California Governor Jerry Brown Vetoes Bill to Force Christian Schools to Hire Abortion Activists, National Monuments, Pledge of Allegiance, and In God We Trust victories and more!   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 Ten Commandments monument in Maryland County will stay; victories for the Pledge of Allegiance and In God We Trust; California Gov Jerry Brown vetoes a bill to force Christian schools to hire abortion activists, two national studies confirm common sense messages on sex, sex education, same-sex parenting, and more!

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

Air Date: 12/22/2017

Listen:

Download: Click Here

Transcription note:  As a courtesy for our listeners’ enjoyment, we are providing a transcription of this podcast.  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 the culture.  This is WallBuilders Live! Where we”€™re talking about the hottest topics of the day in policy, and faith, and all these different areas. But we”€™re looking at them from a specifically Biblical, historical, and Constitutional perspective. That way we get the right position on those issues as we discuss them.

We’re here with David Barton. He’s America’s premier historian and our founder here at WallBuilders. Also, Tim Barton, president of WallBuilders and a national speaker and pastor. And my name is Rick Green I’m a former Texas state legislator.

You can find out more at WallBuildersLive.com. In fact, today’s a Good News Friday. So, we’re going to be sharing a lot of good news with you over the next 30 minutes or so. But, you can get more of that at that website, WallBuildersLive.com, by going back to some of our programs over the last few weeks.

And then, also visit WallBuilders.com where you can get some incredible materials for yourself and your family – your Sunday school class. There are some video series different things in there that you can share over a 10-12 week period and really educate and equip a lot of the folks in your church. So, check out some of those things at WallBuildersLive.com.

You Can Always Use Some Good News

Rick:

David, Tim, looking forward to today. I can always use some good news. But, towards the end of the week you especially sometimes need some good news depending on how the week went. So, our listeners out there I know look forward to this. Where are we going to start, David?

David:

We’re going to Mary’s land, or Maryland, or named after Queen Mary.  So, we’re going to Maryland. And in Maryland, they had a Ten Commandments Monument. And by the way, Rick, were you still in the Texas legislature when the Ten Commandments controversy was going?

Rick:

Seems like it had actually just finished if I remember right. I remember all that, I remember it happening, I can”€™t remember if I was in the House when that was happening, or had already been gone, or it was before. But, it was right around the same time.

David:

Well, you remember the Capitol grounds, how big they are, and there was this little rose-colored marble monument off on the side. It was — what was it, probably five and a half feet high, maybe three feet wide, and one of maybe 16 or 18 monuments? And do I recall that the acreage around the state capitol was 81 acres or something of the sort?

Rick:

Right.

“€œThe Texas Ten Commandments Can Stay Right There”€

David:

And so 16 or so monuments. And what happened was, an atheist ACLU guy walked by and he says, “€œI’m offended when I see that. Every time I walk by there and I see that, I’m offended. I feel like I’m an outsider in my own country.”€

And so he followed suit and went all the way to the Supreme Court and the Supreme Court said, “€œNo, the Texas Ten Commandments can stay right there.”€

Rick:

And by the way, I’m remembering now, Perry was named as the defendant, right?

David:

That”€™s right. Governor Perry.

Rick:

So, it would have been either when I was in the House or after because he would have been governor when I — yeah. So, yeah, maybe it was. Beautiful monument, by the way!

People who haven”€™t seen it, they should go google Texas Capitol Ten Commandments.   It’s awesome — I’ve taken pictures with people standing by it and it’s a beautiful, beautiful monument.

Just Because You Get Offended Does Not Mean it’s Unconstitutional

David:

It is a beautiful monument and it’s really cool. But, it is one of many. And so, there are so many ways to walk around the Capitol and the fact that he saw that and got offended. And the Supreme Court said, “€œBy the way, just because you get offended does not mean it’s unconstitutional.”€

And so that really set a different tone in America. That now, just because you’re offended does not mean that it has to come down. Anybody can be offended over anything.

Rick:

Wait, wait, wait, David. I thought the Declaration said, “€œLife, liberty, and to never be offended.”€ Is that not an accurate quote?

Tim:

That’s actually not from the Declaration. That’s the Constitution, Rick. So, you were just confusing them.

Rick:

So there’s a Constitutional–

David:

That”€™s right.

Rick;

–protection to never be offended. I’m going to go look that up. I haven’t found that yet.

Tim:

Well, it actually, so, it’s based in Biblical roots. It”€™s in 2nd Judges which is right before Hesitations.

Rick:

Gotcha.

David:

Wait a minute – I thought it was in the book of Noah. Is it actually?

Rick:

Yeah.

Made Up Nonsense

Tim:

No, it’s 2nd Judges. And for all of our listeners, all of this is made up nonsense.

Rick:

Yeah, yeah.

Tim:

There is no book of 2nd Judges, or Hesitations, or Noah. And it’s not in the Constitution and it’s not in the Declaration. All of it’s made up nonsense. And yet, people believe it–

Rick:

Yep.

Tim:

–even though it’s not real.

David:

Now, I’m pretty sure that the Constitutional law professors at the University of California taught it this way.

Tim:

Well, yeah, if you look at Berkeley, somebody at Berkeley was taught that. And you’re right, there’s a lot of universities where they”€™re teaching this is nonsense, but it’s still nonsense.

Rick:

I’m actually shocked that what you read was a Supreme Court decision saying you don’t have a Constitutional right to not be offended. Because we often hear judges almost say the exact opposite. So, this is very good news. So, go ahead, sorry, I jumped in on you, bro.

That Was What The Court Said More Than a Decade Ago

David:

But see, you”€™ve got to remember that was what the court said more than a decade ago. So, this is the court decision back in 2005, alright. So, let’s fast forward a little bit. Because that monument that was put up at the Texas Capitol was part of all the monuments that were being put up with the Ten Commandments movie. If you remember Cecil B de Mille and Charlton Heston Ten Commandments, they went across the country, Yul Brynner, and others and they were putting up these monuments of the Ten Commandments.

And so, they are all over the country. They look the same, they have the same kind of rose-colored marble, the same kind of inscriptions on them, all carving looks about the same. And they had one of these over in Maryland. And in Maryland, there in Allegheny County, they had one of these Ten Commandments that”€™s been up since 1957. Which goes back to the Ten Commandments movie, which is close to the Texas Capitol and it looked just like the Texas monument.

And guess what, a guy walked by it and he was offended because it was the Ten Commandments. And so guess what the court does with that? “€œWe’ve already dealt with this. You don’t have a Constitutional right to not be offended.”€

And so it stays.  By the way, that’s the same reason the Oklahoma monument stayed, it”€™s the same reason that the Arkansas monument stayed. Just because you don’t like it doesn’t mean that you get to take it down.

And so this was called the offended observer. But, now it”€™s still having an effect. Even now, most recently in Maryland, as they get to keep their Ten Commandments monument.

Pledge of Allegiance Case

David:

And by the way, one more lawsuit to mention before we go to break. Comes out of an Ohio federal court and it involves Michael Newdow. Anybody remember Michael Newdow?

Rick:

Oh yeah. The Pledge of Allegiance case.

David:

Pledge of Allegiance case that originally the Ninth Circuit — or originally in California. they said, “€œYou can’t say the pledge.”€ And then when the Ninth Circuit, etc.  Remember Michael Newdow was an atheist. And so, he went and got his law degree so he could sue on all of these things.

He originally did not have that, but, as he pointed out, he realized he could never win his battle in the legislature. So, he wanted to take it to the courts where he thought he could win and he did win there in California. You can’t say “€œunder God”€ in the Pledge, etc.  

And so, Newdow got involved in law just to be able to sue all the God expressions that are out there. So, he has had a chain of cases suing God expressions and, so far, he has a perfect record.

He is a winning attorney if you are on our side. He wins for us every time he gets in court. That’s not who he’s actually fighting for, but he loses all of his cases.

Tim:

So, by “€œperfect record”€ you mean, “€œ0 for every time.”€

David:

O for every time. Which means we win every time he goes to court. So–

Tim:

So, he’s the best player in our team.

One Nation Under God

David:

He is. He’s the best player in our team. And so, what happened was, in Ohio, he challenged the national motto which, um, let”€™s see “€œOne Nation Under God,”€  right?

Rick:

Yes.

Tim:

“€œIn God We Trust”€

David:

Yeah, I was waiting to see who was going to do that.

Rick:

So, Pledge of Allegiance is “€œone nation under God.”€ National motto is–

David:

I was waiting to see who was going to get that.

Tim:

Well, my eyes were raised thinking, “€œAre you serious or is this a joke?”€ – I’m not sure.

David:

I’m just checking because he sues both of them.

Rick:

Did he sue and call the national motto “€œOne Nation Under God”€?

David:

No, no, no, no, no. I was just baiting to see what you were going to do with it.

Rick:

Oh.

Suing the National Motto

David:

So, he sues the national motto, “€œIn God We Trust.”€  And he’s done that multiple times before. So, the court threw it out and they actually threw it out with a pretty stern rebuke. And they told him, basically, “€œStop this nonsense.”€

Because, having a national motto that says, “€œIn God We Trust”€ as they pointed out, it burdens neither his free exercise nor his free speech rights because he wasn’t compelled to do anything.

And then he just made a statement. So, he’s not, it can’t burden him with any of his Constitutional rights because he’s not compelled to participate in it. He’s not compelled to believe it. He just doesn’t like it being said. So, you now have a federal court that has come down again with Michael Newdow having lost another case.

But, he is appealing this to the Sixth Federal Circuit Court Of Appeals out of Ohio. He keeps suing, but he keeps losing. And the good news is that we keep winning case, after case, after case, on these issues of national religious expression. Whether they are Ten Commandments or whether they are the national motto “€œIn God We Trust.”€

Rick:

Stay with us folks. We”€™ll be right back. You’re listening to WallBuilders Live on Good News Friday.

American History

This is Tim Barton from WallBuilders with another moment in American history. In 1963 the United States Supreme Court decided that voluntary Bible reading could no longer be part of the school day.

Founding Father Benjamin Rush, known as the father of public schools under the Constitution, pointedly warned that the Bible should be read in schools in preference to all other books.

He specifically warned that if America ever ceases promoting Biblical principles in schools then we would waste so much time and money and punishing crimes. It takes so little pains to prevent them.

He was right, we now have seven million Americans in prison on probation or on parole. The United States has the highest incarceration rate in the world. Sadly, this was unnecessary but is the result of no longer teaching the morals of the Bible in schools.

For more information about the Founding Fathers views on the positive impact of the Bible in schools go to WallBuilders.com.

Rick:

Welcome back to WallBuilders Live on this Good News Friday. And so far, some great news on a federal lawsuit regarding the national motto. And, David, Tim, I know sometimes people hear these good news stories and they think, “€œWell, you know, I’m not an attorney.”€ Or, “€œI’m not in the courtroom.”€ Or, “€œI’m not in Congress. I can’t be part of good news.”€   

Turning Around an Entire School Board

Just take the national motto and you can actually help get those posters in your local schools. Or, if your school board thinks it’s unconstitutional to have “€œIn God We Trust”€ on the walls in their schools, take David Barton’s book, Original Intent, get those school board members to read it. We turned around an entire school board in my old legislative district just by giving the president of the school board your book, David, Original Intent. Totally changed his perspective. Now he’s actually a district judge–

David:

Wow.

Rick:

–so that philosophy and teaching him that history really helped. Anyway, there’s just– things people can do at home right to be part of getting that national motto out there. And, Tim, you call it a “€œGod consciousness.”€ It helps to have that hanging on a wall in a school. It reminds those kids, “€œThat’s the basis of who we are.”€

Tim:

It’s something that our friend, State Rep Jim Dodson, up in Arkansas did legislation to pass that says, “€œHey, this is something legal to hang in every single classroom.”€ That no teacher can say, “€œHey, I don’t want that in my classroom.”€

No, this is — by state law, if someone requests for the national motto, if someone hands them a national motto and says, “€œI want this up in this classroom,”€ they are required, by law, to have that in the classroom. And they can’t say “€œno”€ if someone presents or asks or requests or whatever the case is.

But, it”€™s just really positive because, and Rick, as you mentioned, it does kind of bring back that God consciousness and God-awareness. Which is certainly what we need to know. There’s something beyond us to help us make better decisions and right behavior which is why the Founding Fathers were such big God kind of peo–.

Now, I was going to say they were big God people, but really they believed it was something that was natural revelation around them. It was obvious that we didn’t create ourselves and therefore, there had to be a Creator.

A God Consciousness

Tim:

And so, for them, it was even a much bigger deal than just to having it written somewhere that made them God-conscious. They were God conscious because of creation. But, the God consciousness certainly directed a lot of their behavior and actions.

Which, speaking of that directing behavior and actions, the article I have is actually dealing with reports from the Center for Disease Control. And we reference them for many different issues talking about how you can look at the Center for Disease Control, and it’s a good place that you can go to judge the tree by the fruits.

And so, we’ve talked about it with different kind of sexual behaviors that, if you look at what it produces in people’s life, you can know that’s not the way you should do it. And Center for Disease Control is a place that certainly outlines that. One of these outline, and to me, this was shocking as I read it because it certainly was not what I expected. But, what they identified is that, based on all of the studies they’ve been doing, when there was a Youth Risk Behavior Survey, it showed that six out of 10 high school students say they have not had sex.

Now, that’s actually more that have not had sex than I would have imagined. I would have thought it was at least 50 percent had had sex.

Rick:

Yeah.

The Lowest Number of Sexually Active People Since 1991

Tim:

But, what they point out is this is the lowest number — or the highest number of people that have not had sex, the lowest number of sexually active people they’ve ever had since they’ve been doing these studies since 1991. This is, so, — now we couldn’t get into talking about semantics of how they define sex and how, in this culture, there’s a lot of things they don’t think could be defined as sex.

Which, in previous generations, we would have said, “€œNo, no, no, that’s sexual activity you’re doing.”€ So, we could get into semantics, but I’m going to choose to celebrate the fact that six out of 10 high school kids are saying, “€œHey, we don’t engage in sex. We’ve not had sex.”€

And that is the highest number that they’ve had since they’ve begun this study back in 1991. And the interesting thing that is pointed out in this article is that, back in the 90s, they began increasing the distribution of condoms, increasing sex education, thinking that this would prevent the sexually transmitted disease, and prevent teen pregnancy. And what they discovered is it actually increased teen pregnancy and increased sexually transmitted disease.

What they point out now in this article is that we’re giving out as many, if not more, condoms now, and doing more sex education, than we’ve ever done before. And yet, somehow it’s not producing that increase of sexual activity and behavior which is really quite astounding.

So, for me, this is phenomenal news. I don’t know where necessarily they’re hearing the message of not engaging in the sexual behavior, and maybe abstaining until marriage or abstaining until whatever. I don’t know what they’re being told. But, the fact that there are six out of 10 high school students that are not is really encouraging to me based on what I thought. Now, if you didn’t know anything, you go, “€œWait, four out of ten high school students are?”€

That might seem really terrible, and in reality, that is not a good deal, right. That’s definitely not the numbers we want to see. But, the fact that this is the lowest number of sexually active students since 1991 is incredible. So, this is really good news in spite of the fact the numbers are still way too high. It’s really good news that it seems to be trending the correct direction with a less sexual activity in high school.

Especially when that’s not the message they’re hearing in most of the culture around them. So, this is really good news.

In a Culture Where We”€™ve Gone Completely Off the Rails

Rick:

And the thing that’s, I mean, you said it, but I just wanted to repeat it — this is in a culture where we’ve gone completely off the rails and encouraged anything and everything. So, you would have thought, even if they didn’t go into anything or everything and the crazy stuff that’s out there now. That there would just be more activity. So that’s very, very, good news. And maybe we’re hitting that part where the pendulum is swinging back.

They’ve seen the damage of the sexual revolution and saying, “€œI don’t want to be part of that.”€ And I would encourage churches and individuals, man, let’s lift up godly examples. Parents, talk about how great it can be if you do wait for marriage. Talk about God’s design and how awesome it is. Let’s not shy away from the topic and we can start to turn this thing around.  So, very good news, Tim.

Quick break. We’ll be right back. It”€™ll be David’s turn when we come back. More good news on WallBuilders Live.

Patriot Academy

Have you noticed the vacuum of leadership in America? We’re looking around for leaders of principle to step up and too often no one is there. God is raising up a generation of young leaders with a passion for impacting the world around them. They’re crying out for the mentorship and leadership training they need. Patriot Academy was created to meet that need. Patriot Academy graduates now serve in state capitals around America, in the halls of Congress, in business, in the film industry, in the pulpit, in every area of the culture. They’re leading effectively and impacting the world around them.

Patriot Academy is now expanding across the nation and now is your chance to experience this life-changing week that trains champions to change the world. Visit PatriotAcademy.com for dates and locations. Our core program is still for young leaders 16 to 25 years old, but we also now have a citizen track for adults. So, visit the website today to learn more. Help us fill the void of leadership in America. Join us in training champions to change the world at PatriotAcademy.com.

Rick:

Welcome back. Good News Friday here on WallBuilders Live. Thanks for staying with us. David Barton is up with some good news. Go for it, bro.

Good News From California

David:

This good news comes from Governor Jerry Brown in California.

Rick:

Good, wait, no, this is Good News Friday, David.

Tim:

Did he retire? Did he step down?

David:

That would have been good news. Yeah, we could have done that.

Tim:

Did he get converted? Did he get saved?

David:

Oh, that would have been even better news. No, no evidence.

Tim:

Is he following Biblical teachings?

David:

Yes, in this one case.

Tim:

Interesting. Oh, in one–

David:

In this one case.

Tim:

–in one of the many Biblical principles that there are.

David:

In this one case.

Tim:

Well, that’s one more that I might have guessed he was following.

You Can”€™t Require Your Employee to Follow a Moral Code of Conduct?

David:

That’s why it’s good news and coming out to California. Because a bill reached his desk, California Assembly Bill 569, it would now grab this, it would prohibit employers from requiring employees to follow a moral code of conduct. So, the bill says you cannot follow, as an employer, you cannot require your employee to follow a moral code of conduct. Including things such as no sex outside of marriage, or not having abortions, or homosexual activity, or whatever.

And it also would have prohibited employers from disciplining or firing employees who violated the mission or beliefs of that group.  So, if you have a moral code that says this is the behavior you want, you cannot fire those who violate that behavior and you cannot even require that behavior.

Now, here’s the issue, the law refused to put an exception for churches, or for pro-life organizations, or for religious convictions. In other words, if you’re a pro-life organization and you say you can’t be active in the abortion trade, this law says, “€œNo, you can’t say that. If you’re a pro-life organization you have to hire abortion employees.”€ Or, if you’re a church that believes marriage is between one man and a woman, you can’t say “€œno”€ to hiring people who believe otherwise.

You can’t fulfill your mission statements. So, there was no exemptions for conscience and religious causes. And, amazingly, Governor Jerry Brown vetoed that bill because it did not give churches, and religious organizations, and Christian schools, that exception.

Rick:

Really?

David:

Yeah.

Rick:

Jerry Brown.

A Massive Think For California

David:

Jerry Brown. Because they’ve been doing this for the last several years, having no exceptions, and its been going through. And on this one he said, “€œNo, we’re not doing that. We’re not requiring churches, and Christian schools, and pro-life organizations.”€ He is an abortion supporter, but he is not requiring pro-life organizations to hire abortion promoting employees that have abortions or do abortions, or whatever else. So, this is a massive thing for California.

For the rest of America we go, “€œOf course, that’s common sense.”€ Yeah, but not to California. That’s not what they’ve demonstrated in recent years, so this is a really big thing in California. And that’s good news for conscience following people in California.

Rick:

Another quick break. We’ll have time for one more piece of good news when we come back. You don’t want to miss it. Stay with us. You’re listening to WallBuilders Live.

The Courageous Leaders Collection  Use promo code WBL17 to receive 10% off your entire order!

Heroes of History  Use promo code WBL17 to receive 10% off your entire order!

Biographical Sketches

Hi friends! This is Tim Barton of WallBuilders.This is a time when most Americans don’t know much about American history or even heroes of the faith. I know, oftentimes as parents, we”€™re trying to find good content for our kids to read.

If you remember back in the Bible, the Book of Hebrews it has the Faith Hall of Fame, where they outlined the leaders of faith that had gone before them. Well,, this is something that as Americans we really want to go back and outline some of these heroes not just of American history, but heroes of Christianity and our faith as well.

I wanted to let you know about some biographical sketches we have available on our website. One is called, “€œThe Courageous Leaders Collection“€ and this collection includes people like Abigail Adams, Abraham Lincoln, Francis Scott Key, George Washington Carver, Susanna Wesley, even the Wright brothers.

There’s a second collection called, “€œHeroes of History“€ in this collection you read about people like Benjamin Franklin, Christopher Columbus, Daniel Boone, George Washington, Harriet Tubman, the list goes on and on.

This is a great collection for your young person to have and read. And it’s a providential view of American and Christian history. This is available at WallBuilders.com.

Rick:

Welcome back. Thanks for staying with us on WallBuilders Live. Good News Friday, today. We’ve got one more segment of good news. So, when we run out of time today, be sure and go to WallBuildersLive.com and you can listen to some of those past Friday programs for some more good news. Tim Barton, you get the last one.

Children From Heterosexual Homes More Depressed?

Tim:

Guys, this is an article written by David French. And it’s addressing the issue of same-sex parenting and kind of going into the details of some of the differences between same-sex parenting versus traditional heterosexual parenting. And what was interesting is, David French is able to point to a new study that collects longitudinal data and it’s from information gathered from the National Institute of Health. And what they do is document that children that grew up in same-sex parent homes suffer higher rates of depression over time, higher rates of obesity, and suicidal ideation is what it’s called now, basically means suicidal thoughts and tendencies. But, what’s interesting is as they break it down, they do have it as an adolescent and as an adult.

So, as — if you look at adolescents, kids that were in same-sex parent homes, at 18.3 percent were depressed. As opposed to, if you look at traditional parent homes, it was 21.8 percent of kids in those traditional homes that were depressed. That is the only number where it’s higher. And what the study points out is that the longer that you track these same kids, when they became adults, 51 percent of kids that grew up in same-sex homes were depressed as adults as opposed to only 19.7 of those from traditional families.

When you look at suicidal ideation it’s staggering. Almost half of kids that grow up in same-sex parent homes have suicidal thoughts and tendencies. As opposed to only 13.6 percent of those in traditional homes as adults. It’s not all that different numbers as far as percentage with thirty point, or 30 percent roughly of those in same-sex parent homes that still have suicidal thoughts and tendencies. And then from those traditional homes, it”€™s down to 7 percent.

When you look at things like obesity – same thing. If you’re from a same-sex parent home it’s significantly higher than traditional homes. And ultimately, what he’s kind of pointing out is, that these homes, what you are seeing from the health data collection is that these are not healthy environments for young people.

Now, I don’t bring this up as good news to be critical of same-sex parent homes in a sense of I just want to pick on, and make fun of, and criticize them. But, rather, to identify the good news from this, is it”€™s when in contrast with a traditional home, the good news is that the traditional home, the traditional structure, is still providing so much greater health benefits. Emotional, mental, physical health, to kids growing up in those homes and environments. Especially, even as they get into adulthood as opposed to those same-sex relationships.

Science Comes to the Conclusion That God”€™s Ways Are Best

Tim:

And it’s good news because it once again is verifying, not only the traditional values but the Biblical values. When God says, “€œLook, this is the way marriage and family ought to work.”€ And so, every time we see these health studies that confirm that God’s ways are right, that God’s ways work, it confirms that this is what we need to do. And so, the great news out of this is that, once again, science is kind of coming to the conclusion that what God has said in His word, especially when it comes to the idea of family, and kids, and raising kids in a home, that the Biblical standards of morality, that what the Bible teaches, is the best and the healthiest way to raise kids.

Rick:

God’s way is still the best way. It’s not just right – it’s the best way, gets the best results. His laws free us. Man, remember when we did the whole series on the Ten Commandments with Steven McDowell and he pointed that out – it’s a gift. It’s a gift from Him. Let’s do it His way and our culture will reap the benefits as a result of that.

GREAT NEWS This Week!  National Monuments and More!

Thanks so much for all the good news David and Tim. Thank you for listening out there. You’ve been listening to WallBuilders Live.