It’s Thursday, November 30th, A.D. 2023. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard at www.TheWorldview.com. I’m Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com)
By Jonathan Clark
Israel-Hamas ceasefire continues
Israel and Hamas, the Muslim terrorist group, continue their temporary ceasefire for a hostage-for-prisoner exchange. Coverage of the recent Gaza conflict has overlooked the plight of the Christian minority there.
International Christian Concern reports that Christianity in Gaza dates back to the 4th century A.D. With so much conflict in the area in recent times, Gazan Christians are known for their operation of some of the best medical institutions as well as educational and business groups. However, the Christian population in the area is steadily dwindling.
Christians who stay in Gaza experience life as second-class citizens. Those who convert to Christianity from Islam face persecution and even death.
Muslims in Gaza coming to Christ
In other Gaza news, hundreds of Muslims in the region are reportedly coming to Christ.
Michael Licona, a Christian professor and president of Risen Jesus Inc., shared news from underground Christian ministries in Palestine. He said, “Over the past two days, we have ministered to hundreds of fathers who have lost most, if not all, of their children in the war. … As we moved these men to safety, we … began to read the Bible to them — sharing the way of peace through Jesus. … They have come back to us to learn more from God’s Word and are asking how to follow Jesus.”
In Matthew 11:28, Jesus said, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
Could federal agencies be restrained?
In the United States, the Supreme Court is considering a case that could limit the power of federal agencies.
Conservative justices appear ready to limit the Securities and Exchange Commission which has been able to enforce securities laws in-house instead of through the courts.
Chief Justice John Roberts, who sometimes sides with the conservatives, commented, “The extent of impact of government agencies on daily life today is enormously more significant than it was 50 years ago.”
The case is one of two others aimed at scaling back the power of the administrative state.
Americans gave 11% less in 2022 than 2008
Giving USA reports that Americans only gave 1.7% of their disposable income to charity last year. It’s the lowest percentage since 1995.
Americans gave about $500 billion in 2022. When adjusted for inflation, that’s an 11% drop in giving and the first drop since 2008’s Great Recession.
Educational organizations received 10% less in donations followed by environmental groups (9% less) and human services organizations (8% less). Religious organizations only saw a 2.6% decrease.
Pro-life states helped save 32,000 babies since Roe overturned
The Institute of Labor Economics released a report on the effects of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade last year.
The study found, “Our primary analysis indicates that in the first six months of 2023, births rose by an average of 2.3 percent in states enforcing total abortion bans compared to a control group of states where abortion … remained protected, amounting to approximately 32,000 additional annual births resulting from abortion bans.”
Life expectancy rose in 2022 to 77.5 years
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports U.S. life expectancy increased in 2022 to 77.5 years.
That’s a 1.1-year increase compared to 2021. But it is still down from 78.8 years in 2019 before the COVID-19 pandemic.
U.S. life expectancy has largely plateaued over the last decade during the rise of drug overdose deaths and suicides. America’s life expectancy is lower than other comparable countries and did not rebound as fast from the pandemic like France, Italy, Spain, and Sweden did.
5.2% increase in GDP in third quarter
The U.S. Commerce Department reports that the Gross Domestic Product increased at an annual rate of 5.2% during the third quarter of 2023.
Economic growth beat expectations of 4.9%.
The growth represents increases in consumer spending, private inventory investment, exports, and government spending.
John Bunyan’s 395th birthday celebration
And finally, this week is the anniversary of the birth of John Bunyan.
He was baptized on November 30, 1628 and is thought to have been born around the 28th in Elstow, England.
Bunyan had little formal education and worked as a tinker, someone who repaired tin cooking ware and utensils. Nonetheless, he authored over 60 books and had a profound influence on Christianity, especially through his book The Pilgrim’s Progress.
Bunyan’s writings have been translated into over 200 languages.
Watch the animated 30-minute video The John Bunyan Story from Torchlighters with your kids or grandkids. And get the Torchlighters Activity book for your kids that has a section devoted to Bunyan. Check out the special links in our transcript today at www.TheWorldview.com.
He reminds us of the apostles in Acts 4:13, “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus.”
Close
And that’s The Worldview in 5 Minutes on this Thursday, November 30th in the year of our Lord 2023. 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.