January brings us a new year and a new menu. While in December we spent time tasting the many dishes related to Christmas and a host of other concerns, January brings us back to the vital work of bringing abortion to an end. In the first January after the June 2022 Dobbs decision, Christ Over All approached the subject of abortion and our moral obligation to put an end to this deadly scourge.
Since 1973, more than 60 million babies have been aborted. And surely those numbers do not include the pregnancies terminated by women ingesting a pill that takes the life of their child. Indeed, for all the ways that advocates for life celebrated the end of Roe, the sad truth remains: abortions have not gone down in America since 2022. Instead, they continue to be celebrated by radical activists, defended by elderly women in pink hats, and protected by some pro-life advocates who cannot bring themselves to prosecute a woman for seeking an abortion.
When it comes to the debate around abortion there are fault lines between political parties and advocates and opponents of abortion. Yet, at the same time, there are fault lines between those who would seek to end abortion, too. Most prominently, there is a divide between abolitionists and incrementalists. Abolitionists are driven by both the Word of God and equal protection under the law to end abortion immediately and totally. Incrementalists also long for abortion to be ended, but they strategize ways to limit abortion legislatively, even if those measures may not call for the total abolition of abortion. So in general, an incrementalist would support a legislative ban on abortions after the ten weeks of gestation, while an abolitionist would not support this kind of ban—because why allow babies to be murdered before they are ten weeks old?
In between is a world of nuance. There are abolitionists who rejected Donald Trump for the way the Republican party softened their stance on abortion, and there are others who continued to support our forty-seventh president. There are smash-mouth incrementalists who are committed to equal protection under the law and the ultimate goal of abolition, but who are also willing to concede various incremental strategies on the way to that end. And there are other pro-life advocates and organizations, some who are not even Christian, who work against abortion, but who will not hold the woman accountable for their role in killing their own child. Throw in a host of strong personalities, media skills, organizational commitments, and regional differences, and you have a hornets’ nest of issues to work through in bringing the unchanging law of God to the laws of our land.
Scripture is undeniable: Thou shalt not kill. And all parties who shed blood are responsible to God for the blood they shed. Equally, every image of God, from the moment of fertilization, deserves protection. Legal protection is not something that should be granted when the child is delivered, or at the moment they can feel pain, or the moment their heart beats. Rather, if our affections are shaped by the Word of God, we should strive for the protection of life no matter the size, age, or location of the child. The child in the womb deserves the same protection as the woman on the street. Yet, many of our states do not have laws that protect the unborn in this way.
At the same time, how do we pass laws when the hearts of the lawmakers are so battle-hardened against the calls for life? How do pro-life politicians convince women and men who are religiously committed to radical feminism to protect the child instead of a woman’s “right to choose”? And if some partial-measure is passed that saves some children—a heartbeat bill, for instance—on the way to writing laws that protect all children, then shouldn’t we celebrate such legislation—even as we fight for more? And we also might consider that every state has a different representative make-up, which will result in different legislative strategies. And so, if there is an organization with a national platform, shouldn’t that organization refuse to stand in the way of an outright abolition of abortion in one state for fear of what that might do in another state?
These questions and others stand at the heart of the debate today, and this month, we intend to talk about them all. Without taking a side that says abolitionists are right and incrementalists are wrong, or vice versa, we hope to widen the conversation this month to let all parties speak. And so, in the weeks ahead we will hear from abolitionists and incrementalists, authors and advocates, politicians and political commentators, on the best strategies to end abortion. And in facilitating a debate among brothers and sisters in Christ, we hope to further the conversation in such a way that we can understand the arguments on both sides and how and where we can work together to bring an end to abortion.
To that end, we enter the new year seeking to abolish abortion and to advocate for life.
One last thing: we would value your feedback as we go through this month. As you look at the upcoming articles we have planned and you see an area, angle, or argument that we have missed, send us an email (located at the bottom footer of our website) and let us know soon. If there’s an essay you’d like to contribute, reach out to us and let’s talk.
Christmas Buffet: Assorted Articles for an Edifying Advent
Before running into the new year, don’t miss all the healthy portions from December. In these essays we have a mix of Christmas devotions, Christian doctrine, and a host of other considerations. So take a look and share with others anything good you find (our longforms are in bold below).
- Law is King: How the Bible Shapes Our View of Law & Civil Government by Levi Secord • Longform Essay • Deuteronomy 17 shows that kings stand under God’s law. This article explores how rulers rise to power, why they must obey the law, and whether these truths apply beyond Israel.
- City of God: A Primer by Daniel Strand • Concise Article • Augustine’s City of God has withstood the test of time, exerting influence on political thought for nearly 1,600 years. In this article, scholar Daniel Strand provides an overview of Augustine’s magnum opus, discussing its background, literary genre, structure, and key themes.
- 4.55 “Law is King: How the Bible Shapes Our View of Law & Civil Government” by Levi Secord • Podcast Reading • Deuteronomy 17 shows that kings stand under God’s law. This article explores how rulers rise to power, why they must obey the law, and whether these truths apply beyond Israel.
- Vocation Politics: The Discourses of Pierre de La Place by Timon Cline • Concise Article • Martyred Huguenot Pierre de La Place saw politics as the harmony of all vocations. This essay uncovers his rich vision for public life, calling, and the common good.
- A Brief Theology of Leisure for an Over-Worked and Anxious People by Benjamin Nguyen • Concise Article • Life is busy and work is hard whether you are a Christian or not. But the Bible helps us think rightly about both our labors and our rest. Read on as Benjamin Nguyen outlines the theme of rest, or leisure, in the Bible and applies it to believers today.
- A Primer on Kuyper’s Politics by Jordan J. Ballor • Concise Article • A practical introduction to Abraham Kuyper’s political theology—common grace, sphere sovereignty, and a vision of Christ’s lordship over all life.
- Stop and See the Stars: Medieval Mysteries and Contemporary Christians by Michael Longerbeam • Concise Article • A call for Christians to resist a mechanized view of the universe by recovering the medieval sense of mystery, order, and humility—learning from C.S. Lewis and Jason Baxter to slow down, look up, and remember the God who made the stars.
- Was Jesus a Refugee? And Why It Matters for the Immigration Issue by Alex Kocman • Longform Essay • In an effort to steer well-meaning Christians’ sympathies, some leaders in the church have cited the life of our Lord as evidence for their progressive political agenda. But are they getting their facts straight? Read as Alex Kocman dispels the emotional trump-card, “Jesus was a refugee.”
- 4.56 “Was Jesus a Refugee? And Why It Matters for Immigration” by Alex Kocman • Podcast Reading • In an effort to steer well-meaning Christians’ sympathies, some leaders in the church have cited the life of our Lord as evidence for their progressive political agenda. But are they getting their facts straight? Read as Alex Kocman dispels the emotional trump-card, “Jesus was a refugee.”
- Christmas Poetry: “Emmanuel Revealed: A Catechism on Hope” by Dan Haase • Concise Article • A poetic catechism meditating on hope, its nature, and its consummation in love through the advent of Emmanuel.
- The Christmas Gift of Un-Clouded Spirituality by Andrew Ballard • Concise Article • Many see their spiritual life like Israel’s sojourn in the wilderness: always chasing an elusive, tangible God. But Andrew Ballard shows how in Christ, we have received a greater, more substantial experience of God. So, let us leave behind a “cloudy spirituality,” and instead embrace Christ in all his glory.
- Should Pastors Be Political?: Alcohol Prohibition as Test Case in Dallas, TX by Marc Minter • Concise Article • Should religious leaders hold sway over their congregation’s ballots? Does a pastor speaking to political issues violate the separation of church and state? Read on as Marc Minter illuminates the issue via the test case of George Truett’s support for prohibition in 1917.
- Christmas Hope and the Stockdale Paradox: Christmas in Light of Our Liberation from Sin by Josh Wootton • Concise Article • Many of our carols speak of the joy of Christmas. One source of that joy is the liberation from sin which we receive a foretaste of in this life. Read as Josh Wootton offers a brief explanation of how the freedom from sin inaugurated in Christ gives us hope this Christmas.
- 4.57 “Law is King: How the Bible Shapes Our View of Law & Civil Government” by Levi Secord, David Schrock, & Stephen Wellum • Podcast Interview • Listen in as David Schrock and Stephen Wellum interview Levi Secord on his COA Longform Essay: “Law is King: How the Bible Shapes Our View of Law & Civil Government.”
- Christmas Among Curses by Brandon D. Myers • Concise Article • Christmas is meant to be a joyous time when we remember the wonderful advent of our Lord Jesus. But this joy can only be rightly received when the curse is felt.
- Christmas is for Kids by Garrett Wishall • Concise Article • Obviously, Christmas is for kids! But what if I told you that it’s ONLY for kids—that unless you become a kid yourself, Christmas isn’t for you? That’s what Jesus said, and Garrett Wishall is here to remind us how to do it.
- Matthew’s Genealogy Isn’t Missing a Name—It’s Making a Claim by Jeremy Sexton • Concise Article • While many of us may skip the opening genealogy in Matthew’s gospel, Jeremy Sexton argues that Matthew’s first chapter is rich with gospel truth. Read on and see how the generations from Abraham to Jesus bring us to the heart of Nicene theology, glorifying our great savior!
- A Wide Road to Hell: Pluralism, the Incarnation, and the Exclusivity of Christ by Chris Prosser • Concise Article • Why do non-Christians like the Christmas story? Because everyone loves a Jesus who is merely one manifestation of God’s love among many. But such a Jesus cannot save you. The whole narrative of Scripture and the reality of the incarnation both demand that Jesus be exclusive: apart from him there is no salvation.
- 4.58 “Was Jesus a Refugee? And Why It Matters for Immigration” by Alex Kocman, David Schrock, & Stephen Wellum • Podcast Interview • Listen in as David Schrock & Stephen Wellum interview Alex Kocman on his COA Longform Essay “Was Jesus a Refugee? And Why It Matters for Immigration.”
- A Heart for Christmas or for Christ? by David Schrock • Concise Article • Introducing the very first short story in Christ Over All’s history! This won’t be the last—next December, we’ll hold a short story competition all month long!
- Attention as Worship by Jeff Beaupre • Concise Article • What if what you pay attention to most reveals what you worship?
- In Defense of Religion: Why “Jesus vs. Religion” Falls Apart by Tyler Cox • Concise Article • Should we ditch “religion” for Jesus because the term has negative connotations? Or is embracing the concept of religion fundamental to what it means to be a Christian?
- 4.59 “Christ Over All Editor Roundtable & A Preview of 2026” by David Schrock, Trent Hunter, Ardel Caneday, & Stephen Wellum • Podcast Interview • Listen in as the Editorial Board for Christ Over All reviews the year of 2025 and looks forward to what’s coming in 2026.
- Hope of the Prophets: The Divine Missions and the Literal Sense of the Old Testament by Michael Pereira • Concise Article • How do we reconcile the Old Testament authors genuinely foretelling New Testament realities, but then only the Son can reveal the saving knowledge of these realities? The answer lies in divine missions.
News and Notes
First, thank you for giving!
In the Lord’s kindness, Christ Over All received a $25,000 matching gift, and in the month of December we raised more than $40,000, with a few receipts still being totaled. So, thank you for giving and praying and supporting this work. It is only as the Lord provides through your generous gifts that we can continue to bring these resources online.
Second, this month we will begin selling our PDFs—half off!
As Steve Wellum noted on our last podcast for 2025, each month Christ Over All is compiling a book’s worth of material on given subjects. And for those who are avid readers, you know that the volume is more than you can often read in one month. Yet, in our attempts to produce evergreen material, we often want to cover an issue from multiple angles—biblical, theological, historical, cultural, and practical.
What that means in a month, however, is that often it is too much. Yet, we believe it is just right when you want to dive deep into a subject or use the materials for a class or discipleship group. And to help facilitate that, we will begin selling our PDFs for $15. The cost goes to help cover the expenses of the ministry and in time, we hope to find a way to print our months. But for now, each PDF will be a well-formatted, paginated journal that you can download and share with those you are ministering to. And for starters, every theme will be half-off. So keep your eyes out for these PDFs.
Third, be aware of our upcoming months.
We receive submissions from faithful Christians who have thought deeply about our topics. If you have interest in one of the following topics in bold and are interested in writing for us (in line with our doctrinal distinctives), feel free to shoot us an e-mail to tell us what you are thinking. We are still taking submissions for the months in bold below:
January: Abolishing Abortion, Advocating for Life
February: God Is . . . Engaging the Doctrine of God
March: Can the Center Hold? The SBC in the Twenty First Century
April: The Resurrection in the Old Testament
May: Critiquing Eastern Orthodoxy
June: Opposing Islam
July: Celebrating America’s 250th Anniversary
August: A Sabbath Rest: A Collection of COA’s Best Essays . . . So Far
September: The Ten Commandments
October: Pastor, Be Political: A Guide Glorifying God in the Midterms
November: Economics 101
December: Christmas Carols to the Glory of God
Fourth, we’d love to see you face to face in the next few months.
In 2026, we will be visiting Southwest Florida to join the Founders National Conference in Fort Myers on January 22–24. That week David Schrock will be one of the speakers, and we will have a booth. Sign up here to join us.
Join Trent Hunter, David Helm, and Ryan Kelly in Greenville, SC, from January 28–30, 2026, for a Simeon Trust Workshop on Leviticus. If you are a pastor, preacher, or aspiring minister of the gospel, this hands-on workshop is well worth the time.
That’s all for this month. Until next time, let’s remember that because Christ is Lord over all, we ought exalt Christ in all things.
