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• “AI” … Artificial Intelligence
• Social pressures to conform
• Inaccurate stereotypes of people of faith

The development of thinking machines that can learn even more on their own might be the biggest news of this decade.

As the technological innovations mushroom and societal trends veer away from tradition, how are people to respond?

James Spencer, president of the D.L. Moody Center, contends that these times bring yet more opportunities for Christ’s followers to defy the world and choose discipleship.

Spencer says there is an incorrect assumption about how to “fix” problems in the world. While “AI” can process information faster, he tells Family Life’s Abigail Hofland that the core of our human circumstance cannot be resolved simply with data, no matter whether that data is manipulated by brainpower or computer power. Even in the midst of great advances, “AI” cannot take the place of our God-given reasoning ability.

“Faith Under Fire” tackles issues which face Christian citizens in a challenging culture. “Faith Under Fire” airs on Family Life during the Noon Report on Thursdays. Current and archived episodes are always available at FamilyLife.org.

 

 

 

 

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Dr. Paul Kengor returns to Family Life to offer insights on public discourse, especially with a faith and values perspective. On this edition of our “Faith Under Fire” Feature, Kengor says Christians need to be boldly involved in the culture around them. Those who sit by silently, afraid to speak up, are worried about human judgment and getting a bad reputation on social media. He contrasts those who decide to “stay under the radar” to avoid controversy with martyrs throughout church history to did not water down truth, just to stay popular or avoid showdowns.

At the same time, he points to Scriptural guidance — and common sense practicality — that anyone with a vantage point need to offer charitable respect to others whose positions have taken them in a different direction.

 

Paul Kengor is on the faculty at Grove City College in western Pennsylvania, directs the Institute for Faith and Freedom there, and is senior editor of The American Spectator.

 

 

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For the annual National Day of Prayer, Faith Under Fire talks with Mark Burrell, a Pennsylvania native who draws direct connections between Biblical mandates of America’s Declaration of Independence.

He has written Rediscovering the American Covenant : Roadmap to Restore America. Listen as he talks about the Biblical and spiritual calling which guides a national to renewal, peace and justice. Burrell has recommendations for individual Christians and groups of citizens. Not only should elected and appointed government officials call forth the uniqueness of America’s founding identity, he says congregations have a unique opportunity to encourage faithful citizenship.

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A public school district ended its 11-year partnership with Arizona Christian University in February 2023, after a school board member felt threatened by the hatred of an organization which centers itself on its faith identity.  The university says the actions of the Washington Elementary School District violate ACU’s constitutionally protected freedoms.

The Alliance Defending Freedom brought a First-Amendment lawsuit on behalf of the University.

Alliance attorney Jake Reed gives Family Life’s listeners and web visitors an update on the case, and insights into the issues which have impact far beyond Arizona.

Family Life’s Abigail Hofland leads this conversation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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The FDA’s approval of the abortion-inducing medication Mifepristone is at the center of numerous court rulings this month. The U.S. Supreme Court has put on hold a recent ruling by a federal judge in the Northern District of Texas. He invalidated the Food and Drug Administration’s approval of Mifepristone, which has been part of a two-drug regimen typically used for medication abortions and miscarriage management for more than 20 years. However the federal agency has reduced their restrictions on the drug in the past few years.

The Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine contends that the use-at-home pills can be dangerous for pregnant women, to say nothing of its impact on the fetus. As the nation awaits the latest ruling from the high court, Family Life’s Abigail Hofland speaks with two pro-life guests — and provides related comments from New York’s governor Kathy Hochul.

• Tessa Longbons of the Charlotte Lozier Institute talks about the medical statistics related to Mifepristone, which is now distributed by mail, without women meeting in person with a physician. Longbons says the FDA has missed about 50% of reports of complications. The number of emergency room visits have multiplied times six, since the initial FDA approval.
• Emily Cappello of Feminists Choosing Life of New York says the push for abortion puts today’s prominent feminists against the realities of women’s empowerment. Cappello says Covid-era changes which allow prescribing doctors from authorizing the pills without seeing the patient first puts women at more frequent risk. Follow-up mental health evaluations, she says, are crucial.

A Supreme Court decision on approval or limits on the drug is scheduled for no sooner than Friday, April 21.

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“It’s come from the universities.”

That is the evaluation of how Cancel Culture gets spread and becomes the de-facto reality for many in today’s American culture from Professor Paul Kengor of the Institute for Faith and Freedom. As college professors and curricula at most schools promote political and social stances in one direction, people are silenced if their conscience and core values have them arriving at differing viewpoints.

In this conversation with Family Life’s Greg Gillispie, Kengor also offers what he says is heartfelt advice to parents and families of today’s high school and college students.

In addition to being the Senior Director and Chief Academic Fellow of the Institute on the Grove City College campus in Pennsylvania, Dr. Kengor is also the senior editor of The American Spectator and a frequent commentator on social, cultural and faith issues.

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Constitutional rights on religious freedom earned a court victory for a Syracuse Christian adoption ministry

New Hope Family Services last week reached its final legal settlement with New York’s state government, after state officials tried to revoke the organization’s certification because its religious priorities limit adoptions to married couples with one man and one woman. The Syracuse-based Christian adoption agency has already won one of its two lawsuits on First Amendment protections.

New Hope is represented by legal network Alliance Defending Freedom. ADF Senior Counsel Mark Lippelmann tells Family Life about the core issues of the case, plus what it means moving forward for Constitutional protections for businesses and organizations which conduct themselves guided by Biblical and theological guidance.

Lippelmann also has encouragement for Christians — in organizations and individually — on standing strong in faith, regardless of opposition from the government or objections from the surrounding culture.