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WEEKLY NEWS SUMMARY - NOVEMBER 29, 2023
In this week's Intersect, read about:
Lack of ‘Affirmation’ Is Child Abuse: New Biden Rule Applies Transgender Standard to Foster Care
“Transgender orthodoxy may soon become a litmus test for parenthood, according to the logic of a new policy working its way through the Department of Health and Human Services under President Joe Biden. A new rule in HHS’ Administration for Children and Families would apply the idea that any lack of ‘affirmation’ constitutes a form of child abuse to foster care placements. Once that idea takes root in foster care, child protective services agencies might start applying it more broadly.” read more at the Daily Signal
THINK.
- This proposed rule infers that religious families who adhere to the belief that people have value and worth in their original created state and have no need to change their identity or gender are unsafe for children. It is easy to see where this leads: the gradual exclusion of guardians who are good for children, replaced by guardians who go along with the lies of gender ideology.
- Earlier this month, we called upon our Action Partners to submit comments to the Federal Register, asking for this rule not to be implemented. The window for comments is now closed, and the Administration is required to read every single one.
- For faith-based foster care providers, the proposed rule “would not require any faith-based provider to seek designation as a safe and appropriate provider for LGBTQI+ children as described in this proposed rule if the provider had sincerely held religious objections to doing so.” In other words, even though it claims to not burden their religious freedom, the Department considers faith-based providers to not be a “safe and appropriate provider” for children who identify as LGBTQ because these providers seek to place them with families who affirm their God-given, not man-made, identity. The rule does not address religious accommodations for individual foster parents who partner with a non-religious provider. Such parents may very well be excluded from fostering children who identify as LGBTQ.
- The Department’s aim boils down to this: making sure children who are confused about their gender identity are placed with adults who will only further that confusion. Ultimately, this hurts the most vulnerable–the children whom the Department is supposed to protect. Children placed in foster care often come from experiences of abuse and trauma. They need and deserve loving, caring adults who will speak truth to them about their identity and personhood, not push them toward dissatisfaction and dislike for how they were created.
PRAY.
“Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.” (James 1:27) Lord, this proposed rule–and legislation in some states–seeks to hinder Your church from fulfilling this command. Give us boldness and wisdom as we stand against such efforts for the sake of these children.
ACT.
Now more than ever, we have an urgent calling to equip the next generation with biblical truth. Listen to and share our recent interview with Jeff Myers. Jeff is president of Summit Ministries, which hosts a two-week summit helping students ages 16-22 understand how their biblical worldview applies to various life aspects, including gender, abortion, and their civic responsibilities. Summit has an 85% success rate of students maintaining a biblical worldview. Consider recommending Summit Ministries to a young person in your life!
Israel and Hamas Agree to Extend Gaza Truce by Two Days, Say US, Qatar
“Israel and Hamas agreed to extend a temporary truce in the Gaza Strip by two days on Monday, Qatar and the US confirmed, likely paving the way for the release of some 20 more people held hostage by the Palestinian terror group. Qatar Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed Al-Ansari said on X on Monday evening that the sides had reached a deal to extend the pause for an additional two days. The truce was being extended ‘in order to deliver additional aid into the Strip and release the largest possible number of hostages and prisoners,’ the ministry said.” read more at The Times of Israel
THINK.
- It’s been pointed out that the United States government was actively involved in these negotiations. The negotiations were not between Israel and Hamas directly. They were undertaken with an intermediary, which is the Emirate nation of Qatar. You may recall that recently, there was an exchange of money where Iranian funds, sequestered by the American government, were released, and they were released to Qatari control. The Qataris are acting as a middleman but it's also very important to understand the necessity of mediators. Albert Mohler noted that, “it's very interesting right now to see that the political leverage between Hamas on the one hand and Israel and the United States on the other hand, that political leverage is basically hinged somewhere in the Arab Emirates.”
- As a part of the temporary ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, just over 50 Israeli hostages and 150 Palestinian prisoners will be released. However, there is a misconception that the two groups are morally equivalent. The Israeli hostages being released are innocent civilians who never committed any crimes. Many are under the age of 10 and the youngest is only 10 months old. Many Palestinian prisoners being released have committed crimes, with 17 even being convicted of attempted murder. CNN ran a sympathetic news story about the release of the Palestinian prisoners and showed a video of the joy of Malak Salman’s family after she was released. But Salman was arrested for attempting to stab and kill an Israeli police officer. Other headlines called this a “prisoner swap,” which presents a false narrative.
- Each person involved has a name. When we think of the terrible dilemma before the Israeli leaders, weighing up what each life is worth, it helps us appreciate how much God loves and values each one of us. Our lives are of infinite value, because of the price that has been paid for them: the very blood of Jesus (John 3:16-18).
PRAY.
Our friend, Joel Rosenberg, writes about how to pray through 1 Kings 8 in light of what’s happening in Israel. You can read and pray through his helpful explanations here.
ACT.
It’s so important to discern the news and look beyond the headlines. If this weekly publication is of value to you, would you mind sharing this email with someone today?Encourage them to join you as a subscriber here. As always, if there are ways we can improve, simply reply to this email and let me know. I value your input!
Javier Milei Crushes Argentine Left, Becomes World's First Libertarian Head of State
“Libertarian outsider congressman and economist Javier Milei, of the Liberty Advances party, won a decisive victory tonight over the establishment's center-left candidate, the Peronista Sergio Massa, calling on the country to adopt serious reforms: Addressing supporters Milei said, ‘The situation in Argentina is critical. The changes that our country needs are drastic, there is no room for gradualism, there is no room for lukewarmness, there is no room for half measures.’” read more at Fox News
THINK.
- What made this election significant? Javier Milei managed to unite conservatives, libertarians, and classical liberals opposed to socialism in a country where 1 out of every 4 people work for the state, and more than half of the population receives some form of government welfare. He also pledged that Argentina's two key allies will be the United States and Israel.
- Concerning abortion, Milei’s views are actually conservative, not libertarian. He is against Argentina’s law allowing abortion up to 14 weeks and said he would do a referendum to see “whether Argentines believe in the homicide of a helpless human being who is in their mother’s womb.”
- Another significant election occurred in the Netherlands, where voters rejected the ruling parties in favor of Geert Wilders. Wilders’ Party for Freedom is now the biggest political party in the Dutch parliament, and he may end up being Prime Minister. He said his worldview was shaped by a visit to Israel in his teenage years, where he saw that democracy produced freedom and prosperity, while people in some neighboring Islamic countries were oppressed and poor. He supports Israel and is very critical of Islam. Unlike Milei, Wilders is pro-abortion.
- “[T]here is tremendous unrest throughout much of Europe when it comes to the leftward policies that have been pushed for a very long time,” Albert Mohler noted. “[I]n response to the failure of leftist policies…far right candidates and parties begin to gain influence.” Will a similar rejection of liberal policies occur in our own upcoming presidential election? A recent Messenger/Harris poll showed former President Donald Trump leading President Joe Biden by seven points. The upcoming election year is a good opportunity to help people think biblically about policies and their consequences.
PRAY.
Heavenly Father, thank You for the opportunity to vote. Help Your church to think and vote according to biblical principles, to not be deceived, and to help others recognize that “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.” (Proverbs 14:34)
ACT.
Is your voter registration up to date for the next election? Take two minutes to check using our tool. Then share with a friend!
Overturning Roe Led to 32K More Births
“A new study finds that since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in June 2022, the United States has seen an increase of approximately 32,000 births in states implementing abortion restrictions. The study, conducted by the Institute of Labor Economics, found that after the Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization decision, ‘in the first six months of 2023, births rose by an average of 2.3 percent in states enforcing total abortion bans,’ leading to an estimated 32,000 additional births. Comparing data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the researchers described the shift in birthrate as the "most profound transformation of the landscape of U.S. abortion access in 50 years.’” read more at Newsmax
THINK.
- Praise God that babies are being born! Unfortunately, what should be reported as positive news from this study is being portrayed as a negative effect of the Supreme Court ruling. In fact, the study states, “In 2020, approximately 1 in 5 pregnancies ended in abortion…At the time they seek abortions, 75 percent of patients are low-income, 59 percent have previously given birth, and 55 percent report a recent disruptive life event such as falling behind on the rent or losing a job. Recent evidence suggests that diminished abortion access poses a risk to the health and financial stability of this vulnerable population.”
- We must counter the narrative that it’s better to kill a child than face financial hardship. Real-life stories from the millions of women and families who have been helped by Pregnancy Resource Centers (PRCs) counter the false narrative that women who faced unwelcomed pregnancies and choose life for their child are subjected to a life of diminished well-being, limited potential, and poverty. My guess is few realize that 2,700 PRCs in the U.S. serve roughly two million women, men, and youth with services estimated at a value of over $266 million per year. This outreach is accomplished through 14,977 total staff and 53,855 total volunteers, of which over 10,200 were licensed medical professionals.
- After the Supreme Court decision in June 2022, 13 states with trigger bans quickly outlawed abortion. Since then, lawmakers in 21 states have moved to ban or restrict abortion. However, in every election since the overturning of Roe v. Wade in which the issue was put in front of voters through ballot measures, they have decided to keep abortion legal or block measures that would make it easier for the government to protect life, including in Ohio, Kansas and Kentucky.
PRAY.
Pray for those who are blinded to the reality of abortion, to see clearly. Millions of Americans have accepted abortion without really thinking about what it truly does. Pray for opportunities to persuasively challenge that mindset with thought provoking questions, biblical truth, and through tangible action. We’ve been given an opportunity to shine the light on darkness; pray for the courage to boldly stand for and protect every innocent life.
ACT.
We can be the hands and feet of Jesus, serving those who think they have no other choice but to abort their child. Pregnancy Resource Centers (PRCs) are stepping in the gap in live-saving ways. Pledge to support your local PRC with something as simple as a pack of diapers. We’ll help you find one closest to where you live right here.
My Faith Votes—is a nonpartisan movement that motivates, equips and activates Christians in America to vote in every election, transforming our communities and influencing our nation with biblical truth. By partnering with national faith leaders, My Faith Votes provides resources to help Christians Pray, Think, and Act to create an America where God is honored in the public square.
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