Participants: Lincoln Steed (Host), Melissa Reid
Series Code: LI
Program Code: LI000147
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00:23 Welcome to the "Liberty Insider."
00:25 This is the program that brings you up-to-date 00:27 news, views, information, and discussion 00:30 and my opinion on religious liberty issues. 00:33 My name is Lincoln Steed, Editor of Liberty Magazine 00:37 and my guest on the program is 00:39 Melissa Reid, Associate Editor for Liberty Magazine. Yes. 00:43 We can have rotating guest but was come full circle 00:45 and we're back to our Liberty team today. 00:50 You know, we're looking not too far down the line 00:52 and I don't know exactly when this will be aired, 00:54 but a year or more ahead we've got our presidential elections 01:00 coming up, the funny season. Yeah. 01:02 It wasn't called election, the funny season. Oh really? 01:05 But I haven't heard that term but it makes perfect sense. 01:07 People certainly go a little crazy, 01:10 but already in some of the media I hear comments 01:14 from different figures expressing themselves 01:16 on church and state in essence, giving a sort of view point 01:21 on whether America is a Christian nation and so on. 01:23 Have you heard anyone say that? 01:24 Yes. Oh sure, you know, I think, 01:28 right now as we're taping this we're seeing the Republican 01:33 primary candidate sort of, you know-- 01:36 Testing the field. Testing the field, 01:38 exactly, exactly and I think Republicans 01:41 generally are more comfortable 01:45 or I think that their base appreciates more 01:48 when they have conversations about 01:51 religion or their faith in particular. 01:53 But it's still sort of may be sit up and pay attention 01:56 at the 9/11 commemoration at the Kennedy Center, 02:01 the president got up and gave a speech. 02:03 First thing he said was to read a Bible text. Yes. 02:05 And I thought that's appropriate but he can't be 02:09 unaware that that sort of stakes out the ground 02:11 that he's an orthodox Christian. 02:14 So in some ways, even though I thought 02:16 it was appropriate that didn't offend me 02:18 on the separation of church and state. Right. 02:19 It was a clearly calculated religious-- 02:27 I'm trying to think how to characterize it 02:28 without misrepresenting him. Yes. 02:29 He was really staking out a position on religion. 02:32 Yes. It was a deliberate action on his part. 02:34 So we're seeing a lot of that going on. 02:36 What I wanted to launch off with, 02:38 and you haven't read it, but I'll share it 02:39 with you and our readers. 02:41 As I saw a repeat-- a report in the recent paper 02:44 that came by my desk on Billy Graham. Oh, okay. 02:47 And his political activities. I'm not familiar with. 02:50 He goes way back almost when I was very young 02:55 and I know you probably you're a little bit younger than me, 02:58 I'll give you the benefit, a good benefit. 03:00 But, you know, I'm sure when Billy Graham, 03:03 do you mostly like most of our viewers say, 03:06 he is sort of figure of yesteryear. Right. 03:08 His highlight of his political activities 03:11 really goes back to the Nixon era. 03:14 So, I mean, that's way back. Sure. 03:17 But Billy Graham was reported recently as saying something 03:21 that just was in this article that made me sit up. 03:25 I'll read it so I don't misrepresent him. 03:27 It says here reading the author 03:29 but then Billy Graham's statement. 03:31 It says, "Graham replied that he wished he had spent 03:34 more time with his family." That's standard. Sure. 03:37 Then he added, "I also would have stayed clear of politics. 03:43 I'm grateful for the opportunities God gave me 03:45 to minister to people in high places, 03:46 people in power have spiritual and personal needs 03:49 like everyone else, and often they have 03:52 no one to talk to but looking back, 03:54 I know, I sometimes crossed the line 03:57 and I wouldn't do that now." That's an incredible admission. 04:00 Yes. And then they gave some evidence 04:03 which I remember myself at the time that he was 04:06 such a partisan supporter of the Nixon administration 04:10 that at one stage Sargent Shriver 04:12 who was wanting to run had called and asked 04:16 Billy Graham to pray, which would seem 04:19 very innocuous for a minister. Sure. 04:21 And that was so perplexing to Billy Graham 04:23 that he called the Nixon White house and said, 04:25 would that be okay. 04:29 Now to me that's the evidence that 04:30 he was a minister of religion thoroughly entangled 04:33 with the political arrangements of his time 04:37 that rather than speaking truth to power 04:40 or spirituality to power, right, 04:41 he was part of their very structure. Yes. 04:44 And then following on from that, they quote a memo from 04:49 a Nixon aid to Nixon saying that 04:51 Graham wanted to appear bipartisan 04:54 at least until about October. 04:57 And then it says, "that Graham had vowed to 05:02 'do nothing to hurt the president 05:03 or to help my government.'" 05:06 So, you know, an interesting record of good Billy Graham 05:10 who I have wonderful feelings toward him. 05:13 Right. Because as a young fellow, 05:15 I didn't so much watch all of his political activities, 05:17 but as a young fellow I remember 05:19 being stirred in Australia, when I saw a broadcast 05:22 from the US, Billy Graham in one of his crusades. Yes. 05:25 And those sermons were galvanizing back in his, 05:28 in his early days. 05:29 They were thoroughly biblical sermons 05:31 that made you sit up in the seat and think, you know, 05:34 am I committed to God? You know what? 05:36 What does my spirituality require of me, 05:38 is just sort of, you know, read the Bible quietly 05:41 or do I stand up and proclaim and to do and to dare, 05:45 I mean, it was very challenging stuff. Yes, yes. 05:48 So to me it's problematic to read and to hear 05:53 at the decline of his life, Billy Graham looks back 05:57 and says I shouldn't have done that sort of stuff. 05:59 Speaking to power is one thing but I should not have inserted 06:03 myself into those political activities. 06:05 Right, what's interesting in my childhood, 06:08 a very prominently religious figure that I remember is 06:11 Dr. James Dotson focused on the family. 06:15 And we know that he made a very deliberate decision 06:20 to become even more involved in politics, 06:22 actually started a political action group. 06:25 Well, do you remember why he did that? 06:28 You know I do. 06:30 I think he wanted to be more influential 06:31 and feel more comfortable and-- 06:33 but the tipping point was that the IRS started to suggest 06:38 that his political activities already was threatening 06:42 the tax free status of his religious organization. Yes. 06:45 So since he had that desire, he actually was forced. 06:48 Yes. At least in the tax exemption organization. 06:50 But it's interesting that he decided to go even further 06:54 rather than backing away from it. 06:55 Yes, no, he made that faithful choice that Billy Graham, 06:57 yeah, clearly I think he used the term, crossing the line. 07:01 Yeah, for me, you know, I remember being-- 07:07 I was not impressed that he was--I was disappointed 07:11 that he's continued on in that manner. 07:13 Because I felt like he was such a--you know 07:16 that his ministry focused on the family 07:18 offered such a benefit to Christian families. 07:23 And so to see him sort of almost be lured by politics 07:29 and the power and the influence. 07:30 There it was disappointing. 07:32 Well, I think you've used the right word. 07:33 May be you'll have the same kind of, 07:34 you know, looking back in life and-- 07:37 You know, even if it's not wrong always 07:40 I think looking at it from a purely Christian perspective, 07:44 it's ill-advised and it's compromising 07:46 and it sets someone up to be a facilitator of things 07:49 that may actually be directly opposed 07:51 to the Kingdom of God. 07:53 There was a book that I never read to be honest 07:55 but I read many excepts, but it stuck in my mind 07:59 because I went along to an interview years ago 08:02 with Chuck Colson, yes, and he was promoting, 08:06 actually pre-promoting because it hadn't been get printed, 08:09 his upcoming book the Two Kingdoms 08:11 I think it was called. Okay. 08:12 And he dealt amazingly with the same topic. 08:15 There is the Kingdom of God, and there is the secular kingdom 08:18 and how does a person of faith relate to the two. Yes. 08:22 And if anyone would know the problems that to be 08:25 Chuck Colson, who admittedly was not publicly Christian, 08:28 I mean he was a nominal Christian, 08:30 but he had a conversion in prison. 08:32 You know, his political activities 08:35 really got him in prison. Yes, yes. 08:37 As a lawyer, he should have known 08:39 better but he compromised his morality 08:42 to such a degree that it was a crime. 08:45 And then on the other side of the prison 08:46 there's a born again Christian, he could look fairly 08:50 dispassionately on this issue and I liked his conclusions. 08:54 It wasn't that you cant speak to both, 08:57 obviously Christianity is in the world, 08:59 but not of the world. Right. 09:01 But he saw this very clear danger of someone 09:04 who's nominally dedicated to the Kingdom of God 09:06 getting enmeshed in the kingdom of man. 09:09 Sure, you can't serve two masters, 09:10 isn't that what they say. Yeah. 09:13 I wanted to point out, I have been thinking 09:15 in our conversation we have this religious liberty dinner 09:18 on Capitol Hill every year and one of the things 09:20 that we do is, if a political figure 09:26 has been vocal or, you know, 09:30 about preserving religious freedom, 09:34 you know, in a legislative process, 09:35 then we like to honor them at the event. 09:37 And we usually have a keynote speaker that's, 09:39 you know, involved in politics in someway. 09:42 We are, I know that we are very deliberate, 09:45 first of all, we make sure to alternate 09:49 between political parties as far as who we invite to the-- 09:53 I think it's a good cause so that we 09:55 don't unduly appear partisan. Right. 09:58 I mean, we're not really on a quota system, 09:59 but you're right. We need to tell people 10:02 that's part of what we do to stay clear of favoritism. 10:06 But even more important I think is at the event itself, 10:09 we make sure and let people know we're honoring 10:11 this individual for this particular reason. 10:15 We're not endorsing them for their overall, 10:17 you know, belief system or whatever. 10:18 We're just happy that they have supported 10:20 religious freedom in this manner. 10:22 And I think that, you know, as a church, 10:25 Seventh-day Adventist can be really proud that we really do 10:29 respect that line between separation of church and state. 10:33 Yes, and I think that's an appropriate way to look at this. 10:36 We need to recognize that particular activity because, 10:40 you know, Ellen White who I refer to often 10:42 in this program who was a visionary and early Adventist. 10:45 She warned Seventh-day Adventists 10:47 if they in a blanket way supported a certain politician 10:51 they would be responsible for everything that was done, 10:54 in essence in their name. Sure. 10:57 And who of us would be comfortable if someone says, 11:00 you know, I agree with you, 11:01 I like you and no matter what you do, I agree with that. 11:06 Without having any sort of 11:07 control over than what takes place. 11:08 That's a burden that I wouldn't want to accept 11:10 for someone else, and in reality all human beings 11:12 are fallible and the church would not endorse 11:16 such behavior really and Christ certainly doesn't say, 11:19 you know, you're my followers 11:20 but whatever you do just I accept you. 11:23 Some people think Christ does that, 11:24 but He expects certain behavior. Yes. 11:26 But I think in that church and state dealings, 11:30 it's very reasonable to as you say, 11:32 recognize a particular good stance that this public person 11:36 has taken in this dynamic. 11:39 And the long point I'm trying to build 11:41 to is that the Seventh-day Adventist church 11:43 in the early days fighting against alcohol. Yes 11:47 Which ended up with the probation amendment. 11:52 Allied itself with the Women's Christian Temperance Union, 11:54 spoke very well of them even though 11:56 on another part of their activity 11:57 they were pushing for the Sunday Law which we buzzed. 12:00 So we have to acknowledge the good part of what 12:05 someone's doing and yet we're not like Billy Graham, 12:08 unfortunately then, you know, 12:10 we're not part of partisan that we just put 12:12 the cloak of religiosity over everything. Yes. 12:18 That some organization may do. 12:20 I found a quote recently, that I would like to share 12:24 after the break with our viewers. 12:26 But a quote that really talks about this challenge 12:28 that comes to a lot of people. 12:30 Billy Graham and other public officials 12:34 placed themselves in a position of great influence 12:37 but they often cross that line between 12:39 influencing others and being a false influencer 12:43 or combining with the wrong forces. 12:46 So right after the break, we'll be back 12:49 and I want to read a quote and see what you think about it. 12:53 So stay with us, we'll be right back. 13:03 One-hundred years, a long time to do anything, 13:07 much less publish a magazine, but this year Liberty, 13:11 the Seventh-day Adventist voice of religious freedom, 13:14 celebrates red years of doing what it does best, 13:18 collecting, analyzing, and reporting 13:20 the ebb and flow of religious expression 13:22 around the world. 13:24 Issue after issue, 13:25 Liberty has taken on the tough assignments, 13:28 tracking down threats to religious freedom 13:30 and exposing the work of the devil 13:31 in every corner of the globe. 13:34 Governmental interference, personal attacks, 13:36 corporate assaults, even religious freedom issues 13:39 sequestered within the Church community itself 13:41 have been clearly and honestly exposed. 13:44 Liberty exists for one purpose 13:47 to help God's people 13:48 maintain that all important separation of Church and State 13:52 while recognizing the dangers inherent in such a struggle. 13:56 During the past century, 13:57 Liberty has experienced challenges of its own, 14:00 but it remains on the job. 14:02 Thanks to the inspired leadership 14:04 of a long line of dedicated Adventist Editors, 14:06 three of whom represent almost half 14:08 of the publications existence 14:10 and the foresight of a little woman from New England. 14:13 red years of struggle, 14:15 red years of victories, 14:17 religious freedom isn't just about political machines 14:20 and cultural prejudices. 14:22 It's about people fighting for the right 14:25 to serve the God they love as their hearts 14:28 and the Holy Spirit dictate. 14:30 Thanks to the prayers and generous support 14:32 of Seventh-day Adventists everywhere. 14:35 Liberty will continue to accomplish its work 14:37 of providing timely information, 14:39 spirit filled inspiration, 14:41 and heaven sent encouragement to all who long to live 14:45 and work in a world bound together by the God 14:48 ordained bonds of religious freedom. 15:01 Welcome back, before the break 15:04 those of you that were watching before, welcome back if not. 15:07 Before the break I had suggested I was going to read 15:09 a quotation that I think bears on the test that some of these 15:12 public officials are very publicly born, 15:14 but in reality all of us have a test. 15:18 This is a quote from a book by Ellen White, 15:22 who I mentioned periodically in this program. 15:24 She informed a lot of the religious liberty work 15:27 for the Seventh-day Adventist church-- 15:28 Absolutely yes. As you know. 15:30 And in this book on-- it's called the Testimonies, 15:34 she says this, and I think 15:36 speaking with a prophetic insight. 15:39 But anyone could say this but she says, 15:41 "the time is not far distant," so then warning us 15:44 that we're in end of time. 15:46 "The time is not far distant when the test will come 15:50 to every soul," and that sobers me. 15:53 I don't feel particularly tested now, 15:56 now and then it worked, things don't go right 15:58 we feel very tested. But, you know, 16:00 in reality it's easy to be a Christian 16:01 in North America and Australia and England and-- 16:04 Yes. And many other countries 16:06 not just western countries, there are some very hard 16:08 but for most Christians not too hard 16:11 and at least in the developed world. 16:15 But she says, "the test will come, 16:17 the mark of the beast will be urged upon us." 16:19 I saw an evangelist on 3ABN, actually this morning, 16:23 and he was sort of saying, don't worry 16:25 about the Mark of the Beast. 16:26 You know, let's just talk 16:27 about accepting what Christ has done. 16:30 Well, he was very correct but the Mark of the Beast 16:33 is something we need to understand what it is. 16:35 And it is false, a mark of false allegiance. Yes. 16:40 Certainly epitomized by worshiping on the day 16:42 that God has not recommended but it's more than that. 16:46 The end of time you take the Mark of the Beast 16:48 by accepting the authority of a false system 16:51 rather than the authority of God. Right. 16:53 And she says, "The Mark of the Beast 16:54 will be urged upon us." 16:56 And I like that because not enforced at first. Yes. 16:58 Certainly be encouraged. Yes. 16:59 She says those and this is here with, 17:01 this quite comes to the crunch, 17:03 "those who have step by step yielded to worldly demands 17:09 and conform to worldly customs will not find it 17:14 a hard matter to yield to the powers that be." 17:17 And I think of Billy Graham. Yeah. 17:19 It was step by step. Yeah, yeah. 17:20 That he made no grand decision 17:22 to be a political operative. Yes. 17:24 She says, "Those who have" 17:25 and I'll repeat this because it's a long sentence. 17:27 "Those who have step by step yielded to worldly demands 17:31 and conformed to worldly customs will not find it 17:34 a hard matter to yield to the powers that be." 17:37 Yielding, that's a fairly voluntary thing. 17:41 "Yielding to them rather than subject themselves," 17:46 and I like that, this is an amazing quote 17:48 because she's got it absolutely right. 17:50 Because you by yielding if gone along with it. 17:56 But if you don't yield you actually then consciously 18:00 knowingly have asked to get the consequence of not yielding. 18:04 You bring it on yourself in a certain sense. 18:06 You should rather than subject themselves to derision. 18:13 Yes. That's the first thing people may make fun of you. Yes. 18:17 Insult, that's when it becomes more offensive to society. 18:21 Threatened imprisonment, doesn't say imprisonment 18:24 but where this, the law starts to move against you, and death. 18:29 Very seldom in these great issues of conscience 18:33 of religious freedom, there's right out 18:35 of the gate someone say, now do this or else. 18:38 Of course. You know, you might have the capital punishment. 18:40 Yes. No, no, no. 18:41 It creeps up in you and in essence you start that process 18:44 by a conscious decision to stand this way versus 18:49 the requirement to act another way. Yes, yes. 18:52 This reminds me exactly of the story of 18:55 Daniel and the three Hebrew boys. 18:57 And sort of the test that they, 18:59 you know, sort of the small test, that they had. 19:02 At first, you know, where they're going to eat 19:05 the food that was, you know, blessed by the idols. 19:07 Were they going to, you know, live a certain lifestyle? 19:10 Were they going to-- and did they yield. 19:11 You know, and if they had yielded in those small tests, 19:15 I think the fiery furnace would have been 19:17 a much different situation. 19:18 I think they would have melt, you know, 19:20 to the statue like everyone else. 19:24 And that little test while it was a smaller matter 19:26 than the final one, really by showing that 19:29 they could pass that one, 19:30 they set themselves up for the big test. Yes. 19:32 They would likely have failed the big test 19:35 if they hadn't been careful on that. 19:36 Exactly, and I think that's the case with all of us. 19:39 I think unfortunately a lot of times, you know, 19:41 we Seventh-day Adventists are--you know, 19:45 we're strengthening ourselves for when 19:46 we're tested by the Sunday law. 19:48 Meanwhile we have test on a day to day basis 19:50 that we fail miserably. 19:52 Absolutely and that's sobering but we could change 19:55 and God could strengthen us. Of course, yes. 19:57 So it's just because someone is a total flop 19:59 on the little things. Yes. 20:00 They shouldn't say well you know-- 20:02 No, of course. 20:03 Because God can strengthen us, but we need to I believe 20:06 ahead of time as it says here, 20:08 decide what we'll do in the test, 20:10 instill ourselves spiritually and mentally. Yes. 20:14 And proceed on. I'm trying to think 20:15 of the text I think it's in Ezekiel it says, 20:17 "You haven't, if you haven't been able 20:19 to run with the, or keep up with the crowd now, 20:21 how will you run with the horseman?" Oh, yeah. 20:24 It's, you need to think of the here and now 20:27 rather that impossible test. Yes. 20:29 And I've grown up most of my life, 20:31 well all of my life as a Seventh-day Adventist 20:33 and most of it, expecting a time of trouble 20:35 and a huge test in the Mark of the Beast and so on, 20:38 which I think is demonstrably way closer 20:41 and perhaps even imminent. 20:43 But still, it's the here and now. 20:46 That, that's such a huge thing way ahead of us, 20:51 but here and now there are real challenges. 20:53 Right, right well it's also and, you know, 20:55 you think of the train up a child in the ways that were, 20:57 you know, he--And I think that's the case if this, 20:59 you know, we're immature in our faith 21:01 I think a lot of times and we continue to grow 21:05 in a certain or develop in a certain manner. 21:07 And so I think those, you know, those, 21:09 the faithfulness is important at these times. 21:12 Now, the example I've used on this program and sermons 21:15 and I've heard others Jews, is that, you know, 21:17 you can become conditioned to a situation unless you have-- 21:21 well, back to Daniel. 21:22 It says, Daniel determined in his heart to hold this position. 21:26 And unless you got that statue, 21:28 you won't recognize the test as it comes upon you. 21:31 You know the example that I'm referring 21:32 is often given as a frog, you know, 21:34 in the slowly boiling water. Yes, yes. 21:37 Gonna see it until, it's so innovating 21:39 that it just goes flaccid and he's cooked. Yes. 21:44 This thing's now that we should know that really qualifies-- 21:48 I think it was the title of Winston Churchill's book, 21:50 A Gathering Storm. 21:52 The storm is gathering, the test hasn't yet come 21:56 but we should be fore warned and wise to see 21:58 that what's coming instill ourselves, not to compromise. 22:03 And you and I and others in our circuit dealing 22:06 with religious liberty, I hope that we got it straight 22:09 that when we're making government contacts, 22:11 it's not even to make friends 22:14 and it's certainly not to make us look good in their eyes. 22:18 And I know one colleague, good guy, 22:21 but I think he insinuated himself into the 22:26 political structure and became 22:28 the partisan operative at one part. 22:31 Great for his personal career, but as he basically left 22:35 his calling to represent truths to power. 22:39 That's what we're doing. 22:40 And we need to keep a real focus on that 22:42 because otherwise we may find these quiet friends 22:45 that we found there, they're bringing 22:47 pressure on us to come inline with the new law. 22:51 They might try to co-opt us to along with 22:53 some group opinion that's compromising. 22:56 And we need to be careful but the viewer too, 22:58 somebody who has a concern for religious liberty 23:01 they need to watch this program, 23:04 read God's word, know what the issues are and act on them. 23:08 Like if separation of church and state is important you cry fowl 23:13 when you see it being muddied, particularly by your own group. 23:16 Yes, yes, yeah I think it's interesting, you see, you know, 23:21 just in the quote that you were reading there from Testimonies. 23:25 You see politicians, the--you know, 23:28 when they are involved in some sort, 23:30 they sort to get their hands, you know, 23:32 hands caught in the cookie jar sort of situation. 23:34 And it's so obvious, I mean, 23:35 just the evidence is mounted, mounted, 23:37 mounted that these people are up to no good, 23:39 they've done something wrong and yet they continue to 23:42 deny, deny, deny. 23:43 And I wonder, you know, that even just, 23:45 you know, as you were showing 23:46 the progression of things that happen. 23:48 But I think that public derision or the embarrassment 23:51 is just of strong-motivator to begin with, it just. 23:54 Many people it's almost worse than the imprisonment of-- 23:56 Yes, yes, it's their whole, you know, 23:58 their public persona and they will argue to that, 24:01 they will compromise so much in order to save ways. 24:03 I want to name the name but it's sort of obvious 24:06 but there's a certain public official 24:07 wanting to run for president, that clearly by previous 24:11 and continuing statements has religious agenda 24:15 based on their identification. 24:18 But as a political expediency 24:19 they actually resign their church. Yes, yes. 24:23 And I think, man, I might not agree 24:25 with that church stands for, but at least have 24:28 the conviction of your, your identification there. 24:33 But to turn it all over because without that you can make-- 24:37 Way better politically, it's not good. 24:40 I'm going, you know, 24:41 you know there's something wrong if you're measuring 24:43 your faith or basing your faith based on, 24:45 you know, what the polls say, 24:47 you know, is this make sense for me politically. 24:50 So, so you know, this test, this matter of a test, 24:53 I could get a--reach back into Adventist eschatology 24:57 in the sense of a coming crisis. 24:59 But really, every Christian need to think 25:02 about a test to their principles and indeed everyone 25:07 even if they're not a Christian, 25:08 even if they're not religious, they have to have 25:11 a guiding principle in their life, 25:13 you can't stand for nothing. 25:15 And you know, I'll say something 25:17 almost theoretical, I've no time for Al Qaeda 25:21 and those type of operatives but on a certain level 25:24 I have to respect he's someone that believes in something 25:27 so fervently that they'll carry it through. 25:30 Misguided. Right. 25:31 But that's the tragedy in their case. 25:33 Sure. But. And at the detriment of someone else. 25:35 Right, I mean, it's not defensible 25:38 but really we have to decide in life and faith 25:41 brings it to the most sharpest contrast. 25:44 If we believe in something surely 25:47 it's worth falling through with, 25:48 it's worth living for and maybe in some cases 25:51 at the end of the day worth dying for, 25:52 not you know as a suicide. Right. 25:57 But to put your life on as it says 25:59 in Christian context that altar of sacrifice. 26:02 Right, right. I think what you're 26:03 describing is what the church that we see in Laodicia 26:06 in Revelation and I really would urge our viewers 26:11 to take a moment to pray for us, 26:14 to pray for each other and to pray for ourselves. 26:16 Because this is really is a testing time, 26:18 we all will have this time in our lives, 26:21 where we will be tested our faith 26:22 and our allegiance to God will be tested. 26:26 And, you know, through prayer and Bible study 26:30 is really how we're going to be able to maintain 26:33 our allegiance and our faith and our trust in God. 26:36 And so I really encourage all of us 26:39 to spend some time affirming one and other. 26:45 There was a time when the Kings of Israel 26:48 and Judah decided to go to war. 26:50 You could read about it in the Bible 26:52 and it's very interesting that as the moment approached 26:55 one of the them said let's, let's inquire about a prophet, 26:58 prophet of the Lord. 27:00 And other King said, well there is such a prophet, 27:03 but I don't like Him, because he doesn't speak well of me. 27:07 And they got that prophet and as expected 27:09 He didn't say what they wanted to hear. 27:12 You know, there's no question 27:13 that today is no different than then, 27:16 that even religious figures brought into context of-- 27:20 into the context of politics are under great pressure 27:23 to say the right thing rather than 27:25 to speak in spiritual reality. 27:28 We've discussed in this program how even 27:30 as iconic figure is Billy Graham in retrospect realizes 27:34 that he crossed that line. 27:37 I look back into the Old Testament 27:39 of the Bible and read there about Daniel 27:42 and the quotes of Nebuchadnezzar, 27:45 Darius the Mede, and then Belshazzar. 27:48 Somehow he was able to maintain his integrity, 27:52 serve the Lord that he honored at the expense 27:56 even of his life, when he was thrown to the lions, 27:58 and keep such an integrity that a moment of great crisis 28:01 he could be called upon to advise 28:04 a King about to be deposed. 28:07 This is Lincoln Steed, for Liberty Insider. |
Revised 2014-12-17