No Images? Click here

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.

Explainer: What you should know about China’s Social Credit System

What just happened?

Communist authorities in China are in the process of developing a social credit system, a nationwide technology-driven reputational system that will allow the government to more effectively monitor and control its citizens through incentives of punishment and reward.

What is a reputational system?

Reputation is the recognition by other people of some characteristic or ability. The Bible has a lot to say about the importance of reputation and of maintaining a reputation for exhibiting godly qualities. For example, Ecclesiastes 7:1a says, “A good name is better than precious ointment,” and in 1 Timothy 3:7 the Apostle Paul says that pastors “must be well thought of by outsiders.”

As our interactions increase, and we have more dealings with strangers than with family and friends, it becomes more difficult for those we engage with to know our reputation. Reputation systems are systems—usually computer-based—that allow people to provide feedback about an individual’s reputation, especially their trustworthiness or competence.

One of the most commonly used reputational systems is consumer credit reports and their corresponding credit score. Consumer reporting agencies receive, compile, and maintain the history provided by the creditors and lenders to help people make decisions about the creditworthiness of someone who wants to borrow money or pay on credit. The rise of e-commerce has lead to the increase of online reputation systems, such as Yelp and eBay’s buyer-seller feedback process.

This Week at the ERLC

On Wednesday, the Nashville office of the ERLC hosted Sam Brownback, U.S. Ambassador for International Religious Freedom, at our Leadership Lunch. Ambassador Brownback and Russell Moore discussed religious liberty and religious persecution around the world.

Jay Richards writes about the ERLC-led statement on artificial intelligence, saying it’s “balanced” and “well-informed.” Read his review here.

Andrew T. Walker and Matthew Lee Anderson write for The Gospel Coalition, providing their take on IVF, which includes four pressing concerns. Read their article here.

What You Need to Know

Allison Duhon writes a moving account of her abortion choice, the hope she’s found in Jesus, and how the movie “Unplanned” reminded her that the church needs to step up to care for the vulnerable. You can read her story here.

Today I went to see the movie Unplanned with my daughter. It was difficult to watch because of my abortion 14 years ago. I think about my abortion and my baby often. I closed my eyes during parts of the movie. I could hardly stand to see the truth of what I had done all those years ago.

It seems a week doesn’t go by without hearing about another incident of religious persecution. And this past Easter weekend was especially heart-wrenching. Many were killed or injured, including Christians gathered to worship, when terrorists executed a series of attacks in Sri Lanka. Read Casey B. Hough’s article about the tragic events here.

Over the Easter weekend in Sri Lanka, more than 280 people were killed and over 500 were injured. Many of those who died or were injured in the coordinated, suicide bombings were Christians who were assembling to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus. Jesus said, “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 5:10). These Christians were indeed persecuted for “righteousness’ sake,” and Jesus calls them “blessed.”

Prison Fellowship is dedicated to helping men and women in prison find redemption and hope through Jesus. Watch their latest project that highlights how grace changes everything.

Have you ever made a decision or a choice you would give anything to take back, a mistake big enough to separate you from the people you love? In the wake of those decisions, is there room for God’s grace to come in and make things new? That’s the question raised in The Restoration Series, a new five-part film series released by Prison Fellowship®.

News From Capitol Hill

ERLC is committed to advocating for just and compassionate solutions to America’s immigration challenges. We are involved in immigration policy because twice in the last decade messengers to the SBC have passed resolutions on this issue, and immigration is a policy area that covers all four categories on which we work: human dignity, family, justice, and religious liberty.
The ERLC is a part of the Evangelical Immigration Table, which recognizes that immigration policy is complex, and the search for political consensus is difficult. While we recognize the tension between our obligations to both respect for the rule of law and Christian compassion, we believe there is a way forward that brings biblical principles to bear on these issues.
This week, the EIT released a new e-book and videos that you can find here. The resources expound on why it’s important for Christians to engage on immigration reform. The EIT leaders discuss on the videos the importance of family unity, how to be pro-security and pro-compassion, and discuss the problem with providing amnesty to immigrants who are in the country illegally.

Featured Podcasts

In our special series on the ERLC Podcast, Better Together, Trillia Newbell hosts assistant professor of Theology in Women's Studies at Southwestern Theological Seminary, Katie McCoy. McCoy shares encouragement for women in different stages of life and how they can use their varying gifts to serve others. You can listen here.

If you drive through the Wheaton College campus outside of Chicago, you’ll see a beautiful, tall church steeple rise above the landscape. This is College Church Wheaton, a historic, faithful, gospel-preaching evangelical church. Its pastor is Josh Moody, who joined Dan Darling on The Way Home podcast to talk about two important topics: biblical literacy and boasting. Yes, boasting. Tune in to the conversation here.

From The Public Square

'Save Chick-fil-A Day' promotes religious liberty
Diana Chandler, Baptist Press

Religious liberty advocates held "Save Chick-fil-A Day" at the Texas Capitol yesterday (April 17) after the restaurant was banned from the San Antonio airport for donating to religious non-profits.

Are Christians Privileged or Persecuted?
Ross Douthat, New York Times

How Western liberalism’s peculiar relationship to its Christian heritage leaves non-Western Christians exposed.

Supreme Court to take up cases on gay and transgender rights in the workplace
Josh Gerstein, Politico

The justices announced Monday that they will consider whether existing federal law banning employment-related sex discrimination also prohibits discriminating against individuals on the basis of sexual orientation or because they are transgender.

‘Abortion Restrictions Don’t Work’: A Dubious Claim
Kyle Blanchette, National Review

A comforting thought for moderate pro-choicers is not supported by the available data.