I’ll start with the disappointing topic of Christians suing Christians. First is Houston Christian University, who is suing Tim Clinton and the American Association of Christian Counselors for fraud and breach of contract. On the surface, it appears that HCU has been injured by AACC and Tim Clinton. However, regardless of who is wrong and who is right, HCU is wrong to sue.
Next are 38 Maryland churches suing the UMC over their disaffiliation process. Apparently, the denomination wants 50% of the value of the local church’s property in cash. Most churches can’t afford this. This is happening in Arkansas too. Other examples of Christians suing Christians are here, here, here, here, and here. There were more examples that I didn’t cite.
I think the Bible has something to say about Christians suing other Christians: we don’t take our conflicts to a secular court:
1 If any of you has a dispute with another, do you dare to take it before the ungodly for judgment instead of before the Lord’s people?g 2 Or do you not know that the Lord’s people will judge the world?h And if you are to judge the world, are you not competent to judge trivial cases? 3 Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more the things of this life! 4 Therefore, if you have disputes about such matters, do you ask for a ruling from those whose way of life is scorned in the church? 5 I say this to shame you.i Is it possible that there is nobody among you wise enough to judge a dispute between believers?j 6 But instead, one brotherk takes another to court—and this in front of unbelievers!l
The New International Version, (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011), 1 Co 6:1–7.
7 The very fact that you have lawsuits among you means you have been completely defeated already. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated?
Secondly, a Wall Street Journal/NORC (Non-Partisan and Objective Research Center) survey has found that over 75% of Americans do not believe their children’s lives will be better than their own. There is strong economic pessimism about our country’s future. And who can blame us? We’re spending and borrowing ourselves into bankruptcy.
Idaho is now the first state in the Union to ban abortion trafficking. It is now illegal for an adult to help an underage girl obtain an abortion without consent from a parent or guardian. This includes the procurement of abortion pills and transporting a pregnant girl across state lines for an abortion without her parents’ knowledge and consent.
Pastor Bobby Cornealius Smith and his wife, Lashawn Nicole Smith, of New Beginnings Ministries Church of God in Christ in Las Vegas, Nevada, have been indicted on several charges of sexual assault, child abuse and other crimes they allegedly committed with multiple underage victims under their leadership a decade ago. The couple was charged after an alleged victim reported them to the police last year. Two alleged victims, who are now adult women, told police last August that Bobby Smith gave them a sex toy and instructed them to go to the bathroom and use it. He later allegedly used the toy on the then-underage victims and told one girl that “God had told him if (she) did not participate, it would ruin her life.”
If you’re interested in diving into the March 2023 jobs report numbers, the Concord Coalition has a good set of charts to review.
