It’s Thursday, July 31st, A.D. 2025. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard on 140 radio stations and at www.TheWorldview.com.  I’m Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com)

By Jonathan Clark

Iran has arrested 54 Christians since ceasefire

Article 18 reports that Iran has arrested 54 Christians since it agreed to a ceasefire with Israel on June 24. That’s more arrests than the previous six months. 

Christians in the Middle Eastern country are also facing increased hate speech since Iran’s recent conflict with Israel. Many are seeking to paint Christians as co-conspirators with Israel. 

Article18’s executive director, Mansour Borji, commented, “We are very concerned for the well-being of all Iranian Christians … considering the past misuse of pseudo-legal provisions … to justify violence and punitive measures against this vulnerable community.”

Hebrews 13:3 says, “Remember the prisoners as if chained with them—those who are mistreated—since you yourselves are in the body also.”

Russia rocked by 8.8-magnitude earthquake

One of the largest earthquakes ever recorded struck  Russia’s far east coast yesterday morning.

The 8.8-magnitude quake sent tsunami waves at Russia and Japan. The waves also reached parts of Hawaii and the U.S. West Coast. 

Millions of people were told to seek high ground. However, authorities downgraded their warnings after the threat of major tsunami waves subsided. Russia experienced some damage but reported no casualties. 

China launches nationwide childcare subsidy

China launched its first nationwide subsidy for childcare on Monday.

The government will offer families 3,600 yuan per year for each child under the age of three. That’s the equivalent to about $500 per child. 

The central government is also urging local authorities to introduce free preschool education. 

China is introducing these measures at it continues to suffer population decline as the result of its previous one-child policy. 

America’s fertility rate drops to new low

Meanwhile, in the United States, the fertility rate dropped to a new low in 2024.

New data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found the fertility rate fell to 1.6 children per woman last year.

The fertility rate declined for females in age groups 15-34, remained unchanged for women ages 35-39, and increased for women ages 40-44.

U.S. economy grew by 3%

The U.S. economy grew better than expected during the second quarter of this year.

The Commerce Department reported gross domestic product increased at an annual rate of three percent during April, May, and June. That’s up from a 0.5% decrease during the first quarter.

President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social, calling for lower interest rates. He wrote, “2Q GDP JUST OUT: 3%, WAY BETTER THAN EXPECTED! . . . MUST NOW LOWER THE RATE. No Inflation! Let people buy, and refinance, their homes!”

Obama-era climate regulation justified $1 trillion in regulations

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has proposed to rescind the 2009 Endangerment Finding.

The Obama-era finding has been used for climate regulations like those on motor vehicle emissions. It justified over $1 trillion in regulations, including the Biden administration’s electric vehicle mandate. 

Republican U.S. Congressman Mark Messmer of Indiana said, “The Endangerment Finding has long been a Democrat tool to issue burdensome regulations that ignore commonsense science in pursuit of radical Green New Deal aligned agendas. I applaud … the entire Trump Administration for making sure we cut the red tape that is unnecessarily impeding American business.” 

Adultery, cloning humans, suicide, and polygamy still considered morally wrong

Gallup released their latest poll on Americans’ opinions of the moral acceptability of 20 behaviors.

The vast majority of U.S. adults still believe adultery, cloning humans, suicide, and polygamy are morally wrong. Respondents were more divided on abortion. Most Americans believe birth control, divorce, and premarital sex are morally acceptable. 

These findings are generally similar to last year. However, views of the moral acceptability of abortion and “changing one’s gender” are down compared to last year.

Proverbs 29:18 says, “Where there is no prophetic vision the people cast off restraint, but blessed is he who keeps the law.”

250 years of U.S. Army Chaplains

And finally, U.S. Army Chaplains celebrated 250 years of ministry this month.

On July 29, 1775, the Continental Congress granted the request of General George Washington to establish an official position for military chaplains. 

Since then, there have been 25,000 Army chaplains. Three thousand currently serve in the U.S. Army.

Listen to comments from Senior Army Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Ludovic Foyou made at Arlington National Cemetery. 

FOYOU: “Today marks 250 years of the US Army Chaplain Corps. That is 250 years of ministry alongside the brave, praying with the dying, walking with the wounded, and standing watch with those who bear the burden of defense.

“Two and a half centuries of ministry in boots, of comfort offered besides cots, of prayers whispered beneath helmets, in tents and trenches deserts and jungles and now across the world.

“It is ministry like no other one, forged in the very crucible of conflict, yet rooted in the deepest well of hope, mercy and calling.”

Close

And that’s The Worldview on this Thursday, July 31st, in the year of our Lord 2025. Follow us on X or subscribe for free by Spotify, Amazon Music, or by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com.  Plus, you can get the Generations app through Google Play or The App Store. I’m Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.