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Articles by Jason Thacker
Technology isn’t neutral: 3 key discipleship questions for the Age of AI
With the increasing access and applications of artificial intelligence (AI) throughout our lives, it can be difficult for us to think about how these tools are shaping our families, especially our kids, and how to best use them. There is a growing chorus of voices across the spectrum with various answers to these questions. Simple tips and tricks are impractical because each family (and application) is different. Wisdom is needed more today than ever.
October 13, 2026 • Pathway
The Missouri Baptist Foundation (MBF) Board of Trustees met on August 14th, 2026, in the Missouri Baptist Building. The board celebrated significant ministry growth and impact, highlighting the rapid expansion of its church loan program, the success of its capital stewardship initiatives, and positive portfolio results.
Understanding the Brentwood Statement on AI and Christian Ministry
The Brentwood Statement is a collaborative statement from Southern Baptist leaders, led by Lifeway, designed to help guide Christian ministers as they navigate the opportunities and challenges of AI in ministry and everyday life. Dr. Jason Thacker, director of the ERLC’s Research Institute and a senior fellow, served as the primary author of that statement.
How churches can address assisted reproductive technologies
More and more pastors and ministry leaders are walking alongside couples facing infertility and the difficult questions surrounding assisted reproductive technologies. For many couples, the good longing for a child is accompanied by deep grief, complex decisions, and quiet heartache. Often, these struggles remain largely unseen within the life of the church.
Florida Baptists on life and other cultural challenges
Today on the ERLC Podcast we’re hearing from Dr. Stephen Rummage share how Florida Baptists are encountering issues related to life and other cultural challenges. Dr. Rummage is the Executive Director-Treasurer of the Florida Baptist Convention. Our Baptist State conventions are vital in equipping and supporting Southern Baptist churches in their gospel mission.
Jason Thacker on how AI is shaping humanity
Learn how AI is shaping humanity, biblical principles for navigating new technology, and how pastors and ministry leaders can wisely guide their congregations in the age of AI. Technology has always shaped the way we live and think with AI rapidly evolving. The question is an if it’s shaping us. On today’s episode, we’re joined by RaShan Frost, director of research and senior fellow at the ERLC and Jason Thacker, director of the research institute at the ERLC.
When caregiver of an incapable elderly person goes ‘rogue’
Law360 Canada (September 11, 2025, 10:47 AM EDT) -- Peter Neufeld Jason Thacker Lawyers dealing with elder issues face an uncomfortable dynamic when those responsible for seniors take advantage. While many caregivers act responsibly, problems arise when a “rogue” caregiver abuses their position, exploiting the elder and causing family conflict.
Hard To Build, Easy To Lose: Developing And Maintaining A Good Reputation
Your reputation is something that develops over time but can be instantly and irreparably damaged by a single poor decision. As a lawyer, your ability to grow your practice and find new opportunities is heavily influenced by the reputation you cultivate. You begin cultivating your reputation from the moment you meet legal professionals. For many of us, the process begins in law school, but for others, it begins even earlier.
4 Things to Know about Reaching Gen Z with the Gospel
By Jason Thacker Editor's note: This article is reprinted with permission from Jason Thacker, one of the keynote speakers at the Contend Conference: Resisting the Drift, hosted Jan. 31-Feb. 2 at Millington Baptist Church in Basking Ridge, NJ. Teaching college students is one of the great joys of my life. I began teaching worldview and cultural apologetics at Boyce College in the fall of 2021 before joining the full time faculty teaching philosophy and ethics in 2023.
The Biden administration released the “first-ever national gender strategy” in our nation’s history Oct. 22. According to the administration, it is intended to bring about greater gender equity and equality for all people, whether in the United States or abroad. This strategy is made up of 10 interconnected priorities and will be led by the newly formed White House Gender Policy Council (GPC). It is designed to develop a roadmap for the entire nation on gender issues.
It happens like clockwork. Often within a few moments of breaking news or some other major event happening in our culture, we see one of the most damaging effects of social media and digital culture. Our feeds are immediately filled with “expert” opinions, half-baked ideas, and reactionary takes that routinely fail to account for the reality of the situation and resort to partisan or cultural talking points. In these moments, it seems that everyone we know has a take on what is happening.
How the Chinese Communist Party is committing genocide against Uyghur Muslims
When most of us in the West think about technology, our minds often revert to our smartphones, social media, and computer technology. Many of the debates surrounding these technologies tend to focus on how these tools are altering our behaviors, reformulating how we think about the very nature of truth, or even how they are aiding a deep polarization in the throes of secularization.
For the past few years, I have had the opportunity to highlight some of the top ethical issues in technology to be aware of as we begin a new year. In 2021, I wrote about the concerning trends of content moderation — especially in regards to free speech and religious freedom in the digital public square — as well as the growing concerns over facial recognition technologies and the ongoing debate over personal privacy.
Years ago, I was talking with a fellow Christian ethicist about various aspects of social ethics (moral reflection on societal, structural, and communal issues) and it struck me that he never spoke much about the doctrine of the imago Dei, or the image of God, as central to the Christian ethic.
Editor’s Note: This explainer will be updated as news continues to unfold. Over the last few months, tensions have mounted on the border between Russia and Ukraine. This has led to international coverage of this conflict because of the countries involved, the potential toll of an invasion, and the role of NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) in global affairs.
Free, downloadable bulletin insert for use by your church on Racial Reconciliation Sunday. To see additional SBC event dates, visit sbc.net/calendar. Related Content
How do we seek justice without compromising truth?
Social justice is a polarized topic in these divided times. The issues that are associated within this discussion are important and should be evaluated from a biblical perspective. Dr. Thaddeus Williams, an associate professor of systematic theology at Biola University, helps us do that in his recent book, Confronting Injustice Without Compromising Truth. Below, he answers questions about justice, identity politics, and the role of social media in our conversations.
Why Christians must pursue biblically defined justice
Years ago, as my wife and I were renovating our house, we met an African American gentleman who came to help with one of our projects. We welcomed him into our home and left him to do his work. After he finished the job, we began to talk. He graciously thanked us for the hospitality and mentioned it was not always the case. Upon my inquiry, he proceeded to describe some horrendous experiences he had endured as a Black man in people’s homes in our small Southern community.
Often when Christians (and even non-Christians) speak about biblical ethics, we tend to focus on the rules that Scripture gives us. For example, we think of the Ten Commandments in which the second half begins with “you shall not _______.” Whether it’s about murder, adultery, stealing, bearing false witness, or covetessness, we tend to relegate the Chrisitan ethic to a set of moral rules by which we are to live.
How Christians can think about the epidemic of online gambling and sports betting
I am an avid college basketball fan. During my college years at the University of Tennessee, our basketball program took major steps forward in being competitive each year, routinely making the NCAA tournament. I follow my team and interact with various sports accounts on social media, which has put me in the target audience for many marketers including most sports betting apps and other forms of online gambling.
Explainer: What you should know about Finland, Päivi Räsänen, and hate speech
On March 30, a Finnish court issued a unanimous ruling dismissing ‘hate speech’ charges against Finnish MP Päivi Räsänen and Bishop Juhana Pohjola.
“I wanted the world to see what they did to my baby.” – Mamie Till-Mobley Wrapped in a bronze-colored metal lattice, with a structure fashioned after the three-tiered crowns used in Yoruban art from West Africa, the National Museum of African American History and Culture covers five acres on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. This Smithsonian museum opened to the public on Sept. 24, 2016, 87 years after Congress approved the project.
Earlier this week, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (Rep.) signed a bill into law that bars instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through the third grade. This bill, which has been dubbed the “Don’t Say Gay” bill by opponents, has brought about intense national controversy. This is due, in large part, to the prominent role that sexuality and gender identity play in today’s cultural conversations, as well as the influence of the LGBTQ+ movement in all aspects of our society.
One of the blessings of the digital age is that we can connect with and find information regarding places all around the world, almost instantaneously. We can learn about cultures, customs, and the beauty of God’s created order with a few short swipes on our phones or devices. Alongside these wonders, we can also learn about natural disasters, wars, crimes, and a host of other things as they happen.
Why a truncated vision of religious freedom is dangerous to the common good
One of the most respected evangelical intellectuals of the 20th century, Carl F.H. Henry, wrote, “If religious freedom is advocated only for pragmatic reasons, it can and will be sacrificed to expediency.” The cause of religious freedom is central to the Christian faith — especially in the Baptist tradition — because it recognizes the freedom of all people to act upon their deeply held beliefs in every aspect of public life.
How should we view privacy in a post-Roe world?
In the weeks following the historic Dobbs decision, a good bit of misinformation has been propagated concerning what many pro-life laws across the nation actually do in protecting the life of the preborn and caring for vulnerable women in crisis.
How social media affects the mental health of teens
Welcome to the ERLC Podcast, where our goal is to help you think biblically about today’s cultural issues. I’m Lindsay Nicolet, and today we’re talking about social media, teens, and mental health. In a recent article published by The Atlantic, Jonathan Haidt, author of The Anxious Generation, shares that rates of depression and anxiety in the United States rose by more than 50% in many studies from 2010 to 2019, the suicide rate rose 48% for adolescents ages 10 to 19.
Law Firm Interviews: Essential Tips From Successful Articling Students
Navigating the student job recruitment process is often one of the most stressful parts of law school. Balancing readings, lectures, and maintaining your mental health becomes even more challenging when the recruitment process is thrown into the mix. With a seemingly endless array of insiders "tips and tricks" to uncover in time for those hectic interview days, the process can feel overwhelming.
4 Things to Know about Reaching Gen Z with the Gospel — Southern Equip
Teaching college students is one of the great joys of my life. I began teaching worldview and cultural apologetics at Boyce College in the fall of 2021 before joining the full time faculty teaching philosophy and ethics in 2023. As I reflect on the students that I have had the privilege to teach, I am struck by this generation and their commitment to Christ.
ERLC Podcast #362 | Vice President Mike Pence on Serving in the Public Square
Today, we have an exclusive episode with Vice President Mike Pence about serving in the public square. Welcome to the ERLC Podcast where our goal is to help you think biblically about today’s cultural issues. Since 2016, the name that has been synonymous with our current political environment is President Donald Trump. However, within the Trump administration is a name with which we should be familiar and should want to know more about: Vice President Mike Pence.
Passion for Great Commission drives Eddie Lopez’s mesh of ministry, business
Metadata: Event(s): 2024 SBC Annual MeetingTopic(s): Evangelism, SBC Annual Meetings, SBC NewsFormat(s): Photo Share this post: FORT WORTH, Texas (BP) – Eduardo “Eddie” Lopez likens himself to the Old Testament Prophet Jonah. Having taught Sunday School and led worship as a pastor’s son growing up in Coahulia, Mexico, he knew he was called to ministry there.
FIRST-PERSON: Children are to be desired but not by any means possible
Metadata: Series: First PersonEvent(s): 2024 SBC Annual MeetingTopic(s): Sanctity of Life, SBC Annual MeetingsFormat(s): Text Articles Share this post: Last week, messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention meeting in Indianapolis overwhelmingly adopted a resolution focused on the dignity of the human embryo and the ethical realities of commonly used reproductive technologies like in vitro fertilization (IVF).
Flipping the script in the abortion debate
The Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision in the summer of 2022 was a watershed moment in the pro-life movement. It overturned the deadly precedent in Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey. The decision also revealed where many in both the pro-life and pro-choice movement really stood on the issue of abortion.
COMMENTARY: Flipping the script in the abortion debate
The Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision in the summer of 2022 was a watershed moment in the pro-life movement. It overturned the deadly precedent in Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey. The decision also revealed where many in both the pro-life and pro-choice movement really stood on the issue of abortion.
Cultivating Wisdom for the Age of AI
It seems like nearly every day we hear something new about artificial intelligence (AI). We are inundated with news stories about how this technology is (and will continue) to revolutionize nearly every aspect of our lives. From new applications of these tools to grave concerns about its continued use throughout our society, AI seems to be constantly changing and at times it feels like our ethics about its use fall far behind our pace of innovation.
What Does it Mean to Be Human?
Back to Overview Rapid technological advancements and the redefinition of human sexual identity are challenging previously held beliefs regarding human distinctiveness. These shifts are driving this generation’s defining question, ‘What does it mean to be human?’ The following section explores the context shifts in understanding humanness, including artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and human sexuality. AI capabilities now surpass human performance in many tasks.
Explainer: The Alabama Supreme Court’s ruling, IVF, and Christian ethics
A couple of weeks ago, University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) healthcare system announced that it was pausing all in vitro fertilization (IVF) fertility treatments. This pause is due to the perceived fear of prosecution and lawsuits in light of the Alabama Supreme Court’s ruling on Friday, Feb. 16, stating that human beings in the embryonic stage have the same legal rights and protections as children who are born.
Two years into Russia’s war on Ukraine, Send Relief partners persevere
Metadata: Topic(s): Send ReliefFormat(s): Text Articles Share this post: KYIV, Ukraine (BP) — For Luba, the pain of the past two years is hard to put into words. Her husband was killed when their house in Bakhmut, Ukraine, was bombed, and Luba was forced to flee her homeland. But thanks to Send Relief partners who helped her along the way, Luba says she now believes in God because she’s seen His love in the people who helped her. Luba’s circumstances are not uncommon.
FIRST-PERSON: The Law Amendment is UNDERSTANDABLE, but UNNECESSARY, UNCLEAR and potentially the UNRAVELING of the SBC
At our annual meeting in 2023, SBC messengers passed the first approval of a constitutional amendment (what’s come to be known as the “Law Amendment”), which states that the Convention will only deem a church to be in friendly cooperation with the Convention which: “Affirms, appoints, or employs only men as any kind of pastor or elder as qualified by Scripture.” The amendment has to be passed by the same two-thirds majority at the June 2024 convention in Indianapolis to go into effect.
How The Alabama Supreme Court’s Ruling On Life Affects IVF
(EXPLAINER) Earlier this week, University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) healthcare system announced that it was pausing all in vitro fertilization (IVF) fertility treatments. This pause is due to the perceived fear of prosecution and lawsuits in light of the Alabama Supreme Court’s ruling on Friday, Feb. 16, stating that human beings in the embryonic stage have the same legal rights and protections as children who are born.
EXPLAINER: How the Alabama Supreme Court’s ruling on life affects IVF
Metadata: Topic(s): ERLC, Sanctity of LifeFormat(s): Text Articles Share this post: Earlier this week, University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) healthcare system announced that it was pausing all in vitro fertilization (IVF) fertility treatments. This pause is due to the perceived fear of prosecution and lawsuits in light of the Alabama Supreme Court’s ruling on Friday, Feb. 16, stating that human beings in the embryonic stage have the same legal rights and protections as children who are born.
EXPLAINER: How the Alabama Supreme Court’s ruling on life affects IVF
Earlier this week, University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) healthcare system announced that it was pausing all in vitro fertilization (IVF) fertility treatments. This pause is due to the perceived fear of prosecution and lawsuits in light of the Alabama Supreme Court’s ruling on Friday, Feb. 16, stating that human beings in the embryonic stage have the same legal rights and protections as children who are born.
4 Things Pastors Should Know About Artificial Intelligence
Take time this week to slow down amid the technological rat race and think deeply about some of the pressing questions generative AI poses. By Jason Thacker Ministry is hard work, as pastors face both the opportunities and challenges of leading God’s people in the paths of wisdom and righteousness amid the complexities of the day. Every day pastors hear a host of questions they might not be prepared to answer straight out of seminary or elder training.
FIRST-PERSON: Emmett Till and empathy
“I wanted the world to see what they did to my baby.” – Mamie Till-Mobley Wrapped in a bronze-colored metal lattice, with a structure fashioned after the three-tiered crowns used in Yoruban art from West Africa, the National Museum of African American History and Culture covers five acres on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. This Smithsonian museum opened to the public on Sept. 24, 2016, 87 years after Congress approved the project.
Review: ‘The Age of AI’ by Henry Kissinger, Eric Schmidt, and Daniel Huttenlocher
Everyone’s been trying to get up to speed on artificial intelligence (AI) and its role in our society since the public release of ChatGPT by OpenAI in November 2022. ChatGPT became the fastest-growing consumer application in history, amassing over 1 million users by December 2022, 100 million by January, and over 200 million users as of August 2023.
The Reformation, Renewal, and the Need for Retrieval with Dr. Matthew Barrett
In this episode, I am joined by Dr. Matthew Barrett to talk about hisnew book The Reformation as Renewalfrom Zondervan. Today, we discuss the reformation, renewal, and the need for retrieval today. Meet Dr. Barrett Matthew Barrett is professor of Christian theology at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, editor-in-chief of Credo, and host of the Credo Podcast. He is also the director of the Center for Classical Theology at Midwestern.
Southern Baptists address the ethics of AI
Last month in New Orleans, Southern Baptists passed a historic resolution on the ethics of artificial intelligence that I had the honor of helping to craft alongside a top notch resolutions committee. As part of my research role at ERLC, I served as an advisor to this year’s committee, helping them think through the various ethical and political aspects of the resolutions presented to the messengers.
Explainer: Supreme Court Rules in Favor of Free Speech in 303 Creative Case
Today, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in a 6-3 decision that the state of Colorado violated the First Amendment rights of petitioner Lorie Smith by enforcing state anti-discrimination laws against her graphic design business, compelling her to speak in a way that violated her beliefs. Justice Gorsuch delivered the opinion of the court, with Justices Alito, Barrett, Kavanaugh, Thomas, and Chief Justice Roberts joining.
The Story of Abortion in America and the Next Steps for the Pro-life Movement with Leah Savas
Jason serves as chair of research in technology ethics and director of the research institute at The Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission.
Why the Christian ethic isn’t simply about rules
Often when Christians (and even non-Christians) speak about biblical ethics, we tend to focus on the rules that Scripture gives us. For example, we think of the Ten Commandments in which the second half begins with “you shall not _______.” Whether it’s about murder, adultery, stealing, bearing false witness, or covetousness, we tend to relegate the Christian ethic to a set of moral rules by which we are to live.
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