Good Friday, April 14th, in the year of our Lord 2017
By Kevin Swanson
Sudanese Court Clears the Way for Mass Demolition of Churches in Khartoum
For years the Sudanese Christian church has encountered church demolitions, property confiscations, and unjust imprisonments at the hands of Sudanese authorities, reports the American Center for Law and Justice.
But now things are getting even worse. The Khartoum, Sudan court just dismissed a case that would have prohibited the Sudanese government from demolishing at least 25 churches in that capital city. After demolishing the churches, the Islam-controlled government will sell the land off to the highest bidder.
The wisdom of Proverbs warns of such injustices: “Do not move an ancient landmark or enter the fields of the fatherless, for their Redeemer is strong; He will plead their cause against you.” (Proverbs 23:10)
Swedish Nurse Told She Must Assist Abortions to Keep Her Job
Sweden’s Appeals Court ruled Wednesday that pro-life nurse Ellinor Grimmark must assist in abortions if she wants to keep her job. Grimmark has been fighting the pro-life battle for three years since she was first laid off from a hospital for refusing to kill babies.
Abortion was first legalized in Sweden under certain conditions back in 1938, and further liberalized in 1974.
The Poor in Brazil Receive the Gospel
Jesus said that the poor will hear the Gospel preached to them. Evangelical churches are growing in Brazil’s poorest regions, according to a report from Thomson Reuters Foundation.
Many of Brazil’s 40 million and growing Protestants come from the favela — the slum settlements in the larger cities. A pastor named Antonio said, “The government doesn’t help us, so God is the only option for the poor.”
Psalm 20:7 says, “Some trust in horses, and some in chariots, but we will trust in the Lord our God.”
United States Drops Massive Bomb on ISIS Facility in Afghanistan
Yesterday, the United States dropped the largest non-nuclear bomb ever used in war on an ISIS facility in Afghanistan. It’s official name is Massive Ordnance Air Blast Bomb or MOAB, but it is nicknamed the Mother of All Bombs. It weighs 10 tons and costs $16 million to produce.
President Trump Signs Bill Allowing States to Withhold Funding From Planned Parenthood
President Donald Trump has signed a bill passed by Congress that would allow states to withhold Title X federal funding from abortion providers like Planned Parenthood.
The law effectively reverses an order signed by President Barack Obama last year that prohibited such an action on the part of the states.
Hillary Clinton “Enormously” Admires Margaret Sanger
As I mentioned yesterday, Planned Parenthood has named Hillary Clinton as their “Champion of the Century” and they will present her with the award at the organization’s centennial anniversary in New York City on May 2nd.
At another Planned Parenthood Awards banquet several years ago, Hillary Clinton spoke very highly of the organization’s founder.
“I admire Margaret Sanger enormously, her courage, her tenacity, her vision.”
Sanger’s vision was largely formed around the theory of eugenics and the elimination of what she called “human weeds.”
Survey Finds the Chick-Fil-A Is Most Popular Restaurant for Teens
America’s most popular fast-food restaurant for teens is, you guessed it, Chick-fil-A.
A survey conducted by Piper Jaffray found the pro-family restaurant beat out the more liberal Starbucks coffee chain for first place among teenaged children.
New Film Reminds Viewers of the Role of Christ’s Resurrection in History
As many families come together to celebrate Resurrection Sunday this weekend, Christian producer Bill Heid has released a short film called, “The Lost Secrets of Easter.”
Heid said it’s important to remember the real meaning of this day that has been celebrated by Christian churches since the first century.
“I thought about the implications of this, why it’s so important. We can look at what Paul did with this resurrection story, especially in Acts 17; we can see how he presented it in very straight lines, as you say, and there were stoics, there were epicureans. Here’s the story: there’s this personal God, He created the world, and there’s this breach. He sent His Son. Then His Son rose again from the dead.”
Heid reminded Christians that the resurrection of Christ is the great hinge point in all of human history.
“Easter is this hinge upon which all of history turns. So, all of history past points towards it, you know, in shadow form, and that’s a long long conversation. But then you’ve got the event, He sent His Son, His Son rises. And then it also points to the future, so there’s this eschatological side of it too, like Schaeffer said, “how then shall we live?” We’re in a different army, we’ve got Jesus Christ as our Captain, Francis Drake always said that. Okay, so what are the new marching orders? Got this implication for the future. And there’s nothing more important than this day.”
The film is available at www.TheLostSecretsofEaster.com.
Republican Congressmen Urge Trump to Issue Executive Order for Religious Liberty
52 Republican House members have signed a letter urging President Donald Trump to issue a Religious Liberties Executive Order.
The word on the street is that the president’s daughter, Ivanka Trump, is influencing her father on social issues. She recently participated in a well-publicized friendly meeting with Planned Parenthood President Cecile Richards.
Hank Hanegraaff Joins Greek Orthodox Church
Known by many Christians as “The Bible Answer Man,” Hank Hanegraaff, the father of 12 children, has joined the Greek Orthodox Church. Recently, Hanegraaff has come under fire by Ken Ham of Answers in Genesis for advocating “many secular humanistic ideas like long-age geology and the Big Bang.”
Today We Remember the Love of God as Demonstrated on the Cross
On this holy day, when we remember the sacrifice that Jesus made for us on that cruel cross, we cite Romans 5:8. “But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
German Homeschooling Family Appeals to European Court of Human Rights
A German homeschooling family has appealed to the European Court of Human Rights, after being denied the right by German courts.
Four years ago, German police broke down the doors of Dirk and Petra Wunderlich’s home, and forcibly removed their four homeschooled children. On returning the children to the home, the authorities required the parents to enroll the children in a government-approved school.
Dirk and Petra Wunderlich are still homeschooling, while waiting for a final decision from the European Court of Human Rights.
And that’s the World View in Five Minutes.