On radio this morning, Glenn interviewed author and television host Jeff Foxworthy of GSN’s American Bible Challenge.
“The American Bible Challenge was a huge success. The last time I talked to you about this, I think it was getting ready to premiere last year and you said, we're just going to try this out. We're not really sure if it's even going to work, or whatever. We'll just try it. Here it is a success and now back the second year,” Glenn said.
American Bible Challenge became the highest rated show in the history of GSN – a remarkable feat given GSN is not a faith-based network. Glenn compared the show’s success to another show – The Bible on the History Channel, which similarly became the highest rated show in that network’s history.
“Highest rated thing in the history of the network, which is very interesting,” Foxworthy said. “A show about the Bible, you know, on a network that's not devoted to faith programming. I think that's pretty cool.”
Foxworthy attributes the show’s success to its positive message and unique format. “You know, if you just talk about faith, it becomes boring pretty quickly. But unlike any game show, nobody keeps the money,” he explained. “They turn around and they give it away to somebody in their community. They love on somebody in their community.”
In the wake of the election of the new Pope, media coverage of the event has focused largely on modernizing the Catholic Church. Considering the Catholic Church, like any sect of Christianity, is rooted in the words and teachings of the Bible, there is only so much ‘modernizing’ any of these religions can do. “I mean, Glenn, you're talking about the scriptures,” Foxworthy said. “If you believe that it's the – you know, that it is the inspired Word of God, it wasn't just written for people 2,000 years ago or 3,000 years ago. It's still relevant today.”
“You're supposed to take care of each other, and when that happens within the faith community, then there's no longer this big requirement for the government to do it. It's not their job,” he continued. “We're supposed to take care of each other.”
Glenn proceeded to ask Foxworthy about the lack of coverage the success of shows like American Bible Challenge and The Bible receives from the mainstream media. Glenn suggests that it is most likely because the left is afraid to admit the power such shows wield in shifting the conversation away from the power of government toward the power of faith and the Bible, and Foxworthy had similar insight.
“It's because it's a positive thing. And, you know, we've kind of become in this country to where the thing that we worship is the government. The government is going to take care of us. And it was never intended to be that way,” Foxworthy said. “I mean, if you go study the Constitution that was never the way it was supposed to be.”
Foxworthy’s favorite passage from the Bible is Galatians 1:10, which talks about whether one if seeking the approval of man or of God. And as a result, he takes any criticism the show or he might face in stride. “I just figure if I live my life in such a way that God approves of it, then do I really care what anybody else says about it,” he said. “Because you've got to think if I'm doing it in a way, you know, I'm probably a pretty good citizen of my country and of my state and of my community. I'm probably a good father. I'm probably a good friend. I'm probably a good husband. So what does it matter what you say about it?”
“I really like that guy,” Glenn said about Foxworthy. “A really, really normal, nice guy… Put something positive and something fun in your life. The American Bible Challenge – tomorrow.”