Bolivia Moves Towards Persecuting Evangelicals, Britain’s Lower House Passes Brexit Bill, Congressman Says Churches Aren’t Standing for Religious Freedom

Thursday, January 18th, in the year of our Lord 2018

By Jonathan Clark

New Legislation in Bolivia Could Criminalize Christian Evangelism

The new penal code of Bolivia, South America moves beyond monitoring Christians and could criminalize evangelism with up to 12 years in prison, reports Evangelical Focus. 

The National Association of Evangelicals in Bolivia has sounded an emergency alert, warning the legislation could become a means of “state abuse” against Christians. Evangelical churches plan to hold a day of prayer and fasting on Sunday, January 21 for their nation. 

1 Timothy 2:1-2 urges that “supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.”

Hate Speech Charges Dropped Against Two Street Preachers in the UK

Two street preachers in the UK had charges of hate speech dropped recently after proclaiming the Gospel to an atheist and referencing Scripture when asked about homosexuality last month. 

David Barker and Stephen Wan underwent extensive police interrogation at the end of December, but were assisted by the Christian Legal Centre.  

Barker said he devoted his life to sharing the Gospel after being converted nearly forty years ago from a life of drunkenness, saying, “I have preached the gospel on the streets . . . every Saturday for 30 years since then.”

When his preaching was opposed, Paul wrote in 2 Timothy 4:17, “But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion’s mouth.” 

Commentators generally agree the “lion” he references there was the Roman emperor Nero. Truly, Paul’s faith before hostile political leaders is a great testimony for us today.

Lower House of British Parliament Passes Brexit Bill

Britain’s lower house of parliament passed the European Union (Withdrawal) Bill yesterday in the latest move after the UK held a Brexit referendum in favor of leaving the EU in 2016. The bill heads to the parliament’s upper house, largely supportive of the EU. 

Meanwhile, the UK and the EU have been negotiating a two-year transition period for post-Brexit relations. 

Japan’s Public Broadcast System Sends Out False Missile Alert

Following Hawaii’s panic on Saturday from a false ballistic missile threat, Japan’s public broadcast system sent out a false alert as well on Tuesday for residents to take cover from a launched North Korean missile.  

Unlike Hawaii though, the broadcaster corrected the false alarm within minutes. 

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson Says International Sanctions Are Starting to Hurt North Korea

International sanctions on North Korea are “really starting to hurt” the country according to U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson.

Citing evidence from defectors, Tillerson said Japan has found over 100 fishing boats from North Korea drifting into their waters with about two-thirds of the people on board having died.

This comes as the U.S. and Canada hosted talks with 20 nations this week to increase pressure on North Korea and discuss the country’s nuclear program.

President Trump Proclaims Religious Freedom Day

President Donald Trump proclaimed Tuesday as Religious Freedom Day and that “No American — whether a nun, nurse, baker, or business owner — should be forced to choose between the tenets of faith or adherence to the law.” 

Family Research Council President Tony Perkins interviewed several leaders for a National Religious Freedom Day broadcast, including former Congressman Frank Wolf, author of the International Religious Freedom Act.  

Wolf said the fundamental problem is a lack of concern in the church.

“I think the fundamental failure has been the Church. Dietrich Bonhoeffer said, ‘If you don’t speak and you don’t act …’ I don’t see the Church speaking and I don’t see the Church acting.”

Perkins also spoke with Sen. James Lankford of Oklahoma who encouraged Christians to live out their faith in all of life.

“The more that we practice integrity and practice the basic tenets of our faith, whether we are at home or in our business or whether we are in recreation, we show a consistency of that faith. People don’t see one person at church and another at the business, but they really see faith lived out and that’s where faith makes a difference.” 

6,000 People Gather at Chicago March for Life

Six thousand people came together for the thirteenth annual Chicago March for Life on Sunday with adults, students, children, and babies alike in attendance. 

The organization’s president Dawn Fitzpatrick said the event witnessed to the fact that “killing a child in the womb is never an acceptable solution to any problem.”

Former Planned Parenthood director Ramona Trevino spoke at the event, saying she left a Texas Planned Parenthood facility “seven years ago, knowing that their days are numbered, and that Roe v. Wade’s days are numbered.”

Gunman in Ohio Holds 10-Year-Old Boy Hostage for 30 Hours

And finally, FOX19 reports that a 10-year-old Ohio boy named Sincere Trammell was held hostage for 30 hours by a gunman in a standoff with police this past week.

Eventually, the gunman surrendered, and the boy was taken to safety. Despite the ordeal, Trammell said, “I was a little bit scared. . . I just knew that God had me.” 

Psalm 73:28 says, “But as for me, the nearness of God is my good; I have made the Lord God my refuge, that I may tell of all Your works.”

Closing Line

And that’s The World View in 5 Minutes on this Thursday, January 18th in the year of our Lord 2018. Subscribe by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldView.com. I’m Adam McManus. Seize the day for Jesus Christ.  

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