Podcast Summary: The Briefing with Albert Mohler Episode Date: Tuesday, May 27, 2025

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

1. Tragic Attack on Israeli Embassy Staffers in Washington, D.C.

Context and Details of the Attack

On May 27, 2025, a tragic incident occurred outside a Jewish museum in Washington, D.C., where two Israeli embassy staffers, Yaron Leshinsky and Sarah Milgram, were fatally shot. Leshinsky, a young man who had intended to propose to Milgram in the coming days, and Milgram, both dedicated members of the Israeli Foreign Service, were attacked as they were leaving the museum.

Implications for Security in Free Societies

Albert Mohler highlights the vulnerability of even highly secure environments like Washington, D.C., emphasizing the difficulty in protecting diplomatic personnel when they are in public spaces. He states:

“Protecting diplomatic personnel like this is very, very difficult. In a city like Washington, there is a great deal of security... but taking staffers out into the community makes it impossible to have two security officers with every member at all times.”
(Timestamp: 03:15)

Mohler draws parallels to the September 11 attacks, underscoring that free societies are inherently vulnerable to such threats because security forces can never anticipate every malicious act.

Motivations and Ideological Underpinnings

The perpetrator, upon arrest, declared, "I did it for Palestine. Free Palestine," indicating a motivation rooted in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Mohler notes:

“A terrorist only has to get it right once. That shows the vulnerability of civilization.”
(Timestamp: 10:45)

He underscores that such acts of violence are manifestations of persistent evil in the world, aligning with a Christian worldview that recognizes the fallen nature of humanity.

Perspectives from a Christian Worldview

From a Christian perspective, Mohler reflects on the nature of evil and the challenges it poses to civilization. He asserts:

“In a fallen world, a dangerous world, evil, seizing the opportunity. That's a good biblical term.”
(Timestamp: 12:30)

He also points out the irony in the perpetrator's background, who was raised with one Jewish parent and one Christian parent, and identified as a devout Christian, yet chose to associate his fate with Israel:

“He had tied his fate to the people of Israel.”
(Timestamp: 18:20)

This highlights the complex interplay between personal faith and political motivations.

2. Fuller Seminary Reaffirms Historic LGBTQ Stance

Background and Context

Fuller Theological Seminary, a prominent institution in American evangelicalism, recently reaffirmed its historic stance on LGBTQ issues. After years of debate and pressure from LGBTQ students, faculty, and affiliated denominations, the Board of Trustees decided to maintain Fuller's traditional theological understanding of marriage and sexuality.

The Debate and Decision

The seminary's decision was framed as a reaffirmation of its core identity, despite calls from some student groups to revise policies to be more inclusive of LGBTQ individuals. Mohler critiques the process, noting that the decision was made by the Board of Trustees without necessarily reflecting the views of the entire faculty or student body.

“It turns out that when you have a self-perpetuating board of trustees... you end up electing trustees who are more financially qualified than confessionally qualified.”
(Timestamp: 35:10)

He highlights the discrepancy between the board's decision and the diversity of beliefs within the faculty and student body, pointing out that over a dozen faculty members belong to affirming churches despite the institution's official stance.

Institutional Challenges and Consequences

Mohler discusses the internal conflicts and consequences of Fuller's stance, including the firing of Ruth Schmidt, a senior director who identified as queer and refused to sign the school's statement of faith. This led to student protests demanding a moratorium on expulsions and firings.

“Fuller is going to do its own thing. It's going to chart its own way.”
(Timestamp: 28:50)

He also references historical shifts within the seminary, such as the removal of biblical inerrancy from its confession of faith in 1970, and recent changes influenced by figures like Richard Hayes, who advocated for LGBTQ affirming positions before his passing.

Reflection on Broader Impacts on Christian Institutions

Mohler uses Fuller's situation as an object lesson for Christian institutions facing similar pressures. He warns against seeking a "middle ground" on fundamental biblical issues, emphasizing that such compromises can lead to institutional instability.

“There is no middle ground on an issue like this. There is biblical authority and there is the demand of the LGBTQ community.”
(Timestamp: 42:05)

He stresses the importance of upholding biblical truth in the face of cultural pressures, suggesting that the Fuller Seminary case is a precursor to broader challenges facing evangelical institutions.

3. Brief Mention: Boggle's Highest Possible Score

Towards the end of the episode, Mohler briefly touches on an unrelated topic—the game of Boggle. A former Google employee used extensive computing power to determine the highest possible score in a single round of Boggle, identifying "replastering" as the top-scoring word. The theoretical maximal board could produce 1,045 words worth 33,625 points, though the odds of encountering such a board are astronomically low.

“Your chance of encountering this board after shaking the cubes at home are about 1 in 10 quintillion.”
(Timestamp: 55:40)

While an interesting tidbit for Boggle enthusiasts, this segment is peripheral to the main discussions of the episode.

Conclusion

In this episode, Albert Mohler delves into two critical issues affecting the global and Christian community: the alarming security vulnerabilities exemplified by the tragic attack on Israeli embassy staffers, and the contentious debate within evangelical institutions over LGBTQ inclusion, as illustrated by Fuller Seminary's reaffirmation of its historic stance. Through a Christian worldview lens, Mohler emphasizes the persistent presence of evil and the challenges posed by cultural shifts that conflict with biblical teachings. The episode underscores the necessity for Christian institutions to uphold their doctrinal foundations amidst evolving societal pressures.