Mike Smith:
I'm joined this week by Ned Ryun, the director of Generation Joshua—an organization that helps young people learn about citizenship. Ned, it’s great to have you on the show.
Ned Ryun:
Mike, thanks for having me on.
Mike:
Ned, why do teenagers need to learn about good citizenship?
Ned:
Mike, good citizenship and good stewardship go hand in hand. And Generation Joshua wants teenagers to know what has helped make America great. Our founders, using the inspiration of Scripture and drawing from Montesquieu, Blackstone, and Locke and others, gave us tremendous freedoms of religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition. Those freedoms have enabled America to be a beacon of freedom to the world but also a primary source for the spreading of the gospel. America over the past 200 years has given 80 to 85 percent of the gospel and missionary resources to the world. The freedoms we have been given and the ability to spread the gospel do not simply happen. Much like an apple tree that needs to be nurtured and pruned so that it might bear fruit, America’s freedoms must be tended so that we as citizens can continue to be free.
Good citizenship is in many ways being good stewards of what has been given to us. Learning more about our nation and being involved in the process of electing men and women of character to leadership in America are some of the ways that we can be good citizens.
Mike:
Thank you, Ned. Until next time, I'm Mike Smith.
