SCOTUS Leak, Apologetics, & Our Judge and Savior

Evangelical leaders are weighing in on the leaked draft of an opinion related to a significant abortion related case being considered by the Supreme Court. The court is set to rule on Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization this summer. Their decision could overturn the Roe vs. Wade decision legalizing abortion in 1973.

The opinion of Justice Samuel Alito was reportedly leaked to news website Politico on late Monday night. In it, there were strong indications that the justices were moving to overturn Roe. vs. Wade.

Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission Acting President Brent Leatherwood said, “Assuming it truly remains a majority opinion — which could still change — it means we are one step closer to ending the abortion framework that has ​taken over 60 million innocent lives, fractured families, marginalized mothers and harmed this nation​ for nearly 50 years,” he said in written remarks for BP. “​If this majority holds, witnessing a day where that regime is ended cannot come soon enough.”

Ed Litton, president of the SBC, echoed Leatherwood’s thoughts, “Christians have sought the end of Roe for nearly 50 years. We must pray now for the resolve of the Court to cement its reversal.”

The court should release their official decision this summer.

A Texas church is plowing new ground in the area of apologetics – the defense of the Christian faith. Prestonwood Baptist in Dallas has just hired Jeremiah Johnston to serve as pastor of apologetics. It’s the first known position of its kind in the SBC.

When we look at the historic faith, apologetics was just as – if not more importantly – used to commend the faith to believers in the church as it was to defend the faith to those outside the church. We’re not just trying to be the smartest people in the room; that’s exactly what we’re not trying to do. We’re wanting to evidence our faith and grow in our faith to such an extent that we can answer the difficult questions.”

Johnston spent the last several years training pastors and church leaders in apologetics through Christian Thinkers Society, a resident institute of Houston Baptist University.

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In a Bible Study from Lifeway, we’re reminded of how Jesus Christ is both Savior and Judge. Pointing to their need for both, the lesson focuses on ancient Israel and how they longed for justice but often fell short in doing what is right.

It says, “We haven’t completely obeyed, always remembered or perfectly worshiped. We too have patterns of obedience to the Lord and disobedience to pursue our passions at the expense of our pursuit of God. Thankfully, in the New Testament, we are introduced to the true and faithful Judge, Jesus Christ, the One who can end the deadly cycle of rebellion and captivity. But Jesus is not only our Judge, He is also our Savior. Jesus took on the judgment that we deserve for our sin. Christ did this not so we would receive partial relief like Israel under the judges but so we would receive, by grace through faith, a permanent and eternal solution.

God gives us a Judge and Savior who does what we cannot do for ourselves. God gives us a Judge and Savior who achieved what Israel’s judges could not. Like Israel we are great sinners, but Christ is the true and faithful Judge and Savior Who is greater than our sin.”

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