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May 2026
Hi [[data:firstname:"All"]],
As we approach the end of May, all the familiar signs of summer are appearing for those of us in the Northern Hemisphere. Temperatures are rising, days are getting longer, and it always feels like a great time to be out on your bicycle! Especially here in the States, we see kids finishing school and getting excited for their long summer break.
This summer especially will be filled with celebrations and events marking the nation’s 250th anniversary. The United States is indeed a bold experiment in self-government and the rights of the governed to control their own futures. It is also one that relies not only upon God’s existence, but upon His creating each of us in His image and thus holding equal worth, which forms the foundation of our claim to self-government. We see it immediately in Jefferson’s opening lines:
When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all
men are created equal, that they are endowed by
their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that
among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of
Happiness.
While many of Jefferson’s beliefs about God were less than orthodox, it is an oversimplification to dismiss his words above as merely rhetorical flourish. Even after the founding, we see how our country rested upon certain Christian principles and ideals.
In his 1798 letter to the Massachusetts Militia, John Adams famously wrote, “We have no Government armed with Power capable of contending with human Passions unbridled by [an absence of] morality and Religion. Avarice, Ambition (...) Revenge or Galantry, would break the strongest Cords of our Constitution as a Whale goes through a Net. Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious People. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.” Gouverneur Morris, who created the Preamble to the Constitution and is labeled the Constitution’s penman, said, “I believe that religion is the only solid base of morals and that morals are the only possible support of free governments.”
Today we are living in a post-Christian age. Certainly, the shape of the nation cast by our founders with a God-informed understanding still exists, but I see cracks and crumbling as we continue to erode the basis of faith upon which it stands. In the UK and Europe, the problem is even worse. That’s why this month we are looking at some troubling societal trends and how abandoning Christianity is making things worse. From the question of gerrymandering to projections of America ten years from now, we will face very specific challenges as Christians trying to live out our faith as good citizens. These issues are also valuable for people of all nations who seek to understand how they can continue to be faithful to Jesus in such an age.
MINISTRY UPDATE – Early Bird Pricing for Dare to Defend Michigan!
Our next Dare to Defend Conference is coming to Kalamazoo, Michigan, on September 25 and 26, and it should be incredible. The conference theme is Dare to Defend: Faith Founded on Fact and will feature a great lineup of heavyweight speakers such as Dr. Tim McGrew, Dr. Doug Groothuis, Dr. Bradley S. Belcher, Rob Bowman, and myself. Check out the topics and grab Early Bird ticket prices at
https://www.daretodefend.com/
I’ve also been very busy with writing projects lately. I recently signed a contract as the co-editor of a book project with the working title Eight Things the Church Must Answer Now: Apologetics for Our Cultural Moment, a project of the Kirkwood Center for Theology and Ethics. I will also be contributing two chapters to that book: one on the dangers facing the nuclear family and another on how language is being abused and propagandized in order to pressure people to change their views. My colleagues at Kirkwood are contributing additional chapters on hot-button topics like A.I., neo-paganism, church and state, and much more. I’m excited to see all they produce!
Speaking of A.I., if you’re in Southern California, be sure to join us on Thursday, May 28, as I will be part of a Kirkwood symposium entitled “The Church in the Age of A.I.” The event is free to all and will be held at La Habra Christian Church.
Find out more here.
FINANCIAL UPDATE
There’s still time to give to our Defenders Campaign. I rely on your support for this ministry, and as we recently lost some ministry partners, we have a crucial need for people who believe in the value of sharing the gospel thoughtfully and convincingly in our chaotic world. Please become a Defender today and partner with us in our efforts to reach the lost and the searching. Just visit
https://www.comereason.org/change for more information.
WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST WORRY ABOUT THE FUTURE?
We have come quite a long way in 250 years, and the world has changed tremendously. What are the things you see now that concern you the most? How has your faith helped inform the way you live in times like these? Has Come Reason played a part in how you think about the future? I’d love to hear your thoughts! Just hit reply and let me know. Also, let me know how I can pray for you.
Blessings.
Lenny
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