The World and Everything in It: July 29, 2022 – WORLD News Group

MYRNA BROWN, HOST:Good morning!

Some Republicans are flip-flopping on same-sex marriageand seem to be trimming their sails on pro-life.

Also, a challenge to the church from a friendly nonbeliever

NICK EICHER, HOST:Thats ahead on Culture Friday with Andrew Walker.

Also today a review of Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris.Arts and Media editor Collin Garbarino seeks a few minutes youd spare us.

And your listener feedback.

BROWN:Its Friday, July 29th. This is The World and Everything in It from listener-supported WORLD Radio. Im Myrna Brown.

EICHER:And Im Nick Eicher. Good morning!

BROWN:Now news with Paul Butler.

PAUL BUTLER, NEWS ANCHOR:Kentucky floods In Kentucky, flash floods killed several people and forced many to their roofs Thursday.

Heres Flo Harris, Kentucky resident,

HARRIS: Its pretty scary, and knowing that theres nothing you can do about it.So what do you do? You stand there and watch it and pray that the Lord will take care of everybody.

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear said this is some of the worst flooding in the states history. Hundreds will likely lose their homes. Hes announced a state of emergency and called the National Guard.

BESHEAR: Were currently experiencing one of the worst most devastating flooding events in Kentuckys history.

As much as six inches of rain has fallen in some parts of Kentucky, West Virginia and Virginia and the National Weather Service said about three more inches are likely.

GDP report bleak, Meta revenue down The U.S. economy is sinking toward a recession. The Commerce Department reported Thursday that the U.S. gross domestic product has fallen for a second straight quarter. Thats one informal, but not decisive, indicator of a recession.

Inflation has consumers buying less

AUDIO: I notice, like, I go and try to get milk and like even a half gallon of milk, it's hard to find for under $8, which is really hard.

But President Biden countered recession fears by pointing to economic positives.

BIDEN: If you look at our job market consumer spending business investment we see signs of economic progress in the second quarter as well.

Facebook reported its first ever revenue loss this quarter. Twitter and Snapalso reported second-quarter letdowns.

Biden/Xi follow up President Biden spoke with Chinese leader Xi Jinping for over two hours on Thursday. WORLDs Josh Schumacher has more.

JOSH SCHUMACHER, REPORTER: Chinas state media reported that the two leaders hadquotein-depth communication on U.S.-China relations and issues of mutual concern.

The morning conversation comes after China threatened a forceful response to House Speaker Nancy Pelosis possible visit to Taiwan.

Elsewhere in the Pacific: Kim Jong Un has threatened to use nuclear weapons if war breaks out against the U.S. or South Korea.

Reporting for WORLD, Im Josh Schumacher.

Ukraine grain exports update AUDIO: [Odessa port]

As the war between Russia and Ukraine drags on, ships are sitting idle in three Black Sea ports waiting to export 22 million tons of grain. That even after Russia said it would allow the ships safe passage out of the port in Odessa for 120 days.

Guy Platten, the secretary general of the International Chamber of Shipping, says security is a concern.

PLATTEN:You know, we need to ensure that the safety of the crew are paramount in getting the ships out.

Underwater mines populate the waters outside the ports and Russian missiles struck the port only hours after the two governments signed the agreement last Friday.

Airline merger JetBlue Airways announced Thursday that it will buy Spirit Airlines if antitrust regulators OK it. WORLDs Mary Muncy has more.

MARY MUNCY, REPORTER: A merger between Spirit and a different airline, Frontier, fell through on Wednesday, but by Thursday, JetBlue had agreed to buy Spirit for almost $4 billion.

The deal would put JetBlue fifth behind the big four airlinesAmerican, United, Delta, and Southwest.

The big four control about 80 percent of the U.S. market, soa JetBlue spokesman saidbuying Spirit would increase competition.

But groups like the anti-merger American Economic Liberties Project say it could raise other budget airlines prices.

Reporting for WORLD, Im Mary Muncy.

Gun profits Five major gun manufacturers made a combined $1 billion on semiautomatic, AR-15-style weapons in the last decade.That, according to a Congressional investigation released Wednesday.

Representative Carolyn Maloney of New York says the firearms companies used questionable marketing tactics. But Representative James Comer of Kentucky says the firearm industry has done nothing wrong.

COMER:Their customers are allowed to lawfully buy guns their customers are allowed to exercise their Second Amendment right.

Semiautomatic rifles have been used in several recent high-profile mass shootingsincluding in Buffalo, New York, and in Uvalde, Texas.

Im Paul Butler.Straight ahead: on Culture Friday, same-sex marriage, abortion, and a challenge to the church.

Plus, a review of a heartwarming movie now in theaters.

This is The World and Everything in It.

MYRNA BROWN, HOST:It's the 29th day of July, 2022. Glad to have you along for todays edition of The World and Everything in It. Good morning, Im Myrna Brown.

NICK EICHER, HOST:And Im Nick Eicher. First up: Culture Friday with Andrew Walker.

Andrews a professor of Christian ethics and apologetics at Southern Seminary and managing editor of WORLD Opinions. Morning, Andrew!

ANDREW WALKER, GUEST:Nick and Myrna, its always good to be with you.

BROWN:Andrew, we didn't get a chance to talk about this last week, but I know it's still on your mind.

You wrote, and I'm quoting you here, Most Republicans knees are buckling about having to go on the record about same-sex marriage. They fear political retribution, meaning they aren't really free. But truth and freedom go hand in hand. Rather than buckle at elite scorn, always testify to what is true. Live Free."

Of course, you were referring to the 47 Republican House members who essentially walked away from the party's stated principles and platform, not to mention what the Bible teaches about marriage, to cast a vote for same-sex marriage.

Here's the rub: When the Supreme court redefined marriage in 20-15, the collective response from Republicans was outrage.

What do you think has changed in seven years and why is this a defining cultural moment?

WALKER: Well, it's a good question. I think what we are noticing over the last seven years, is the ability for law to be a teacher. We see this principle laid down in Scripture. Paul says the law is a teacher, it's a paedagogus. What he means by that is, law shapes belief, belief shapes behavior, behavior shapes our understanding of customs.

We are now accustomed to five plus years of same-sex marriage, and United States. It's now routine. It's now by all accounts, traditional based on the evolving mores of the modern kind of secular worldview. I say that in jest, obviously.

But all this goes to show us is how if you don't keep the debate alive, individuals on the other side of the aisle will treat you like you're on the wrong side of history. And that's what we're seeing play out.

And I think theres a lot of Republican cowardice on this issue. You're right, they did speak out profusely against the Obergefell ruling, and rightfully so, because this was the Supreme Court, kind of bringing this issue to all 50 states, without any votes whatsoever.

But now that this all seems normal, the Republicans are abandoning principle. And as you mentioned in your question, they're abandoning their own platform of their own party. And so I think this goes to show you that if we are not testifying to what is true, what is false can easily come to the surface.

And so regardless of what happens, if there are 60 votes for this in the Senate, our calling as Christians doesn't change because the nature of marriage can't change. It's something outside the purview of politics, because God is the author of marriage. And our calling is to testify to what is true, regardless of the cost.

EICHER:That's interesting. Let's talk about another issue that seems to be buckling Republican knees, as you say and thats the issue of abortion, now that the Supreme Court has washed its hands of the issue and said this is now a matter for the peoples representatives to handle. And Im hearing rumblings that the peoples representatives are saying, at least some of them: Oh, great! This is going to kill us in the midterms. We need to lay low Maybe heres where we find out where evangelicals are because the criticism is they look the other way on Republican hypocrisy and this seems potentially an opportunity to show otherwise.

WALKER: It is really interesting that now that issues of life are back on the table, you know, one of the concerns that the pro-life community had about the mainstream Republican establishment is that they actually didn't really want Roe to ever be overturned. Because as long as they just paid lip service to the pro life movement, with Roe in place, abortion was really going nowhere.

But now there's actually opportunity for abortion to move in the states. And I wouldn't be shocked. I mean, I can't read the motives of every Republican office holder, but I wouldn't be shocked if there are some who were really turned off by this.

One of my good friends is a high ranking official in the Republican Senate side. And this individual told me about conversations with Republican consultants, who were really, really concerned about how overturning Roe could negatively impact Republicans come November. And my friend, who is very, very pro life, was about to pull his hair out because he said, How insane is it, that there are Republican operatives who are actually concerned and upset at the overturning of Roe v. Wade, when this again is what is purportedly at the center of the Republican Party's platform.

So there's some gross hypocrisy going on here. And listen, we need to call balls and strikes. When the Republicans get it wrong. When they're acting cowardly or hypocritically, they need called out for this.

EICHER:Speaking of calling the strike zoneI know you saw this onea well-known personality, public intellectual, saying the church is striking out. Im talking about the Canadian psychology professor Jordan Peterson. He put up a video on YouTube called a message to the Christian churches that among other things admonishes the church to focus ministry resources toward men, young men in particular. He's very passionate on it. Here's a bit of what he said.

PETERSON:... invite young men. Put up a billboard. Say, young men are welcome here. Tell those who have never been in a church exactly what to do, how to dress, when to show up, who to contact, and most importantly, what they can do. Ask more, not less, of those you are inviting. Attend to some souls. That's what youre supposed to do. Thats your holy duty. Do it. Now. Before its too late. The hour is nigh.

And I was thinking about that in light of a really good column you ran in WORLD Opinions by a new writer, Bethel McGrew. Americas lost boys, it was called. She talks about the Chicago Fourth of July shooter about how the warning signs are there if only we would look.

Jordan Peterson seems to have looked and hes urging churches to attend to these young people.

So my question is, first, I wonder if you think Jordan Peterson has it right and whether he has something to say to the churches that we ought to listen to.

WALKER:So I think on the whole, Jordan Peterson is correct in his diagnosis, about the nature of masculinity in our culture. Now, I don't think that full scale adoption of all that he's proposing is necessarily correct, because I think at the heart of some of Jordan Peterson's recommendations, is a very kind of mancentric, anthropocentric understanding of man trying to get himself to Godwhen in reality, the message of the Christian gospel is God bringing himself to man and to what to woman, to be clear.

But there is, I think, a general listlessness in our culture, about the nature of masculinity. I think there's at least two reasons for that: One at the pop culture level, ask yourself, How often do we see men portrayed in any type of ennobling capacity? A lot of times, especially on sitcoms, husbands, and fathers are portrayed as kind of absent-minded dunces. But then also, we have what I would call elite scorn at the notion of masculinity as well.

Now, I don't think we need to revert to kind of chest thumping bravado, to call for a healthy masculinity. That's not what I'm calling for. Im calling for a healthy, Biblical masculinity that understands what God has called us to in our masculinity, which is to be faithful providers and protectors and responsible individuals in society.

So I do think that there are many avenues in the culture that are causing men to second guess themselves and question whether anything about their status as men matters in society.

And so this is an opportunity. I mean, Jordan Peterson is correct insofar as he's saying to the church, Church, you need to talk about the excellence of what it means to be masculine. The church does have something to say here. The church is one of the few institutions in society that I would argue hasn't lost the very definition of what it means to be a man.

We're now living in this kind of genderless age, where, you know, you really can't be a man or a woman by any biological category. It's all a matter of your mind. But the church, through the word of God actually has a word here.

One of my favorite understandings of Christianity is that Christianity is a religion of assertion. We actually believe in truth, we actually believe that there is something composite to masculinity and femininity, and we need to champion that because if we don't champion that, we'll let kind of the culture despisers around us take advantage of our frailty, and to manipulate the conversationand I think to make men and boys for that matter, more worse off.

BROWN:All right, Andrew Walker. Hes a professor of Christian ethics and apologetics at Southern Seminary and managing editor of WORLD Opinions. Thanks, Andrew!

WALKER:Thank you.

MYRNA BROWN, HOST:Today is Friday, July 29th. Thank you for turning to WORLD Radio to help start your day.

Good morning. Im Myrna Brown.

NICK EICHER, HOST:And Im Nick Eicher. Up next, arts and media editor Collin Garbarino reviews a film currently in theaters. Its about not just following your dreams but helping others along the way.

COLLIN GARBARINO: Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris is a charming adaptation of Paul Gallicos 1958 novel of the same name. At first glance, the movie seems like a Cinderella story for older folksa humble cleaning lady embarks on an adventure to buy a life-changing dressbut this middle-aged Cinderella turns out to be something of a fairy godmother herself.

The year is 1957, and Ada Harris is a London war widow making ends meet by cleaning houses. Shes hard working and selfless, but her employers take her for granted. Her friends care for her, but sometimes they take her for granted too.

Archie: Why do you stick with her whos so crabby.

Mrs. Harris: Met her me first shift building planes. Never had a better friend.

Vi: Trouble with this oneshe always speak the truth. Cant help herself.

Archie: That is a terrible affliction. All right behave yourself ladies. Ill be watching you.

Her life has been on hold since World War II ended, but she finds new purpose after seeing her employers custom-made Christian Dior gown. Mrs. Harris decides she must have one too, but a Dior dresss 500-pound price tag is an impossibly large expense for someone like her. The determined Mrs. Harris scrimps and saves, and after an unexpected windfall, she heads to Paris to claim her gown.

But Mrs. Harris isnt prepared for the world of haute couture at the House of Dior, and purchasing a gown proves more complicated than expected.

Madame Colbert: [speaking French] This lady wishes to buy a dress. Direct her to a suitable shop. [speaking French] Go!

Andre: Please let me escort you out.

Mrs. Harris: No, no, no. Hang on a minute. Ive come miles. Saved every penny scrubbing floors and I dont know what, so I can buy this frock.

Madame Colbert: A Christian Dior is not for pennies. [speaking French]

Mrs. Harris: Right. If you think I ain't got the money. There.

Andre: [speaking French]

Some members of Pariss high society resent the disruption her simple virtues bring to their image-conscious world. But others embrace the good-natured Mrs. Harris, inspired by her honesty and love of others.

Marquis: Excuse me cher madame, but it would be my honor to have you view the collection as my guest. There you are. Merci. Shall we?

Mrs. Harris: Oh!

Mrs. Harriss quest for a luxurious dress might sound like a frivolous plot device, but the movie doesnt endorse materialism. Mrs. Harris doesnt pretend the dress will make her a better person. And no one, including Mrs. Harris, understands why she wants one.

Madame Colbert: This Dior dress that you admire so much. Where will you wear it? At the opera ball or Queen Charlottes? Will you wear it to polish floors or will you keep it shut in your wardrobe? A Dior dress is designed to astonish and delight. How will you do that, Mrs. Harris? Forgive me for saying this, but you are nobody. Invisible. How will you give this dress the life it deserves?

Originally posted here:

The World and Everything in It: July 29, 2022 - WORLD News Group