Cover

Brad Stine
by Ryan Richardson

Health & Fitness
by Jeff Consiglio

The Addiction
part iii
by David Chipp-Smith

God's Promises
Part IV
by Colin Michael



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Brad Stine, Interviewed

Troy, MI

by Ryan Richardson

"The U.S. was formed by Christians. It was our lineage. Well, not yours, because you're Canadian. You had nothing to do with it. I don't know how you guys got started, or how you accomplished anything."

I am a huge fan of standup comedy - I was weaned on Saturday Night Live and Comedy Central. And I am a harsh critic, preferring edgy humour from people like George Carlin, David Cross, Steve Martin - stuff that forces me to think. When I first saw Brad Stine last year, I did not know who he was, but watched him sprint out of the blocks, taking on topics like smoking and general stupidity in society. He had me at hello. Turns out Promise Keepers thought so too, bringing him on to host each of its' Uprising events this year. When this interview was arranged, we thought we'd just have a half hour to meet with this wild man, which would give him some time to rest and prepare for his show. Instead, he cleared the night for Modern Disciple, and as soon as he was done speaking with us, he walked right out on stage and did a 90-minute set. A true professional, but it is obvious that years of working comedy clubs prepared him for what he does now.

The following is part one of our 90 minute interview with "Conservative Comedian" Brad Stine. Watch for the second part in a later issue.

MD: What distinguishes you from other comics?

Brad Stine: I was in nightclubs for 15 years, which was hard learning. During that time, I realized that somehow, we came up with this idea in this country that "clean" means "corny". If you want to do something progressive and rattle some cages, and make social commentary with some depth, it has to come from the left. I didn't even get that. I was a Christian doing my thing in these clubs - that affected my worldview and stylistically, I didn't curse or use sexual references. But I wanted to work at the highest levels of the profession. Once Christians realized that the performing arts were a great means of communication, there was the creation of an industry. But comedy was few and far between. I went out to do my thing, and then came to the Christian arena.

Christians have this idea that people want what we're selling. They don't. What they do want is Purpose. What they want is a reason to exist. That is the classic human condition, and that is what Christianity offers. I came out of the mainstream, and I felt God said to go to Christians. My reaction was, "why?". Is this a step backwards? Yet, I believe that God said, "you're not your own, it's none of your business. Will you go? I need you to renew the minds of American Christians." I feel like I am a missionary to Americans. That's kind of my gig. I am to show people that Christians come in all packages. The message of Jesus never changes, the messenger does.

Sometimes he looks like me.

I wanted to raise the bar in Christian circles. To have a show that you can bring your non-Christian friends to, that isn't "HeeHaw". I want options. I think it is important to attract people who are not like-minded to us, and form a package that is intriguing to them. The witness sometimes doesn't start with "Jesus". Sometimes it starts with your craft, you build relationships and respect, and then you find that people listen to what you have to say. Which, by the way, is what Jesus did. He always built relationship first. He was with sinners, and the first thing out of his mouth was not "you're a sinner". It was, "I am going to give you sanctuary". And people fell on their knees and repented.

MD: And on the whole, we've gotten away from that model?

Brad: Yeah, of course. The U.S. was formed by Christians. It was our lineage. Well, not yours, because you're Canadian. You had nothing to do with it. I don't know how you guys got started, or how you accomplished anything. Anyway, there was an intrinsic worldview that ran through the country. Now, the Christian worldview as a template for absolute truth is unheard of. In fact, the opposite is true, at universities where they teach secular humanism, that stands for nothing and believes in nothing. It is what it is. For anything great to happen, there has to be persecution. In China, thousands are becoming Christians daily, knowing that the penalty is prison. They have completely committed themselves. It is that kind of passion that people listen to and pay attention to.

"I am to show people that Christians come in all packages. The message of Jesus never changes, the messenger does."

Sometimes he looks like me.

MD: I get tired of hearing how persecuted we are as Christians in North America. "Prayer has been taken out of school, oh, we're so downtrodden." How do you address those laments?

Brad: In our houses, we have 50 bibles, but don't know the Books of the Bible. In China, you get a page at a time, and that could land you in jail. When I did "A Conservative Unleashed", the new DVD, I knew that the election was coming up. I outed myself as a Conservative, knowing what the consequences were. The results are unreal and I am becoming that "Conservative Comedian" guy. All I ask is for liberals to be liberals, and be consistent with their beliefs. So, if all views are valid and exactly the same, then I get my view, too. Of course they are not liberals, often they are close-minded bigots. Sorry, did I say that?


I never attack people, I attack ideas. ---> PAGE 2