From Pulpit Freedom Sunday: Resources for faith leaders

November 02, 2012

Writer

In preparing the special newsletter GlennBeck.com sent out on Saturday, Glenn asked that we include a link to the resources that Pastor Jim Garlow and his team at Pulpit Freedom Sunday sent out to faith leaders across the country this week. Many viewers will recognize Pastor Garlow and the organization from several interviews he has done with Glenn on radio and TV, as well as stories on Pulpit Freedom Sunday on TheBlaze.com.

From Jim Garlow, Pastor, Skyline Church,* San Diego & Chairman, ReAL Action, Washington, DC

There are many resources available to us during this critical election year. Below I have listed some I think may be useful to you.

In the interest of full disclosure, I believe the Scriptures are profoundly clear regarding these (and other related) themes:

the sanctity of life,

the sacredness of (traditional, biblical, natural) marriage,

the evil of stealing from future generations by excessive national debt,

the importance of recognizing that our rights come from God (“by their Creator” as stated in the Declaration of Independence), including the 1^st Amendment right to practice our faith in all of life,

the appropriateness of “constitutionalism,” that is, not violating understood and biblically valid laws,

the understanding that the “image of God” on every human results in creativity, followed by productivity and the potential of appropriate prosperity (Succinctly stated, free enterprise [appropriately defined within the framework of Judeo-Christian values] is inherently biblical. Socialism or Marxism is inherently anti-biblical)

and the support of Israel.

If you share these views (and other associated ones), you might be interested in using – on this final weekend before the election – some of the 21 resources listed below (nine of which I created). Use what you want.

(NOTE: Before you look at the resource list below, allow me to invite you to go first to www.PulpitFreedom.org and join with over 1,620 pastors who are advocates of “no governmental intrusion in the pulpit.” This applies not merely to those pastors who share my views listed above. This applies to ALL pastors. For example, if you are pro-abortion, pro same sex “marriage,” unconcerned about the national debt, or not committed to supporting Israel, we affirm the right of pastors – of ANY theological persuasion – to speak from their pulpit as they choose. Therefore, we invite ALL pastors, who believe that the pastor-muzzling and pulpit-censoring Johnson Amendment of 1954 is unconstitutional, to sign up at www.PulpitFreedom.org and join the rapidly rising chorus of “free pulpits.” )

RESOURCE LIST

PREACHING / SERMON RESOURCES:

1. Phoenix Seminary Professor and Author (Politics According to the Bible) Wayne Grudem’s remarkable reprintable analysis of 2012 election issues from a biblical perspective. You have permission to make copies of this document:

http://www.waynegrudem.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Moral-and-spiritual-issues-in-the-2012-election-10-2-12.pdf

2. Wayne Grudem’s video interview by Jim Garlow, on the issues of the 2012 election (tied to the document above):

3. Jim Garlow video that was used in many churches in recent weekends to help the congregation understand historically, theologically and biblically why their pastor is speaking out on national issues:

4. This professionally produced video graphically demonstrates the destruction of biblical values in contemporary culture. When showed at one church recently, it gripped the hearts of persons of all ages, particularly young adults. Some even cried openly:

Download link: http://www.valuevotersusa.com/

You-tube link:

UNDERSTANDING BIBLICAL ECONOMICS 5. To help us as pastors and Christian leaders better understand fiscal issues, Dallas, TX Financial Planner Jerry Tuma prepared a 12 page document as a crash course on the key biblical truths that apply to national economics. Download it and use it freely: http://cornerstonefinancial-tx.com/PDF/Biblical_Economic_Principles_2012.pdf

6. This gripping video portrays a factual history of the economic disaster of the last four years:

YOUTH PRODUCED VIDEOS:

7. A brief and moving video done by a group of high school students from the San Diego area:

8. A remarkably articulate 13 year old 8^th grader does a “report card” on Barak Obama and Mitt Romney:

AFRICAN AMERICAN & HISPANIC RESPONSES

9. This powerful presentation by the leader of a network of 36,000 Hispanic congregations – Sammy Rodriguez – will take your breath away: www.youtube.com/watch?v=5WJ9ME5yFt8

10. Strong concerns emerging from black leaders, among them Bishop Harry Jackson (a Harvard grad and NFL player for a short time):

11. Another convicting presentation by Bishop Harry Jackson:

12. Bishop EW Jackson’s frank, direct and soul searching appeal:

13. Bishop Joe Mattera is one of America’s most brilliant pastors when it comes to understanding kingdom principles in the present culture. An Italian-Hispanic leader in New York City, Bishop Joe Mattera preached this breathtaking sermon entitled “Exchanging God for Gods” in the city to 1,200 blacks, whites and Hispanics. People came pouring to the altar to repent:

Audio version: http://www.charismanews.com/opinion/34263-how-america-exchanged-god-for-gods

CIVIL DISCOURSE

14. How can we have civil, thoughtful, respectful conversations with those who disagree with us in a politically charged atmosphere? Here is a discussion that occurred in at Skyline Church when Jim Garlow invited two prominent same sex “marriage” advocates to the service. Use any portion of it, if you desire:

THE CONDITION OF THE NATION

15. Jim Garlow’s address at Statuary Hall in the US Capitol:

16. Jim Garlow’s brief appeal regarding pastors speaking out on national issues, before 7,000 people at the Indivisible Conference, closing with a personal story regarding his wife’s battle with stage 4 cancer, comparing it to America’s “cancer.”

INTERACTING WITH A SOMEWHAT HOSTILE CULTURE (INTERVIEWS)

17. Want some laughter? Jim Garlow interviewed on The Colbert Report by host Stephen Colbert. Unpredictable and wild:

18. A somewhat testy CNN interview of Jim Garlow regarding Pulpit Freedom Sunday, three days before the event:

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/bestoftv/2012/10/03/exp-costello-garlow-politicial-sermons.cnn

19. A slightly less testy CNN interview of Jim Garlow regarding Pulpit Freedom Sunday on the actual Sunday:

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/bestoftv/2012/10/07/exp-pulpit-freedom-sunday.cnn

20. A rather feisty interview with Jim Garlow done by CNN host and former NY Governor Elliot Spitzer touching on God’s word and marriage:

A CONGRESSMAN’S PLEA / ISRAEL

21. A profoundly moving appeal by AZ Congressman Trent Franks – recorded in Jerusalem – appealing for pastors and Christians to rise up for the cause of truth, righteousness and the defense of Israel.

'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

The critical difference: Rights from the Creator, not the state

Bloomberg / Contributor | Getty Images

When politicians claim that rights flow from the state, they pave the way for tyranny.

Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) recently delivered a lecture that should alarm every American. During a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing, he argued that believing rights come from a Creator rather than government is the same belief held by Iran’s theocratic regime.

Kaine claimed that the principles underpinning Iran’s dictatorship — the same regime that persecutes Sunnis, Jews, Christians, and other minorities — are also the principles enshrined in our Declaration of Independence.

In America, rights belong to the individual. In Iran, rights serve the state.

That claim exposes either a profound misunderstanding or a reckless indifference to America’s founding. Rights do not come from government. They never did. They come from the Creator, as the Declaration of Independence proclaims without qualification. Jefferson didn’t hedge. Rights are unalienable — built into every human being.

This foundation stands worlds apart from Iran. Its leaders invoke God but grant rights only through clerical interpretation. Freedom of speech, property, religion, and even life itself depend on obedience to the ruling clerics. Step outside their dictates, and those so-called rights vanish.

This is not a trivial difference. It is the essence of liberty versus tyranny. In America, rights belong to the individual. The government’s role is to secure them, not define them. In Iran, rights serve the state. They empower rulers, not the people.

From Muhammad to Marx

The same confusion applies to Marxist regimes. The Soviet Union’s constitutions promised citizens rights — work, health care, education, freedom of speech — but always with fine print. If you spoke out against the party, those rights evaporated. If you practiced religion openly, you were charged with treason. Property and voting were allowed as long as they were filtered and controlled by the state — and could be revoked at any moment. Rights were conditional, granted through obedience.

Kaine seems to be advocating a similar approach — whether consciously or not. By claiming that natural rights are somehow comparable to sharia law, he ignores the critical distinction between inherent rights and conditional privileges. He dismisses the very principle that made America a beacon of freedom.

Jefferson and the founders understood this clearly. “We are endowed by our Creator with certain unalienable rights,” they wrote. No government, no cleric, no king can revoke them. They exist by virtue of humanity itself. The government exists to protect them, not ration them.

This is not a theological quibble. It is the entire basis of our government. Confuse the source of rights, and tyranny hides behind piety or ideology. The people are disempowered. Clerics, bureaucrats, or politicians become arbiters of what rights citizens may enjoy.

John Greim / Contributor | Getty Images

Gifts from God, not the state

Kaine’s statement reflects either a profound ignorance of this principle or an ideological bias that favors state power over individual liberty. Either way, Americans must recognize the danger. Understanding the origin of rights is not academic — it is the difference between freedom and submission, between the American experiment and theocratic or totalitarian rule.

Rights are not gifts from the state. They are gifts from God, secured by reason, protected by law, and defended by the people. Every American must understand this. Because when rights come from government instead of the Creator, freedom disappears.

This article originally appeared on TheBlaze.com.

POLL: Is Gen Z’s anger over housing driving them toward socialism?

NurPhoto / Contributor | Getty Images

A recent poll conducted by Justin Haskins, a long-time friend of the show, has uncovered alarming trends among young Americans aged 18-39, revealing a generation grappling with deep frustrations over economic hardships, housing affordability, and a perceived rigged system that favors the wealthy, corporations, and older generations. While nearly half of these likely voters approve of President Trump, seeing him as an anti-establishment figure, over 70% support nationalizing major industries, such as healthcare, energy, and big tech, to promote "equity." Shockingly, 53% want a democratic socialist to win the 2028 presidential election, including a third of Trump voters and conservatives in this age group. Many cite skyrocketing housing costs, unfair taxation on the middle class, and a sense of being "stuck" or in crisis as driving forces, with 62% believing the economy is tilted against them and 55% backing laws to confiscate "excess wealth" like second homes or luxury items to help first-time buyers.

This blend of Trump support and socialist leanings suggests a volatile mix: admiration for disruptors who challenge the status quo, coupled with a desire for radical redistribution to address personal struggles. Yet, it raises profound questions about the roots of this discontent—Is it a failure of education on history's lessons about socialism's failures? Media indoctrination? Or genuine systemic barriers? And what does it portend for the nation’s trajectory—greater division, a shift toward authoritarian policies, or an opportunity for renewal through timeless values like hard work and individual responsibility?

Glenn wants to know what YOU think: Where do Gen Z's socialist sympathies come from? What does it mean for the future of America? Make your voice heard in the poll below:

Do you believe the Gen Z support for socialism comes from perceived economic frustrations like unaffordable housing and a rigged system favoring the wealthy and corporations?

Do you believe the Gen Z support for socialism, including many Trump supporters, is due to a lack of education about the historical failures of socialist systems?

Do you think that these poll results indicate a growing generational divide that could lead to more political instability and authoritarian tendencies in America's future?

Do you think that this poll implies that America's long-term stability relies on older generations teaching Gen Z and younger to prioritize self-reliance, free-market ideals, and personal accountability?

Glenn's Show Prep