The 3 - June 9, 2019

In this week's edition of The 3, featuring three stories of relevance to the Christian community, there is a promising development regarding research on tissue from embryos who have been aborted.  And, the Washington Supreme Court, has ruled against a florist there for a second time as a result of her declining to provide flowers for a same-sex wedding ceremony.  And, one Virginia pastor prayed for the President when he visited the church recently, which did not go over well with some in the congregation.

Administration reduces fetal tissue research

The issue of research using embryos actually became a defining moment in the Presidency of George W. Bush, as he announced a limited ban on the practice of using embryos for the purpose of research, which takes a human life.  Now, in the Trump Administration, the Department of Health and Human Services has made an important announcement on the subject.

According to the Liberty Counsel website on Wednesday, June 5:

President Donald Trump’s administration announced today that it will no longer allow federal funding for medical research conducted within the National Institutes of Health (NIH) which involves the use of human fetal tissue of aborted babies. The NIH is an organization within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The NIH estimates it spent $103 million taxpayer dollars purchasing and experimenting on human fetal tissue in fiscal year 2018.

Furthermore, $100 million devoted to fetal tissue research has been taken away from the University of California-San Francisco that, as Liberty Counsel puts it, "uses fetal tissue to test new HIV treatments." The site also says that, "Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) said it is conducting a comprehensive review of all research involving fetal tissue."

Washington florist dealt another blow in state Supreme Court

Barronelle Stutzman is a florist in Washington state who, a number of years ago, declined to provide flowers for gay couple to celebrate a same-sex wedding.  The state's Attorney General got involved, saying that Barronelle had discriminated against this couple, and ultimately, the state's Supreme Court ruled against her.

The case ended up back at the Washington Supreme Court because the U.S. Supreme Court instructed the state's high court to reevaluate its decision in light of the Masterpiece Cakeshop case. Alliance Defending Freedom included a piece on its website on these recent developments.  It stated:

Without even holding an oral argument, the state court came back with the same result, repeating verbatim much of what it said in its original decision rather than reconsidering the case as the U.S. Supreme Court directed.

The website's analysis continued:

Washington’s highest court read the Masterpiece Cakeshop decision as narrowly as possible, saying that the U.S. Supreme Court’s condemnation of government hostility toward religion applies only to adjudicatory bodies and no other branch of government. As ADF attorneys explain, other U.S. Supreme Court decisions say the exact opposite. In fact, Stutzman’s argument that the state attorney general showed hostility toward religion is what caused the U.S. Supreme Court to send the case back in the first place.

Stutzman could still face stiff financial penalties, according to ADF.  The organization's John Bursch said, "We look forward to taking Barronelle’s case back to the U.S. Supreme Court.”

Prayer for President causes concern

Last Sunday, June 2, had been designated by over 250 Christian leaders as a special Day of Prayer for President Trump.  The effort was led by Franklin Graham, and one particular Virginia church had the opportunity to pray for the President in person.

That church was McLean Bible Church, and the President came to the church near the conclusion of an early afternoon service.  Pastor David Platt, formerly of Birmingham's Church at Brook Hills and the Southern Baptist International Mission Board, led the congregation in prayer, a prayer that was widely lauded.

According to ToddStarnes.com, not all were pleased with the pastoral prayer.  Starnes reports:

However, some in the congregation were reportedly offended by the notion that a preacher would dare to soil the “sanctity” of the church house by praying for a fellow sinner.

Platt wrote on the church's website, “My aim was in no way to endorse the president, his policies, or his party, but to obey God’s command to pray for our president and other leaders to govern in the way this passage portrays..."  He outlined how the Presidential visit unfolded and the reasoning for his prayer.  Starnes pointed out, "Politico incorrectly reported Pastor Platt apologized for the prayer. They later corrected the story."

Starnes lamented:

It’s unthinkable that any Bible-believing Christian would take offense at someone being prayed for simply because of their politics or their spiritual condition.

He wrote, "You may think that President Trump is the worst sinner in America...Well, that’s all the more reason to pray for the president."