It’s Tuesday, January 18th, A.D. 2022. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard at www.TheWorldview.com. I’m Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com)
By Kevin Swanson
Sudanese Muslims killed 28 Christians, burned down 57 homes
International Christian Concern reports another massacre of Christians, this time in South Sudan, Africa.
Muslims killed 28 people and burned down 57 houses in the Christian community of Yith Pabol.
Revelation 12:11 says, “And they overcame [the dragon] by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.”
Supreme Court takes Coach Kennedy’s football prayer case
The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to take up the Coach Joe Kennedy case, after seven years of wrangling in the lower courts.
The Washington State high school coach was fired for kneeling and praying on the fifty-yard line, following the games.
Kelly Shackelford, President of First Liberty Institute, said, “No teacher or coach should lose their job for simply expressing their faith while in public. By taking this important case, the Supreme Court can protect the right of every American to engage in private religious expression, including praying in public, without fear of punishment.”
Rabbi foiled gunman’s hostage-taking plan in Texas synagogue
In what is being called a terrorist event on American soil, a U.K. citizen held four persons hostage in a Jewish synagogue, Congregation Beth Israel, in Colleyville, Texas on Saturday, reports Reuters.
The standoff went on for ten hours, while the FBI Hostage Team was obtaining entrance to the building, and resolving the situation.
Malik Faisal Akram, the 44-year-old suspect, was shot and killed as officials stormed the building.
A U.S. official briefed on the matter told ABC News that the hostage-taker had claimed to be the brother of Pakistani neuroscientist Aafia Siddiqui, who is serving an 86-year U.S. prison sentence for her 2010 conviction for shooting at soldiers and FBI agents, and that he demanded she be freed.
By the mercies of God, the hostages were able to escape the clutches of the gunman safely, before any shots were fired.
And yesterday, Rabbi Charlie Walker, one of the three hostages, told the media about their escape.
RABBI: “I made sure that the two gentlemen who were still with me, that they were ready to go. The exit wasn’t too far away. I told them to go. I threw a chair at the gunman, and I headed for the door. All three of us were able to get out without even a shot being fired.”
Rabbi Walker said he is “grateful to be alive.”
Giving to religious groups up 1% in 2020
Giving USA reports that religious organizations received just a 1% increase in tithing and gifts in 2020 over the previous year. That’s $131 billion, representing a slight decrease adjusted for inflation.
Charitable giving to churches has dropped off from 2.8% of the GDP in 1924 to 0.6% of the GDP in 2020. On this metric, the Christian faith has lost 80% of its influence since the 1920s.
2 Corinthians 9:6-7 reminds us that “Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”
4,000 pastors joined MacArthur to preach on Biblical sexuality
A continent-wide protest brought about by the Liberty Coalition Canada and Pastor John MacArthur resulted in over 4,000 pastors preaching on sexual sin promoted by Canadian law, as well as the Gospel solution, reports Fox News.
The law, which went into effect on January 8th, calls the Biblical position on homosexuality a “myth” and threatens a jail sentence of ten years for any person who should counsel someone on the biblical position.
Missionary and pastor Andrew Brunson, recently released from a Turkish prison, told Fox News this Canadian persecution of Christian pastors is part of “a dark wave of hostility” crashing into the church.
Inflation and lower pay gouging Americans
Inflation costs for the average consumer may be on the rise again.
Producer prices have increased 9.7%. The dollar has also experienced a steady fall in value against the Chinese yuan over the last 20 months — a decline of 11%. That’s the dollar’s lowest position in seven years.
Average hourly earnings for Americans have been falling since April of 2020, a 5.4% dock in pay. That means the average annual paycheck has been docked $3,670 adjusted for inflation. That’s a little more than the three stimulus checks of $3,200 provided by the federal government in 2020 and 2021.
Volcano in Pacific Ocean leads to tidal wave
A reminder once more of the power of almighty God.
A volcano off the coast of Tonga, in the Pacific Ocean, resulted in a tidal wave that brought significant damage to the capital city of Nuku’alofa over the weekend.
The island country has a population of 110,000, and the predominant religious affiliations include Wesleyans, Mormons, and Roman Catholics.
East Coast snowstorms lead to 3,000 cancelled flights
And finally, snowstorms on the East Coast resulted in 3,000 cancelled flights on Sunday as well as 8,000 delayed flights, reports Reuters.
Hardest hit were the Charlotte Douglas Airport, where 90% of flights were canceled, and the Greenville, South Carolina airport.
There were record snowfalls in the southern states, with Greenville Spartanburg airport receiving 6.1 inches, and Asheville recording 10 inches.
Close
And that’s The Worldview in 5 Minutes on this Tuesday, January 18th, in the year of our Lord 2022. 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.
Print stories
CDC: 75% of Americans over 17 are fully vaccinated
The CDC reports that 87% of Americans over 17 years of age have receive at least one shot for COVID-19. Fully vaccinated numbers stand at 75%, according to official counts.
DirecTV will drop conservative One America News Network
DirecTV plans to drop One America News Network from their offerings, in April of this year, reports Bloomberg.
One America News Network was more sympathetic to President Donald Trump during the 2020 elections.
As of September of 2021, about 15% of online news website visits go to Fox News or the New York Post.
The other 85% frequent CNN, MSN, New York Times, and other liberal news organizations. Pew Research reports that 52% of Americans prefer to get their news online, 35% prefer to get it from television, and only 12% by radio or print news.