If Joe Biden were his party’s nominee for president this fall, he would be speaking at the Democratic National Convention on Thursday. Instead, that honor goes to Vice President Kamala Harris, while Mr. Biden addressed the gathering last night instead. Frequently interrupted by chants of “We love Joe,” he pointed to his joint accomplishments with Ms. Harris as he passed the torch to her.

Have Democrats been unfair to the president? Joe Biden won his party’s nomination through its primary process, then resigned from the race on July 21. According to Robert Draper’s in-depth New York Times profile, he still feels anger and hurt toward party leaders who discouraged him from seeking reelection.

Said negatively: his political allies supported him so long as he was a means to the end of keeping the White House, then turned on him when they felt he could no longer serve this purpose.

Said positively: politicians must be elected if they are to serve. If, as Democratic Party leaders believe, their platform best meets the needs of the nation, it needs to gain power to do so. Running candidates who are most likely to win is a necessary means to this end.

Lest you think I’m being partisan, the same is true on the Republican side. Donald Trump was widely disliked in his party until it became clear that he would win the nomination in 2016. Over the years since, many of his political opponents have become his supporters. The same negative/positive calculus is in play.

“The arc of history bends toward justice”

I often cite the work of sociologist James Davison Hunter, whom I consider the leading evangelical interpreter of culture today. In his new book, Democracy and Solidarity: On the Cultural Roots of America’s Political Crisis, he argues that America was formed within the tension between Enlightenment values—a belief in individual reason, deliberation, and neutral social institutions—and religious faith.

As New York Times columnist David Brooks notes in his response to Hunter’s work:

The Bible gave generations of Americans a bedrock set of moral values, the conviction that we live within an objective moral order, the faith that the arc of history bends toward justice. Religious fervor drove many of our social movements, like abolitionism.

However, as Hunter reports, America began growing less religious in the 1960s and started privatizing religious beliefs as a result. In response, American public life grew largely secular, especially among the highly educated classes. Moral relativism then supplanted religious doctrine.

How is this working for us?

“Loving things and using people”

The so-called sexual revolution of the era, coupled with the advent of birth control, soon spawned the normalization of no-fault divorce, pornography, homosexuality, and abortion. Same-sex marriage and society-wide LGBTQ advocacy followed, along with growing support for polygamy and euthanasia.

What these issues have in common is that they commodify people:

• Birth control enables unmarried people to have sex even with strangers with less fear of pregnancy, even though God created sex as a celebration of marital intimacy and childbearing (Genesis 2:23–25).
• No-fault divorce and polygamy undermine the relational unconditionality that God intends to characterize marriage (cf. Genesis 2:24).
• Pornography obviously objectifies the bodies of others for selfish pleasure.
• LGBTQ advocacy labels people by perceived gender and sexual orientation rather than calling them to celebrate their identity within biblical truth and morality.
• Abortion treats preborn children as objects to be killed and removed from their mother’s body as she wishes, even though God considers them sacred from the moment of their conception (cf. Psalm 139:16; Jeremiah 1:5).
• Euthanasia values life only to the degree that it serves utilitarian purposes to the individual or to society at large.

As you can see, making people a means to our ends is not limited to political parties. From Cain and Abel to today, it is a symptom of our fallen nature and drive to be our own god (Genesis 3:5).

And as the old gospel song says, “Loving things and using people only leads to misery.”

Why “God will make us good”

If our society is ever to move past the commodification and transactionalism that dominates our relationships, we will need a source beyond ourselves. We will need the power to choose love over lust, sacrifice over selfishness, forgiveness over revenge.

The good news is that Jesus, the one Person in all of human history who most exemplified such attributes, can recreate us in his “image” (Romans 8:29). His Spirit can manifest the “fruit” of his character in us: his love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22–23).

How?

1. Settle for nothing less than Christlikeness: “As he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct” (1 Peter 1:15).
2. Practice the presence of Christ through your day. Read and memorize Scripture; express gratitude for his gifts; pray for your needs. Imagine yourself in his presence, since you are (Matthew 28:20).
3. Submit each day to the Spirit, asking him to make you more like your Lord than you have ever been (Ephesians 5:18).

1. S. Lewis noted:

“The Christian does not think God will love us because we are good, but that God will make us good because he loves us.”

How deeply do you want God to “make you good” today?

NOTE: Do you ever lie awake at night, racing through the day’s events and tomorrow’s to-do list? If so, you’re not alone. Sleep issues impact millions of Americans. That’s why we want to provide you with a better way to end your nights: Janet Denison’s new 365-evening devotional, Wisdom Matters. Get your copy today.

Tuesday news to know:

• In a full-circle moment, former nominee Hillary Clinton speaks in support of Harris
• Blinken says Israel agrees to a US-backed proposal for a cease-fire and calls on Hamas to do the same
• 2 killed and about 100 evacuated by rescue crews as flash flooding hit parts of Connecticut and New York
• When and where to see August’s rare supermoon blue moon
• On this day in 1619: First enslaved Africans arrive in Jamestown, setting the stage for slavery in North America

*Denison Forum does not necessarily endorse the views expressed in these stories.

Quote for the day:

“Character is what a man is in the dark.” —D. L. Moody

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Note: As a nonpartisan ministry, Denison Forum does not endorse political parties or candidates. I would offer the same observations if today’s news related more to Republicans than to Democrats.

The Democratic National Convention begins today in Chicago. Amid concerns that pro-Palestinian protesters will disrupt proceedings, many will be watching to see how Democrats frame Kamala Harris as their presidential nominee in an election season unlike any other.

She became their nominee two weeks ago through an unprecedented process. Her remarkable rise in popularity is bringing swing states into contention that were thought to be safe for Mr. Trump. She is also energizing her party: Kamala Harris’s 83 percent support among Democrats is 22 points higher than Joe Biden’s on the eve of his withdrawal from the race.

What explains her greater popularity with Democrats?

It’s not due primarily to policy, since both hold positions that largely align with their party and she has held no press conferences and given no formal interviews thus far. The explanation is simple: Many Democrats, fearing that Mr. Biden is too old to campaign or lead effectively, think she has a better chance of defeating Mr. Trump.

Mrs. Harris is obviously younger than Mr. Biden. And she would be the first female to become president. While she is only beginning to lay out her policy proposals and says she’ll do a full interview by the end of August, her rising popularity to this point is based more on who she is than on what she might do.

Mr. Trump’s popularity with his supporters is similarly based in large part on his personal story and courage in the face of political opponents and an attempted assassination. As one analyst noted, “Personality matters more than policy in presidential races.”

What does this say about our culture?

What comprises 82% of internet traffic?

You and I live in a capitalistic society. And capitalism makes us all consumers. Our spending accounts for roughly 70 percent of America’s GDP. Most companies make their money by convincing us to buy their products.

There was a day when they did so primarily through word-centric appeals in print ads and radio commercials. Then came television, followed by the internet, followed by online video, which comprises 82 percent of all internet traffic today.

Video persuades primarily through images and stories that appeal to our emotions. And these appeals work: it is estimated that viewers retain 95 percent of a message when watching it on video vs. 10 percent through text.

All this to say, we have become conditioned to make our decisions—from what to buy to whom to vote for—based primarily on emotions. And as David Brooks explains in his latest New York Times article, our emotions condition and direct our reasoning.

They always have.

“More crafty than any other beast”

Genesis 3 reports that “the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lᴏʀᴅ God had made” (v. 1a). Crafty translates a Hebrew word meaning “shrewd” or “cunning.”

He began his attack on rational grounds by calling God’s word into question: “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden?’” (v. 1b). But when the woman responded rationally by repeating and even enlarging on God’s command (vv. 2–3), the enemy shifted tactics: “You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil” (vv. 4–5).

This was a direct appeal to pride and ego, what Nietzsche called the “will to power.”

With this appeal in mind, “the woman saw that the tree was good for food and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise” (v. 6a). As a result, “she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate” (v. 6b).

And the world has never recovered from the Fall that resulted (cf. Romans 8:22).

“My treasure Thou art”

Today’s conversation is about far more than partisan politics. In fact, it goes to the heart of what it means to follow Jesus today. In an emotionally driven culture that defines truth by what feels right to us, it is vital that we “take every thought captive to obey Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5), seeking to think biblically about the decisions we face.

To do this, we need to ask the Holy Spirit to “guide [us] into all the truth” (John 16:13) and then submit to his authority (Ephesians 5:18). When we surrender our lives to Christ as our Lord (Romans 12:1) so fully that we are not “conformed to this world,” we can be “transformed by the renewing of [our] mind” (v. 2a). Then we will “discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect” (v. 2b).

God wants us to know his “perfect” will even more than we do. He will lead all who will follow him as Lord. The decision to experience his best is not with him but with us.

One of my favorite hymns is the eighth-century Irish poem, “Be Thou My Vision.” It includes this prayer:

Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise,
Thou mine inheritance, now and always:
Thou and Thou only, first in my heart,
High King of heaven, my treasure Thou art.

Would the “High King of heaven” say he is “first in your heart” today?

Monday news to know:

• Thousands of activists expected in Chicago for Democratic convention to call for Gaza ceasefire
• National Public Data confirms massive data breach included Social Security numbers
• Now that mpox is a global health emergency, will it trigger another pandemic?
• Venezuelans around the world demonstrate to defend opposition’s victory claim
• On this day in 1953: CIA-assisted coup overthrows government of Iran

*Denison Forum does not necessarily endorse the views expressed in these stories.

Quote for the day:

“Truth is the agreement of our ideas with the ideas of God.” —Jonathan Edwards

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The troubling reason America might not be far behind

While a number of stories, both at home and abroad, have taken their turn leading headlines, one of the more important and potentially troubling trends in recent months has been the continued downturn of China’s economy. I call it troubling less for what it means for the world economically—which is where much of the attention has focused—than for what it could mean for the world politically and militarily.

You see, China’s designs on becoming the world’s leading superpower, taking back Taiwan, and seeing their global influence spread while the West’s declines have not changed. To this point, however, those plans had the benefit of patience. Given the level of control President Xi exerts over the nation, they have had the freedom to choose their spots and wait for the best opportunities to act. Yet, as their economy continues to slide and the day-to-day lives of their people become increasingly difficult, that margin will begin to fade.

And, ultimately, a China that has to act could end up being a far greater threat than a China that believes time is on its side.

To that end, let’s examine why their economy has struggled and what those struggles could mean for China and the larger world.

China’s bursting bubble

Most of the global economy has had trouble bouncing back from COVID, and, in that regard, China is no different. While the nature of their top-down governance meant they could mask much of that struggle during the pandemic’s initial years,  doing so simply pushed the problem down the road and exacerbated it once the bubble burst.

As such, the latest data demonstrates a decline in the world’s second largest economy that has many around the globe worried. In their most recent report, the National Bureau of Statistics found that:

• Unemployment rose for the first time since February
• Growth in industrial production has slowed despite attempts to prop it up
• Investment in real estate has fallen by 10.2 percent so far this year when compared to 2023’s already-declining market

This is despite the government announcing plans to spend 150 billion yuan—roughly $20.9 billion—in government debt to buy back older versions of appliances, cars, and other consumer goods to stimulate new spending. Even attempts to subsidize lending by providing Chinese banks with $42 billion to help state-owned firms buy excess homes and buildings have failed to make a difference.

And there is little to indicate that the situation will improve anytime soon.

A population in decline

While China’s strict COVID restrictions played a large part in changing the nation’s economic forecast, many of the trends at the heart of its decline have been around for far longer. And perhaps none will play a larger role going forward than its declining population.

While China’s one-child policy technically ended in 2015, they have continued to see a dearth of births, with 2023 marking the second straight year that the general population has declined. That two-year stretch—one likely to continue for the foreseeable future—marks the first time China’s population has fallen since the Great Famine of the early 1960s. As such, the country’s population is expected to be nearly cut by half—roughly 732 million people—by the end of this century.

Yet, the pain of that decline will not be felt equally. The impact of the low birth rate is compounded by a population that will continue to live far longer than they can work.

China’s retirement-age population—those 60 and older—is expected to grow to 400 million by 2035, which, for comparison, is substantially more than the entire population of the United States. That means even more of the stress and burden of maintaining their society will fall on those still able to be part of the labor force. Many of them cite such burdens as one of the chief reasons they simply can’t afford to have kids, thereby perpetuating the cycle.

And, unfortunately, what’s happening in China may be coming to our shores soon.

America is not immune

While America’s economic struggles may not mirror those in China, we share a similar issue regarding our declining birth rate and the problems it has already started to create. And we’re not alone.

I wrote more about the dangers of our decreasing population in a recent article, but fertility rates are currently below replacement level in more than half of all countries and territories around the world. Moreover, higher-income and more developed countries typically experience the greatest rate of decline while simultaneously also experiencing the longest lifespans for their people.

For a time, it appeared that the United States would remain an outlier in this regard. While Europe and many parts of Asia saw their birth rates plummet, America maintained a level that left some room for optimism. However, that began to change around 2007, and the decline has been fairly steady in the years since.

Most attempts to convince people to have more babies—whether through tax breaks, longer maternity leave, or a host of other initiatives—have proved either insufficient or unsuccessful regardless of the country in which they’ve been tried. As such, many of the world’s most powerful nations are waking up to the reality that, in order to survive, they’ll need a fairly large influx of people from outside their borders.

As we’ve seen and discussed in recent months, however, that solution is not without issues of its own.

Consequently, governments across the developed world are left without a clear solution to an increasingly desperate problem. That’s a scary place to be, as countries like China, Russia, and even the US will grow increasingly tempted to distract their populace from the crisis rather than try to solve it. And, as we’ve seen with Russia and Ukraine in recent years, that distraction often takes the form of war.

A better place to focus

Only time will tell if history repeats itself once again, but, until we know one way or the other, our time and energy will be better spent praying for God to intervene and bring peace than worrying over the prospect of war.

After all, Jesus was clear that this world is far from perfect and will remain that way until he returns to establish a new heaven and a new earth to take its place. As such, our job is to help as many people as we can to place their faith in him between now and when his kingdom finally comes in all its glory.

How can you do that job today?

Friday news to know:

• New Zealand charity accidentally gave away meth disguised as candy
• Cease-fire talks in Sudan started this week amidst continued civil war and famine
• Russia plans to evacuate 20,000 more citizens from Kursk region
• Arizona Supreme Court rules fetus can be referred to as “unborn human being” in leadup to November vote on abortion
• On this day in 1954: Sports Illustrated debuts

*Denison Forum does not necessarily endorse the views expressed in these stories.

Quote of the day:

“Faith is measured by your feet, not your feelings … if your feet are not walking in faith, then there is no faith regardless of your emotions.” —Tony Evans

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