Wisdom for Your Weekend is your regular installment of what we’ve been reading (and watching) around the web. Presented to you by Chris Pappalardo, with guidance from Pastor J.D., this is our attempt to reflect Proverbs 9:9: “Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning.” While we do not always agree with everything these authors post, we share these resources because we find them challenging and enriching. As we often say around the Summit, when it comes to reading, “Eat the fish and spit out the bones.”
Articles of the Week
Millennials Stare into the Void, and Gillette Stares Back, Amanda Mull. The razor company Gillette made some noise last week by releasing a commercial with a message: Men should be kind because their behavior now sets an example for the millions of boys who are watching. The response, from many quarters, was intense. Some applauded Gillette for taking a stand against toxic masculinity. Others berated Gillette for overstepping their bounds, speaking with sanctimonious authority (all the while hoping to financially gain from their bravery). All of this raises the question: How did we get to the point where companies—selling razors and shoes and deodorant—are actually expected to be the moral voice of America?
It’s a Dark Day in New York State, Anne Kennedy. Last week, the New York State Senate overwhelmingly voted to extend abortion rights to full-term mothers. As an act of mourning, Kennedy (a New York native) offers a haunting lament. This is so heart-breaking that you may want to look away. Don’t.
The Catholic Students That Tore America Apart, Ross Douthat. It was a scene that seemed destined to produce a myriad of hot takes. All in one tiny video, we were confronted with a bevy of enormous issues—abortion, race, MAGA, Catholicism, and Native American ritual. Even now, as more details of this odd confrontation come to light, commenters continue to pick up on very different details. What we are seeing is an example of a “Scissor” argument. Come for the insightful analysis, stay for Douthat’s clever inner monologue.
10 Reasons Racism Is Sin, Kevin DeYoung. Racism is wrong. In fact, racism is so obviously wrong that some Christians have a hard time articulating their opposition to it. But if our opinions on race are to be more than virtue signaling, we had better do the hard work of showing not only that racism is wrong, but why it’s wrong. Fortunately, the Bible has plenty to say on the matter.
The Countries Where It’s Most Dangerous to Be a Christian in 2019, Joe Carter. “During the World Watch List 2019 reporting period, in the top 50 countries, a total of 1,266 churches or Christian buildings were attacked; 2,635 Christians were detained without trial, arrested, sentenced and imprisoned; and 4,136 Christians were killed for faith-related reasons. On average, that’s 11 Christians killed every day for their faith.”
On the Lighter Side
If Bible Characters Had iPhones, John Crist. “Have you seen the weather for today? 50% chance of ‘Quail.’ Weird.”
