This edition is sponsored by SEMILLA
Todayโs Briefing
Bethany Christian Services has filed a religious discrimination lawsuit against the state of Michigan after being denied refugee resettlement contracts due to the ministryโs Christian-only hiring policy.
Popular Colombian musician Alex Campos talks to CT about his move to Houston to lead worship at Lakewood Church.ย
Ten prayers for a volatile election season.
Even in a time when the US church produces cynicism, being part of a church is basic to a flourishing human life.
Behind the Story
From news editor Daniel Silliman: โโIโm a little leery of news reports about lawsuits getting filed. Itโs hard to tell right from the start if a suit is going to be important.
Maybe good lawyers can tell. But reporters donโt generally know. And my sense is that readers often overestimate the importance. Baby lawsuits donโt all grow up to go to the Supreme Court. In fact, most cases never actually get argued on their merits. They are decided on technical issues or result in some kind of settlement, the details of which are often not public. Some lawyers estimate that more than 90 percent of suits are settled out of court.
My suspicion is that sometimes suits are publicized at the time of filing because one side or the other is pushing for a settlement. Thatโs fine. The lawyers are doing their jobs. But if a story is communicating to readers that a big fight is going to happen in the courts, when really thatโs not likely at all, then I donโt want to run that story.
At the same timeโwe donโt know. On Tuesday, we covered Bethany Christian Servicesโ lawsuit against the state of Michigan. Last week, we ran a piece by veteran reporter Bob Smietana on the National Religious Broadcasters suing the IRS. Even if they donโt result in landmark court decisions, the arguments the lawyers are making speak to issues that a lot of people are wrestling with.
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In Other News
- As the US marks another 9/11 anniversary, veteran-run ministries continue to address the trauma of war.
- Thousands of Venezuelans have fled the country, and dictator Nicolas Maduro has declared that the country will celebrate Christmas on October 1 to โhonorโ his supporters.
- After FBI raids of his top staffers, New York mayor Eric Adams compared himself to the biblical Job.
- Is it good for us to have so many Bible translations to choose from?
Today in Christian History
September 11, 813:ย Charlemagne crowns Louis I โThe Pious,โ his only surviving son, as coregent of the Holy Roman Empire. Louisโs 26-year reign, though marked by civil war, was the longest of any medieval emperor until Henry IV (1056-1106).
in case you missed it
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It is midnight, and my phone is ringing. Blinking the sleep out of my eyes, I roll over to see my older sister’s name flashing across the screen. “Hello?” My…
As an Old Testament scholar, I’ve been spending much of my time writing a commentary on Exodus. And as I worked through the first chapter, considering the predicament of the…
in the magazine
The secret is out: Weโve updated our look with a nod to our legacy and refreshed our contentโwhile keeping longtime favorites like testimonies and books coverage. In this issue, we look to the past for wisdom to address a fractured evangelicalism in the present and future, with editor in chief Russell Moore issuing a call for moral clarity. Read an in-depth report on a consequential evangelical voting bloc; sit with an honest reflection on struggling to find community; and, as same-sex sexuality divides the church, be equipped and encouraged to stand on biblical fidelity. New features include an advice column (featuring Beth Moore), some curated podcast gold, and a brand-new pastoral column. Weโre glad youโre here with us and look forward to seeking the kingdom together in this new era at Christianity Today.
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