4 reasons why Christians should care about what’s happening in Ukraine

On Thursday, Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine and launched attacks on cities and airports throughout the country, including near the capital, Kyiv. This is the largest ground invasion in Europe since World War II.

In addition to the senseless loss and destruction of human lives, there are multiple reasons why we should care about what’s happening between Ukraine and Russia. These reasons are grounded in geopolitical perspectives, humanitarian concerns, and biblical realities.

A Message From Our Friends at Prison Fellowship

Do you believe in second chances?

Every person has dignity and potential. But one in three American adults has a criminal record, which limits their access to education, jobs, housing, and other things they need to reach that potential.

Join our friends at Prison Fellowship as we celebrate "Second Chance Month" in April, unlocking brighter futures for 70 million Americans who have repaid their debt to society. Click the button below to get access to a free Second Chance Month Toolkit!

This Week in Washington, D.C.

As Congress comes back from its President's Day recess on Monday, Senate Majority Leader Schumer plans to bring the fallaciously named Women’s Health Protection Act to the Senate floor for a vote. Although this bill will almost assuredly fail, it is the most pro-abortion legislation to ever pass the House of Representatives. Pro-life advocates speculate that a vote is being held at this time in anticipation of President Biden’s State of the Union address on Tuesday.

The Women’s Health Protection Act removes all restrictions and limits on abortion and allows for abortion up to the point of birth. Additionally, this bill removes all pro-life protections at the federal and state levels and eliminates a state’s ability to legislate on abortion. This bill also fails to protect the consciences of American taxpayers and would force taxpayer dollars to pay for abortions.

The ERLC is strongly opposed to this bill and has communicated our concerns to the Senate. You can read more about this legislation and our advocacy here.

From The Public Square

Americans’ views on whether clergy act in the best interest of the public
Pew Research Center

How much faith do Americans have that clergy will act in the public interest? A new survey shows that just over half of Americans (55%) have either ‘a great deal’ or ‘a fair amount’ of confidence in religious leaders to act in the best interests of the public, while 45% say they have ‘not too much confidence’ or ‘no confidence at all.’

Why Bother Having Kids?
Institute for Family Studies

If we want to partake in the most meaningful human experiences, there is literally nothing more fitting than having a family.

Colombia’s highest court legalizes abortion up to 24 weeks
Associated Press

Colombia became the latest country in Latin America to expand access to abortion Monday as the nation’s Constitutional Court voted to legalize the procedure until the 24th week of pregnancy.

Could Novavax win over some religious vaccine skeptics?
Religion News Service

Novavax's CEO has framed his company's vaccine as an alternative for those who object to the use of fetal cell lines in the development of existing popular vaccines.

Featured Podcasts

This week on the ERLC Podcast, Brent and Lindsay discuss Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine, the decline of global democracy, and the Ahmaud Arbery federal murder trial. They also talk about the Queen’s recovery from COVID-19 and pursuing racial unity in the SBC.

This week on the Digital Public Square podcast, Dr. Benjamin Gladd, associate professor of New Testament at Reformed Theological Seminary and editor of a series of volumes on biblical theology with InterVarsity Press, joins Jason Thacker to talk about biblical theology and the image of God.

What You Need to Read

Paul Miller with What does a just end to the Russo-Ukrainian war look like?

If justice were to prevail in Ukraine, Russia would cease military operations, withdraw from the country, return Crimea and Donbas to Ukrainian control, publicly apologize, and provide restitution to Ukraine — and Vladimir Putin would resign the Russian presidency and turn himself in for a war crimes trial. Absent divine intervention, that will not happen. What, then, can we hope and pray for? What would a just end to the Russo-Ukrainian War look like?

Jason Thacker with Why Christians must pursue biblically-defined justice: Christian social ethics, the gospel, and the imago Dei

How is a Christian to navigate these questions today of standing against racism but not losing biblically grounded justice? As Christians seek to walk through these complexities and tensions, we must keep two overlapping truths together. First, biblically grounded social justice is central to the gospel message being rooted in the imago Dei. And second, downplaying social justice or failing to address the outworkings of sin in our society is a repudiation of the Christian social ethic.

Alan Cross with Why we should be thankful for Caesar Blackwell, the Alabama Baptist slave preacher: Montgomery, the Bus Boycott, and the Civil Rights Movement

So, let us remember Blackwell and Ashby and so many other Black church leaders who laid the gospel groundwork that led to the Black church in the South upholding its witness even as it was persecuted and suffered. And, let us praise God and draw strength from the memory of our brothers and sisters in Christ who suffered and yet faithfully produced gospel fruit that would last and bear another harvest of justice a century later.