BET Founder Praises Trump For Restoring Black Workers Employment, Good News Friday

BET Founder Praises Trump For Restoring Black Workers Employment:Â We call it Good News Friday because it’s a chance for David and Tim to share some good news from across the nation and around the world. In this episode, we talk about how the Navy is requiring Chaplains to have belief in God. How a Colonel who stood up for morality gets exonerated. A recent news story where BET founder praises Trump for restoring black workers employment. How Alison Harris was not charged for protesting against abortion. And more!

Air Date:Â 04/20/2018

On-air Personalities: David Barton, Rick Green, and Tim Barton

WallBuilders | American historical events, founding fathers, historical documents, books, videos, CDs, tapes, David Barton’s speaking schedule.
U.S. Navy Rejects Secular Humanist Chaplain”s Application
BET founder: Trump’s economy is bringing black workers back into the labor force
Air Force colonel”s career restored after same-sex marriage discrimination incident
Alabama Pro-Life Sidewalk Counselor Wins Case After Getting Thrown In Cuffs
The Bible Bee
Coupons: Use promo code WBL17 to receive 10% off your entire order on ALL WallBuilders Store Products!!
Helpful links:

Listen:

Download: Click Here

Transcription note: Â As a courtesy for our listeners’ enjoyment, we are providing a transcription of this podcast. Transcription will be released shortly. However, as this is transcribed from a live talk show, words and sentence structure were not altered to fit grammatical, written norms in order to preserve the integrity of the actual dialogue between the speakers. Additionally, names may be misspelled or we might use an asterisk to indicate a missing word because of the difficulty in understanding the speaker at times. We apologize in advance.

Faith And The Culture

Rick:

Welcome to the intersection of faith and culture. This is WallBuilders Live where we talk about the day’s hottest topics on policy, faith, and the culture. Of course, we’re always talking about those things from a particular perspective. Here it is – it’s a biblical, historical, and constitutional perspective. Just think about it, you put those three things in place if that’s where you get your perspective and you’re learning you’re probably going to get to the right answer for these cultural issues that we talk about here on WallBuilders Live.

Our conversation today is with David Barton, he’s America’s premier historian. And Tim Barton, national speaker and pastor. My name’s Rick Green, I am a former Texas legislator.

Today is Friday, so it’s Good News Friday. Every Friday we try to bring you the good news from around the country and, frankly, around the world. Sometimes we get it from outside the nation as well. But the good news is not being reported in the major media. It’s a great reminder to all of us that the system works if we work it, that God is still doing great things in our country and that we need to be involved.

You can find out how to do that by visiting WallBuilders.com. Some fantastic tools there for you to be able to equip yourself, and your family, and the folks that God”s put in your life. Make sure that they know how important it is to be a good citizen and do our duty. David, Tim, looking forward today. I know you’ve got a lot of good news to share with us today. David, go ahead.

Let”s Start With a Definition

David:

Let me just do a definition real quick. I’m going to read you something, you tell me what I’m defining. Here, I’m reading this right out of the dictionary, it says, “In its most comprehensive sense includes a belief in the Being and perfection of God and the revelation of His will to man, and man’s obligation to obey His commands in a state of reward and punishment, and in man’s accountability to God. And also true godliness or piety of life with the practice of all the moral duties. It therefore comprehends theology as a system of doctrines or principles as well as practical piety.” What did I just define?

Rick:

Wow. Ethics.

David:

No.

Rick:

Morality

David:

No.

Rick:

Education.

David:

No. Help me out, Tim.

Tim:

Yeah, I was kind of leaning toward a morality position. I don’t know.

David:

That is the definition of the word religion. Religion, in its most comprehensive sense, includes a belief in the Being and perfections of God, and the revelation of His will to man, and man’s obligation– and on it goes. Now notice this, the practice of moral duties without a belief in a divine law giver, and without reference to God’s will or commands, is not religion. Okay? So, that’s the definition. Alright.

There Has to Be Some Level of God

Tim:

I would say it depends on who’s defining that definition. Because I would think you could have religious convictions that would differ. It would just depend on what God you worship. But there has to be some level of God.

David:

Okay.

Tim:

Right?

David:

This is the definition of religion that we used in America for about 150 years. So, this goes–

Tim:

So, we”re going back to Webster”s 1828?

David:

We’re going back to Webster’s original dictionary.

Tim:

Okay.

David:

So, Webster gave us Article 1, Section 8, Paragraph 8, of the Constitution. This is the first dictionary that was done, comprehensive dictionary in America. That’s the definition and we still have Webster’s Dictionary today. Although, in recent years, they’ve rewritten some of the definitions.

Tim:

A lot of edits, a lot of abridgements–

David:

Right.

Tim:

–a lot of changes. Sure.

They Can”t Lead You in Prayer to a God that Doesn”t Exist

David:

But when you take that definition, and that’s what the courts used for years, that leads to good news. And that is that the Navy rejects having secular humanist chaplains. You said, “Wait a second, “secular humanist” is not a religion. There is no God. There is no– It’s all about man. You can’t do that as a religion.” And so, amazingly, the Navy has done a throwback to the actual more narrow definition of religion rather than saying atheism is a religion. Because in the last several years they’ve said anything you believe is your religion. Well, not anymore. The Navy is saying, “No, we’re going back to more traditional definitions.”

Tim:

And I would say more specifically when it comes to the issue of chaplains. Because chaplains are supposed to help lead you in that religious behavior, but chaplains are also supposed to lead you in prayers, etc.. And so if you are a secular humanist, you have nobody to pray to. If you are an atheist, you have nobody to pray to. So, why would you need someone to help lead you in that behavior? So, I would even contend that, I think you could argue, those are religions in the sense of it’s a religious belief.

But if, in this sense, we are defining religion by there has to be a belief in a deity, right, something beyond you. Then, in this sense, that’s very interesting the Navy comes down and says, “Look, if you don’t believe there’s a God then you don’t need a chaplain because they can’t lead you in prayers to a god that doesn’t exist.”

David:

Well, going back to the last part of Webster’s definition it says, “The practice of moral duties without a belief in a Divine law giver, and without reference to His will or commands, is not religion.” And so that’s really kind of where the Navy has come down on this is, “Hey, you might be a good person, you might have a good moral code, but that doesn’t mean it’s religion just because you have a moral code or a set of beliefs.”

Tim:

That’s so interesting the Navy went there. Now, from an apologetics worldview perspective, we would certainly say that a secular humanist, or an atheist, that is a religious viewpoint because that is the guiding religion for them. But again, in this situation where the Navy is saying, “If you don’t believe there’s a God you don’t need a chaplain because you don’t need someone to help lead you in prayers to, or in obedience, recognition of, a higher force that you don’t think exists.”

David:

So, it’s great news that the Navy is headed in a more–

Tim:

That is an incredible–

David:

–strong religious direction.

Tim:

That”s an incredible position they’ve taken.

Rick:

Very quick break, guys. We’ll be back with Tim Barton bringing us some good news. Stay with us. You’re listening to WallBuilders Live.

Moment From American History

This is Tim Barton from WallBuilders with another moment in American history. America is a special and unique nation. The average length for a constitution in other countries is only 17 years. But we’ve had ours for over two centuries. Our 4 percent of the world’s population produces 24 percent of the world’s gross domestic product and every year we produce more inventions and technology than the other 96 percent of the world combined.

In 1831 Alexis de Tocqueville of France came to America, traveled the country, and in his famous book, “Democracy in America” reported, Â “The position of the Americans is therefore quite exceptional. It may be believed that no Democratic people will ever be placed in a similar one.”

This is the origin of the phrase “American exceptionalism” and affirms that America is unique because of the distinctive ideas on which we’ve been based. Including in inalienable rights, individuals, and limited government, and the importance of religion, and morality. For more information about American exceptionalism go to WallBuilders.com.

David”s Turn for the Questions?

Rick:

Welcome back to WallBuilders Live, Good News Friday today. Tim Barton is up and I believe he has some questions for his dad.

Tim:

Yeah, on break I was saying, “Hey, guys, get ready I’ve got some trivia coming for you.” And Rick said, “Tim, David’s always asking us trivia. You just need to turn it on him–“

Rick:

Yeah.

Tim:

“–so finally you and I aren”t in a position having to answer and feel dumb we don’t know his trick question.”

Rick:

Right. Right.

Tim:

So. Okay, but guys, let me guys let me just throw you a softball here. So, if there was an individual who would have–

Rick:

Tim, you still said “guys”, so you’re still putting me on the spot.

Tim:

Well, no, no, no–

Rick:

I thought we had a deal, man.

Tim:

I”m going to help you. I’m going to help you, okay? It’s like a two part question. I”m going to give you the first part.

Rick:

Alright.

Tim:

The no brainer. And then it’s– Okay, so, guys, if there was a, let’s say, a television network where somebody was on–

Do I Get a Bell?

Rick:

Wait– do I need a bell to ding if I want to answer first? Is there like a button to push?

Tim:

So, this is the great thing about being the teacher in the class is I get to call on whoever I want. Right.

Rick:

Okay.

Tim:

So, the kid in the corner going, “Oh, oh, oh, raising, shaking, his hand.” I’m like, “Hey, now wait a second, I”m to call on Rick first and then you get to go.”

Rick:

So, if it”s easy an one you’re calling on me. If it’s a tough one you’re calling and your dad?

Tim:

That”s it.

Rick:

Okay. I”m with you.

Tim:

Rick, you just tell me when you’re ready to answer and then I’ll be like, okay.

Rick:

I like this.

Guess a Television Network

Tim:

So, what television network do you think– there was an individual, there was a black leader, who was on talking about the positive things Trump was doing related to the economy. And this black leader, his political views, actually line up with the network he was on. So, dad, we”ll start with you, what network was this where there was a black leader who has ideology lined up with the network? What network was this guy on talking about how good Trump was doing?

*crickets*

*laughter*

Tim:

He was looking on his computer for that one finding crickets.

David:

Finding crickets. Okay, so it’s a setup. So, obviously it”s not Fox News.

Tim:

No, it”s not Fox.

David:

That would be the first guess. And, the way you say “black” and “network” would lead me either in the direction– well, BET would be the one with a black on a network. Is–

Tim:

Rick, I think he read this article already.

Rick:

Uh-oh.

Tim:

I think he read the article because he got it right.

Rick:

He’s been sneaking into your stack.

Tim:

Well, we share a stack and he actually, he pulled his list first, and so he probably saw this.

David:

Now, wait a minute, why couldn”t I have known that on the clues you gave?

Tim:

Yeah.

I Don”t Know Which Was Worse

Rick:

You know, I don”t know what was worse – years of it being just David and me and I was always stuck with his tough questions and nobody to talk to, Tim. Or now you toss a question and he knows the answer.

David:

He set us up because he made it really clear that it was not going to be a conservative network.

Tim:

Oh, oh, but hey, wait, Rick, here’s the actual answer – it was not the BET network. It was in fact the founder of the BET network–

David:

Oh, wow.

Rick:

On another program.

Tim:

–Robert Johnson, who was on– Hey, Rick, what would be a like, it’s not NBC, but it’s not like “A” or “B”, what would be the other?

Rick:

Maybe, MSNBC?

Tim:

No, no, just one–

Rick:

No, oh, oh.

David:

He told you it’s not “A”.

Tim:

So, it”s not Alpha, it”s not Bravo.

Rick:

I can”t win.

Tim:

It is. It’s something else NBC.

CNBC

David:

Use that phonetic alphabet, Rick.

Rick:

C—NBC.

Tim:

CNBC.

Rick:

Okay, okay.

Tim:

Woo.

Rick:

Do I get any points for getting it the second time?

Tim:

That was a little harder than I thought it should have been, but we’ll just keep moving. So, yes. So, actually Robert Johnson, who’s the founder of BET, really cool. He’s the nation’s first black billionaire, which, I think, is fascinating. Had no idea he was the first one.

Black Unemployment Lowest Since the 1970″s

Tim:

But he was on CNBC and he said, “Look, when you look at the economy, the fact that the black unemployment rate is the lowest it’s ever been since this number was first tracked back in the 1970s–“

Rick:

Wow.

Tim:

He said, “Trump has to be doing something right because of what it’s doing for the black community in this economy.” And that is a huge statement coming from a guy who has been a lifelong Democrat coming out and acknowledging that the president is doing something beneficial for the black community. Because for most of media on the other side they are so vitriolic in their opposition to Trump, so hateful, and anything he does is bad, and they won’t recognize positive things. And granted, not everything he does is positive, there’s plenty of things to pick on. But in this situation–

Rick:

I want to see the host that was interviewing him, I want to see them squirming.

Tim:

Oh my goodness, yes.

Rick;

As he”s saying all of these positive things about Turmp. I bet that was great.

Tim:

In fairness, he was really talking about the economy. Because I’m sure there were other parts of the segment where– and I’m sure the host wanted to point out other things where Trump wasn’t good. I didn’t see it, right, I’m just reading the article.

But in this article it does have some of their comments back and forth. But it is, it”s so cool that you have someone who, again, a lifelong Democrat, on CNBC, the founder of BET network, saying, “Hey, the economy is actually very beneficial for blacks right now.” Which it is, you just don’t hear many people from the other side saying that. So, this is a pretty cool piece of good news.

Rick:

Well, I appreciate you having a test and I wish I had done better. I can’t believe David got his question right.

Tim:

It was only partially right–

Rick:

Yeah, yeah.

Tim:

–because it wasn’t the BET network, it was CNBC. But he actually was way closer than I thought he was going to be.

Rick:

Yeah, and I was way further off than you thought I was going to be.

Take a quick break. We’ll be right back. Stay with us. More good news right here on WallBuilders Live.

Constitution Alive Use promo code WBL17 to receive 10% off your entire order!

Constitution Alive

Have you ever wanted to learn more about the United States Constitution but just felt like, man, the classes are boring or it’s just that old language from 200 years ago or I don’t know where to start? People want to know. But it gets frustrating because you don’t know where to look for truth about the Constitution either.

Well,, we’ve got a special program for you available now called Constitution Alive with David Barton and Rick Green. It’s actually a teaching done on the Constitution at Independence Hall in the very room where the Constitution was framed. We take you both to Philadelphia, the Cradle of Liberty and Independence Hall and to the WallBuilders” library where David Barton brings the history to life to teach the original intent of our Founding Fathers.

We call it the QuickStart guide to the Constitution because in just a few hours through these videos you will learn the Citizen’s Guide to America’s Constitution. Â You’ll learn what you need to do to help save our Constitutional Republic. It’s fun! It’s entertaining! And it’s going to inspire you to do your part to preserve freedom for future generations. It’s called Constitution Alive with David Barton and Rick Green. You can find out more information on our website now at WallBuilders.com.

“1 John 4:9-16: “In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent His only Son into the world, so that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and His love is perfected in us.

“By this we know that we abide in Him and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. So, we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.” 1 John 4:9-16″

The National Bible Bee

Rick:

Welcome back to WallBuilders Live on this Good News Friday. That person you were just listening to quote scripture was Haverly Kersh, 17 years old competing at the Bible Bee, National Bible Bee. By the way, that website is BibleBee.org. Go check that out. Your family will enjoy it. That was not reading, that was memorization.

And you just– it’s like a thousand verses that these kids memorize each year for this competition. And what a great way to get God’s word in your heart. They’re not just rote memorization going on here. They’re actually studying it, getting an understanding of it, and when you watch them, which you can see with the Bible Bee Game Show or you can go to the competition and you can watch them, it’s incredible to see their eyes light up as they recite God’s words.

So, check it out – BibleBee.org. Great organization for you to get involved in.

Back with David and Tim now. Guys, more good news and I think David’s up next. And I hope there’s not a test this time.

David:

Okay, I’ll let you off the hook, Rick. No test this time.

Rick:

No test. Unless you want to test Tim. That’s Okay.

Which Branch Has Been Most Hostile?

David:

Well, maybe I’ll give you a little test.

Military stuff over the last three, four, five, years as we have looked at different branches of the military who have gone after open Christians who expressed Christian beliefs, which branch has been the most hostile toward Christian expression?

Tim:

I would initially say the Navy, possibly the Air Force depending on how far back we”re looking, what years we”re looking at. I know Mikey Weinstein, we”ve talked about him many times, but he has a group that is very anti Christian, tries to move any kind of religious expression. So, he was Air Force and I know Navy had a little influence because of that, but probably Air Force.

David:

Air Force has been the one that has punished more airman than any other branches and gone after them.

Rick:

That”s where they kind of started too, right? That was where he first started suing and–

David:

Well, Mikey Weinstein was Air Force, was Air Force Academy. His own son, I believe, as I recall, was at that the Air Force Academy. And that’s where he started lashing out against religious expression claiming those coercion. That was back particularly in the Obama administration and he used to brag about how he could call the Pentagon and within an hour have an activity shut down. He really, on the Air Force side, was very, very, aggressive although other branches as well. But he had more success on the Air Force side than any other.

Now, in the last 18 months, he’s become more of a silent name. I don’t recall having called his name since Trump has been in office. I do not recall anything where that Mikey Weinstein has won. And I will say that in the last year of Obama’s administration it started turning the other direction. Groups like First Liberty and Congress people like Vicky Hartzler, Joe Pitts, so many other congressmen, started weighing in on this. Randy Forbes actually was calling four stars into his office and saying, “What the heck are you doing here?”

And so there were congressmen that started weighing in very actively. So, in the last year Obama’s administration we began seeing changes in the Air Force where they were much more reflective of what it had been. And that is we do appreciate and we do allow religious expression, but that has changed.

Guilty of Discrimination?

David:

One of those they got nailed in the Air Force was a highly decorated Air Force colonel. He was on the verge of being made a general, he has all these commendations, flew combat missions in the War on Terror, etc..

What happened was underneath him was a master sergeant who was retiring and Colonel Leland Bohannon declined to sign a certificate of spouse appreciation for the master sergeants same sex spouse. From a conscience standpoint he said, “Look, I can’t sign that certificate of appreciation, but here’s what I’m going to do. I’m a Colonel, I’m going to go get a two star general to sign that for you. Which is much, much, higher than I am.” And he did. He got a two star general to sign that certificate of appreciation, but he didn’t. But he got somebody higher.

Well, the Air Force nails him and says he’s guilty of discrimination and suddenly he’s no longer being promoted, he’s no longer going anywhere. So, they nailed him for that and now it’s gone through the appeals process. And now First Liberty and Kelly Shackelford, in that means Mike Berry, and Hiram Sassen, all these guys get involved.

And now completely reverses, goes the other direction, he’s completely exonerated. The punishment for religious beliefs is removed, the secretary of the Air Force, Heather Wilson, announced that the review board ruled in favor of the Colonel. And she sent a letter to Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler saying that he did not unlawfully discriminate when he declined to sign the certificate.

No Longer Being Punished for Moral Beliefs

David:

So, that’s really good news that you’re no longer being punished in the Air Force for having traditional moral convictions and values that reflect something biblical.

This is like we’ve seen so many of these conscience cases where you actually got somebody to do what the guy wanted. But because he wouldn’t personally do it – whether that was clerks issuing same sex marriage license, or whether it was a photographer sending him to a different photographer, but not personally wanting to do it. They go back and nail the people who actually gave them someone who would do it even better. But they want to coerce people into agreeing, and endorsing, and validating, their lifestyle.

And now the Air Force has come out on the other side saying, “No, there was no discrimination for him not to do that.” Which is good news.

Rick:

Alright, quick break. We”ve got one more segment of good news today. Stay with us folks, you’re listening to WallBuilders Live.

Leadership Training Program

Rick:

Hey, friends! We’ve got a great program to share with you today. It”s the WallBuilders Leadership Training Program and it’s an opportunity for 18 to 25 year olds to come spend two weeks diving into the original documents we’re always talking about here on WallBuilders Live.

Tim, you’ve already been doing this a couple of summers and seen the results of young people coming to this program. We’re going to see more of them coming this year.

Tim:

Yeah, Rick, it”s something that”s been cool to see the transformation with young people coming in. The emphasis, for us, largely is a pursuit of truth. We have a culture that doesn’t know what truth is. We don’t know what biblical truth is, or constitutional truth, or the American heritage that we have. And so we really dive into original documents and say, “Well, what did they actually write? What did they actually do? Not just what did somebody say, what is actually true, and the truth is what’s transformational.

David:

Yeah, guys. This really is a remarkable opportunity. And for those who want to spend time with us and spend time in the original documents, this is a great program. So,, if you’re from 18 to 25, or Â Â someone who’s 18 to 25, send them to sign up for one of our three sessions this summer at WallBuilders.com/leadershiptraining.

Moment From American History

This is Tim Barton from WallBuilders with another moment from American history. Many today assert that religion is something private, that has no place in the public square, and that it is incompatible with government.

The Founding Fathers believed exactly the opposite. They held that religion was absolutely necessary in order to maintain our free system of government. For example, John Adams declared, “We have no government armed with power, capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion.”

And signer of the declaration, Benjamin Rush, similarly affirmed, “Without religion there can be no virtue and without virtue there can be no liberty and liberty is the object and life of all Republican governments.” The Founding Fathers understood that limited government required public morality from the people. And that public morality was produced by the Christian religion. For more information about the Founding Fathers views on religion in public life go to WallBuilders.com.

Rick:

We’re back on WallBuilders Live. Thanks for staying with us on this Good News Friday. Even though we’re going into our final segment of good news today there is more good news on the website at WallBuildersLive.com. Just go to that archive section, you can click on previous Friday programs if you missed those, and get that good news as well. Tim Barton is up next, Tim?

Tim:

Alright, guys, this is from Alabama and this is related to a court case. There was a lady, Alison Harris, who is a pro-life advocate. There are pro-life advocates who would stand outside of a– well, it”s called Women’s Center for Reproductive Alternatives. Ultimately, it was an abortion facility. And so they would stand out on the sidewalk and actually, they would use megaphones. They”re beside a four lane highway and they would use megaphones talking at people who were going into this abortion facility.

Abortion Facility Protests

Tim:

And so the abortion facility, of course, is not happy about it. So, they would call the police officers out there and file protests, and so police officers would come out. Well, because they were using loudspeakers, police officers would come out and they would frequently test to make sure that– and I said “loud speakers” really, it”s megaphones, but something to project the volume. But police officers would come out, they would check the megaphones to make sure that the megaphones did not exceed the decibel limit allowed inside that city perimeter, and so was cleared every time.

Well, somehow, this abortion facility was able to get a warrant request for this lady, Alison Harris, for what she was doing using a megaphone. So, police come they arrest her, there’s a court case. Well, this was 10 months ago. So, this has been going on a little while, this fight.

So, finally it comes down, the Thomas More Society is the one that represented her. It came down that she was found not guilty of disorderly conduct. And they said, “Look, we expect that they will continue to appeal this.” This is an organization largely funded by the ACLU. They said, “We think the ACLU will take this case and keep going with it.” But the good news is, at this point, that she has been found not guilty, she’s exonerated of these charges against her.

What’s fascinating to me though as I’m reading this article is, so the abortion facility came against her because she used a megaphone. They said she’s creating a disorder, she’s creating a disturbance, it’s disorderly conduct. However, on the other side of the highway where they are, they use cow bells–

David:

Now, wait a minute, time-out. So, the abortion folks, the pro-life folks, are on one side of the highway and the abortion clinic is on the other side of the highway?

Tim:

Now, it’s not real clear in this article. They’re not on the same sidewalk, this is all unfolding.

David:

Got it.

Tim:

So, I don’t know how they are across the street – I haven’t looked it up on a map to see where the map is. Nonetheless, they are not beside the clinic as this is unfolding.

David:

Got it.

How Can They Call Disorderly Conduct?

Tim:

There are across some street, but the clinic uses cowbells, car horns, and loud speakers from their facility, to drown out the use of megaphones. Now wait a second, if they’re creating that much noise, how in the world can you file a protest for disorderly conduct for someone using a megaphone? Which possibly is why the judge looked at this and said, “This is ridiculous. Get rid of this case. We”re not doing it.”

David:

Well, if you’re drowning out the other sound you have to be louder than the other sound. Tim:

To be able to drown it out, right.

David:

You can”t drown it out if you’re not–