Understanding God's Role in Government and the Importance of Informed Voting
Jenna Ellis: We would like to take a moment to thank our sponsor, PreBorn. When a mother meets her baby on ultrasound and hears their heartbeat, it's a divine connection and the majority of the time she will choose life. But she can't do it without our help. Preborn needs us, the pro life community, to come alongside her. One ultrasound is just $28 and to donate, dial pound250 and say the keyword baby or visit preborn.com afr Jenna Ellis in the morning on American Family Rad
Jenna Ellis: I love talking about the things of God. Because of truth and the biblical worldview, the U.S. constitution obligates our government to preserve and protect the rights that our founders recognize come from God our creator, not our government. I believe that scripture in the Bible is very clear that God is the one that raised up each of you. And God has allowed us to be brought here to this specific moment in time. This is Jenna Ellis in the morning.
Jenna Ellis: Good morning. Today is Thursday, September 17th. And as we are coming up very quickly on the midterms and especially as early voting starts, a lot of people are asking what is even on my ballot? And so I Voter Guide is a resource from, AFA Action and you can go there to get a lot more information about your entire ballot.
The Critical Need for Trusted Voter Guides and Informing Congregations About Down-Ballot Races
And I had the opportunity to interview the president of I Voter Guide, Debbie with now, and that will be on the podcast, the full interview tomorrow on Friday. So make sure that you go to On Demand, our AFR exclusive [email protected] but I'm going to play a portion of her interview, at the end of the show. But, what's really important that I want to talk about with our first guest as well is that this new, Barna study along with I Voter Guide found that the, the major problem in American elections is that 85% of Americans vote at the top of the ballot, but only about 55% continue voting down ballot. So the number one reason that they cite is a lack of trustworthy information cited by 46% of voters. And when asked what would make them more likely to vote further down the ballot, the top answer was that they wanted a trusted voter guide with 38% saying it would make them much more likely to do so. And that key term trusted, I think is so, fascinating rather than simply partisan or simply conservative, something that they trust for the data to make an informed decision themselves. And so that guide actually outperformed polls, endorsements and other common sources. And so where should the church factor into all this for providing a trusted source of information on things like how to vote, your values, why we engage in a civil government, what are the ballot initiatives in our particular areas? And so, ah, Pastor Jack Hibbs from Calvary Chapel, Chino Hills, joins me this morning. And Pastor Jack, you know, one of the things that this study tells me is, is that local churches by and large really aren't doing the job of informing their congregation and especially conservative Christian voters about the not only getting out to vote, but how to vote.
Local Churches' Success in Educating Voters and Fostering a Christian Worldview in Governance
Jack Hibbs: Well, Jenna, first of all, thank you for having me. the issue is somewhat, in my opinion and my opinion, being shaped by our culture is this, in the last 30 years here in California, our particular church, one little church in the midst of thousands here in California, took it upon themselves to create a voter guide. Just exactly what you're talking about. It has been our local experience that when our congregants, who are really those that are going to go vote, it turns out, Jenna, that when the mayor's office, the city council, the county board of supervisors, state local assembly leaders, these. Now, over these years, Jenna, because of an educated voters guide provided to the congregation, has elected godly people to office. And you can look in any direction of our community and it's very much dominant Christian worldview leaders. How did that happen? By laying the groundwork of getting your faith in action, which is a biblical reality for America. It's how this nation was founded. But glory be to God. Exactly what you are, saying now, we've done that in California called RealImpact US, where we educate the local voters. And so you talk about down ballot getting the attention, or, excuse me, top of the ballot getting the attention and then down ballot not. The reason why people do this, Jenna, is because they have failed to remember that we were challenged by our founders to, quote, keep the republic in Christian terms. It would be stewardship over the republic, which means all of us are to be involved in local voting and then upward. Jenna, listen.
Voter Engagement Strategies: Prioritizing Local Politics and Biblically Grounded Candidates
We should vote locally first and then go up the ballot to the top because politics locally matters. And you know who's doing this perfectly well. Jenna, it's quite shocking for your audience to hear this. Muslims, Muslims are taking over America because they vote locally, they understand it, and then they take over from the bottom up. We've got to get pulpits and pastors to get engaged, to educate their people to vote for the most, the most. No one's going to be perfect. But the most biblically grounded worldview candidate in their Local politics and then vote upward. That's my challenge. It's worked here in Southern California. I think this November, Jenna, our efforts are going to be rewarded by God.
Challenging National Media Focus and Highlighting the Significance of Local Elections
People are going to be shocked to see what happens in California. I'm very thrilled to see the magnitude of pastors now involved in educating their congregation.
Jenna Ellis: That is really encouraging. And you know, what a great story of success in, mobilizing congregants and, people who live, Christians who live locally and live in their communities to vote locally first and then expand upward. And, you know, our media and our social media, encourages the exact opposite. It's like, if it's local, if it's something, you know, if you're not a national name that's on Fox News every other day, then it doesn't matter. And that couldn't be further from the truth. I mean, even in my own community in Florida, you know, we have, in my city, there's a mayoral race on the ballot in November. And, you know, most of the neighbors that I've talked to, before, you know, it's actually one of our neighbors who's running, for mayor against the current mayor. And, a lot of people were expressing, wow, I didn't even know we had a city mayor. Like, I wasn't even cognizant of all of that. Because the time that, that people who aren't in the thick of politics every day, the time and attention that they give to politics is consumed by just the national headlines. And that's why you see the differences in the turnout numbers. And so a lot of these local elections, even though, there should be, you know, good turnout, I mean, here in Florida, the governor's race is going to be a very big deal on the ballot, this midterm and this November, that doesn't automatically mean you get the same turnout in every race down the ballot. And that's why what you're describing is so important.
Equipping Christians for Confident Voting Through Local Church Guidance and Voter Resources
Because if every local church was talking about each of these elections, even the ones that are nonpartisan, they're not. you just the Republican versus the Democrat and also the ballot issues, then more Christians would be equipped to confidently go down the ballot and say, I know for whom I'm voting, I know why, and I know my stance on these ballot initiatives before I even step into the ballot box or receive that ballot by mail. So how would you, Pastor Jack, encourage the pastors or the elders of churches, or, you know, or even the congregants themselves who are listening, who say, I would Love to have my church, educate the way that Chino Hills does. how would you encourage, the churches to have a voter guide available for their local demographic?
Jack Hibbs: Well, for example, there are many resources now. In fact, Jenna, this may sound crazy. Number one, first of all, I'm grateful for what you're, what you're saying now about this voter guide that's been made and the data against the polls. That's very important. Regard. The people are asking for voter guides.
Pastoral Leadership in Discipleship and Engaging in Civic Duty for a Biblical Republic
A pastor in. Jenna, please forgive me in advance. A pastor should be the one that sets the tone for the community. If every pastor set the tone for their community in this nation, we would go back to what. And I'm holding the book in front of me. I encourage everybody to get it. Forged in faith by Rod Craig. Forged in faith by Rod Gregg. Listen to this. Benjamin Franklin said, and I quote, after hearing the preaching of, George Whitefield and the fire that it started in the, in the colonies, it seemed as if all the world were growing religious. Scarcely a home that you passed by would not be singing songs of praise and hymns to the Lord. Ben Franklin said this. Here's the deal. When pastors wake up and being afraid, and proclaim the truth, that is this. Preach the gospel and make disciples. Evangelize your community. That's preaching the gospel. But, but listen, after that, you make disciples. And disciples are people that are utilized for the, for salt and light, for what's good, to expose what's wrong, what's bad by getting involved in their local government. It's not. Listen to be involved in the local government. According to Ben Franklin, it's a good thing. It's what we should be. We got in this condition we are in right now because the pulpits have abandoned their local community. And I don't want to hear it again from another pastor.
The Imperative of Discipleship for Christian Stewardship and Defending Freedoms Through Voting
Well, brother, I just preached the gospel. Well, you need to repent because you need to preach the gospel and teach the full counsel of God. And we have gotten away from making disciples. If we make disciples, Jenna, they're going to become conservative biblical worldview voters. Why? Because they will embrace it not as politics, they will embrace it as Christian stewardship to watch over, over the freedoms that God has given us. If we love our freedoms, which God has given us, we must defend them. And for now, we get to do that by voting. God forbid, Jenna, that if we abandon this post of voting, there is going to be this radical invasion of Islamic politics that will seize our local government and then implement Sharia, whereby we no longer Have a vote. We no longer have a say.
The Gospel's Controversy and the Necessity of Integrating Faith into Everyday Civic Life
And that's, that is going to lay at the feet of the pastors because they did not, they did not educate their flocks through the word of God to affect the culture around them preach.
Jenna Ellis: And that is so absolutely true. And, you know, I wish that there were more pastors who were making disciples and translating the faith into action and, and encouraging and discipling their congruence of how to live as a Christian. Because, you know, and I've heard the thing from pastors, thankfully not, you know, my pastor or, pastors like you, but, from a lot of pastors who say, well, I just teach the gospel. I don't want to engage in politics or anything, you know, controversial. well, first of all, the gospel is controversial. But, more than that, if you have this view that, the things of God, the sacred, are removed from everyday life and compartmentalized into just the spiritual, then you're actually missing the heart of the gospel, which is to live for Christ. I mean, yes, we, the start of the gospel is to understand the truth, which is that we've all sinned, fall short of the glory of God. We need a Savior. That Savior has come.
Understanding the Gospel's Call to Discipleship and Applying Faith to Societal Issues
His name is Jesus. He paid the price for our sins. And when we accept him as Lord, we repent for our sins, turn to him and accept him for our salvation. Then we live eternally with him, and we have that blessed hope. And then after that, what about the rest of our lives? That's not the end. That's not okay, now you've grasped the heart of the God gospel, and now the work of pastors is complete. No, we have to make disciples of all men and so that we can live out our faith. And there has to be that bridge between the truth of the gospel and that heart of living as Christ. To how do we make decisions in our everyday life? How do we engage the government? What do we think about socialism versus capitalism? What do we think about open borders versus closed borders? What do we think about women in the workforce versus, you know, government encouraging families? Do we think that, that encouragement should be entitlements like the $5,000 that Trump is promising?
The Vital Role of Pastors in Cultivating Informed Biblical Worldviews Among Christians
I mean, all of those things have a biblical worldview implication. And if we don't first have a foundation of thinking as Christ does, then we won't be able to engage that on anything more than just a personal belief level, not a, an informed faith belief. And that's what pastors need to communicate and need to make disciples in and so, you know, where the rubber meets the road here, Pastor Jack, is for pastors, and to, to actually make disciples and for Christians to demand that their churches actually teach this. And so I've been so surprised, you know, in, in even, friends that I've known who, you know, who have been Christians for, you know, decades, who don't actually have the fundamentals of the faith to have an informed biblical worldview. So they're Christians, but then they actually have a secular mindset on so much of this.
Jack Hibbs: Jenna. This is because they are taught to be, as Charles Spurgeon said, on Sundays, Christianettes, they hear a sermonette to become Christian. That's meaning my Christianity has been relegated to an hour and a half on a Sunday. Don't bother me for the rest of the week. That's my time, that's me time.
Christianity as an Active Faith: Equipping Believers for Evangelism and Community Impact
And Christianity knows nothing about that. I like saying that Christianity is a non spectator faith. and even more than that, it's remarkable to me that pastors are called to equip the body of Christ. The church is actually called, based upon Paul's words to Timothy, to do the work of an evangelist. Now, some people have the gift of evangelism. We're not, that's obvious Billy Graham types and others. That's, that's awesome. But every Christian is supposed to be equipped enough to reproduce Christians sheep, produce sheep. And so that happens on the job site, that happens in the school, that happens in on the police force. It happens in the community where Christians share the gospel with other people, including their neighbors. That said, it is the pastorate, it's the pulpit that strengthens them in the things of being a disciple. We have lost that in our nation. And Jenna, if we don't get back to this immediately, and I mean immediately, the ship is about to sail. I don't know Jennifer will ever be able to reclaim it. We need a true revival.
Defining True Revival: A Church on Fire Holding Culture Accountable Through Christ
Jenna, about a year, year and a half ago, you and I were together and we were talking about the revival that's taking place. Is it a revival? A lot of kids are getting baptized, all this kind of stuff going on. And my word to you was, let's wait and see. We've got to wait and see because a revival is when the church becomes on fire and holds the, culture accountable for their sins. But, but does this by leading them to Christ. A revival is a church alive. Just remember it that way. A church revived is a church alive. And the lost world sees the truth of the church, the power of the church, and Says, I want to be with you guys.
Faith as an Active Verb: Engaging in Voting and Community Action for Christ
I want my sins forgiven, I want a new life, and I want to make a difference. Here we are today, living at a time when people are looking for an opportunity to make a difference, and it's right under their nose. It's actually called Christianity or following Christ. When people say, well, Christianity, I tried it, it didn't work. Well, the fact of the matter is you might have believed in Jesus, but your belief didn't take you to faith. Because faith is a verb. And God in you is not only the hope of glory, it is an active faith. It's a voting faith, a witnessing faith, a loving faith. It's a faith that not only takes care of the orphans in your community, but it also votes for the best mayor possible. And I, for the life of me, I don't understand why pastors don't understand that we are to shine the light everywhere.
The Urgency for Pastors to Equip Congregations with a Biblical Worldview for Societal Engagement
There's no spot exempt from us being Christians. But so many churches are teaching their congregants to only be a Christian on Sunday for an hour and a half. That is wrong. We must repent of that or else we're going to lose the freedoms that we take so granted right now.
Jenna Ellis: Amen. And we have to take a break here. Pastor Jack Hibbs, but so well said. And I hope that for the pastors and the elders of churches listening, you take this to heart and, recognize that now is our time. This is part of the ministry to which you are called. And I wish that, more pastors would take this to heart and make a disciple. So that when, you know, I get up every morning and get to the speak on radio like this, that, it's not educating, Christians from a biblical worldview as much as it is just enhancing that. Because they're already coming to the program with a complete biblical worldview, saying, hey, my pastor just talked about that, in my church Sunday morning. I mean, wouldn't that be amazing? I'd love to be getting more of those emails instead of saying, thank you for covering this and for, you know, having the biblical worldview perspective to say, my pastor already covered this. that should be the goal. But, Pastor Jack, you're going to stick with us through the break. We'll be right back with more.
The Crucial Role of Pastors and Bible-Believing Churches in Discipleship and Worldview Education
Hi, I'm Jenna Ellis. Did you know that this content is listener supported? Without people like you, this podcast would not exist. And that's why we need you. A generous monthly gift of any amount will help sustain American Family Radio and specifically this podcast. Please consider Becoming a monthly financial partner today by visiting afr.net give that's afr.net give welcome back to Jenna Ellis in the Morning on American Family Radio.
Jenna Ellis: Welcome back. And I'm still here with my special guest, Pastor Jack Hibbs, who is the pastor of Calvary Chapel Chino Hills in California. And we're talking about engaging our world with the biblical worldview that first and foremost has to come from pastors in Bible believing and Bible teaching churches and to make disciples of all men, as the Bible says, you know, teaching them what we should know, that all scripture is filled, with the inspiration of God.
Engaging as Citizens: Protecting Voting Rights and Addressing Concerns About Foreign Influence
It's profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. Why, that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works so that we can be Christians and in our communities. And so, Pastor Jack, you know, this has so many implications in literally every sphere of policy, of civil government, of family, you know, so many different implications. And just one, headline that stuck out to me that I wanted to comment on in this context is, when we're talking about voting and engaging that privilege and blessing that we have here in the United States to, to be engaged citizens, get to select and prefer our leaders, not only do we need to engage that now, coming up in November, but we also need to protect the right of only American citizens to vote. so things like the save act, things like election integrity. But there are even more far reaching implications. I read this headline, from Fox News just yesterday that says this. A Chinese billionaire has had over 100 US citizen babies through surrogates. So lawmakers are warning, pay attention. So Chinese billionaires are reportedly massively, building families.
The '100-Year Marathon' Strategy and the Religious Nature of Political Ideologies
Ah, their definition of that. I think that's a stretch to calm families, but through American surrogates and in at least one case commissioning dozens or even more than 100 children who then will be, when they reach the age of 18, potential US voters. And so, so, this is a, I think a crisis of ethics of you know, across the board of so many things. But it also has an implication on voting.
Jack Hibbs: Wow, I didn't know you were going to say this right now.
Understanding Separation of Church and State and the Judeo-Christian Foundation of American Governance
Not far from where I'm standing, Jenna, the FBI and others conducted a raid and exposed exactly what you just reported. wow, that is exactly true, by the way. People might think, well, that's nuts. no, it's not nuts. What we need to wake up is, to the fact that China, believes in what they call the 100 year marathon. They run their worldview, in 100 year increments. We barely plan with 100 minutes. The thing is this, Jenna, that when somebody talks about socialism or atheism, if somebody's running for office and they are a communist, we have to remember something. It's a religion. People say, well, you. Separation of church and state. Yeah, but I don't think you understand what that means. According to the United States Constitution, the government will not dictate about our worship, it cannot hinder our worship, and we will not have a state sanctioned church. It means if you want to be an atheist, you can be an atheist. If you want to be, a Baptist, a Lutheran, Hindu, Muslim, Jew, we will have the same freedoms. And northern nation in the history of man has ever been able to achieve that. But this country, how is that possible? Judeo Christian worldview, value made was the framework in the hearts of our founders. That said, people need to wake up to the fact that, well, you know, I'm going to vote for this person or for that person. If it's a Republican, Democrat, independent, whatever, you got to remember something.
Discernment in Voting: Recognizing the 'Religion' of Candidates and Making Informed Choices
Please, everybody, ask yourself this question. What is their religion? Well, they're an atheist. That is a religion. Because atheism is a religion where man is the one that deified. He's deified. He gets to call the shots, not God. Or if it's this wave of Democrat socialism that's rising in America, that religion is the dominance and the totalitarianism of man being on top. And so people need to wake up and realize that you cannot make this go away by putting the sheet over your head. Or how about this? You can't make it go away by ignoring it and saying, well, nobody on the ballot can walk on water. I don't think anybody on the ballot has raised the dead. So I'm a Christian and I'm not going to vote because I would never taint my little fingers by voting for somebody that's not perfect. Our government has never. This nation, this world, knows nothing about perfect people. There's one perfect Jenna, you stated his name earlier. His name is Jesus. And we are to manage this republic. So even in a world where somebody might say, well, we've got two atheists running for mayor. Good. Find out all about them. Which one has something that is a biblical worldview. Maybe, maybe one of those atheists are for freedom, of religion. Maybe one of the atheists is pro life. Find something that is good and go out and vote for them.
Avoiding Purity Tests and Engaging in Elections as a Community Team Sport for Better Policy
Because look at NewSong York City, how the Jew and the Christian did not go out and vote in their last mayoral election. And yet every mosque encouraged their people to go out and vote. And the answer was, the result was Zoran Mandani.
Jenna Ellis: So true. And, you know, it's, it's so frustrating to see that we have, have, on one hand, too many of these, you know, purity tests on the right, and then we end up, you know, complaining about, the people that end up in office. And that's exactly what primaries are for. And, you know, it's frustrating that on one hand there are the, you know, the, the purity tests and the people who don't want to engage because no candidate is exactly perfect. And then there are people who, because their preferred candidate didn't win the primary, then they're saying, oh, well, I'm just going to set out the general because I would never vote for, you know, so. And Republican, you know, who actually won. And I'm thinking, so you're gonna then abdicate to the Democrat socialist who's running against that Republican. I mean, none of that makes sense whatsoever. But we have these almost, pious views of why, of our justifications of why to not participate in what is a team sport and elections. Because, you know, let's face it, you and I don't get to play dictator and nominate who, who leads us.
The Consequences of Non-Participation: How Voter Turnout Shapes Policy and Societal Direction
I mean, this is by definition a community event that is called an election. And if we don't engage properly, then we don't get policy that forecloses things like surrogacy that, you know, doesn't have Sharia law that, you know, is, is now, potentially threatening some American communities. You don't, have the policies that close the border to all of the illegal immigration so that communities aren't taken over by Muslims, by Somalis, you know, by Indians, and the whole H1B issue. I mean, I could go on and on and on and on. All of those things are because of bad policy. Why? Because voters didn't turn out and so the left won. I mean, if every single self identifying, professing Christian would vote in every single election, then we would win hands, down. I mean, and that's been proven over and over and over again by simply the demographics. And yet somehow we still lose elections. Jack.
Jack Hibbs: Well, Janet, but I tell you, it sounds like you live in California. You're describing, a situation.
Jenna Ellis: I used to live in Colorado. So
The Challenge of Christian Non-Participation in Elections Due to Primary Candidate Disappointment
Jack Hibbs: you're, you're describing a situation right now where Steve Hilton is running up against Javier Becerra. Steve Hilton was, a month and a month and a half ago, Steve Hilton was 28 points behind the Democrat Becerran. Steve Hilton now, if you can believe the polls, is at 8% behind the Democrat. Here's the thing that you just mentioned. And everybody please listen to this. Our founding fathers had a hard time, when things were getting started, they debated should everybody be able to vote. The answer was absolutely not. Listen, because there were some people who had no viable, they had no skin in the game. So for example, early on you had to be a landowner. Why? Because you employed people, because you were vested. So all of a sudden we've encouraged Christians to vote in California and they did. Here's the problem we're dealing with right now. If the Christian community decided to vote for Steve Hilton for governor, it's a slam dunk. Republican governor, conservative, remarkable. Listen to this, Jenna. But what are we hearing now? Well, in the primaries, my guy didn't win and I'm not going to vote because I am not going to give, my prim candidate, his opponent, the satisfaction of getting my vote. So as a Christian, I'm staying home. Jenna, we are hearing this by the thousands.
Voter Maturity and the Preservation of Life: Addressing Christian Non-Voting and Policy Consequences
Why? Because just like early colonial America, apparently some people don't have the wherewithal to be mature enough to vote responsibly. All because they threw their toys down or they picked their toys up and ran away because, their team didn't win. If the Christians in California alone coalesced and voted for just one alty, topic, for example, the preservation of life. So Steve Hilton is saying, the governor cannot stop abortion in California. It's been written into our state law. But he said, in the meantime, vote for me because I'm going to streamline adoption. Let's not, let's have babies get adopted rather than having babies get aborted, Jenna, what's wrong with that? But a Christian can't think past that, so they're not going to vote. And then Becerra could win, who is wholesale murder babies in the womb and murder babies shortly after the womb.
Re-evaluating Voting Qualifications and the Need for an Informed Electorate in a Representative Government
But I, I tell you, for the first time in my life as a pastor, Jenna, I'm not sure if Christians, I don't know if they can handle the responsibility of voting because I'm hearing some really dumb things.
Jenna Ellis: And you know, what a great point, that unlike what the Democrats are suggesting, that you know, we have to provide everyone equal access to the franchise of voting and that's, you know, the freedom in this country, even extending that to non citizens which is just by definition utterly ridiculous. But we can have these conversations about who should vote in this country. And there are some in among, you know, even Christian circles who suggest repealing the 19th amendment that you know, if women didn't vote, you wouldn't have all of these, you know, Lindsey Clancy, you know, crazy leftist, women voting in elections. I think that's a little bit of an over generalization. But at the same time, you know, that's, that's a proposal out there. And then you have the people who want to go back to you know, the original proposal of only landowners. And this isn't in the context of slavery, but you know, people who weren't dependent on the government, for welfare, people who aren't you know, just here transiently in states, they actually have a vested interest in their community because they own land and they own property. And you know, those conversations we should be having as Christians, and you know, we can dispense at the outset with all of the claims of, you know, racist sexism, you know, whatever, because the, the data just shows patently that we don't have an informed electorate. if, if we did at the beginning, we certainly don't now.
Examining Historical Voting Systems and Addressing the Lack of an Informed Electorate Today
And so how should we how should we deal with that as a country? And you know, when we have a representative government, I mean even until. It wasn't until 1824 that the majority of state legislatures provided that the electors who would go on to actually, that's our system of how we vote in a president that the electors would be chosen by the citizens of the states. It used to be until that by the state legislatures. And so we would, we, the people would elect the state legislators and then they would choose how to send their electors and they would choose the electors for a president because the president was supposed to be so far away from the individual, you know, daily operations of the people that it didn't and it shouldn't even matter as much. But now that we live in such a globalized society, I mean if we tried to bring that back, I mean, can you imagine the outrage from you know, the leftists and even some Republicans who don't actually understand how our Constitution was designed originally. And so you know, as we look at the sheer stupidity frankly of you know, a lot of the voting populace that that could be educated and simply choose not to, but they vote anyway, or the people who do access the franchise when they actually shouldn't be able to, like non citizens, what are the best, you know, steps that we as Christians, in your view, Pastor Jack, what can we do to start having that conversation? But. But reject all of the immediate, very surface level attacks.
Jack Hibbs: Listen, a choice.
The Abundance of Information and the Call to Active Engagement Beyond Complaining
To make a choice. Choose. What I mean by that is this, Jenna, your program, among many others. We have never been given the opportunities as a voter to be more educated on issues and topics than today. The technology, your program, Listen, it's not for a lack of data. We've got the data. It's not for the lack of those faithful like you bringing us the information. We. Even if you go to a church that is absolutely layo de sand, it is a mess and you should get out of it. The point is this. You can. You can follow Jenna Ellis, you can follow Jack Hibbs, you can follow others. You can find out what is going on like never before. And you can. It's, I'm frustrated because, Jenna, we ought to be able to form our opinions now with more data than we've ever had because of the technology given to us. And yet people are not doing it. Why? It's empathy, apathy. They want to complain about everything, but they don't want to change anything because that would require much of what I think is in Pilgrim's Progress, where they're just lazy. They complain about it. Oh, it's horrible. Then get up and do something about it. That's the nation and the freedoms that we've been giving. I do not.
Defending Freedoms Through Voting and Questioning Eligibility for the Franchise
I cannot be a spectator, Jenna. If I was out of the pulpit, I've always been this way. I was raised in a military home. Unless I'm fighting in war for my freedoms, I'm voting for my freedoms. That's how my dad raised us. You either go out there and vote or you get a weapon and you go to war. But you defend these United States. But now the enemies within the camp, and we've got people, like you said a moment ago. Think about it. Let me be. Let's blow up your program, Jenna, right now. Should a college student be allowed to vote? I can't believe he said that. Just wait a minute. Should a person who is on welfare perpetually be allowed to vote?
Prioritizing Love of Country and Understanding the Biblical Foundations of the Republic
Because they're only going to vote for those who are either, singing their song or giving them free stuff. And that would render them in, early America. That would render them unqualified to vote because they're compromised? We need to love country more than our own self comforts. We need to love country more than our own self preservation. Are we willing to lay down our lives for a cause greater than ours. Number one is the gospel. Number two is the greatest human experience experiment on the face of the earth. And that is this constitutional republic. But unless they're taught that we live in a constitutional republic with biblical foundations, they're not going to be willing to lay down their life.
Reviving Patriotism and the Shift from Provider Men to Government Dependence
They're not even going to be willing to go out and vote. And pastors need to change that.
Jenna Ellis: M. You know, so true. And to revive this understanding and spirit of patriotism that, you know, our country is worth preserving and protecting, rather than, just the government is there to give you entitlements and handouts. I mean, it's the difference between, you know, men being the providers and protectors versus the weak, emasculated men who just sit back and expect, you know, the the matriarchy of the government to provide everything for them.
The Core Issue: The Church's Role in Engaging with a Biblical Worldview for Community Stewardship
I mean, it a. A worldview problem. And this is why, ah, what we've been talking about for the last two segments is that the core of this is that the church has to engage in a biblical worldview so that we can live as good citizens in our communities and in our families and then, and also in our churches and that our churches disciple us how to be, good stewards of our communities and our families. it's just so incredibly important. And, and you know, it's.
Contrasting Worldviews: The Biblical Foundation of the Republic vs. Secular Progressivism
I see so many of these, of these topics and these headlines that really just boil down to that one issue of a totally different view of reality between what? The leftists, the secular progressives, the people who excise God from society, their vision of America versus a biblical worldview of government and why we as conservatives are trying to conserve our constitutional republic because we understand that was premised actually in a biblical view of reality.
Jack Hibbs: That's awesome. M. Jenna, you've been there. Liberty Bell, Philadelphia. On the Liberty Bell, it says, proclaim liberty unto all the inhabitants thereof. That's what it says on the Liberty Bell. Leviticus 25, verse 10. It even cites the verse. I have come to conclude over my many years that those who love liberty exercise that, liberty to reach the souls of men and women and boys and girls.
The Intertwined Nature of Liberty and Preaching the Gospel: Defending Religious Freedom Through Civic Engagement
Notice that when a communist nation like North Korea takes power, they abolish liberty so that the souls of men and women and boys and girls cannot be reached. People pastors will say, I just preach the gospel as we mentioned earlier. But wait a minute, what are you going to do to preserve your liberty and freedom to preach that gospel? Because you're assuming that you, you Care for the souls of men. Yes, I evangelism. Wonderful. Do you understand that the government has the power. If it goes south on you, the government has the power to shut your voice down and close your pulpit down. If you love to just preach the gospel, then you should be involved in the local politics so you can keep preaching the gospel. But if you negate that secular area, we will call it, of not educating your congregation to vote, you may very well, we all may very well.
The Risk of Losing Religious Freedom by Neglecting Civic Engagement and Political Involvement
You lose our right to preach the gospel and become silent because we didn't defend the opportunity when we had it. So don't tell me I just preached the gospel, bro, and I stay out of politics. Preaching the gospel is politics because you've got the freedom to preach it. And if you don't educate your congregation, you're going to lose that freedom to preach it.
Jenna Ellis: so, so true.
The Fragility of Freedoms: Protecting Religious Liberty and the Church's Right to Engage
And I think we learned this, of course, and you're in California, which was kind of the epicenter there in NewSong York of all of the problems during, Covid. And we learned that how quickly. just night and day, you know, these. These things can change. If we aren't going to protect religious freedom, if we aren't going to protect, the church's right to stay open, to preach the gospel, to speak truth, to engage, those freedoms can be taken away, just immediately.
The Necessity of Engaged Citizenship for Pastors and Congregations to Preserve Freedoms
And. And so we have to be engaged and do more than just preach the gospel. I mean, Paul preached the gospel from prison. I mean, you can still do it, but that's not the ideal circumstance to preach. So, you know, if we want to have, our pastors have the best opportunity to make disciples and to preach the gospel, then we have got to be engaged citizens. So we've got to end it here. Pastor Jack, but I so appreciate, appreciate, as always, your time and, your words of wisdom. And thank you so much for coming on and for pastors to be encouraged and prompted to make sure that you take time between now and the midterms to engage your congregation, to teach them why we have to be stewards of our communities, why we need to be informed citizens, and we have to vote from the top. well, from the bottom, as you see said locally, all the way down to the federal government. I'm gonna. I'm gonna flip that from here on out, Pastor Jack, but thanks so much. You can follow him. M at Real Jack Hibbs. see, I always learn from Pastor Jack. This is why I love him.
Encouraging Pastors to Equip Congregations for Stewardship and Informed Voting from Local to Federal Levels
And we'll be right back with more here on Jenna Ellis in the morning. We're living in a defining moment in history. Today, a woman facing an unexpected pregnancy can order the abortion pill on, often before anyone has had the chance to tell her she is loved, that she's not alone, or that there is hope. That's why you are needed right now. You were made for this moment. At PreBorn Network clinics, mothers are welcomed with compassion, practical support and a free ultrasound. And when she sees her baby and hears that tiny heartbeat for the very first time, fear often gives way to hope. In fact, more than 80% of abortion vulnerable women choose life after seeing their baby on an ultraviolet ultrasound at a PreBorn Network clinic. That one moment can save a baby's life and open a mother's heart to the hope of Jesus Christ. This is our moment to stand. For those who cannot speak for themselves, just $28 provides one life saving ultrasound. $140 helps rescue five babies. Please don't wait. Dial pound 250 and say the keyword baby. That's pound 250 baby or give [email protected] afr that's preborn.com afr Together we can save lives one heartbeat at a time. welcome back to Jenna Ellis in the Morning on American Family Radio.
The Problem of Untrustworthy Information and the Importance of Local Voter Guides
Jenna Ellis: Welcome back. Well, as I mentioned off the top there is a new I voter guide alongside Dr. George Barna study that reveals a major problem in American elections. That the number one reason that about 55% of Americans stop voting down the ballot or as Pastor Jack said we should be voting starting at the bottom and then going up to the federal level, is a lack of trustworthy information. And so this was a really fascinating study and I had the opportunity to sit down with Debbie with now on the podcast this week to talk to her. She's the president of I Voter Guide and a vice president and AFA action here at the American Associate association and talk with her about this study and why I Voter Guide as a trusted resource needs to continue to put out the ballot information and to engage especially these local races that voters can then feel confident in their information. So you can find the full interview on Friday [email protected] the show is the podcast is on demand. Listen to the full interview but I wanted to give you ah, just a quick just a little bit of this interview with Debbie that voters are,
Debbie Wuthnow: don't they realize that the races down the ballot are important but they don't have the information to vote for them? In the last 10, 15 years media has really, as you know, the Internet of taking off. We've lost a local focus and we've gained this national focus. All of the talk radio is on national issues and what's going on in D.C. and what's going on in, the Senate and the Congress and the president's race. And people forget about local news where we used to know what's going on. But those are the races that impact your family, your community, your pocketbook more directly than those federal races. But people are getting even less news about local. We're just flooded with information about national. So this was really exciting study for us to do. I love what George Barna does that he looks at not just voting behavior, but, you know, biblical worldview that's going on in America. So we looked at that intersectionality. But this down ballot information was something new. His surveys had always been about, you know, why don't you vote for president? Why aren't you voting for Senate? What are you missing? He, no, he'd never asked people, do you vote down ballot? And if so, why not? And it really revealed, which it seems intuitive to me, I don't know about.
The Crucial Role of Voter Guides in Addressing the Lack of Information for Down-Ballot Races
For you, I don't have information about my local candidate. That would be why I'd fill it blank. I don't want to pick the wrong guy and if I don't know who to pick, I'm just going to skip it. And that's what the research told us, is that 35% of voters will skip races further down the ballot. And those are really important races. So, this lack of information is an opportunity really for I voter guide, as we step into cover, provide more of that for voters.
Jenna Ellis: Yeah, absolutely. And you know, just in my own experience from, friends and family, you know, coming, saying, oh, do you know, you know, who I should vote for in this race? Or whether it's the primary, the general or ballot issues. of course, I mean, a lot of those language, that language can be very confusing for voters. And sometimes I think it's it's intentionally geared that way, you know, and there are a lot of legal fights around that. But then even some of the local races that don't have a party attached, they're just names, you know, things like, you know, some of the local, even mayoral races or city council, ah, races sometimes can be, cannot be party specific. And so for people who just expect to go and you know, maybe vote R or vote D down the ballot because of party affiliation, those races, they can become more confused. So what's what are the best resources to provide that education so that for the people who are already turning out, they'll fill out the entire ballot?
Debbie Wuthnow: Well, it's getting, it's where do they go for the information?
I Voter Guide's Mission: Providing Non-Biased, Trustworthy Information for Informed Voting Decisions
What are they looking for? So I Voter guide is stepping into, into that space and providing information. What the research also told us is what the voters are looking for is is there a party affiliation of that candidate? Because that gives you at least a glimpse if they're a D or an R. But if not, then what are their key positions on issues? what are the statements of the things that they're going to do? And that's all the type of information that IvyerGuide is gathering about these candidates. IvyerGuide goes even further in rating the candidates that are on the ballot. So even if they have a D or an R, they're not all cut for the same cloth. you know, we will find Republican primaries where candidates really fall in the liberal range based on what they're doing and vice versa. We'll find, you know, that on the Democratic side and the general elections, it's all across the board.
The Value of Non-Partisan Voter Guides in Informing Voters Across the Political Spectrum
So I Voter guides deep dive of research that is not from a party. That's the other thing we found is they want non biased, nonpartisan information and research. There's Republican voter guides and there's, you know, Democratic voter guides. You can hear what the candidates say, but you know, they don't trust the media. Voters don't trust the media. They know everything is spun and there's elements of truth, but really it's the full truth. So I Voter guide's core value is to, is to find and expose the objective truth about each of the candidates and give that to the voters so that they can trust it. That's the key word in this, a trusted voter guide that gives them information that they know they can, that they feel equipped to go and vote accurately and be good stewards of their citizens.
Jenna Ellis: Yeah. And so with, you know, with this not being partisan, I mean that raises the question if you have two, ah, very diametrically opposed, worldview voters, you know, you have someone who on all the social issues, economics, you know, family, policy, all of that votes, and wants policy and candidates who are conservative. And then you have someone totally at the opposite end of the political spectrum who's very progressive, leftist. Would something like I voter guy inform both of those types of voters equally?
Debbie Wuthnow: It does. Actually. It's just as useful to the left and the right because it's just Factual, trustworthy information.
Providing Comprehensive Candidate Data for All Voters Regardless of Political Affiliation
it's presented from both perspectives. We do only cover the Republican primary elections. So we're, because, you know, we're a Christian ministry and that's where we get the biggest bang for being, you know, good stewards of the supporters that we have of I Voter Guide. But from a voter's perspective, it, the information is nonpartisan. It is the full spectrum of all the candidates that are in the any race we cover, we cover all the candidates that are running. And, data points from both the left and the right, campaign finance data of organizations on the left and the right, scorecards from groups on the left, on the right, endorsements, same thing. So it's, it's not just a list of who to vote for. It's a tool to help, you know, all the data about the candidates on your ballot so you can decide for yourself no matter where you land on the political spectrum.
Jenna Ellis: All right, well, that was just a short snippet of my full interview with Debbie with now, who is the president of I Voter Guide, which is part of the American Family Association, AFA action. And to, listen to the full interview, it comes out tomorrow on our podcast side on Demand.
Concluding the Discussion on Voter Guides and Information Resources
You can find [email protected] and as always, you can reach me and my team [email protected]. Foreign
Jenna Ellis: has rescued over 400,000 babies from abortion and every day their network clinics rescue 200 babies lives. Will you join preborn in loving and supporting young moms in crisis Save a life today. Go to preborn.com forward/afr.
Understanding God's Role in Government and the Importance of Informed Voting
Jenna Ellis: We would like to take a moment to thank our sponsor, PreBorn. When a mother meets her baby on ultrasound and hears their heartbeat, it's a divine connection and the majority of the time she will choose life. But she can't do it without our help. Preborn needs us, the pro life community, to come alongside her. One ultrasound is just $28 and to donate, dial pound250 and say the keyword baby or visit preborn.com afr Jenna Ellis in the morning on American Family Rad
Jenna Ellis: I love talking about the things of God. Because of truth and the biblical worldview, the U.S. constitution obligates our government to preserve and protect the rights that our founders recognize come from God our creator, not our government. I believe that scripture in the Bible is very clear that God is the one that raised up each of you. And God has allowed us to be brought here to this specific moment in time. This is Jenna Ellis in the morning.
Jenna Ellis: Good morning. Today is Thursday, September 17th. And as we are coming up very quickly on the midterms and especially as early voting starts, a lot of people are asking what is even on my ballot? And so I Voter Guide is a resource from, AFA Action and you can go there to get a lot more information about your entire ballot.
The Critical Need for Trusted Voter Guides and Informing Congregations About Down-Ballot Races
And I had the opportunity to interview the president of I Voter Guide, Debbie with now, and that will be on the podcast, the full interview tomorrow on Friday. So make sure that you go to On Demand, our AFR exclusive [email protected] but I'm going to play a portion of her interview, at the end of the show. But, what's really important that I want to talk about with our first guest as well is that this new, Barna study along with I Voter Guide found that the, the major problem in American elections is that 85% of Americans vote at the top of the ballot, but only about 55% continue voting down ballot. So the number one reason that they cite is a lack of trustworthy information cited by 46% of voters. And when asked what would make them more likely to vote further down the ballot, the top answer was that they wanted a trusted voter guide with 38% saying it would make them much more likely to do so. And that key term trusted, I think is so, fascinating rather than simply partisan or simply conservative, something that they trust for the data to make an informed decision themselves. And so that guide actually outperformed polls, endorsements and other common sources. And so where should the church factor into all this for providing a trusted source of information on things like how to vote, your values, why we engage in a civil government, what are the ballot initiatives in our particular areas? And so, ah, Pastor Jack Hibbs from Calvary Chapel, Chino Hills, joins me this morning. And Pastor Jack, you know, one of the things that this study tells me is, is that local churches by and large really aren't doing the job of informing their congregation and especially conservative Christian voters about the not only getting out to vote, but how to vote.
Local Churches' Success in Educating Voters and Fostering a Christian Worldview in Governance
Jack Hibbs: Well, Jenna, first of all, thank you for having me. the issue is somewhat, in my opinion and my opinion, being shaped by our culture is this, in the last 30 years here in California, our particular church, one little church in the midst of thousands here in California, took it upon themselves to create a voter guide. Just exactly what you're talking about. It has been our local experience that when our congregants, who are really those that are going to go vote, it turns out, Jenna, that when the mayor's office, the city council, the county board of supervisors, state local assembly leaders, these. Now, over these years, Jenna, because of an educated voters guide provided to the congregation, has elected godly people to office. And you can look in any direction of our community and it's very much dominant Christian worldview leaders. How did that happen? By laying the groundwork of getting your faith in action, which is a biblical reality for America. It's how this nation was founded. But glory be to God. Exactly what you are, saying now, we've done that in California called RealImpact US, where we educate the local voters. And so you talk about down ballot getting the attention, or, excuse me, top of the ballot getting the attention and then down ballot not. The reason why people do this, Jenna, is because they have failed to remember that we were challenged by our founders to, quote, keep the republic in Christian terms. It would be stewardship over the republic, which means all of us are to be involved in local voting and then upward. Jenna, listen.
Voter Engagement Strategies: Prioritizing Local Politics and Biblically Grounded Candidates
We should vote locally first and then go up the ballot to the top because politics locally matters. And you know who's doing this perfectly well. Jenna, it's quite shocking for your audience to hear this. Muslims, Muslims are taking over America because they vote locally, they understand it, and then they take over from the bottom up. We've got to get pulpits and pastors to get engaged, to educate their people to vote for the most, the most. No one's going to be perfect. But the most biblically grounded worldview candidate in their Local politics and then vote upward. That's my challenge. It's worked here in Southern California. I think this November, Jenna, our efforts are going to be rewarded by God.
Challenging National Media Focus and Highlighting the Significance of Local Elections
People are going to be shocked to see what happens in California. I'm very thrilled to see the magnitude of pastors now involved in educating their congregation.
Jenna Ellis: That is really encouraging. And you know, what a great story of success in, mobilizing congregants and, people who live, Christians who live locally and live in their communities to vote locally first and then expand upward. And, you know, our media and our social media, encourages the exact opposite. It's like, if it's local, if it's something, you know, if you're not a national name that's on Fox News every other day, then it doesn't matter. And that couldn't be further from the truth. I mean, even in my own community in Florida, you know, we have, in my city, there's a mayoral race on the ballot in November. And, you know, most of the neighbors that I've talked to, before, you know, it's actually one of our neighbors who's running, for mayor against the current mayor. And, a lot of people were expressing, wow, I didn't even know we had a city mayor. Like, I wasn't even cognizant of all of that. Because the time that, that people who aren't in the thick of politics every day, the time and attention that they give to politics is consumed by just the national headlines. And that's why you see the differences in the turnout numbers. And so a lot of these local elections, even though, there should be, you know, good turnout, I mean, here in Florida, the governor's race is going to be a very big deal on the ballot, this midterm and this November, that doesn't automatically mean you get the same turnout in every race down the ballot. And that's why what you're describing is so important.
Equipping Christians for Confident Voting Through Local Church Guidance and Voter Resources
Because if every local church was talking about each of these elections, even the ones that are nonpartisan, they're not. you just the Republican versus the Democrat and also the ballot issues, then more Christians would be equipped to confidently go down the ballot and say, I know for whom I'm voting, I know why, and I know my stance on these ballot initiatives before I even step into the ballot box or receive that ballot by mail. So how would you, Pastor Jack, encourage the pastors or the elders of churches, or, you know, or even the congregants themselves who are listening, who say, I would Love to have my church, educate the way that Chino Hills does. how would you encourage, the churches to have a voter guide available for their local demographic?
Jack Hibbs: Well, for example, there are many resources now. In fact, Jenna, this may sound crazy. Number one, first of all, I'm grateful for what you're, what you're saying now about this voter guide that's been made and the data against the polls. That's very important. Regard. The people are asking for voter guides.
Pastoral Leadership in Discipleship and Engaging in Civic Duty for a Biblical Republic
A pastor in. Jenna, please forgive me in advance. A pastor should be the one that sets the tone for the community. If every pastor set the tone for their community in this nation, we would go back to what. And I'm holding the book in front of me. I encourage everybody to get it. Forged in faith by Rod Craig. Forged in faith by Rod Gregg. Listen to this. Benjamin Franklin said, and I quote, after hearing the preaching of, George Whitefield and the fire that it started in the, in the colonies, it seemed as if all the world were growing religious. Scarcely a home that you passed by would not be singing songs of praise and hymns to the Lord. Ben Franklin said this. Here's the deal. When pastors wake up and being afraid, and proclaim the truth, that is this. Preach the gospel and make disciples. Evangelize your community. That's preaching the gospel. But, but listen, after that, you make disciples. And disciples are people that are utilized for the, for salt and light, for what's good, to expose what's wrong, what's bad by getting involved in their local government. It's not. Listen to be involved in the local government. According to Ben Franklin, it's a good thing. It's what we should be. We got in this condition we are in right now because the pulpits have abandoned their local community. And I don't want to hear it again from another pastor.
The Imperative of Discipleship for Christian Stewardship and Defending Freedoms Through Voting
Well, brother, I just preached the gospel. Well, you need to repent because you need to preach the gospel and teach the full counsel of God. And we have gotten away from making disciples. If we make disciples, Jenna, they're going to become conservative biblical worldview voters. Why? Because they will embrace it not as politics, they will embrace it as Christian stewardship to watch over, over the freedoms that God has given us. If we love our freedoms, which God has given us, we must defend them. And for now, we get to do that by voting. God forbid, Jenna, that if we abandon this post of voting, there is going to be this radical invasion of Islamic politics that will seize our local government and then implement Sharia, whereby we no longer Have a vote. We no longer have a say.
The Gospel's Controversy and the Necessity of Integrating Faith into Everyday Civic Life
And that's, that is going to lay at the feet of the pastors because they did not, they did not educate their flocks through the word of God to affect the culture around them preach.
Jenna Ellis: And that is so absolutely true. And, you know, I wish that there were more pastors who were making disciples and translating the faith into action and, and encouraging and discipling their congruence of how to live as a Christian. Because, you know, and I've heard the thing from pastors, thankfully not, you know, my pastor or, pastors like you, but, from a lot of pastors who say, well, I just teach the gospel. I don't want to engage in politics or anything, you know, controversial. well, first of all, the gospel is controversial. But, more than that, if you have this view that, the things of God, the sacred, are removed from everyday life and compartmentalized into just the spiritual, then you're actually missing the heart of the gospel, which is to live for Christ. I mean, yes, we, the start of the gospel is to understand the truth, which is that we've all sinned, fall short of the glory of God. We need a Savior. That Savior has come.
Understanding the Gospel's Call to Discipleship and Applying Faith to Societal Issues
His name is Jesus. He paid the price for our sins. And when we accept him as Lord, we repent for our sins, turn to him and accept him for our salvation. Then we live eternally with him, and we have that blessed hope. And then after that, what about the rest of our lives? That's not the end. That's not okay, now you've grasped the heart of the God gospel, and now the work of pastors is complete. No, we have to make disciples of all men and so that we can live out our faith. And there has to be that bridge between the truth of the gospel and that heart of living as Christ. To how do we make decisions in our everyday life? How do we engage the government? What do we think about socialism versus capitalism? What do we think about open borders versus closed borders? What do we think about women in the workforce versus, you know, government encouraging families? Do we think that, that encouragement should be entitlements like the $5,000 that Trump is promising?
The Vital Role of Pastors in Cultivating Informed Biblical Worldviews Among Christians
I mean, all of those things have a biblical worldview implication. And if we don't first have a foundation of thinking as Christ does, then we won't be able to engage that on anything more than just a personal belief level, not a, an informed faith belief. And that's what pastors need to communicate and need to make disciples in and so, you know, where the rubber meets the road here, Pastor Jack, is for pastors, and to, to actually make disciples and for Christians to demand that their churches actually teach this. And so I've been so surprised, you know, in, in even, friends that I've known who, you know, who have been Christians for, you know, decades, who don't actually have the fundamentals of the faith to have an informed biblical worldview. So they're Christians, but then they actually have a secular mindset on so much of this.
Jack Hibbs: Jenna. This is because they are taught to be, as Charles Spurgeon said, on Sundays, Christianettes, they hear a sermonette to become Christian. That's meaning my Christianity has been relegated to an hour and a half on a Sunday. Don't bother me for the rest of the week. That's my time, that's me time.
Christianity as an Active Faith: Equipping Believers for Evangelism and Community Impact
And Christianity knows nothing about that. I like saying that Christianity is a non spectator faith. and even more than that, it's remarkable to me that pastors are called to equip the body of Christ. The church is actually called, based upon Paul's words to Timothy, to do the work of an evangelist. Now, some people have the gift of evangelism. We're not, that's obvious Billy Graham types and others. That's, that's awesome. But every Christian is supposed to be equipped enough to reproduce Christians sheep, produce sheep. And so that happens on the job site, that happens in the school, that happens in on the police force. It happens in the community where Christians share the gospel with other people, including their neighbors. That said, it is the pastorate, it's the pulpit that strengthens them in the things of being a disciple. We have lost that in our nation. And Jenna, if we don't get back to this immediately, and I mean immediately, the ship is about to sail. I don't know Jennifer will ever be able to reclaim it. We need a true revival.
Defining True Revival: A Church on Fire Holding Culture Accountable Through Christ
Jenna, about a year, year and a half ago, you and I were together and we were talking about the revival that's taking place. Is it a revival? A lot of kids are getting baptized, all this kind of stuff going on. And my word to you was, let's wait and see. We've got to wait and see because a revival is when the church becomes on fire and holds the, culture accountable for their sins. But, but does this by leading them to Christ. A revival is a church alive. Just remember it that way. A church revived is a church alive. And the lost world sees the truth of the church, the power of the church, and Says, I want to be with you guys.
Faith as an Active Verb: Engaging in Voting and Community Action for Christ
I want my sins forgiven, I want a new life, and I want to make a difference. Here we are today, living at a time when people are looking for an opportunity to make a difference, and it's right under their nose. It's actually called Christianity or following Christ. When people say, well, Christianity, I tried it, it didn't work. Well, the fact of the matter is you might have believed in Jesus, but your belief didn't take you to faith. Because faith is a verb. And God in you is not only the hope of glory, it is an active faith. It's a voting faith, a witnessing faith, a loving faith. It's a faith that not only takes care of the orphans in your community, but it also votes for the best mayor possible. And I, for the life of me, I don't understand why pastors don't understand that we are to shine the light everywhere.
The Urgency for Pastors to Equip Congregations with a Biblical Worldview for Societal Engagement
There's no spot exempt from us being Christians. But so many churches are teaching their congregants to only be a Christian on Sunday for an hour and a half. That is wrong. We must repent of that or else we're going to lose the freedoms that we take so granted right now.
Jenna Ellis: Amen. And we have to take a break here. Pastor Jack Hibbs, but so well said. And I hope that for the pastors and the elders of churches listening, you take this to heart and, recognize that now is our time. This is part of the ministry to which you are called. And I wish that, more pastors would take this to heart and make a disciple. So that when, you know, I get up every morning and get to the speak on radio like this, that, it's not educating, Christians from a biblical worldview as much as it is just enhancing that. Because they're already coming to the program with a complete biblical worldview, saying, hey, my pastor just talked about that, in my church Sunday morning. I mean, wouldn't that be amazing? I'd love to be getting more of those emails instead of saying, thank you for covering this and for, you know, having the biblical worldview perspective to say, my pastor already covered this. that should be the goal. But, Pastor Jack, you're going to stick with us through the break. We'll be right back with more.
The Crucial Role of Pastors and Bible-Believing Churches in Discipleship and Worldview Education
Hi, I'm Jenna Ellis. Did you know that this content is listener supported? Without people like you, this podcast would not exist. And that's why we need you. A generous monthly gift of any amount will help sustain American Family Radio and specifically this podcast. Please consider Becoming a monthly financial partner today by visiting afr.net give that's afr.net give welcome back to Jenna Ellis in the Morning on American Family Radio.
Jenna Ellis: Welcome back. And I'm still here with my special guest, Pastor Jack Hibbs, who is the pastor of Calvary Chapel Chino Hills in California. And we're talking about engaging our world with the biblical worldview that first and foremost has to come from pastors in Bible believing and Bible teaching churches and to make disciples of all men, as the Bible says, you know, teaching them what we should know, that all scripture is filled, with the inspiration of God.
Engaging as Citizens: Protecting Voting Rights and Addressing Concerns About Foreign Influence
It's profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. Why, that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works so that we can be Christians and in our communities. And so, Pastor Jack, you know, this has so many implications in literally every sphere of policy, of civil government, of family, you know, so many different implications. And just one, headline that stuck out to me that I wanted to comment on in this context is, when we're talking about voting and engaging that privilege and blessing that we have here in the United States to, to be engaged citizens, get to select and prefer our leaders, not only do we need to engage that now, coming up in November, but we also need to protect the right of only American citizens to vote. so things like the save act, things like election integrity. But there are even more far reaching implications. I read this headline, from Fox News just yesterday that says this. A Chinese billionaire has had over 100 US citizen babies through surrogates. So lawmakers are warning, pay attention. So Chinese billionaires are reportedly massively, building families.
The '100-Year Marathon' Strategy and the Religious Nature of Political Ideologies
Ah, their definition of that. I think that's a stretch to calm families, but through American surrogates and in at least one case commissioning dozens or even more than 100 children who then will be, when they reach the age of 18, potential US voters. And so, so, this is a, I think a crisis of ethics of you know, across the board of so many things. But it also has an implication on voting.
Jack Hibbs: Wow, I didn't know you were going to say this right now.
Understanding Separation of Church and State and the Judeo-Christian Foundation of American Governance
Not far from where I'm standing, Jenna, the FBI and others conducted a raid and exposed exactly what you just reported. wow, that is exactly true, by the way. People might think, well, that's nuts. no, it's not nuts. What we need to wake up is, to the fact that China, believes in what they call the 100 year marathon. They run their worldview, in 100 year increments. We barely plan with 100 minutes. The thing is this, Jenna, that when somebody talks about socialism or atheism, if somebody's running for office and they are a communist, we have to remember something. It's a religion. People say, well, you. Separation of church and state. Yeah, but I don't think you understand what that means. According to the United States Constitution, the government will not dictate about our worship, it cannot hinder our worship, and we will not have a state sanctioned church. It means if you want to be an atheist, you can be an atheist. If you want to be, a Baptist, a Lutheran, Hindu, Muslim, Jew, we will have the same freedoms. And northern nation in the history of man has ever been able to achieve that. But this country, how is that possible? Judeo Christian worldview, value made was the framework in the hearts of our founders. That said, people need to wake up to the fact that, well, you know, I'm going to vote for this person or for that person. If it's a Republican, Democrat, independent, whatever, you got to remember something.
Discernment in Voting: Recognizing the 'Religion' of Candidates and Making Informed Choices
Please, everybody, ask yourself this question. What is their religion? Well, they're an atheist. That is a religion. Because atheism is a religion where man is the one that deified. He's deified. He gets to call the shots, not God. Or if it's this wave of Democrat socialism that's rising in America, that religion is the dominance and the totalitarianism of man being on top. And so people need to wake up and realize that you cannot make this go away by putting the sheet over your head. Or how about this? You can't make it go away by ignoring it and saying, well, nobody on the ballot can walk on water. I don't think anybody on the ballot has raised the dead. So I'm a Christian and I'm not going to vote because I would never taint my little fingers by voting for somebody that's not perfect. Our government has never. This nation, this world, knows nothing about perfect people. There's one perfect Jenna, you stated his name earlier. His name is Jesus. And we are to manage this republic. So even in a world where somebody might say, well, we've got two atheists running for mayor. Good. Find out all about them. Which one has something that is a biblical worldview. Maybe, maybe one of those atheists are for freedom, of religion. Maybe one of the atheists is pro life. Find something that is good and go out and vote for them.
Avoiding Purity Tests and Engaging in Elections as a Community Team Sport for Better Policy
Because look at NewSong York City, how the Jew and the Christian did not go out and vote in their last mayoral election. And yet every mosque encouraged their people to go out and vote. And the answer was, the result was Zoran Mandani.
Jenna Ellis: So true. And, you know, it's, it's so frustrating to see that we have, have, on one hand, too many of these, you know, purity tests on the right, and then we end up, you know, complaining about, the people that end up in office. And that's exactly what primaries are for. And, you know, it's frustrating that on one hand there are the, you know, the, the purity tests and the people who don't want to engage because no candidate is exactly perfect. And then there are people who, because their preferred candidate didn't win the primary, then they're saying, oh, well, I'm just going to set out the general because I would never vote for, you know, so. And Republican, you know, who actually won. And I'm thinking, so you're gonna then abdicate to the Democrat socialist who's running against that Republican. I mean, none of that makes sense whatsoever. But we have these almost, pious views of why, of our justifications of why to not participate in what is a team sport and elections. Because, you know, let's face it, you and I don't get to play dictator and nominate who, who leads us.
The Consequences of Non-Participation: How Voter Turnout Shapes Policy and Societal Direction
I mean, this is by definition a community event that is called an election. And if we don't engage properly, then we don't get policy that forecloses things like surrogacy that, you know, doesn't have Sharia law that, you know, is, is now, potentially threatening some American communities. You don't, have the policies that close the border to all of the illegal immigration so that communities aren't taken over by Muslims, by Somalis, you know, by Indians, and the whole H1B issue. I mean, I could go on and on and on and on. All of those things are because of bad policy. Why? Because voters didn't turn out and so the left won. I mean, if every single self identifying, professing Christian would vote in every single election, then we would win hands, down. I mean, and that's been proven over and over and over again by simply the demographics. And yet somehow we still lose elections. Jack.
Jack Hibbs: Well, Janet, but I tell you, it sounds like you live in California. You're describing, a situation.
Jenna Ellis: I used to live in Colorado. So
The Challenge of Christian Non-Participation in Elections Due to Primary Candidate Disappointment
Jack Hibbs: you're, you're describing a situation right now where Steve Hilton is running up against Javier Becerra. Steve Hilton was, a month and a month and a half ago, Steve Hilton was 28 points behind the Democrat Becerran. Steve Hilton now, if you can believe the polls, is at 8% behind the Democrat. Here's the thing that you just mentioned. And everybody please listen to this. Our founding fathers had a hard time, when things were getting started, they debated should everybody be able to vote. The answer was absolutely not. Listen, because there were some people who had no viable, they had no skin in the game. So for example, early on you had to be a landowner. Why? Because you employed people, because you were vested. So all of a sudden we've encouraged Christians to vote in California and they did. Here's the problem we're dealing with right now. If the Christian community decided to vote for Steve Hilton for governor, it's a slam dunk. Republican governor, conservative, remarkable. Listen to this, Jenna. But what are we hearing now? Well, in the primaries, my guy didn't win and I'm not going to vote because I am not going to give, my prim candidate, his opponent, the satisfaction of getting my vote. So as a Christian, I'm staying home. Jenna, we are hearing this by the thousands.
Voter Maturity and the Preservation of Life: Addressing Christian Non-Voting and Policy Consequences
Why? Because just like early colonial America, apparently some people don't have the wherewithal to be mature enough to vote responsibly. All because they threw their toys down or they picked their toys up and ran away because, their team didn't win. If the Christians in California alone coalesced and voted for just one alty, topic, for example, the preservation of life. So Steve Hilton is saying, the governor cannot stop abortion in California. It's been written into our state law. But he said, in the meantime, vote for me because I'm going to streamline adoption. Let's not, let's have babies get adopted rather than having babies get aborted, Jenna, what's wrong with that? But a Christian can't think past that, so they're not going to vote. And then Becerra could win, who is wholesale murder babies in the womb and murder babies shortly after the womb.
Re-evaluating Voting Qualifications and the Need for an Informed Electorate in a Representative Government
But I, I tell you, for the first time in my life as a pastor, Jenna, I'm not sure if Christians, I don't know if they can handle the responsibility of voting because I'm hearing some really dumb things.
Jenna Ellis: And you know, what a great point, that unlike what the Democrats are suggesting, that you know, we have to provide everyone equal access to the franchise of voting and that's, you know, the freedom in this country, even extending that to non citizens which is just by definition utterly ridiculous. But we can have these conversations about who should vote in this country. And there are some in among, you know, even Christian circles who suggest repealing the 19th amendment that you know, if women didn't vote, you wouldn't have all of these, you know, Lindsey Clancy, you know, crazy leftist, women voting in elections. I think that's a little bit of an over generalization. But at the same time, you know, that's, that's a proposal out there. And then you have the people who want to go back to you know, the original proposal of only landowners. And this isn't in the context of slavery, but you know, people who weren't dependent on the government, for welfare, people who aren't you know, just here transiently in states, they actually have a vested interest in their community because they own land and they own property. And you know, those conversations we should be having as Christians, and you know, we can dispense at the outset with all of the claims of, you know, racist sexism, you know, whatever, because the, the data just shows patently that we don't have an informed electorate. if, if we did at the beginning, we certainly don't now.
Examining Historical Voting Systems and Addressing the Lack of an Informed Electorate Today
And so how should we how should we deal with that as a country? And you know, when we have a representative government, I mean even until. It wasn't until 1824 that the majority of state legislatures provided that the electors who would go on to actually, that's our system of how we vote in a president that the electors would be chosen by the citizens of the states. It used to be until that by the state legislatures. And so we would, we, the people would elect the state legislators and then they would choose how to send their electors and they would choose the electors for a president because the president was supposed to be so far away from the individual, you know, daily operations of the people that it didn't and it shouldn't even matter as much. But now that we live in such a globalized society, I mean if we tried to bring that back, I mean, can you imagine the outrage from you know, the leftists and even some Republicans who don't actually understand how our Constitution was designed originally. And so you know, as we look at the sheer stupidity frankly of you know, a lot of the voting populace that that could be educated and simply choose not to, but they vote anyway, or the people who do access the franchise when they actually shouldn't be able to, like non citizens, what are the best, you know, steps that we as Christians, in your view, Pastor Jack, what can we do to start having that conversation? But. But reject all of the immediate, very surface level attacks.
Jack Hibbs: Listen, a choice.
The Abundance of Information and the Call to Active Engagement Beyond Complaining
To make a choice. Choose. What I mean by that is this, Jenna, your program, among many others. We have never been given the opportunities as a voter to be more educated on issues and topics than today. The technology, your program, Listen, it's not for a lack of data. We've got the data. It's not for the lack of those faithful like you bringing us the information. We. Even if you go to a church that is absolutely layo de sand, it is a mess and you should get out of it. The point is this. You can. You can follow Jenna Ellis, you can follow Jack Hibbs, you can follow others. You can find out what is going on like never before. And you can. It's, I'm frustrated because, Jenna, we ought to be able to form our opinions now with more data than we've ever had because of the technology given to us. And yet people are not doing it. Why? It's empathy, apathy. They want to complain about everything, but they don't want to change anything because that would require much of what I think is in Pilgrim's Progress, where they're just lazy. They complain about it. Oh, it's horrible. Then get up and do something about it. That's the nation and the freedoms that we've been giving. I do not.
Defending Freedoms Through Voting and Questioning Eligibility for the Franchise
I cannot be a spectator, Jenna. If I was out of the pulpit, I've always been this way. I was raised in a military home. Unless I'm fighting in war for my freedoms, I'm voting for my freedoms. That's how my dad raised us. You either go out there and vote or you get a weapon and you go to war. But you defend these United States. But now the enemies within the camp, and we've got people, like you said a moment ago. Think about it. Let me be. Let's blow up your program, Jenna, right now. Should a college student be allowed to vote? I can't believe he said that. Just wait a minute. Should a person who is on welfare perpetually be allowed to vote?
Prioritizing Love of Country and Understanding the Biblical Foundations of the Republic
Because they're only going to vote for those who are either, singing their song or giving them free stuff. And that would render them in, early America. That would render them unqualified to vote because they're compromised? We need to love country more than our own self comforts. We need to love country more than our own self preservation. Are we willing to lay down our lives for a cause greater than ours. Number one is the gospel. Number two is the greatest human experience experiment on the face of the earth. And that is this constitutional republic. But unless they're taught that we live in a constitutional republic with biblical foundations, they're not going to be willing to lay down their life.
Reviving Patriotism and the Shift from Provider Men to Government Dependence
They're not even going to be willing to go out and vote. And pastors need to change that.
Jenna Ellis: M. You know, so true. And to revive this understanding and spirit of patriotism that, you know, our country is worth preserving and protecting, rather than, just the government is there to give you entitlements and handouts. I mean, it's the difference between, you know, men being the providers and protectors versus the weak, emasculated men who just sit back and expect, you know, the the matriarchy of the government to provide everything for them.
The Core Issue: The Church's Role in Engaging with a Biblical Worldview for Community Stewardship
I mean, it a. A worldview problem. And this is why, ah, what we've been talking about for the last two segments is that the core of this is that the church has to engage in a biblical worldview so that we can live as good citizens in our communities and in our families and then, and also in our churches and that our churches disciple us how to be, good stewards of our communities and our families. it's just so incredibly important. And, and you know, it's.
Contrasting Worldviews: The Biblical Foundation of the Republic vs. Secular Progressivism
I see so many of these, of these topics and these headlines that really just boil down to that one issue of a totally different view of reality between what? The leftists, the secular progressives, the people who excise God from society, their vision of America versus a biblical worldview of government and why we as conservatives are trying to conserve our constitutional republic because we understand that was premised actually in a biblical view of reality.
Jack Hibbs: That's awesome. M. Jenna, you've been there. Liberty Bell, Philadelphia. On the Liberty Bell, it says, proclaim liberty unto all the inhabitants thereof. That's what it says on the Liberty Bell. Leviticus 25, verse 10. It even cites the verse. I have come to conclude over my many years that those who love liberty exercise that, liberty to reach the souls of men and women and boys and girls.
The Intertwined Nature of Liberty and Preaching the Gospel: Defending Religious Freedom Through Civic Engagement
Notice that when a communist nation like North Korea takes power, they abolish liberty so that the souls of men and women and boys and girls cannot be reached. People pastors will say, I just preach the gospel as we mentioned earlier. But wait a minute, what are you going to do to preserve your liberty and freedom to preach that gospel? Because you're assuming that you, you Care for the souls of men. Yes, I evangelism. Wonderful. Do you understand that the government has the power. If it goes south on you, the government has the power to shut your voice down and close your pulpit down. If you love to just preach the gospel, then you should be involved in the local politics so you can keep preaching the gospel. But if you negate that secular area, we will call it, of not educating your congregation to vote, you may very well, we all may very well.
The Risk of Losing Religious Freedom by Neglecting Civic Engagement and Political Involvement
You lose our right to preach the gospel and become silent because we didn't defend the opportunity when we had it. So don't tell me I just preached the gospel, bro, and I stay out of politics. Preaching the gospel is politics because you've got the freedom to preach it. And if you don't educate your congregation, you're going to lose that freedom to preach it.
Jenna Ellis: so, so true.
The Fragility of Freedoms: Protecting Religious Liberty and the Church's Right to Engage
And I think we learned this, of course, and you're in California, which was kind of the epicenter there in NewSong York of all of the problems during, Covid. And we learned that how quickly. just night and day, you know, these. These things can change. If we aren't going to protect religious freedom, if we aren't going to protect, the church's right to stay open, to preach the gospel, to speak truth, to engage, those freedoms can be taken away, just immediately.
The Necessity of Engaged Citizenship for Pastors and Congregations to Preserve Freedoms
And. And so we have to be engaged and do more than just preach the gospel. I mean, Paul preached the gospel from prison. I mean, you can still do it, but that's not the ideal circumstance to preach. So, you know, if we want to have, our pastors have the best opportunity to make disciples and to preach the gospel, then we have got to be engaged citizens. So we've got to end it here. Pastor Jack, but I so appreciate, appreciate, as always, your time and, your words of wisdom. And thank you so much for coming on and for pastors to be encouraged and prompted to make sure that you take time between now and the midterms to engage your congregation, to teach them why we have to be stewards of our communities, why we need to be informed citizens, and we have to vote from the top. well, from the bottom, as you see said locally, all the way down to the federal government. I'm gonna. I'm gonna flip that from here on out, Pastor Jack, but thanks so much. You can follow him. M at Real Jack Hibbs. see, I always learn from Pastor Jack. This is why I love him.
Encouraging Pastors to Equip Congregations for Stewardship and Informed Voting from Local to Federal Levels
And we'll be right back with more here on Jenna Ellis in the morning. We're living in a defining moment in history. Today, a woman facing an unexpected pregnancy can order the abortion pill on, often before anyone has had the chance to tell her she is loved, that she's not alone, or that there is hope. That's why you are needed right now. You were made for this moment. At PreBorn Network clinics, mothers are welcomed with compassion, practical support and a free ultrasound. And when she sees her baby and hears that tiny heartbeat for the very first time, fear often gives way to hope. In fact, more than 80% of abortion vulnerable women choose life after seeing their baby on an ultraviolet ultrasound at a PreBorn Network clinic. That one moment can save a baby's life and open a mother's heart to the hope of Jesus Christ. This is our moment to stand. For those who cannot speak for themselves, just $28 provides one life saving ultrasound. $140 helps rescue five babies. Please don't wait. Dial pound 250 and say the keyword baby. That's pound 250 baby or give [email protected] afr that's preborn.com afr Together we can save lives one heartbeat at a time. welcome back to Jenna Ellis in the Morning on American Family Radio.
The Problem of Untrustworthy Information and the Importance of Local Voter Guides
Jenna Ellis: Welcome back. Well, as I mentioned off the top there is a new I voter guide alongside Dr. George Barna study that reveals a major problem in American elections. That the number one reason that about 55% of Americans stop voting down the ballot or as Pastor Jack said we should be voting starting at the bottom and then going up to the federal level, is a lack of trustworthy information. And so this was a really fascinating study and I had the opportunity to sit down with Debbie with now on the podcast this week to talk to her. She's the president of I Voter Guide and a vice president and AFA action here at the American Associate association and talk with her about this study and why I Voter Guide as a trusted resource needs to continue to put out the ballot information and to engage especially these local races that voters can then feel confident in their information. So you can find the full interview on Friday [email protected] the show is the podcast is on demand. Listen to the full interview but I wanted to give you ah, just a quick just a little bit of this interview with Debbie that voters are,
Debbie Wuthnow: don't they realize that the races down the ballot are important but they don't have the information to vote for them? In the last 10, 15 years media has really, as you know, the Internet of taking off. We've lost a local focus and we've gained this national focus. All of the talk radio is on national issues and what's going on in D.C. and what's going on in, the Senate and the Congress and the president's race. And people forget about local news where we used to know what's going on. But those are the races that impact your family, your community, your pocketbook more directly than those federal races. But people are getting even less news about local. We're just flooded with information about national. So this was really exciting study for us to do. I love what George Barna does that he looks at not just voting behavior, but, you know, biblical worldview that's going on in America. So we looked at that intersectionality. But this down ballot information was something new. His surveys had always been about, you know, why don't you vote for president? Why aren't you voting for Senate? What are you missing? He, no, he'd never asked people, do you vote down ballot? And if so, why not? And it really revealed, which it seems intuitive to me, I don't know about.
The Crucial Role of Voter Guides in Addressing the Lack of Information for Down-Ballot Races
For you, I don't have information about my local candidate. That would be why I'd fill it blank. I don't want to pick the wrong guy and if I don't know who to pick, I'm just going to skip it. And that's what the research told us, is that 35% of voters will skip races further down the ballot. And those are really important races. So, this lack of information is an opportunity really for I voter guide, as we step into cover, provide more of that for voters.
Jenna Ellis: Yeah, absolutely. And you know, just in my own experience from, friends and family, you know, coming, saying, oh, do you know, you know, who I should vote for in this race? Or whether it's the primary, the general or ballot issues. of course, I mean, a lot of those language, that language can be very confusing for voters. And sometimes I think it's it's intentionally geared that way, you know, and there are a lot of legal fights around that. But then even some of the local races that don't have a party attached, they're just names, you know, things like, you know, some of the local, even mayoral races or city council, ah, races sometimes can be, cannot be party specific. And so for people who just expect to go and you know, maybe vote R or vote D down the ballot because of party affiliation, those races, they can become more confused. So what's what are the best resources to provide that education so that for the people who are already turning out, they'll fill out the entire ballot?
Debbie Wuthnow: Well, it's getting, it's where do they go for the information?
I Voter Guide's Mission: Providing Non-Biased, Trustworthy Information for Informed Voting Decisions
What are they looking for? So I Voter guide is stepping into, into that space and providing information. What the research also told us is what the voters are looking for is is there a party affiliation of that candidate? Because that gives you at least a glimpse if they're a D or an R. But if not, then what are their key positions on issues? what are the statements of the things that they're going to do? And that's all the type of information that IvyerGuide is gathering about these candidates. IvyerGuide goes even further in rating the candidates that are on the ballot. So even if they have a D or an R, they're not all cut for the same cloth. you know, we will find Republican primaries where candidates really fall in the liberal range based on what they're doing and vice versa. We'll find, you know, that on the Democratic side and the general elections, it's all across the board.
The Value of Non-Partisan Voter Guides in Informing Voters Across the Political Spectrum
So I Voter guides deep dive of research that is not from a party. That's the other thing we found is they want non biased, nonpartisan information and research. There's Republican voter guides and there's, you know, Democratic voter guides. You can hear what the candidates say, but you know, they don't trust the media. Voters don't trust the media. They know everything is spun and there's elements of truth, but really it's the full truth. So I Voter guide's core value is to, is to find and expose the objective truth about each of the candidates and give that to the voters so that they can trust it. That's the key word in this, a trusted voter guide that gives them information that they know they can, that they feel equipped to go and vote accurately and be good stewards of their citizens.
Jenna Ellis: Yeah. And so with, you know, with this not being partisan, I mean that raises the question if you have two, ah, very diametrically opposed, worldview voters, you know, you have someone who on all the social issues, economics, you know, family, policy, all of that votes, and wants policy and candidates who are conservative. And then you have someone totally at the opposite end of the political spectrum who's very progressive, leftist. Would something like I voter guy inform both of those types of voters equally?
Debbie Wuthnow: It does. Actually. It's just as useful to the left and the right because it's just Factual, trustworthy information.
Providing Comprehensive Candidate Data for All Voters Regardless of Political Affiliation
it's presented from both perspectives. We do only cover the Republican primary elections. So we're, because, you know, we're a Christian ministry and that's where we get the biggest bang for being, you know, good stewards of the supporters that we have of I Voter Guide. But from a voter's perspective, it, the information is nonpartisan. It is the full spectrum of all the candidates that are in the any race we cover, we cover all the candidates that are running. And, data points from both the left and the right, campaign finance data of organizations on the left and the right, scorecards from groups on the left, on the right, endorsements, same thing. So it's, it's not just a list of who to vote for. It's a tool to help, you know, all the data about the candidates on your ballot so you can decide for yourself no matter where you land on the political spectrum.
Jenna Ellis: All right, well, that was just a short snippet of my full interview with Debbie with now, who is the president of I Voter Guide, which is part of the American Family Association, AFA action. And to, listen to the full interview, it comes out tomorrow on our podcast side on Demand.
Concluding the Discussion on Voter Guides and Information Resources
You can find [email protected] and as always, you can reach me and my team [email protected]. Foreign
Jenna Ellis: has rescued over 400,000 babies from abortion and every day their network clinics rescue 200 babies lives. Will you join preborn in loving and supporting young moms in crisis Save a life today. Go to preborn.com forward/afr.
Jenna Ellis engages in a thought-provoking discussion with Pastor Jack Hibbs about the vital role of churches in educating congregants on voting and civic engagement. They explore a recent Barna study revealing that a staggering 85% of Americans vote at the top of the ballot but only 55% continue down-ballot due to a lack of trustworthy information. The conversation emphasizes the importance of local elections, the responsibility of pastors to guide their communities, and how a biblical worldview can influence political decisions.
Live
Did you know American Family Radio is listener-supported? Your monthly financial support will allow us to continue upholding Godly values through our numerous channels, like American Family Radio, One Million Moms, The Stand magazine, and many more.
Become a Great Commission Partner TODAY to help AFR transform culture by rebuilding the family. When you donate today, you’ll get access to:
