Smears and misinformation: put your critical thinking caps on!

Word from the Center
Written By Dr. Gregory Seltz

It amazed me this past month to read the descriptions of ISIS terrorist Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi as a “real leader,[1] an austere religious scholar”[2] when he was a brutal terrorist who authorized and participated in the rapes and murders of many people with impunity.

As I read these obvious, misinformative spins contradicting his true character, I was reminded of the smearing of Brent Kavanaugh by these same newspapers just months ago. How could they be so gentle with such an obvious, brutal terrorist, and so brutal to what appeared by all accounts to be an honorable, highly esteemed, family man?

Is it coincidence? Is it misstatement? Sadly, no. It is part of a narrative that often ignores facts and creates impressions that are politically expedient even if factually untrue. It is part of a war on the Christian worldview where no engagement strategy is out of bounds if it works to drive the Christian worldview out of the public square.

Don’t believe me? Read again this quote from Robert Reich:

The great conflict of the 21st century will not be between the West and terrorism. Terrorism is a tactic, not a belief. The true battle will be between modern civilization and anti-modernists; between those who believe in the primacy of the individual and those who believe that human beings owe their allegiance and identity to a higher authority; between those who give priority to life in this world and those who believe that human life is mere preparation for an existence beyond life; between those who believe in science, reason and logic and those who believe that truth is revealed through Scripture and religious dogma. Terrorism will disrupt and destroy lives. But terrorism is not the greatest danger we face.[1]

The article by James K. Fitzpatrick, “Robert Reich Draws a Line in the Sand,”[2] argues that Reich and the secular left are literally drawing a line in the sand by claiming that the Christian worldview is the ultimate barrier to moving into our enlightened, secular future. Terrorism is less deadly than committed, heartfelt, Bible-believing Christians? Yikes! What to do?

First of all, it is important to destroy the false assertions of Reich’s dichotomies. Belief in a higher authority has, especially as declared in our Declaration of Independence and our Constitutional protection of religious liberty, produced a culture that is unparalleled in personal, individual liberty and freedom. An eternal view of one’s life enhances rather than detracts from the day to day actions of people. Those who live with a view towards “no eternal destiny” are the ones who eventually are tempted to think that nothing matters whether today, tomorrow, or forever. It’s also not unusual that the secular cultures of the twentieth century were some of the most brutal in all of human history. And finally, can we please cease and desist with the false notion that Scripture and science are at odds with each other? Much of the foundation for modern science was undergirded, even motivated, by a Christian worldview. To “believe” that the material world was worth studying rested in the notion that the material world was real, it was rational, and it had purpose and design. The Christian worldview, undergirded by the Incarnation, even sanctified the dirt level of life in a way that made its investigation worthy of our best.

To debate the charges is one thing; to refuse the smears and the caricatures is another. Unfortunately, it is increasingly more apparent that today believers may have to fight for their right to share their biblical views on things in the communities in which they live and serve. Reich’s view that biblical truths and believing Christians are the final barrier to our enlightened future is disingenuous at best and destructive at worst. Sadly, such views are already caricaturing many believers in the public square. When a terrorist can be described as a faithful, religious leader, and a potential Supreme Court justice can be universally smeared without evidence,[3] alarms must go off.

Christians must be ready to dialogue, yes. But when people like Robert Reich finally resort to the power of the state to limit the debate or even drive the Christian perspective on life out of the public square, that’s the time to assert our First Amendment, religious liberty rights and responsibilities, not merely to protect the Church’s public voice, but to bless the communities in which we live and serve. When the media and the political leaders of our day begin to smear the worldview of millions of Bible-believing Christians, it’s time to stand up for what we believe not merely for us, but for the world in which we live. For the sake of the mission of the Church, the preaching of the whole counsel of God, and for the Gospel itself, when it comes to smears and misinformation, it’s time to put our critical thinking caps on and fight back.

The Rev. Dr. Gregory Seltz is the executive director of the Lutheran Center for Religious Liberty.

Be Informed

“A young adult today is more likely to feel social pressure to justify being religious than being None.” Why the change? Read this article from the Wall Street Journal to learn more.

Be Equipped

Alexandra DeSanctis notes that “the power of ultrasound technology . . . reveals what our abortion debate so often leaves out: These are human lives. The conflict over abortion is dishonest and unwinnable not because both sides make poor arguments, but because only one side is willing to admit that reality.” Read more from DeSanctis here.

[1] For more information, see Mollie Hemingway’s Book, “Justice on Trial” https://www.amazon.com/Justice-Trial-Kavanaugh-Confirmation-Supreme/dp/1621579832

Be Encouraged

“Marriage is a mysterious proclamation of the Gospel in our world, for God has not left Himself without such witness of Himself in this world. The Gospel proclamation not only forgives sins, it also changes lives! Marriage cannot be whatever a society wants it to be. We as Christians bear witness to the truth and the dark ages of sin will not change it. Rather than argue with those who will not listen, we Christians live out the reality of a good marriage.”
— Rev. Dr. Richard Eyer 

“” – Rev. Dr. Richard Eyer 

[1]

[2]

[3] For more information, see Mollie Hemingway’s Book, “Justice on Trial”

See Also
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But likewise, it does us no good to be against abortion, gay marriage, and the like, if we do not take seriously the need for pure doctrine. And in a world where traditions are undermined in the name of wokeness and critical theory, we would be fools not to seek to preserve the liturgy and hymnody in richness, as they connect us to the wisdom of those who have come before us. When people say we are picky, we simply refer to the words of our Lord that a little leaven leavens the whole lump, for false doctrine is like a cancer that may metastasize and overtake the whole body.

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Christian engagement in the public square offends socialism in the worst way. It’s a stick in the spokes of the socialist machine because it understands and confesses biblical truths that the machine cannot accommodate. For example, it understands that the state doesn’t give children to parents. God does (Psalm 127:3). It confesses that the state doesn’t define marriage. God does (Genesis 2:24 and Matthew 19:4-6). It goes to the mat arguing that the state doesn’t create male and female. God does (Genesis 1:27). It will not back down from saying that the state doesn’t grant human life its value. God does (Psalm 139:13-16). And it would never agree that the state owns the fruits of a man’s labor. God gives property and commands its faithful use (Exodus 20:15 and Acts 5:4). These are all basic doctrines of the Christian faith.

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Unfortunately, too many Christian young people are buying into the lie that it is just fine for couples to cohabitate before marriage as long they intend to tie the knot sometime in the future. In some cases, they feel it’s OK to live together even if they do not intend to marry. The Pew Research Center, The Institute for Family Studies and other research organizations have, over the last decade and a half, released a series of alarming statistics regarding the acceptance of — and deliberate choice to participate in — cohabitation before marriage by evangelical Christians, including Lutherans.

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No America, or anything like it, could arise in the Islamic world. Bring in too many Muslims and our own experiment in ordered liberty is sure to collapse. Hindus, for whatever they purport to bring to humanity, posit the idea that a person may die and become an animal, higher or lower on the food chain. All men are created equal? Such a thought is not possible in a society whose main religion creates a caste system. Communism is, of course, predicated on atheism, where the state is all in all. In such a world, you may be cared for as long as you are useful to the state, which takes for itself divine rights.

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13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” 14 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” 17 Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven.

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25 Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear. 27 But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” 28 “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” 29 “Come,” he said.

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The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language defines “self-evident” as “obviously true, and requiring no proof, argument or explanation.” Whether they had a divine source, or a worldly one, they were never questioned. They were the Holy Grail, the North Star, the rock — immovable and unquestioned.

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15 As evening approached, the disciples came to Jesus and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food.”16 Jesus replied, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.”17 “We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered.18 “Bring them here to me,” he said. 19 And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. 20 They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. 21 The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children.

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The Bulletin Insert is designed to be printed and cut in half to fit conveniently inside a Sunday worship bulletin. Each month an insert will offer insight, encouragement, and information from the LCRL on the topics of Religious Liberty, Life, Marriage, or Education.

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37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

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26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.

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Today’s verses are Isaiah 55:10-12, where the LORD says,

10 As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, 11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

12 You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.

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To call life, marriage, family, manhood, womanhood, religious liberty, and natural law “adiaphora” is to drain that word entirely of its meaning. Adiaphora are matters neither commanded nor forbidden by God. In other words, God did not say you must drive a car. Therefore, how you choose to travel to work is adiaphora.

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 BRING YOUR WEARINESS TO CHRIST! 
 BRING YOUR WEARINESS TO CHRIST! 

Today’s verses are Matthew 11:28-30, where Jesus says,

28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

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July 2026 Prayer Partner Thursday
July 2026 Prayer Partner Thursday

Prayer Partner Thursday provides a month-long prayer emphasis in one of the four Lutheran Center for Religious Liberty areas of emphasis: Religious Liberty, Sanctity of Life, Educational Freedom, and Marriage as an Institution (family).

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Today’s verses are Matthew 10:34-39, where Jesus says,

Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. 36 And a person's enemies will be those of his own household. 37 Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38 And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

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Marriage Provides Children with Balance
Marriage Provides Children with Balance

Surrogacy is on the rise, even accepted and practiced by those who should know better. Father, forgive them; they know not what they do. But we can all learn, can all admit that we have been going in the wrong direction. And so it is with surrogacy, which involves wombs for rent, a practice largely employed by the wealthy, involving women whose bodies are exploited, and whose psyches are often damaged permanently. So also the child: conceived, born, and raised in a state of purposeful disorientation.

 

We might say that the Obergefell mindset put surrogacy into hyperdrive. Gay married men tend to be financially well off, among the highest earners, at least as an overall average. But then they want children. The problem, at least as they might see it, remains that a child comes only from the union of one man and one woman. So, surrogacy is the answer. The questions then become, “Where do you get the eggs to go with the sperm? And whose womb will bear the child?”

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Dr. Gregory Seltz
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