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.

5 Facts about Memorial Day

On Monday, Americans will observe Memorial Day, a federal holiday for remembering the people who died while serving in the country's armed forces.

Here are five facts you should know about this day of remembrance:

1. Memorial Day is often confused with Veterans Day. Memorial Day is a day for remembering and honoring military personnel who died in the service of their country, particularly those who died in battle or as a result of wounds sustained in battle. While those who died are also remembered, Veterans Day is the day set aside to thank and honor all those who served honorably in the military both in wartime or peacetime.
    
2. Memorial Day was originally called Decoration Day. Three years after the Civil War, Maj. Gen. John A. Logan, the head of an organization of Union veterans, established Decoration Day as a time for the nation to decorate the graves of the war dead with flowers. Logan declared that Decoration Day should be observed on May 30 since it was believed flowers would be in bloom all over the country.

This Week at the ERLC

• Russell Moore participated in an online event with the Baptist Foundation of California to answer their questions about COVID-19 and religious liberty.
   
• ERLC Academy took place this week, and Russell Moore spoke with Ph.D. students from our SBC seminaries on Tuesday and Thursday.
   
• Josh Wester wrote a piece for Baptist Press on how Ravi Zacharias shaped his faith. 
   
• Elizabeth Graham was quoted in an article by Religion News Service about a recent documentary on Norma McCorvey's life.
   
• Daniel Patterson spoke to the virtual meeting of the Second Chair Network, made up of associate executive directors of SBC state conventions. 

Helpful Resources On COVID-19

• Keep up with the ERLC’s latest resources on coronavirus at ERLC.com/COVID19
   
• Keep up with the latest CDC news and resources at coronavirus.gov
   
• From The White House | Coronavirus Guidelines for All Americans

What You Need to Read

• Grace Liu with How should college students engage with their families during this season of staying at home?

College is supposed to be a time of freedom and discovery—finding new friends, developing a new lifestyle, exploring new interests. But now, most of us are back in our homes with our families. And while extended time with family may be one of the greatest blessings of this pandemic, it can also be one of the biggest challenges.

• Aaron Mercer with A warning about rising anti-Semitism

Sadly, our memories can be dangerously short. We are prone to forget that the evil manifested in the murder of 6 million Jews did not just suddenly appear. We may overlook its seeds in anti-Semitic words, images, and disturbing actions that many felt either powerless to confront or more comfortable to ignore. Anti-Semitism is on the rise again today. If we fail to remember and we choose to avert our eyes, we do so at our own peril. 

• Hanna Welch with Suffering is Never for Nothing: Heeding words of wisdom from Elisabeth Elliot

We ultimately have Christ to whom we can run for refuge. As Elliot says about the cross and suffering, “The very worst thing that ever happened in human history turns out to be the very best thing because it saved me. It saves the world.” He who suffered, bled, died, and rose again knows of our pain and suffering and wants us to bring it to him. The Savior says, “Come, to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light “ (Matt. 11: 28-30).

News From Capitol Hill

This week on the Capitol Conversations podcast from Washington, D.C., Travis Wussow and Jeff Pickering welcome Dr. Kevin Smith to the roundtable to talk about the recent tragedy in Georgia, the killing of Ahmaud Arbery. 

Smith leads the staff of the Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware. With experience as a pastor, chaplain, church planter, conference speaker, and short-term missionary, Smith’s ministry is animated by Jesus’ prayer for the unity of his followers in John 17.

Smith discusses why Christians should lament this tragedy and work to seek justice in their communities. Smith also gives his perspective on what it is like to hear this kind of news story, yet again, and where the church should be in these conversations.

Our hope for Capitol Conversations is that the episodes would foster a new way for Christians to engage in the public square. If you’ve been thinking about talking with your family and friends about the tragic killing of Ahmaud Arbery, you’ll be interested in this episode. We would love to welcome you around our table

Featured Podcasts

From The Public Square

The Navy grants the first exception to Trump’s transgender military ban
Katelyn Burns, Vox

An officer who sued over the ban was granted a waiver by the Secretary of the Navy.

Future War: How do We Prepare Ethically for Radically New Forms of Warfare on the Horizon?
Bruce Ashford

Future forms of warfare and warfighting technology, such as the hypothetical scenarios sketched in the opening paragraphs, are radically different from the not so distant past.

Planned Parenthood Improperly Claimed $80 Million in Coronavirus-Relief Loans
Alexandra Desanctis, National Review

“Planned Parenthood, the nation’s largest abortion business, tried to defraud taxpayers during the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression,” Senator Ben Sasse (R., Neb.) said in a statement after the news broke.

Labor Department Issues New Guidance On Religious Liberty Protections
Howard Friedman, Religion Clause

The U.S. Department of Labor announced last week (May 15) that it has issued a directive and a guidance to advance religious liberty protections.