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Dear John,
I hope the holidays for you were filled with celebrating our hope in Jesus, sharing meals, and making memories with family and friends. It's what gives life purpose and meaning.
Unfortunately, December brought some disappointment for pro-family, Bible-believing Americans. Despite valiant efforts by you, Family Research Council, and a coalition of the faithful, on December 13, President Joe Biden signed the so-called Respect for Marriage Act into law.
It will inevitably accelerate and intensify attacks on the ability of believers to live according to biblical teaching.
Pastor Andrew Brunson, a long-time missionary and now FRC's special advisor for religious freedom, has vital perspective on current events. He warns us that a "wave of hostility and persecution" is on the horizon for the church. "In the name of being inclusive and tolerant, powerful cultural forces are increasingly hostile to those who identify clearly with Jesus and His teachings," he said.
As we begin this year, we must not only pray--each one of us must prepare our hearts to stand. In tandem with FRC's work to advance faith, family, and freedom in public policy and the culture, our mission is to equip Christians like you to be emboldened to stand for your faith.
When you partner with FRC, you are fueling important initiatives to disciple believers and deepen their commitment to bedrock principles. Will you begin 2023 with a commitment to partner and stand with us today?
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During the important ideological struggle in December over the institution of marriage and what it means, the legacy media could not resist bashing those who opposed this attack on faith. Ironically, their vitriol was broadcast just as many around the nation prepared to celebrate Christmas.
In its article on the bill's passage, MSNBC accused FRC of stating "falsehoods," "lies and disinformation." Slate noted Rep. Vicky Hartzler (R-Mo.) as an FRC ally and mocked her tearful plea not to vote for the bill. Others referred to FRC as a "hate group" and "complainer."
Meanwhile, many conservative groups kept quiet. Compromise is certainly the easier route.
Sadly, 12 Republican senators and 39 Republican representatives joined Democrats in affirming a bill that will deny children a mom and a dad and negatively impact religious freedom for years or decades to come.
Pastor Brunson, who spent two years imprisoned in Turkey for refusing to recant his faith, said recently: "With persecution, the pressure will usually stop if you compromise." To speak of persecution growing in America isn't overly dramatic. The threats to our freedoms are real and growing.
Under this new law, faith-based adoption and foster-care agencies will become a bigger target for frivolous litigation, including attacks on their tax-exempt status. And millions of Americans who believe in natural marriage now have our views labeled in law as "sex discrimination," opening up religious freedom to the greatest assaults in modern history.
What can we do?
For starters, we must recommit ourselves to stand for bedrock truths.
Pastor Brunson developed a teaching series entitled Prepare to Stand, with eight short video segments. All sessions are free online at frc.org/PrepareToStand.
In this resource, he shares some of the important truths he learned in prison that helped him to stand faithful. It has increasing relevance here at home, as religious freedom and free speech are threatened.
Can you support FRC today so this series can reach more people at this critical time?
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"As the commanding heights of our culture turn against our Judeo-Christian heritage, religious freedom protections can erode very quickly," warns Pastor Brunson. "You can be silenced, shamed, marginalized, canceled, deplatformed--it's already happening to some people and ministries."
With many in Congress and the culture continually working to undermine and silence biblical values in the public square, I need to ask you: Are you going to check your faith at the door?
Because that is what popular culture wants and demands of you.
Polling will change, but the Rock of Ages is here to stay. His truth never changes. If we want peace, each of us must anchor our lives in the firm foundation of His Word. (If you have not already, please join us now for our Stand on the Word daily Bible reading plan as we continue our two-year journey through the Scriptures.)
John, we cannot wait until the hard times hit. Those who don't prepare their hearts will shipwreck their faith when the storms come.
That is why Pastor Brunson's online video series Prepare to Stand and our Bible reading plan are such critical resources.
The truth is: peace is not the absence of conflict. We're not going to see peace in society or a partisan Congress. But we can have supernatural peace when the Lord is our focus.
As we launch into this new year, will you partner with FRC through your most generous gift to help us spread this message and our empowering resources to millions of Christians? Thank you for making a difference to transform lives and America!
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2023 Family Research Council.