It’s Thursday, October 19th, 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
Nigerian Muslims kidnapped 30 Christians
Terrorists kidnapped over 30 Christians in Nigeria’s southern Kaduna State earlier this month.
A local told Morning Star News, “Over 30 Christian farmers who were cultivating a farm have been abducted in one fell swoop. Please pray for the Chikuri Christian community.”
This is the third attack the community has faced from the terrorists.
Nigeria is ranked sixth on the Open Doors’ World Watch List of nations where it is most difficult to be a Christian. The World Watch List report on Nigeria notes that Muslim “militants from the Fulani, Boko Haram, Islamic State West Africa Province and others conduct raids on Christian communities, killing, maiming, raping and kidnapping for ransom or sexual slavery.”
Correction: Hamas guilty of misfiring missile that killed 500 in Gaza hospital
And now for a follow-up to yesterday’s Worldview story about the missile that hit the Gaza hospital which took the lives of at least 500 persons. The Israeli Defense Forces assign the cause to Hamas, and a misfired rocket, reports the New York Post.
To substantiate that claim, the Israeli Defense Forces released audio of Hamas operatives allegedly discussing the misfire. The United States government agrees with this assessment, but the matter remains highly controversial among national governments.
When I, Adam McManus, added the written headline after Jonathan Clark wrote the initial story, I incorrectly identified Israel as the nation which fired the missile. I take full responsibility for the error and ask for your forgiveness.
British preacher could get jail time for holding Bible verse sign near abortion mill
In the United Kingdom, a Christian preacher is facing six months in prison for holding a sign with a Bible verse near an abortion mill.
Stephen Green’s sign read, “Psalm 139:13 For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb.” A more understandable translation reads, “For You created my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother’s womb.”
Since January, the U.K. has imposed “buffer zones” around abortions mills to keep pro-life advocates away.
The Christian Legal Centre is representing Green. Andrea Williams, the chief executive of the organization, said, “It is worrying that a man in his 70s holding a sign with a Bible verse on it is now being treated as an ‘emergency’ situation by the police.”
Poland’s conservative party loses majority
In Poland, the ruling Law and Justice party lost its majority in parliament after an election Sunday.
The party led one of the most socially conservative governments in Europe, having opposed abortion and sexually perverted lifestyles.
Despite losing its majority, the party still received the most votes at 37%. In second place came the more liberal Civic Coalition party at 31%. Donald Tusk, the party’s leader, has promised a “march towards modernity.”
New Zealand’s move to the right
Meanwhile, New Zealand is moving to the right after a recent election.
New Zealand voted for a conservative prime minister last Saturday after six years of a liberal government. Christopher Luxon is a Christian and former businessman.
Luxon’s National Party won 39% of the vote and plans to align with the libertarian ACT Party. The liberal Labour Party won just 27% of the vote.
Luxon has said he opposes abortion but does not plan to change current law which decriminalized abortion in 2020.
Louisiana voters elect a Republican for Governor
Speaking of moving to the right, Louisiana now has a Republican governor for the first time in eight years.
The state’s attorney general, Jeff Landry, won the governorship with 52% of the vote earlier this month. He replaces Democrat Gov. John Bel Edwards who could not run again due to consecutive term limits.
As Attorney General, Landry was known for defending state laws that opposed abortion and gender confusion.
Listen to his remarks after winning the election.
LANDRY: “Tonight’s election says that our state is united and it’s a wake up call. It’s a message that everyone should hear loud and clear: that we the people in this state are going to expect more out of our government from here on out.”
Religious people have greater sense of wellbeing
And finally, Gallup released a report recently on religion and mental health.
Gallup noted, “An analysis of World Poll data collected over 10 years in 152 countries and territories, which includes interviews with approximately 1.5 million people, shows a strong association between religiosity and wellbeing.”
The analytics group found the association was stronger in countries where most of the population said religion is important. Gallup noted, “Leaders who are looking for solutions amid [the mental health] crisis can consider the opportunities that religion and spirituality can offer to a range of institutions, including workplaces.”
Jesus said in Matthew 11:28-29, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”
Close
And that’s The Worldview in 5 Minutes on this Thursday, October 19th 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). And here to close the newscast is my son Honor Calvin who is turning 14 today. Seize the day for Jesus Christ.