It’s Thursday, May 25th, 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
Iranians released Christian couple from prison
Praise God! Iranian authorities released a Christian couple earlier this month from prison.
Officials sentenced Homayoun Zhaveh and his wife Sara Ahmadi to years in prison for participating in a home church. Authorities often use charges of acting against national security when arresting believers.
Mansour Borji with Article 18 noted Iran has a “proven track record of systematically persecuting Persian-speaking Christians, regardless of their age, health, or any other reasonable considerations.”
However, a judge recently acquitted the Christian couple. Such a favorable ruling for Christians in the country is quite rare.
Proverbs 21:1 says, “The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes.”
Church of Scotland membership is down
A new report found that the membership of the Church of Scotland was down to 283,600 in 2021. That’s less than half of what it was in 2000.
The Church of Scotland has been losing members since the 1950s when membership was well over a million. The average age of attendees is now over 60.
The Reformer John Knox helped found the Church of Scotland in the 1560s. Sadly, the organization has fallen a great deal in recent history. It allowed women ministers since the 1960s and has affirmed sexually perverted lifestyles for years now.
28% of Americans attend church weekly
The latest General Social Survey found 49% of adults in the U.S. say they believe in God with no doubts. Only 6.8% said they did not believe in God while 7.5% were agnostic. The rest of the population expressed some kind of doubtful belief in God or a higher power.
Over 60% of respondents said they have not experienced a turning point in their lives when they committed themselves to Christ. Thirty-eight percent said they have.
And 28% of Americans attend church regularly, 32% never attend, and 40% attend infrequently.
Jesus said in Revelation 2:15-16, “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.”
California vs. Christian doctors over suicide
Last Wednesday, California agreed to pay $300,000 to settle a case with Christian doctors, It involved the assisted suicide question.
The state can no longer enforce any punishments against physicians who refuse to participate in helping a patient end his or her life.
California legalized assisted suicide in 2015. Last year, the state passed legislation requiring physicians to participate despite their beliefs.
Kevin Theriot with Alliance Defending Freedom said, “Our clients seek to live out their faith in their medical practice, and that includes valuing every human life entrusted to their care. This is a significant victory for religious and conscientious physicians in California.”
250th abortion worker quit
Earlier this month, 40 Days for Life celebrated the 250th abortion worker who quit the deadly industry.
The pro-life group said, “The 250th abortion worker has become pro-life and left her job in the abortion industry thanks to YOUR prayers! Better yet, this now former abortion worker comes from Illinois, one of the most extreme pro-abortion states in America.”
This spring’s 40 Days for Life campaign also saw nearly 70 babies saved from abortion in Illinois alone.
First Council of Nicaea affirmed Christ’s divinity
And finally, this month marks the anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea nearly 1,700 years ago.
In May A.D. 325, about 300 Christian leaders convened in the city of Nicaea, located in modern-day Turkey.
The council dealt with the doctrine of the Trinity. In particular, the church at the time had to refute the heresy of Arianism, which denied that Christ was fully and eternally divine.
The council went on to affirm the Trinity and Christ as fully God in the Nicene Creed. It is recited by churches worldwide to this day.
Speaking of Christ, the creed affirms “one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds; God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God; begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, by Whom all things were made.”
Close
And that’s The Worldview in 5 Minutes on this Thursday, May 25th 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.