It’s Wednesday, August 18th, 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
Afghan Muslims warn Christians by mail

Please continue to pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ in Afghanistan as the Taliban takes over the country.

An estimated 10,000-12,000 Christians live in the central Asian country. Most of them are converts from Islam which means they are targets for persecution and murder under the Taliban.

Church leaders in Afghanistan report getting letters from the Muslim militants saying the Taliban knows who they are and what they are doing. Many fear mafia-style murders are in the near future.

While people are fleeing the country, pastors are staying to continue their ministry.

Pray 1 Corinthians 15:58 for these believers, “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.”

Horror and panic at Afghanistan’s Kabul airport

On Monday, Afghanistan’s Kabul airport was the scene of horror and panic as hundreds tried to flee the country.

Video footage showed people clinging to planes taxiing on the runway and even falling from planes that were taking off.

After an insertion of 1,000 more troops, the total of 6,000 U.S. troops has secured the airport in Kabul to help with evacuations. The Pentagon is aiming to evacuate up to 9,000 people per day.

U.S. official: Taliban takeover not surprising

John Sopko, the U.S. Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction, released a report yesterday on the U.S. involvement in Afghanistan. It’s America’s longest war which has cost billions of dollars.

Sopko noted, “If the goal was to rebuild and leave behind a country that can sustain itself and pose little threat to U.S. national security interests, the overall picture is bleak.”

For years, Sopko has raised concerns about the U.S. involvement in Afghanistan. The report said the U.S. consistently underestimated the time needed to rebuild Afghanistan and failed to understand the cultural and social context.

Sopko told National Public Radio that the Taliban takeover is not surprising.

SOPKO: “It’s not surprising. I mean, we’ve been warning for the last, almost 10 years, about issues with the ANDSF, the Afghan security forces capabilities, and sustainment. All the signs have been there. I mean, we’ve been shining a light on it and multiple reports going back to when I started in 2012.”

Scottish gov’t relaxes social distancing, maintains face masks

For the first time since March 2020, the Scottish government relaxed social distancing requirements on churches. However, face mask requirements remain in place.

Evangelical Alliance Scotland celebrated the end of social distancing requirements. A spokesman said, “This is absolutely a time to celebrate. We have longed for the day when we can be back together as one church congregation.”

Hobby Lobby refused to let man, pretending to be a woman, use women’s restroom

An Illinois state appellate court ruled Friday that Hobby Lobby violated the state’s law about transgender bathrooms.

The case arose when a man, pretending to be a woman, wanted to use the women’s restroom. Hobby Lobby said he could not.

In 2019, the Illinois Human Rights Commission fined Hobby Lobby $220,000 in the case. Sadly, the latest court ruling upheld that fine.

Biden and Congressional Democrats have passed few laws

Despite a Democrat President and a Democrat-controlled House and Senate, the 117th U.S. Congress has passed very few laws compared with previous years.

During the first eight months of its two-year term, Congress passed 36 laws, tying for the fourth fewest laws enacted.

Republicans have been able to use procedural process to stop some legislation.

Last week, Republican Sen. Ted Cruz blocked Senate Democrats from passing the so-called “For The People Act.” Critics describe the bill as a federal takeover of elections.

Births among white women down dramatically

New U.S. census data found the under-18 demographic is ethnically diverse with no one ethnicity dominating.

For the first time, the white population shrank in absolute numbers. Meanwhile, Hispanic, Black, and Asian populations are growing.

U.S. birth rates are declining especially among white women.

New Texas town protects babies from abortion

And finally, Brownsboro, Texas voted 3-1 on Monday to pass an ordinance to ban the killing of unborn babies in their city limits. The ordinance also bans abortion-inducing drugs.

Brownsboro is now the 37th city in the nation and the 34th in Texas to become a Sanctuary City for the Unborn.

Psalm 127:3 says, “Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb is a reward.”

Close

And that’s The Worldview in 5 Minutes on this Wednesday, August 18th, 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.