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In a special segment, we turn our focus internationally, examining the recent tragic attack on a synagogue in Manchester, England. As anti-Semitic violence continues to rise, Tony discusses the broader implications with expert guests. Meanwhile, the controversial Bible Access List is introduced by Ken Bitgood, shedding light on the scarcity of scriptures in nations worldwide, tying in the desperate need for spiritual resources amid political strife in places like Syria. Don’t miss updates on the upcoming PrayVoteStand Summit, calling believers to rally for cultural transformation and spiritual revival.
SPEAKER 12 :
From the heart of our nation’s capital in Washington, D.C., bringing compelling interviews, insightful analysis, taking you beyond the headlines and soundbites into conversations with our nation’s leaders and newsmakers, all from a biblical worldview. Washington Watch with Tony Perkins starts now.
SPEAKER 15 :
Welcome, everybody, to day two of the Democrat shutdown. Let’s make absolutely clear what’s happening here. Real pain is being inflicted upon the American people because 44 Democrats in the Senate have voted for the third time to reject the completely nonpartisan, completely clean, very simple 24-page continuing resolution.
SPEAKER 03 :
That was House Speaker Mike Johnson saying Democrats made the selfish and reprehensible decision to shut down the government. Welcome to this October 2nd edition of Washington Watch. I’m Tony Perkins, your host. Thanks for tuning in. Well, coming up, the Democrat-led shutdown enters day two. Now, what does that mean for everyday Americans? And where do we go from here? Missouri Senator Josh Hawley will join me to break it all down. And Bibles are pretty easy to get here in the United States, but not around the world. A new report shows where access is hardest and that need the greatest. Ken Bitgood, founder of the Digital Bible Society, will join me later to explain. One day, 17 hours and four minutes into the shutdown, and Republican leaders blame Democrat demands for funding the illegal immigrants for the stalemate. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise and House Speaker Mike Johnson insist Democrats must choose Americans over taxpayer-funded benefits for illegal aliens and reopen the government now. Joining me is Washington Stand reporter Casey Harper. Casey, what are you hearing about how this shutdown is actually affecting everyday Americans?
SPEAKER 20 :
Yeah, well, Tony, first of all, our troops and Border Patrol agents, they’re required to work with pay being held until the government reopens. And about 750,000 federal workers, they’ve been told don’t come into work at all. Now, this all has left many asking the question, how is this going to affect the economy and everyday Americans? The U.S. government shutdown has hit the brakes on the flow of federal economic data at a moment of uncertainty. But if history is any guide, the shutdown itself is unlikely to have a lasting impact on the U.S. economy. Part of the reason for that is that most of the previous 20 shutdowns have been short, lasting about a week or less. They are a headache for the Federal Reserve, especially now as policymakers seek clarity on the jobs market and inflation. Those policymakers won’t get the monthly jobs report and other data until the government reopens. They have to rely on private surveys, which are sometimes viewed as a poor proxy for the government data. The Fed cut interest rates last month for the first time since December because of growing concern about the job market. Financial markets see a near certainty of another rate cut at the central bank’s next meeting this month. However, Shana Sissel, the Bonnerian Capital Management founder and CEO, says this shutdown could impact that.
SPEAKER 16 :
I do think the lack of economic data of some of the larger economic data points that the Fed pays attention to could delay the Fed from cutting further.
SPEAKER 20 :
Meanwhile, even though hundreds of thousands of federal workers are on furlough and a range of important government services are suspended, shutdowns themselves don’t typically move the needle long term for the economy. It depends on what’s happening around the shutdown. Stocks did take a hit during the last shutdown in 2018, but rebounded quickly, according to Robert Konzo, CEO and Managing Director of the Wealth Alliance.
SPEAKER 02 :
Last one was during the Trump era was 35 days from December of 18 to January of 19. The market dropped, and it started a week before the actual shutdown. So there’s a lot of anticipation. Dropped around 15%, then quickly came back and rose past that. Typically, there’s headline risk, market drop, but then they typically come back.
SPEAKER 20 :
So, Tony, the takeaway here is if Democrats get their act together and come to the table, this won’t be too big of a problem. But if they prolong this shutdown, it could disrupt air travel and food assistance for millions of Americans. So it’s a big issue. But I do want to make clear that those who are receiving Social Security payments will still receive their checks, Tony.
SPEAKER 03 :
All right. Well, the shutdown will we know will continue at least until tomorrow when the Senate next convenes to address the issue. I want to turn now very quickly to a sad story. Security was tight outside synagogues in New York City. This Yom Kippur following a deadly attack at a synagogue in Manchester, England. Casey, what’s the latest on the story out of England?
SPEAKER 20 :
Yeah, that’s right, Tony. Police have increased security outside of these New York City synagogues on this holiest day of Yom Kippur in the Jewish calendar. And as you pointed out, this heightened security follows a deadly attack in Manchester, England, where a man drove into this crowd outside of a synagogue, got out of the car and started stabbing those in the crowd. This happened during the Yom Kippur services. Here’s the British head of counterterrorism, Lawrence Taylor.
SPEAKER 17 :
And based on what we know, counterterrorism policing has declared this as a terrorist incident. Our specialist teams are now leading the investigation into what happened at Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue and working closely with Greater Manchester Police. As we do this, those who have been killed and injured are at the forefront of our minds.
SPEAKER 20 :
So the suspect was shot dead by police. Two people were tragically killed. four others injured, and two more arrests have been made, Tony.
SPEAKER 03 :
All right, Casey, that’s one of the reasons we continue to track these attacks. It appears that we’re talking about one of these almost every day, either a church or a synagogue. And in fact, it is almost every day. That’s why we do our church hostility report to keep people updated. So we can also encourage and work with lawmakers to provide greater protections and raise awareness to this. All right, Casey, thanks so much for joining us. We’re going to catch up with you a bit later with a lot of other stories to break down in our D-block session. So we’ll be looking forward to you joining us then. I want to go on to the shutdown and what is happening, how this is going to affect Americans and how are we going to get out of this? Joining us now by phone, U.S. Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri. He serves on several Senate committees, including the Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pension. He joins us by phone. Senator Hawley, welcome back to Washington Watch. Thanks so much for joining us.
SPEAKER 21 :
Thank you for having me.
SPEAKER 03 :
Now, I know the Senate is out, the House is out today at Yom Kippur, but the Senate returns tomorrow. Now, two Democrat senators and an independent voted for the House CR yesterday. That’s up from one Democrat on Tuesday’s vote. But another five are needed to get this, the 60 votes that are needed. What’s going to happen?
SPEAKER 21 :
I don’t know the answer to that, Tony, and I hope that the Democrats will end this because it’s just absurd. I mean, what they’re doing is just absurd and harmful to real people, as you were just reporting. When I think about the military servicemen and women who won’t get paid here in a few weeks. if this continues that long. I don’t understand what the Democrats are doing, other than the fact that they don’t like the president. They hate President Trump. They hate the fact that he won the election. They don’t want to work with him. But elections have consequences, Tony, and he’s the duly elected president. And this childish fit that they’re throwing, and basically refusing to go to work, shutting down the government so nobody’s working, taxpayers are still paying their taxes. People are still needing the services they pay for. So I just think it’s ridiculous. It needs to end as quickly as possible.
SPEAKER 03 :
Is this playing to the benefit of their base, showing their base that they’re willing to take on Donald Trump and shut down the government?
SPEAKER 21 :
Yeah, I think it is. I mean, think about that. I mean, just think about the moral equation there. We will shut down the government, deny pay to our military men and women. I mean, they say they want to increase health care access. Good luck with that. Pretty soon members of the military won’t be able to buy groceries, let alone be able to go see a doctor. The Veterans Affairs, I mean, listen, all VA hospitals soon are going to have limited services if this goes on because of what the Democrats are doing. And yet their calculation is, well, maybe we’ll score some political points off of this. I mean, are you kidding me? It’s outrageous. It needs to end immediately.
SPEAKER 03 :
What’s your sense? Is this carryover into next week? Is this a week-long shutdown? Is it two weeks? How long do you think before the Democrats will realize they’ve got to end this?
SPEAKER 21 :
I just don’t have any idea because I think it really depends on how long these far-left groups that are pushing them, pressing them, prodding them into this self-destructive behavior, how long they keep at it. I mean, really what’s happening is These Democrat leaders, these elected officials, are getting pushed off of the cliff by their own radical base who’s threatening to run ads against them and all the rest. And they need to have some guts to stand up and say, no, this is wrong. This is the wrong thing for the country. This is the wrong thing to do for the American people, and we’re not going to go along with it. But right now, Tony, they’re in for it hook, line, and sinker. And, you know, they’ve got it. It’s their decision. I mean, there’s no negotiation to be had here because there’s nothing to negotiate on. We’re talking about reopening the government.
SPEAKER 03 :
Right. They want more money for health care, for illegals, for abortion funding. And, you know, hopefully the Republicans are not going to give it to them. I’ve talked to the House speaker. The House is not moving on this. And I hope the Senate is not going to move either. So they’re not there at the end of the day, whenever they come to their senses, they’re not going to gain anything by this shutdown.
SPEAKER 21 :
No, it’s just going to hurt people. And I tell you, the other thing they want is they want to restore all of that funding for transgender operas in Peru and transgender comic books in Colombia and condoms in Gaza. I mean, I’m not making this stuff up. Everything that the Trump administration froze, right, they want to put back into place. It’s absurd.
SPEAKER 03 :
We just have a few minutes left, Senator. I want to switch topics to another issue came up today. In fact, you posted on it on X. That was the first I saw. Then I dug into it. The FDA quietly on right before at the 11th hour before the government shut down, the FDA quietly approved a new generic version of the abortion drug Mifeprestone. Now, this drug being a generic is actually going to drop the price and only going to fuel more pro-life states being invaded by states like New York and California with these abortion pills coming across the state lines through the mail.
SPEAKER 21 :
Yeah, I don’t understand at all what the FDA is doing here, Tony, at all. This application for this new drug has been pending for four years. Joe Biden’s FDA didn’t approve it. The FDA is supposed to be doing a safety study of the chemical abortion drug. And rather than that, they just approved a new one. I mean, I’m incredibly disheartened by this. I can’t imagine what the rationale is. The FDA needs to reverse course immediately and put back into place all of the safety guardrails that were in place when President Trump was in office before. Those were terrific guardrails. The FDA needs to get with the program. I can only assume that these are bureaucrats completely run amok here, but whatever. It needs to be reversed. This is really outrageous.
SPEAKER 03 :
I mean, again, the timing of this right before government shut down, when all this stuff stops, they get this across the line. As you said, it’s been in the process for four years. They they approve it at the 11th hour before government shutdown. And it’s in the midst of what’s supposed to be a study looking at the harms of this pill, this drug to to women. It doesn’t add up. It really doesn’t.
SPEAKER 21 :
We’ve seen two major independent studies just in the last few months that show that one in ten women who take the chemical abortion drug develop major, serious health risks, like trips to the emergency room, hemorrhaging, really serious stuff. That’s why the FDA promised me, promised other senators, promised the public they would do a top-to-bottom review of this drug. But to now not do that, but instead say, actually, you know what, let’s go ahead and prove another abortion drug, put it out on the market, is inexplicable to me.
SPEAKER 03 :
Have you reached out to the FDA?
SPEAKER 21 :
Well, I have, and believe me, they know what my position is on this. I’ve communicated with them about this review multiple times. All I’ve seen is their official statement, which just says, well, basically we had to approve it. I don’t understand that at all. I don’t understand why now, and I don’t understand why this review is not the top priority. People are literally dying of this, women, not to say nothing of the children, the babies who are killed by it. I just am completely baffled by this.
SPEAKER 03 :
Well, I appreciate you, Senator, continuing to speak out on the life issue. I think it is one of those fundamental issues that we absolutely have to get right. And there’s policies from the Biden administration left over that need to be changed. Senator Josh Hawley, always great to talk with you. Thanks so much for joining us. All right, folks, you can weigh in on this as well. Text the word LIFE to 67742. That’s LIFE to 67742. We are about to finalize our petition going to the administration on this very topic. So text LIFE to 67742. All right, a lot more coming up on this edition of Washington Watch. So stay right there. We’re going to be right back after these messages.
SPEAKER 04 :
Three years ago, the Supreme Court issued its historic Dobbs decision, a ruling that overturned Roe versus Wade, which for nearly 50 years imposed abortion on demand, silencing voters and bypassing the democratic process across the country. The Dobbs decision was a huge step forward against abortion, but it didn’t outright ban it. It returned the power to the people. Now, 29 states have laws on the books protecting life. However, there’s a catch. Abortion numbers since Dobbs have actually gone up with an increase of 12% since 2020, climbing from 930,000 to over 1 million in each of the most recent years. So how can this be? The answer is simple, the abortion drug. Today, over 60% of U.S. abortions involve abortion drugs, many of these without medical oversight. In 2021, the Biden administration quietly removed bare minimum longstanding safety protocols for the abortion drug that have existed for 20 years to protect women from life-threatening risks and ensuring informed consent. The Biden DOJ then declared that they would not enforce the Comstock Act, which prevents the mailing of anything that causes an abortion. This is not only illegal, but also dangerous. A study shows nearly 11% of women who take the abortion drug end up in the emergency room with serious complications. Unless the Trump administration reverses these reckless Biden-era policies, pro-life laws will remain largely symbolic. Without a full review and repeal of Mifepristone, unborn lives will remain in grave danger and pregnant mothers will remain at risk. Let’s stand for life and end this mail-order abortion drug pipeline. Sign the petition urging the Trump administration to take action at frc.org slash stop chemical abortion.
SPEAKER 09 :
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God, and the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory. Family Research Council invites you to join our Stand on the Word Bible reading plan as we reflect upon the life of Jesus, the Word who dwelt among us. Come with us and discover the glory of the Word. Read the Gospels and witness the life-changing story of Jesus, His life, death, and resurrection. Come read how Jesus transformed the lives of common people and how those same people transformed the known world through the power of the Holy Spirit. Come with us for 10 to 15 minutes a day and read the entire New Testament before the new year. Find our Bible reading plan in daily devotionals from Tony Perkins at frc.org slash Bible. Join us and stand on the word.
SPEAKER 03 :
All right. Welcome back to this Thursday edition of Washington Watch. And in about two weeks, we are going to be gathering at Calvary Chapel Chino Hills in Southern California for the PrayVote Stand Summit. And there’s still room for you. And I would encourage you to join us October 17th and 18th at Calvary Chapel Chino Hills, Pastor Jack’s church. We’re going to have a gathering of folks from across the country, and we’re going to pray, pray for cultural and spiritual revival. And we’re going to be learning how we can take a stand in this culture at this time. It’s a very critical time. So to find out more and to register, go to PrayVoteStand.org. That’s PrayVoteStand.org. All right, we talked a few times about this in the last couple of months. It’s the Druze religious minority in Syria. Now, they have been in a portion of the country, Sweden. It’s a province in the southern part, and it’s been semi-autonomous. And while many Druze were initially open to working with the new government that stepped in following the toppling of the brutal Assad regime last year, the violence that broke out this past July has changed a lot of minds. And now a de facto military and government-like body has been set up in Sueda as some call for succession. They’re afraid. In fact, they want to come in alignment with Israel. It’s a very interesting dynamic there. How do we sort through all this? But joining me now to discuss this and more is Ahmad Sarawi. He is a research analyst for the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, whose focus is on the Middle East. Ahmad, thanks so much for joining us here on Washington Watch. Thank you for having me. Now, there’s a lot to unpack in that introduction, but things are in trouble in Syria. And part of it, the Druze minority, which there’s also a large Druze population in Israel, and they’re in trouble. What do we see developing there as a way for them to have security and safety?
SPEAKER 01 :
Sure. I mean, just let me start off by saying that the Druze community in Soweda was attacked back in July by government forces and Arab Sunni Bedouin forces or tribesmen. What started as a localized clash became more of an attack that led to the death of more than a thousand. What we’re seeing right now is more calls for independence and autonomy from the Druze in Soweda because they’ve lost all their trust, all the trust they had in the government in Damascus. They see that the government has failed to protect them against the onslaught. And so they’re… I mean, they feel that they’re in danger being part of the state, and that’s why they’re calling for secession.
SPEAKER 03 :
This is not new from a standpoint of northeast Syria. You had Christians, Muslims, and other religious minorities forming a government up there a number of years ago. And so Syria is very fractured and probably works better as a— You have semi-autonomous governments, but they want to be totally extracted from the Syrian government. Is that the understanding?
SPEAKER 01 :
So the Kurds in northeast Syria, the Syrian Democratic Forces is a military coalition that is a U.S. partner in counterterrorism against the Islamic State. And since 2015, since that body was formed, they’ve created some sort of autonomous body where they have local governance over three of Syria’s provinces. Ever since the fall of the Assad regime, they’ve been in active negotiations with the government in Damascus about how they want to integrate. They’re calling for a decentralized political system in which they can maintain their local governing authorities and structures, but still be part of the overall state. So that’s not necessarily independence or separation, but they’re seeing some sort of localized autonomy. Unfortunately, they agreed on a plan back in March. The implementation of the plan has been very slow. We saw a lot of tensions and problems arise over the past few months, again, all going back to some of the violent episodes that Syria has experienced over the past 10 months, be it the violence in the south against the Druze or the violence in the coast against the Alawites. And so the Kurds are asking for more, let’s say, guarantees, constitutional guarantees from the Syrian government in order to agree to integrate. Until now, as I stated, things have been slow and tensions have been rising. We’re seeing some clashes between Kurdish forces against the government forces. And I mean, there’s a lot of indicators that this might escalate into a bigger conflict anytime soon.
SPEAKER 03 :
So are we headed back to another civil war in Syria?
SPEAKER 01 :
I wouldn’t say that right now. Again, Syria remains fractured. There’s a lot of mistrust, or there’s a lack of trust in the new government. Of course, the new government is run by Ahmad al-Sharra, who was a former al-Qaeda commander under the name Abu Muhammad al-Julani. And that’s why a lot of these ethnic minorities are hesitant and reluctant to trusting the new government in Damascus. Adding to that is that he’s seeking to centralize power. He is giving himself more constitutional rights. He’s the one who selects the ministers, and he selects one-third of the Syrian parliament. And so there’s a lot of these powerful groups in Syria are very hesitant and are very critical of the moves he’s taking. In terms of moving on to another civil war, I think we’re seeing smaller violent episodes. Now, of course, anything can trigger a wide scale civil war. But Syria is still there’s still a lot of instability in Syria. The economy is not doing well.
SPEAKER 03 :
So, Ahmad, we just have about a minute left. So what is the way forward for Syria to bring stability to that region?
SPEAKER 01 :
So I think one necessary step that the new president, Ahmad al-Sharra, needs to take is to give other segments of the Syrian population a say in the political process. As I stated, he’s seeking to centralize as much power as he can, and he’s sidelining all other groups. And that’s not a way of building a stable state. He’s seeking international legitimacy and normalization from the U.S. and other European actors in order to get more sanctions relief and to get more investments and money inside the country. But he needs to work on the domestic political system. He needs to give minorities a voice. He needs to ensure their participation in the process in order for them to feel that they can live in a secure Syria
SPEAKER 03 :
And he’s got to do that quickly. I mean, it’s a powder keg there. Ahmad, we’re out of time. I want to thank you for joining us. Very complicated situation and only seems to be getting worse. All right, don’t go away. More Washington Watch straight ahead.
SPEAKER 20 :
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SPEAKER 14 :
At Family Research Council, defending the family isn’t just a mission, it’s our daily calling. Every team member at FRC uses their God-given talents to stand for biblical truth, protect life, and uphold religious freedom.
SPEAKER 19 :
Here at Family Research Council, we face many threats to the family, threats that have been with us for some time. Abortion, the gender ideology threat, the attacks on marriage, the attacks on parental authority, and the attacks on religious freedom. We have to promote, support, strengthen, and incentivize family growth so families take their place in society in a place of honor.
SPEAKER 08 :
I’m defending the family by working in the Center for Biblical Worldview to provide cutting edge research and resources for pastors, ministry leaders, and Christian parents.
SPEAKER 07 :
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SPEAKER 18 :
Because of you, we’re able to frame things in such a way that help Christians stand for truth on the things that matter most, like life, faith, family, and freedom.
SPEAKER 07 :
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SPEAKER 19 :
Thank you for your support. It is so critical to the work that we at Family Research Council are doing day to day as we support and strengthen the family. So thank you.
SPEAKER 03 :
This is Washington Watch, website TonyPerkins.com. Hope you have the Stand Firm app. Go to the app store, get the Stand Firm app. You can listen to Washington Watch no matter where you go. You also, as I’ve said before, have access to our news and commentary from a biblical perspective, the Washington Stand, and you’ll have access to my daily devotional, Stand on the Word, our Bible, Journey Through the Bible. So all of that can be found at in the App Store on the Stand Firm app. Speaking of the Bible, you know, living in America where getting a hold of a Bible isn’t difficult. I mean, you get one online. I mean, they’re everywhere. But we can easily forget how access to the Bible is not universal. There are many people around the world that cannot get access to a Bible. In fact, in some places it’s illegal, other places there’s just a scarcity. Well, a new coalition of Bible agencies and mission organizations have published its landmark assessment of Bible access in 88 nations across the world. And it identifies where access to the Bible is most restricted and where, as I mentioned, the other list they have is where shortages among believers is the greatest. So what are the takeaways from the Bible Access List? Joining me now to discuss this is Ken Bitgood. He’s the founder and CEO of the Digital Bible Society, a founding member of the Bible Access Initiative, which published the Bible Access List, which was released today. Ken, welcome to Washington Watch. Thanks so much for joining us.
SPEAKER 11 :
Thank you. It’s such an honor to be with you. We appreciate your passion for the Word and having us on this list. You’re having a little bit of technical difficulty you make here. I’m hearing some background speech, but I’m just grateful to be able to talk with you.
SPEAKER 03 :
Well, let’s talk about the list. You’ve got two lists. One focuses on where it’s difficult because of government restrictions. Talk about that first.
SPEAKER 11 :
So what’s happened is there’s been a coalition of many organizations now, led by Open Doors International and Digital Bible Society, now with Bible League International, Bible League of Canada. Many organizations have brought together research. largely taken initially from the world watch list that shows the most difficult nations in the world it is to be a Christian. Now we’re able, through years of research, to show where Scripture is most restricted by nation of the world. We’re grateful to be here today at Bible League International where we’ve launched this list, and we’re seeing the hardest nations in the world where it is to get the Bible. That’s the first place. And the second, as you’ve mentioned, is where the shortage of Bibles is greatest. Lord, I pray for those that are on.
SPEAKER 03 :
Let’s talk about this first. Let’s talk about the place where access is restricted. Ken, what what what is the hope by bringing awareness to this? What is the hope of this coalition of organizations?
SPEAKER 11 :
Well, the hope is that people will, first of all, take notice and begin praying for these nations. There are many, many new believers coming in places like Somalia and Eritrea, Yemen and Iran, where it’s extraordinarily difficult for people to get Bibles. Our prayer is, our hope is, is that awareness is raised, that people will be more focused and more vigorously, not just on praying, but in supporting the initiatives that are bringing God’s word into these most difficult nations.
SPEAKER 03 :
It’s certainly something that we need to be praying about. But then there’s the issue of scarcity. And I think, Ken, the purpose here in drawing attention to this, this is something we can actually do. This is places that we can get the Bible into, but we just need the resources and the focus commitment. So, Ken, what’s the plan when it comes to these areas where there’s the scarcity?
SPEAKER 11 :
Well, interestingly enough, many organizations now have seen the great need in some of the scarce, the most restricted nations, and are actually turning focus now upon those areas to ensure that there’s greater Bibles that are made available into those. And those can be Bibles in print. They can be audio. They can be Bibles in forms of media, such as videos and so forth. But that there is now a shift that’s happening in many of the great Bible agencies. As I mentioned, I’m here at Bible League International, where this has become a clarion call for them to turn their focus and their resources in that direction.
SPEAKER 03 :
So how can people find out more and join in this effort, not only praying in it, but also supporting?
SPEAKER 11 :
This is a great question, and thank you for asking that. So there’s a new website that got published today. It’s called bibleaccesslist.org that lists these nations, answering these two issues, where restrictions are tightest, and also answering the question where the shortage is greatest. There’s also a list of about a dozen ministries who’ve joined in this coalition and are turning now their focus on the nations where this need is. It’s quite easy for people who are praying or ready to give or ready to partner, ready to go into these countries. It’s pretty simply just to contact us directly on the list. Contact any of the dozen or so ministries now that are joining in this coalition for a focused effort to ensure that God’s word goes into these nations.
SPEAKER 03 :
Oh, powerful and exciting. Ken Bittgood, thanks so much for joining us today. I appreciate this, not only the information, but just appreciate the effort that’s being put into this.
SPEAKER 11 :
And we really want to thank you and your listeners for your passion for God’s Word and your stand for so long for our nation. We’re so grateful for you and all the work you’ve done.
SPEAKER 03 :
Thank you, Ken. Appreciate that. Folks, check out the website. I recall when the wall came down in Eastern Europe, I was able to give some Bibles to police officers and members of the military that had been in some of the Eastern Bloc countries. And just to see the power of that. And I don’t have time to go into the stories, but life changing to see that. the power of the gospel and how there’s the hunger and the thirst in many parts of the world. We just don’t understand. All right, don’t go away. We’ve got more coming up right after this.
SPEAKER 13 :
Family Research Council is committed to advancing faith, family, and freedom from the East Coast to the West. So FRC is going to Southern California for this year’s Pray, Vote, Stand Summit, October 17th and 18th at Calvary Chapel Chino Hills. Join us for this powerful gathering of Christians desiring cultural renewal and spiritual revival. The Pray, Vote, Stand Summit brings together Christian leaders, issue experts, and government officials for a time of prayer, inspiration, and action. Together, we will seek God’s guidance for our nation and engage in meaningful discussions on the intersection of faith, government, and culture. If the spiritual foundations and the cultural walls of our nation are to be rebuilt, we all have a role to play. May we each find our place on the wall as we build for biblical truth. Register now at PrayVoteStand.org. That’s PrayVoteStand.org.
SPEAKER 10 :
Jennifer, it’s so exciting to be here with you today talking about our new book, Embracing God’s Design. Who is actually going to benefit from reading this book in your view?
SPEAKER 05 :
There are so many different audiences that can benefit. The first one are counselors themselves, because we have some material in there where we really address the gender dysphoria diagnosis and what is wrong with it. We have information for people who are wanting to go back to embracing God’s design for their life.
SPEAKER 10 :
This is really magical to have the therapist and the individual who suffered come together and write about why this is happening and why we’re seeing this.
SPEAKER 05 :
And we brought all of that experience to the table. We want to see people walking in the fullness of who God has called them to be and not a false identity.
SPEAKER 10 :
Order today at embracethedesign.com.
SPEAKER 06 :
How should Christians think about the thorny issues shaping our culture? How should Christians address deceitful ideas like transgenderism, critical theory, or assisted suicide? How can Christians navigate raising children in a broken culture, the war on gender roles, or rebuilding our once great nation? Outstanding is a podcast from The Washington Stand dedicated to these critical conversations. Outstanding seeks to tear down what our corrupt culture lifts up with an aim to take every thought and every idea captive to the obedience of Christ. Whether policies or partisan politics, whether conflict in America or conflict abroad, join us and our guests as we examine the headlines through the lens of Scripture and explore how Christians can faithfully exalt Christ in all of life. Follow Outstanding on your favorite podcast app and look for new episodes each week.
SPEAKER 03 :
All right. As I mentioned earlier, two weeks from now, we’re going to be gathering in Southern California, Calvary Chapel, Chino Hills for the PrayVoteStand Summit. And there’s still room. There’s still room for you to join us October 17th and 18th. It’s going to be a powerful gathering as we seek cultural renewal and spiritual revival. PrayVoteStand. Go to PrayVoteStand.org to find out how you can register and be a part of this event. PrayVoteStand.org. Well, our word today comes from 1 Corinthians chapter 13, often called the love chapter. Paul reminds us that even the greatest gifts, eloquent speech, prophecy, deep knowledge, or sacrificial giving amount to nothing if we do not exercise it with love. At weddings, this passage is frequently quoted, but Paul is not writing about romance or marriage. He’s addressing the proper use of spiritual gifts in the church. The Corinthians were using their gifts competitively, but Paul redirects them to the foundation of all ministry, love. Now, the problem is that in the English language, we flatten love into a single word. We say, I love my spouse, I love pizza, but clearly we don’t mean the same thing. In Scripture, there are two Greek words that are used, phileo, brotherly affection, and agapeo, or agape, which is not a feeling, but it’s a choice. In John 3.16, it shows agape, inaction. For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son. It wasn’t an emotion. It was an intentional act. Paul’s point is clear. Love is not an emotion that comes and goes, but a decision to act for the good of others by using the gifts God has given us. Without that, everything else is empty. To find out more about our journey through the Bible, text BIBLE to 67742. Well, as we often do on Thursdays, we take a look at what has transpired during the week with the various news items that are out there, as well as what’s happened on Capitol Hill with some of our in-house experts. And joining me now is Travis Weber, FRC Vice President for Policy and Government Affairs, and, of course, Casey Harper, Managing Editor for Broadcast at The Washington Stand. Travis, Casey, thanks for joining me.
SPEAKER 19 :
Thank you, Tony.
SPEAKER 03 :
All right. I want to go back to where we started, Casey. Government shutdown. It’s not the first. What do we know about the shutdown and the impact on the average American? How long before people begin to feel something?
SPEAKER 20 :
Yeah, I mean, if by some miracle they’re able to resolve this in the Senate vote tomorrow, I think it will be a blip on the radar, but that doesn’t appear likely now. And if this goes on, we will see some real effects. For instance, if you’re planning a visit to some national parks or a Smithsonian here in D.C., you might rethink that. They may not be open when you arrive. And then a more serious implication would be if our soldiers and Border Patrol agents and other federal workers, others involved, There are millions of federal workers. I mean, there’s 2.1 million federal workers and 1.3 million service members who are going to not get their paychecks on October 15th unless the Senate acts before then. Now, there are ways that these people can get back pay, but I will say federal contractors, they are not guaranteed back pay at the same way that other federal workers are.
SPEAKER 03 :
And so, Travis, your sense in terms of the – A resolution and what is standing in the way. Now, we’re hearing from the Republicans. This is about the Democrats wanting about a one point five trillion increase. That would be an expansion for Obamacare subsidies that are about to expire. Talk about that for a moment.
SPEAKER 19 :
Yeah, I mean, Tony, folks may remember the saga of Obamacare years ago and the issue of its funding of abortion. And that’s still the case with these subsidy extenders that we’re talking about today, which are the obstacle, the sticking point. Democrats are insisting on them, but no one should be insisting on using the tax dollars to fund abortion. And that’s what we’re talking about here. So that’s why we’re opposed to that. We’re concerned about it. And we shouldn’t do it. If the Democrats would agree to a clean CR, meaning no funding of those extenders, I don’t think we’d have an issue. But that’s really one, if not the major issue standing in the way here.
SPEAKER 03 :
My sense is they’re not going to get it in conversations I’ve had with leaders on the Hill. And so at some point in time, they’re just going to have to fold and agree to a clean CR. And what are they going to have? They’re not going to have anything but, you know, a lot of people that are going to be upset over a government shutdown.
SPEAKER 19 :
Yeah, I think that’s true.
SPEAKER 03 :
All right. I want to move on to another topic. Casey, you touched on this at the top of the program, and that was the attack in Manchester, England. Give us the latest on this and what we know so far. Sure. This is a tragic attack.
SPEAKER 20 :
And as you said, it’s hard to keep track of all these violent incidents. But this is actually not the first attack of this kind to happen in Manchester, England. And the authorities there are calling it a terrorist attack. So a man on Yom Kippur, which is the Day of Atonement, a high holy day, you could call it, for the Jewish faith, This guy drove into a crowd, and then he jumped out of the car and started stabbing people. Two people have died. Four more are injured. So far, at the time that we started this recording, they were still alive and in the hospital being taken care of. And then I read reports that they ran inside, locked the doors, and then police came about seven minutes later and shot this guy. And actually, just breaking news, Tony, and I’d love to get your reaction to this. It’s In some ways it’s poetic, in other ways it’s very sad, but they release the name of the suspected shooter, or the suspected killer, stabber, and he is a British citizen of Syrian descent, and his name is allegedly Jihad al-Shammi.
SPEAKER 03 :
You know, this goes back. There’s several issues here. And I’m going to bring you in here in a moment, Travis. But Casey invoked my name to ask me to get me to say something. This is the issue that the president even talked about. President Donald Trump talked about in his message at the U.N., about how Europe is in such a mess because they don’t have borders, and they’re letting everyone flow across their borders, and they’re coming in not to become a part of that society, but to tear the society down. And that’s the same problem we have here in the United States. I’m all about immigrants coming in, as long as they want to be a part of the American family. And, I mean, they can bring in differences, but they’ve got to integrate in and become a part of what makes America great. And a part of that is our unique foundation, what happens to be Judeo-Christian. And if you’re coming in to destroy that— Guess what? You’re not welcome. And I think that’s what the president was saying, is that you’ve got to maintain your identity and your immigration policy is one of the key ways that that’s done. Travis, this issue, this attack in the UK, yes, another attack on a religious gathering, but it’s also more of the anti-Semitism that we see rising. When I chaired the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, that was one of the hearings I hosted on Capitol Hill, or I chaired on Capitol Hill, was the rise of anti-Semitism in Europe. And that was five years ago, six years ago. It is a major problem.
SPEAKER 19 :
Tony, totally. As I was talking to a European leader the other day who we’re hosting in Washington for some strategic meetings, and she was relating to me how they are confronting this and they don’t, she doesn’t know in her opinion if they’re past the window of opportunity to address the impact on that discussion caused by high levels of immigration from Islamic countries. And I stress that word because, again, it’s not about, as you said earlier, someone coming from a certain country. Take the point about Syria. We’ve been trying to address, as you know, the religious freedom conditions for Jews and Christians in Syria. This man was from Syria. That doesn’t mean I know others from Syria who are peace loving and want to integrate the point is, though, from what it appears now, the reporting now, this guy was driven by Islamic ideology. That’s the point. So we have to remember that in terms of what we’re dealing with in Syria and, Tony, the impact of that on countries in the West who’ve historically enjoyed freedom. The issue is front and center right now. The assault on Western civilization is manifesting in attacks on Jewish and Christian communities and places of worship.
SPEAKER 03 :
And The Jews may be first, but they’re not the last that will be attacked. Christians are next. We see that all across the country, all across the world, but we see it even here in our own country. Sticking with the Middle East, I touched on this topic, gentlemen, yesterday with Pastor Jack Hibbs just at the tail end of our conversation. But as the war in the Middle East continues between Israel and its enemies, new polling shows that young evangelicals are now very much less likely to support Israel than their parents. Casey, break down those numbers for us.
SPEAKER 20 :
Sure, Tony, I’ll try to keep it brief here, but top line, the poll found that about half of evangelicals say they do believe the Jews are God’s chosen people. But when you look at people below the age of 35, it drops down to less than a third. Only 29% of respondents below the age of 35 agree that the Jews are God’s chosen people. By contrast, you know, half of respondents between over the age of 35 up to 44 say the same, that Jews are God’s chosen people. As the respondents get older, they get more supportive. But one thing that’s also really important and worth pointing out here is that coinciding with this, that those below the age of 35, 26% of them explicitly endorsed replacement theology. So, and then another 26% said they do not know. And I think that’s a really interesting point here is there’s a lot of people who they have strong views, maybe against CIGIO or for, but there’s a huge group of young people who they just don’t have a conviction on the CIGIO and they haven’t been taught.
SPEAKER 03 :
Okay. So that last point, um, In fact, after the program last night, I got some emails from people saying, yes, I’m experiencing this myself. My children, my adult children are not pro-Israel, but they grew up in a Christian home and so on and so on. So I actually began working on something this morning on this. The reality is it goes back to biblical teaching because I think in that survey, it said people want to know there’s really kind of two major doors you can go through addressing Israel. One is what the Bible says about Israel and then the prophetic role that Israel has in the end times. People are interested in those two areas. And frankly, there’s not a lot of teaching on it.
SPEAKER 20 :
Yeah, and I think that’s really the point here. Obviously, I’m a little bit younger, and I have a lot of millennial and Gen Z friends, and I think a problem, a strategic mistake that’s been made is when good faith, honest questions are asked about Israel, the answers that come are not biblical answers, they’re political answers. And so they’re political answers about Hamas did this or that, and this can all be true, but if it doesn’t have the weight of scripture and the understanding of broader scriptural authority, I don’t think it’s going to have the weight to transform a whole generation that now doesn’t believe what was a normal evangelical belief maybe 20 years ago.
SPEAKER 03 :
Now, Travis, I’m not going to put it into the same category, but it is, you know, the word says in Genesis chapter 12, those who bless Israel will be blessed. Also, when you look at the commandment to honor your parents, it is the commandment with promise. There’s a promise that comes with honoring your parents. Now, when you honor your parents, it doesn’t mean you agree with everything. In fact, you might have bad parents, but that doesn’t mean you dishonor them. You still honor them. You don’t agree with everything that Israel, I don’t agree with every political decision or military decision that Israel makes, but I still support their right to exist and I pray for their well-being. Because if they’re doing well and there’s peace in Israel, in Jerusalem, as we’re instructed to pray for, there’s peace for everybody that lives there.
SPEAKER 19 :
Tony, that’s right. And you made a point. The point you just made, it’s the personal and the national analog, right? And I think with this issue, what we have to encourage people to do is Number one, open the Scriptures. But number two, when we open them, we have to ask the Holy Spirit to come and open them to our eyes spiritually so we have the Lord’s perspective on the matter because we know this is a spiritual struggle. Incorporating, and we need to incorporate everything Casey just said in terms of the objections and questions. We’re not afraid of the truth. We’re not afraid of conversation. So we need to say, what is the question? Let’s bring it to the table. But then let’s let Scripture speak to it. I think the situation we’re in is one in which there are there has been a lack of depth in that. So Tony, as we know, what happens when youth are exposed to the forces of the culture on the gender issue? We’ve seen kids go to school, go to university, come back influenced by gender ideology and their parents say, what do I do now? It’s the same dynamic. Unless we have a grounding in scripture, we’re going to be influenced by those around us, by social media, by peers, by educational systems, by cultures we’re living in, wherever that is, even at a community level in the US. So we need to be aware who’s around us, whose voice are we listening to. For the Christian, for the one who names the name of Christ, every one of those people should be saying, I’m opening the scripture. and amassing the Holy Spirit to come. But as Casey said, we need to listen to the questions and bring those before the Lord to help provide people the answers they need.
SPEAKER 03 :
Well, and that’s on everything. I mean, that’s not just on Israel. That’s on all issues. We should be looking through a biblical lens on those issues, and that’s why we have our Center for Biblical Worldview, helping people understand the issues from that biblical perspective. Without that foundation… And this is why we have our Stand on the Word Bible reading plan, which we have thousands of people involved in now. And we’ve done that because in this day of testing, where you have these cultural voices that are out there that are against everything that is right, you have to know what you believe and why you believe it. And when there’s a foundation for it, you can stand in the midst of the cultural turbulence. You’re not intimidated. You have courage. You have conviction. Really, the courage comes from the conviction. That’s why we need to be teaching our children all of these things. And I’ve made this point before, you know, people lament that their kids walk away from the faith and they go to college. The reality is in our churches, we’re teaching kids Bible stories and not biblical truths. We’ve got to go back to these truths so that there is a foundation. Casey, we’ve got about a minute left. I’m going to give you and Travis the last word. Well, almost the last word. I’ll say goodbye, but go ahead.
SPEAKER 20 :
All right. Well, I’ll take my portion here. And I’ll just say I think one thing that it’s not just about Israel. It’s not like the answer is just teach more in Israel. I think there’s something about how we’ve neglected the Old Testament as a whole, Tony. We just teach the New Testament. We ignore the Old Testament. And Israel is one casualty there, but there are many other teachings that have been ignored.
SPEAKER 03 :
Well, Jesus… And the salvation. I mean, the prophecies that point to him and his death, burial and resurrection. All right, Travis, you got 15 seconds.
SPEAKER 19 :
Tony, I agree. The Old Testament. And what if families gathered around the dinner table or in the living room and did that? They open up the Old Testament. Parents taught it and prayed through it with their children. What would our country look like? That’s quite a picture.
SPEAKER 03 :
it would transform our country. That’s why we have Stand on the Word. So, folks, text BIBLE to 67742 and join us in this journey through the Bible.
SPEAKER 12 :
Washington Watch with Tony Perkins is brought to you by Family Research Council. To support our efforts to advance faith, family, and freedom, please text GIVE to 67742. That’s GIVE to 67742. Portions of the show discussing candidates are brought to you by Family Research Council Action. For more information, please visit TonyPerkins.com.
