.316 --> 00:34:56.484
So it's not that you just want god-people in there.
00:34:56.484 --> 00:34:59.954
You want god-people in there who are capable people,
00:34:59.954 --> 00:35:01.956
Who are competent 'cause, if you get a god-person in there and
00:35:01.956 --> 00:35:04.625
They're incompetent, they're gonna make god look bad.
00:35:04.625 --> 00:35:06.427
>> laurie: right.
00:35:06.427 --> 00:35:08.129
>> david: they'll bring reproach on him.
00:35:08.129 --> 00:35:09.297
But there's all sorts of training schools that you go
00:35:09.297 --> 00:35:12.066
Through once you get elected.
00:35:12.066 --> 00:35:13.167
They'll train you on what it is city council does.
00:35:13.167 --> 00:35:16.337
What you need to have is the ability to think common sense
00:35:16.337 --> 00:35:20.074
And a core set of values that helps you make the decisions.
00:35:20.074 --> 00:35:23.511
And you'll say,
00:35:23.511 --> 00:35:24.645
"oh, well, we have a water bill coming up here,
00:35:24.645 --> 00:35:27.348
And we need more water.
00:35:27.348 --> 00:35:28.816
So i think we go $4 billion into debt to do that"--
00:35:28.816 --> 00:35:32.553
And your value system says, "no.
00:35:32.553 --> 00:35:33.921
The bible says stay out of debt.
00:35:33.921 --> 00:35:35.756
We may need more water,
00:35:35.756 --> 00:35:37.892
But we're not going into debt to do it."
00:35:37.892 --> 00:35:38.659
That's your core value system.
00:35:38.659 --> 00:35:40.494
They can take you through the things you need to deal with.
00:35:40.494 --> 00:35:42.930
What you want is the right value system from which to
00:35:42.930 --> 00:35:45.600
Make those decisions,
00:35:45.600 --> 00:35:47.435
And you understand that going in debt is not a good deal.
00:35:47.435 --> 00:35:50.271
You understand that undermining parents is not a good deal.
00:35:50.271 --> 00:35:52.573
You understand that private property is to be protected.
00:35:52.573 --> 00:35:55.509
The city doesn't go in and take what it wants from
00:35:55.509 --> 00:35:57.845
Property owners.
00:35:57.845 --> 00:35:59.347
That's the value system you want there.
00:35:59.347 --> 00:36:01.983
"i don't understand how school boards work."
00:36:01.983 --> 00:36:05.186
You don't have to.
00:36:05.186 --> 00:36:06.187
You have to have the right value system.
00:36:06.187 --> 00:36:08.656
What are the things that the kids
00:36:08.656 --> 00:36:10.024
Are going to learn?
00:36:10.024 --> 00:36:11.125
>> matt: so which one are you runnin' for, dear?
00:36:11.125 --> 00:36:11.993
>> david: exactly.
00:36:11.993 --> 00:36:12.994
>> laurie: well you kind of look around,
00:36:12.994 --> 00:36:14.061
Like some of these people runnin' for stuff--
00:36:14.061 --> 00:36:14.762
[laughter]
00:36:14.762 --> 00:36:15.663
-- and we're just thinkin', "hmm..."
00:36:15.663 --> 00:36:16.631
It's not that i'm any better than them,
00:36:16.631 --> 00:36:17.632
But maybe if they do it, i could do it too.
00:36:17.632 --> 00:36:18.799
[laughter]
00:36:18.799 --> 00:36:20.034
>> matt: is there, dave, a recommended voter guide that
00:36:20.034 --> 00:36:26.974
Goes to this granular level that we could put some attention on
00:36:26.974 --> 00:36:31.379
That people could start seeing?
00:36:31.379 --> 00:36:33.347
Because, you know, i've always been confused by one thing: when
00:36:33.347 --> 00:36:40.221
You see the little things and the little billboard things in
00:36:40.221 --> 00:36:44.425
The grass, you know, in your neighborhood-- you're drivin'
00:36:44.425 --> 00:36:46.594
Along, and there's 10 or 15 of them in a row-- they don't ever
00:36:46.594 --> 00:36:51.198
Tell you what they're for or what they're against.
00:36:51.198 --> 00:36:52.333
>> david: that's right.
00:36:52.333 --> 00:36:52.967
>> laurie: yeah.
00:36:52.967 --> 00:36:54.735
>> matt: so all it is, is name recognition,
00:36:54.735 --> 00:36:55.369
With this thought that
00:36:55.369 --> 00:36:57.538
"you're gonna vote for me just 'cause you remembered my name"--
00:36:57.538 --> 00:36:58.973
>> david: mm-hmm.
00:36:58.973 --> 00:37:00.074
>> matt: -- and that irritates me.
00:37:00.074 --> 00:37:00.675
That doesn't work on me.
00:37:00.675 --> 00:37:02.443
I don't know if it irritates other people,
00:37:02.443 --> 00:37:04.412
But if you're not gonna say "conservative-leaning" or
00:37:04.412 --> 00:37:09.283
"conservative voice" or "progressive voice,"
00:37:09.283 --> 00:37:12.386
What-- why do they do that?
00:37:12.386 --> 00:37:15.690
>> david: they do it for name id 'cause, when you get in there,
00:37:15.690 --> 00:37:18.893
You say, "i don't know anything.
00:37:18.893 --> 00:37:21.729
Oh, i remember seein' this guy.
00:37:21.729 --> 00:37:22.930
He must be good 'cause he has signs everywhere."
00:37:22.930 --> 00:37:24.231
And it is that silly.
00:37:24.231 --> 00:37:25.433
>> matt: and he raised money, yeah, yeah.
00:37:25.433 --> 00:37:28.069
>> david: it is that silly.
00:37:28.069 --> 00:37:29.370
And so that's where voters' guides are very, very important.
00:37:29.370 --> 00:37:32.173
And, you know, every church ought to say,
00:37:32.173 --> 00:37:33.274
"hey, here's a civic ministry.
00:37:33.274 --> 00:37:34.508
We're gonna provide a voters' guide for everybody that's
00:37:34.508 --> 00:37:37.378
Running in the city here.
00:37:37.378 --> 00:37:38.612
Now, that's easy to do, but there's also a really good
00:37:38.612 --> 00:37:41.482
Group.
00:37:41.482 --> 00:37:42.583
It's a growing group, but it's called ivoterguide.
00:37:42.583 --> 00:37:44.985
And ivoterguide goes down to the granular level of school boards,
00:37:44.985 --> 00:37:48.222
All the way up to the top of the ballot.
00:37:48.222 --> 00:37:49.724
Now, they don't have the school boards in all the cities.
00:37:49.724 --> 00:37:53.127
They need people to help them, but they are growing and
00:37:53.127 --> 00:37:55.363
Expanding, and they're finding people in cities.
00:37:55.363 --> 00:37:57.531
They'll say, "hey, yeah, we'll ask the questions of school
00:37:57.531 --> 00:37:58.666
Board members."
00:37:58.666 --> 00:37:59.867
And so, going to ivoterguide.com is a great place to go
00:37:59.867 --> 00:38:02.370
'cause they have so many cities,
00:38:02.370 --> 00:38:05.740
And they have the states, and they have the big races.
00:38:05.740 --> 00:38:07.375
They're gonna have that,
00:38:07.375 --> 00:38:09.243
But they also have a lot of smaller races.
00:38:09.243 --> 00:38:10.578
But any city can do that like we did in colorado with churches
00:38:10.578 --> 00:38:12.980
That want to do it there.
00:38:12.980 --> 00:38:14.081
Anybody can replicate that.
00:38:14.081 --> 00:38:15.583
We've seen that happen all over the nation where churches just
00:38:15.583 --> 00:38:18.953
Take it on for themselves.
00:38:18.953 --> 00:38:19.687
>> matt: and maybe there's a--
00:38:19.687 --> 00:38:23.424
There's somebody in the viewing audience that wants to,
00:38:23.424 --> 00:38:26.660
Even join up with ivoter.com.
00:38:26.660 --> 00:38:27.461
>> david: that's right.
00:38:27.461 --> 00:38:28.896
>> matt: you know, so you could go and put your name in there
00:38:28.896 --> 00:38:30.030
And get, kind of, connected in and help them
00:38:30.030 --> 00:38:33.968
With what they're doing--
00:38:33.968 --> 00:38:35.503
>> david: that's right.
00:38:35.503 --> 00:38:36.804
>> matt: -- and then you don't have to start from scratch,
00:38:36.804 --> 00:38:37.505
Just all by yourself.
00:38:37.505 --> 00:38:38.873
But every church should probably publish one in its bulletin for
00:38:38.873 --> 00:38:42.843
The last few weeks leading up to an election.
00:38:42.843 --> 00:38:45.546
We should really get this.
00:38:45.546 --> 00:38:47.381
And speak to us where, next time,
00:38:47.381 --> 00:38:52.787
We're sitting with a pastor-type,
00:38:52.787 --> 00:38:54.789
And the subject comes up, or even if we bring it up,
00:38:54.789 --> 00:38:57.925
We're a little bit more informed that there is no reason that
00:38:57.925 --> 00:39:01.996
Pastors can't take on these issues.
00:39:01.996 --> 00:39:06.000
These are biblical issues.
00:39:06.000 --> 00:39:08.669
They oftentimes are afraid to touch "politics" because half of
00:39:08.669 --> 00:39:14.975
Their church membership--
00:39:14.975 --> 00:39:18.679
>> laurie: congregation is gonna leave.
00:39:18.679 --> 00:39:21.081
>> matt: -- and congregation doesn't wanna hear it or thinks
00:39:21.081 --> 00:39:21.882
A different way.
00:39:21.882 --> 00:39:23.717
But we have to take a stand on biblical issues.
00:39:23.717 --> 00:39:25.619
>> david: that's right.
00:39:25.619 --> 00:39:26.987
>> matt: okay, so talk to us so that we're more informed about
00:39:26.987 --> 00:39:31.192
"this is the way the world should work,
00:39:31.192 --> 00:39:33.327
And we're really not stepping up to the plate here."
00:39:33.327 --> 00:39:37.264
>> david: if you're a pastor, you're a leader.
00:39:37.264 --> 00:39:38.432
>> laurie: yeah.
00:39:38.432 --> 00:39:38.966
>> matt: mm-hmm.
00:39:38.966 --> 00:39:40.434
>> david: and you don't let the sheep tell you what direction to
00:39:40.434 --> 00:39:41.402
Go.
00:39:41.402 --> 00:39:42.703
And so, "oh, i don't wanna hear politics from the pulpit."
00:39:42.703 --> 00:39:46.040
Hey, i'm gonna introduce you to statesmanship.
00:39:46.040 --> 00:39:48.409
I'm gonna introduce you to history.
00:39:48.409 --> 00:39:49.777
I'm gonna show you the history of what the church used to do."
00:39:49.777 --> 00:39:51.846
You can get people where you need 'em to be by teaching them.
00:39:51.846 --> 00:39:54.782
And that's what a pastor's supposed to do.
00:39:54.782 --> 00:39:56.083
He's supposed to be a teacher.
00:39:56.083 --> 00:39:57.284
I'm gonna step in deep water here for a second and--
00:39:57.284 --> 00:40:01.589
>> matt: go ahead.
00:40:01.589 --> 00:40:02.423
>> david: -- i'm gonna challenge--
00:40:02.423 --> 00:40:03.491
>> matt: you got your boots on, so go ahead.
00:40:03.491 --> 00:40:04.124
>> laurie: "let's go.
00:40:04.124 --> 00:40:04.592
You comin'?"
00:40:04.592 --> 00:40:05.693
>> david: i got waders on, so i can handle this.
00:40:05.693 --> 00:40:06.126
[laughter]
00:40:06.126 --> 00:40:09.663
I do a lot of pastors' conferences,
00:40:09.663 --> 00:40:12.733
And so i've asked pastors in collective groups, in buzz time,
00:40:12.733 --> 00:40:18.072
"what are the dangers to your congregation, to your people,
00:40:18.072 --> 00:40:23.477
To your families that you've seen come at them that can
00:40:23.477 --> 00:40:27.147
Destroy the family, the church?
00:40:27.147 --> 00:40:29.049
What are the dangers you've seen come at them?"
00:40:29.049 --> 00:40:31.919
And they will go through, and they'll list the transgender
00:40:31.919 --> 00:40:34.855
Stuff, the radical secularism in the schools, the anti-god,
00:40:34.855 --> 00:40:39.593
The-- all the-- they'll list education.
00:40:39.593 --> 00:40:41.262
They'll list what's goin' on in the city.
00:40:41.262 --> 00:40:42.997
They'll list all these things that are inundating their
00:40:42.997 --> 00:40:45.165
People.
00:40:45.165 --> 00:40:46.233
And i said, "show me the sermons you've preached,
00:40:46.233 --> 00:40:50.971
Addressing those things that are dangerous to your people."
00:40:50.971 --> 00:40:54.275
"oh, we don't cover that stuff in church."
00:40:54.275 --> 00:40:55.342
Okay,
00:40:55.342 --> 00:40:56.410
I'm gonna go back to john 10.
00:40:56.410 --> 00:40:58.012
In john 10, jesus talked about the good shepherd
00:40:58.012 --> 00:41:00.714
And the hireling.
00:41:00.714 --> 00:41:02.950
And he said, "the hireling--
00:41:02.950 --> 00:41:05.519
The good shepherd will give his life for the sheep,"
00:41:05.519 --> 00:41:07.154
But he said, "the hireling saw the danger
00:41:07.154 --> 00:41:11.025
Coming and ran away and left the sheep behind."
00:41:11.025 --> 00:41:11.926
>> matt: wow.
00:41:11.926 --> 00:41:13.594
>> david: so that tells me that a good shepherd will step in
00:41:13.594 --> 00:41:16.330
Front of the danger and will address the danger and confront
00:41:16.330 --> 00:41:19.567
The danger.
00:41:19.567 --> 00:41:20.834
"so you pastors have just told me all the dangers you see
00:41:20.834 --> 00:41:23.771
Coming at your sheep,
00:41:23.771 --> 00:41:27.474
But you're unwilling to step in front of the danger?"
00:41:27.474 --> 00:41:28.208
>> matt: hello.
00:41:28.208 --> 00:41:30.244
>> david: "that sounds like a hireling, to me."
00:41:30.244 --> 00:41:31.712
And it's like,
00:41:31.712 --> 00:41:33.747
"oh, we've never thought of that."
00:41:33.747 --> 00:41:36.884
Yeah, we've been taught-- there's a great passage,
00:41:36.884 --> 00:41:40.187
Romans 12:1-2, but i love it in the phillips translation.
00:41:40.187 --> 00:41:44.558
It says, "don't let the world around you squeeze you into its
00:41:44.558 --> 00:41:46.460
Own mold."
00:41:46.460 --> 00:41:47.094
And in so many areas,
00:41:47.094 --> 00:41:48.862
We've let the secular world tell pastors what they can
00:41:48.862 --> 00:41:52.032
And can't do.
00:41:52.032 --> 00:41:54.001
Forget what the secular world tells you.
00:41:54.001 --> 00:41:55.636
What does the bible tell you?
00:41:55.636 --> 00:41:57.738
And if you're a good shepherd and you see danger coming,
00:41:57.738 --> 00:42:00.040
You jump out and confront that, and you protect the sheep.
00:42:00.040 --> 00:42:04.778
And so all the cultural stuff we see goin' on in our schools,
00:42:04.778 --> 00:42:07.681
In our cities, in the nation-- all the stuff--
00:42:07.681 --> 00:42:09.416
I wanna see the past.
00:42:09.416 --> 00:42:11.418
"i wanna see the sermons you've been preaching on that.
00:42:11.418 --> 00:42:13.954
I wanna see the teachings you're doin' about that because,
00:42:13.954 --> 00:42:16.624
If you're not equipping your sheep,
00:42:16.624 --> 00:42:18.926
You're lettin' them get picked off by the wolf,
00:42:18.926 --> 00:42:21.161
And that means you're a hireling and not a pastor."
00:42:21.161 --> 00:42:24.131
>> laurie: so good.
00:42:24.131 --> 00:42:25.332
>> matt: and address the structure of even laws and all
00:42:25.332 --> 00:42:30.838
Of that, that there's no danger to do it civilly.
00:42:30.838 --> 00:42:33.941
>> david: there is absolutely-- listen.
00:42:33.941 --> 00:42:35.175
This whole thing with the johnson amendment goes back to
00:42:35.175 --> 00:42:38.178
1954.
00:42:38.178 --> 00:42:38.946
>> matt: yeah.
00:42:38.946 --> 00:42:39.980
>> david: lynden johnson running for senate.
00:42:39.980 --> 00:42:41.015
It was actually the hunt brothers who created
00:42:41.015 --> 00:42:42.549
What we would call "pacs" to criticize johnson.
00:42:42.549 --> 00:42:46.353
When he got in office, he wanted to punish them,
00:42:46.353 --> 00:42:48.222
So he passed this amendment that says,
00:42:48.222 --> 00:42:50.391
"hey, if you're this type of group,
00:42:50.391 --> 00:42:52.092
You can't talk in politics."
00:42:52.092 --> 00:42:53.894
Well, it never got litigated because, number one,
00:42:53.894 --> 00:42:55.663
They have the right of free speech.
00:42:55.663 --> 00:42:57.398
Corporations have the right of free speech as individuals do.
00:42:57.398 --> 00:42:59.700
And so it never got litigated.
00:42:59.700 --> 00:43:02.836
And then several years later, some brainy guy says,
00:43:02.836 --> 00:43:06.073
"oh, churches are corporations too.
00:43:06.073 --> 00:43:09.410
This applies to them."
00:43:09.410 --> 00:43:10.844
And so, without any legal standing,
00:43:10.844 --> 00:43:14.448
Without any law,
00:43:14.448 --> 00:43:15.883
Without any action, they just said,
00:43:15.883 --> 00:43:16.884
"we're going to apply to churches too."
00:43:16.884 --> 00:43:18.218
Well, alliance defending freedom is a great network of tens of
00:43:18.218 --> 00:43:22.489
Thousands of christian lawyers.
00:43:22.489 --> 00:43:27.127
And so starting probably about 15, 18 years ago,
00:43:27.127 --> 00:43:29.897
I worked with a guy named erik stanley,
00:43:29.897 --> 00:43:37.371
Who was over it,
00:43:37.371 --> 00:43:38.672
And we started trying to get pastors to get the irs to come
00:43:38.672 --> 00:43:39.740
After them 'cause we knew we could win this.
00:43:39.740 --> 00:43:40.974
If we ever got in court, we could win this, hands down.
00:43:40.974 --> 00:43:41.975
And i'll just give you an example:
00:43:41.975 --> 00:43:44.278
"churches are nonprofits, so they can't be political."
00:43:44.278 --> 00:43:45.779
Planned parenthood's a nonprofit.
00:43:45.779 --> 00:43:48.549
Are they political?
00:43:48.549 --> 00:43:49.216
>> matt: wow!
00:43:49.216 --> 00:43:49.950
>> david: you bet they are.
00:43:49.950 --> 00:43:51.452
Unions are nonprofits.
00:43:51.452 --> 00:43:52.019
Are they political?
00:43:52.019 --> 00:43:52.786
>> matt: wow.
00:43:52.786 --> 00:43:54.288
>> david: you bet unions are.
00:43:54.288 --> 00:43:55.489
Churches are nonprofit.
00:43:55.489 --> 00:43:56.223
Are they political?
00:43:56.223 --> 00:43:57.091
"oh, no, we can't."
00:43:57.091 --> 00:43:58.258
We tie our own hands, put 'em behind the back and say,
00:43:58.258 --> 00:44:00.828
"hit me in the nose."
00:44:00.828 --> 00:44:02.429
I mean, it's crazy.
00:44:02.429 --> 00:44:03.797
We're the same nonprofits they are, but we don't do anything?
00:44:03.797 --> 00:44:06.066
So we wanted pastors to know that "you can do all this."
00:44:06.066 --> 00:44:08.402
So we recruited, i think,
00:44:08.402 --> 00:44:11.071
The first year, 35 pastors, and we said,
00:44:11.071 --> 00:44:13.373
"hey, we're taking you through the legal training.
00:44:13.373 --> 00:44:14.708
We want you to get up and preach a sermon that is gonna violate
00:44:14.708 --> 00:44:18.178
What the irs says you can't do, and then they're gonna come
00:44:18.178 --> 00:44:21.815
After you, and we're gonna defend you, et cetera.
00:44:21.815 --> 00:44:24.451
And so 35 pastors, first year, irs didn't--
00:44:24.451 --> 00:44:26.120
We turned all pastors in.
00:44:26.120 --> 00:44:27.855
We taped all their messages, sent it to the irs and said,
00:44:27.855 --> 00:44:30.290
"you gotta come after this guy.
00:44:30.290 --> 00:44:31.759
He preached politics."
00:44:31.759 --> 00:44:33.560
And they wouldn't do it.
00:44:33.560 --> 00:44:34.895
And so the next year, i think it was 87; and the next year,
00:44:34.895 --> 00:44:36.830
It was like 1,500.
00:44:36.830 --> 00:44:38.165
And so we got 8,500 pastors eventually over eight or nine
00:44:38.165 --> 00:44:41.602
Years turned in, and the irs would not come after any of them
00:44:41.602 --> 00:44:43.403
'cause they knew they had no case in court.
00:44:43.403 --> 00:44:46.940
So trump set it aside,
00:44:46.940 --> 00:44:50.677
Not because he had the power to do so
00:44:50.677 --> 00:44:52.012
But because it never applied anyway.
00:44:52.012 --> 00:44:53.213
It never applied to churches.
00:44:53.213 --> 00:44:54.448
>> laurie: wow.
00:44:54.448 --> 00:44:55.616
>> david: we were just told that by the opponents,
00:44:55.616 --> 00:44:57.050
And we let them define us.
00:44:57.050 --> 00:44:58.719
So i remember one guy, gus booth,
00:44:58.719 --> 00:45:03.991
Pastor of warroad community church in minnesota.
00:45:03.991 --> 00:45:05.225
He was one of those first 35, and he had a little bitty
00:45:05.225 --> 00:45:07.094
Country church.
00:45:07.094 --> 00:45:08.395
And he got out that morning, and it was the primary season.
00:45:08.395 --> 00:45:11.765
He was gonna talk about the candidates in the primary and
00:45:11.765 --> 00:45:14.168
What they believed on biblical issues.
00:45:14.168 --> 00:45:15.969
And so, when he came out on this front row, as i recall,
00:45:15.969 --> 00:45:19.139
Hbo had cameras there--
00:45:19.139 --> 00:45:21.942
[laughter]
00:45:21.942 --> 00:45:22.643
-- cbs had camera.
00:45:22.643 --> 00:45:26.013
He's got all these national cameras on the front row,
00:45:26.013 --> 00:45:27.447
And he's preachin' a sermon.
00:45:27.447 --> 00:45:29.449
And he talked about-- at that time,
00:45:29.449 --> 00:45:31.685
Is was the primary with obama and with hillary, you know?
00:45:31.685 --> 00:45:35.255
He said, "look, they both are pro-abortion.
00:45:35.255 --> 00:45:37.624
They both are--"
00:45:37.624 --> 00:45:38.792
He said, "there's no way you can vote for either one
00:45:38.792 --> 00:45:40.828
Of these guys based on what the bible says."
00:45:40.828 --> 00:45:42.963
And turned him in,
00:45:42.963 --> 00:45:44.698
And, of course, they never came after him.
00:45:44.698 --> 00:45:46.633
They never intended to.
00:45:46.633 --> 00:45:48.468
So that's always been a figment of imagination,
00:45:48.468 --> 00:45:51.338
And now it's something behind which pastors can hide because
00:45:51.338 --> 00:45:54.975
It does not exist.
00:45:54.975 --> 00:45:55.776
It is a figment of imagination.
00:45:55.776 --> 00:45:58.111
If you're using that now, it's because you don't want--
00:45:58.111 --> 00:46:00.981
>> matt: you don't wanna do it.
00:46:00.981 --> 00:46:02.316
>> david: -- you don't to, or you haven't read enough of the
00:46:02.316 --> 00:46:06.053
News over the last 15 years to know that that's not even around
00:46:06.053 --> 00:46:07.855
Anymore.
00:46:07.855 --> 00:46:09.323
You're running on a figment-- you probably still believe the
00:46:09.323 --> 00:46:11.725
World is flat for that matter.
00:46:11.725 --> 00:46:13.894
>> laurie: misinformation.
00:46:13.894 --> 00:46:15.729
Okay, can i ask you about the curriculum?
00:46:15.729 --> 00:46:17.698
And so there's a lot of beautiful people doing
00:46:17.698 --> 00:46:21.401
Homeschooling nowadays, and i love-- i love that.
00:46:21.401 --> 00:46:23.837
>> david: mm-hmm.
00:46:23.837 --> 00:46:25.973
>> laurie: is your curriculum--tell me about your--
00:46:25.973 --> 00:46:29.910
Just share--
00:46:29.910 --> 00:46:32.279
>> david: well, what we have is-- we don't have curriculum.
00:46:32.279 --> 00:46:35.215
We have a lot of what used to be the way education did it.
00:46:35.215 --> 00:46:37.050
It was eclectic.
00:46:37.050 --> 00:46:39.686
You took things-- see, we don't have anything on math.
00:46:39.686 --> 00:46:40.888
You know, saxon math is one of the good math courses.
00:46:40.888 --> 00:46:42.422
There's several good ones.
00:46:42.422 --> 00:46:43.924
So we have stuff that we'll deal with history and government and
00:46:43.924 --> 00:46:46.960
Civics, but we don't have stuff on language arts
00:46:46.960 --> 00:46:49.997
And english and grammar.
00:46:49.997 --> 00:46:51.899
And so we don't have curriculum, per se,
00:46:51.899 --> 00:46:54.101
And that's where-- the free market is all about competition,
00:46:54.101 --> 00:46:58.538
And that's what's really cool about school choice now,
00:46:58.538 --> 00:47:03.076
In so many states, is they're now even funding homeschoolers.
00:47:03.076 --> 00:47:09.449
And so we saw in texas, it's-- we have public schools all over
00:47:09.449 --> 00:47:10.217
The nation.
00:47:10.217 --> 00:47:11.285
They dropped by 900,000 students last year,
00:47:11.285 --> 00:47:13.854
Even though the population is increasing,
00:47:13.854 --> 00:47:16.723
Because more and more parents are having options of where to
00:47:16.723 --> 00:47:18.492
Put their kids and customize it.
00:47:18.492 --> 00:47:21.094
And so competition always makes things better.
00:47:21.094 --> 00:47:22.896
I mean, if you have four burger joints at one intersection
00:47:22.896 --> 00:47:26.533
And then they have to compete with each other,
00:47:26.533 --> 00:47:28.135
You're gonna get better burgers all the way around.
00:47:28.135 --> 00:47:29.670
>> laurie: right, right.
00:47:29.670 --> 00:47:30.938
>> david: and so that's what happens with competition,
00:47:30.938 --> 00:47:32.773
So anything that encourages competition and school choice.
00:47:32.773 --> 00:47:35.809
So we do have a lot of materials that are used
00:47:35.809 --> 00:47:38.812
In a lot of schools--
00:47:38.812 --> 00:47:40.380
Charter schools, public schools,
00:47:40.380 --> 00:47:42.816
Others-- but it's on that history and government kind of
00:47:42.816 --> 00:47:45.218
Area.
00:47:45.218 --> 00:47:47.054
And we also have a lot of materials that we just reprinted
00:47:47.054 --> 00:47:51.024
Old books 'cause they have so much bible in them.
00:47:51.024 --> 00:47:53.160
Texas, right now, is in the midst of passing their new
00:47:53.160 --> 00:47:56.563
Government standards.
00:47:56.563 --> 00:47:58.799
And by state legislature now, every class in texas,
00:47:58.799 --> 00:48:03.203
Every grade in texas has to include old and new testament
00:48:03.203 --> 00:48:08.241
Bible readings as part of the classroom.
00:48:08.241 --> 00:48:09.443
So, i mean, this is what the states are able to do now.
00:48:09.443 --> 00:48:13.213
You're not gonna get that in california--
00:48:13.213 --> 00:48:14.681
>> laurie: right.
00:48:14.681 --> 00:48:15.582
>> david: -- but you can in texas.
00:48:15.582 --> 00:48:17.851
>> matt: so what you're saying is wallbuilders doesn't have
00:48:17.851 --> 00:48:20.387
Interior floral design classes?
00:48:20.387 --> 00:48:22.089
>> david: exactly.
00:48:22.089 --> 00:48:23.090
>> matt: you don't really get into that.
00:48:23.090 --> 00:48:23.957
>> david: we don't get into that.
00:48:23.957 --> 00:48:24.791
>> matt: yeah.
00:48:24.791 --> 00:48:25.459
>> david: that's right.
00:48:25.459 --> 00:48:26.493
So we can't do a sewing class.
00:48:26.493 --> 00:48:28.462
Can't teach you that either.
00:48:28.462 --> 00:48:30.130
[laughter]
00:48:30.130 --> 00:48:31.398
>> matt: but you can take the students to the back of an
00:48:31.398 --> 00:48:34.768
Animal and tell them there's two different choices there.
00:48:34.768 --> 00:48:36.636
[laughter]
00:48:36.636 --> 00:48:37.671
>> david: that's right.
00:48:37.671 --> 00:48:38.538
>> matt: you know how to do that.
00:48:38.538 --> 00:48:39.272
>> david: it's really easy.
00:48:39.272 --> 00:48:39.940
Yeah, it's really easy.
00:48:39.940 --> 00:48:41.274
>> matt: i have to tell you one other thing: you can go with
00:48:41.274 --> 00:48:46.446
David out into the pasture out there and kill snakes and put
00:48:46.446 --> 00:48:50.751
Out fires with your feet and also-- i've-- i've--
00:48:50.751 --> 00:48:53.220
>> david: she had-- you've had personal experience doin' this.
00:48:53.220 --> 00:48:55.088
>> matt: i have stomped fires with david barton.
00:48:55.088 --> 00:48:58.291
Okay, latest book,
00:48:58.291 --> 00:49:02.129
>> ***.
00:49:02.129 --> 00:49:03.030
"lives, fortunes, & sacred honor."
00:49:03.030 --> 00:49:04.464
This is basically a short,
00:49:04.464 --> 00:49:06.733
1,500-word bio on all the signers of the--
00:49:06.733 --> 00:49:09.870
>> david: all 56.
00:49:09.870 --> 00:49:11.471
>> matt: what an amazing resource.
00:49:11.471 --> 00:49:14.141
>> david: and you find out what great christian heroes the
00:49:14.141 --> 00:49:16.243
Overwhelming majority are.
00:49:16.243 --> 00:49:17.277
>> matt: that's where we came from.
00:49:17.277 --> 00:49:19.713
There wasn't a few pastors involved back in the day.
00:49:19.713 --> 00:49:24.684
All the pastors were involved.
00:49:24.684 --> 00:49:28.822
If there was one or two, they were the exception.
00:49:28.822 --> 00:49:31.258
And, pastors, this is our call in 2026 and beyond,
00:49:31.258 --> 00:49:36.363
And we wanted a refresher course.
00:49:36.363 --> 00:49:40.067
David, you're-- you get the final thought here.
00:49:40.067 --> 00:49:41.668
Kind of do--
00:49:41.668 --> 00:49:42.736
>> laurie: can i just say somethin' about--
00:49:42.736 --> 00:49:43.670
>> matt: you may.
00:49:43.670 --> 00:49:44.838
>> laurie: -- though, about being a grand-- i am a
00:49:44.838 --> 00:49:46.706
Grandmother now, and i want to read this.
00:49:46.706 --> 00:49:50.343
I want to know this stuff because this isn't being taught
00:49:50.343 --> 00:49:52.546
In school.
00:49:52.546 --> 00:49:53.613
>> matt: at all.
00:49:53.613 --> 00:49:54.848
>> david: this has not been taught since world war ii.
00:49:54.848 --> 00:49:56.950
So if you're in the last three generations,
00:49:56.950 --> 00:49:58.752
You won't know who these guys are,
00:49:58.752 --> 00:50:01.354
And you won't know much about them.
00:50:01.354 --> 00:50:03.390
>> laurie: i want shai to know all about these people,
00:50:03.390 --> 00:50:06.193
And i want to be able to teach him.
00:50:06.193 --> 00:50:08.628
I want to know some facts about how our country because it's not
00:50:08.628 --> 00:50:13.266
Being taught anymore.
00:50:13.266 --> 00:50:14.868
>> david: it's not.
00:50:14.868 --> 00:50:16.236
>> laurie: and so i think, as a grandmother and a grandfather,
00:50:16.236 --> 00:50:17.204
We could read this together and teach--
00:50:17.204 --> 00:50:18.638
>> matt: that means she wants me to read it to her.
00:50:18.638 --> 00:50:19.973
[laughter]
00:50:19.973 --> 00:50:20.774
>> laurie: that's right.
00:50:20.774 --> 00:50:22.042
[laughter]
00:50:22.042 --> 00:50:23.009
You heard that.
00:50:23.009 --> 00:50:23.810
Good.
00:50:23.810 --> 00:50:25.178
>> matt: yeah, i did.
00:50:25.178 --> 00:50:25.979
>> laurie: you're gettin' good.
00:50:25.979 --> 00:50:27.447
>> matt: okay, a fabulous resource, brand-new.
00:50:27.447 --> 00:50:29.950
>> laurie: yeah, beautiful.
00:50:29.950 --> 00:50:31.751
>> matt: final thought, david.
00:50:31.751 --> 00:50:33.019
We've gone around, and we've told a bit of a story here.
00:50:33.019 --> 00:50:33.720
Just consolidate it.
00:50:33.720 --> 00:50:35.922
Final thought is yours, please.
00:50:35.922 --> 00:50:37.023
>> david: god is god over every aspect of life.
00:50:37.023 --> 00:50:40.727
He is god not only over our family and our church.
00:50:40.727 --> 00:50:43.797
He's god over government.
00:50:43.797 --> 00:50:45.565
That is his institution as much as is the family or the church.
00:50:45.565 --> 00:50:49.035
And for us to make that the orphan child out there and put
00:50:49.035 --> 00:50:52.372
It out is unacceptable to him.
00:50:52.372 --> 00:50:54.441
That is his.
00:50:54.441 --> 00:50:55.642
It's also unacceptable for american history,
00:50:55.642 --> 00:50:58.411
And it's also a good way to guarantee that we won't have
00:50:58.411 --> 00:51:01.848
Another 250 years.
00:51:01.848 --> 00:51:03.517
If we hadn't had christians involved from the very start,
00:51:03.517 --> 00:51:06.553
We wouldn't be sittin' here today.
00:51:06.553 --> 00:51:08.188
And if christians refused to get back in that arena,
00:51:08.188 --> 00:51:13.059
Our grandkids won't be sittin' here enjoying the next 75 years
00:51:13.059 --> 00:51:14.928
Of america.
00:51:14.928 --> 00:51:15.896
>> laurie: yeah.
00:51:15.896 --> 00:51:17.464
>> matt: it feels like this message is starting to trend,
00:51:17.464 --> 00:51:19.966
Though, and it feels like maybe we've caught the slide,
00:51:19.966 --> 00:51:24.838
And we can see into the future some of this going back into
00:51:24.838 --> 00:51:31.178
Action the way it used to be.
00:51:31.178 --> 00:51:32.412
>> david: i totally agree.
00:51:32.412 --> 00:51:33.547
>> matt: yeah.
00:51:33.547 --> 00:51:34.648
>> david: we do a lot of polling and monitoring,
00:51:34.648 --> 00:51:36.716
And there is-- the church is dividing right now the wheat and
00:51:36.716 --> 00:51:41.655
The chaff, those that are gonna be biblical and those that
00:51:41.655 --> 00:51:43.456
Refuse to be biblical.
00:51:43.456 --> 00:51:44.724
And the biblical side is growing very rapidly with a lot of
00:51:44.724 --> 00:51:48.228
Boldness.
00:51:48.228 --> 00:51:49.529
There's a pastor in georgia and a great guy, and he says,
00:51:49.529 --> 00:51:55.402
"you know, god made the three institutions,
00:51:55.402 --> 00:51:57.437
And it just dawned on me, i've been a two-thirds christian for
00:51:57.437 --> 00:52:01.441
Most all of my life, i've been a family and church guy,
00:52:01.441 --> 00:52:02.676
But i haven't been a government guy."
00:52:02.676 --> 00:52:04.411
Said, "i gotta be a three-thirds christian."
00:52:04.411 --> 00:52:06.012
And so, out of his church now,
00:52:06.012 --> 00:52:09.049
He says, "you guys need to get involved in politics."
00:52:09.049 --> 00:52:11.151
And so he has four counties that are associated with his church,
00:52:11.151 --> 00:52:14.654
And his people are now the leaders in all four counties,
00:52:14.654 --> 00:52:17.624
Just out of his church.
00:52:17.624 --> 00:52:18.792
>> matt: i love that.
00:52:18.792 --> 00:52:19.426
I love that.
00:52:19.426 --> 00:52:20.627
>> david: and so bein' a three-thirds christian is really
00:52:20.627 --> 00:52:22.229
Important.
00:52:22.229 --> 00:52:23.129
>> matt: okay, look,
00:52:23.129 --> 00:52:25.198
"lives, fortunes, sacred honor: the signers of the declaration."
00:52:25.198 --> 00:52:29.102
Little bit of an essay on each of them.
00:52:29.102 --> 00:52:30.904
This stuff hasn't been taught.
00:52:30.904 --> 00:52:32.872
Get it.
00:52:32.872 --> 00:52:33.440
Get it right now,
00:52:33.440 --> 00:52:35.308
And get it to those that you know that need it.
00:52:35.308 --> 00:52:37.310
Get involved.
00:52:37.310 --> 00:52:38.245
>> laurie: yeah.
00:52:38.245 --> 00:52:38.945
>> matt: vote.
00:52:38.945 --> 00:52:39.746
Get these voter guides.
00:52:39.746 --> 00:52:41.681
You know, know what people stand for.
00:52:41.681 --> 00:52:44.351
>> laurie: and i think you hit the nail on the head when you
00:52:44.351 --> 00:52:48.388
Said to be bold because it takes-- it takes someone with
00:52:48.388 --> 00:52:50.523
Boldness and--
00:52:50.523 --> 00:52:51.391
>> matt: or feisty.
00:52:51.391 --> 00:52:54.361
[laughter]
00:52:54.361 --> 00:52:56.029
>> laurie: -- feistiness to handle it, to go for it,
00:52:56.029 --> 00:52:59.132
You know?
00:52:59.132 --> 00:53:00.467
It takes a lot of people to just get out of their comfort zone
00:53:00.467 --> 00:53:01.668
And do something,
00:53:01.668 --> 00:53:03.603
But i know god never leaves you.
00:53:03.603 --> 00:53:06.840
>> matt: it's gonna be fun pounding all those stakes in the
00:53:06.840 --> 00:53:07.941
Ground for you when you run for city council.
00:53:07.941 --> 00:53:08.842
[laughter]
00:53:08.842 --> 00:53:09.576
>> laurie: i'm all over it.
00:53:09.576 --> 00:53:10.110
>> david: yeah.
00:53:10.110 --> 00:53:10.977
>> matt: "crouch for city council."
00:53:10.977 --> 00:53:11.411
[laughter]
00:53:11.411 --> 00:53:12.012
>> laurie: let's go.
00:53:12.012 --> 00:53:12.979
>> matt: we'll see ya next time.
00:53:12.979 --> 00:53:14.681
Bye-bye.
00:53:14.681 --> 00:53:16.016
Thank you, david.
00:53:16.016 --> 00:53:19.686
♪ music ♪
00:53:19.686 --> 00:53:19.686

David Barton: Biblical Citizenship: Faith in Action | Praise

July 9, 2026 | 53:30

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