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It's Saturday, July 13, 2024.

Today’s edition covers the Christian reaction to the newly released Republican platform, an unexpected alliance between two evangelical figures at the National Conservatism conference, two of the serpent’s statements to Eve in the Garden of Eden, and much more.

“The simple inherit folly, but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.” (Proverbs 14:18)

Of Christian Concern

THE CHRISTIAN REACTION TO THE NEW REPUBLICAN PLATFORM

The Republican National Committee (RNC) released its party platform this week, sparking controversy among Christians for its apparent deprioritization of the issue of abortion.

Before Monday’s platform committee meeting, there was speculation that Trump’s team may “hijack the process” and dramatically change the platform from past years. Family Research Council Action Chairman Tony Perkins said the process was unprecedentedly secretive, prohibiting media and barring delegates from having their cell phones inside the room. Committee member Gail Ruzicka told WISN 12, “They didn’t allow any amendments. They didn’t allow any discussion. They rolled us. That’s what they did.”

The result was disappointing for many. Whereas the Republican platform for many years supported, among other measures, a Constitutional amendment to clarify that the right to life applies to unborn children, the new platform leaves the defense of unborn life “to the States and to a vote of the People.” It reads, “We will oppose Late Term Abortion, while supporting mothers and policies that advance Prenatal Care, access to Birth Control, and IVF (fertility treatments).”

The social media platform X summarized these developments as follows:

Several Christians, including some of notable influence, responded by vowing not to vote for Donald Trump.

Others were less forthright about where their vote would land but still voiced serious concerns.

Still others chimed in to react to those writing Trump off.

One pastor who earlier suggested he will not vote for Trump offered these conciliatory remarks:

So, where do you stand?

Also Noteworthy

A handshake between Al Mohler and Doug Wilson at NatCon 4 this week—dubbed “The handshake that will be seen around the Protestant world” by journalist Megan Basham.

→ Pastor Doug Wilson and seminary president Al Mohler shared the stage for a panel discussion at the National Conservatism conference (NatCon 4) this week, preaching a united message about engaging in politics with Christian commitments out front. Much has been made about a photo of the two shaking hands, in light of their history of not always seeing eye to eye.

→ Christian Mission to Gaza, a ministry to the small community of Christians in Gaza, sent out an urgent email on Sunday. Ministry leader Pastor Hanna Massad requested prayer for the safety of the Christians taking refuge in the few church buildings there, after the IDF issued a warning for everyone to evacuate the area—a precursor to the area being targeted. The Christians, three of whom had sustained injuries in recent days, decided not to evacuate and instead hunkered down as the sounds of war raged around them. A Thursday update confirmed prayers had been answered and there had been no additional injuries. Further, Massad reports new initiatives to help civilians with food and water.

→ Merely “54% of evangelicals” practice “in-person weekly church attendance,” according to a new Infinity Concepts report. In a typical week, 26% of evangelicals reportedly attend church both in-person and digitally. The percentage of those attending online has increased from 5% pre-COVID pandemic to 15% post-pandemic. The report also explores why evangelicals began attending their church, why they chose their church, and more.

→ Pro-life activists convicted earlier this year for blocking an entrance to an abortion clinic received their sentences this week, with one being sentenced to six months in prison. Others were punished with house arrest, probation, and/or supervised release.

→ The Church of England voted on Monday to “introduce standalone services of blessing for same-sex couples.” An Alliance of conservative Anglicans sent a letter before the General Synod warning that they may create a “parallel Province” if such a doctrinal departure occurred. In another statement issued after the decision, the Alliance affirmed that intention but expressed hope regarding upcoming negotiations. Evangelical Anglican blogger Rev Ian Paul predicted, “No Western denomination has changed its doctrine of marriage without then accelerating in decline. We will be no different.”

Content Catch-Up

Recent, notable content of Christian interest.*

Screenshot from CHOICE42’s “It’s OK.” (CHOICE42)

→ “It’s OK”: A new gutwrenching animated short from anti-abortion organization CHOICE42 gives voice to five real aborted babies—Ellie, David, Johanna, Jordan, and Bo—whose bodies were harvested to develop the fetal cell lines that have been used to create several common vaccines. (Video)

→ “How the Pro-Life Establishment Lost the Battle Over Abortion”: Christian journalist Ben Zeisloft explains “why abortion remains legal at some level in all fifty states,” including conservative states, and urges Christians to carefully examine the professing anti-abortion organizations they support. (Article)

→ “Good folks, honestly, they’re too busy…and that’s why we lose these elections”: On political podcaster Tim Pool’s show Timcast, Tennessee congressman Tim Burchett tells the story of how he contacted the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) about a bill that could be used to shut churches down for “hate speech,” and SBC leadership was too busy to address the issue. (Clip)

*Not necessarily an endorsement

The Bible, Briefly

Fact-Checking the Serpent (Part 3): Mostly True!

The Temptation of Eve, 1535–55, Jean Mignon, after Luca Penni (Public Domain)

Last week and the week before, we examined the serpent’s misleading question to Eve in the Garden of Eden, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” (Genesis 3:1).

Eve famously responded, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’” (Genesis 3:2).

We turn our attention now to the serpent’s reply: “But the serpent said to the woman, ‘You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.’” (3:4)

Rating: MOSTLY TRUE

Yes, you read that right. Of the serpents’ three statements here, only one is false. Let’s break it down.

1.

“You will not surely die.” — FALSE. The serpent directly denies God’s solemn word to Adam that eating the fruit would result in death. God, who cannot lie (Hebrews 6:18), had said, “but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die” (2:17).

In this first statement, he denied the negative consequences that Eve’s disobedience would have. Ultimately, she chose to believe the serpent instead of God—or at least to doubt God enough to take the risk. Why? Was the serpent somehow more credible than God? No. There is no sensible rationale. Sin is stupid.

It was true of Eve as it is of us: we all would avoid deception if we simply believe what God says.

2.

“For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened...” — TRUE. The text directly affirms that Adam and Eve’s eyes “were opened” upon eating the fruit: “Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked” (3:7a-b).

Of course, these “eyes” are not physical but spiritual. And what were their eyes opened to? To their nakedness, which, in this case, is a symbol of vulnerability and shame.

Though it’s true their eyes were opened, the means by which they were opened (sin) meant that this “opening” revealed to them the horror of what they had become (shameful). If their eyes had been opened by some other means, by a gift of God, they surely would have been opened to greater bliss in light of their continued freedom from guilt. Who knows whether God would have granted them that if they had passed this test of faith?

Of course, the Fall was part of God’s sovereign plan, but considering the counterfactual is helpful for thinking of how we can fight temptation in our own lives. As it was for Eve, a promise of enlightenment can be an enticing offer.

It was true then as it is now: we are better off seeking enlightenment from God than from our own efforts.

>> To be continued: we’ll look at the serpent’s third and final statement next week

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Why "18:15"? The name Project 18:15 is based on Proverbs 18:15: “An intelligent heart acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.” The aim is for this weekly email—a Christian news briefing, a Bible study, and a Church history lesson rolled into one—to be one way you keep abreast of current events and acquire knowledge you might not acquire elsewhere.

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