Crisis of Courage: Full Episode Transcript

Host: Peter Vazquez
Guest: Bob Scott, Ministry Engagement Director for Christians United for Israel

Peter Vazquez:
Mira la izquierda, mira la derecha. ¿Qué ves? ¿Dónde estás? In a world that changes daily, what will you do next? Welcome to The Next Steps Show, where discussion meets direction.

Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. This is Peter Vazquez, the Voice of Liberty. I hope your week is going well. Bob, how are you, sir?

Bob Scott:
I am hunky-dory! Feeling blessed and grateful to be here.

Peter:
That is the spirit. We have talked about many things this week, and today we turn our eyes to Israel. There is so much happening—conflict, misinformation, and a global rise in antisemitism. I want to examine what is truly unfolding, how the United States continues to support Israel through aid and legislation, and how churches should respond.

Joining me with a firsthand perspective is Bob Scott, Ministry Engagement Director for Christians United for Israel—CUFI. Bob, thank you for joining me.

Bob Scott:
Thank you, Peter. It is an honor to be on your show. I am speaking to you directly from the old city of Jaffa, here in Israel.

Peter:
That is incredible. Tell us about CUFI.

Bob:
CUFI is the largest pro-Israel grassroots movement in the United States, with over ten and a half million members. We were founded in 2006 to stand with Israel and the Jewish people worldwide and to combat antisemitism wherever it appears. Our purpose is simple—to please God. If Israel matters to God, it should matter to believers.

Peter:
Some say they cannot support Israel because they disagree with its leaders. From a Christian perspective, though, our support is biblical, not political, correct?

Bob:
Exactly. Israel is not a political issue—it is a biblical one. The people of Israel elect their leaders, and it is not our place to dictate their governance. We stand with Israel because Scripture commands it.

Peter:
What strikes you most being there now?

Bob:
Resilience. For millennia, the Jewish people have endured attacks, yet Israel lives. Even today, amid rockets and terrorism, the people do not live as victims. They move forward with grace and dignity, seeking peace even with those who seek their destruction.

Peter:
CUFI has long warned that moral relativism endangers freedom. What does moral clarity look like today?

Bob:
From the founding of both nations, the U.S. and Israel have been tied by Judeo-Christian ethics. Yet today, we see moral confusion. Media outlets repeat Hamas propaganda while dismissing verified Israeli facts. Israel sends food and aid into Gaza, yet is accused of genocide by those it helps feed. There is no moral equivalence between Israel and Hamas. If Israel lays down its weapons, it will be attacked. If Hamas lays down its weapons and returns the hostages, there will be peace.

We live in an age where people call evil good and good evil—and that is exactly what Scripture warned us about.

Peter:
CUFI links Israel’s war to America’s own security. Iran, Hamas, Hezbollah—these are threats to Western civilization. Your organization also called bipartisan support for Israel a moral test of leadership. I agree. What is your take on leaders who claim to support Israel but act otherwise?

Bob:
CUFI is nonpartisan, but that means we hold both sides accountable. We see troubling rhetoric from parts of the far left and neo-isolationists on the right. Support for Israel was once bipartisan, but now extremists on both sides repeat Hamas talking points. What matters most is not what politicians say—it is whether the Church will stand for truth.

Peter:
Your organization mobilized 250 pastors and 65,000 members to lobby for Israel in days. How?

Bob:
That did not start overnight. We have been educating and building relationships since 2006. Silence in the face of evil is evil. In April 2024, when Israel needed to replenish the Iron Dome after Iran’s missile attacks, those relationships allowed us to respond immediately. Supporting Israel protects America too—we share the same enemies.

Peter:
Antisemitism is exploding. A 140% rise in the U.S., record highs across Europe, Jewish students reporting fear on campus. How do Israelis perceive American support?

Bob:
They still see the U.S. as their closest friend, especially among Christian communities. Despite the noise, Israelis know there are millions of believers standing with them. Our task is to confront lies before they spread and keep truth alive.

Peter:
Tell us about CUFI’s relief efforts after October 7 and how listeners can help.

Bob:
Immediately after the attacks, we sent $1 million, which quickly grew to over $11 million. That support funded hospitals, first responders, and families displaced by violence. We also work with college students to counter antisemitism on campus. Anyone can visit CUFI.org to access teaching materials, including a two-lesson course explaining why standing with Israel matters.

Right now, I am here with pastors from across America. We began in Poland for Holocaust education, then came to Israel to connect biblical truth with modern reality. We visit borders, ancient cities, and communities under fire. It transforms understanding—and faith.

Peter:
If you had to name one biblical principle guiding CUFI’s mission today, what would it be?

Bob:
Genesis 12:3 — “I will bless those who bless you, and curse those who curse you.” God gave the land as an everlasting possession to the descendants of Abraham through Isaac. Believers have been grafted into that covenant. For Zion’s sake, we will not be silent.

Peter:
Amen to that. Thank you, Bob Scott. God bless you and your work with Christians United for Israel.

Segment 2 – America’s Crisis of Courage

Peter:
You know what I have realized over the years? Compassion without structure becomes cruelty, and faith without action becomes sentiment. Politics without conviction becomes performance. The cure for confusion is courage.

That courage is what America is losing—our Vanboolzalness Crisis. It shows in low voter turnout, in fusion politics where candidates run on opposing lines, and in dependency that weakens freedom.

Early voting shows Democrats far ahead. Women vote more than men. Suburbs dominate turnout while younger generations and conservatives stay silent.

It is time for conservatives to act strategically, to vote early, to vote informed, and to hold leaders accountable. Apathy is not strategy—it is surrender.

Bob (co-hosting):
Party lines blur locally, but voters must demand integrity. Judge leaders by their values and record, not just their label.

Peter:
Absolutely. And speaking of accountability, Marly Hornick of Real America’s Voice has filed a major lawsuit against New York election officials, including Letitia James, alleging civil rights violations and fraud. The goal is not just justice—it is to restore representative government. Without election integrity, we lose the Republic itself.

But the crisis runs deeper. We have millions dependent on government aid while politicians argue over shutdowns and blame each other. Why, in one of the world’s strongest economies, do so many still depend on programs like SNAP?

Dependency has become a political weapon. As Reagan said, “The closest thing to eternal life on Earth is a government program.” These programs were meant to lift people, not trap them.

Bob:
Exactly. Reasonable work or education requirements are not cruelty; they are dignity. Opposing even minimal standards fuels dependency.

Peter:
And dependency fuels control. The left sells it as compassion, but it is enslavement through comfort. Faith, family, and personal responsibility must replace that illusion.

Every guest we have, every story we share, leads to one message: be a leader. Stand for truth. Courage cures confusion.

Proverbs 24:10: “If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small.”

God bless these United States of America, and do not let a moment pass when you are not a voice for liberty.