Dear Friends,
A common misconception about Christianity that has drawn many away from practicing it is that it has “too many rules” about moral behavior. Prohibitions against things like premarital sex and drunkenness are seen as arbitrary laws that impinge on people’s “freedom” to do what they want. The Ten Commandments are constantly ridiculed in popular culture (and even deliberately destroyed with cars) as hopelessly old-fashioned and obsolete.
What many have failed to see is that having boundaries for moral behavior is actually freeing. An excellent analogy for this is to picture a train on railroad tracks. Strictly speaking, one could look at a train on the tracks and think, “That train is clearly being restricted by the tracks—if it could only be free of the tracks, it would have more leeway to go where it pleases.” But common sense tells us that trains are dependent on railroad tracks to keep their wheels aligned and to allow them to travel great distances at high speeds in a very efficient way—tracks give trains the freedom to operate as they were designed to operate. Anyone who has seen a train going off the tracks knows full well of the disastrous results.
When we go “off the rails,” the results aren’t pretty—bad choices can be clearly judged by their fruits (Luke 6:43-45). For example, premarital sex most often leads to broken hearts and STDs, and drunkenness leads to loss of self-control and can cause the physical endangerment of others.
God created us in order that we might fully flourish and be happy by following His precepts—the “railroad tracks” that are designed for this purpose. We see evidence of this in our lives as faithful Christians, as explained here: “The more one does what is good, the freer one becomes. There is no true freedom except in the service of what is good and just. The choice to disobey and do evil is an abuse of freedom and leads to ‘the slavery of sin’” (Romans 6:17). May we always walk in the Truth of Christ, which will set us free (John 8:32).
Thank you for your prayers and for your continued support of FRC and the family.
Sincerely,
Dan Hart
Managing Editor for Publications
Family Research Council
FRC Articles
On Trump's pick of Kavanaugh, conservatives should trust but verify – Tony Perkins
Forcing faith-based agencies out of the system is a disservice to women – Mary Beth Waddell
In Win for Religious Freedom, Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals Reminds Us Why Judicial Nominations Matter – Travis Weber
Why California Senate Bill 320 is Harmful to Women’s Mental Health – Sarah Stewart
Why the Hysteria Over Roe? Because it Would Strike a Blow to Eugenics – Patrina Mosley
Will the Supreme Court Save Sexual Orientation Change Efforts? – Peter Sprigg
Religious Liberty
Religious Liberty in the Public Square
California bill banning books, therapy to help unwanted gay attraction stalls amid lawsuit fears – Calvin Freiburger, LifeSiteNews
Wisconsin’s Marquette Decision Is A Big Win For Free Speech And A Sign Of Trouble – Margot Cleveland, The Federalist
Maryland Church Banned from Services in Its Own Building Fights Back in Court – Josh Shepherd, The Stream
Pastor under fire for high school football devotional – Todd Starnes, Fox News
Planet Fitness bans woman for objecting to sharing locker room with ‘transgender’ man – Doug Mainwaring, LifeSiteNews
Judge sides with University of Iowa Christian student group accused of discrimination – Vanessa Miller, The Gazette
GOP Volunteers Kicked Out of Uber As Driver Says ‘Welcome To The Resistance’ – Julia Cohen, The Daily Caller
University of Minnesota mulls expelling students for not using transgender pronouns – Calvin Freiburger, LifeSiteNews
International Religious Freedom
'Pure Genocide': Over 6,000 Nigerian Christians Slaughtered, Mostly Women and Children – Stoyan Zaimov, The Christian Post
Religious Persecution Again Rises Worldwide – Doug Bandow, The American Spectator
A British Doctor Is Fired for Affirming Biological Reality – Michael Brown, The Stream
In Nicaragua, Paramilitaries Attack Bishop and Besiege Students at Church – National Catholic Register
Turkish Court Sends American Pastor Brunson Back to Prison – Jennifer Wishon, CBN News
Military Religious Freedom
Military Sees Increase In Conflicts Over First Amendment Freedoms – Nicole Russell, The Federalist
Life
Abortion
3 reasons why Roe v. Wade will fall, despite past Supreme Court decisions – Kristi Burton Brown, Live Action
A Closer Look at NIFLA v. Becerra and the Role of Crisis Pregnancy Centers – Helen Alvaré, Family Studies
The Jewish Position On Abortion Isn’t What You Think It Is – Mitchell Rocklin and Howard Slugh, Public Discourse
Judge Rules Trump Administration Can Defund Planned Parenthood Abortion Biz – Steven Ertelt, LifeNews
Adoption
This Woman's Search for Her Birth Mother Comes With a Beautiful Message About the Gift of Adoption – Katie Franklin, The Christian Post
Poll: Ensure All Adoption Agencies Can Continue to Serve Families and Children – Elizabeth Fender, Heritage Foundation
Families Warn of 'Devastating' Consequences If Adoption Agencies Are Shut Down Over Gay Marriage Beliefs – Stoyan Zaimov, The Christian Post
Bioethics
Opponents of Assisted Suicide Offer a Message of Hope – Kathryn Jean Lopez, The Stream
Family
Marriage
Three Sisters, Three Weddings in Three Months – Patti Armstrong, National Catholic Register
Maximizing Everyday Moments in Your Marriage – Greg Smalley, Focus on the Family
The Best Way to Properly Apologize to Your Spouse – Ted Cunningham, Focus on the Family
Parenting
6 Reasons Millennials Should Stop And Embrace Parenthood – Melissa Langsam Braunstein, The Federalist
Why Parents Should Encourage Risky Play – Justin Coulson, Family Studies
Economics/Education
Decision to live together negatively affects wealth accumulation – Iowa State University
Congress should end marriage penalties in the tax code and welfare system – Erik Randolph, Georgia Center for Opportunity
Faith/Character/Culture
What Is Best in Life? Jesus And the Mayo Clinic Know! – Elizabeth Scalia, Word on Fire
Steve Ditko’s Great Gift To The World: ‘With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility’ – Aaron Gleason, The Federalist
How conversations with my father have shaped my faith – Benjamin Ball, Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission
The Extinction of the Middle Child – Adam Sternbergh, The Cut
The Most Dangerous Place to Live: The Subtle Perils of the Past – Greg Morse, Desiring God
I Advocated Civility, But Didn't Practice it When it Mattered – Liberty McArtor, The Stream
Human Sexuality
What do I do if my child doesn’t seem to fit with typical gender norms? – Jared Kennedy, Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission
Podcast: Am I Less Human If I’m Sexually Unfulfilled? – Sam Allberry, Desiring God
The Myth of the "Desistance Myth" – Julian Vigo, Public Discourse
For Women’s Health, Maybe It’s Time to Focus on Natural Pregnancy Prevention Methods – Maria Archer, Family Studies
Human Trafficking
277 Arrested In Huge Florida Undercover Sex Trafficking Sting – Fight the New Drug
In Minnesota, Porn Is Now Officially Recognized As A Contributor To Human Trafficking – Fight the New Drug
One Train Passenger’s Tweet Saved 25 Girls From Human Trafficking – Fight the New Drug
Pornography
Is Pornography Use Increasing Loneliness, Particularly for Young People? – Mark Butler, Family Studies
Your Friend Just Told You They Struggle With Porn—Now What Do You Do? – Fight the New Drug
Groundbreaking Study Finds Video Game Addiction Is Linked To Compulsive Porn Use – Fight the New Drug
“My Life Isn’t Your Porn” – Thousands of Women are Protesting Spycam Pornography – Lana Lichfield, National Center on Sexual Exploitation
Smartphones have given your teen daughter a secret life – and it’s destroying her – Jonathon Van Maren, LifeSiteNews
secret life – and it’s destroying her – Jonathon Van Maren, LifeSiteNews
