It’s Thursday, April 8th, A.D. 2021. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard at www.TheWorldview.com. I’m Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com)
By Jonathan Clark
Turkey seeks to expel German pastor
A German pastor is fighting expulsion from Turkey as the country is expelling many foreign Christian leaders on supposed national security grounds.
Pastor Michael Feulner told Morning Star News he is hopeful that a court may strike down his “security threat” designation and allow him to stay.
Feulner came to Turkey in 1999 as an aid worker and has pastored there since 2003. Officials arrested the pastor last year and threatened to deport him.
Since a coup attempt in 2016, the Turkish government has targeted foreign Christians and missionaries for expulsion and banned other Christians from entering.
Sudan’s peace agreement respects religious freedom
The African country of Sudan signed a peace agreement with a major rebel group last week. The move paves the way for a final peace agreement in the country torn by internal conflict.
The final rebel group did not sign peace agreements like other groups last year because they demanded an end to Islamic sharia law. Sudan has been ruled under Sharia law since 1983.
The new agreement calls for the establishment of a democratic state that respects religious freedom and does not force a religion on anyone.
Psalm 46:9-10 says, “He makes wars cease to the end of the Earth; He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two; He burns the chariot in the fire. Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the Earth!”
German mothers asked abortionists to kill 99,948 babies
Last year, 99,948 unborn babies died in abortions in Germany.
That number is slightly down compared with the previous three years.
The majority of women coming in for abortions were between 18 and 34 years old.
Only 4% of the abortions were listed for medical or criminal reasons.
U.S. Supreme Court more favorable to religious liberty
A study by The Supreme Court Review found today’s U.S. Supreme Court is more likely to support religious liberty than in the past.
The court under Chief Justice John Roberts has “ruled in favor of religious organizations far more frequently than its predecessors—over 81 percent of the time, compared to about 50 percent for all previous eras since 1953.”
Also, the Roberts’ court was much less likely to hand down anti-religious outcomes. Eighteen percent of rulings from the Roberts’ court were anti-religious while 40-50% of rulings from previous chief justice eras were anti-religious.
Arkansas bans hormones & mutilating surgeries for minors
On Tuesday, Arkansas became the first state to ban so-called “gender transition” hormone treatments and mutilating surgeries for children.
The state House and Senate passed the “Arkansas Save Adolescents from Experimentation (SAFE) Act.” Sadly, Republican Gov. Asa Hutchinson vetoed the bill. But thankfully, the legislature overrode the veto.
At least 16 other states are considering similar bills to protect children from the transgender agenda.
Alabama Governor ends mask mandate
Alabama Republican Gov. Kay Ivey announced the state’s mask mandate ends this week. Shen encourages people to exercise personal responsibility.
Alabama opened COVID-19 vaccine eligibility to people 16 and over.
Meanwhile, coronavirus hospitalizations, positive tests, and daily case numbers are down in the state.
57% of Americans want more purpose in life
During the COVID pandemic, a new Lifeway Research survey found that 57% of American adults wonder, on a regular basis, about how they can find more meaning and purpose in life. That’s up from 51% in 2011.
However, compared to 2011, fewer Americans strongly agree there is more than the physical world or that there is an ultimate purpose and plan for every person’s life.
Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 says, “Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil.”
First successful human tracheal transplant surgery
And finally, the Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City announced they performed the first human tracheal transplant surgery. The trachea or windpipe carries air to and from the lungs, but has evaded doctors’ attempts to successfully transplant for years.
Sonia Sein, age 56, was the recipient of the historic transplant. Her trachea was injured after a harsh asthma attack. She went through surgery after surgery trying to repair it. After the transplant, she said, “For me, it felt like right after, I was able to breathe. When I took that first breath it was Heaven.”
The pioneering surgery has the potential to save the lives of thousands of patients around the world who have suffered tracheal damage.
Close
And that’s The Worldview in 5 Minutes on this Thursday, April 8th, in the year of our Lord 2021. 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.