Do Justice

Attorney Michael Peabody, president of Founders First Freedom and founder of religiousliberty.tv, joins us to discuss some of the recent Supreme Court decisions, including a case about the Free Exercise Clause and the case striking down of Roe v. Wade. We also delve into the implications of these consequential decisions, including the right to privacy, and talk about the need for pragmatism while addressing the issues of gun violence and unwanted pregnancies.

Sean Pitman, MD, joins us to talk about individual rights vs. government mandates and how the Christian should relate to this issue. Specifically, we discuss vaccine mandates and religious exemptions and Dr. Pitman shares lessons from his experience of being court-martialed for standing up for his religious convictions as a member of the military.

Is the church uniquely positioned to do justice — and be a voice of truth and reconciliation in a polarized and angry society? Marc Woodson, DMin, president of the Adventist church in Northern California, joins us to talk about biblical social justice and how the church can lead the way in doing justice and speaking truth and hope in the world of today. This is a conversation you don't want to miss!

Do Justice is back! Eric Walsh, MD, DrPH joins us for this first episode in 2021 to talk public health, Black America's history with the medical community, the COVID vaccine, personal freedom, and more. All from a Christian perspective.

The police killing of George Floyd has catalyzed Americans. What is the ultimate solution to police brutality, white supremacy, racism and economic inequality in our world? Pastor Trevor Barnes, Dr. Cedric Pritchett and Don and Chongo Young continue the conversation about the killing of George Floyd and its aftermath, with a focus on how followers of Jesus should respond.

(Part 1) Many Americans were shocked and horrified by video of a police officer casually kneeling on the neck of George Floyd as he pled for his life and then died. But for Black America, this story is nothing new. Lynchings and police brutality are part and parcel of even recent black history in America. Pastor Trevor Barnes, Dr. Cedric Pritchett and Don and Chongo Young share their emotions as they react to this most recent trauma and their experiences as Black Americans realizing that their child could grow up to be the next George Floyd.

The COVID-19 pandemic isn’t the first time in the history of Christianity that the world has faced an outbreak of disease. How did Christians of the past react to similar crises? Historian Jeffrey Rosario shines a light on some of this rich history and shows how the actions of those believers can inform our response today.

When all is said and done, everyone will operate either from an EGO-centric picture of God or an OTHER-centered picture of God. Religious people (who don’t know God) will do some hateful stuff in the name of God, and worship of self instead of God is the issue at the end of time. But when the love of many grows cold, God’s people will “endure in love” - and it will be a witness to all the world.

A global pandemic! Is this the end of the world? Not quite yet, at least if you believe what the Bible says. Listen to this short summary of what the Bible says about the end of time and what must happen before Jesus returns to rescue His people.

Judy Wu Dominick is a writer, cross-cultural bridge builder, and an advocate for marginalized people. She dispenses a lot of wisdom in this conversation as we discuss racism in the church, social media, how to bring about change, and the way forward for followers of Jesus Christ. Ms. Dominick writes at LifeReconsidered.com and ChristianityToday.com.

Greg Hamilton, President of the Northwest Religious Liberty Association, talks about the his work advocating for religious freedom, the newly-introduced Fairness For All Act, and how Christians ought to be inclusive with all.

Should Christians believe in social justice? Andy Im, formerly a college professor, and currently the communications director for the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Michigan, joins us to tackle this controversial topic. We discuss social justice as it relates to the Bible, whether social justice is the ultimate answer to the world's problems, and how Christians can live in the tension of looking forward to the second advent of Jesus while doing justice in the here and now.

Attorney Zanah Ghalawanji is a staff attorney at the Council on American-Islamic Relations, a Muslim civil rights organization in Washington, D.C. In this interview, we talk about the core tenets of Islam, whether Islam as a religion condones terrorism, and what it’s like to live as a Muslim in post 9/11 America. As an American citizen, Muslim, and practicing civil rights attorney, Ms. Ghalawanji is eminently qualified to shed light on these issues and the challenges Muslims face in today’s world.

In this first episode of our Justice for All series, we examine a minority faith with adherents numbering around 500,000 in the United States. While many Americans may be ignorant of this faith tradition, Sikhism has had a presence here since the late 19th century. In this episode I interview my friend Jaideep Dhillon, an Indian-American who follows the Sikh faith, and ask him about his personal experience with Sikhism and what it’s like to be part of a minority faith in America. Harsimran Kaur, Senior Counsel for the Sikh Coalition, then joins me to talk about hate crimes against Sikhs and the work of the Sikh Coalition in fighting for civil rights.

Art as a catalyst for justice…and injustice? Alexander Carpenter, professor at Pacific Union College, Adventist Forum/Spectrum board member, and Pacific Union Conference Communication Advisory Board member, discusses the many ways art can further justice, as well as the fascinating connections between art and spirituality.

Rondel Trevino, founder and director of The Immigration Coalition, has described himself as "too conservative for progressives and too progressive for conservatives." In this episode, he lays out his plan to tackle the current immigration problems in America.

Alan Reinach, general counsel and executive director of the Church State Council, talks with me about grace vs. coercion, assault weapons and mass shootings, prayer in public schools, the state of our country's politics, and more.

Rev. Sharon Risher’s mother was murdered in the Charleston massacre on June 17, 2015, when a young white supremacist killed her and 8 others at the Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina. Pastor Risher shares her journey to forgive the killer, and how she is now a national advocate for gun law reform and a spokesperson for Everytown Survivor Network and Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America. Pastor Risher has appeared on CNN, BBC Radio, Good Morning America, the Today Show, and CBS and has been interviewed or written for numerous publications. Her book is entitled For Such a Time as This: Hope and Forgiveness after the Charleston Massacre.

Rev. Dr. Helen T. Boursier is my guest on this episode of the Do Justice podcast. She is an eyewitness to the refugee crisis on the southern border of the United States. An ordained Presbyterian minister and a professor at College of St. Scholastica, she has been a volunteer chaplain with refugee families seeking asylum since 2014. Dr. Boursier is also the author of two books: The Ethics of Hospitality: An Interfaith Response to US Immigration Policies, and forthcoming November 2019 with Rowman & Littlefield: Desperately Seeking Asylum: Testimonies of Trauma, Courage and Love.

Attorney Michael Peabody, president of Founders First Freedom, joins me to discuss the Supreme Court’s recent decision in the Maryland “Peace Cross” case (American Legion v. American Association of Humanists, 588 U. S. ____ (2019)). The Court in this case, as Michael astutely observes, essentially jettisons the Lemon test, and in doing so weakens the separation of church and state provided for in the First Amendment of the United States Constitution. Should Christians rejoice or be concerned about the outcome of this case? You listen and decide!

Gabrielle Blair, mother to 6 kids, New York Times best-selling author, publisher of the award-winning Design Mom blog, and founder of Alt Summit, joins me on this episode to talk about the secret to stopping abortions. The politics surrounding the abortion debate almost uniformly focus on the woman, but Ms. Blair notes that there is another equally responsible party that we rarely discuss. She is happy to share the secret about who holds the key to stopping most abortions. (Please note: listener discretion is advised. Some content on this episode may be inappropriate for young children).

Pastor Travis Walker, lead pastor of the Daytona Beach Seventh-day Adventist Church and a long-time friend, joins me for a lengthy conversation in this episode. We discuss the current polarization in our culture, whether Christians ought to care about finding the truth, and where we believe that the Truth (with a capital "T") can be found.

Kevin Paulson joins me again to talk more about the culture wars - specifically gay rights vs. religious rights. Christians don't have a great track record when it comes to loving those we disagree with. And the way the church has historically treated the LGBTQ community bears witness to that fact. Can Christians model a way forward by loving those on the "other side?"

Theologian, pastor, evangelist, political activist, and prolific writer Kevin Paulson joins me for a conversation on the issue of abortion. Here's an interesting fact: Kevin is a theological conservative and a political liberal! We discuss some of the biblical and public policy issues surrounding this controversial topic, and finish up with some practical ways that we can Do Justice when it comes to abortion.

Fabian Carballo, high school and college history professor, was once “undocumented” himself. In this episode of Do Justice, Fabian shares why Christians ought to care about this issue and how immigrants - undocumented or otherwise - actually help America in multiple ways.

Pastor Trevor Barnes, lead minister at the Appian Way Church in El Sobrante, California, joins me for this first interview. We discuss what it's like to be Black in America in 2019, and Pastor Barnes shares some simple practices which have the potential of bridging the racial divide.