It’s Wednesday, November 8th, 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

Nepalese pastor’s year-long prison sentence upheld

Last month, the Supreme Court of Nepal upheld a one-year prison sentence for a pastor. Officials charged Pastor Keshab Raj Acharya under the country’s anti-conversion law.

His wife told Christian Today the government is using the case to set an example and deter Christians in the Hindu-majority country from sharing their faith.

The anti-conversion law went into effect in 2018. Since then, Nepali Christians have faced increased persecution, including false accusations and violence.

In Matthew 5:11-12, Jesus said, “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in Heaven.”

Russia withdraws from treaty

Russia formally withdrew from the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe yesterday.

In response, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, known as NATO, also pulled out of the Cold War-era security pact. The treaty was meant to keep the Cold War powers from amassing troops near each other’s borders. This comes less than a week after Russia also revoked its ratification of a nuclear treaty that banned nuclear weapons tests.

This only increases the already high tensions between NATO and Russia since Russia invaded Ukraine last year.

Speaker Johnson: We need to secure American border before Ukrainian border

Speaking of Ukraine, the U.S. House of Representatives is considering linking aid to Ukraine with increased security at the U.S.-Mexico border.

Republican Rep. Mike Johnson of Louisiana is the new House Speaker. He told Fox News we have to secure our border first.

JOHNSON: “We can do all of these things together. But when you couple Ukraine and the border that makes sense to people because they say, ‘If we’re going to protect Ukraine’s border, but we have to take care of our own border first.’ And that’s what we’re saying. This is policy changes that are necessary.

“There’s a growing consensus in the Congress, certainly amongst Republicans, but also even some across the aisle who recognize we have to change what is happening. Over 6.3 million illegal crossings since Joe Biden took office.”

The House also approved aid for Israel last week in a plan to reallocate over $14 billion away from the IRS.

Christian wins public school religious liberty case

A Christian woman who was a public school student in Chicago won a $150,000 settlement last month in a religious liberty case.

Back in February, Mariyah Green sued the Chicago Board of Education for a Quiet Time program that was implemented at her school during the 2018-2019 school year.

The program, known as Transcendental Meditation, was originally developed by a Hindu. Green said the school expected her to chant a mantra and honor Hindu deities as part of the program. 

Despite what she believed to be an attack on her faith, Green told The Christian Post she hopes God continues to use her to “spread the Gospel and also to help people.”

Texas vs. Planned Parenthood

The state of Texas is taking Planned Parenthood to court in a $1.8 billion fraud case.

Texas accuses the abortion giant of fraudulently obtaining state Medicaid funds. Texas terminated Planned Parenthood as a Medicaid provider back in 2021.

The judge in the case is U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk. He was appointed by President Donald Trump. Kacsmaryk is also the judge who ruled back in April against the FDA’s approval of the Abortion Kill Pill.  Fifty-three percent of mothers who abort their unborn babies due so chemically.

37% of Americans think we did not evolve

A new poll from Suffolk University/USA TODAY asked people across America what they believe about evolution.

Twenty-nine percent of respondents said humans evolved into their present form without divine intervention; 24% said humans evolved but under God’s direction; and 37% said humans did not evolve but were created in their present form by God.

Belief in creation by God without evolution was strongest among Republicans, older people, and people with no more than a high school degree. 

Genesis 1:27 says, “So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.”

Franklin Graham preached in Rome, Italy

And finally, nearly 20,000 people attended an outreach event in Rome, Italy this week led by Evangelist Franklin Graham with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.

It was the largest evangelical outreach event in Italy’s history.

Before the event, Graham said, “Rome is filled with centuries of history, culture and religion, but I’m not coming to talk about these things. I’m coming to Rome to share how we can all have a real and personal relationship with God through His Son Jesus Christ.”

GRAHAM: “Will you invite Christ to come into your life? If you’ve never done that, if you’re here tonight and you’re not sure that your sins are forgiven, you can make sure right now. You’re not coming to Franklin Graham.  I cannot save you. You’re coming to Jesus Christ. So come!”

This week also marks the birthday of Franklin’s father, Billy Graham. He was born on November 7, 1918 in Charlotte, North Carolina. The evangelist preached to some 215 million people across 185 countries and territories in his life.

Close

And that’s The Worldview in 5 Minutes on this Wednesday, November 8th 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.