Breakpoint

As British commentator Peter Hitchens recently pointed out, being "schooled" isn't the same as being "educated."

On Monday, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in 303 Creative v. Elenis, a case with significant implications for the future of conscience rights and free speech. Please pray for Lorie Smith of 303 Creative, and for the Alliance Defending Freedom, who is providing her defense. Please consider making a year-end gift to support the Colson Center. Breakpoint is listener-supported, and if these daily commentaries help you think biblically about this confusing world, please consider supporting us financially at colsoncenter.org/december.

Today, December 6, is the anniversary of the death of St. Nicholas in 343, a leader in the ancient Church in the city of Myra in Asia Minor, or modern-day Turkey.

In this time of Advent, as we look back to Christ's first coming and await His second, we should recall the prophesies that pointed to His forerunner, John the Baptist.

On December 5, we remember poet Phillis Wheatley, on the day of her death in 1784, at just 31 years old.

God has called us to this moment, not another. Chuck Colson founded the Colson Center and this daily commentary Breakpoint to help Christians develop confidence in the truth of a Christian worldview so they could face the challenges of life today with courage and a clarity that can seem elusive. To all of you who support Breakpoint and other Colson Center programs with your prayers and financial generosity, be encouraged that God is at work, and thank you for joining with us in this calling. To give a tax-deductible gift to support Breakpoint and the Colson Center, please go to colsoncenter.org/december.

We're seeing protests in China over Covid lockdowns not seen since the days of Tiananmen Square. And a new phrase has been introduced into civil debate: Stochastic Terrorism. What is it and where did it come from?

More than 700 authors and publishing agents have signed an open letter to Penguin Random House demanding the publisher cancel a book deal with U.S. Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett.

In a culture so captive to a "critical theory mood," the only right and loving response to the hijacking of language is to oppose falsehood and advance truth. This will mean, among other things, refusing to accept or use words and phrases like "stochastic terrorism" which assume all kinds of false and dangerous ideas about who we are.

Recently, a Massachusetts boarding school banned smartphones because the devices stunt kids' attention and make them more emotionally volatile.