Central to biblical theology is the axiom of human depravity—that humans are born sinners and are capable of profound and confounding evil. The existence of such darkness affects human optimism, hope and certainty about the future. Furthermore, the current embrace of Postmodern autonomy has deteriorated into the famous refrain from the book of Judges: “Every [person] is doing what is right in his/her own eyes.” There is no longer an acceptance of absolute truth, universal ethical standards or a serious commitment to human dignity.

The French Republic has experienced egregious acts of terror over the last decade and the government of Emmanuel Macron and the French Parliament have decided to be proactive in dealing with Muslim separatism, which the government declares is a factor in terroristic violence. A bill now being debated throughout French society intends to enforce the country’s principles of secularism by gaining greater control over Muslim and other religious organizations and by restricting home and private schooling. Central to this debate and to this bill is the French commitment to laicite, a term loosely defined as secularism, the bedrock of the country’s political system for more than a century.

The intersection of digital technology and the church is a profoundly important issue in the 21st century. The COVID pandemic has resulted in an explosion of livestreaming church services, with Zoom being the preferred platform for board meetings, Bible studies, mentoring sessions, etc. Digital technology has therefore enabled the church to continue its various ministries during this deadly pandemic; we must be thankful to the Lord for this manifestation of His grace. But digital technology that accesses the various forms of social media has had a deleterious impact on the “flock” of the typical church. I want to address both aspects of the digital revolution and its impact on the church.

The darkness of Postmodern, post-Christian American culture permeates our thinking about two fundamental axioms of the Christian faith—the sanctity of marriage and the sanctity of life. Both axioms of our faith are being challenged and both confront our consistency as Christians as we proclaim the infallible truth of God’s Word to a culture that is not listening.

Over the last decade, the West has seen China emerge as a formidable economic power; its GDP is second only to the United States. When Western leaders welcomed China into the world trading system in 2001, many believed that China would automatically become freer as it became richer. When that did not occur, the Trump administration believed that coercion, high tariffs and sanctions would change China’s behavior. That has not worked either. Few doubt that the greatest foreign policy and economic challenge facing the US is China. How should we think about the growing economic powerhouse, which also seeks military domination of Asia as well?

The Equality Act of 2021 has passed the House of Representatives. At this point it is highly doubtful it will pass the Senate. What is this proposed law? What is its potential impact and should Christians be concerned about this proposed law?

Timothy Keller, the founding pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in Manhattan, was recently diagnosed with pancreatic cancer; he is 70 years old. Keller is one of my favorite authors, and several of his books have had a profound influence on my life and ministry. He recently published an article in The Atlantic honestly reflecting on his imminent death.

Over the last year, the COVID-19 pandemic has created disruption and chaos in American civilization. It fostered an economic recession but also a new way of communicating (e.g., Zoom). But certain expectations have also has been proven to be wrong. For example, many social science specialists predicted a boom in the American birthrate. Apparently, it has had the opposite effect. For a number of years, America’s birthrate has been declining and the pandemic has not reversed that trend. Furthermore, technology has fostered novel ways to become pregnant, with devastating consequences. I will argue that both of these trends provide further evidence of a civilization that has lost its way.

In mid-February, conservative talk radio personality Rush Limbaugh died of lung cancer; he was 70 years old. Ross Douthat captures his importance: He “was probably the most influential figure among the men who defined conservatism after Ronald Reagan. He was the presiding genius of a media revolution that still reverberates today—on your podcast as much as talk radio.” But Limbaugh as a cultural phenomenon needs to be placed in a historical context.

Equality: An important and foundational term in America’s democratic–republic, central to our founding documents—the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. Jefferson’s triumphant declaration, “all men are created equal and endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights . . .” is complemented by the Bill of Rights, which articulates the equal rights that all citizens are guaranteed. Equality is also an important biblical concept.