It’s Good Friday, April 10th, A.D. 2020, a day when we celebrate the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ on the cross. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard at www.TheWorldView.com. I’m Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com)
By Jonathan Clark
Christian man beat unconscious in India by animists
On March 12, a mob of 60 animist villagers in India stormed a Christian family’s home as they were saying their evening prayers and beat the husband unconscious in front of his wife and two children.
Bhimeshwari Sodi, the wife of Kama Sodi, reported after the incident, “We cried out for help, but there was nobody to help us. The neighbors said that he was dead.” This was the second time villagers attacked Kama who refused to renounce his faith in Christ.
Even though Kama regained consciousness about a day and a half later, and needed a week in the hospital to recover, the Christian family remains relationally and economically ostracized in their village.
Sodi explained they continue to worship God, saying, “My husband and I close the doors and pray quietly; we are not afraid of tomorrow.”
Jesus said in Matthew 10:32, “Whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven.”
Brazilian president called for national day of prayer and fasting
Last Sunday, Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro called for a national day of prayer and fasting in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.
On the radio station Jovem Pan, Bolsonaro said, “With the pastors and religious leaders we will call for a day of fasting by Brazilians so that Brazil can free itself from this evil as soon as possible.”
As of yesterday, Brazil’s COVID-19 cases surpassed 17,000 with over 900 deaths.
Updated prediction on U.S. COVID-19 deaths: 60,400
The University of Washington’s Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation updated their virus model again, projecting fewer U.S. deaths from COVID-19 than before.
The model, used by the White House, anticipates 60,415 deaths by August 4, 2020. Previous projections of coronavirus deaths, based on the model, were much higher, between 100,000 and 240,000.
Pence: “We do not grieve like those with no hope”
During a White House coronavirus task force briefing on Wednesday, Vice President Pence reflected on the death toll from the pandemic in America, but looked forward to Resurrection Sunday, quoting 1 Thessalonians 4:13.
PENCE: “In the wake of more than 1.9 million tests, we see more than 400,000 Americans have tested positive for the coronavirus, and sadly, we have lost more than 14,000. We grieve, but as the Good Book says, we do not grieve like those who have no hope. In this very special week, I know that the faith of millions of Americans is of comfort to them. The president and I spoke to more than 10,000 faith leaders, and we were able to express to them our gratitude for the way that they’re strengthening the communities that they serve.”
Planned Parenthood closed 12 New York abortion mills
Abortion giant Planned Parenthood announced the economic downturn from the coronavirus pandemic has forced them to close a dozen locations across New York.
Also, the murder giant is laying off a total of 135 employees in the Empire State.
Planned Parenthood of Greater New York projects losses of $20 million to $32 million for the rest of the year.
Republican Kansas legislators rebel against anti-church governor
Republican state leaders in Kansas voted on Wednesday to overturn Democratic Governor Laura Kelly’s executive order limiting church gatherings and funerals to 10 people.
Kansas Senate President Susan Wagle said, “I’ve received an absolute outpouring of concerns from people of faith. … They think it’s totally inappropriate for the governor to tell them that they cannot worship in a way and in the manner that they choose to on Sunday.”
Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt also said he “repeatedly advised against issuing the overreaching executive order regulating churches.”
Hulk Hogan: Allow time of isolation to focus on Jesus
And finally, wrestling star Hulk Hogan stepped into the cultural ring on Monday, calling people to God during the coronavirus pandemic in a now-viral Instagram post.
The celebrity, whose real name is Terry Gene Bollea, wrote, “In three short months, just like He did with the plagues of Egypt, God has taken away everything we worship. God said, ‘you want to worship athletes? I will shut down the stadiums. You want to worship musicians? I will shut down Civic Centers. You want to worship actors? I will shut down theaters. You want to worship money? I will shut down the economy and collapse the stock market.’”
Hogan went on to say, “Maybe we don’t need a vaccine. Maybe we need to take this time of isolation from the distractions of the world and have a personal revival where we focus on the ONLY thing in the world that really matters: Jesus.”
While most people quote from 2 Chronicles 7:14 exclusively, Hogan featured a picture on Instagram of his own Bible with the highly relevant verse 13 highlighted in addition to the more familiar verse 14.
God says, “When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land, or send a plague among My people, if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”
Close
And that’s The Worldview in 5 Minutes on this Friday, April 10th in the year of our Lord 2020. 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.