It’s Thursday, April 13th, A.D. 2023. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard at www.TheWorldview.com. I’m Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com)
By Jonathan Clark
38 new Bible translations completed in 2022
The United Bible Societies report 57 translations of the Bible or parts of it were completed in 2022. It’s a record for new translations in a year.
This includes 14 new complete Bible translations, five New Testament translations, and 38 translations of parts of the Bible. These efforts make Scripture available to 100 million people for the first time.
Still, an estimated 200 million people covering nearly 4,000 languages do not have Scripture in their language. The United Bible Societies hopes to finish 1,200 more Bible translations in the next 15 years.
Psalm 22:27 says, “All the ends of the world shall remember and turn to the LORD, and all the families of the nations shall worship before You.”
European atheists and agnostics increase
Atheists and agnostics continue to increase in western Europe.
A new report found that 40% of people in Spain said they have no religion last year. That’s up from 27% in 2018. Even among Spaniards who identify as religious, over 60% said they do not practice their faith.
Also, a new poll from France suggests over half of the population do not believe in God. In 2011, 56% of people in the country said they believe in God.
In both countries, the youngest generation of adults were the most likely to reject God.
Psalm 10:4 says, “The wicked in his proud countenance does not seek God; God is in none of his thoughts.”
Attacks on U.S. churches on the rise
On Monday, the Family Research Council released a report on church attacks in the U.S. this year.
The report noted, “Criminal acts against churches have been steadily on the rise for the past several years, and the first quarter of 2023 has continued the upward trend. The first three months of 2023 saw approximately three times the number of acts of hostility perpetrated against churches in the same timeframe last year.”
The report documents 69 acts of hostility against churches this year. This includes 53 acts of vandalism, 10 arson-related attacks, three gun-related incidents, and three bomb threats.
Churches in North Carolina experienced the most attacks followed by Ohio, Tennessee, Florida, Missouri, and Pennsylvania.
Biden ended COVID-19 emergency
On Monday, President Joe Biden signed bipartisan legislation to officially end the COVID-19 national emergency.
The emergency declaration has been in effect for three years. A separate public health emergency will expire next month.
The emergency declarations gave the government sweeping powers over economic, health, and welfare systems. These powers are now phasing out. With the end of the health emergency next month, Title 42 will be terminated. It had allowed for tougher immigration restrictions at the U.S. border with Mexico.
Surgical abortions dropped dramatically after Dobbs decision
A report from the pro-abortion group Society of Family Planning found that abortions dropped noticeably last year. This came after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade on June 24, 2022.
On average, 5,000 fewer babies were murdered in the womb each month between July and December of last year. The 13 states with abortion bans in place at the time saw an average of over 7,000 fewer abortions each month.
Although abortions overall decreased last year, abortions through virtual clinic telehealth providers increased by 137%.
Anniversary of Handel’s Messiah
And finally, today marks the anniversary of the first performance of the Messiah, the famous music composed by George Frideric Handel.
The monumental work for orchestra, choir, and soloists debuted in Dublin, Ireland in 1742. The lyrics of the piece were drawn entirely from the Bible. Handel wrote the music in just 24 days.
Many associate the Messiah with Christmas since the first part of the work shares the story of Christ’s birth. However, the piece goes on to tell of Christ’s death and resurrection and the outpouring of the Spirit at Pentecost.
Listen to this excerpt from Handel’s Messiah from Grace Cathedral, taken from Job 19:25, as His resurrection and deity are both underscored.
FEMALE SINGER: “I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that He shall stand at the latter day upon the Earth.”
It is no surprise then that the work debuted following Resurrection Sunday.
Handel’s manuscript of the Messiah ends with the letters S.D.G. They stand for Soli Deo Gloria which is Latin for “to God alone be the glory.”
1 Timothy 1:7 says, “Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.”
Close
And that’s The Worldview in 5 Minutes on this Thursday, April 13th in the year of our Lord 2023. 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.