Podcast Summary: The Briefing with Albert Mohler

Episode: Wednesday, October 22, 2025
Host: R. Albert Mohler, Jr.
Theme: Cultural Commentary from a Biblical Perspective

Overview

In this episode, Albert Mohler provides a biblical analysis of two major cultural developments:

1. The Church of England's decision to delay further action on authorizing same-sex marriage and same-sex blessings, and
2. The rise of progressive, social justice–oriented children’s Bible storybooks.

Mohler approaches both stories as teachable moments for understanding contemporary challenges to biblical orthodoxy in the Western church, emphasizing the theological stakes for Christians, parents, and the next generation.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Church of England Delays Same-Sex Marriage (00:04–18:50 approx.)

• Background & Headline:

  • The Church of England's House of Bishops announced a delay on changing church law and worship practices to allow same-sex ceremonies or marriages. While headlines suggested the bishops had "killed" plans for gay marriage, Mohler argues this is simply a postponement, not a definitive rejection. (00:04)

• Procedural Details:

  • Any changes require a two-thirds majority in the General Synod’s three houses, a threshold currently unlikely to be met.
  • The bishops will seek "further legal and theological advice" before making a future statement.

• Recent Developments Recap:

  • In early 2023, the Synod allowed priests to bless gay couples, but only within regular services and not as dedicated ceremonies, leading to dissatisfaction from both progressive and evangelical constituencies. (01:44)
  • A later vote in 2023 endorsed trials of special standalone services, akin to "gay weddings light," but conservative backlash led to the current postponement strategy. (03:18)

• Mohler's Analysis of Leadership Statements:

  • Cites Archbishop of York Stephen Cottrell’s words:

    “As we continue prayerfully to navigate this important work...we believe these are the right decisions following further legal and theological advice. However, we recognize that for some, they will be difficult and disappointing. I continue to pray for God's grace and gentleness for us all as we continue to discern a way through these questions.” (05:30)

    • Mohler critiques the language of “navigating” and “discerning a way through,” arguing that it signals movement away from biblical orthodoxy rather than clear defense of it.
    • Quote: “If you're navigating, you're headed somewhere. And in this case, the only safe harbor is biblical orthodoxy…” (07:01)

• Progressive & Evangelical Responses:

  • LGBTQ advocates accuse the bishops of dishonesty and deliberate obstruction via procedural hurdles (two-thirds rule).

    “My feeling on it is basically that moving to the 2/3 majority is essentially a way of killing it, because they know there's not a 2/3 majority in Synod...” (12:25)

  • Evangelical Anglicans are portrayed as valiantly but tenuously holding the line for biblical doctrine in an unsupportive denomination.

• Broader Implications:

  • Mohler insists the bishops are choosing pragmatic delay over principled clarity:

    “Not so much...how to stand against the tide of moral revolution, but rather how to stand rather weakly against the tide in order to achieve something like a delay…” (03:54)

  • Calls listeners to pray for steadfast evangelicals within the Church of England.

2. Progressive, Social Justice Children’s Bibles (18:51–end)

• Emergence of Progressive Bible Storybooks:

  • Publishers are releasing new children’s Bibles with emphases on social justice, diversity, and “open-minded” readings, specifically targeting progressive Christians dissatisfied with traditional Bible teaching. (19:11)

• Noteworthy Titles & Features:

  • “The Just Love Story Bible” by Jackie Lewis and Shannon Daley Harris (ages 4–10):

    • 52 Bible stories with characters of various skin tones and “justice-oriented” messaging.
    • Authors' stated goal: “to teach young people a theology of love and justice that we don't have to unlearn.” (20:44)
    • Encourages children to “ask questions and challenge traditional beliefs about God, Jesus and the biblical narrative.”
    • On the resurrection:

      “For me it matters more that children know that love never dies. So that's where I landed.” (23:36)

    • Regarding biblical historicity:

      “Some of these stories are about true people and things that really happened and some of them are made up stories, but they're in there because they can still teach us true things about God.” (24:23)

    • Mohler notes: This is a direct admission that some authors do not believe all biblical stories are literal history (e.g., Jonah).

  • “Come and See: An Invitation to a Radical Encounter with Jesus” by Shannon TL Kearns (ages 11+):

    • Written by a transgender priest in the Old Catholic tradition. (26:01)

  • “Growing in God’s Love: A Family Devotional” (Westminster John Knox Press, ages 5–17):

    • Deliberately avoids gendered language (“mother” or “father”) except in scriptural quotations, for inclusivity. (27:23)

• Publisher & Author Attitudes Toward Orthodoxy:

  • Quote: “There will be a group of sort of literalist or fundamentalist folks for whom this isn't a welcome resource. But it's been really interesting to see the reception from not just folks who are raised progressive but those who...grow out of a theology and are looking for one they can grow into and grow with alongside their children.” (29:03)

• Mohler’s Critique:

  • Asserts that such projects require “staying away from the actual Bible” because the actual texts contain patriarchal and supernatural themes intolerable to progressive ideology.

    “If you're going to avoid mother and father except in direct quotations, you're going to imply that none of it matters...” (28:11)

  • Suggests the market for such Bibles is likely to be very limited, with most Bible sales reflecting a more traditional customer base.

• Hermeneutic of Suspicion Applied to Children:

  • Highlights the authors’ admission they want to introduce children, even as young as four, to a “hermeneutic of suspicion”—reading the Bible with mistrust, expecting it to contain oppression or falsehoods.

    “Isn't that what you want for your children, to read the Bible or hear the Bible and be suspicious of the Bible?” (32:55)

  • Mohler finds this not just liberal, but “spiritually and theologically sick.”

• Historical Perspective on Liberal Theology:

  • Quotes J. Gresham Machen:

    “When you talk about liberal theology, you're not talking about, as compared with orthodoxy, two forms or two branches of Christianity. You're talking about Christianity, which is the orthodox side, and another religion entirely, which is the liberal side.” (33:35)

  • Concludes that these two approaches reflect two incompatible religions—one based on revealed truth, another on human reimagining.

• Final Appeal to Listeners:

  • Urges Christian parents to raise children with confidence in the full truth of scripture:

    “The last thing we want for ourselves or for our children or anyone else is to look at Scripture with a hermeneutic of suspicion.” (36:02)

  • Declares: “It really does mean that we, along with our children, take for example the story of Jonah, hook, line and sinker. All of it. Amen.” (37:01)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

| Timestamp | Speaker | Quote | |-----------|---------|-------| | 07:01 | Mohler | “If you're navigating, you're headed somewhere. And in this case, the only safe harbor is biblical orthodoxy...” | | 12:25 | Unnamed Gay Priest | “Moving to the 2/3 majority is essentially a way of killing it, because they know there's not a 2/3 majority in Synod. It's always been the language for let's kill it.” | | 20:44 | Authors of Just Love Story Bible | “Our agenda is to teach young people a theology of love and justice that we don't have to unlearn.” | | 23:36 | Co-author, Just Love Story Bible | “For me it matters more that children know that love never dies. So that's where I landed.” (On Resurrection) | | 24:23 | Co-author, Just Love Story Bible | “Some of these stories are about true people and things that really happened and some of them are made up stories, but they're in there because they can still teach us true things about God.” | | 29:03 | Co-author, Just Love Story Bible | “There will be a group of sort of literalist or fundamentalist folks for whom this isn't a welcome resource. But it's been really interesting to see the reception from not just folks who are raised progressive but those who…grow out of a theology and are looking for one they can grow into and grow with alongside their children.” | | 33:35 | Mohler, quoting Machen | “When you talk about liberal theology…you're talking about Christianity…and another religion entirely, which is the liberal side.” | | 36:02 | Mohler | “The last thing we want for ourselves or for our children or anyone else is to look at Scripture with a hermeneutic of suspicion.” | | 37:01 | Mohler | “It really does mean that we, along with our children, take for example the story of Jonah, hook, line and sinker. All of it. Amen.” |

Conclusion

Mohler’s commentary stresses that both headline stories—whether a national church’s equivocation on marriage or new attempts to rewrite the Bible for children—offer decisive moments for Christians to choose between biblical fidelity and cultural accommodation. He urges listeners to stand firmly on scriptural authority and to raise children likewise, resisting the “hermeneutic of suspicion” and other progressive reinterpretations.

For listeners seeking a clear, convictional Christian response to cultural developments, this episode reinforces the imperative to uphold biblical truth—without apology or compromise.