Part of the mission of the ERLC is to assist churches by helping fellow Baptists understand the moral demands of the gospel. We also apply Christian principles to moral and social problems and questions of public policy. One of the ways we fulfill this mission is by partnering with like-minded individuals, churches, and institutions across the Sout…

As Christians, we know that God’s design for raising children is in the context of a home with a loving father and mother—and he gave parents the responsibility to raise their children in accordance with His Word. This may seem obvious, but our society is increasingly pushing back against God’s design by undermining “parental rights.” While in a fa…

Election Day 2024 was one for the history books. President-elect Donald Trump was decisively returned to the White House by voters. A surprise given how close many commentators thought the race would be. Likewise, there was a Republican sweep in the House and Senate. In addition, the ERLC was closely watching 10 states with abortion ballot initiati…

Marriage and family are institutions that are pre-political, meaning they may be at the forefront of divisive political discussions and debates, but they originated in the mind of our Creator and were established by him with the creation of Adam and Eve and the command to be fruitful and multiply. In other words, marriage and family are God’s good …

Politics matter because they are the means by which the laws of our country, states, and communities are shaped. And those laws communicate what we value as a society. This November, the issue of life is on the ballot as an initiative in many states where voters will decide on laws related to abortion access. These specific states include, New York…

Article three of the Baptist Faith and Message 2000 says, and I paraphrase, that “The sacredness of human personality is evident in that God created man in His own image, and in that Christ died for man; therefore, every person of every race possesses full dignity and is worthy of respect and Christian love.” Because of this biblical truth, we beli…

Our series on mental health has helped us understand its connection with human dignity. Though God created us as perfect, embodied beings, sin has marred the human experience holistically, not only crippling our relationship with God, but with our bodies as well. As a result, mental illness is a part of living in a broken world, but the gospel has …

In a recent article published by The Atlantic, Jonathan Haidt, author “The Anxious Generation,” shares that rates of depression and anxiety in the United States rose by more than 50% in many studies from 2010 to 2019. The suicide rate rose 48% for adolescents ages 10 to 19. For girls ages 10 to 14, it rose 131%. He also notes how loneliness and fri…

Pastoring and shepherding a church comes with both rewards and challenges. A recent Lifeway Research study shows that stress, discouragement, and loneliness are listed among the top mental challenges for pastors. Similarly, a recent Barna study shows that U.S. pastors, overall, are feeling lonelier and more isolated from others than in years past. …

In recent years, the issue of mental health has been more widely recognized and talked about. Whereas it was stigmatized in the past—and still is in some ways— conversations within the Church are turning toward how to help those who struggle with their mental health and how our mental health affects our spiritual health. As an article we posted on …

Since 2016, the name that has been synonymous with our current political environment is President Donald Trump. However, within the Trump administration is a name with which we should be familiar and should want to know more about: Vice President Mike Pence. In a special episode, we’re featuring a conversation between Vice President Mike Pence and …

Are you tired of our country’s partisan and divisive approach to politics? We are too. We believe there is a better way. Like you, we want our nation to be a place where the vulnerable are protected, religious liberty is defended, families can flourish, and the gospel is proclaimed. We believe that Christians have a critical role to play this year …

Are you weary as you think about politics in our country? Is it hard to know what to say and do during an election year as you lead your church, talk to your family, interact in your community, and go to the voting booth? We feel those tensions, too, and want to provide encouragement as you seek to bring a distinctly Christian hope to the public sq…

The ERLC's Jason Thacker, Miles Mullin, and Alex Ward discuss the 40th anniversary of the book The Naked Public Square: Religion and Democracy in America by Richard John Neuhaus and how it can inform our understanding of bringing our faith into the public square.Από τον Miles Mullin, Alex Ward, Jason Thacker

Political chaos and noisy rhetoric are hard to escape during an election season. So, it’s no surprise that even well-meaning Christians get caught up in the fray. Some withdraw from political engagement, feeling as if their voices couldn’t possibly be loud enough to make a difference. Others give in to the temptation to vilify those with whom they …

Many of us sense that politics are contentious and messy. They often leave us feeling weary about the future of our country and its leaders. This was certainly the case in the 2020 presidential race. As our nation prepares for yet another presidential election in November, it’s helpful for us to be aware of what’s happening in our culture and have …

Are you weary from the current state of American politics? Does the noisy rhetoric by some political candidates and the lack of meaningful action leave you tempted to retreat from political engagement altogether? Know you’re not alone. Like you, we feel these tensions and want to explore ways that we can bring hope to the public square, together. A…

2024 is a big year for politics. If you ask any person you pass on the street why this is the case, their answer would likely be because of the presidential election; one that, sadly, looks like it will be a contentious repeat of 2020. And they wouldn’t be wrong. Federal politics are important. But, most Americans don’t give much thought to politic…

Do you sense that American politics is in trouble? Are you frustrated by our inability, even as Christians, to dialogue and disagree across party lines and other differences? In 2019, the ERLC, the Fetzer Institute, and LifeWay Research conducted a study on civility in the public square. The study found that “the single most common adjective” evang…

The reproductive medical technology known as in vitro fertilization, or IVF, has been in the news lately because of a crucial decision by the Alabama Supreme Court that clearly affirmed the personhood of human embryos. IVF is the procedure through which a woman’s egg and a man’s sperm are harvested and then fertilized outside of the womb. An embryo…

Psalm 139:14 says that each life is “fearfully and wonderfully made” by God. Out of all of his creation, Genesis tells us that human life alone is made in His image. Because of this truth, we bear a responsibility to help preserve and protect all lives. This is why the work of pregnancy resource centers across the country and abroad is vital. The i…

As part of the ERLC Podcast, we will feature special episodes from the Research team from time to time to help equip you to think deeply about the most pressing questions we face in the public square. As we continue our series on life, the Research team is bringing you a special interview today with Scott Klusendorf, the author of The Case for Life…

We believe it’s clear in God’s Word that his perfect design is for many people to eventually unite as one man and one woman in a lifetime of marriage. That marriage, in many cases, leads to the blessing of children and establishes a family that glorifies God and benefits society. Unfortunately, in a fallen world, reality is messy. Marriage is put o…

The mission entrusted to the ERLC by the Southern Baptist Convention includes applying Christian principles to moral and social problems and questions of public policy and promoting religious liberty. One of the ways we do this is through our public policy advocacy, both in Washington, D.C., and throughout individual states. Every year, we compile …

God’s Word, from the very beginning, affirms the dignity of all human life. Genesis 1 tells us that at the end of the creation process, “God said, ’Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.' … 27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” This reveals to us that every person is…

Throughout this series, we’ve been seeking biblical answers and practical wisdom to apply to questions of gender and sexuality swirling around in our culture, our churches, and in our hearts. It’s been a joy to explore these issues with you and spur one another on to hold fast to Christ and love our neighbors. On this last episode in our series, we…

We began our gender and sexuality series by examining what the Bible teaches us about these important topics. And as we close out this series with two more episodes, we’re going to concentrate on the Church and how pastors and leaders can disciple their members to wrestle with and hold fast to God’s good design for us. Because gender confusion has …

On our previous episode about gender and sexuality, we looked at the family and how parents can approach these important topics with their children. Today, we’re turning our attention to an issue that has caused anxiety for some parents: gender and sexuality in schools and how to direct our children as they are confronted with teaching and examples…

So far in our gender and sexuality series, we’ve learned what the Bible teaches about God’s design, we’ve traced the sexual revolution in our society, and we’ve heard a powerful testimony of honoring God in the midst of a struggle with sexual sin. Today, we’re going to talk about the family. As we discuss these important topics, you might have addi…

So far in this series, we’ve learned what the Bible teaches about gender and sexuality, how the fall affects our perception of ourselves and God, and what role the sexual revolution played in where we are today as a culture. Today, we will hear an incredible testimony from a man who has learned to honor God with his sexuality. We’re also going to h…

On Oct. 7, we woke up to the news that Hamas, a Palestinian terrorist group, launched a surprise attack on Israel, killing 1,400 people in what has been referred to as Israel’s 9/11. In the days following, we have seen the horrendous images, heard the horrifying stories, and learned more about the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas. To help us un…

A few weeks ago, we learned that Genesis 1 teaches God created us male and female in his image. Because we’re created, God gets to set the boundaries for our lives. But, the fall and our sin nature affects how we view ourselves and our bodies. We also heard about the sexual revolution and how it feeds us the same lie the serpent did in the garden: …

Many of our listeners have expressed a desire to better understand the ERLC’s public policy work. September is the perfect time to share about this area of our ministry assignment because it’s an important month in our nation’s Capitol and a busy time for our D.C. team, specifically. Hannah Daniel, our ERLC policy manager who works in our nation’s …

During this episode, you will hear from expert voices about: What it means to be made in the image of God; God’s good design for all people; How the world was corrupted by the fall in Genesis 3; and How to live out countercultural beliefs about gender and sexuality. The ERLC podcast is a production of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission. It…

We’ve been working behind the scenes and are excited to announce an all new ERLC Podcast. While the format is new, our goal for the podcast remains the same. The ERLC seeks to help you think biblically about today’s cultural issues. We’ve been listening to you to better understand the questions you’re facing and how the ERLC can help on matters rel…

On this episode of the ERLC Podcast, Brent Leatherwood invites you to take our quick podcast survey as we prepare for a new ERLC Podcast. Take the survey here. Connect with us on Twitter @ERLC @LeatherwoodTN @LindsNicolet Sponsors Racial unity | If we, as Southern Baptists, can be willing to listen and have good conversations about race, we will se…

On this episode, Lindsay Nicolet gives an important update about exciting things coming for the ERLC Podcast. Connect with us on Twitter @ERLC @LeatherwoodTN @LindsNicolet Sponsors Racial unity | If we, as Southern Baptists, can be willing to listen and have good conversations about race, we will see fruit that will draw us closer together. That's …

On this episode, Lindsay Nicolets talks with Palmer Williams about her work at the ERLC, the realities of politics, and future Supreme Court rulings. They also discuss Palmer’s hopes for the SBC. Connect with us on Twitter @ERLC @LeatherwoodTN @LindsNicolet Sponsors Racial unity | If we, as Southern Baptists, can be willing to listen and have good …

On this episode, Lindsay Nicolet talks with Hannah Daniel about the Tennessee governor’s Order of Protection proposal. They also discuss several important Supreme Court developments including the religious postal worker case and the abortion pill Content Tennessean: SBC public policy president, a Covenant parent, backs Lee's gun law proposal Explai…

On this episode, Lindsay Nicolet talks with Hannah Daniel about the importance of the Supreme Court in today’s society. They also discuss what’s new with the rapidly moving abortion pill case. Content The abortion pill case Explainer: How a case makes it the Supreme Court Explainer: What you should know about Supreme Court decisions Connect with us…

On this episode, Lindsay Nicolets talks with Hannah Daniel about Supreme Court opinions she’s anticipating this summer and what implications they will have for free speech and religious liberty. Related content 303 Creative: Explainer Groff v. Dejoy The “Lemon Test” Nathan Finn with 3 reasons Baptists should hold to religious liberty for all Connec…

In this episode, Lindsay talks with Dana Hall McCain about her career as a writer, the intersection of faith and public policy, and how Christians can contribute to a healthy public square. They also discuss social media, pro-life issues, and what’s important for Southern Baptists in this particular culture. ERLC Content Evan Lenow with How parents…

On this episode, we'll hear the installation address of President F. Brent Leatherwood. In his message, he shared his gratitude for this stewardship, his hope for the SBC, and his vision for the ERLC. Connect with us on Twitter @ERLC @LeatherwoodTN @LindsNicolet Sponsors Racial unity | If we, as Southern Baptists, can be willing to listen and have …

On this episode, Lindsay Nicolet talks with Hannah Daniel about the Equal Rights Amendment and why it’s harmful, especially to women. We also discuss a review of states policies that cover the areas of human dignity, religious liberty, family and marriage, and the sanctity of human life. Content Hannah Daniel with Explainer: Senate considers the Eq…

On this episode, we feature a webinar hosted by Jason Thacker on discipling your church for a world in sexual crisis. Thacker talks to Dean Inserra, Katie McCoy, and Andrew Walker about a biblical sexual ethic and how to communicate it with truth and grace in a secularized society. Content Discipling your church for a world in sexual crisis Connect…

On this episode, Brent Leatherwood and Lindsay Nicolet talk to Jason Thacker about his new book, “The Digital Public Square,” and how Christian ethics apply in a technological society. They discuss the importance of Christians engaging various technological tools with wisdom and the motivation to love God and love our neighbors. Connect with us on …

On this episode, Brent Leatherwood and Lindsay Nicolet discuss the SBC Executive Committee meeting and several noteworthy developments, including the “Ministry Check” website and six churches deemed not in friendly cooperation with the SBC. They also reflected on the one-year anniversary of the war in Ukraine. Culture BP: Blalock gives update on ta…

On this episode, Brent Leatherwood interviews Ed Litton and Fred Luter about racial reconciliation and the SBC. These two men have started an important racial reconciliation effort called The Unify Project, and in this interview, they tell us about it and spur us on to be ambassadors of reconciliation within the communities where the Lord has place…

In this episode, Brent and Lindsay talk about racial unity in the SBC. They also disucss a recap of the State of the Union address, the devastating earthquake in Turkey, and J.D. Greear’s article responding to comments Andy Stanley made about homosexuality. ERLC Content Micah Gaston with Four Reasons Why I Am Committed to A Racially Reconciling Chu…

In this episode, Brent and Lindsay talk to Hannah Daniel about the ERLC’s advocacy priorities for 2023. These priorities are in the important areas of religious liberty, marriage and family, sanctity of life, and human dignity. ERLC Content Jordan Wootten with Can Christians make it in American Politics? Hannah Daniel with What the ERLC is advocati…