It’s Thursday, September 5th, A.D. 2024. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard on 125 radio stations and at www.TheWorldview.com. I’m Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com)
By Jonathan Clark
Sudanese conflict has displaced 8 million
International Christian Concern reports the body of Christ continues to suffer in Sudan, Africa after civil war broke out in the country last year.
The conflict has displaced over eight million civilians, including many religious minorities. Christians are a minority in the northeastern African country and have faced persecution for decades.
Both sides in the civil war have targeted Christians through attacks on churches and even killing religious leaders.
The Tahir Institute for Middle East Policy noted, “Muslims who converted to Christianity continued to be prosecuted and tortured, even though the ‘crime’ of apostasy officially no longer existed in the statute books.”
Sudan is ranked eighth on the Open Doors’ World Watch List of nations where it is most dangerous to be a Christian.
14-year-old Georgia student killed 2 students and 2 teachers
A 14-year-old student named Colt Gray opened fire at a Georgia high school and killed four people on Wednesday morning, sending students scrambling for shelter in their classrooms — and eventually to the football stadium — as officers swarmed the campus and parents raced to find out if their children were safe, reports the Associated Press.
The dead were identified as two students and two teachers at Apalachee High School in Winder, about an hour’s drive from Atlanta. At least nine other people — eight students and one teacher — were taken to hospitals with injuries.
Barrow County Sheriff Jud Smith became emotional as he spoke during the briefing.
SMITH: “I never imagined that I would be speaking to the media in my career over something that happened today, the pure evil that happened today.
“This hits home for me. I was born and raised here. I went to school in this school system. My kids go to this school system. I’m proud of this school system.
“My heart hurts for these kids. My heart hurts for our community, but I want to make it very clear that hate will not prevail in this county. Love will prevail over what happened today.”
The gunman is in custody.
African Methodist Episcopal keeps ban against homosexual “marriage”
The African Methodist Episcopal Church held its General Conference in Columbus, Ohio last month.
The historically-black denomination, also known as the AME Church, has districts in the U.S. and Africa.
At the recent conference, AME voted to keep its ban on faux homosexual marriage.
In contrast, the United Methodist Church voted in favor of such vile passion relationships earlier this year.
Since Roe overturned, attacks on pro-life centers have increased
The U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade back in 2022. Since then, state governments have been increasing their attacks on pro-life groups.
Daniel Schmid with Liberty Counsel told The Christian Post, “We saw attacks on pro-life centers significantly occur across the country after Dobbs, and now it has transitioned from criminals who are engaging in vandalism and threats to state efforts, government-backed efforts, to suppress the speech and views and sheer existence of the crisis pregnancy centers.”
Pro-life groups are now having to fight for their free speech in states like New York and Massachusetts.
U.S. abortions are up
Meanwhile, the number of abortions in the U.S. are up since the overturning of Roe v. Wade.
The pro-abortion group Society of Family Planning released their latest data. The average number of abortions per month between January and March of this year was 98,990.
Chemical abortions are on the rise through virtual visits, allowing doctors to ship abortion kill pills to other states. These so-called “telehealth abortions” averaged nearly 20,000 per month between January and March.
In Matthew 15:19-20, Jesus reminds us, “For from the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, sexual immoralities, thefts, false testimonies, slander. These are the things that defile a person.”
Kamala leads in Wisconsin and Michigan; Trump leads in Arizona
CNN released a new poll of voters in six battleground states ahead of the presidential election.
Vice President Kamala Harris leads in Wisconsin and Michigan. Former President Donald Trump leads in Arizona. The two candidates are nearly tied in Georgia, Nevada, and Pennsylvania.
However, many voters are undecided. Fifteen percent of respondents across the battleground states said they have not firmly decided their choice for president.
Americans are getting more isolated and lonely
The Survey Center on American Life released a report on social isolation in the U.S.
The report noted Americans are losing touch with their social networks as loneliness and isolation increase.
Americans are generally not involved in social groups with the exception of religious ones. Religious organizations draw from both the less educated and the college-educated. Although, those with less education are becoming increasingly unattached.
Also, young adults are also becoming unattached from the church. Only 28% are members of a religious organization compared to 43% of seniors.
Thief steals kids’ lemonade stand money
And finally, two children from Virginia have become a national example of forgiveness, reports CBN News.
Over the heat of summer, 10-year-old Rebecca Caldwell and her 8-year-old brother Joshua opened a lemonade stand in front of their house in Chesapeake.
Sadly, a man dropped by seemingly for a drink, only to make off with the children’s earnings of $40.
As the story spread, the Caldwells used it as an opportunity to talk about forgiveness.
REPORTER: “Why did you pray for the man who stole your money?”
JOSHUA: “Because I wanted him to become a Christian.”
Rebecca had this thought.
REBECCA: “I just think it’s better to forgive than to just to always be mad at the guy, because then you’re just always going to think back on the day and be like, ‘Oh, I’m so mad at that guy.’”
And their mother, Mrs. Caldwell, weighed in about the importance of forgiveness.
MRS. CALDWELL: “We’ve talked a lot about forgiveness in our interviews, Some people have asked why we choose to forgive. If God can do all this through a lemonade stand, he can do it through anything. He can do the impossible.
“We just want people to know that God forgave us. So, we can forgive other people.”
In response, the community organized a lemonade event that raised over $6,000 for the kids. The youngest of 7 siblings, Rebecca and Joshua are giving some to their eldest sibling to fund her missionary trip to Asia.
In Mark 11:25, Jesus said, “And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.”
Close
And that’s The Worldview on this Thursday, September 5th, in the year of our Lord 2024. Subscribe by Amazon Music or 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.