Pastor *FACT-CHECKS* Katie Couric Using Founding Father's Own Words

I want you to respond to something that I want you to respond to something that went crazy viral. So, Katie Couric had went crazy viral. So, Katie Couric had went crazy viral. So, Katie Couric had this This is like exactly the perfect this This is like exactly the perfect this This is like exactly the perfect encapsulation of what I grew up high encapsulation of what I grew up high encapsulation of what I grew up high school and college [music] hearing and school and college [music] hearing and school and college [music] hearing and feeling. feeling. feeling. >> I would love to get your take on the >> I would love to get your take on the >> I would love to get your take on the rise of Christian nationalism in this rise of Christian nationalism in this rise of Christian nationalism in this country and around the world. The country and around the world. The country and around the world. The University of Massachusetts at Amherst University of Massachusetts at Amherst University of Massachusetts at Amherst recently released [music] a poll that recently released [music] a poll that recently released [music] a poll that shows how Americans are feeling with the shows how Americans are feeling with the shows how Americans are feeling with the 250th anniversary of our country. 250th anniversary of our country. 250th anniversary of our country. >> That's this week. >> That's this week. >> That's this week. >> And there's a huge divide between >> And there's a huge divide between >> And there's a huge divide between Democrats and Republicans on the extent Democrats and Republicans on the extent Democrats and Republicans on the extent to which the US should be a Christian to which the US should be a Christian to which the US should be a Christian country. Nearly 80% of Republicans country. Nearly 80% of Republicans country. Nearly 80% of Republicans [music] [music] [music] believe the US was founded as a believe the US was founded as a believe the US was founded as a Christian nation. 72% believe the Christian nation. 72% believe the Christian nation. 72% believe the government should advocate Christian government should advocate Christian government should advocate Christian values. values. values. >> Correct. [music] >> Correct. [music] >> Correct. [music] >> 54% believe the US should be declared a >> 54% believe the US should be declared a >> 54% believe the US should be declared a Christian nation. And I thought this was Christian nation. And I thought this was Christian nation. And I thought this was really disturbing. really disturbing. really disturbing. Another Christian Public Religion Another Christian Public Religion Another Christian Public Religion Research Institute poll found that 56% Research Institute poll found that 56% Research Institute poll found that 56% [music] [music] [music] of Republicans qualify as either of Republicans qualify as either of Republicans qualify as either adherents or sympathizers of Christian adherents or sympathizers of Christian adherents or sympathizers of Christian nationalism. nationalism. nationalism. >> For people who are listening, whenever >> For people who are listening, whenever >> For people who are listening, whenever you hear the the phrase [music] you hear the the phrase [music] you hear the the phrase [music] Christian nationalism, that is 99.9% of Christian nationalism, that is 99.9% of Christian nationalism, that is 99.9% of the time it's a scare label that's the time it's a scare label that's the time it's a scare label that's intentionally designed to stigmatize intentionally designed to stigmatize intentionally designed to stigmatize [music] Christians advocating for their [music] Christians advocating for their [music] Christians advocating for their values in the public square. I'll just values in the public square. I'll just values in the public square. I'll just shoot you really straight. If you put in shoot you really straight. If you put in shoot you really straight. If you put in front of me, "Hey man, your two options front of me, "Hey man, your two options front of me, "Hey man, your two options are atheistic globalism, like [music] are atheistic globalism, like [music] are atheistic globalism, like [music] woke secular paganism, or Christian woke secular paganism, or Christian woke secular paganism, or Christian nationalism." I'm going to go, "Well, nationalism." I'm going to go, "Well, nationalism." I'm going to go, "Well, heck yes, I'm that one." 99% of the time heck yes, I'm that one." 99% of the time heck yes, I'm that one." 99% of the time Christian nationalism is a scare label.

Christian nationalism is a scare label. Christian nationalism is a scare label. It [music] nonverbally says, "I, as a It [music] nonverbally says, "I, as a It [music] nonverbally says, "I, as a secular person, am allowed to advocate secular person, am allowed to advocate secular person, am allowed to advocate for my values in the public square, but for my values in the public square, but for my values in the public square, but you as a Christian are not allowed to you as a Christian are not allowed to you as a Christian are not allowed to advocate for your values in the public advocate for your values in the public advocate for your values in the public square because that's scary Christian square because that's scary Christian square because that's scary Christian nationalism." If somebody goes, "Hey nationalism." If somebody goes, "Hey nationalism." If somebody goes, "Hey Josh, are you a Christian nationalist?" Josh, are you a Christian nationalist?" Josh, are you a Christian nationalist?" I'm like, "Well, I'm a Christian and I I'm like, "Well, I'm a Christian and I I'm like, "Well, I'm a Christian and I love my [music] nation. If that makes me love my [music] nation. If that makes me love my [music] nation. If that makes me a Christian nationalist, okay, I don't a Christian nationalist, okay, I don't a Christian nationalist, okay, I don't care. Whatever." So, this is what she's care. Whatever." So, this is what she's care. Whatever." So, this is what she's saying here. I want you to know the play saying here. I want you to know the play saying here. I want you to know the play that's being run on you. People that's being run on you. People that's being run on you. People stigmatize to divide is what they do. stigmatize to divide is what they do. stigmatize to divide is what they do. So, let's stigmatize the phrase so that So, let's stigmatize the phrase so that So, let's stigmatize the phrase so that we can keep you from advocating for your we can keep you from advocating for your we can keep you from advocating for your values in the public square, which by values in the public square, which by values in the public square, which by the way, we're just going well, God's the way, we're just going well, God's the way, we're just going well, God's commands are not burdensome. That's commands are not burdensome. That's commands are not burdensome. That's actually what's good for people, actually what's good for people, actually what's good for people, societies. So, we want that stuff. societies. So, we want that stuff. societies. So, we want that stuff. >> What's going on here? >> What's going on here? >> What's going on here? >> You also can't do democracy without >> You also can't do democracy without >> You also can't do democracy without history. So, the those views that people history. So, the those views that people history. So, the those views that people hold, some of them are views about the hold, some of them are views about the hold, some of them are views about the past, and they're wrong. The United past, and they're wrong. The United past, and they're wrong. The United States was [music] not, in fact, founded States was [music] not, in fact, founded States was [music] not, in fact, founded on Christian principles in any sense. on Christian principles in any sense. on Christian principles in any sense. It's simply not true. It's simply not true. It's simply not true. >> So, in 1813, >> So, in 1813, >> So, in 1813, >> Oh, we're going to go right into it. >> Oh, we're going to go right into it. >> Oh, we're going to go right into it. Let's go. Okay. Let's go. Okay. Let's go. Okay. >> John Adams writes Thomas Jefferson a >> John Adams writes Thomas Jefferson a >> John Adams writes Thomas Jefferson a letter. The first vice president, second letter. The first vice president, second letter. The first vice president, second president, one of the most significant, president, one of the most significant, president, one of the most significant, in fact, 250 years we're celebrating.

in fact, 250 years we're celebrating. in fact, 250 years we're celebrating. He's the guy responsible for so much of He's the guy responsible for so much of He's the guy responsible for so much of it. His fingerprints are on almost it. His fingerprints are on almost it. His fingerprints are on almost everything in the American founding. The everything in the American founding. The everything in the American founding. The letter's like four and a half pages. I letter's like four and a half pages. I letter's like four and a half pages. I just pulled one sentence from it. He just pulled one sentence from it. He just pulled one sentence from it. He says, "The general principles upon which says, "The general principles upon which says, "The general principles upon which the fathers achieved independence the fathers achieved independence the fathers achieved independence [laughter] were the general principles [laughter] were the general principles [laughter] were the general principles of Christianity." of Christianity." of Christianity." >> That's amazing. >> That's amazing. >> That's amazing. >> The quote from the professor I could >> The quote from the professor I could >> The quote from the professor I could with Katie Couric is the United States with Katie Couric is the United States with Katie Couric is the United States was not, in fact, founded on Christian was not, in fact, founded on Christian was not, in fact, founded on Christian principles in any sense. That's simply principles in any sense. That's simply principles in any sense. That's simply [music] not true. Then John Adams, who [music] not true. Then John Adams, who [music] not true. Then John Adams, who founded the nation, founded the nation, founded the nation, is saying the general principles on is saying the general principles on is saying the general principles on which the fathers achieved independence which the fathers achieved independence which the fathers achieved independence [music] were the general principles of [music] were the general principles of [music] were the general principles of Christianity. That's incredible.