Summary of "The Briefing with Albert Mohler" – Tuesday, August 12, 2025

Host: R. Albert Mohler, Jr.
Podcast Description: Cultural Commentary from a Biblical Perspective

Introduction

In the August 12, 2025 episode of "The Briefing with Albert Mohler," host R. Albert Mohler, Jr. explores two pressing cultural issues from a Christian worldview: the surge in medication abortions following the repeal of Roe v. Wade and evolving attitudes toward marriage among different demographics in the United States. Mohler provides a detailed analysis of recent studies and reports, critically examining the implications for pro-life and traditional family values.

1. Rise in Medication Abortions Post-Roe Repeal

Albert Mohler begins by addressing a significant increase in medication abortions following the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade in 2022. Citing an article from The Guardian and a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, he outlines alarming statistics that highlight the current landscape of abortion practices in the U.S.

• Key Statistics:

  • 120,000 Abortion Pill Packs Shipped: Mohler notes, “one abortion provider shipped almost 120,000 packs of abortion pills to US residents between July 2023 and August 2024” (00:04).
  • 99,000 Packs to States Outlawing Abortion Pills: He emphasizes that “nearly 100,000 of them lived in states that outlaw the procedure or have laws on the books that ban the mailing of abortion pills” (00:04).

• Implications for Pro-Life Efforts:

  • Mohler describes the abortion pill as a “human pesticide,” stressing its role in ending unborn human life.
  • He highlights the subversion of pro-life laws through the distribution of abortion pills, calling it a “culture of death” strategy.

• Future Legal Battles:

  • The discussion anticipates that disputes over the legality of mailing abortion pills will likely reach the U.S. Supreme Court, stating, “the dispute… will eventually reach the U.S. Supreme Court” (00:04).

• Quotes:

  "The abortion pill is a human pesticide. It is a pill designed to end an unborn human life." (00:04)

  "This is a giant subversion of pro-life America, a giant subversion by form of pill and by form of…they are being sent, even where the sending is basically banned by law." (00:04)

2. Shifting Attitudes Toward Marriage Among LGBTQ and Non-LGBTQ Adults

Mohler transitions to discussing a recent report from Pew Research Center, which examines the desires for marriage and parenthood among LGBTQ and non-LGBTQ adults under 50.

• Desire to Marry:

  • Majority Support Across Groups: “Majorities of LGBTQ and non LGBTQ US adults under 50 want to get married someday” (00:04).
  • Statistics:
    • 59% of LGBTQ Adults Under 50 Want to Marry: Similar to 63% of non-LGBTQ adults in the same age range (00:04).

• Parenthood Desires:

  • LGBTQ Adults Less Likely to Want Children: “LGBTQ adults under 50 who don't have children are much less likely than their non LGBT peers to say they want children someday” (00:04).
  • Gender Differences in Non-LGBTQ Adults:
    • 47% of Non-LGBTQ Adults Without Children Want Kids: Compared to a much smaller share among LGBTQ counterparts (00:04).

• Christian Worldview Perspective:

  • Mohler contrasts these findings with the Christian understanding of marriage as grounded in creation order, emphasizing that marriage inherently involves the creation of life.
  • He critiques the normalization of diverse family structures, arguing that terms like “have children” are used without acknowledging biological realities.

• Quotes:

  "We don't believe that a man and a man actually can be married. We don't believe that a man and a man actually are married." (00:04)

  "There is a far less pronounced desire for children among the women of that sample than among the men. That is just hugely significant." (00:04)

3. Resilience of Marriage: Insights from Brad Wilcox

In the latter part of the episode, Mohler delves into an article by Brad Wilcox published in The Atlantic titled "Why Marriage Survives," which examines the tenacity of marriage as a social institution despite declining trends in previous decades.

• Wilcox's Arguments:

  • Decline in Divorce Rates: “The divorce rate has now fallen by almost 40% and about half of that decline has happened in just the past 15 years” (00:04).
  • Increase in Two-Parent Families: There is a notable rise in children being raised in two-parent households, contributing to positive societal outcomes.
  • Marriage Among Various Demographics: Even groups that previously showed a decline in marriage rates, such as black and working-class Americans, are now seeing an uptick in marriages.

• Contrasting Perspectives:

  • Mohler acknowledges Stephanie Kuntz's stance that family and gender arrangements are largely irreversible but notes his and other conservatives' concerns about this permanence.
  • He highlights the hypocrisy in elite circles, where despite advocating for moral relativism, many students come from intact, married families.

• Impact on Society:

  • Benefits of Two-Parent Homes: Citing economist Melissa Carney, Mohler underscores that children from two-parent families have better behavioral and academic outcomes.
  • Moral Implications: He argues that the resurgence of stable marriages reflects an inherent human inclination towards creation order, transcending societal shifts.

• Quotes:

  "Marriage is pretty tenacious. And even as there are many statistics indicating a retreat from marriage, a subversion of marriage, and all this, and all those things are real." (00:04)

  "A majority of my students are liberal or progressive on many social issues. They are, at a minimum, non judgmental about lifestyles unlike their own." (00:04)

Conclusion

Albert Mohler concludes the episode by reaffirming the critical nature of the discussed issues—abortion and marriage—in the national conversation. He emphasizes the urgency for Christians to engage actively in legislative efforts to uphold pro-life values and traditional family structures. Mohler underscores the resilience of creation order amidst cultural subversion, expressing both concern over ongoing challenges and cautious optimism regarding positive trend reversals.

For more insights and updates, listeners are encouraged to visit Albert Mohler's website and follow him on X (formerly Twitter). Additional resources on the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and Voice College are available at spts.edu and voicecollege.com, respectively.