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Words For Change Podcast
Jump into the transformative world of "Words For Change Podcast," a thought-provoking podcast hosted by Rev. Lionel Bailey. Designed for those seeking inspiration and direction, this show delves into the power of change, transformation, and progress in our lives.
With every episode, Lionel Bailey, gives his unique blend of spiritual insight and contemporary relevance, sharing stories, and interviews that motivate listeners to embrace positive changes in their personal and communal lives. Rooted in Lionel's deep spiritual foundation, the show also touches upon various religious and moral perspectives, offering listeners a chance to reflect and connect on a deeper level.
Whether you're looking to evolve personally, spiritually, or within your community, Lionel provides practical advice and steps to help guide your journey.
Tune in to "Words For Change Podcast" and begin your learning and transformation journey with Rev. Lionel Bailey. Discover not just the power of words past and present, but the actions and impact they can inspire.
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Words For Change Podcast
Ep.80 Does Evangelical mean Conservative Republican?
In this episode we scrutinize the organization "Evangelicals for Harris," which challenges the traditional evangelical voting patterns, prompting a deep reflection on how justice and political alignment intersect within the evangelical community
What if your faith could guide your response to today's most pressing global issues? Join us as we tackle the intertwining worlds of faith, politics, and current events. From Israel's airstrike on Hezbollah in Lebanon to the tragic mass shooting in South Africa and the devastation of Hurricane Helena in the Carolinas, we examine how these events impact our world and our faith. We also delve into the U.S. military's increased presence in the Middle East and the charged political atmosphere leading up to the presidential election, offering prayers and support for those affected.
As we explore the Political Manipulation of Christian Values, we stress that our primary allegiance should be to the kingdom of God, not to any political party. We discuss how religious symbols are often co-opted for political gain and question the true representation of family values by political figures. This conversation aims to encourage a re-evaluation of political commitments in light of faith. Finally, don't miss our announcement about the upcoming podcast episode scheduled for October 15th—we're excited to continue this journey with you. Thank you for your unwavering support and engagement!
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Well, hello, words for Change podcast. This is Lionel. Welcome to October 1st. Man, I'm telling you, time is going by so fast and we have right before us almost toward the end of the year, so we are blazing through toward the end of 2024. Can you believe that? Wow, time is going really, really fast. So I just want to first say glad to have you here on this Tuesday and I just want to thank everyone who listens to the Words for Change podcast. I'm going to say to you I am excited that you decide to tune in and listen to the Words for Change podcast.
Speaker 1:It's always our goal and job is to try to find what does the Bible say about particular subjects and issues in our social community, in our world, and how does our Christian witness speak to those issues? Not living only for the next life. You know, the old adage says that we can be so heavily minded that we are no earthly good. Well, that is totally not what Words for Change podcast is all about. Words for Change podcast is all about being relevant, letting our faith speak into our current culture, right where we are, and that has been the sort of backbone for what we've attempted to do with this platform and, with God's grace, we will continue to do that. And so here today we have a very interesting topic that we want to cover, and I just want to lay the groundwork by saying listen, but before we get started, if you have supported the podcast, I thank you, because the podcast and your listening support is not able to go forward without you standing with us and standing by us and supporting us, and that can be through a donation. I want to encourage you to go to Patreon. There's a link in the show description. Not only that we've been thinking about getting various sponsorships from mission organizations. So we looked at Crew, which is one organization that gets Bibles out into different parts of the world, as Christians are doing God's work in other parts of the world. So there are many things that we are we believe in God to do, but we cannot do it without your support. So I want to say once again, thank you for your support, not only listening, but you can also support financially, and you can support by sharing the podcast episode with someone else who can benefit from the information and the conversations we are having. That is the goal. So now to other people in your community.
Speaker 1:Well, guess what? Y'all? Y'all know what time it is, guess what, what day is it? Y'all, we have a lot to cover in the news today. A lot to cover in the news today, man. So much is going on and it's important that we dive into that as well here.
Speaker 1:On October 1st, good morning, vietnam. Israel has, as of Monday, raided Hezbollah and, with ground strikes that killed over 100 people. It's a little death toll. Now, this ground strike, or airstrike, as it were, happened in Lebanon, and so, man, this is two weeks in, and in about 100,000 people were killed in that situation. There's not 100,000 people, and so that situation is underway.
Speaker 1:We're going to keep praying and we're going to keep believing that God's going to help us with that here. Okay, and and and work that situation out, as we know that the loss of life is never something that we should be proud of. I don't care who you are, as a man would said to us, and in the military, if you have to kill somebody, you should never like it, you should never, ever enjoy that, and so our prayers are going out, as this is a complicated situation. War is complicated in that situation over the Middle East, between Israel and Hezbollah is definitely a very complicated situation, so please keep doing your prayers. Also, in South Africa, there was a mass shooting. I'm not quite sure what country it was in, but there was a mass shooting where over 18 people died, and so our prayers are with them. Those who are being hit in the Carolinas with the hurricane or Helena if I'm saying that wrong, please charge it to my head and not my heart, but over 100 people have been reported missing or passed away in that situation, so our prayers go out to those who have are affected by it, whether directly or indirectly.
Speaker 1:Speaking about overseas, here we found out that the US is sending more troops a few thousand troops to the Middle East because of the situation that's going on between Hezbollah and Israel, and so our Secretary of Defense, lord Austin, has increased the military's presence in the Middle East, and we're going to keep our eyes on that. Many of you know that I was on an aircraft carrier not that long ago and so they're sending the US is sending warships, so we're praying for our brothers and sisters. I'm not going to even say what warship they're on for offset issues, so, but uh, there are two ships going over there now actually one there now and uh, two ships are going to be stationed over there to help deter that situation. Okay, and many of you know we are in, I think, about 80 days or something like that away from the presidential election, maybe a little more, a little less than that. But, man, so much is going on and, as you know, during the political season, all bets are off, the gloves are off and people are I mean saying all kinds of things to get their political viewpoints and agendas across, and willing to do it at any cost, by any means necessary, at any cost and by any means necessary, and I've always thought that was sort of, uh, when I had aspir political aspirations, one of the things that kept me away, one of the reasons why I stayed so far away. For because, from it, because, when I got behind closed doors, I realized that everything that glitters ain't gold, okay, and so a lot's going on, and when we're in the throes of the political season, or when we have social upheaval, or when we have so many viewpoints that we'll have the tendency, if we're not careful, to divide our United States of America and, even more importantly, divide the church, we have to have a voice to it. And so this leads me to our conversation. Our main quote is going to start our conversation today does evangelical mean white and conservative? Does evangelical mean white and conservative? Now, before you guys light me up, and before you guys get deep down questioning man Bailey, what are you talking about? No, that's a question. It's a valid question that we need to ask. Does evangelical mean white, exclusively white and conservative? Ok, I want us to think about that today. Our main scripture verse that we're going to start out with right now, actually, let me, let me slow down a little bit and let me just say this the reason why that is our opening quote or question, is because it is important that we are able to let our faith speak to social issues.
Speaker 1:One of the most important historical facts that we've come to learn is that when we become silent, when good people JFK said this okay, evil prevails when good people do nothing. This is the same thing that happened in Nazi Germany. You had citizens, well-minded people, people who knew the difference between right and wrong, but the reason they didn't. Many of them, not all, as you and I know, historically speaking, if you were to be 100% honest, there were many in the German community who knew what Hitler was doing was wrong. And there were many Christians, particularly if you are aware of the theologian pastor. Theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer, actually, who was a pacifist, was executed by that regime because he was being charged very conspiracy to assassinate Hitler, adolf Hitler. So there were many Christians involved, the Confessing Church and so many other organizations involved during that time that were doing their very best and doing what they felt was right. So I'm not saying all German people were on the bandwagon, so to speak. Okay, but when you do not stand up for what's right, then you give credence for whatever evil to prevail and to start and start determining one-sided. That is not my goal. My goal is to be as neutral. My goal is to be as neutral as possible.
Speaker 1:Our scripture verse for today comes from Micah 6.8. What does the Lord require from us when we're addressing these issues? What does the Lord require? Number one to do justice. Matter of fact, I'm going to start out at verse 6, just to give even more context. So the prophet asked with what shall I come to you, lord, and bow before you God on high? This is verse 6. Shall I come to you with burnt offerings or cats? Verse seven Does the Lord take delight in thousands of rams and ten thousands of rivers of oil. Shall I present my firstborn? That's kind of weird because that's talking about human sacrifice For rebellious acts, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul.
Speaker 1:And then the Lord replied to Micah, says he has told you, oh man, what is good and what the Lord requires. One one, but to do justice, to love kindness. Once. One interpretation is to love justice or to love mercy. Sorry, to love kindness, to love mercy and to walk in humility before your God. So if we look at that scripture verse, you can, you and I cannot say having a definitive understanding. What do we mean by justice? Justice is rightness, forthrightness, being righteous and upright and equitable in your dealings, which is one of the reasons in the scripture verse. In ancient times, one of the complaints that God had against his people, israel, was that they practice injustice toward their neighbor. So the scripture verse says what does the Lord require? The Lord requires that you walk in justice and humility before your God.
Speaker 1:Now, this is something that that's very, very important, because there is I found out doing research, there's an organization out, I don't know if you guys have heard of it, it's called Evangelicals for Harris. Guys have heard of it. It's called evangelicals for harris. As I uh, did research, I didn't know this organization existed, but as I just began doing research, I ran across and I thought, well, what is this, what is this? And I thought, man, this is uh, this is interesting. And apparently, uh, evangelicals for Harris are.
Speaker 1:Are evangelicals, christian evangelicals, who typically vote on the right side, if I'm explaining this correctly, who typically vote on the right side, have come out and say that they are doing their very best to get Kamala Harris elected. I don't know about you, I don't know what I think about that, and we're going to talk about that here in a minute, but this, this quote, was from Marie Griffin. She's a professor at the University of Washington, st Louis. Does evangelical mean white or conservative? That question is important because typically, when you hear the word evangelical, it is absolutely factually, statistically, true that evangelicals overwhelmingly typically vote on the Republican side. You may even ask the question does evangelical mean white, republican and conservative? Now, think about that, okay, so there is no surprise, equally, on the other side, that individuals who are considered minorities or African-Americans vote overwhelmingly Democratic.
Speaker 1:This topic is extremely important and extremely timely because we need to think about how the gospel, and this is what makes it very, very critical how the gospel has been used on both sides of the aisle for political parties. You guys all know what my goal and my purpose here is, first and foremost, to say, and you know my, my famous quote God doesn't ride on the backs of donkeys or elephants, but the only kingdom that we should, first and foremost have our allegiance to is the kingdom of God. What, what makes this interesting? Looking at the website right now in front of me, talking to you through a microphone, I remember I don't know how long ago it was Many of you can probably remember the picture of President Donald Trump standing in front of a church At that time he was president standing a former president and presidential candidate, second term standing in front of a church holding a Bible, and I remember watching that on the news and I got infuriated.
Speaker 1:Not because of his political party, let me be. Let me be 100%. I have voted on both sides. I have voted on Democratic, I voted Republican, I voted independent and most of you would never know that. Why? Because I don't wear it on my sleeve, because I minister and work and serve and have friends on both sides of the aisle. So I am not that interested in making any kind of political statement, but let me forge forward.
Speaker 1:I remember seeing him hold it and I got. I was infuriated. Why? Because he co-opted the Christian message. Not because he believed in the kingdom of God, not because it was a justice issue. In my opinion and a humble opinion, and many people will agree with me, both on the right and the left he did that to appeal to a evangelical Christian base. So, in other words, he wasn't using the gospel because of his own faith in traditions and convictions. He was using it to cater to people who he knew all he had to do is standing in front of a church holding the Bible and he would get their vote. This is why this evangelicals for Harris thing is really problematic for me and I'm still trying to figure out why.
Speaker 1:So are evangelicals beginning to see that evangelicals are? We are evangelicals, and I don't even consider myself that I don't like those labels. When is it when evangelicals are going to begin to believe that not all conservatives going to begin to believe that not all conservatives, not all conservatives have the same political viewpoint, that there are some actions, that there are some issues that conservatives and on both sides of the aisle and I mean that there are liberal conservatives, there are Republicans, there's independent conservatives as well that the gospel is being taken by these different groups and being used in order to push their agenda. And what I see happening in our world today is that evangelicals some of them I mean good meaning. I'm not talking about the religious right and I'm not talking about the extreme left, and I'm not talking about those individuals. I'm talking about good-minded, smart, educated, sensible people.
Speaker 1:But there are some evangelicals who are beginning to see that not all conservatives believe In the same principles and viewpoints that are necessarily associated with the Republican Party. You see that and I see that Hear me carefully. I realized that when I lived in different parts of the country that just because you live in a Democratic state doesn't mean that racism still doesn't exist. That's what I learned from that. Experience is number one. Experience is number one. There are some evangelicals who are starting to perceive that the Trump ticket is not based on what they believe to represent the best values for the American populace.
Speaker 1:Not all evangelical Democrats believe in one party issues. In other words, not all Democrats believe abortion is right. Not all Democrats believe when you're talking to conservatives, right, and this is why I bring the question Does evangelical mean white conservative? I would say no, that not all liberals believe in one issue ticket or one. I'm on this party, I vote this ticket line because of this one issue. There are people all over the map and it's the same thing on the republican side.
Speaker 1:Now, listen, if you are getting infuriated by what you're hearing from me right now, it's because you've done one thing you've allowed the political party to become your god. You've allowed that organization however you may sit, either on the left or the right, or in the middle or independent, you, I, as a child of God, if we get so infuriated that we can't have conversations or be in Christian fellowship, we've allowed the political party to have primary allegiance rather than God's kingdom, and this is what what Jesus talked about. So then the question becomes well, what? What are we talking about? If we're saying, listen, in his Harris versus Trump issue that's coming up, what, what, what's on the table? I think values are on the table. The question is is the question of values? So some people say, well, which presidential candidate do you vote for? I'm voting on the right to Trump, I'm a Trumper, and then no, I vote ticket. I don't care who's on the ticket, I don't I'm who's on a ticket, I'm dedicated to my party.
Speaker 1:I think you're there's time that you rethink that, that those what we're learning is that Republican and Democrat is becoming more fluid, that people are not necessarily having allegiance to a party as much as they have an allegiance to an issue. So then the question becomes then what value systems are we talking about? And this is the issue that I have with my brothers on the right. When you start talking about family values, there was nothing about the former president that represented that. That, particularly from the things that we saw and heard out in public, which is the reason why doing that particular when he ran for office in the beginning. Now, mind you, I'm staying middle of the road. I'm not saying vote either, or and I'm gonna get to calvin harris in a second there was nothing that I seen that I felt comfortable with, that represented the value systems that I wanted to pass on to my children. Nor I practice myself as a Christian.
Speaker 1:So then the question becomes well, what about? What about the other side? What about Kamala Harris that, just because she is, here we go. I'm going to put it out there. Don't get mad at me now. Just because she is a woman, just because she's African-American or she's a minority, means that we should vote for her Right, when she hasn't really defined what her political policies are or she's tap dancing around and changing her positions back and forth.
Speaker 1:But it's equally problematic. Go to this website Evangelicals for Harris. Are they not doing the same thing? Just like Donald Trump? The don't president, a former president used the bible in front of the church. Now you have church leaders saying our job is to get this person elected, and I'm looking at the website right now. You guys got to check this out. Faith in action volunteer services in the community. I think that's fine. Uh, using it. Let me just say this make the statement using the gospel, as this candidate represents christian values, right. Evangelicals don't have. Make this statement using the gospel, as this candidate represents christian values, right. Evangelicals don't have and this is on the website. Evangelicals don't have to change who they are. They just need to reaffirm who they are by voting for someone who better reflects and it used to say they changed that statement. It didn't used to say better reflect, it was, it said, something like the only person that reflected true christian values. That's a problematic that will. We are allowing political organizations for one candidate that says this is what god will say about this and this candidate represents god.
Speaker 1:I want to say in my closing argument we have to be critical of both. A biblical argument it says number one proverbs uh 31, 8 through 9 our allegiance to be critical of both. A biblical argument it says number one Proverbs 31, eight through nine our allegiance to be first and foremost to God, to God's kingdom. Number two what value systems that are congruent with your life and with the Bible should be what you are proponent of. Proverbs 31, eight, nine says this speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all, all people who are destitute. Here is pure and undefiled religion is to what? Care for the fatherless, care for the widow, keep yourself unstained from the world Right? So, in other words, a value system in the scripture says first and foremost, you should care about those who are poor and you should care about those who are naked. You should care about those who are homeless. You should have, that, should be a part of your Christian value system. So, with that being said, you can't necessarily say one person or one political party has its God's candidate, so to speak.
Speaker 1:A more balanced approach is what we're looking at Right, or one political party has its God's candidate, so to speak. A more balanced approach is what we're looking at right. In Matthew 7, 16 to 20, jesus taught that we should recognize people by their fruit instead of their categories. We should evaluate leaders based on their actions and the outcome of their policy. That's another way of having a balanced position. We should seek the common good in Philippians 2, 3, and 4. Paul instructs believers to do nothing out of selfish ambition. Having a more balanced approach and policies Having a more balanced approach and policies Leaders should seek genuinely the common ground. In other words, I am on the left, I am on the right, but I represent all America. Ok, so I have to vote what's in the best interest of all Americans.
Speaker 1:Talking about a more balanced approach Now I can say that there have been some contributions that President Trump has made to the American society in a positive way Absolutely Having our economic interests, the competitive spirit of the market, as a cornerstone to the democratic way of life. I think that's very important Not being overly concerned about being in other people's business across the world, but taking care of the American citizenry. I think he stands for that and I'm willing to say that. Okay, and I know y'all going to come for me, but I love you. I hope you love me back. Matthew 22, 3, 37 and 40. Jesus commands that we love our neighbor as ourself. That's a cornerstone to Christian ethics.
Speaker 1:So if churches are divided and pastors can't talk and can't talk about how you should stand, what you should believe in, then that's not a church you should be a part of. I'm just going to put it right out flat in front of you. We are called to be watch this. Christians are called to be advocates for justice, mercy and humility, regardless of your political affiliation, and so this is what we're aiming for. The aim is that we have a more balanced approach. The aim is that we know what we believe in and why, and we stand on it. The aim is not to let a political party hijack if you will quote, unquote or snatch the value systems and co-opt them and misuse and misquote those systems and value systems and perspectives that we hold dearly, and perspectives that we hold dearly and signs of our faith, symbols of our faith that we hold dearly, and use them for political gain without addressing them.
Speaker 1:That change is needed. So I begin. I end where I begin. Does evangelical solely mean white conservative? My goal is that you would sit down and have a conversation with your friends who are different and find common ground. That is our goal. Right? We want a more balanced perspective. We want to critically evaluate political figures. Right, we want to have critical engagement. We want our kids to have critical engagement.
Speaker 1:So once again, hey, thank you guys for your support. I look forward to further conversation. I think we've gone long enough. How long I've? I've gone for 30, almost 40 minutes Blow my time, but I really appreciate you guys listening and I look forward to seeing you guys again. Our next podcast will be hitting the airways. It will be on the 15th the 15th, okay, so that will be our next podcast episode. Well, make sure you share the podcast. You can always share this podcast with other people. Make a donation, give us a five-star rating If you listen to us on Apple Podcasts, go ahead on and give us a rating, and we look forward to seeing you guys on October 15th. Peace.
