April 2002 – I’ve never understood how a lawyer could defend someone in court when he knows his client is guilty. I understand that in our justice system the rights of defendants must be protected, and that everyone deserves a fair hearing. However, I am talking about an attorney who knows his client is guilty and yet tries to persuade a judge or jury that he is innocent. How does one do this and sleep at night? If I fight for something, at least I want to have a clean conscience by knowing that my cause is just and true.
One thing I enjoy about my work here as vice president of AFA is making appearances in the media to defend or advance the cause of the family and Christian values. I use the word “enjoy” in the sense that I am glad to be on the side of biblical righteousness. Not because I am right, but because God’s Word is right and I like being on the side of right.
Over the years I have appeared on CNN’s Talk Back Live where I debated a member of a lesbian organization about the glorification of that lifestyle by Hollywood. I wrote a column for USA Today about the need to promote abstinence over condoms to America’s youth. Recently I was on National Public Radio’s Talk of the Nation debating another lesbian about the idea of an all-gay, all-the-time premium cable channel. In March, I was on the Mitch Albom Show heard nationwide on ABC radio and went back and forth with a woman from an organization called Freedom From Religion. I defended AFA’s campaign to have the national motto In God We Trust placed in schoolrooms throughout the country. (She didn’t like that one bit, I’ll tell you. I told her if she didn’t like the motto, she could work with Congress to get it changed. That didn’t excite her much.)
In these interviews it’s usually a two-against-one situation – the person representing the biblical worldview against the opposing guest and the host or moderator. I try to appear on as many of these kinds of shows as possible because I believe that is one of the reasons people support AFA. Our supporters want someone out there in the fray of popular culture, mixing it up and defending the values we believe in. I pray before I do these programs because I want to make my Lord proud. I know most of the audience are not going to share my value system, but I ask God to use the words I say to at least prompt their thinking.
In Acts 17 Paul reasoned with the Greeks on Mars Hill. He used the platform God gave him to speak the truth in love and conviction. He didn’t shy away from hard questions, but rather engaged people about what they believed and why they believed it. You may not have an opportunity to be on national TV or radio, but you can take your faith into your world and – as the Bible says – be willing to humbly give an account for the faith that is within you. As you go in faith, may God bless your efforts.
