WorldNetDaily Founder, Joseph Farah, Wrongly Attacks Award Winning Talkshow Host Janet Parshall

The above headline appeared in a Press Release today and I am going to address this here because what you need to know is that this Press Release from Joseph Farah’s publicist is totally unfair and untrue.

I have recorded a 26 minute podcast sharing the actual audio of exactly what Janet Parshall said on the John Ankerberg program.

Let me also say up front that I love WorldNetDaily and have no personal beef with Joseph Farah, and neither do I with Janet Parshall. What concerns me about this Press Release is that it smacks of a sad publicity stunt so that Farah can get more publicity for his book. Here is the Press Release…

WASHINGTON, Aug 26, 2008 /PRNewswire-USNewswire via COMTEX/ — Top Christian Radio Host labels ‘None of the Above’ book ’sinful,’ ‘unbiblical’ on Nationwide TV
A top Christian radio talk-show host has labeled Joseph Farah’s new book, “None of the Above,” unbiblical and sinful because it does not support John McCain for president.

Janet Parshall, host of “Janet Parshall’s America,” nationally syndicated by the Salem Radio Network, told Christian TV host John Ankerberg Sunday, “There’s a book floating around now called ‘None of the Above’ that advocates exactly the position that you talked about. When we do that we have advocated the antithetical position to what we know to be biblical truth. Because, when we sit it out, what we’re saying, in essence, is, ‘Our vote doesn’t count. We don’t care to influence and occupy.’ The other person’s vote takes precedence. The other person de facto gets the vote.”
Parshall said the plum line of truth is Scripture.

“Scripture says if you know what’s right and you don’t do it, that’s called sin,” she said. Believers, she said, are called to influence and occupy until Jesus returns and suggested anyone who chooses not to vote for John McCain in 2008 because he is unworthy for office is in disobedience to the Bible.
Farah, the founder, editor, and CEO of WorldNetDaily.com, takes exception to that personal, spiritual and public indictment before believers and wonders why Parshall has not followed the biblical mandate for criticism of a fellow Christian as outlined in Matthew 18.

“It seems Janet Parshall has set herself up as some sort of high priest who can read into Scripture a commandment to vote for John McCain in 2008,” says Farah. “I must have missed the commandment that says, ‘Though shalt not sit out a presidential election or vote for any non-Republican presidential candidate.’ Janet Parshall is certainly adding to Scripture, another unbiblical action, when she makes that suggestion. Furthermore, it is clear she has not read my book because she completely distorts the reasoning and purpose behind the ‘None of the Above’ movement — which very much follows the biblical edict to influence and occupy.”

Farah said Matthew 18:15-17 outlines the way believers are to deal with grievances against other believers.

“It says first go and tell him his fault in private,” Farah said. “If he doesn’t hear you, then take one or two witnesses with you. If that doesn’t work, you should tell it to the whole church. Parshall seems to have skipped steps one and two and taken political disagreement, which she has twisted into an accusation of heresy and sin against me, and gone straight to the television audience of a major religious broadcaster.”

Farah also points out that Parshall could have chosen to have him on her radio show to debate their differences in a lively format in which she, as the host, would have the clear advantage, but she chose the cowardly way out — attacking his commitment to God and the Bible on a Christian television show.
“It is nothing short of idol worship for Christians to deify the Republican Party and its nominees for the presidency as somehow beyond reproach by discerning believers — or to lift them up to the equivalent of Holy Writ,” says Farah. “It is alarming to me that some within evangelicalism are using the Bible to spiritually condemn other believers over political disagreements.”

CONTACT: M. Sliwa Public Relations

Here are a few things you need to know about this issue.

1. The press release never states what John Ankerberg’s original statement was and what Janet was responding to. The quote above was a response to John Ankerberg asking what the consequences are if Christians do not vote in this election.

2. Janet says we influence through the ballot box and that is how we influence the American culture in politics. If you decide to sit out the election, then you are not practicing our rights as citizens and Christians and therefore are giving away our vote. This is not God honoring.

3. Janet never called Joseph Farah a heretic.

4. Janet never mentioned McCain.

5. Janet never suggested anyone who votes against John McCain is sinning.

6. Joseph Farah wonders why Janet didn’t follow a Matthew 18 model - which begs the question why didn’t Joseph Farah call Janet Parshall before this press release was released? That’s hypocrisy.

7. Since when is a public book not under scrutiny? And besides the show wasn’t even about Farah’s book and this press release is making it all about Joe’s book.

8. Joseph says that Janet is setting herself up as a High Priest and “adding to scripture” - to which I say, “Hello? - did Joe even listen to what Janet said??”

Bottom line - Joseph Farah was way out of line for putting out this press release.