Roger Marsh: Well, welcome to Dr. James Dobson's Family Talk. I'm Roger Marsh. What a week it has been here at the JDFI. We hope that you've enjoyed all of our programs this week. On behalf of everyone here at the JDFI, thank you for making us a part of your day. Well, today we have a very special conversation, as a run up to next week's midterm elections. Our cohost, Dr. Tim Clinton, recently sat down with Pastor Sam Rodriguez. As we will soon learn, a modern, black-robed regimen may be afoot.
It will be that way if Pastor Sam has his way uniting Christians to vote their faith, and exhorting pastors to speak about the issues that matter most in today's culture from the pulpit. We have had an amazing turn of events this year in our culture, but we also faced many challenges as Christians amidst an ever-changing culture. Today's program will be of great benefit to all of us, who are trying to live in this world, though we're not of it. First, a few words about our guest.
Pastor Samuel Rodriguez is the president of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference, the NHCLC. It's the world's largest Hispanic Christian organization. Pastor Sam has been featured on CNN, Fox News, Univision, PBS, Christianity Today, the New York Times, and the Wall Street Journal. Pastor Rodriguez was the first Latino to deliver the keynote address at the annual Martin Luther King, Jr. commemorative service at Ebeneezer Baptist Church. He's also the recipient of the Martin Luther King Jr. Leadership Award, presented by the Congress of Racial Equality.
Pastor Sam has spoken before the US Congress to advance immigration and criminal justice reform, as well as religious freedom and pro-life initiatives. Pastor Sam is executive producer of the film, Breakthrough, as well as Flamin' Hot, a soon to be released film in partnership with 20th Century Fox. He's the author of several books, including his latest, a devotional entitled Power for Your Day. Sam Rodriguez earned his master's degree from Lehigh University, and has also been awarded honorary doctorates from Northwestern University, William Jessup University and Baptist University of the Americas.
Sammy and his wife, Eva, serve as senior pastors at New Season Church in Sacramento, California, and are the parents of three children. Well, with that, here now is Dr. Tim Clinton with Pastor Sammy Rodriguez right here on Family Talk.
Dr. Tim Clinton: Sammy, welcome back to Family Talk. What a joy to have you. Thank you for joining us.
Samuel Rodriguez: Thank you for having me. Honored to be with you, my friend.
Dr. Tim Clinton: Sam, as we get started, David Barton from WallBuilders has been on a barnstorming tour, crisscrossing the country to encourage pastors to be bold and brave. He's organized over 30 meetings in the past several months. He's asking pastors to be that ground zero of grassroots voter organization and registration.
Most importantly, he's asking pastors to speak real truth to their congregations, because there's a lot out there we need to be aware of and vote on. He thinks there's a real stirring going on. Sam, what do you think? What are you seeing out on the front lines?
Samuel Rodriguez: Without a doubt, Tim. The level of energy, here it is. Here's a mathematical equation, CC equals CC. Let me explain that. CC equals CC. Clergy complacency equals cultural captivity. When the clergy rises up, when pastors rise up, America will only go as far as pastors having courage and conviction to engage your constituents, to advance the kingdom of heaven here on earth, by voting righteousness and justice.
The pulpit will lead America in the 21st century, and I am seeing more pastors mobilized, energized, not watering down. Doing away with theological promiscuity and embracing the fact that the enemy and I don't mean individuals. I mean political agendas, ideologies. Spirits are coming after our children. This is the fight for our children and pastors are rising up and saying, "Get your hands off our children, in the name of Jesus."
Dr. Tim Clinton: Sam, I heard Jenny Coin, a mutual friend of ours from the Trump administration, she headed up the office of Public Liaison at the White House. Jenny said, "People don't like to use the word politics." But she said, "Politics are important because policies matter, and policies are important because people matter."
Sam, at the end of the day, you and I have gone back and forth on this, what 90% you say of the issues people are out there talking about "in politics" aren't political, Sam, they're biblical?
Samuel Rodriguez: Absolutely biblical and undergirded from Genesis to the Book of Revelation. Throughout the Bible, we see this clarion call coming from Heaven, and the clarion call is we should seek and strive for righteous government. This is not about a theocracy. It's about governance that is reflective of our Judeo-Christian value system without a doubt. And hence, the energy level right now, Tim, I'm telling you, I've never seen this in my lifetime.
Because we as pastors, as leaders, must wake up to the reality that our vote is not separated from our faith. Let me repeat that. As Christians, how I vote, it cannot be separated from my faith. I cannot be pro-life on Sunday and vote pro-abortion on Tuesday. I cannot be in favor of God's motto of holy and beautiful human sexuality on Sunday, and vote for an agenda that even negates gender on Tuesday. There has to be a continuum. My vote is an extension of my faith.
Hence, we are seeing more Christians mobilize, but this election is critical. Every Christian that stays at home that has the capability to vote. Every Christian who stays at home and does not vote, is literally empowering agendas that are counter to our Judeo-Christian value system. In essence, to use an Old Testament narrative, if you stay at home and you don't vote, you are empowering Jezebel.
Dr. Tim Clinton: Sam, let's stay right there on this voting issue. Some people have said, "Well, in midterm elections, the voter turnout goes down because it's not a presidential election year. Not a lot of big talk going on, et cetera." But there's a lot at stake here and social media is wild.
I think voter turnouts probably going to be higher than we've ever seen. Sam, I've heard that the three most critical voting blocks that sway the balance that could go either way and dictate the outcome for this midterm election, is related to women, Hispanics and young people. Is that true? Are you seeing that?
Samuel Rodriguez: I am. I am. Women, Hispanic and young people. I see this, and again, this trifecta of the electoral demographic may very well advance and provide a reprieve for a number of years now. It may turn the tide. Tim, by the way, if you were a betting man, you would assume the three groups you just mentioned, are automatically voting on one side of the aisle, basically liberal, progressive.
In the words of Gomer Pyle, "Surprise, surprise, surprise." Isn't that a trip? Women have just pivoted in the past three weeks. Even after the Dobbs case, women are saying, "Hold on a second." The assumption that women in America, the majority of women believe in late term abortion, no. A new poll just came out. The majority of women in America, are in favor of restrictions as it pertains to abortions.
Dr. Tim Clinton: Yes.
Samuel Rodriguez: How about that? And are vehemently opposed to any idea of third trimester abortions. It's not what you think from media and from leftist, progressive, totalitarian, socialist, communist ideologues who are espousing their worldview. How about Hispanics, Tim? Hispanics are voting more conservative, Christian values than ever before in American history. There is a fear right now embedded on the left, progressive, extreme side because they believe that Hispanics would be in perpetuity, lockstep part of their electoral map.
No longer is that the case. Hispanics are saying, "Wait a second, we are driven by faith. We are faith and family. Fe y familia. Fe y familia." My faith defines me. You know what Hispanics are saying, Dr. Clinton? "The color of my skin does not define me. My race does not define me. My Christianity defines me. I am a born again child of God." So Hispanics are voting more pro-life, religious liberty, biblical justice. They are of course, like everyone else, taken back by inflation.
The issue of crime, criminal justice reform, which no bail crime in urban centers. Latinos are saying absolutely not. And by the way, parental rights. You know why Latinos are becoming more and more conservative? Because they don't want a 35 year old telling their kindergarten kid anything about sex. Tim, a 35 year old talking to a five year old about sex, isn't that pedophilia? That's what Latinos believe. We still believe it's pedophilia, and now we call that what?
The public school system in America. You're seeing the great uprising of the Hispanic community of women and surprise, surprise, millennials. Generation Z, the older ones who are saying this is illogical, it's illogical. Logic, common sense, reason, and the word normal have all died in the past three, four years. We're about to see the resurrection of these critical terms.
Roger Marsh: You're listening to Dr. James Dobson's Family Talk. I'm Roger Marsh. Stepping in briefly to let you know that we're in the middle of a powerful interview conducted by our own Dr. Tim Clinton and his guest today, pastor, encourager and faith leader, Sammy Rodriguez.
Thanks so much for listening and for making us a part of your day. Make sure to join us on Facebook to comment about today's program or to share it with your friends. Just search for at Dr. James Dobson's Family Talk on Facebook. Now, let's rejoin Dr. Tim Clinton and Pastor Sam Rodriguez.
Dr. Tim Clinton: Sam, religious freedom, religious liberty, you think that's still on the chopping block? I know we had the Coach Kennedy case that went in favor of religious liberty. We had that school choice case up in Maine that the Supreme Court came down.
But what are your thoughts about, I go back to the church being shut down in California out there where you are, well, across the country and more. Sam, are you afraid it could happen again? Where's this thing potentially going to go?
Samuel Rodriguez: In my state of California, I couldn't even worship with my family at home." That's what Governor Newsome did. I couldn't even worship in my home with my family legally, so it's that party. If you want to edit this, go ahead and edit it because you may not want to include it on your radio program. The current democratic leftist, progressive, extremist ideology is anti-Christian and anti-Latino. It is. It is anti-Christian and anti-Latino. It really is. So every Christian, we have a wake-up call this midterm election. We have to stop placating, stop being complacent, stop being comfortable.
Kumbaya Christianity officially died during COVID. We really have to stand up in the name of Jesus and say for such a time as this, for the sake of our children and our children's children, religious liberty is at stake. Right now, there was a recent court ruling, which said that a Jewish university, Tim, you're cognizant of this fact. A Jewish university had to provide space for a club that ran counter to its Orthodox Jewish worldview.
Dr. Tim Clinton: Wow.
Samuel Rodriguez: Now we have religious universities that have to sacrifice principle and truth on the altar of political and cultural expediency. If not, you will be persecuted.
That is totally outrageous and totally counterintuitive to the God-given rights that we have, that are embedded in the documents laid out by our founding fathers.
Dr. Tim Clinton: Sam, in, I guess, the quest to silence or shame, or stigmatize conservatives, especially Christians out there who are looking to go to the polls and vote. There's this broad rush of Christian nationalism, this term of being a domestic terrorist or what have you.
Sam, I want you to address this because you're seeing it show up everywhere. It's unbelievable. What do you think about this? Is this some type of orchestrated sham?
Samuel Rodriguez: It's called projecting. It's called gaslighting, wag the dog, different terms you want to apply. It's an attempt by the enemy to create a narrative that is nonexistent. It's a lie, it's a sham. How many Christian nationals do you know? How many Christians do you know that actually believe that the flag of America is more powerful than the cross? Name one, name one real Bible believing, Christ-centered Christian who believes that America should be worshiped and that George Washington is more important than Jesus Christ.
Not one. Not one. That's Christian nationalism. It's a fake idea created by the left to deflect. You know what really is dangerous? It's secular totalitarianism. What's dangerous is theological promiscuity where the left engages spiritual terms in nomenclatures for the purpose of manipulating particular demographics, in order to provide a guise of some spiritual motif embedded in the progressive left movement when there isn't. The progressive left is anti-Judeo-Christian value system. The progressive left is anti our values, and I mean the extreme left.
There are Democrats who are Christians, who are beautiful. There are Democrats who love Jesus. I'm talking about the extreme cuckoo for Cocoa Puff, who took over the party. This is no longer the party of Bill Clinton or Jimmy Carter, or even Barack Obama 2008. This is a cuckoo for Cocoa Puff party and it's nuts. It's crazy. No gender, no God, no faith, no truth, no morality. Everything is relative. So talking about Christian white nationalism, what about secular totalitarianism? What about this attack on religion and faith coming from the hard left? Antifa and the ilks like just like Antifa, are a lot more dangerous and have caused more damage. Let me ask you one question. How much damage in monetary sense measuring, how much damage was done by Christian nationalists, in comparison to the riots that took place, in comparison to Antifa? How much damage? How much damage?
My point is proven mathematically and by fact, not by hyperbole. Now, I want every Christian, if you vote pro-life, pro-religious liberty, biblical justice, no to communism, no to CRT. No to the idea that there's absolutely no vestige agenda. If you vote in favor of faith and science, faith and science and truth, you're not a Christian nationalist. You're a born again child of God, doing the right thing at the right time. I'll leave you with this final thought, Tim. Remember Gideon in Judges Chapter 6? Gideon was in a wine press hiding from the Midianite marauders. These marauders would come in and intimidate God's children. They would continuously intimidate them when at the time of the harvest.
I believe this election is harvest time. I believe we're about to reap a harvest where America, forget about being Republican and Democrat. I'm an independent. I'm a lamb's agenda guy. I worked with the Obama White House and the Trump White House. How about that? But I can tell you firsthand, there are God-fearing Democrats, God-fearing independents, God-fearing Republicans. If we love our children, if Jesus defines us, if we are driven by the Word of God and not by political operatives, we must vote this midterm election.
We can't stay at home and we must vote pro-life, pro-religious liberty, and yes to biblical justice, which means parental rights. Get your hands off our children. Stop sexualizing our children. Let's do this. We can do this, Tim. I know I'm animated. I usually am, but man, I just want everyone to understand. Hey Tim, I have grandkids now, believe it or not. I have grandkids in California. I have grandkids. This election is personal, as personal as it can possibly get.
So please, Family Talk, for such a time as this, go vote. Text seven other Bible believing Christians, and make sure they don't stay at home. Make sure they vote in Jesus' name.
Dr. Tim Clinton: Hey, that's a great call to action. Why don't you, everyone listening, text seven friends to go vote. You can actually go up on drjamesdobson.org. That's drjamesdobson.org. We have a voters guide right up there in the top right-hand corner. When you go right into the landing page, you can sign up to get that voter's guide right there. Bottom line, Sam, stress is off the charts. Mental health issues are soaring. Anxiety, depression, even suicidality, it's climbing, especially among our kids. Sam, it's unbelievable.
But in difficult and confusing moments, we can hold on to like what Paul said in 2 Corinthians 1:7, "God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power and of love, and of a sound mind." And when you face an opportunity, because I think that's what's coming up here this election day. This is an opportunity and we have a responsibility. This is where we pray, this is where we engage, and this is where we vote. This is where we come to the table and say, "We're going to let our voice be heard."
And we're going to be civil and responsible, and honoring, but ultimately, we want to represent what we love and who we love. Sam, give us a closing word of encouragement.
Samuel Rodriguez: The battle's between the mind and the mantle. The battle is between memories and imagination. It's between anxiety and anointing. It's between drama and destiny. The battle has already been won. 1 Corinthians 15:57, "Christ is our victory." Stand up. Acts 2:14, "The Holy Spirit fell in the upper room." What's the first thing Peter did? Please read it. Peter stood up and raised his voice.
Listen to me, please. If you are filled with God's precious Holy Spirit, stand up on election day, raise your voice. Do it in the name of Jesus. Do it for the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31, do it for the sake of our children and our children's children. The faith of our generation will determine the fate of the next. Vote, vote in Jesus name.
Dr. Tim Clinton: Sam, I know you got a new book out called Power for Your Day, and a lot of people are saying, "Who is this? Who's Sam Rodriguez?"
How can they learn more about you and Sam, how do they get a copy of that book? Everybody has got to have this book.
Samuel Rodriguez: Thank you. Pastorsam.com, pastorsam.com. It's our latest book. I've written 10 books and it's my first devotional. 45 Days to Finding More Purpose and Peace in Your Life. So, pick up a copy on amazon.com today, Power for Your Day, and again, pastorsam.com.
Dr. Tim Clinton: Sam, on behalf of Dr. Dobson and his wife, Shirley, the entire team here, we salute you. We tip the hat to you and pray that God would continue.
Put a little fire, a little vinegar down inside of you, so that you can be emboldened to be courageous and strong for such a time as this. Thank you so much for joining us.
Samuel Rodriguez: Thank you. Thank you for having me.
Roger Marsh: Well, what an inspiring conclusion of our conversation conducted by Dr. Tim Clinton and Pastor Sam Rodriguez right here on Family Talk. To find out more about Pastor Sam or to access any part of today's program, just go to drjamesdobson.org/familytalk. That's drjamesdobson.org/familytalk. As we approach the end of the year, I wonder if you've considered making a contribution in support of the ministry of Dr. James Dobson's Family Talk and the Dr. James Dobson Family Institute.
You can learn more about how to do so when you go to drjamesdobson.org. That's dramesdobson.org, or give us a call at 877-732-6825. That's 877-732-6825. And remember, you can always write to us. Our ministry mailing address is The Dr. James Dobson Family Institute, PO Box 39000, Colorado Springs, Colorado. The zip code, 80949. We'd love to receive your cards, your letters, your notes. And it's also a safe way to make a secure, tax deductible donation to our ministry as well when you write to the Dr. James Dobson Family Institute, P.O. Box 39000, Colorado Springs, Colorado, 80949.
I'm Roger Marsh. And on behalf of Dr. Dobson and Dr. Clinton, and all of us here at the Dr. James Dobson Family Institute, may God continue to richly bless you and your family, as you grow in your relationship with Him. We hope you'll join us again next time for another edition of Dr. James Dobson's Family Talk.
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Dr. James Dobson: There's a new concept in the field of child development that's gaining acceptance today. It's called asset building, and it's based on the idea that there are certain characteristics or circumstances that children need in order to grow into healthy, responsible adults. The concept was created by consultant to the Search Institute. A Minnesota nonprofit who identified 40 specific assets that are most critical to the wellbeing of boys and girls.
Among them are family support, caring neighborhood, parental involvement in schools, specific boundaries or limits on behavior, high expectations for achievement, a religious community, adult role models, personal responsibility, self-esteem, and a sense of purpose. The list goes on and it's a good list to be sure. The idea is for those who care about children to seek to provide some of these critical assets for the young, by intervening on their behalf.
It's believed that the more of these favorable circumstances a child can draw upon, the more likely he or she is to get good grades in school, to live responsibly, to avoid shoplifting, drugs, and early sexual activity. Today, 150 communities across the United States have embraced this model. You might want to consider the concept for adaptation in your neck of the woods. If you write me in Colorado Springs, I'll send you the information.
Roger Marsh: To hear more, visit our broadcast page at drjamesdobson.org.
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