It’s Wednesday, April 17th, A.D. 2024. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard at www.TheWorldview.com. I’m Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com)

By Jonathan Clark

Muslim terrorist stabbed pastor and churchgoers during Bible study

A suspected Islamic militant attacked several churchgoers with a knife on Monday at Christ the Good Shepherd Church in Sydney, Australia.

Police arrested a 16-year-old boy after the stabbing. They are calling it a religiously motivated “terrorist act.” 

The attack targeted Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel during his sermon. He is now in the hospital but in stable condition. Local media report, “After being stabbed . . . he . . . put his hand on the attacker and started praying.”

In Matthew 5:44, Jesus said, “Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.”

50,000 Polish march for life

On Sunday, 50,000 people joined the March for Life in Warsaw, Poland.

It’s the largest pro-life event in the country in the last couple decades.

One of the organizers said, “We want every Polish citizen to have the right to life from conception to natural death. It is not an (act of) grace that we allow a child to be born; it is their sacred right.” 

Poland has one of the most restrictive abortion laws in Europe. But the government is considering legislation to allow the murder of unborn babies up to 12 weeks of pregnancy. 

Muenster, Texas is a Safe Haven for the Unborn

In the U.S., the City Council of Muenster, Texas  unanimously passed an “Ordinance Outlawing Abortion, Declaring Muenster a Safe Haven for the Unborn.”

It’s the 52nd city in Texas and the 69th in America to pass such an ordinance.

Kenneth Bierschenk, a local resident, circulated a petition for the ordinance. He said, “Even though Texas has outlawed abortion at the state level, that does not mean our work is finished. There is still work to be done at every level of government: city, county, state, and federal.”

U.S. Supreme Court protects Idaho kids from trans surgeries and drugs

On Monday, the U.S Supreme Court temporarily allowed Idaho to enforce its Vulnerable Child Protection Act. The law protects children from transgender drugs and surgeries. 

This allows the law to be in effect while legal proceedings against it continue.

Idaho Attorney General Raúl Labrador said, “Those suffering from gender dysphoria deserve love, support, and medical care rooted in biological reality. Denying the basic truth that boys and girls are biologically different hurts our kids.”

54% of Gen Zers: Bible transformed my life

The American Bible Society released the first part of its State of the Bible USA 2024 report.

Only 38% of U.S. adults use the Bible at least three to four times a year, down from 50% in 2021.

However, Bible usage is growing among young people. Twenty-one percent of Gen Z reports their Bible reading increased compared to last year, the highest of any generation. 

Also, 54% of Gen Zers say the Bible has transformed their lives, up from 50% in 2023.

In 2 Timothy 3:15, the Apostle Paul wrote, “From childhood, you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.”

Homicides went up during COVID pandemic

Homicides increased in major U.S. cities during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

However, the homicide rate is down 20% across over 200 cities now.

Areas with large decreases in homicides include Philadelphia, New York City, Washington D.C., and Detroit. Some cities did see an increase in homicides like Los Angeles, Atlanta, Birmingham, and Charlotte. 

Credit card delinquency rate highest on record

New data from the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia shows credit card delinquency reached the highest rate on record.

At the end of last year, a record 3.5% of credit card balances were over 30 days past due. The number of balances that were 60 and 90 days past due also increased. 

Plus, the percentage of account holders making just the minimum payment increased to nearly 11%.

Christian golfer gives glory to God

And finally, professional golfer Scottie Scheffler won the Masters Tournament over the weekend.

He’s been ranked the number one golfer in the world since March 2022. He won the Masters for the first time that year.

Scheffler is also an outspoken Christian. Listen to his comments after the tournament.

SCHEFFLER: “I believe that today’s plans were already laid out many years ago and I could do nothing to mess up those plans. You know, I’ve been given a gift of this talent and I use it for God’s glory. At the end of the day, like I said, my identity is secure already. I get to go out here and compete, have fun, enjoy it. And then, at the end of the day, win or lose, my identity is secure.”

Close

And that’s The Worldview in 5 Minutes on this Wednesday, April 17th in the year of our Lord 2024. 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.