It’s Thursday, November 18th, 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
What do Nigeria, the Taliban and North Korean President have in common?
International Christian Concern released their 2021 Persecutor of the Year report on Tuesday.
The report listed the top persecuting country as Nigeria, the top persecuting entity as the Taliban in Afghanistan, and the top persecuting individual as North Korea’s President Kim Jung-un. Other sources of persecution on the list involve China, India, Iran, Myanmar, Pakistan, Turkey, Indonesia, and Iraq.
Muslim militants have displaced millions of Christians in Nigeria and killed 50,000 to 70,000 believers there since 2000. The Taliban has been cracking down on the small community of Christians in Afghanistan since the U.S. military withdrawal. And Kim Jong-un’s North Korea has killed over one million Christians and sent about 30,000 Christians to prison camps.
Americans urged to leave Haiti now
The U.S. Embassy in Haiti is urging Americans to depart Haiti now.
Violence and gang activity is spreading across the country. This has triggered fuel shortages and infrastructure failures.
Gunmen shot Pastor Stanis Stifinson outside of Haiti’s capital city this month, wounding him and his son and killing his daughter. Meanwhile, 16 American missionaries and one Canadian remain missing since their kidnapping by the 400 Mawozo gang.
Judge prohibits hospital from firing non-vaccinated employees
A U.S. judge granted Oklahoma’s request to temporarily block Ascension St. John Health System from firing employees who have been denied religious exemptions from the COVID shot.
Oklahoma Attorney General John O’Connor said, “This is a win for religious freedom and our office will continue to fight against unlawful religious discrimination.”
Enforcement of Biden’s COVID-shot mandate paused
The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration announced it will comply with the 5th Circuit Appeals Court by pausing enforcement of its COVID-shot mandate for private companies.
Dozens of states, employers, and religious groups have filed suit against the mandate across multiple circuit courts.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit will now handle all lawsuits against the mandate after the Justice Department requested one court to handle the cases.
Voters prefer Republicans
An ABC News/Washington Post poll found early midterm vote preferences favor Republican congressional candidates.
Fifty-one percent of registered voters prefer a Republican candidate, while 41% prefer a Democrat. It’s the largest midterm lead Republican candidates have held in 40 years.
Independents, who are often key swing voters, favor GOP candidates by 50-32%.
Catholic Bishops wimpy on withholding communion
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops voted in favor of a statement on communion yesterday.
Some Roman Catholic leaders have called for bishops to withhold communion from Catholic politicians who support abortion, like President Joe Biden and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
The document included a reference to defending the unborn; however, the statement did not give any specific direction about giving communion to Catholic politicians who support abortion.
Isaiah 48:22 says, “‘There is no peace,’ says the LORD, ‘for the wicked.’”
Drug overdoses up
Drug overdose fatalities in the U.S. rose 30% to 100,000 deaths from May 2020 to April 2021.
Many of the deaths involved the illicit drug of fentanyl which surpassed heroine five years ago as the drug most commonly used in overdose deaths.
The record number of overdose deaths came during a year of strict lockdowns in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
56% of young adults believe there are no moral absolutes
And finally, researcher George Barna released the “Millennials in America” report on the attitudes and beliefs of adults in their 20s and 30s.
The report noted, “For some time, Americans have been turning their back on the notion that absolute moral truths exist. Millennials are leading the charge.”
Sixty-five percent of young adults identify with Christianity, 8% with other religions, and 27% with no religion.
However, 56% of young adults say there are no moral absolutes, and only 46% of them say they turn to the Bible for moral guidance.
Matthew 5:18 says, “For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.”
Close
And that’s The Worldview in 5 Minutes on this Thursday, November 18th, 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.