In a blog in November 2021, I wrote, “Respect for the rule of law is a foundation stone for a healthy democracy. This respect begins with the cop on the corner and extends to decisions made by the Supreme Court. Without respect for the rule of law, anarchy and vigilantism will eventually rule the day.”

After some additional comments about pending decisions by the Supreme Court, I continued, “If the Supreme Court overturns Roe vs. Wade…the response from the abortion industry (from social workers to pharmaceutical producers to politicians and fundraisers) may be troubling. Some abortion supporters are warning of an intense, even violent response if Roe v. Wade is ever overturned. This issue may provide a fresh test of our respect for the rule of law. For the most part, pro-life supporters have accepted Roe vs. Wade as the law of the land. We have worked to change it, while nonetheless respecting the decision. It will be interesting to see how the other side responds if this precedent is overturned.”

In light of the Supreme Court’s recent reversal of Roe v. Wade, my concluding comments from the previous blog were prescient. I wrote, “My hope is respect for the rule of law will carry the day. My fear is it may not. While our legal system is far from perfect, it is a positive and essential component of a healthy democracy. We cannot tear it down and expect to build society up. We can reform it (and should from time to time) but we cannot function without it…. Despite the polarizing divisiveness of the issues, respect for the law and our legal system is essential for a stable society to endure. We must agree to foster that, even when we disagree strongly about specific legal issues.”

Abortion advocates are promising protests, legal maneuvers, and legislative actions to preserve the availability of abortion in various states. My continued hope is they will do so within the rule of law, recognizing the new legal limits are now just as binding as those imposed by the Court 50 years ago. While Americans are free to work within our systems to create change, we cannot sanction or condone actions that destroy the systems which preserve our society. Most of us in the pro-life community have waited impatiently for a long time for the recent Court decision, working with the current structures to affect change. My genuine hope is the pro-choice movement leaders will call for the same restraint as this cultural conflict continues over the next few years.


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Comfort Twice Over

When we provide comfort to fellow believers, we are the means by which God has chosen to provide his comfort.

Jon Varner
Lead Pastor
Jon Varner is the lead pastor at Valley View Christian Church in Kent, Washington.

Inheritance & Glory: Our Vocation 

For believers, while heaven may seem long away, our eternal inheritance is already available to us in the here and now.

Joshua Navarro
Student | Doctor of Philosophy
Joshua is a current Ph.D. candidate at Gateway Seminary studying New Testament studies. He also serves as a regional administrator for Send Network.

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Jonathan Edwards Center Podcast
July 16, 2024

Brian Borgman

On this episode of The Jonathan Edwards Center Podcast, Dr. Chris Woznicki interviews Dr. Brian Borgman regarding his book, Jonathan Edwards on Genesis. They discuss Edwards as an exegete, as an interpreter of scripture, specifically looking at Genes

10 Questions with 10 Pastors
July 8, 2024

The Dents

Tyler sits down with longtime missionaries and retired Gateway faculty, Don and Anne Dent. The Dents served with the IMB for over 30 years and most recently at Gateway Seminary. In this episode, they reflect on their past experiences from working in the mission field


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Jonathan Edwards and the Asbury Revival

Chris Chun and Chris Woznicki discuss the signs of true revival, signs of the work of the Holy Spirit, and why it is important to critically assess the characteristics of revival in a spirit of charity.

Chris Chun
Professor of Church History | Director, Jonathan Edwards Center
Dr. Chris Chun is the professor of Church History and the director of Jonathan Edwards Center at Gateway Seminary. Chris’ doctoral research at St. Andrews University was focused on the eighteenth-century Edwardsean Baptists in Britain. He also has served as president of The Evangelical Theological Society (Far West Region).

Jonathan Edwards and the Baptists | Douglas Sweeney, Nathan Finn and Chris Chun

Dr. Douglas Sweeney and Dr. Nathan Finn joined Dr. Chris Chun for a panel discussion on Jonathan Edwards, recorded live at the SBC Annual Meeting in Anaheim.

Chris Chun
Professor of Church History | Director, Jonathan Edwards Center
Dr. Chris Chun is the professor of Church History and the director of Jonathan Edwards Center at Gateway Seminary. Chris’ doctoral research at St. Andrews University was focused on the eighteenth-century Edwardsean Baptists in Britain. He also has served as president of The Evangelical Theological Society (Far West Region).

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