It’s Wednesday, May 22nd, A.D. 2024. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard at www.TheWorldview.com. I’m Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com)

By Jonathan Clark

Russians killed 30 Ukrainian pastors & destroyed 600 churches

Since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, Christians, and especially Evangelicals in Ukraine, have faced persecution from Russian forces.

Time magazine reports persecution incidents where Russians killed over 30 Ukrainian pastors, destroyed 600 Ukrainian church buildings, and over 100 cases of Russians who initiated interrogations, expulsions, or imprisonments. Protestants experienced 34% of the persecution incidents. 

For example, Azat Azatyan, a Baptist children’s pastor, faced torture and over a month in captivity. He said, “[This is] what the Kremlin fears about Protestants: we follow God’s law, not theirs. But they want to have everything under their control.”

In Acts 5:29, the Apostles said, “We ought to obey God rather than men.”

Only 35% of Brits think religion is “good for society”

The Institute for the Impact of Faith in Life released a report on religious attitudes in the United Kingdom.

The report found only 36% of adults believe that religion is good for society. Forty-seven percent believe politicians should not speak about religion. 

However, 62% of respondents did agree that Christian heritage is important to the United Kingdom. And young adults appear to be more religious. Sixty-nine percent of 18- to 24-year-olds believe their faith significantly impacts their lives, compared to 51% of those over 65.

U.K. teachers prohibited from indoctrinating with “gender identity”

The U.K. released new restrictions on school content regarding Relationships, Sex, and Health Education.

The new guidelines ban teachers from covering such content for children under nine. Teachers also cannot introduce young students to the “contested theory of gender identity.” 

This new guidance stated, “In light of the Cass Review, it is important that schools take a cautious approach to teaching about this sensitive topic and do not use any materials that present contested views as fact, including the view that gender is a spectrum.”

The government also said that parents can see what resources schools are using on these subjects.

65% of Americans say inflation made lives worse

In the United States, the Federal Reserve released its Economic Well-Being of US Households report for 2023.

Seventy-two percent of adults said they were doing okay financially, down from 78% in 2021. Sixty-five percent of respondents also said inflation made their financial lives worse, and 19% said inflation made it much worse.

Half of adults said were living paycheck to paycheck, and 17% said they could not pay their monthly bills.

Biden released one million barrels of gas

Speaking of inflation, the Biden administration is trying to tackle gas prices.

The Energy Department announced yesterday the release of one million barrels of gasoline from the Northeast Gasoline Supply Reserve. In March, Congress passed a spending deal that required the reserve to be sold off and closed.

Biden’s beef with pro-lifers

The Biden administration is also tackling pro-lifers.

Already, the administration has put a dozen pro-life advocates in prison. On Monday, the Justice Department filed suit against seven pro-lifers and two pro-life groups, Citizens for a Pro-Life Society and Red Rose Rescue. The Department accuses them of violating the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act.

Monica Miller with Citizens for a Pro-Life Society said, “We have every confidence that through our great attorneys we will prevail over this bogus attempt by the weaponized [DOJ] to drag [pro-life groups] under its persecution of those who seek to defend the unborn from violence.”

Louisiana wants to require schools display the Ten Commandments

Louisiana may become the first state to require all publicly-funded schools, colleges, and universities to display the Ten Commandments.

House Bill 71 requires schools to “display the Ten Commandments in each building it uses and every classroom under its jurisdiction.”

The state’s House and Senate approved the bill this year. The House must give final approval before it heads to the desk of Republican Governor Jeff Landry. 

Deuteronomy 6:6-9 says, “These words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children. … You shall bind them as a sign on your hand. … You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.”

Christian teacher, who refused fake pronouns, wins $360,000 settlement

And finally, a Christian teacher won a $360,000 settlement last week from a California school district in a religious freedom case.

Jessica Tapia taught at the Jurupa Unified School District. The district required her to address students by incorrect, non-biologically accurate pronouns. Plus, she was told not to express her religious beliefs to students through social media.

The district terminated Jessica after she refused to comply. So, Advocates for Faith and Freedom stepped in to defend her.

After the settlement, Jessica said, “What happened to me can happen to anybody, and I want the next teacher to know that it is worth it to take a stand for what is right.” 

Close

And that’s The Worldview in 5 Minutes on this Wednesday, May 22nd, 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.