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.

Editor's Note: We're offering free registration for next week's Evangelicals for Life conference to any federal or contract workers affected by the government shutdown! Go to www.evangelicals.life and use code FEDERAL for your free registration.

What you should know about the government shutdown

For the past few weeks, the federal government has been under a partial shutdown after the Senate failed to pass a spending bill that includes border wall funding. President Trump has said he will not sign any additional funding that does not include $5.1 billion in additional money to pay for an extension of the border wall.

Here is what you should know about shutdowns and how they affect the country.

What is a government shutdown?

As with any business or organization, federal government agencies have operating costs (salaries, utility bills, and more). The money for these expenses comes from tax dollars, but must be appropriated (i.e., devote money or assets for a specific purpose) by Congress.

This Week at the ERLC

• Russell Moore was featured this week in the latest episode of Cars, Coffee, Theology. You can watch it here.
   

• Jason Thacker was featured at The Gospel Coalition this week. Don’t miss his review of Braving the Future: Christian Faith in a World of Limitless Tech. Read it here.
   

• Sanctity of Human Life Sunday will be recognized on January 20th in many Southern Baptist churches. You can download our printable bulletin here.
   

• Our staff is preparing for next week’s Evangelicals for Life Conference in Washington, D.C. Learn more here.​

What You Need to Know

• When you think of which people serve in kids ministry, who comes to mind? Probably, women. But Sam O’Neil points out 3 reasons why we need godly men serving in kids ministry. Reads his article here.

[M]y first year out of college, the pastor of the church I was attending issued and “all-call” for anyone willing to serve in the kids ministry to apply. I thought, “Well, I don’t think this is what I’m supposed to do, but I’m willing to serve wherever I’m needed.” I applied, they interviewed me, and I was placed on a team serving the second and third grade boys group. Through that year, God re-revealed to me my favorite ministry area, and I haven’t looked back.

• What comes to mind when you think of one of the most untapped mission fields of our day? According to Conrad Close, the answer is more surprising than you think. Find out more from his latest article about how your church can use social media.

“Does my church really need to use social media?” That’s a question many pastors and church staff members have asked over the last several years. Getting started on social media can seem overwhelming, and many churches simply assume that they don’t have the resources or budget to effectively use social media. Thankfully, that’s not the case. Social media is one of the easiest and most important ways for your church to engage with the community around you.

• Technology has made its home with our families and must be handled with wisdom. Thankfully, there are smart men and women who have thought diligently about how to use smarphones, gaming systems, and more. One such man is Andy Crouch. Read his interview with Russell Moore about becoming a “Tech-Wise Family,” which was originally featured in Light Magazine.

[One] dimension of time is human growth and development. I think it is short-sighted to have our children spend a lot of time with screens before they are at least 10 because, honestly, we are all going to spend the rest of our lives staring at these things. I spend a huge amount of my life with this rectangle glowing at me, and childhood, especially the early years of childhood, is this time when we are absolutely wired for three-dimensional, full-body, full-contact engagement with the world and all its sights, sounds, smells, and experiences.

News From Capitol Hill

• The first session of the 116th Congress is underway. Capitol Hill is divided with a Democratic House and a Republican Senate and the government is in a partial shutdown. Much of federal business in Washington, D.C. ground to a halt as the nation’s leaders are at an impasse on the remaining spending bills.
  
  The ERLC continues to monitor the shutdown debate, as it hinges on the president’s border wall funding request, for opportunities to move forward on related immigration reform items.
  
  Christians, like most Americans, recognize immigration policy is complex, and the search for political consensus is difficult. While we feel the tension between our obligations to both Christian compassion and respect for the rule of law, we reject the idea that the two are irreconcilable. Accepting this false dichotomy perpetuates an immigration system which all Americans agree is broken. Biblically understood, a just system of law always has in view human flourishing.

Featured Podcasts

From The Public Square

House budget bill repeals ‘Mexico City Policy’ on NGO abortion funding
Catholic News Service

The budget bill passed by the House of Representatives to try to end the partial government shutdown includes a provision to repeal the “Mexico City Policy” that prohibits U.S. funding of foreign nongovernmental organizations that perform or promote abortion.

Federal court upholds Trump's transgender military ban
Kathryn Krawczyk, The Week

President Trump's transgender military ban can stand for now, a federal appeals court ruled Friday.

Third gender option takes effect in NYC, Calif.
Diana Chandler, Baptist Press

People who don't believe they're either male or female can now choose a third gender in New York City and California, joining six other states and Washington, D.C., that allow the option.

Christians concerned about religious freedom if Turkey enters Syria
Dale Gavlak, Crux

Growing numbers of Christians in North America and Europe are joining Christians in Syria’s northeast in expressing concern for the future of religious minorities and Kurds in that region should the U.S. give Turkey the “green light” to take over the fight against Islamic State.

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