It’s Monday, April 8th, A.D. 2024. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard at www.TheWorldview.com. I’m Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com)
By Adam McManus
State Dept. spoke up for Vietnamese religious liberty advocates
The U.S. State Department released a statement on April 1st expressing deep concerns for the ongoing harassment, persecution, and convictions of Vietnamese religious freedom advocates.
In the release, the State Department addressed the case of Protestant missionary Y Krec Bya, “who has been a peaceful voice for freedom of religion or belief in Vietnam.” Bya received a 13-year sentence for allegedly “sabotaging national unity” in Vietnam.
The State Department said, “We reiterate our call on Vietnam to release all those unjustly detained.”
According to the Open Doors World Watch List, Vietnam is the 35th most difficult country in which to be a Christian.
Trump: Israel needs to get the war over with
Last Thursday, former President Donald Trump was a guest on Hugh Hewitt’s nationally syndicated radio show.
HEWITT: “You’re still standing 100% with Israel. You achieved the Abraham Accords which was the first peace deal since [Egyptian President Anwar] Sadat.”
TRUMP: “Right.”
HEWITT: “So, are you still 100% with Israel? And what’s your advice to [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu beyond ‘get it over with in a hurry’?”
TRUMP: “Well, that’s all the advice you can give. I mean, that’s the advice. You got to get it over with and you have to get back to normalcy. Israel is absolutely losing the PR war. They’re losing it big. They’ve got to finish what they started and they got to finish it fast and we have to get on with life.”
Biden to Netanyahu: Time for a ceasefire
In a related story, President Joe Biden urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu toward a cease-fire deal last Thursday, reports The Hill.
In response, Fox News White House Correspondent Peter Doocy asked John Kirby, the White House National Security Communications Advisor, this question.
DOOCY: “On October 7th, President Biden said, ‘My administration’s support for Israel’s security is rock solid and unwavering.’ That is not true anymore, correct?”
KIRBY: “It is true, still true today.”
DOOCY: “How is his support ‘unwavering,’ but you’re also reconsidering policy choices?”
KIRBY: “Both can be true.”
DOOCY: “They cannot be true. They’re, they’re completely different things.”
KIRBY: “No, no, no. I’m sorry.”
DOOCY: “He is wavering.”
KIRBY: “No, no, no. Come on. Come on. … On October 7th, there wasn’t near famine in Gaza. On October 7th, there wasn’t a dimunition of trucks getting into Gaza. On October 7th, we didn’t see thousands and thousands of innocent people killed. We’re talking about a conflict here which is dang near at six months, here this weekend, six months. And it has changed over time.
“What the President’s message today was: ‘We need to see some changes in the way Israel is dealing with that threat.’ That’s what two good friends and allies can discuss. This isn’t about changing our support to Israel or the security of the Israeli state.”
North Carolina church fired pastor over sexual misconduct
Following a unanimous decision from church leadership, a North Carolina congregation fired its pastor after discovering that he engaged in sexual misconduct with adults.
Pursuit Church announced in a letter sent to the congregation on Monday that it removed Pastor Jordan Green from his leadership position, effective immediately, reports The Christian Post.
Green issued a statement to Charlotte-based WBTV, saying he is “deeply heartbroken over the pain I’ve brought to the church and the shame I’ve brought on the name of Christ.”
He added, “The Lord brought judgment and discipline down on my life which I am extremely thankful for. When God disciplines us it is always to deliver and never to destroy. I have and will continue to repent before the Lord and seek Him through this season of discipline.”
Hebrews 12:5-6 says, “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when He rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and He chastens everyone He accepts as His son.”
Ray Moore’s message to Christian parents
And finally, Ray Moore, one of America’s most respected advocates of biblical worldview education, has been honored with an award named after him, the Ray Moore Christian Education Hero Award. In a surprise announcement, this award was presented to both he and his wife as the inaugural winners.
The award was created by Public School Exit, a leading group advocating for alternatives in K-12 education which recognizes Moore as a founding patriarch of the modern American educational liberty movement.
A South Carolina native, he is a graduate of The Citadel with a B.A. in political science. Then, he graduated from Grace Theological Seminary with a Master of Divinity in 1974 and with a Master of Theology in 1979. Moore is president of Exodus Mandate which focuses on prayer, revival, and Christian education.
The Worldview spoke to Moore over the weekend about his primary concern.
MOORE: “It’s important for Christian parents to get their kids out of public schools because primarily the Scriptures assign the education of children to the family, with assistance from the church, and not government.
“Deuteronomy 6:4-7 says, ‘Hear, O Israel, the LORD our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your strength. And these words I command you today shall be in your heart, and you shall teach them diligently to your children. You shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, when you rise up.’ These texts, along with many others, admonish parents to be the principal educators of their children.”
Moore cited a second reason why Christian parents should pull their kids out of government schools.
MOORE: “The public schools have become so hostile to faith. They are actively and aggressively indoctrinating children in secularism, humanism, even Marxism. And with the growth of the homosexual and transgender movement in public schools, our children are being indoctrinated in that worldview.”
Dran Reese, CEO of Public School Exit, praised Moore for his unwavering commitment. She said, “There is no one like Ray. He is a shining light for all of us.”
Close
And that’s The Worldview in 5 Minutes on this Monday, April 8th in the year of our Lord 2024. 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.