It’s Thursday, August 12th, A.D. 2021. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard at www.TheWorldview.com. I’m Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com)
By Jonathan Clark
Muslim Taliban fighters could take control of Kabul, Afghanistan
U.S. intelligence reports that Muslim extremist fighters with the Taliban could take control of Kabul, Afghanistan, the capital city in just 90 days.
The Taliban now controls 65% of the central Asian nation, as President Biden ordered U.S.-led forces to withdraw. The Islamic insurgency has displaced about 400,000 Afghans in recent months.
Meanwhile, the U.S. State Department is expanding eligibility for refugee status to Afghans.
How Christians in Afghanistan are now in danger
The current instability in Afghanistan only adds to the danger for Christians living there.
Since 2004, Afghanistan banned public preaching of the Gospel and converting to Christianity. The church there has had to survive underground for some time now.
One Afghan church leader told International Christian Concern the Taliban is planning on killing known Christians as they take over parts of the country.
The church leader also said the Taliban would take children from Christian families and force the girls into marriages with Taliban soldiers and force the boys into being soldiers.
The church leader said he expects the church to grow even through this hardship.
LEADER: “There are times of fear. And right now, we are distressed. We will see great things because God is definitely in charge of His church. There will be fear. There will be time where people would struggle, even to trust their own God. But I think, to look at the future of the church, through this hardship, the church is going to grow.”
1 Peter 4:12-13 says, “Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.”
Is military allowing religious exemption from COVID vaccine mandate?
By September, all U.S. soldiers will be required to get vaccinated against COVID-19.
However, the Pentagon released guidelines for how active-duty members can get a religious exemption from having to get the vaccine.
Pentagon press secretary John Kirby stated, “We take freedom of religion and worship seriously, in the military. It’s one of the things that we sign up to defend.”
Crawford, Texas passes Sanctuary for the Unborn ordinance
On Tuesday, the City Council of Crawford, Texas voted to become the 36th city in the nation to pass a Sanctuary City for the Unborn ordinance.
Councilwoman Cindy Vannatta said, “Crawford is honored to stand up for the unborn to make sure that no babies are killed in our city limits by abortion.”
So far, 33 cities in Texas, two in Nebraska, and one in Ohio have passed ordinances to ban abortions.
Other cities across Texas, Ohio, Florida, and other states are also considering passing similar legislation.
300 legislatures looking to limit governors from COVID lockdowns
USA Today reports lawmakers in 46 states, Guam, and Puerto Rico have drafted 300 proposals to limit the executive powers of their governors. This comes in response to many governors instituting controversial COVID lockdowns and mask mandates.
In many cases, Republican-controlled legislators are moving to reign in the power of Democrat governors. Some states also want to protect churches from being shut down again.
San Antonio Dem. Mayor sues GOP TX Gov, forcing new mask mandates
In San Antonio, Texas and the greater Bexar County area, Democrat Mayor Ron Nirenberg and Democrat Bexar County Commissioner Nelson Wolff sued Republican Texas Governor Greg Abbott as they objected to his July 29th executive order which prohibited local governments from imposing new COVID lockdowns and mask mandates.
Judge Antonia Arteaga temporarily overturned Abbott’s order, reports the San Antonio Express-News. Thanks to the Democrat lawsuit, masks will now be mandated for schools and public buildings in the Alamo City and Bexar County. San Antonio conservatives are furious!
Gov. Greg Abbott is fighting back. On Wednesday, he and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed their first court action to strike down a mask mandate enacted by local officials in defiance of Abbott’s ban on them.
Young people struggling anxiety and depression
A new study found young people around the world are facing increased depression and anxiety during the fallout from the coronavirus pandemic response.
One in four young people are struggling with depression, and one in five are struggling with anxiety.
Lead researcher Sheri Madigan said, “Being socially isolated, kept away from their friends, their school routines and extracurricular activities during the pandemic has proven to be difficult on youth.”
One-third of Americans said faith gave them hope in pandemic
Meanwhile, a new poll from Lifeway Research found that over a third of Americans said their faith is what gave them hope through the pandemic.
Many people also drew hope from kindness people have shown, their relationships, and their finances. People were less likely to derive hope from the knowledge of experts and scientists, from recreation and leisure, or from their work.
Protestants were the most likely to say their faith has given them hope through the last year. Among Christians, those who attend church four times or more a month were the most likely to say the same.
Romans 5:1-2 says, “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.”
Our apology for a detail in Cuomo news story
And finally, we regret and apologize for the inclusion of an explicit description of sin in the accusations leveled against New York Democrat Governor Andrew Cuomo in yesterday’s newscast.
It is our commitment to bring edifying news, and to avoid excessively explicit descriptions and accusations of sin, and that none of us would dwell upon the “unfruitful works of darkness.” (Ephesians 5:11)
Close
And that’s The Worldview in 5 Minutes on this Thursday, August 12th, in the year of our Lord 2021. Subscribe by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com. Or get the Generations app through Google Play or The App Store. I’m Adam McManus (adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.