July 4, 2020

WELCOME TO THE PROSPECTUS. I hope you’re all celebrating Independence Day responsibly and safely. We live in crazy times, and things seem to change day after day. One thing is common: Our God is a God of grace and goodness. We can take confidence in his unchanging grace through Jesus Christ. I’m glad you’re checking in for the weekly Prospectus.

Quick Hit Quartet

Supreme Court...Again (June Medical)

On Monday, the Supreme Court handed down its decision in the June Medical Services v. Russo case. In a 5-4 decision, SCOTUS struck down Louisiana’s Act 620, which “requires any doctor who performs abortions to hold “active admitting privileges at a hospital . . . located not further than thirty miles from the location at which the abortion is performed or induced,” and defines “active admitting privileges” as being “a member in good standing” of the hospital’s “medical staff . . .with the ability to admit a patient and to provide diagnostic and surgical services to such patient.”Act 620, also known as the Unsafe Abortion Protection Act was ruled to be unconstitutional by SCOTUS, upholding a 2016 decision (Whole Women’s Health v. Hellerstedt). Justice Stephen Breyer wrote the majority opinion with a concurrence from Chief Justice John Roberts. As expected, the majority was made up of Justices Ginsburg, Kagan, and Sotomayor. Dissenting opinions were written by Justices Alito, Thomas, Gorsuch, and Kavanaugh.

The unsurprising surprise in June Medical Services v. Russo is Chief Justice Roberts, who again sided with the more socially liberal side of the Court. Chief Justice Roberts sided with the majority based upon a principle known as stare decisis. Though he dissented in the 2016 ruling, SCOTUS struck down a Texas abortion much like the Louisiana law. Because SCOTUS previously ruled against a similar case, Chief Justice Roberts invoked stare decisis, or “let the decision stand.”

The issue is that Chief Justice Roberts previously voted down a pro-life ruling, and flip- flopped Monday, seemingly in order to protect the honor and credibility of the Supreme Court. However, as David French points out in his recent newsletter, SCOTUS has a very different make-up now than it did in 2016. If ever there was a time to strike a blow to the rampant nature of abortion in the U. S., it was Monday. But that did not happen.

However, we are reminded, as those who are completely committed to the eradication of abortion from our society, that our ultimate hope in cultural change cannot rest in judges or courts. We will be let down by judges who were appointed by both conservative and progressive presidents. We continually press on with the hope of the gospel of Jesus Christ, knowing two things: All things are being made new and that God will exact justice for wrongs committed against those who are made in his image.

COVID-19

For yet another week, new COVID-19 cases in the U. S. were on the rise. According to the Johns-Hopkins COVID-19 Dashboard, July 2 set the record for U. S. cases with over 57,000. Governors and Mayors are tightening restrictions again around the country, requiring masks and limiting travel.

Mississippi State Flag

Last Sunday (6/28), the Mississippi state legislature voted to remove the Confederate emblem from their state flag. Mississippi the only remaining state to have the Confederate emblem displayed on the state flag. The move to remove the emblem was championed by state legislators from both sides of the aisle, as well as evangelical leaders across the state. Dr. Ligon Duncan, Chancellor of Reformed Theological Seminary in Jackson, MS, wrote an excellent piece at The Gospel Coalition that you should all go read.

While the Confederate flag might be a symbol of heritage to some in the southern states, it was no doubt used as a symbol of the Confederacy. There is no denying that point. And the Confederacy fought against the abolition of slavery under the Confederate flag. The Confederate flag does not represent a more perfect union, but instead reminds us of our fractured past. The place for the Confederate emblem is not on the flagpoles of statehouses, but in museums rightfully depicting its pernicious origin and original meaning. Ridding themselves of the Confederate emblem is a good step forward for the good people of Mississippi.

Polyamory in Massachusetts

The city council Somerville, Massachusetts unanimously voted to approve a measure granting polyamorous groups the same privileges as spouses. The rights granted extend to health insurance benefits and the right to visit hospitalized members of the polyamorous groups. For those who might be unaware, polyamory is “the practice of engaging in multiple sexual relationships with the agreement of all the people involved.”

Polyamory is gaining notoriety across the country and is now officially permitted and recognized in this Massachusetts community. As Christians who order our lives by the very word of God, we confess and believe that marriage is designed by God to be between one man and one woman for life. In the institution of the home and family, the bedrock and foundation is the one- flesh union between one man and one woman for life. Any attempt to tear down or add to the ideals of marriage as put forth in Scripture is to tear apart the foundational institution of the ordered society: the family. Christians must be prepared to stand for and give a defense for biblical marriage and be ready for the coming storm of legislation to allow for yet another turn in the winding road of the sexual revolution.

Book Recommendation

Our culture is increasingly shallow and maximalist.. I often feel like I’m swimming in an ocean of technology and drowning in distraction. Cal Newport is a true original thinker in an increasingly one-track world. In the leadership and productivity publishing market, many books look and read the same. However, Newport, a Georgetown Computer Science Professor, has offered up an original alternative. This week, I am recommending two of his books: Deep Work and Digital Minimalism. Deep Work is an attempt to draw people out of the world of increasing distraction and offers rules that will allow the read to actually get real, deep work done. Digital Minimalism sees the rampant digital takeover for what it is: noise. Newport gives reasons to use technology for good and take control of your life. Read together, these two books will positively influence your work, home, and even spiritual life as you learn to value life away from screens, distractions, and the shallow notions of the surrounding world.

Links

Over at The Dispatch, Declan Garvey has written an excellent article on Senator Tim Scott (R-SC). Senator Scott is the lone black Republican member of the Senate, and is one of the most respected Senators in Congress.

Pastors burn out far too quickly and far too often. At The Center for Public Theology, Dr. Owen Strachan has written a great long-form essay on sprinter pastors vs. marathon pastors. If you’re a pastor struggling from burnout or feeling like you’re up against a wall, read and apply these words.

Yuval Levin has written an apt and concise article on National Review analyzing Chief Justice John Robert’s use of Edmund Burke in his recent decision (see above). For further analysis from Levin on Burke and his legendary debate with Thomas Paine, read The Great Debate.

This Week on the Blog

Hymn Highlight: To God be the Glory

The Letter to the Church in Ephesus (Part 1: Introduction and Commendation)

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