“Freedom in Christ is the liberty to live as we should, not as we please.”

John Piper

Table of Contents

1. Trump v. United States

2. Chevron Doctrine is Dead

3. Pakistani Christian Sentenced to Death

4. Other news you should know

5. Remnant Resources

6. Share this newsletter

Trump v. United States

The Supreme Court's decision in Trump v. U.S., a 6-3 ruling, significantly impacts presidential immunity by focusing on the institution of the Presidency rather than the individual president. Chief Justice John Roberts's opinion draws on the 1982 Nixon v. Fitzgerald case, reinforcing that a President has absolute immunity from civil suits for acts within the "outer perimeter" of his duties and extending this to criminal prosecution for official acts. The ruling protects executive actions related to national security, intelligence, and foreign policy but rejects the notion that all presidential acts have absolute immunity. The case is remanded to the trial judge to determine if Mr. Trump's actions, such as pressuring Vice President Pence regarding the Electoral College, qualify as official acts deserving immunity.

It is good when men are not treated as "Kings." Power isolates, and isolation is the garden in which idiosyncrasies grow (Proverbs 18:1).  Lord Ashton rightly observed, "Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely." 

It is not good when media or men overreact and/or misrepresent a story (Jeremiah 6:28) as they often do and did in their reporting about SCOTUS' recent ruling in the Trump v. United States case.  The ruling actually serves our nation well in that it codifies how we should delineate when our President can and cannot be charged with a crime. This, of course, had never been something we had to worry about before because before Trump, no President had ever been charged with a crime, though one did famously resign and was quickly pardoned from any and all crimes he may have committed in obstructing the investigation around the famous Watergate scandal. While pundits and political enemies will pontificate all day about whether or not Trump should be charged with various crimes, it is impossible to believe that many of our former Presidents, well beyond Nixon, were somehow not also guilty of some malfeasance and illegality (Proverbs 20:9).

The bad news is our congressmen, senators, and presidents appear to be increasingly suspect (Isaiah 3:4-5) rather than above reproach as leaders should be (Matthew 20:25-28).

The good news is that we now have a legal framework with which we can decide whether our presidents should be charged. SCOTUS was wise to protect them when they are acting in an official capacity for our country in executing "constitutional acts" or when prosecuting them would in any way diminish "the office or role of the executive branch," and they were wise in saying that Presidents are vulnerable to prosecution, as all men should be, (Romans 3:9-12) when they are operating outside the scope of their constitutional role. Presidents need to be free to make decisions, direct the military, negotiate treaties, and issue pardons without fear of prosecution, and they need to be aware that they will be held accountable for those decisions both at the ballot box and the bema seat (1 Corinthians 3:13).

It is good for all of us (2 Corinthians 5:10) to be reminded that perfect judgment is coming (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14) irrespective of office or position on earth. 

_{By: Todd Wagner}

Chevron Doctrine is Dead

At the end of its summer 2024 term, in Loper Bright v. Raimondo, the U.S. Supreme Court, in a case with cascading effects difficult to overstate, upended 40 years of Supreme Court jurisprudence, overturning what is known as the "Chevron doctrine." In Loper, the Supreme Court overruled Chevron (a 1984 case before the Court) and held that federal courts may not defer to federal agencies' interpretation of federal law simply because the underlying federal statute is unclear. Legal scholars are anticipating various litigation challenging federal agencies' rulemaking authority, and, generally, the Court's ruling is seen as a severe blow to the power of the "administrative state," with wide-ranging effects on public health, public safety, and environmental agencies. Proponents view it as a rightful restoration of power to the judicial branch and, specifically, a restoration of the power given to the judiciary to review and interpret federal laws without extreme deference to federal agencies.

The Chevron case is sometimes called the "lynchpin of the administrative state" due to the broad power the decision left in the hands of federal agencies. Proponents of the decision herald it as a libertarian victory that will result in a check on the power of federal agencies, while critics argue it limits Congress's ability to enforce the intent of its laws efficiently through its federal agencies (which are, post-Chevron, clearly subject to judicial scrutiny and legal challenges).

As Christians, we are to respect the laws of the land and the power of authorities and rulers over us, and the Bible reminds us that they derive their power from and are “instituted by God” and are “God’s servant for your good. Irrespective of Chevron, as people of the Way, our “Christian deference” is ultimately to God and His laws and commandments (Deuteronomy 11:1; Psalm 119:9-11). Christians, in submission to God, have peace with God and knowledge that obedience is the road to human flourishing and freedom (Ecclesiastes 12:12-14; Psalm 1:1-6). 

In an exercise of futility, historically and without ceasing, men attempt to “regulate” morality and ethics through means such as Chevron, Loper, and many others. Though we might have a fleshly bend to celebrate freedom from bureaucracy post-Chevron, Christians are always to willingly and unconditionally abide in and defer to Christ’s “ yoke” and the cross we bear when we choose to follow Him (Matthew 11:28-30; 16:24-27). Though man’s law will wax and wane its burdens on us, God’s law is immutable and his nature unchanging (Isaiah 55:8-9; Exodus 34:6). God’s will is that Christian-living and the impact of “Christian deference” in submission to Him forever reign as the sufficient and perfect law of the land (Colossians 1:20;  Romans 12:1-2; 2 Chronicles 7:14), bringing glory to the Father through the sufficiency of Christ in all things (Colossians 1:20). God’s love and His commands are a supernatural, perfect “constitution” for our lives. His living Word is a perfect regulatory safety net for the depraved heart of man (Hebrews 4:12). God’s laws reign supreme and should manifest His love through the body of Christ with or without wise rulings from our nation’s highest courts (Matthew 28:19; John 13:34; 1 Corinthians 16:13).

_{By: Matthew Lopez}

Pakistani Christian Sentenced to Death

In Karachi, Pakistan, a rally was held against the death sentence of Ehsan Shan, a Christian man convicted of blasphemy for allegedly sharing "hateful content" on social media. The protest included civil society members and Christians, calling for Shan's release and justice for the mob attacks on Christians in Jaranwala, Punjab, nearly a year ago. Shan's lawyer plans to appeal the verdict. Although Shan was not involved in the desecration of the Quran, he was accused of reposting images of the defaced pages on TikTok. Christian leader Luke Victor demanded Shan's release and accountability for those who attacked Christian homes and churches.

The phrase "out of sight, out of mind" may not be found in the Bible, but its sentiment applies especially to the persecuted. Hebrews 13:3 explicitly instructs, "Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering."  

Those who wield power in Pakistan are severely misguided on 1) what justice entails and 2) who God is. There is one God, and He made Himself known through Jesus Christ (Isaiah 45:5, Hebrews 1:1-2). And the only way to the Father is through Him (John 14:6). While those persecuted may be blessed, it is not something that we should approve of or look at through rose-colored glasses (Matthew 5:10; Isaiah 5:20). Pray for Ehsan Shan and don't cease to pray for the global church, many of whom are suffering for their steadfast faith (Ephesians 6:18).

_{By: Jamie Wilder}

Other news you should know

👎🏻 Biden health officials push federal abortion law after SCOTUS decision.

🕰 Trump's sentencing for NY criminal conviction delayed.

🛡 US bases across Europe bracing for possible terror attack.

✖️ Rudy Giuliani has been disbarred in NY.

🫶🏻 A baby white rhino was born in Chile.

🇮🇳 Stampede kills 116 in India.

🤔 WH Reporter asks directly if Biden has dementia.

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