Date posted: 09-01-2021
Estimated Reading Time : 4:00
Reports have come from Afghanistan detailing the atrocities committed by the radical Islamist Taliban regime, the bravery of American service people aiding evacuations, and the seeming incompetence of government officials who thwarted rescue efforts of private organizations.
According to conservative commentator and philanthropist Glenn Beck, the United States now finds itself exposed to the world due to the decisions and actions of its leaders.
“We have put ourselves in the most dangerous situation,” said Beck. “And I’m telling you, only God can save us now.”
Beck and David Barton recently joined the Truth & Liberty livecast with Andrew Wommack and Richard Harris to discuss their recent efforts to rescue refugees from Afghanistan – particularly persecuted Christians.
Rescuing Americans and Refugees
Beck’s Nazarene Fund and Barton’s WallBuilders organizations have been working nearly around the clock over the past two weeks to evacuate people from harm’s way in Afghanistan. Beck recently appealed to his media audience and raised $32 million for the privately run rescue efforts.
“We are the people of America, and the people are different than the government,” said Beck. “We believe in certain things, and we shouldn’t leave people behind, and we certainly shouldn’t let people be persecuted for their belief.”
While the Nazarene Fund and WallBuilders are still rescuing Americans and Afghans from danger, when planes land in another country their work continues. According to Beck, funding goes to evacuation efforts and getting people settled in their new homes, assimilating them into new cultures, and helping them be successful.
Finding New Homes
While some countries have been very receptive to refugees over the years, other nations simply did not provide the resources needed to receive immigrants.
“We have vetoed some countries because we just said, ‘No, if they go there, they’re not going to be taken care of,” said Barton “That country is willing to accept them, but they need a support grid when they get there.”
“As long as we have the money we will help,” added Beck. “We don’t want to burden these countries – we want to show them that these people will be a blessing.”
Beck said the Obama administration turned away persecuted Christians during past relief efforts.
“These countries that take these people, they will be greatly blessed by these immigrants,” said Beck. “We are missing out on blessings by not taking these people – it’s wrong.”
Holding Leaders Accountable
According to Beck and Barton, the main obstacle to their success has been the U.S. State Department. A lumbering bureaucracy and gross incompetence led to delays in getting planes into and out of the Kabul airport, and having them depart nearly empty.
“I can tell you that they are the biggest hindrance to the saving of Christians or anyone in the Middle East – they have thwarted us at every step of the way,” said Beck. “We had a plane up in the air that had permission to land, and as we are in our landing pattern, they are told ‘Turn them around – you can’t land.”
Beck and Barton said the catastrophic withdrawal of American forces from Afghanistan is symptomatic of a bigger problem. American leadership and bureaucracy is threatening our nation’s safety and success.
“You’ve got the Taliban on the outside of the [airport] fence and you’ve got the State Department on the inside of the fence, so you’re fighting two enemies,” said Barton. “The thing I think people need to understand about the process is the government is so large that it is not accountable.”
Reason for Hope
There is hope, however, according to Barton. Current events are bringing about a revival that will expose evil and turn people back to God.
“I think, right now, this is a great spiritual awakening for us – to see the reality of human nature and what it looks like without a Savior, without God, without His Word, without His principles – this is what humanity looks like,” said Barton. “I think this is part of what’s happening is we’re getting shocked out of our complacency.”
According to Beck, although the task may seem overwhelming, God will change the nation and the world through individual Christians who are willing do their part in His plan.
“I have to accept, and we all have to accept, that’s our role,” said Beck. “We don’t have to do more than what the Lord has asked us to do – we just do our role – that’s it.”
Learn More
Learn more about and support the Nazarene Fund and WallBuilders by visiting the organizations’ websites.
Watch the full episode at the Truth & Liberty website. Visit our Research Center for great practical resources. Also, learn how you can become a Truth & Liberty Coalition member and join us in standing for truth in the public square.