Glenn's response to people who tell him prayer is not going to change things

September 03, 2015

WRITER

Pastor Blair from Fairview Baptist Church in Oklahoma joined Glenn on his show Wednesday along with David Barton to talk about what he called the "Nehemiah strategy" in dealing with the problems in our society.

The strategy starts with pastors and individuals making a difference in their own churches, beginning with the way they pray.

Watch the interview or read the transcript below.

Below is a rush transcript of this segment, it might contain errors.

David: At Restoring Unity, we had folks from all over the country, including a lot of pastors. One of those pastors is Paul Blair from Fairview Baptist Church in Oklahoma, outside of Oklahoma City in Edmond. You guys—by the way, football season is starting. You may want to hold that after all your years in the NFL as you talk today.

Pastor Blair: I was a lineman. They never let me touch one of these.

Glenn: Last time we spoke, Hutch was with us. He’s gone. He was, man, just moving forward. Tell me what we can learn from you and your church or what you saw in Birmingham, what can we learn to change things?

Pastor Blair: Well, God has always raised up men of God to proclaim the truth in the culture and stand against unrighteousness. We see sin in Genesis 3. We see the lineage of Cain in Genesis 4. In Genesis 5, we see God raising up Enoch to proclaim truth in an ungodly generation and warn them of the actions of their ungodliness. Quite frankly, we can sometimes be so overwhelmed when you look at a country the size of the United States of America and the number of people we have, and you get to the point you go well, what can I do?

One of the things that I really enjoyed about this weekend is the emphasis of the Nehemiah strategy. Each pastor, in fact, each person can make a difference in their own church. Their church can make a difference in the community. You get enough churches working together in a community, you can transform a city. You get enough cities working together, you can transform a state. You get enough states working together, perhaps we can transform the country.

Glenn: I said this on radio today and I want you to hear me clearly, there is no other answer now. I have talked about this for 15 years, we’re passing all the exits. They’re all gone, the bridge is out. There’s no other answer, so now we all have to act as individuals and just be seen standing, if nothing else, be seen standing even if you’re all alone, not by anybody else but by God.

Pastor Blair: Well, one of the things that David has always pointed out is the biblical influence, the biblical worldview was incorporated by our Founding Fathers into our systems of government. We have gotten conned into the idea in the modern Christianity that living by faith is doing things the way I want to do them and then praying that God would rescue me out of the mess that I’ve made. That’s not what living by faith is. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. If we would actually apply the Scripture to the way we conduct ourselves, whether it be family, business, civil government, whatever, we’d see the results.

Glenn: I get a lot of people who write to me and say, yeah, Glenn, yeah, yeah, yeah, prayer, prayer, prayer, prayer, prayer. Prayer is not going to change things. No, it’s going to help, but it’s not going to change things. Action, living what we say we believe is going to change something.

Pastor Blair: I love the story of the Israelites. Shortly after they had come out of captivity in Egypt, they were attacked by the Amalekites. You see two battles taking place. You see Moses up on the mountaintop with Aaron and Hur helping him give his hands raised to heaven. As Moses is interceding in prayer, then you see Joshua and everybody else out in the valley literally engaging in the three-dimensional world that we live in. So, the battle must be fought in prayer first but then also in action. We’ve got to put shoe leather to our prayers.

David: And it goes back to the individual. We talked about the great awakening. A lot of the great awakening, most of the meetings were outside the church. There were some churches participated, but it’s individuals making the difference.

Glenn: From the very beginning, the churches, they fought all of this. They fought it in the first great awakening. They fought it at the second. It was the rebel pastors that dumped—a lot of the churches were preaching slavery was okay because it’s what the people wanted to hear. It was the rebel pastors that went out of the church, and it’s going to be that way again. We get too soft and cushy.

Pastor Blair: And when has the church not been controversial?

Glenn: Now.

Pastor Blair: Well yeah, but always in the Scriptures, it was always controversial.

David: Yeah, when it does what it’s supposed to do, it will be controversial.

Pastor Blair: Accused of turning the world upside down, always want to be taught. Everywhere Paul went, he was chased out of the city.

Glenn: Right. Gandhi said I love you Christians. I love your Christianity, I don’t love you Christians. In your Bible, you have enough dynamite to blow up the entire world, and yet you don’t use it; you use it as a novel.

Pastor Blair: And that’s what pastors, all pastors—truth is true for all people in all times and all places. It doesn’t matter whether you’re a black pastor or a white pastor, whether you’re a country pastor or a city pastor, we have got to be boldly proclaiming the truth to our people and in our culture. Then we’ll see a transformation of society.

David: Yeah, and it’s the truth that is the unmoving thing, and right now we’ve got a lot of pastors deciding whether they want to jump off and get in truth because they won’t be liked if they say the truth, particularly right now. We’ve kept our mouths shut so long that now if you say the truth, you will get beat up.

Pastor Blair: But the reality is there should only be one commendation we’re looking for, and that’s a well-done, my good and faithful servant. We’re not supposed to get the Chamber of Commerce Pastor of the Year Award or MVP for the state chamber or whatever. We need to be bold enough to do what God has called us to do.

David: By the way, it’s not just pastors, individuals, the same way.

Glenn: Great to have you. Thank you so much. When we come back, one of the most memorable speeches from Restoring Unity was from a man who was instrumental in making it happen, in just a minute.

Are Gen Z's socialist sympathies a threat to America's future?

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In a republic forged on the anvil of liberty and self-reliance, where generations have fought to preserve free markets against the siren song of tyranny, Gen Z's alarming embrace of socialism amid housing crises and economic despair has sparked urgent alarm. But in a recent poll, Glenn asked the tough questions: Where do Gen Z's socialist sympathies come from—and what does it mean for America's future? Glenn asked, and you answered—hundreds weighed in on this volatile mix of youthful frustration and ideological peril.

The results paint a stark picture of distrust in the system. A whopping 79% of you affirm that Gen Z's socialist sympathies stem from real economic gripes, like sky-high housing costs and a rigged game tilted toward the elite and corporations—defying the argument that it's just youthful naivety. Even more telling, 97% believe this trend arises from a glaring educational void on socialism's bloody historical track record, where failed regimes have crushed freedoms under the boot of big government. And 97% see these poll findings as a harbinger of deepening generational rifts, potentially fueling political chaos and authoritarian overreach if left unchecked.

Your verdict underscores a moral imperative: America's soul hangs on reclaiming timeless values like self-reliance and liberty. This feedback amplifies your concerns, sending a clear message to the powers that be.

Want to make your voice heard? Check out more polls HERE.

Without civic action, America faces collapse

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Every vote, jury duty, and act of engagement is civics in action, not theory. The republic survives only when citizens embrace responsibility.

I slept through high school civics class. I memorized the three branches of government, promptly forgot them, and never thought of that word again. Civics seemed abstract, disconnected from real life. And yet, it is critical to maintaining our republic.

Civics is not a class. It is a responsibility. A set of habits, disciplines, and values that make a country possible. Without it, no country survives.

We assume America will survive automatically, but every generation must learn to carry the weight of freedom.

Civics happens every time you speak freely, worship openly, question your government, serve on a jury, or cast a ballot. It’s not a theory or just another entry in a textbook. It’s action — the acts we perform every day to be a positive force in society.

Many of us recoil at “civic responsibility.” “I pay my taxes. I follow the law. I do my civic duty.” That’s not civics. That’s a scam, in my opinion.

Taking up the torch

The founders knew a republic could never run on autopilot. And yet, that’s exactly what we do now. We assume it will work, then complain when it doesn’t. Meanwhile, the people steering the country are driving it straight into a mountain — and they know it.

Our founders gave us tools: separation of powers, checks and balances, federalism, elections. But they also warned us: It won’t work unless we are educated, engaged, and moral.

Are we educated, engaged, and moral? Most Americans cannot even define a republic, never mind “keep one,” as Benjamin Franklin urged us to do after the Constitutional Convention.

We fought and died for the republic. Gaining it was the easy part. Keeping it is hard. And keeping it is done through civics.

Start small and local

In our homes, civics means teaching our children the Constitution, our history, and that liberty is not license — it is the space to do what is right. In our communities, civics means volunteering, showing up, knowing your sheriff, attending school board meetings, and understanding the laws you live under. When necessary, it means challenging them.

How involved are you in your local community? Most people would admit: not really.

Civics is learned in practice. And it starts small. Be honest in your business dealings. Speak respectfully in disagreement. Vote in every election, not just the presidential ones. Model citizenship for your children. Liberty is passed down by teaching and example.

Samuel Corum / Stringer | Getty Images

We assume America will survive automatically, but every generation must learn to carry the weight of freedom.

Start with yourself. Study the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and state laws. Study, act, serve, question, and teach. Only then can we hope to save the republic. The next election will not fix us. The nation will rise or fall based on how each of us lives civics every day.

Civics isn’t a class. It’s the way we protect freedom, empower our communities, and pass down liberty to the next generation.

This article originally appeared on TheBlaze.com.

'Rage against the dying of the light': Charlie Kirk lived that mandate

PHILL MAGAKOE / Contributor | Getty Images

Kirk’s tragic death challenges us to rise above fear and anger, to rebuild bridges where others build walls, and to fight for the America he believed in.

I’ve only felt this weight once before. It was 2001, just as my radio show was about to begin. The World Trade Center fell, and I was called to speak immediately. I spent the day and night by my bedside, praying for words that could meet the moment.

Yesterday, I found myself in the same position. September 11, 2025. The assassination of Charlie Kirk. A friend. A warrior for truth.

Out of this tragedy, the tyrant dies, but the martyr’s influence begins.

Moments like this make words feel inadequate. Yet sometimes, words from another time speak directly to our own. In 1947, Dylan Thomas, watching his father slip toward death, penned lines that now resonate far beyond his own grief:

Do not go gentle into that good night. / Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Thomas was pleading for his father to resist the impending darkness of death. But those words have become a mandate for all of us: Do not surrender. Do not bow to shadows. Even when the battle feels unwinnable.

Charlie Kirk lived that mandate. He knew the cost of speaking unpopular truths. He knew the fury of those who sought to silence him. And yet he pressed on. In his life, he embodied a defiance rooted not in anger, but in principle.

Picking up his torch

Washington, Jefferson, Adams — our history was started by men who raged against an empire, knowing the gallows might await. Lincoln raged against slavery. Martin Luther King Jr. raged against segregation. Every generation faces a call to resist surrender.

It is our turn. Charlie’s violent death feels like a knockout punch. Yet if his life meant anything, it means this: Silence in the face of darkness is not an option.

He did not go gently. He spoke. He challenged. He stood. And now, the mantle falls to us. To me. To you. To every American.

We cannot drift into the shadows. We cannot sit quietly while freedom fades. This is our moment to rage — not with hatred, not with vengeance, but with courage. Rage against lies, against apathy, against the despair that tells us to do nothing. Because there is always something you can do.

Even small acts — defiance, faith, kindness — are light in the darkness. Reaching out to those who mourn. Speaking truth in a world drowning in deceit. These are the flames that hold back the night. Charlie carried that torch. He laid it down yesterday. It is ours to pick up.

The light may dim, but it always does before dawn. Commit today: I will not sleep as freedom fades. I will not retreat as darkness encroaches. I will not be silent as evil forces claim dominion. I have no king but Christ. And I know whom I serve, as did Charlie.

Two turning points, decades apart

On Wednesday, the world changed again. Two tragedies, separated by decades, bound by the same question: Who are we? Is this worth saving? What kind of people will we choose to be?

Imagine a world where more of us choose to be peacemakers. Not passive, not silent, but builders of bridges where others erect walls. Respect and listening transform even the bitterest of foes. Charlie Kirk embodied this principle.

He did not strike the weak; he challenged the powerful. He reached across divides of politics, culture, and faith. He changed hearts. He sparked healing. And healing is what our nation needs.

At the center of all this is one truth: Every person is a child of God, deserving of dignity. Change will not happen in Washington or on social media. It begins at home, where loneliness and isolation threaten our souls. Family is the antidote. Imperfect, yes — but still the strongest source of stability and meaning.

Mark Wilson / Staff | Getty Images

Forgiveness, fidelity, faithfulness, and honor are not dusty words. They are the foundation of civilization. Strong families produce strong citizens. And today, Charlie’s family mourns. They must become our family too. We must stand as guardians of his legacy, shining examples of the courage he lived by.

A time for courage

I knew Charlie. I know how he would want us to respond: Multiply his courage. Out of this tragedy, the tyrant dies, but the martyr’s influence begins. Out of darkness, great and glorious things will sprout — but we must be worthy of them.

Charlie Kirk lived defiantly. He stood in truth. He changed the world. And now, his torch is in our hands. Rage, not in violence, but in unwavering pursuit of truth and goodness. Rage against the dying of the light.

This article originally appeared on TheBlaze.com.

Glenn Beck resurrects the 9-12 Project to support Charlie Kirk's family

Glenn Beck is once again calling on his loyal listeners and viewers to come together and channel the same unity and purpose that defined the historic 9-12 Project. That movement, born in the wake of national challenges, brought millions together to revive core values of faith, hope, and charity.

Glenn created the original 9-12 Project in early 2009 to bring Americans back to where they were in the wake of the 9/11 attacks. In those moments, we weren't Democrats and Republicans, conservative or liberal, Red States or Blue States, we were united as one, as America. The original 9-12 Project aimed to root America back in the founding principles of this country that united us during those darkest of days.

This new initiative draws directly from that legacy, focusing on supporting the family of Charlie Kirk in these dark days following his tragic murder.

The revival of the 9-12 Project aims to secure the long-term well-being of Charlie Kirk's wife and children. All donations will go straight to meeting their immediate and future needs. If the family deems the funds surplus to their requirements, Charlie's wife has the option to redirect them toward the vital work of Turning Point USA.

This campaign is more than just financial support—it's a profound gesture of appreciation for Kirk's tireless dedication to the cause of liberty. It embodies the unbreakable bond of our community, proving that when we stand united, we can make a real difference.
Glenn Beck invites you to join this effort. Show your solidarity by donating today and honoring Charlie Kirk and his family in this meaningful way.

You can learn more about the 9-12 Project and donate HERE

Glenn's Show Prep

Glenn's response to people who tell him prayer is not going to change things

Are Gen Z's socialist sympathies a threat to America's future?

Without civic action, America faces collapse

Every vote, jury duty, and act of engagement is civics in action, not theory. The republic survives only when citizens embrace responsibility.

We assume America will survive automatically, but every generation must learn to carry the weight of freedom.

Taking up the torch

Start small and local

'Rage against the dying of the light': Charlie Kirk lived that mandate

Kirk’s tragic death challenges us to rise above fear and anger, to rebuild bridges where others build walls, and to fight for the America he believed in.

Out of this tragedy, the tyrant dies, but the martyr’s influence begins.

Picking up his torch

Two turning points, decades apart

A time for courage

Glenn Beck resurrects the 9-12 Project to support Charlie Kirk's family