YOU’VE PROBABLY HEARD ABOUT THE CONTROVERSIAL NATIONAL PRAYER
SERVICE THAT TOOK PLACE AT THE NATIONAL CATHEDRAL
FOLLOWING THE INAUGURATION OF PRESIDENT TRUMP.
I WAS THERE FOR IT, AND I’LL TELL YOU WHAT I THOUGHT,
ON TODAY’S TRUTHS THAT TRANSFORM.
WELCOME TO TRUTHS THAT TRANSFORM,
A PRODUCTION OF CORAL RIDGE MINISTRIES.
I’M PASTOR ROB PACIENZA.
ON PRESIDENTS DAY, WE CELEBRATE THE LIVES OF SOME OF
OUR NATION’S GREAT LEADERS WITH A SPECIAL FOCUS ON
GEORGE WASHINGTON AND ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
THESE MEN WERE GREAT CHRISTIAN STATESMEN
SOMETHING WE NEED QUITE A BIT MORE OF TODAY.
ON THIS PROGRAM, YOU’LL MEET ANOTHER GREAT MODEL
FOR CHRISTIAN STATESMANSHIP ONE WHO LED HIS NATION,
AND ULTIMATELY THE WESTERN WORLD -TO ABOLISH SLAVERY.
AND I’LL SHARE WITH YOU MY THOUGHTS AS I EXPERIENCED
THE NATIONAL PRAYER SERVICE FOLLOWING
THE INAUGURATION OF PRESIDENT TRUMP IN WASHINGTON D.C.
A FEW WEEKS AGO A SERVICE THAT BECAME QUITE CONTROVERSIAL.
AND WE BEGIN WITH MY FRIEND STEPHEN MANSFIELD.
DR. MANSFIELD IS A BEST-SELLING AUTHOR, HISTORIAN, AND SPEAKER,
AS WELL AS AN AMBASSADOR FOR THE D JAMES KENNEDY
CENTER FOR CHRISTIAN STATESMANSHIP IN WASHINGTON.
HE AND I RECENTLY SAT DOWN TO DISCUSS
THE PRESSING NEED FOR CHRISTIAN STATESMANSHIP.
STEPHEN, HOW WOULD YOU DEFINE A CHRISTIAN STATESMAN?
I BELIEVE A CHRISTIAN STATESMAN IS COOPERATING WITH GOD AND
HIS GOVERNMENT OF THE WORLD.
THAT'S MY CORE TRUTH,
MY CORE UNDERSTANDING THAT GOD RULES THE NATIONS,
THAT HE SETS THE BOUNDARIES OF NATIONS,
THAT HE SETS ONE UP AND SETS ANOTHER DOWN.
AND A CHRISTIAN STATESMAN IS OPERATING IN LIGHT OF THAT,
IN LIGHT OF THE FACT THAT THERE'S FINAL TRUTH
AND GOD HAS A WILL FOR MEN AND FOR WOMEN
AND FOR FAMILIES AND FOR NATIONS
AND FOR SCHOOLS AND ALL OF THE INSTITUTIONS.
AND SO THE CHRISTIAN STATESMAN SEES HIMSELF AS AN AGENT OF GOD.
YES, HE'S ACCOUNTABLE TO THE PEOPLE.
YES, HE WANTS TO OBEY THE LAWS OF THE LAND,
BUT SEES HIM OR HERSELF AS AN AGENT OF GOD'S PURPOSES
FOR THAT POINT IN HISTORY.
AND THIS TRANSFORMS POLITICS COMPLETELY
AND IT'S EXCITING TO SEE.
ANYTIME YOU SEE CHRISTIANS GETTING INVOLVED IN POLITICS,
PARTICULARLY IN WASHINGTON DC
YOU HEAR THE COMMENTS FROM THE OTHER SIDE,
“WELL, THIS IS NOTHING BUT EXTREME
AND RADICAL CHRISTIAN NATIONALISM.
OH, THIS GROUP IS JUST TRYING TO DEVELOP A THEOCRACY.
AND WE KNOW THAT'S NOT THE CASE.
WHAT IS THOUGH THE PROPER ROLE OF
THE CHRISTIAN IN THE REALM OF POLITICS?
WELL, THE PROPER ROLE OF A CHRISTIAN
IN THE REALM OF POLITICS IS THE GREAT COMMISSION.
THE GREAT COMMISSION IS NOT JUST AN EVANGELISTIC COMMISSION;
IT'S A GO DISCIPLE, THE NATION’S COMMISSION.
IT'S NOT POLITICAL DOMINATION, IT'S NOT MILITARY TAKEOVER,
BUT IT'S INFLUENCING AND SHAPING THE NATION
ALONG THE LINES OF GOD'S WILL.
SO I THINK CHRISTIAN NATIONALISM,
I KNOW IT CAN BE EXTREME,
BUT IT'S A LABEL THAT THE OPPONENTS
OF CHRISTIANITY AND GOVERNMENT HAVE LAID UPON US.
AND I THINK ACTUALLY ALL WE'RE TALKING ABOUT REALLY IS
JUST PEOPLE TRYING TO DISCIPLE THE NATION.
IT'S INTERESTING TO ME, I LIVE IN DC, WORK IN DC,
AND THERE ARE A LOT OF COMPETING AGENDAS.
SUDDENLY THE CHRISTIAN AGENDA IN DC GETS LABELED
CHRISTIAN NATIONALISM AND IT'S SOME KIND OF PLAGUE.
WE JUST NEED TO BE IN THE GAME GETTING OUR VALUES IN THERE,
WINNING HEARTS AND MINDS COOPERATING WITH GOD,
AND WE'LL WIN THE DAY.
AND WE DON'T NEED TO WORRY ABOUT THE TAGS THE ENEMIES PUT ON US.
30 YEARS AGO, DR. KENNEDY HAD A
VERY CLEAR VISION WHEN HE LAUNCHED
THE CENTER FOR CHRISTIAN STATESMANSHIP ON CAPITOL HILL.
IT'S ONE OF THE REASONS I'M SO EXCITED
THAT WE'VE RELAUNCHED THIS INITIATIVE.
IT IS SO STRATEGIC AND SO IMPORTANT.
YOU ARE VERY FAMILIAR WITH WASHINGTON DC,
VERY FAMILIAR WITH WHAT HAPPENS ON CAPITOL HILL.
FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE,
WHY IS THE CENTER FOR CHRISTIAN STATESMANSHIP
RIGHT NOW SO IMPORTANT AND SO STRATEGIC?
WELL, THE CENTER FOR CHRISTIAN STATESMANSHIP IS ALWAYS VALUABLE
BECAUSE IT'S ENCOURAGING TRUTH AND THAT'S ALWAYS NEEDED.
BUT I'LL TELL YOU THAT ONE OF THE THINGS I'M SEEING HAPPEN ON
THE HILL IS THE UTTER EXHAUSTION MANY OF THESE PEOPLE FEEL
BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE A MORAL COMPASS,
THEY'RE BLOWN AROUND BY
THE POLITICAL WINDS, WHICH IS EXHAUSTING.
THEY'RE ALWAYS TRYING TO STICK THEIR FINGER IN THE AIR AND
FIGURE OUT WHICH WAY THE WIND IS BLOWING,
WHAT'S GOING TO BE SUCCESSFUL
AND WHO'S GOING TO VOTE FOR THEM,
AND WHAT MONEY WILL THEY LOSE.
SO THEY GO A CERTAIN WAY AND IT'S EXHAUSTING.
THE PEOPLE WHO ARE AT MOST PEACE ARE THE PEOPLE
WHO KNOW BIBLICAL TRUTH AND ARE EXECUTING THAT EVERY DAY
REGARDLESS OF THE POLITICAL COST.
SO I THINK THAT THE CENTER FOR CHRISTIAN STATESMANSHIP IS MORE
NEEDED THAN EVER PART OF IT BECAUSE OF OUR ETERNAL WORK.
BUT ALSO BECAUSE IN THIS MOMENT THERE IS A HUNGER AND EXHAUSTION
AND DESPERATION FOR FINAL TRUTH THAT I'VE NEVER SEEN BEFORE
IN WASHINGTON DC AND I'VE BEEN THERE FOR DECADES.
FOR THOSE WATCHING THIS INTERVIEW, THAT MIGHT NOT BE
FAMILIAR WITH THE CENTER FOR CHRISTIAN STATESMANSHIP.
AND I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY, IT'S NOT A LOBBYING GROUP,
BUT THE CASE COULD BE MADE.
THERE'S A TON OF NONPROFITS IN WASHINGTON DC.
WHAT MAKES THE WORK OF THE
CENTER FOR CHRISTIAN STATESMANSHIP SO UNIQUE?
I THINK WHAT MAKES THE CENTER UNIQUE IS
THAT IT'S FOCUSED ON STATESMANSHIP.
NOW YOU HAVE LOTS OF ORGANIZATIONS LOBBYING
FOR CERTAIN POLITICAL CONCLUSIONS,
AND LOTS OF THEM MAY BE TRYING TO DO BIBLE STUDIES
WITH DIFFERENT CONGRESSMEN AND SENATORS.
ALL OF THAT'S FINE, BUT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE DISTINCTIVE
OF CHRISTIAN STATESMANSHIP AS IT CAME FROM DJ JAMES KENNEDY.
AND OF COURSE, EVEN MORE IMPORTANTLY FROM SCRIPTURE,
I DON'T KNOW OF MANY ORGANIZATIONS OR ANY
THAT ARE DOING PRECISELY THAT, AND QUITE FRANKLY,
CREDIT TO YOU DOING IT AS WELL AS IT’S BEING DONE.
SO THIS IS OUR MOMENT.
WE TALK A LOT ABOUT A CHRISTIAN WORLDVIEW.
WHY IS A CHRISTIAN WORLDVIEW SO NECESSARY FOR CHRISTIAN
MEN AND WOMEN WHO ARE SERVING ON CAPITOL HILL?
WELL, MANY OF THE PEOPLE WHO GO ON CAPITOL HILL AS CHRISTIANS,
SOME OF THEM HAVE NEVER CONFRONTED THE FACT
THAT THERE'S THIS BEEFY,
BIBLICAL WORLDVIEW THAT APPLIES TO EVERY AREA OF LIFE.
THEY MIGHT'VE GONE TO DC BECAUSE THEY WANTED TO BE CHRISTIANS,
BUT THEY DIDN'T UNDERSTAND THAT SCRIPTURE SPEAKS,
AT LEAST IN PRINCIPLE, TO EVERY AREA OF LIFE.
AND THIS MEANS NOW THAT WE'RE DOING SOMETHING
THAT'S FULL BODIED AND RICH AND POWERFUL AND ITS FINAL TRUTH.
AND SO WHEN I SEE PEOPLE WHO HAVE GONE UP ON THE HILL
AND MAYBE NOT FULLY EQUIPPED,
BUT THEY START TO EMBRACE WHAT WE'RE TEACHING
AND START TO UNDERSTAND A BIBLICAL WORLDVIEW,
THEY BEGIN TO GET ENERGIZED.
THEY BECOME MORE POWERFUL,
THEY BECOME MORE PEACEFUL IN THEIR PERSONAL LIFE,
THEIR FAMILIES MORE WHOLE, BY THE WAY,
BECAUSE THERE'S LESS STRESS AND TENSION AND ABSENTEEISM.
AND SUDDENLY THEY BEGIN TO HAVE GREATER SUCCESS
IN CHANGING OUR COUNTRY, WHICH IS EXCITING TO SEE.
STEPHEN, IT WAS SO GOOD FOR YOU TO BE
AT THE CCS EVENT THIS PAST YEAR, MCING THE EVENT.
AND AS YOU KNOW, WE PRESENTED
THE DISTINGUISHED CHRISTIAN STATESMAN OF THE YEAR AWARD
TO SENATOR JOSH HAWLEY.
HE WAS SUCH A WORTHY RECIPIENT.
WHAT WERE YOUR IMPRESSIONS FROM THAT EVENT?
THE MAIN IMPRESSION I HAD FROM THAT EVENT WAS JOSH HAWLEY
IS KNOWN AS THIS PIT BULL OF THE SENATE.
HE JUST GOES AFTER BUREAUCRATS AND GOES AFTER PEOPLE HARSHLY
WHO ARE NOT DOING RIGHT BY AMERICA.
BUT WHEN HE GOT THERE, HE GOT TENDER.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS HE WAS MOST TENDER ABOUT WAS TALKING
ABOUT D JAMES KENNEDY'S IMPACT UPON HIM AND
ALL THE THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING AT CORAL RIDGE.
AND I GOT TO TELL YOU THAT TOUCHED ME BECAUSE HE'S FIERCE.
I MEAN, HE'S FEARED UP ON THE HILL AND HERE HE WAS SAYING,
NO, THE REASON I DO WHAT I DO IS THAT THIS MAN
AND A CHRISTIAN WORLDVIEW IMPACTED ME.
AND I THOUGHT ABOUT THAT FOR MONTHS AFTERWARDS.
I WAS VERY MOVED BY IT.
SO LET'S TALK ABOUT SENATOR JOSH HAWLEY WHEN HE DOES
HAVE TO CONFRONT WHAT HE CALLS SIN,
WHAT HE CALLS EVIL.
WHY IS IT IMPORTANT AT TIMES WHEN IT'S NECESSARY
FOR CHRISTIANS TO SPEAK UP, TO HAVE A BACKBONE
AND TO CONFRONT THE EVIL IN OUR CULTURE?
YOU KNOW, BIBLICALLY, THERE ARE ACTUALLY A LOT
OF MODELS FOR CHRISTIAN STATESMANSHIP.
THERE'S THE GENTLE THINKER, THERE'S THE THOMAS JEFFERSON
SORT OF CRAFTER OF WORDS AND SO ON.
AND THEN THERE'S THE FIERY OLD TESTAMENT PROPHET.
AND THAT'S HOW I THINK OF SENATOR HAWLEY.
HE JUST GETS UP THERE AND RAGES AFTER SIN
AND RAGES AFTER CORRUPTION AND DOES SO WITH SKILL.
AND SO I THINK OF HIM AS BEING ONE OF
THE OPTIONS OF CHRISTIAN STATESMANSHIP.
SOME PEOPLE DON'T GET IT.
SOME PEOPLE THINK WE OUGHT TO BE SWEETNESS AND
LIGHT ALL THE TIME.
I DON'T THINK THAT CHANGES THINGS AND I'M GLAD HE'S THERE.
WE BOTH AGREE THAT POLITICS AND NO SINGLE POLITICIAN
WILL SAVE AMERICA OUR ONLY HOPES REVIVAL. ABSOLUTELY.
HOWEVER, WITH WHAT WE SEE HAPPENING IN WASHINGTON DC
AND WHAT WE SEE HAPPENING ACROSS AMERICA
CONCERNING THE POLITICAL LANDSCAPE,
WHY IS THERE REASON FOR OPTIMISM?
THE REASON FOR OPTIMISM IS SOMETHING
THAT I GO AROUND SAYING ALL THE TIME.
GOD IN WASHINGTON, DC IS ALWAYS DOING MORE THAN WE KNOW.
HE'S ALWAYS AT WORK.
I LIVE THERE AS YOU KNOW, AND I SEE THE BIBLE STUDIES AND
I SEE PEOPLE WHO FIGHT EACH OTHER ON THE CABLE NEWS SHOWS,
BUT THEN ARE PRAYING TOGETHER BEHIND THE SCENES.
THERE'S A LOT HAPPENING.
THERE'S A LOT OF GOOD HAPPENING.
SO WE HAVE TO TRUST THAT GOD IS ALWAYS AT WORK.
AND BY THE WAY, LET'S BEAR IN MIND THAT AS MUCH AS
WE MIGHT GET OUR NEWS FROM THE MAJOR NETWORKS,
THEY'RE NOT TELLING US ABOUT THE PROGRESS OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD.
WE HAVE TO HAVE CONFIDENCE THAT GOD IS AT WORK
AND HE'S DOING GREAT THINGS.
AND I CAN TELL YOU JUST FROM MY LITTLE
BIRD'S EYE VIEW THERE IN WASHINGTON DC.
AMAZING THINGS ARE HAPPENING BEHIND THE SCENES
AND NOT JUST BASED ON ONE ADMINISTRATION,
BUT BECAUSE GOD IS ALWAYS AT WORK
NO MATTER HOW BAD THE NEWS MAY BE.
SO I'M VERY OPTIMISTIC.
STEPHEN, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
ALWAYS GREAT TO BE WITH YOU.
I’M SO THANKFUL FOR MY FRIEND STEPHEN MANSFIELD,
WHO IS A REGULAR CONTRIBUTOR TO TRUTHS THAT TRANSFORM.
HE AND I SHARE THE VISION THAT WAS SO WELL-ARTICULATED
AND IMPLEMENTED BY OUR FOUNDER, DR. D. JAMES KENNEDY,
WHO KNEW THAT LEADERSHIP UNMOORED FROM
CHRISTIAN PRINCIPLES LEADS US ASTRAY,
BUT THAT A PASSIONATE CHRISTIAN STATESMAN CAN CHANGE THE WORLD.
MINISTERING TO TODAY’S AND TOMORROW’S CHRISTIAN LEADERS
IS WHY HE FOUNDED THE CENTER FOR CHRISTIAN STATESMANSHIP
ON CAPITOL HILL IN 1995,
AND WHY WE CONTINUE THAT MISSION 30 YEARS LATER.
AT THE TENTH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION IN 2005,
DR. KENNEDY SHARED WITH US ONE OF THE GREATEST
AND MOST INSPIRING CHRISTIAN STATESMEN-WILLIAM WILBERFORCE.
LET US ASK GOD’S BLESSING UPON THIS.
GRACIOUS HEAVENLY FATHER,
WE PRAY THAT YOU’LL SPEAK TO US TONIGHT
THROUGH THY WORD AND THROUGH THE LIFE OF A MAN
WHO LOVED THEE AND THY WORD AND TRUTH WITH ALL OF HIS HEART
AND MIND AND SO IMPACTED OUR WORLD.
IN CHRIST’S NAME, WE ASK. AMEN.
WILLIAM WILBERFORCE, NOT A NAME THAT
IS A HOUSEHOLD NAME IN AMERICA.
BUT OF COURSE, HE WAS BRITISH,
BORN AND LIVED HIS LIFE IN ENGLAND.
BUT OTHER MEN WHO WERE BRITISH ARE, PERHAPS, BETTER KNOWN,
SUCH AS, WILLIAM CAREY, WHO WAS THE FOUNDER
OF THE MODERN MISSIONARY MOVEMENT.
AND DAVID LIVINGSTON, WHO WAS SCOTTISH,
A PART OF GREAT BRITAIN, AND
SO IMPACTED AND TRANSFORMED THE CONTINENT OF AFRICA.
WILLIAM WILBERFORCE WAS A REMARKABLE MAN.
HE WAS A MAN THAT HAD A FEW OUTSTANDING GIFTS.
AND ONE OF THOSE WAS HIS ABILITY TO SPEAK.
HE WORKED AT IT, DILIGENTLY, INDEFATIGABLY FOR MANY YEARS.
HE WORKED AT LEARNING HOW TO SPEAK.
HE WAS, NO DOUBT, GIFTED SOME WAY IN THAT DIRECTION, BUT
HE FELT THAT IT WAS SOMETHING THAT HE NEEDED TO WORK ON,
SO HE WORKED ON IT EVERYDAY.
HE WAS BLESSED, HIS FATHER LEFT HIM A FORTUNE, HIS UNCLE...
HIS GRANDFATHER LEFT HIM A FORTUNE,
HIS UNCLE LEFT HIM ANOTHER ONE.
HE WAS ONE OF THE MOST WEALTHY PEOPLE IN ENGLAND.
HE HOBNOBBED IN HIS YOUNGER YEARS WITH ALL OF THE GREATS.
HE WAS AN INTIMATE FRIEND OF THE PRIME MINISTER.
HE WAS VERY WORLDLY, CHARMING, WITTY,
A FRIENDLY KIND OF YOUNG MAN.
THEN ONE DAY, HIS MOTHER SAID THAT SHE WOULD LIKE TO
SPEND THE SUMMER ON A TOUR OF EUROPE.
AND WILBERFORCE INVITED ONE OF HIS OLD SCHOOL TEACHERS,
WHEN HE WAS IN SCHOOL, TO GO WITH HIM.
AND THEY READ PHILIP DODDRIDGE’S WONDERFUL DEVOTIONAL BOOK
ALL THE WAY AS THEIR AS THEIR CARRIAGE
WENDED IT’S WAY THROUGH THE COUNTRIES OF EUROPE.
AND HE CAME BACK IT HAD A BIG IMPACT ON HIM,
BUT HE THOUGHT ABOUT BECOMING A CHRISTIAN,
BUT HE SAID IF HE DID,
HE WOULD PROBABLY LOSE ALL OF HIS INVITATIONS
TO THE BEST PARTIES IN ENGLAND, SO HE DIDN’T.
BUT THE NEXT SUMMER,
HE DECIDED TO TAKE ANOTHER TRIP BY HIMSELF WITHOUT HIS MOTHER,
WHO WATCHED OVER HIM VERY CAREFULLY,
BECAUSE SHE WAS CONCERNED FOR HIS WELL-BEING.
SHE DID NOT WANT HIM TO BECOME TOO RELIGIOUS
FOR SIMILAR REASONS, NO DOUBT
HIS STANDING IN THE ELITE COMMUNITY OF GREAT BRITAIN.
BUT HE DID INVITE DODDRIDGE TO GO AGAIN,
AND THIS TIME DODDRIDGE DECIDED WHAT THEY WOULD DO IS READ
THE BIBLE ON THEIR TRIP THROUGH ENGLAND.
AND OF COURSE, THEY WOULD READ AS EVERY HALFWAY
EDUCATED ENGLISHMEN AT THE TIME COULD DO,
THEY WOULD READ THE GREEK NEW TESTAMENT.
I TRUST THAT’S WHAT ALL OF YOU READ, ISN’T IT,
READ THE GREEK NEW TESTAMENT?
WELL, IT’S VERY INTERESTING, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT.
I’VE READ IT ALMOST EVERYDAY FOR 50 YEARS.
I COMMEND IT TO YOU.
SO, THEY WERE GOING ALONG READING THE BIBLE.
NOW, THIS WAS THE VERY WORD OF GOD
AND IT PIERCED THIS YOUNG MAN’S HEART,
AND HE WAS CONVERTED TO CHRIST.
WHEN HE CAME BACK, IT CAUSED A GREAT SHOCK.
AND HIS FRIENDS SAID THAT HE HAD LOST HIS MIND,
HE HAD BECOME MAD, HE WAS MELANCHOLY.
BUT WHEN THEY THAT WAS THE RUMOR,
BUT WHEN THEY SAW HIM, HE WAS THE LEAST MELANCHOLY MAN
THEY’D EVER SEEN IN IN THEIR LIVES.
HE WAS FILLED WITH JOY AND, ALSO,
HE WAS EVEN MORE CONSIDERATE AND COMPASSIONATE AND LOVING.
IN FACT, THEY SAID HE WAS THE MOST COMPASSIONATE
AND LOVING MAN IN ALL OF ENGLAND.
THEY COULDN’T FIGURE OUT WHAT HAD HAPPENED TO HIM.
AND HE DECIDED HE’D HAVE TO LEAVE
HIS POSITION IN PARLIAMENT,
WHICH, BY THE WAY, HE RAN FOR OFFICE,
THIS GIANT OF A MAN AT THE AGE OF 21, AND WAS ELECTED.
4 YEARS LATER, HE WAS ELECTED TO THE LARGEST COUNTY IN ENGLAND,
BECAUSE OF HIS ENORMOUS SPEAKING ABILITY.
HE DIDN’T KNOW, HE THOUGHT HE OUGHT TO QUIT THAT
AND DO SOMETHING UH...
LESS SECULAR AND MORE RELIGIOUS.
AND HE WENT TO SEE JOHN NEWTON, BECAUSE THERE WAS SOMETHING
THAT HE WAS REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT, AND THAT WAS SLAVERY.
AND HE THOUGHT NEWTON OUGHT TO KNOW SOMETHING ABOUT IT,
SINCE HE HAD BEEN A SLAVE TRADER IN HIS UNCONVERTED DAYS.
AND HE SAID, “DO NOT LEAVE YOUR POSITION IN PARLIAMENT.
YOU WOULD BE DESERTING THE CALLING
THAT GOD HAS CALLED YOU TO.” AND SO, HE DECIDED TO STAY.
AND HE DECIDED, ALSO, THAT HE WOULD FIND
THE GREATEST CAUSE THAT HE KNEW ABOUT,
AND HE WOULD GIVE HIS LIFE TO THAT CAUSE.
AND THE CAUSE HE CHOSE WAS THE END OF SLAVERY IN GREAT BRITAIN.
BUT THERE WAS HARDLY ANY PART OF ENGLISH BUSINESS
THAT WASN’T WRAPPED AROUND SLAVERY IN SOME WAY OR ANOTHER.
SO, WHAT DID HE DO?
HE DECIDED HE’D GIVE A TALK.
HE SPENT TWO YEARS STUDYING TO GIVE THAT TALK.
WHEN HE FINALLY STOOD UP IN PARLIAMENT AND SPOKE,
AND HE WAS BY THIS TIME, PROBABLY,
THE GREATEST SPEAKER IN PARLIAMENT,
HE SPOKE FOR FOUR AND A HALF HOURS.
HE MADE HIS MOTION TO END THE SLAVE TRADE IN GREAT BRITAIN.
THE MOTION WAS DEFEATED, ROUNDLY DEFEATED.
WELL, HE DID NOT GIVE UP.
CAME BACK THE NEXT YEAR, GAVE ANOTHER SPEECH,
ANOTHER MOTION DEFEATED,
NEXT YEAR, DEFEATED, THE NEXT YEAR, DEFEATED.
HE GAVE UP THE NEXT YEAR, CAME BACK THE FOLLOWING YEAR,
AND GAVE ANOTHER SPEECH, AND ANOTHER AND ANOTHER AND ANOTHER
AND ANOTHER AND ANOTHER AND ANOTHER
AND ANOTHER AND ANOTHER AND ANOTHER AND ANOTHER.
FINALLY, THE VOTE WAS POSITIVE
AND THE BRITISH SLAVE TRADE ENDED.
BUT THAT WAS ONLY HALF OF HIS GOAL.
IT WAS TO END SLAVERY IN ALL OF THE BRITISH COLONIES,
SO HE SET HIMSELF TO THAT.
AGAIN, 25 MORE YEARS, NOW, HE IS AN ELDERLY MAN
AND THERE’S STILL HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS
OF SLAVES IN BRITISH OWNINGS,
BUT HE CONTINUED TO PRAY AND TO WORK.
AS HE GREW OLDER AND OLDER, HE CONTINUED TO PERSIST
EVERY YEAR A SPEECH,
EVERY YEAR ANOTHER VOTE, EVERY YEAR DEFEAT.
FINALLY, HE WAS UNABLE TO CONTINUE FOR HEALTH REASONS.
HE RETIRED TO HIS HOME IN LONDON.
AND IN THAT SESSION THEY HAD A GREAT DISCUSSION OF THE SUBJECT,
A VOTE, A MOTION WAS MADE TO END SLAVERY
IN ALL OF THE COLONIES OF GREAT BRITAIN AROUND THE WORLD.
THE MOTION PASSED.
THERE WAS A GREAT OUTCRY OF JOY AMONG ALL OF THOSE THAT
HAD WORKED WITH HIM FOR SO LONG TO END THAT.
AND THEY SENT A RUNNER TO HIS HOME TO HELP...
TO TELL HIM BEFORE HE DIED THAT, AT LAST,
HIS GREAT CAUSE HAD BEEN WON AND THE VICTORY CAME.
AND OF COURSE, HE REJOICED IN THE LORD THAT THIS HAD HAPPENED
AND THAT A LIFETIME OF EFFORT HAD SUCCEEDED.
MAY I POINT OUT TO YOU THIS:
GREAT BRITAIN ENDED SLAVERY WITHOUT A CIVIL WAR.
WHAT DIFFERENCE DOES CHRISTIANITY MAKE?
THE ELOQUENCE OF HIS CHRISTIAN LIFE
WAS CREDITED WITH CHANGING ENGLAND.
THAT WAS WILLIAM WILBERFORCE WHO CHANGED THE WORLD.
HI, I’M JENNIFER KENNEDY CASSIDY.
WILLIAM WILBERFORCE IS ONE OF THE GREATEST EXAMPLES OF A
CHRISTIAN WHO BROUGHT HIS FAITH INTO THE PUBLIC SQUARE FOR GOOD,
AND MY DAD WANTED TO SEE GOD RAISE UP
MORE LIKE WILBERFORCE IN OUR OWN DAY.
UNFORTUNATELY, FAR TOO MANY CHRISTIANS HAVE BEEN TAUGHT THAT
OUR FAITH IS ONLY INDIVIDUAL AND PERSONAL
THAT IT’S BETWEEN GOD AND US,
AND HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE WORLD AROUND US.
THERE’S NO QUESTION THAT JESUS CHRIST’S ATONING WORK
IS AT THE CENTER OF EVERYTHING.
BUT AS JESUS HIMSELF TAUGHT US, OUR SAVING FAITH HAS
AN OUTWARD DIMENSION THAT MAKES A DIFFERENCE AROUND US.
JESUS IS LORD OF ALL, AND HIS KINGDOM ENCOMPASSES SCIENCE,
EDUCATION, ART, FAMILY, AND GOVERNMENT.
THAT’S WHY MY DAD LOVED TO STUDY HISTORY,
AND ESPECIALLY HOW THE CHRISTIAN FAITH IMPACTED THE WORLD.
THAT WAS CERTAINLY TRUE IN AMERICA,
WHERE CHRISTIANITY HAS PLAYED A DECISIVE ROLE.
FIND OUT MORE IN HIS BOOKLET, WHAT THEY BELIEVED:
THE FAITH OF WASHINGTON, JEFFERSON, AND LINCOLN,
WHICH WE’LL SEND YOU AS OUR THANKS FOR YOUR GENEROUS
DONATION TO THE ONGOING WORK OF THIS MINISTRY.
LIKE WILBERFORCE, EACH OF THESE THREE GREAT PRESIDENTS
LOOKED TO THE TRUTH OF GOD AS THEY BUILT THIS NATION
AND SAW HER THROUGH CRISES.
THEIR VIEWS ON CHRIST AND CHRISTIANITY HAVE OFTEN
BEEN MISREPRESENTED BY HISTORIANS AND PROFESSORS,
BUT YOU CAN FIND THE TRUE STORY HERE.
UNDERSTANDING HOW IMPORTANT THE PILLAR OF CHRISTIANITY WAS TO
AMERICA IS A KEY TO REBUILDING THIS NATION TO GREATNESS.
THAT’S ALSO WHY MY FATHER FOUNDED
IN WASHINGTON, D.C. ITS WORK CONTINUES TODAY UNDER
DR. ROB PACIENZA AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR WILLIAM RUSSELL,
AND RECENTLY WE HONORED MISSOURI SENATOR JOSH HAWLEY WITH
OUR DISTINGUISHED CHRISTIAN STATESMAN AWARD.
AS THANKS FOR YOUR GENEROUS DONATION OF $40 OR MORE,
WE’LL SEND YOU AN EXCLUSIVE DVD OF THAT EVENT, ENTITLED
HOW DARE WE BE QUIET,
WHICH INCLUDES AN EYE-OPENING INTERVIEW BETWEEN
DR. PACIENZA AND SENATOR HAWLEY, AS WELL AS AN INTERVIEW WITH
HISTORIAN STEPHEN MANSFIELD, AND OTHER BONUS FEATURES.
JOSH HAWLEY IS ONE OF THE MOST OUTSPOKEN
CHRISTIANS IN OUR GOVERNMENT,
AND YOU’LL BE INSPIRED AND CHALLENGED BY HIS WORDS
IN THIS SPECIAL DVD PROGRAM, HOW DARE WE BE QUIET.
WE’LL SEND IT TO YOU, ALONG WITH THE BOOKLET
WHAT THEY BELIEVED:
THE FAITH OF WASHINGTON, JEFFERSON, AND LINCOLN
BY D. JAMES KENNEDY, AS THANKS FOR YOUR GIFT OF $40 OR MORE.
WHEN YOU DONATE, YOU ARE HELPING TO SPREAD THE GOSPEL
AND PROMOTE THE BIBLICAL WORLDVIEW THROUGH TV,
RADIO, PODCASTS, PRINT, SOCIAL MEDIA,
OUR CENTER FOR CHRISTIAN STATESMANSHIP ON CAPITOL HILL,
THE PROVIDENCE FORUM, WHICH DEFENDS AND ADVANCES
AMERICA’S CHRISTIAN HERITAGE, AND MORE.
SO PLEASE, PARTNER WITH US AT THIS
PIVOTAL MOMENT IN AMERICAN HISTORY.
SIMPLY WRITE TO US AT CORAL RIDGE MINISTRIES:
OR CALL TOLL FREE:
OR GO ONLINE TO:
LAST MONTH I HAD THE HONOR OF ATTENDING
THE NATIONAL PRAYER SERVICE AT THE NATIONAL CATHEDRAL
IN WASHINGTON D.C.
JUST FOLLOWING PRESIDENT TRUMP’S INAUGURATION.
PERHAPS YOU HEARD ABOUT THE SERVICE,
SINCE IT BECAME NOTORIOUS IN THE DAYS FOLLOWING.
AS I SAT IN THE CATHEDRAL'S HISTORIC PEWS,
I WATCHED AN ANCIENT TRADITION
OF SEEKING GOD’S BLESSING ON OUR NATION
TRANSFORM INTO A PLATFORM FOR PROMOTING PROGRESSIVE POLITICS.
WHAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN A MOMENT OF NATIONAL UNITY
AND SPIRITUAL REFLECTION DEVOLVED
INTO A PROGRESSIVE LECTURE AIMED AT PRESIDENT TRUMP.
SINCE 1933, THE NATIONAL PRAYER SERVICE HAS SERVED
AS A SACRED MOMENT WHEN AMERICANS,
REGARDLESS OF POLITICAL AFFILIATION, COME TOGETHER
TO SEEK DIVINE GUIDANCE FOR OUR NATION'S LEADERSHIP.
HISTORICALLY, THESE SERVICES HAVE EMPHASIZED
OUR SHARED SPIRITUAL HERITAGE
AND THE TRANSCENDENT TRUTHS THAT UNITE US.
PRESIDENTS OF BOTH PARTIES HAVE PARTICIPATED
IN THIS SOLEMN TRADITION,
RECOGNIZING THAT TRUE NATIONAL UNITY MUST BE GROUNDED
IN SOMETHING HIGHER THAN PARTISAN POLITICS.
BUT EPISCOPAL BISHOP MARIANN BUDDE, WHO PRESIDED,
TOOK A RATHER DIFFERENT APPROACH.
INSTEAD OF OFFERING SPIRITUAL WISDOM OR
SEEKING GOD’S BLESSING ON OUR NATION,
SHE USED THE PULPIT TO DELIVER POINTED POLITICAL CRITICISM
OF THE PRESIDENT SEATED BEFORE HER.
SHE MADE THE EXTRAORDINARY CLAIM THAT TRUMP'S POLICIES
ARE CAUSING LGBTQ+ CHILDREN TO “FEAR FOR THEIR LIVES”
AN UNSUBSTANTIATED ACCUSATION.
SHE SUGGESTED THAT ENFORCING IMMIGRATION LAW
IS INHERENTLY UNMERCIFUL--SEEMINGLY FORGETTING
THAT UPHOLDING THE RULE OF LAW
IS A BIBLICAL PRINCIPLE AND A PRESIDENTIAL DUTY.
NEEDLESS TO SAY, THIS MINISTER OF DUBIOUS QUALIFICATION
RECEIVED FAWNING PRAISE IN THE MAINSTREAM MEDIA
FOR HER EMBARRASSING DISPLAY OF LEFTIST PROPAGANDA.
SHE WAS INVITED TO COME ON THE VIEW,
AND RACHEL MADDOW’S SHOW, AMONG OTHERS.
BUT BESIDES BEING SELF-SERVING AND
INAPPROPRIATE TO THE OCCASION,
THE BISHOP’S SERMON REFLECTED A DEEPER PROBLEM
IN MAINLINE PROTESTANTISM:
THE SUBSTITUTION OF BIBLICAL TRUTH WITH WOKE IDEOLOGY.
INSTEAD OF DRAWING FROM SCRIPTURE’S RICH TEACHINGS
ABOUT JUSTICE, MERCY, AND GOVERNMENTAL AUTHORITY,
SHE PRESENTED A SECULAR WORLDVIEW
DRESSED IN RELIGIOUS LANGUAGE.
THIS APPROACH ASSUMES THAT UNITY COMES FROM EMBRACING
CURRENT CULTURAL TRENDS RATHER THAN TIMELESS DIVINE TRUTH.
THAT’S HOW SOMEONE LIKE BUDDE PROFESSES TO BE A CHRISTIAN
YET SUPPORTS GAY MARRIAGE AND ABORTION,
AND IGNORES THE BIBLE’S CLEAR TEACHING.
IT’S WHY SHE USES EUPHEMISMS LIKE “REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH”
TO REFER TO THE SLAUGHTER OF UNBORN CHILDREN.
GROWING NUMBERS OF MAINLINE DENOMINATIONS HAVE ABANDONED
BIBLICAL TRUTH IN THE NAME OF RELEVANCE.
BUT IRONICALLY, THEIR CHURCHES HAVE DECLINED INTO IRRELEVANCE,
BECAUSE MERELY REGURGITATING THE WISDOM OF THE LOST WORLD
DOES NOT PROVIDE HOPE.
AS IN THE ISRAEL OF ELI, THE GLORY OF THE LORD HAS DEPARTED.
A NATIONAL PRAYER SERVICE SHOULD
POINT US TOWARD TRANSCENDENT TRUTH,
NOT LECTURE US ABOUT CONTEMPORARY POLITICAL POSITIONS
DRAWN FROM A GOD-REJECTING CULTURE.
IN THESE DIVIDED TIMES, WE NEED MORE THAN EVER TO BE REMINDED OF
THE TRANSCENDENT TRUTHS THAT CAN UNITE US ACROSS POLITICAL LINES.
ONLY BY TURNING TO GOD’S UNCHANGING TRUTH,
NOT THE SHIFTING WINDS OF CULTURAL FASHION,
CAN WE FIND THE UNITY OUR NATION SO DESPERATELY NEEDS.
CORAL RIDGE MINISTRIES IS
CONTENDING FOR THE FAITH AND PROCLAIMING HOPE TO THE NATION.
MANY JOIN US EACH WEEK FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY
THROUGH THIS TELEVISION PROGRAM, BUT I'D LIKE TO INVITE YOU
TO A SPECIAL IN-PERSON GATHERING OF LIKE-MINDED CHRISTIANS,
HERE IN FORT LAUDERDALE
AT CORAL RIDGE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
IT’S THE 2025 KINGDOM COME CONFERENCE,
ON APRIL 4TH THROUGH THE 6TH THIS SPRING.
THE WINDS OF CULTURE ARE BLOWING FIERCELY,
AND WE NEED TO BE ANCHORED TO THE TRUTH.
YOU’LL BE EDIFIED AND ENCOURAGED BY SPEAKERS LIKE RILEY GAINES,
WHO HAS STOOD UP FOR WOMEN AGAINST TRANS MADNESS,
ROSARIA BUTTERFIELD, WHO CAME OUT OF THE LGBTQ MOVEMENT
AND IS ONE OF THE MOST PERCEPTIVE DEFENDERS
OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH IN AMERICA,
DR. ERWIN LUTZER, AND MANY MORE.
WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT ALL OF LIFE WITH THE MIND OF CHRIST.
ONLY THEN CAN WE FAITHFULLY NAVIGATE THIS SECULAR AGE. GO TO
TO DISCOVER MORE AND TO RESERVE YOUR SPOT TODAY.
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU HERE
IN BEAUTIFUL FORT LAUDERDALE AT KINGDOM COME 2025.
NOW HERE’S A LOOK AT THE NEXT TRUTHS THAT TRANSFORM!
CHRISTIANS HAVE AN OPTION TO SHY AWAY FROM POLITICS
OR THEY CAN ENGAGE.
I BELIEVE THAT IT'S CRITICALLY IMPORTANT FOR US TO BE INVOLVED
IN ALL SPHERES OF CULTURE, INCLUDING POLITICS.
THAT'S NEXT WEEK
THIS HAS BEEN A PRODUCTION OF CORAL RIDGE MINISTRIES