It’s Wednesday, October 2nd, 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
The more gov’t corruption, the more persecution of Christians
International Christian Concern released a report on the connection between government corruption and persecution.
The report notes that countries with significant abuse of public power for private gain are also countries with high levels of persecution for Christians.
Countries like Afghanistan, China, India, Iran, Nigeria, and North Korea.
The report referenced multiple studies that “highlight how corruption within governmental, legal, and societal institutions can exacerbate religious persecution, leading to discrimination, violence, and marginalization of religious minorities.”
Iran launched missiles against Israel
Speaking of Iran, the country launched dozens of missiles into Israel on Tuesday. There were no immediate reports on any casualties or damage caused by the strike.
The attack comes less than a week after Israeli airstrikes killed the leader of Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed terrorist group in Lebanon. Israel has also started ground operations against Hezbollah this week.
The U.S. stood by Israel, promising severe consequences for Iranian missile attacks on Israel.
J.D. Vance beat Tim Walz in Vice Presidential debate
Referring to last night’s CBS Vice Presidential debate in New York City between the Republican VP nominee J.D. Vance, an Ohio Senator, and the Democratic VP nominee, Tim Walz, the Minnesota Governor, radio talk show host Erick Erickson sent an email with the subject line: “Even the Democrats Know Vance Won.”
He wrote, “JD Vance just turned in the very best performance of a national candidate in decades on a debate stage. He handled himself extremely well.”
Vance: Kamala ensured border crisis by dismantling Trump policy
When asked about immigration, this was Vance’s answer.
VANCE: “We have a historic immigration crisis because Kamala Harris started and said that she wanted to undo all of Donald Trump’s border policies, 94 executive orders, suspending deportations, decriminalizing illegal aliens, massively increasing the asylum fraud that exists in our system. That has opened the floodgates, and what it’s meant is that a lot of fentanyl is coming into our country.
“I had a mother who struggled with opioid addiction and has gotten clean. I don’t want people who are struggling with addiction to be deprived of their second chance because Kamala Harris let in fentanyl into our communities at record levels. So, you’ve got to stop the bleeding. You’ve got to reimplement Donald Trump’s border policies, build the wall, reimplement deportations.”
Walz lied about being in Hong Kong during Tiananmen Square massacre
Talk show host Erick Erickson said Governor Walz did not hold up and opened himself up to more attacks for lying about being in Hong Kong during the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre.
Indeed, listen to his inability to answer a straight question from CBS News moderator Margaret Brennan, reports the National Review.
BRENNAN: “Governor Walz, you said you were in Hong Kong during the deadly Tiananmen Square protests in the spring of 1989, but Minnesota Public Radio and other media outlets are reporting that you actually didn’t travel to Asia until August of that year. Can you explain that discrepancy?”
WALZ: “To the folks out there who didn’t get at the top of this: Look, I grew up in small, rural Nebraska, town of 400, town that you rode your bike with your buddies till the street lights come on. And I’m proud of that service. I joined the National Guard at 17, worked on family farms, and then I used the GI Bill to become a teacher, passionate about it, a young teacher. My first year out, I got the opportunity in the summer of ‘89 to travel to China, 35 years ago be able to do that.
“I came back home and then started a program to take young people there. We would take basketball teams. We would take baseball teams. We would take dancers, and we would go back and forth to China. The issue for that was, was to try and learn. Now, look, my community knows who I am. They saw where I was at. Look, I will be the first to tell you, I have poured my heart into my community.
“I’ve tried to do the best I can, but I’ve not been perfect, and I’m a knucklehead at times, but it’s always been about that. Those same people elected me to Congress for 12 years, and in Congress, I was one of the most bipartisan people. Many times, I will talk a lot. I will get caught up in the rhetoric, but being there, the impact. It made the difference. It made my life. I learned a lot about China. I hear the critiques of this.”
BRENNAN: “Governor, just to follow up on that: The question was, ‘can you explain the discrepancy?’”
WALZ: “All I said on this was as I got there that summer and misspoke on this. So, I will just, that’s what I’ve said. So, I was in Hong Kong and China during the democracy protests went in, and from that, I learned a lot of what needed to be in governance.”
All that to say, Walz was in the United States, not Hong Kong, during the Tiananmen Square massacre, reports Reuters.
Hurricane Helene claims 140 lives; Nearly 2 million without power
Rainstorms followed by Hurricane Helene dumped over 40 trillion gallons of water across the Southeast U.S. over the last week.
The storm has caused at least 140 deaths across six states. Hundreds of people are still missing, and over 1.7 million homes and businesses are without power.
North Carolina faced some of the worst flooding. Among the damage there was Ridgecrest Conference Center in Black Mountain, the host of many Christian retreats over the years.
Christian groups like Samaritan’s Purse have been providing supplies and aid in the region.
On Monday, Former President Donald Trump visited hurricane-ravaged Georgia alongside Franklin Graham, the founder of Samaritan’s Purse. Listen to Graham’s comments.
GRAHAM: “This building behind us represents hundreds of thousands of people that have lost homes, businesses, friends, loved ones. And it’s going to take an army of volunteers and people to respond. And, of course, at Samaritan’s Purse, we want to respond, always in Jesus’ name.”
In Mark 9:41, Jesus said, “For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in My name, because you belong to Christ, assuredly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.”
Georgia’s Heartbeat law declared unconstitutional
In other Georgia news, a state judge ruled on Monday that Georgia’s heartbeat law is unconstitutional. The ruling came despite the Georgia Supreme Court upholding the law last year.
Georgia’s 2019 Living Infants Fairness and Equality Act effectively banned abortions after six weeks of pregnancy. The latest ruling would allow abortions up to 20 weeks.
Chris Carr, the state’s Republican Attorney General, announced he will appeal the ruling. He said, “We believe Georgia’s life act is fully constitutional.”
Kris Kristofferson died
Kris Kristofferson died Saturday at 88 years of age.
Haunted through his lifetime by the Christian faith, the singer songwriter of “Why Me Lord?” and “Sunday Morning Coming Down” was known for his contemplative lyrics.
KRISTOFFERSON: “Lord, help me, Jesus, I’ve wasted it. So, help me, Jesus. I know what I am. Now that I know that I needed You so, help me, Jesus. My soul’s in Your hand.”
Alex Kendrick chats with Adam McManus
And finally, today, as I guest host for Kevin Swanson on Generations Radio, I chat with Alex Kendrick who co-wrote and directed the Christian film called The Forge. It highlights the power of Christian discipleship.
KENDRICK: “We wrote this script about a young 19-year-old who has graduated high school, trying to figure out what direction he goes in life. His father’s abandoned him, but he does have a praying mother, and she’s asking God to send someone into his life that can call him to faith in You and help mentor him as he steps into manhood.
“We watch the path of young Isaiah, the 19-year-old, go on the ups and downs of stepping into manhood, embracing responsibility, and growing in his faith. By the end of the film, we hope that people say, ‘I want that to happen to me’ or perhaps one of your children.”
Take a listen to my conversation with Christian filmmaker Alex Kendrick at Generations.org/radio. That’s Generations.org/radio.
The Forge is still in 700 theaters. So, make plans to see it this week if you haven’t already done so. To find a theater near you, go to TheForgeMovie.com.
My family laughed and cried. And we were inspired to be better disciples of Christ and to help fulfill the Great Commission by making disciples.
Close
And that’s The Worldview on this Wednesday, October 2nd, in the year of our Lord 2024. Subscribe by Amazon Music or by iTunes or emailto 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.