The Weekly is a highlight of the work the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission is doing to strengthen you and our churches for God’s glory.

How the ERLC is working to oppose abortion

The ERLC has been actively involved in supporting legislation against and bringing awareness about the horror of abortion. During just the past year and a half, we’ve held two pro-life events, donated ultrasound machines in four pregnancy care centers, issued seven policy briefs, published 20 articles on pro-life topics and a book on human dignity, and lobbied for a variety of anti-abortion legislation.

Here is a round-up of all the ways the ERLC has been involved in upholding life and opposing abortion.
 
Events and Initiatives
 
Evangelicals for Life
 
Since 2017, the ERLC has co-hosted Evangelicals for Life (EFL), an annual conference that addresses abortion and a variety of other human dignity issues. The event is structured around the annual March for Life and was held in Washington, D.C., in January 2018 and 2019. Two U.S. senators—James Lankford of Oklahoma and Ben Sasse of Nebraska—were among the keynote speakers in 2018. The 2019 event featured David Platt and a concert by Steven Curtis Chapman.
 
The ERLC and Focus on the Family launched EFL in 2016 as what ERLC President Russell Moore described as a "call to arms" to evangelicals. Evangelicals have been heavily involved in the pro-life movement for decades but have not made participation in the March for Life a priority, noted Moore. EFL was started with the hope it would help increase awareness of the march among evangelicals and prompt more to participate in the event.

This Week at the ERLC

• The ERLC made an exciting announcement this week: the launch of Russell Moore’s YouTube channel! Check in regularly to listen to Moore address important and pressing cultural issues.
   

• This week, Trillia Newbell discusses life in the Spirit on WORLD radio. Listen here.
   

• The ERLC’s AI Statement continues to generate buzz and get stellar feedback. You can read what two respected Christian leaders have recently written—Randy Alcorn (here) and Dr. Rich Mouw (here).

What You Need to Know

• An appalling video out of Pennsylvania went viral this week. It captures a state representative accosting an elderly woman and several teen girls who gathered to pray outside of an abortion clinic. Andrew T. Walker and Josh Wester weigh in with three takeways for Christians. Read their article here.

The story of Brian Sims’ abusive conduct in Pennsylvania is not one that the culture should gloss over. In it is a small snapshot of just how ingrained the abortion worldview is in American politics, and how politics-as-usual will not overcome this treacherous worldview. Let us be angry; let us resolve to defend the innocent as they are led to the slaughter; but let us also pray for the redemption of sinners who are held captive by the Enemy.

• Tracy McElhattan was discouraged one Sunday when she realized her church wasn’t equipped to serve some children with special needs. As a result, she began to think about what could change. Read her article about 6 ways churches everywhere can welcome families with disabilities.

I watched with a smile on my face as the family of three walked up to the welcome desk in our preschool area. They were visiting our church for the first time, so I introduced myself and gave them the information card to fill out as we checked in their four-year-old boy for Sunday School. I noticed the little boy used a walker, and chatted with his mom as we made the long walk down the hall to his assigned classroom. But as I entered the classroom, my heart sunk, and I knew they wouldn’t be back. We weren’t prepared to have a child with a physical disability in our Sunday School space.

• In light of Mother’s Day, Jen Oshman calls moms to evaluate where they are placing their hope as they raise children. Is it in their efforts or in the work of Jesus? Read her encouragement here.

The strong and capable hands that hold everything together (Col. 1:17) are the same hands that hold you and your babies, and they’re the same hands that were nailed to a cross on our behalf 2,000 years ago. He is merciful and just and goes to every great length for our good and his glory. And—and—he is risen. Our God is alive and at work.

News From Capitol Hill

• Next week, Congress is scheduled to vote on H.R. 5, the Equality Act, a bill that represents “the most invasive threat to religious liberty ever proposed in America,” according to Andrew T. Walker.

  The beginning of any conversation about the dignity of people must begin with the truth we hold sacred from the beginning of Scripture, “God created man in his own image; he created him in the image of God; he created them male and female.” (Gen. 1:26-27). At the 2018 Annual Meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention, the Messengers passed a resolution to “reaffirm the sacredness and full dignity and worthiness of respect and Christian love for every single human being, without any reservation whatsoever.”

  However, the Equality Act fails to uphold human dignity in its attempt to codify the demands of the Sexual Revolution. While the proposed intention of H.R. 5 is to protect individuals who identify as LGBT, the bill would instead steamroll the consciences of millions of people. H.R. 5 undermines foundational Constitutional freedoms in its pursuit of what may be momentary cultural affirmations.

  These proposed changes to the Civil Rights Act of 1964 would bring a dramatic shift in civil rights law, religious liberty, and the foundations of civic pluralism. Due to these concerns, among many others, the ERLC opposes H.R. 5, the Equality Act.

  The ERLC is working with a coalition of more than 85 faith-based nonprofits, religious entities, and institutions of higher education. The coalition has submitted letters to the committees holding hearings stating our opposition to the Equality Act. In our advocacy meetings with members and their offices around Capitol Hill, we made note of ERLC President Russell Moore’s commentary on how this legislation would make the situation worse for Americans who disagree to work together for the common good.

  “The Equality Act is poorly named. In the name of equality it would bully those who dare to dissent with the demands of the Sexual Revolution. Every human being ought to be treated with dignity, but placing sexual orientation and gender identity as protected classes in this kind of legislation would have harmful consequences. This legislation would make the situation worse in this country, both in terms of religious freedom and in terms of finding ways for Americans who disagree to work together for the common good.” 
  – Russell Moore 

Featured Podcasts

From The Public Square

Health and Human Services and the Religious-Liberty War
Emma Green, The Atlantic

Trump’s Department of Health and Human Services is pitting religious freedom against abortion and LGBTQ rights.

The Kansas Supreme Court Has Declared a “Natural Right” to Abortion
Elizabeth Kirk, Public Discourse

In the wake of last month’s decision, the only remedy left to the people of Kansas is to pass a constitutional amendment to declare that there is no “fundamental right to abortion” in the state’s constitution and to allow the legislature to make reasonable laws about abortion.

Asia Bibi Finally Leaves Pakistan for Canada
Kate Shellnut, Christianity Today

Months after escaping a death sentence, the Pakistani Christian will live with her family in safety again.

Porn deemed a public health crisis by Arizona politicians
Meghan Keneally, ABC News

The Arizona State Senate voted Monday to declare pornography a public health crisis, but beyond stating such on their resolution, no further action will be taken.