Churches, the Johnson Amendment, and Civic Engagement

The recent assassination of Charlie Kirk has forced every Christian to confront a sobering question: How do we live faithfully when the culture grows hostile to truth?

On this week’s episode of The Narrative, Dr. Andrew Walker joins CCV's Aaron Baer, David Mahan, and Mike Andrews for a candid conversation about Christian ethics in a world that seems determined to abandon them.

Dr. Walker doesn’t offer easy answers. Instead, he lays out a framework for courage, clarity, and conviction rooted in Scripture — the kind of framework believers desperately need in moments like this.

Before they sit down with Dr. Walker, Aaron and Mike run through this week's news:

✨ One week from today, on Friday, September 26, Allie Beth Stuckey and Pastor Luke Barnett, both friends of Charlie Kirk, will join us for our Cleveland Celebration Gala to honor the life, legacy, and mission of Charlie.

⭐️ CCV's Essential Summit is just around the corner on Thursday, October 2. Featured keynote Willie Robertson shared a special video for Summit attendees.

🌹 The March continues! Our annual Ohio March for Life will continue as scheduled, with more security present. Watch Aaron and David's message here.

📺 Jimmy Kimmel's nighttime talk show has been canceled, amid remarks regarding Charlie Kirk's assassination.

⚖️ CCV, in partnership with Independent Women’s Forum (IWF), has filed an amicus brief with the Ohio Supreme Court in Moe v. Yost, urging the Court to uphold Ohio’s Saving Ohio Adolescents from Experimentation (SAFE) Act. 

MORE ABOUT DR. ANDREW WALKER

Dr. Andrew Walker serves as Associate Dean in the School of Theology and Associate Professor of Christian Ethics and Public Theology at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is the Director of the Carl F. H. Henry Institute for Evangelical Engagement, a fellow in Christian Political Thought at the Ethics and Public Policy Center, and serves as the Managing Editor of WORLD Opinions. 

He writes regularly for outlets such as the National Review, First Things, Newsweek, WORLD Opinions, The Gospel Coalition, American Reformer, and Public Discourse. In 2023, he was one of the winners of the inaugural “Freedom and Opportunity” academic awards from the Heritage Foundation for his contributions to conservative thought.

Dr. Walker researches and writes about the intersection of Christian ethics, public theology, and the common good. His academic research interests include natural law theory, human dignity, theology of law, family stability, church-state studies, and social conservatism. His analysis and commentary have been cited in such outlets as The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, and many others. He oversees several Doctor of Ministry students and Research Doctoral students, as well as serving as the primary program coordinator for Southern’s Ethics and Public Theology concentration.

He is a member of Highview Baptist Church in Louisville, Kentucky, where he resides with his wife and three daughters.

You can follow his commentary on X at @andrewtwalk or by listening to his co-hosted podcast, The Bully Pulpit.

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🔎 About The Narrative

The Narrative breaks away from the script to cut through the typical media narratives and helps you understand the root causes of today’s culture and political controversies.

Join Center for Christian Virtue (CCV) President Aaron Baer, Policy Director David Mahan, Communications Director Mike Andrews, and world-renowned experts as they dissect current issues and events from multiple angles and viewpoints, equipping you to be a critical thinker on some of the hottest topics today.

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