MYRNA BROWN, hosted by: Friday October 21, 2022.
Thank you for watching WORLD Radio today! Good morning, my name is Myrna Brown.
NICK EICHER, Host: I’m Nick Eicher. It’s Culture Friday!
John Stonestreet is out on an extensive travel schedule this month and will hear from you again in November. But joining us now is Andrew Walker. He is Professor of Christian Ethics and Apologetics at Southern Theological Seminary and Editor-in-Chief of WORLD Opinions.
Good morning, Andrew.
Andrew Walker, Guest: Hey Nick, Hey Myrna.
BROWN: Andrew, I would like to draw your attention to a campaign ad that uses a wildly fictional plot. It depicts a police officer coming to her house and issuing her mother a warrant for her arrest… Abortions, guns drawn, sobbing children, just an over-the-top portrayal of her trying to arrest
This scene of a family dinner being violently interrupted has been viewed millions of times on social media.
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Again, it’s all fiction, but what’s interesting is that there are actually abortion-related arrests.
WORLD’s Leah Savas was snatched from his home by FBI agents earlier this month, citing a growing list of anti-life activists facing federal charges for engaging in peaceful, life-giving demonstrations. reported.
Andrew, going back to that ad, what it seems to get is a life abolitionist idea that wants to punish women. Where does that fit on the overall anti-abortion/pro-life spectrum mosquito?
WALKER: Well, Myrna, I think we should start with a clear understanding that we are living in an election cycle. Treat it as if you were representing your usual position to hold.
That video you are referring to by Rep. Swalwell is absolutely outrageous and downright deceptive. The idea that the mainstream conservative movement is going to storm people’s homes to arrest women is absolutely outrageous and ridiculous. I’m looking at this in my context here in Kentucky, where we have a significant amendment voted on November 8th, and seeing how this plays out in the news media. All we see are distortions and fabrications, blatant lies about what is happening.
And I think this is just a small part of the wider moment we’re in as a culture .As you said you’re looking at pro-life individuals having their homes invaded and their doors knocked by the FBI They are the ones in custody. Pregnancy care centers, on the other hand, have historically been the target of immense violence, but after Dobbs’ decision, neither the FBI nor the Department of Justice will conduct a real investigation into attacks on these facilities and their associates. I haven’t.
So we live in a frankly insane time when sober minds are not prevalent. And I think what really disappoints me is seeing the Department of Justice and the FBI actually pursuing what appears to be a partisan agenda. I’m here. Maybe I haven’t seen the full story. But the whole concept of justice is that justice is meant to be fair. And fairness, equality, objectivity, and truthfulness seem to be nobody’s concern.
EICHER: ANDREW Last week a jury in Florida was unable to reach a unanimous decision in a very closely monitored mass murder case, the Parkland school shooting. The death sentence could not be handed down to the man who murdered 100 students and 3 teachers. This is the attack that ranks among the top 10 mass shootings in US history.
And at least I know, if I can’t get a death sentence in this heinous case, how can I get a death sentence? But I’d love to hear your thoughts on the biblical ethics of the death penalty. Do you think it probably started here in the United States?
Walker: Nick, good question. Interestingly, a survey of the general American population shows that the death penalty is actually still very popular among the majority of people. I think what we’ve seen is that various states are taking steps to ban the death penalty or introduce a moratorium. I think this is actually unfair in itself.
You were right about this Parkland shooting. If this particular circumstance does not justify the death penalty, it can be argued that no case deserves the death penalty. It proves that the unimaginable cannot rise to levels that justify the death penalty. More problematically, this raises great concerns about our understanding of punishment in general. It’s from
What we see in this particular situation are parents who are completely outraged by this ruling. Because I believe this is one of the clearest instances where justice demands loss of life. And I’m not saying it out of bloodthirst. I believe this is a biblical principle. You go to Noah’s Covenant, Genesis 9:5-6. the principle of justice.
And when our justice system fails to provide these parents with exactly what they owe, it ridicules the heinousness of the crimes committed against them. I hope it’s one of those situations that provokes anger. Those trying to determine the type of future punishment know that the desire for gratification is unrequited, so consider how much additional damage these situations will do to the parent.
EICHER: This is a story that surprised me. But Ben Sasse, U.S. Senator from Nebraska, is probably one of the most articulate and intelligent legislators in all of Washington (and that says as much as I mean it). It does not mean). However, Ben Sasse leaves the Senate to become president of the University of Florida. Sasse is well known for his Christian faith, his ability to articulate a Christian worldview, and his willingness to articulate a Christian worldview. And it looks like his resignation really does leave a gap in D.C. But what are your thoughts on this change overall? There is none.
Walker: Honestly, you know, we’d love to have him play both roles, but that’s not possible. And let me be clear, I am a huge fan of Senator Sasse. he is an acquaintance of mine He has written a preface for my book on his Robert P. George writings, due for publication in February. I have been an admirer of him for several years now. Because, to me, he embodies the type of conviction and decency that one who fully understands the Christian worldview should embody during his tenure. He does not shy away from Christian beliefs or conservative beliefs. So I think it’s definitely sad that he’s leaving the Senate because of these beliefs, but he’s found a position as president of a prestigious research institute, a very large institution like the University of Florida. It’s also a very good thing.
We all know that education, especially higher education, is not a welcoming institution for conservative Christians in our country. The fact that Ben Sasse is taking on this role is actually a very healthy sign. As far as pushing back against the culture of liberalism that pervades universities, I think this is actually a moment of optimism. When Kenny came to campus to take his first interview after he was announced as president, the students protested, yelled, screamed, and had a huge tantrum. What are you doing in response? Calm, graceful, these types of examples speak for themselves. I will miss him in the Senate, but I am thrilled that someone of his talent can hopefully shape future generations of university administrators from this point on. .
BROWN: Andrew Walker is Professor of Christian Ethics and Apologetics at Southern Theological Seminary and Editor-in-Chief of WORLD Opinions. Thank you Andrew!
Walker: Thank you.
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