Ed Vitagliano is filling in for Tim Wildman this week
>> Fred Jackson: Today's Issues continues on AFR with your host, Ed Latagliano.
>> Ed Vitagliano: And welcome back. Ed Vitagliano sitting in for Tim Wildmon. Tim Wildmon, this week, it's not easy to say. I'm joined in studio by Fred Jackson and Steve Paisley. Jordal joins us. Good morning, Slash. Good afternoon to you, sir.
>> Steve Jordahl: Good morning. Afternoon. Your professional broadcaster, you're supposed to be able to say those things without much problems.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Yeah, well, the word, professional combined with the name Ed Vitagliano doesn't always appear in a sentence. It's kind of rare. but, anyway. No, listen, sometimes it's easy to get tongue tied.
>> Steve Jordahl: Yeah.
>> Ed Vitagliano: and I, I admit it. This is why I keep my mouth shut when I go home. You know, just. I don't want to get my. Myself in trouble by saying the wrong thing.
>> Steve Jordahl: Is that right?
>> Ed Vitagliano: No, it's not right. I get myself in trouble a lot. So, anyway, welcome back. Thank you, program.
>> Steve Jordahl: Good to be here. Good to be here.
>> Ed Vitagliano: What, stories would you like to cover?
Fred Whitaker: Focus on the Family put out a statement on homosexuality
>> Steve Jordahl: Well, I'd like to start by talking about the, the statement that Focus on the Family put out yesterday.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Yeah, we need to clear this up.
>> Steve Jordahl: Let's do this. So, I, the, The reason I was a little late getting into the studio here is I was trying to find the original statement post that Focus put out. But on Monday, Focus put out a statement, through social media. Through social media, notably, as we are entering what the world calls Pride Month. and they said a post. Ah, they said it started. Is being gay a sin? Before we say anything else, please know that being gay does. He doesn't send anyone to hell. And then they went on to, basically equivocate about what the Bible says. Do you have the original statement there, Fred? I don't know. You're looking. Well, it was a very soft statement and, they went into cleanup mode. Well, yesterday they got it right, I think. So, they put out a statement and I'm going to read a little bit from the statement. Then I talked to Jenna Ellis, who had talked about this on her show.
>> Ed Vitagliano: just last couple of mornings.
>> Steve Jordahl: Last couple of mornings I talked to her just, before I came into the studio. And also, talked to Megan Basham. We'll have her comments in the news story. I do.
>> Ed Vitagliano: For news.
>> Steve Jordahl: Yeah, but, so the, the statement they put out, is long. I won't read the whole thing. But they said on Monday. This is Jim Daly speaking, president of Focus on the Family. On Monday, Focus on the Family published a social media post that, to put it bluntly, we got wrong. Wrong. Most disappointingly, we got it wrong because we confusingly expressed the scriptural truth that we held. See, now I'm happy that's what you get. Scriptural truth. We have held sacrosanct since the ministry's founding nearly 50 years ago. In publishing excerpts from a 2012 Q&A feature on homosexuality, we caused many readers to come away with a troubling impression of where we stand on the issue. Worse, we confuse them on what the Bible says about it. First, for that we apologize. And then it goes on, to talk about, that the Bible unequivocally says that homosexuality, is sinful and fundamentally in conflict with Christian faith, both in thought and deed.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Well, thanks to Brent Creely, our producer. Here's the original, post, by Focus on the Family. is being gay a sin? Before we say anything else, please know that being gay doesn't send anybody to hell. God uses only one fact to judge the world and determine who is saved and who isn't. Faith in Jesus Christ. Here's the bad news. We all deserve to go to hell. But the good news is that God loves us in spite of our sin and he sent his son Jesus Christ to purchase our redemption. That's the end of the post. I think it was on X, I think where they originally posted it. But what, what alarmed people was that the post never answered the question. Fred, at the beginning, is being gay a sin? And also what alarmed a lot of Bible believing Christians is that sometimes what people will say as they head down and groups can, we'll say as they head down a path towards acceptance of homosexuality is they will say there's nothing wrong with being gay. You just can't act on it.
>> Fred Jackson: Yeah.
>> Ed Vitagliano: When in reality what Romans 1, for example, says is that these passions and these desires are in themselves sinful. some Christian ministries, the Catholic Church I think says that they are disordered desires. and what Bible believing Christians will say is, that means that we often have to repent of who we are, even down to our desires which are wrong. And I am happy to hear that, Focus on the Family, has admitted that the initial post was perhaps careless, but certainly did not represent what Focus on the Family believes. And they uphold the full revelation of what the Bible says about all sexual.
>> Fred Jackson: Sin with the degree of deception that is out there today in various circles about is this a sin? Is this a sin? Imagine for a Moment. If this post, instead of dealing with homosexuality, had said, is cheating on your wife really a sin?
>> Ed Vitagliano: And before I answer that, let's say.
>> Fred Jackson: We'Re all sinners and didn't answer the question.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Right.
>> Fred Jackson: All right. So we have to be very clear. And it's just a matter of going back to Scripture. I think of the challenge, that Jesus, said to Peter after Jesus resurrection, I think they were sitting around a campfire on a beach. Peter, do you love me? Simon. Yeah, Simon, do you love me? And three times, because Jesus was looking for clarity, and he was also making a point because Peter had denied that he knew Christ. Three times.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Right.
>> Fred Jackson: As in prediction. But, we need clarity today on these things. It's kind of like what we were talking about, you know, when it comes to transsexual issue, we need clarity. God created two sexes, xxxy, male and female. That's it. We don't need to debate this beyond anything somebody may have. We all have feelings. I feel this is right. I feel that is right. And if you go to a counselor, they say, well, what does the scripture say? This is what the scripture says. We can't trust our feelings. We can't. I mean, the moment you start trusting your feelings to determine what is right and wrong, you're going down a very dangerous path. You will find lots of people out there who will say, if you feel that way, that's the way you should go.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Right.
>> Fred Jackson: Because.
>> Ed Vitagliano: And that is what they say they'll tell young people.
Yes. That is why the clarity of the scripture is so important
>> Fred Jackson: Yes. This, well, you're feeling this way. You're right. Why don't you go ahead? You know, you're made in God's image, and God has given you these feelings. that's the way you should go. No, that is why we have the scripture. That is why the clarity of the scripture is so important, and that's what we have to stick with.
Jim Daly's statement alleviated concerns that Focus is compromising on LGBTQ issue
>> Steve Jordahl: I wanted to play if I could, since we talked about Jenna, bringing this up. I did talk to Jenna. I want to play her response to the final statement that we just got yesterday. This would be cut 16.
>> Jenna Ellis: I think that Jim Daly's statement should fully alleviate, any concern that they are compromising that Focus as an organization under Jim Daly is compromising on the LGBTQ issue. the original initial post from Focus, that hasn't really been clearly explained as to who posted that, how it was vetted, why it even was originated. It seemed, to create a controversy that was totally unnecessary, especially in the middle of the secular view of Pride Month. so That I think still needs some clarification. But overall with Jim, Daley's statement, I think we can all rest assured that they have the correct, biblical worldview approach. And I think his whole entire statement, was very well said and it certainly alleviated my personal concerns.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Well, let me just say a couple of additional things here. first is that social media isn't always the best place to post a, a discussion about the, the struggles, for example, of people who are Christian and yet they may struggle with same sex feelings and thoughts. Okay, I, I, I can't imagine what that's like. We ought to be merciful, and compassionate and walk with Christians who are having to deal with those kinds of temptations. But social media isn't always a great place to try to post something that delves into the complexities of that particular issue. So to, Jenna's point, whoever did this initially, they might be, they might want to rethink where they post those kinds of things. And second of all, I just want to say, that this is why it's important. This is why afa, afn, Fred, under your leadership, but also the staff there for American Family News, very aware of the fact that we want to maintain our credibility with our listeners and our readership and those who listen, support AFA and pray for afa. Because you don't want to have to get into a situation where you're having to explain yourself, on something like this. It's important to try to stick to the rules of journalism so you don't step into these kind of landmines.
>> Fred Jackson: No. And they're out there and we have to be so, so careful, you know. Ah, as you were just talking, I remember the days and Ed, you and I were involved with Brother Don.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Right.
>> Fred Jackson: On AFA today.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Yes.
>> Fred Jackson: you know, and way back then, Brother Don was kind of a prophet when it came to looking down the road and seeing what was going to be the big problem. Before a lot of other ministries were talking about the dangers of denominations, whole denominations beginning to accept homosexuality. He was out in front of that. And so, we have to be careful who we talk to because we have found some of our sources through the years in our news department, they begin to waffle.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Yeah.
>> Fred Jackson: We have to be so careful of that. And that's why we have to have the anchor of scripture.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Right.
>> Fred Jackson: Despite the pressures that, you know, ministries, churches come under to. Well, you know, why don't you stay away from that subject.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Right.
>> Fred Jackson: Because you might be offending some people, and this is terrible. You might be offending some people who give you money. Yes, Listen, I used to run into that in private radio.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Pastors have to deal with that too.
>> Fred Jackson: Yes.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Dealing with these kinds of issues from the pulpit.
>> Fred Jackson: Oh, yeah. You know, private radio even, you know, we can't do that story about chicken because our, big sponsor, big sponsor is this. And unfortunately that kind of reason comes into it or pressures. Look, the majority of society is now accepting of this. Get on board.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Right. You know, be on the right side of history.
>> Fred Jackson: Be on the right side of history. And so we have to be. And I think as we get closer to the Lord's return, that pressure is only going to increase, folks. That's why you got to come back. My anchor is Scripture.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Yeah.
>> Steve Jordahl: And to that point, I think the controlling verse when it comes to. Is it, just acting on sexual, on homosexuality, that's a sin, but not the feeling. Matthew 5 is very clear. When Jesus says, I tell you, anyone who looks on a woman lustfully. And this would also mean if you look on a man lustfully.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Right.
>> Steve Jordahl: Has already committed adultery in his heart.
>> Ed Vitagliano: It's very difficult to break that link between biblically, between what's inside and the actions that flow from that. So this is why sanctification is important, folks. Believing, reading the scriptures, believing the scriptures, praying, going to a Bible believing church, keeping your mind renewed and the heart, continually cleansed and, being conformed to the image of Christ,
>> Fred Jackson: Which is a lifelong.
>> Ed Vitagliano: It's lifelong.
>> Fred Jackson: We're all, we're all still sinners. Yes, we are. You know, after we get saved, we accept Christ as our Savior, but as you say, we're justified immediately when we accept salvation. But sanctification, that's going to continue until the Lord takes us home.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Yeah. And there will be battles that you will fight your entire life.
>> Fred Jackson: Yes.
>> Ed Vitagliano: So. And one last thing, and then we'll move on.
American Family Studios produced In His Image documentary on human sexuality and gender confusion
we've always tried here at afa and by the way, the, In His Image documentary that deals with human sexuality and gender confusion, when we, that was produced by American Family Studios, when we were praying about doing that film, one of the things we all agreed on, and I think the producers of In His Image did a fantastic job letting this come through. That film, was this needs to be compassionate. And so I just want to encourage you, you, stand firm on what the scripture says about all sexual sin. but be compassionate on people for, have compassion on people who may struggle with this, that or the Other, they need to know that they have someone who will pray with them and walk with them to try to get them delivered and completely free from the bondage of any sin. But we're talking about sexual sin, so compassion, is in order. And, certainly that would disallow self righteousness, harshness, and judgmentalism. So. All right, let's go.
Frederick Douglass: View hosts make idiotic statements about race and equality
>> Steve Jordahl: All right, I'd like to turn to, what is conservative's favorite soap opera slash, satire show? the View. every day. This is the gift that keeps on giving. And I've got a couple, excerpts that I'd like to share with you all from the View. The first. Did you know, Fred, that it is as bad to be a black person in America as it is to be a gay person in Iran? Every bit is bad.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Where did you hear such.
>> Fred Jackson: I did not know that.
>> Steve Jordahl: Well, you're about to learn.
>> Fred Jackson: And the. And the credible source is Steve Goldberg.
>> Steve Jordahl: Let's listen to cut 14.
>> Whoopi Goldberg: The Iranians literally throw gay people off of buildings. They don't adhere to basic human rights. Here's the thing. Let's not. Let's not do that. Let's not do that. Because if we start with that, we have. We have been known in this country to tie gay folks to the car. I'm sorry, but where the Iranian regime is two days, 2025, is nothing compared to keep hanging black people. So it is not even the same. I couldn't step foot wearing this. That's not what you mean to say. It is the same. No, it's not. The year 2025 in the United States is nothing. Like, if I step foot wearing this.
>> Alyssa Farah Griffin: Young.
>> Fred Jackson: M.
>> Whoopi Goldberg: I can't have my hair showing. I can't wear a skin. I can't have my. I'm telling you. And that's why.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Good grief. listen, I mentioned in our story meeting that anymore, when I hear people like this on the left, because the left, the. I'll just say the radical left. I'm not just talking about your. Your parents. Liberals, okay? the classical liberalism. I'm talking about the radical left, which increasingly is taking over the Democratic Party. When I hear the craziness filling up that bucket, I just. All I hear. Like when I hear Whoopi Goldberg and Sunny Hostin and these people on the View, in my mind, I'm hearing cicadas buzzing loudly in the trees. They're not saying anything that makes sense. They're just noise. And that is an idiotic statement from Whoopi Goldberg. And listen, the rest of them are the same way the leftists. Joy Behar is one of those two. That is a nonsensical statement. If she thinks in 2025, who is the conservative who is trying to argue with.
>> Fred Jackson: Was that, Farah.
>> Steve Jordahl: It was Alyssa. Farah Griffin. although saying she's conservative is probably a stretch.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Yes. But to say that Black people in 2025 have it as bad as they did in the 30s and 40s and 50s in this country, and to say they have it as bad as gay people in Iran is just stupid. I mean, it's just. It is, it is. It doesn't make any sense. And the amount of hatred that people like that must have for this country to be so blinded by that hatred, and it's matched only by their hatred for Donald Trump. That just makes their brains disconnected. I wish the brains would be disconnected from their mouths, but that's ongoing.
>> Steve Jordahl: Occasionally something shows up that is a bump in the road. the gals on the View do, their thing, but they made a mistake from their perspective and they invited Arnold Schwarzenegger to come on.
>> Ed Vitagliano: And not exactly a, Bible thumper or a true conservative Republican.
>> Steve Jordahl: No, but, but he is an immigrant.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Yes.
>> Steve Jordahl: And, listen to how they set this guy up and listen to his response. This would be cut 13.
The Democratic Party is in deep, deep trouble, Abraham says
>> Whoopi Goldberg: You are an immigrant. You're an immigrant in this country.
>> Alyssa Farah Griffin: did you have a visceral reaction.
>> Whoopi Goldberg: To what they're doing, what ICE is.
>> Fred Jackson: Doing, when you see the videos of it?
>> Alyssa Farah Griffin: Well, I tell you, you said that the immigrant. I'm so proud and happy, m, that I was embraced by the American people like that. I mean, imagine I came over here with the age of 21.
>> Alyssa Farah Griffin: With absolutely nothing. And then to create a career like that. I mean, in no other country in the world could you do that. You got to do things legal. And those people that are doing illegal things in America and they, the foreigners, they are, not smart. Because when you come to America, you're a guest and you have to behave like a guest. Like when I go to someone's house and I'm a guest, then I will do everything I can, keep things clean and to make my bed and to do everything that is the right thing to do, rather than committing a crime or being abusive or something like that.
>> Steve Jordahl: And I can hear in their mind, they go, we need a break. Commercial, commercial.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Commercial break. Yeah. They weren't expecting that.
>> Fred Jackson: No, no. He sounded a whole lot. Wait a minute. he was a Republican governor.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Was. Yeah.
>> Fred Jackson: California for California. No, he was very sincere. Everything that he said was very sincere. He's so thankful to be in this country. Look what this. He became a governor.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Yes.
>> Fred Jackson: Of a state eventually. And this. What he was doing, he was destroying the narrative that they were trying to put out there. How horrible it is that, President Donald Trump and with the help of Don, Tom Homan and, the Homeland Security Secretary, Kristi Noem, that they are out there taking bad guys who are in this country illegally. They're taking them off the street and sending them home. what they're trying to do is terrible. You know, and I've heard it. They tried to describe Donald Trump as being racist. In fact, these, What is it? No, Kings demonstrations last week, I saw people with signs saying Donald Trump is racist. No, he's not. I, mean, look at his. Look at the people who are around him, his advisors. look at Cash Patel for. For an example. All right, so let's be clear about that. They are, so encapsulated by their ideology. I'm talking about the left here. and they also believe that if they say it, it is true. And that the American people will believe them. Not anymore. This is why the Democratic Party in this country is in deep, deep trouble.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Right.
>> Fred Jackson: You know, we've talked about the election results last election results. How many Hispanics moved in the direction. How many. How many African Americans moved in the Republican direction? I think the American people have left the Democratic Party behind. And the Democratic Party and even Democrats are now admitting this. They've got a huge problem.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Yes, they do.
>> Fred Jackson: It's not just James Carville.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Right.
>> Fred Jackson: It's Senator John Fetterman. It's. Of Pennsylvania. It's others who are saying, we got to do something about this because we've got a radical left element in our party that's trying to take over. And, you know, the AOCs and the others, Ilan Omar's. Ilan Omar said something the other day. What'd she say? This was one of the worst countries in the world.
>> Steve Jordahl: Yeah.
>> Fred Jackson: She's been elected a member of the legislature of the United States of America.
>> Steve Jordahl: Well, to her defense, you're not allowed to marry your brother. You're not allowed to marry your brother. So that might. That is a little bit of an oppression.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Is that. Is that. By the way, has that ever been proven true, that her husband is actually your brother?
>> Steve Jordahl: No, her husband is not. But she did come into the United States either claiming to actually be. Claiming to be married, that her. That her husband was her brother. Her brother was posing as her husband. Kind of an Abraham thing.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Okay, but without the being blessed by God kind of thing.
>> Fred Jackson: Exactly.
There is a civil war within the Democratic Party for control of the party
>> Ed Vitagliano: No, listen, we've talked about this a lot and mentioned it before, maybe before Steve came on. Democratic Party is in trouble for this very reason, Fred. They are. There is an. There is a civil war within the Democratic Party for control of the party and the party's future.
>> Fred Jackson: Yes.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Because if they continue to drift to the far left, they will be soundly rejected by the American people and people like John Fetterman, James Carville and others. they want the party to move back towards the classical liberal position that has served them, fairly well over the last 50 years. All right, folks, that is all the time we have for to this edition of Today's Issues. By the way, tomorrow is Friday. You know what that means. Trivia Friday will be in this time slot, but there is more great programming to raise directly ahead on American Family Radio, to which you are listening. Hope you continue to tune in.
