Okay, I admit it’s Tuesday but yesterday got away from me.  So, indulge the Must Read Monday on Tuesday – and the addition of articles that could not have been included because they weren’t published until today.

There are a number of articles you might read related to Judge Amy Coney Barrett, President Trump’s nominee for the Supreme Court. Here’s are the two I recommend:

• NYTimes (paywall): For Conservative Christian Women, Amy Coney Barrett’s success is personal
• It’s Not Barrett, it’s Roe

and then, on the counter point, there’s this from CNN: On Abortion, Amy Coney Barrett doesn’t speak for American Christians. Now, wait just a minute. Who is speaking here and with what authority? Who has the authority to speak as a Christian – let alone for Christians? The short answer here are those who rightly represent Jesus Christ. So, ask yourself: does Amy Coney Barrett represent what I know to be true about the Creator and redeeming God and what the Bible says about life or does the person writing this article on CNN’s website more accurately represent what the Bible says? Once you have discerned the simple answer to that question you will be able to rightly judge whether or not ACB or the author of the CNN piece might be worthy of the calling of Christian.

The Atlantic also published a piece we need to consider: Trump Secretly Mocks His Christian Supporters. Take a deep breath and ask yourself: does it surprise me to hear this? You may feel disappointed, but are you actually surprised? Let us be honest about our relationship here. It has been primarily transactional. Let us also be honest about our observations of the President’s treatment of others. Why would we be surprised to learn that he might find curiosities among us about which to jest?  The question at the heart here is this: Why would you imagine that what is done unto others would not also be done unto you?

Now, on the transactional front, the President delivered an Executive Order on Friday that got lost in the deluge of more salacious news. Read the Executive Order on Protecting Vulnerable Newborn and Infant Children.  Consider advocating with your member of Congress on taking legislative action to move the conversation from EO to legislation.

On the question of how faith shapes politics, you won’t find anyone who says it better than David Brooks. And, if you haven’t seen it yet, the ERLC’s Courage and Civility Church Kit is a free download. I’m talking about it tomorrow with Daryl Crouch who helped write it.

Okay, one more before we go. Worldview matters. It matters not only for how we see the world but how we respond to events that take place in the world around us. This person, writing in the HuffPost’s personal experience section claims: The Death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg Pushed me to join the Satanic Temple. Several points to consider here:

1. is it possible this is satire and if so, how does that temper my response?
2. if it is not satire, how do I process that someone is making the case for joining the Satanic Temple based on the merits of it’s Seven Tenets?
3. could I express the tenets of my faith and/or make a similarly succinct compelling case for joining the Church?
4. how does reading this change the way I’m going to pray for people today?
5. if its satire (which I suspect it is), how do you suppose actual members of the Satanic Temple respond to having their faith publicly mocked?

Also up this week:

• Today: Hillsdale’s Adam Carrington on the nomination of Amy Coney Barrett
• Tomorrow: John Brown University, Center for Faith & Flourishing, Daniel Bennett on tonight’s debate
• Thursday: Acton Institute’s Ben Johnson and SEBTS’ Bruce Ashford
• Friday: Cedarville’s Dan DeWitt with the Weekend Worldview Reader

Author interviews this week:

• Yesterday – Christopher Wright with Here Are Your Gods  via IVP
• Today – Jan Johnson with Prayer and Listening via IVP
• Tomorrow – Michelle Sloan with Extraordinary Women of the Bible
• Thursday – Patrick & Ruth Schwenk, In the Boat in the Middle of a Lake via Thomas Nelson
• Friday – Lynne Cheney on The Virginia Dynasty via Random House