Podcast

Quick To Listen

On Being an Evangelical Senator During the Trump Presidency

Oklahoma’s James Lankford on supporting and criticizing the president, fellowshipping across the aisle, and speaking up for Dreamers.

Oklahoma politician James Lankford became a US Senator in 2015, the year before Donald Trump officially became the Republican Party’s candidate. Lankford didn’t support Trump in the GOP primary, but ultimately backed him during the election.

“What I really look for in a presidential candidate is someone who is a great role model, and I didn’t get that this time,” said Lankford. “I was very frustrated. I didn’t have a good option. I didn’t have that person who I would say is a great role model for my daughters and for my family.”

Lankford has served nearly a decade in Washington, DC. Before that, the Southern Baptist thought he had found his calling as a Christian summer camp director. When he decided to make the transition, he found peace about the change in his calling after observing the Bible’s attention to politics.

“There are about 36 and a half books in the Old Testament that are written to, by, or about a political leader. It was often the prophet going to a king, King David writing in a psalm, or Solomon writing in Proverbs,” said Lankford. “A third of the New Testament was written to a political leader: the Book of Luke and the Book of Acts.”

Lankford joined associate digital media producer Morgan Lee and editor in chief Mark Galli to discuss why he started a bipartisan Bible study, what he thinks of the President’s tweets, and why he’s challenging white people when it comes to race.

What is “Quick to Listen”? Read more

Subscribe to Quick to Listen on Apple Podcasts

Follow the podcast on Twitter

Follow our hosts on Twitter: Morgan Lee and Mark Galli

Follow our guest on Twitter: James Lankford

Subscribe to Mark’s newsletter: The Galli Report

Quick to Listen is produced by Morgan Lee, Richard Clark, and Cray Allred

Our Latest

News

Harvest Christian Fellowship Accused of Negligence in Romania

Church responds to lawsuits claiming abuse in orphanages it supported: “The target here should be the alleged perpetrator, not our church.”

News

A Christian Pleads for Her Brother’s Life on Singapore’s Death Row

Convicted on drug trafficking charges, Malaysian Pannir Selvam Pranthaman was baptized in prison.

News

Oldest Missionary Hospital in Kenya Forced to Close Its Gates

How a new state-funded health insurance program’s piling debts put Christian hospitals—and patients—at risk.

Why Charlie Kirk Landed with Young Men Like Me

He didn’t hedge or soften his positions to broaden appeal; he underlined them.

What Has Publishing to Do with the Church?

Christian publishing, done well, gives pastors a partner in the long work of spiritual formation.

The Russell Moore Show

Books about Digital Resistance with Ashley Hales: Wendell Berry, Jan Karon, Jon Haidt, David Zahl, and More

Another quarterly conversation on books with Christianity Today’s Print Editor, Ashley Hales, on the subject of resisting the digital era

How Indian Christian Families are Tackling Gen Z Loneliness

Couples involved in student ministries are welcoming young people into their homes and lives.

Review

An Unpersuasive Plea for Christians to Swing Left

Phil Christman’s apology for progressive politics ignores points of natural affinity with conservatives.

Apple PodcastsDown ArrowDown ArrowDown Arrowarrow_left_altLeft ArrowLeft ArrowRight ArrowRight ArrowRight Arrowarrow_up_altUp ArrowUp ArrowAvailable at Amazoncaret-downCloseCloseEmailEmailExpandExpandExternalExternalFacebookfacebook-squareGiftGiftGooglegoogleGoogle KeephamburgerInstagraminstagram-squareLinkLinklinkedin-squareListenListenListenChristianity TodayCT Creative Studio Logologo_orgMegaphoneMenuMenupausePinterestPlayPlayPocketPodcastRSSRSSSaveSaveSaveSearchSearchsearchSpotifyStitcherTelegramTable of ContentsTable of Contentstwitter-squareWhatsAppXYouTubeYouTube