Rick Green [00:00:07] Welcome to the Intersection of Faith and Culture. It's The WallBuilders Show, taking on the hot topics of the day from a biblical, historical, and constitutional perspective. Rick Green here with David Barton and Tim Barton, our websites, wallbuilders.com and wallbuilders.show. Wallbuilders.show for all the radio programming and wallbuilders.com for everything else. David and Tim, of course, today 25th anniversary of 9-11. I've seen so many clips over the last couple of days that I wish every you know, every school kid in America would have to watch every year. And frankly, adults as well. We have forgotten what Islam did to our country. And man, the fact that we have the mayor of New York that we have right now, it's hard to believe. But hopefully today can be a day of remembrance and a day rededicating ourselves to defending the flag because we know what the flag stands for, not just because we have some sort you know fearful patriotism, but instead of patriotism that's born out of an understanding of who we are, and 9-11 is a great day to remember who we were. 

Tim Barton [00:01:08] Yeah, and I think in the midst of it too, for everybody who is listening, who is a veteran or active duty, man, we are so grateful for the service of the people that signed up, that were willing to put their life on the line, were supporting all of the different activities, the missions, the endeavors that were going on. We recognize, as we are trying to preserve freedom in America with all the things that we are doing. If it was not for our military, we understand that the greater level of challenges and threat that would be happening. And we are so grateful for the military, but guys, even in the midst of thinking about 25 years after 9-11, the slogan" Never Forget", I was thinking about that today, actually even some yesterday, and just how that is a great slogan. The problem is, there can be ambiguity and subjectivity to it. If you don't know what you're never supposed to forget, so it's a great phrase, but it's little bit like you know Nike's slogan was "Just Do It" If you, don't, know the context of "Just Do It", it's like man, I'm angry. I want to punch somebody in the face. You're like, just do it. Well, that's not really how that phrase is designed or created. But Nike, Nike has done thousands and tens of thousands of ads to give us the context for that slogan, for that phrase. In the athletic sense, you go for do hard things, persevere, just do it and because they didn't just give us a slogan, they gave us context for the messaging, we know what that means. I think one of the challenges is, we have removed the context and not taught, I mean, really for more than a decade, arguably almost two decades, but at least a decade plus we, we have not really communicated well what we're trying to never forget. And it's a little bit what we do with American history here at WallBuilders and Patriot Academy, trying to help re-instill that foundation in people, of the Nehemiah idea of we're going to, we want to rebuild what's been torn down. If we don't know what we are trying to rebuild, if we don't know what we're supposed to "Never Forget", it's easy to go the wrong direction. And, you know, guys, just a year or two after 9-11 happened, if you're looking at 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, the idea that there would be a Muslim-socialist mayor in New York City, people would have said, you're crazy, it's never gonna happen. But we forgot what we were supposed to never forget. And so I think in the midst of today, first of all, again, I'm so grateful for the military, for the men and women that have done so much. I have brothers, cousins, so many friends, active duty and, and veterans that have been part of military service and I'm so grateful for, and I know, certainly because of part of what president Biden did with the Afghanistan withdrawal and giveaway that a lot of veterans have been very disheartened and frustrated. And now, with some of the voices out there that are, used to be conservative voices that are becoming increasingly anti-American voices in many ways. It is further disheartened a lot of people. So for the veterans, man, we're praying for you. We're grateful for you. We think your service mattered, it made a difference and we we could not be a free nation the way we are now had it not been for you. And this is not to ignore the fact that there could have been corruption or bad things, but I think this in my mind reiterates why it matters that we know our history. Because when you forget your history, instead of never forgetting, when you forgot what you're supposed to never forget, and again, because there wasn't context with it, as opposed to, again, Nike's slogan, that they give you commercial after commercial after commercial for years they have done this. You know what that slogan stands for. We have forgotten that, and so guys, my prayer is that we don't do that with American history. That we are able to put that messaging out in front of people again, do they recognize, hey, what we really need is to restore the Christian foundation of America. That's what is going to help us be free going into the future. 

David Barton [00:05:29] You know, Tim, in that context of "Never Forget" and talking about remembering history, it's interesting that just last week, Texas finalized its history, social studies standards for students for the next decade, 12, 15 years, whatever. And it's interesting that one of the significant fights that happened in those history standards was over the way that 9-11 attack was presented. Because on the 9-11 attack, they added in a clause that this was an attack by radical Islam and that sent people through the roof, and "you can't say that!" And CAIR was there which is interesting, I find it interesting that CAIR has been lobbying so many of the state board members and this is after governor Abbott has declared CAIR a terrorist group and they're actively down lobbying on this, and organizing people, and having people show up there. And it was a fight just to be able to say that 9-11 was the result of an attack by radical Islam. 

Tim Barton [00:06:33] And Dad, just to remind everybody, I think, and correct me if I'm wrong, CAIR stands for the Center of American-Islamic Relations. And so this is the Islamic relation, like the PR firm for America, essentially. And so when you're saying CAIR, we're talking about the PR side of Islam is what that is. This is the American PR side, and is it the Center for American-Islamic relations? Something to that effect. But that's, that's what was banned because they recognized that this organization, so much of their funding was coming from actual terrorist organizations overseas, from actual Muslim terrorist organizations that are attacking and murdering and all kinds of evil things overseas. That's where they've gotten so much as their funding and support to promote more Islam in America. So, so that's who we're talking about. 

David Barton [00:07:24] And so even the fact that you had to have a fight over saying that 9-11 was an attack by radical Islam, the fact, the fact that that's even a fight at all shows how much we've forgotten probably in the last 15 years. I don't think 10 years ago, that would have still been a fight, but I think in the 15 or so years it is, and we really have forgotten why it was common. It's interesting because that whole downgrading of radical Islam is what we're now seeing in state after state with our legislative network. We're seeing all these states saying, hey wait we don't want Sharia law in our state. How can we keep Sharia Law out? Which is radical Islam. That is the legal code of radical Islam which surplaces and supplants the US legal code and the US Constitution. They follow that more than they follow the laws of the land and so that is an ongoing debate. That's a great point Tim, is you kind wonder if people even remember what that means. 

Tim Barton [00:08:19] Well, and I don't want to derail us of Good News Friday because there is good news. And actually, there was good news from the convention yesterday. We talked a little bit, I guess, yesterday on Foundations of Freedom. We talked about that first day of the convention. And today we get to highlight some of what happened at the convention, yesterday. Certainly, it was a day that so many people honored Charlie Kirk. It was neat to me to see the convention so many acknowledgements of Charlie Kirk. And certainly, when you had JD Vance giving a huge shout out, acknowledgement of Charlie Kirk, but I got guys, I thought when RFK acknowledged that the reason he's a Republican is because of Charlie Kirk, that is that is huge and certainly shows the power of connection, of relationship and conversation which I do you think is something so important that we keep in mind. Because RFK shortly after Charlie was murdered he was on camera talking about when Charlie first invited him on his show..Maybe '21, '22. When RFK went on the show and RFK was like what when I was going on the show we both knew, Charlie knew, I knew that we're coming from like different paradigms different world views, you know, this is worlds colliding. But he talks about how it was a great conversation and it was impactful and Charlie was respectful and that broke some barriers that ultimately Charlie was able to literally reach across the political aisle to someone on the other side, but help him see, you know what, we have way more in common than you realize. And actually, what we're fighting for, you care way more for what we are fighting for than what the side that you think you're on than what they're actually fighting for because that side, that's not the side of your family, right? That's not the side of JFK. Anyway, so for him at the convention to say Charlie Kirk's the reason I'm a Republican, there were just several incredible shout outs acknowledgments to Charlie Kirk, which was great. But there were some really fun moments. I had a couple of clips. Our producer, Justin, has pulled. Guys, I don't know if there's any anything you want to highlight. Anywhere you want to go. Or if I should just maybe call on those clips. What do you guys think? 

Rick Green [00:10:33] Well, how did you pick? That's the hard part. Cause there was still a lot yesterday to... You know day before yesterday that we didn't get to cover. Like you and I were talking off-air, even had guys like Justin Engagey and the champ that won the fight at the White House card and so many good, good things. So did you, did you put them all out and throw a dart and just like whatever it landed on? That was what you picked? 

Tim Barton [00:10:51] Well, so yes, that's a super valid question. So in fairness, two things that I chose. One of them I chose because our friend, Speaker Mike Johnson, that we have known literally for decades. Before he was in Congress, we were friends. When he was in Congress we did lots of stuff together. But, one of the really fun things as all three of us, Rick, Dad, and I, we've all done dozens if not hundreds. Dad, you for sure have done hundreds. Rick and I have at least done dozens of Capitol Tours. Spiritual Heritage Tours where we walk people through the Capitol and we just tell some of the history of what's there. We talk about the paintings and what the paintings were about, the stories that they were representing, and the statues, who those people were, and the story of their life. And let people see kind of that some of that spiritual foundation. The fact that the US Capitol building was the home to the largest Protestant church in America for decades. Thomas Jefferson actually attended that church, so many presidents did. So we go through a lot of this history, but there's a spot in the rotunda, which was a part of the Capitol building built in 1807. That's where the old house chamber was. Now it's one of the places that has a ton of statues. And in there, there's some little plaques, these kind of gold plates on the ground that are where presidents had sat when they were in Congress. Well, there's only one president that actually was president and then went and served in Congress because everybody else would have thought like that's a demotion. You don't go that way. John Quincy Adams, the only one who went the opposite direction. He was president. And when he lost his reelection bid to Andrew Jackson, his heart was still burdened. He said, man, there are some evils in America that have not yet been remedied. And he goes to Congress and he became the leader of the anti-slavery movement in Congress. He was there for 17 years, spent his entire life fighting against slavery. He ends up dying in the Capitol building. And when he died, the burden God put on his heart had not been accomplished. Slavery had not be ended, but his last term in Congress, there was a young freshman who was there and this young freshman joined the anti-slavery movement and John Quincy Adams every week was giving these impassioned speeches against slavery and this younger freshman hears all these speeches. And when John Quincy Adams dies, this young freshman is one of the congressmen on the Republican side that said, we want to carry the torch. Now, when I say on the Republicans side, there wasn't a Republican party yet, but this guy became the first Republican president. It was Abraham Lincoln. Abraham Lincoln literally was in part mentored by John Quincy Adams from those anti-slavery speeches. Anyway, so we'll tell kind of a bigger picture story of John Quincy Adams and Abraham Lincoln, So guys one of the clips I pulled was a moment when Mike Johnson is telling part of that story. Now he tells most of the story as an encouragement to people that are there, because one of like the crux of the story, at one point there was somebody that came to John Quincy Adams because he fights against slavery for so long at the time he's in Congress. It's mostly a pro-slavery Congress. He's not been successful, but he keeps going persevering over and over and over. And so one day somebody comes to him and says, Mr. Adams, you've been fighting slavery for so long and there have been no visible signs of success. How do you stay motivated? And his answer was based on his life motto. His life motto, he wrote was, "duty is ours, results are God's". And he tells this person asking it, it's only up to us to do the right thing. It's up to God what happens after that. So Mike Johnson is telling the story. So I only have this one clip from it, but I thought this is so great, this one clip. So if you guys don't remember this part of the story... This was my favorite part of Mike Johnson telling that story. 

Speaker Mike Johnson [00:14:44] Plate of John's Quincy Adams. I like to take everybody to that spot in Stad Hall. Why is that? He's the only person in the history of the United States who ran for the House after serving as president. Maybe our current president would do that. No, no, I don't. He's going to be too busy. 

Tim Barton [00:15:13] I love that he tries to like back it up. He's like, look, I don't want people to think President Trump's gonna run for Congress. But I love the idea that he's dropping this little colonel like, hey, maybe Trump just, you know, he'll run for congress. Next Speaker of the House after Mike Johnson, I dunno. But I loved the fact that in telling the story of the only president that ever goes to congress after being president and then he gets a little head nod to Trump, I love part again, knowing that story, knowing that Mike Johnson, I mean very likely, Dad, he probably learned that story from you. Which also I think is amazing. But that he gives a head nod to President Trump. I thought that was hillarious.

Rick Green [00:15:49] I think it's hilarious to I've never thought about that, adding that to the story, especially with a president like Trump. But I gotta say guys. I mean seriously it is, you know, I know David you don't ever, you're the most humble guy I know. Even though you're most brilliant guy I know. And you've had such an impact on the country. But for me when I watch Mike Johnson's videos that have gone viral giving that tour, telling that story. When I hear that story in that kind of a position, I can't help but say, you know what? That's my boss. That's, my mentor that brought that story to life for millions of people. And I'm just thankful for you, man. I'm tearing up. I can't help it, but I'm so thankful for, you and Cheryl being so faithful for so many years, all of the things you've traveled across, I think 400 times a year speaking, being a George Whitefield, to see that story being told from the stage like that, or to see those videos go viral with the current Speaker of the House, it's fruit. It's fruit of the labor that you, that you gave. So. Anyway, I know you hate it whenever I point out something like this and you don't, you're so humble you don't like this stuff to be pointed out. But for, I know Tim feels the same way. I mean, we're proud. We're proud, proud to be students that learned at your feet and to see people like Mike Johnson in the same way, so I just think that's really, really cool. We just heard 

Tim Barton [00:17:04] Well, I'm going to take it to break so Rick can find a Kleenex. But you guys hang on. There's so much more good news here on Good News Friday. You're listening to the WallBuilders Show. 

Rick Green [00:18:22] Welcome back to the WallBuilders Show. I found a Kleenex and have gathered myself. And so, we're back on this Good News Friday, a lot of things to celebrate. And, and of course the convention and these speeches and really seriously celebrating the fact that these amazing stories in American history are becoming well known. And, so we are thankful for WallBuilders and for just the impact that it's having. 

Tim Barton [00:18:46] Well, and literally, guys, as we talked about at the beginning, you know, the fact that as today is 9-11 and kind of the slogan was "Never Forget", and we really have forgotten so much of our history. I mean, even that what's happened 25 years ago in New York, so many people have forgotten or were never taught. And so to this point, Dad, the fact that we now have the Speaker of the House that is telling the stories that you were trying to help people relearn for decades. And now they're being told by people with some of the greatest amplification ever. It's just amazing. So yeah, it's so cool to see how God has used your faithfulness and elevated it. And these people are telling the stories at the highest level, just incredible. But there is one more video, guys. I do want us to play because one of the things that I am hearing more and more from pastors as they're trying to help people in their congregation that are Christians, that are torn over who do we vote for? Because, for example, we've mentioned this several times this week, but in Texas, when you look at James Talarico vs Ken Paxton and there's literally Christians who love Jesus, know their Bible but don't have a Biblical world view. I will clarify that. Which is very clear by how confused they are who to vote for because they go well, you know, Talarico is this nice guy and Ken Paxton you know he said some major moral issues. Dr. Robert Jeffress, the senior pastor of First Baptist in Dallas, when he spoke, he provided the simplicity of the moral clarity of how Christians should think about elections. And this is as bold as we've ever seen a pastor be. And just, again, it's so encouraging that as you have challenged pastors for so long now, all of us do. We challenge pastors to be the George Whitefields, to be bold, to be brave, to stand up in spite of what pushback you're going to get. Dr. Jeffers is doing that. And the way he said this, again I think it provides so much clarity. So for anybody listening, if you're wondering like, how do I talk to my friends that are like, hey, you know, this candidate. Has some major issues, even though, you know, on the Republican side, like we might like that side better, but they have major issues and this Democrat candidate seems like a nice person. here's how Dr. Jeffress addressed that. 

Dr. Robert Jeffress [00:21:10] We all need the forgiveness that Jesus Christ came to offer for us. But ladies and gentlemen, there is a difference between falling into sin, which we all do from time to time. There's a difference between falling into sin and being an advocate for sin, an advocate for evil. And ladies and gentlemen, the Democrat Party are advocates for evil. They are advocates FOR SIN. And we need to call it that way. 

Tim Barton [00:21:44] Guys, the moral clarity and the simplicity, right? When you're saying, well, this person has sin in their life, okay, yes, but, but are they advocating that everybody does that sin? Cause this is, this is the distinction. When democrats are advocating for sin not saying that like somebody's a sinner, sure that's a given. Which by the way go read Hebrews 11, right. Like every person in our Faith Hall of Fame, the Hall of Faith, they are all guilty sinners and some of their sins are like as egregious as they could be. But everybody is a sinner in need of a savior. There's none righteous, no not one. All have sinned and come short of the glory of God. It's one thing to be a sinner in need of a savior, which we all are. It something totally different when you are advocating for sin, you're promoting sin. And keep in mind where Jesus said, if you cause one of these little ones to stumble, you you're better off tying a huge rock, a millstone around your neck and throwing yourself in the ocean, like go drown yourself, that is a better condition for you than you to mislead and cause these little ones to stumble. And again, when you look at the Democrat Party and the policies they are promoting, they are advocating for sin and to have a pastor on a huge stage brings that much moral clarity. Guys, that blesses my heart so much, but also the simplicity it offers for everybody listening. If you're wondering how do I communicate with my friend, the biblical reality of this, because maybe this person's a Christian and they're just confused, this is the simplicity and the moral clarity. That you can communicate to them to help them understand the situation. 

David Barton [00:23:23] Yeah, we were even talking on yesterday's program about the epiphany that kind of hit me two days ago, how that there really is not a position they're putting forth that's not radical. It's not like you have a couple of radicals running for US Senate on Democrat side. It's like they're all radicals. I mean, what they're pushing for, the policy, there's not a common-sense democrat anymore. And there was one, was it last week, where one of the Democrats took a position that was fairly, fairly reasonable and the head of the committee democrat had the committee turn their backs on them and would not even listen their testimony because they weren't radical 

Tim Barton [00:24:00] What and Dad, that could be like a John Fetterman kind of person. 

David Barton [00:24:03] Right. 

Tim Barton [00:24:03] Where you look at some people that haven't lost all of their mind, but here's a difference like to your point, we're not talking about somebody's advocating for a 14% tax and somebody's advocating for a 9% tax. That's not the distinction between the parties. 

David Barton [00:24:18] That's right. 

Tim Barton [00:24:19] It's not the little nuance where everybody's like, yeah, there should be tax, but how much do we tax? That's our difference. No, no, no. Literally, it's one party says, hey, boys and girls are real things that they're different. God made them different because there is a God and our rights come from God. And boys shouldn't play in girls' sports. They shouldn't go in girls locker rooms, in fact, we should allow them to be able to grow up to be the men and women ultimately one day that God made them to be. We shouldn't go and when they're boys and girls and like cut off parts and like give them medicine that's going to surgically castrate them whatever else. Like this is the distinction that is happening. It's not a tax rate it is on fundamental, moral, biblical ideology. Again where Dr.Jeffress says this is this is not whether somebody has sinned or not. This is literally a party that is advocating for the expansion and the embracing of sin, evil and wicked. And so it really should provide a lot of moral clarity and alleviate a lot the confusion. 

Rick Green [00:25:19] Yeah, it's no longer right or left. Republican or Democrat. It's it's good versus evil. Well, it is Republican versus Democrat because you know, the parties are how we do this and what they stand for matters. And, you know there was somebody last night that was saying it's not the, even the person it's the principles. So even when we like you're talking about, get hung up on some of the personal flaws of an individual, we got to remember it's, the policies they're advocating for, or if it's a governor or a president, it is the thousands of people they're going to bring along with them into that government and the impact they're going to have in all of those agencies as well. 

Tim Barton [00:25:52] Yeah, there's no doubt. And I now need to apologize to all the listeners. We have a huge stack of good news. But the convention provided a lot of great sound bites. And obviously on 9-11, again, man, huge shout out to all of the military, all the veterans. If you are listening, if you know someone who is in the military active duty or veteran, make sure you appreciate them today. This is a special day that they need to be remembered been honored. Love on those service members and then next week we will try to get through our very large stack of good news.

Rick Green [00:26:25]  Yeah and don't forget all those people like you said to have so many people that signed up after... Think of all those firefighters that ran into burning buildings to save lives. That's the DNA of America. Be proud to be an American this weekend as we remember. And let's rededicate ourselves to preserving it for future generations. Thanks so much for listening to the WallBuilders Show