It’s Christmas Day, Friday, December 25th, A.D. 2020. This is The World View in 5 Minutes heard at www.TheWorldview.com. I’m Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com)
By Jonathan Clark
Nigerian Christians targeted at Christmas
Christians are celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ around the world today. However, for many believers this season is a time of greater persecution for their faith.
For example, Christians in Nigeria expect to be attacked around Christmas by Muslim extremists. Police in Pakistan increased security for churches after foiling a terrorist plot intended for today.
In contrast, for the first time ever, the parliament of Iraq declared Christmas to be a national holiday every year. Christians rejoiced to have the day officially recognized but continue to suffer in the wake of the Islamic State’s insurgency there.
Isaiah 40 speaks of the birth of Christ, “‘Comfort, yes, comfort My people!’ says your God. ‘Speak comfort to Jerusalem . . . that her iniquity is pardoned. . . . The glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together; for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.’”
British Prime Minister: “We’ve taken back control of our destiny”
U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced a trade deal with the European Union yesterday. This comes ahead of Britain’s departure from the E.U. next week and four years after the country made the initial Brexit decision.
Johnson celebrated the deal, saying, “We’ve taken back control of our laws and our destiny, we’ve taken back control of every jot and tittle of our regulation in a way that is complete and unfettered.”
American churches celebrate freedom from COVID Tyranny
U.S. jurisdictions are backing off their coronavirus restrictions on church services this month.
Churches in Oregon will no longer face criminal penalties for meeting normally after the state’s health authority changed their gathering limit to a recommendation.
Similarly, Washington State changed their numerical limit on church attendance to a recommendation.
And Washington D.C. Mayor, Muriel Bowser, increased the numerical limit on church services after the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington D.C. took legal action against the restrictions.
Trump vetoed bill over veterans, lack of “American First” focus
President Donald Trump vetoed the $740 billion military spending bill, sending it back to Congress which plans on overriding the veto. Trump said the bill failed to respect U.S. veterans and contradicted his efforts to put America first in our national security.
Trump also called on Congress to change the $900 billion coronavirus relief bill by increasing one-time payments to Americans from $600 to $2,000 and cutting foreign aid.
Trump looks to force debate over election fraud
President Trump met with Republican Congressional leaders on Monday who plan on challenging Joe Biden’s presidential win in the Electoral College.
The GOP leaders hope to force a debate over allegations of voter fraud on January 6 when a Joint Session of Congress certifies the Electoral College results.
Was COVID-19 a lesson from God?
Pew Research released their “20 striking findings from 2020” report this month.
One of the findings was that 86 percent of Americans believe there is a lesson for mankind to learn from the coronavirus pandemic, and 35 percent believe the lesson was sent by God.
Psalm 2:10-12 gives a lesson for the nations, “Now therefore, be wise, O kings; be instructed, you judges of the earth. Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, and you perish in the way, when His wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him.”
81,000 American Despair Deaths
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported over 81,000 drug overdose deaths during the 12-month period ending in May 2020. It’s the highest number of deaths in a year on record.
The latest numbers suggest an acceleration of overdose deaths during the coronavirus pandemic.
In San Francisco, over 600 people died from drug overdoses this year, over three times the number of coronavirus deaths in the city.
U.S. public schools lose money due to lack of enrollment
And finally, the anti-God public schools are taking an unprecedented monetary and enrollment hit this year, reports the New York Times.
An estimated three million students haven’t attended public school since the coronavirus pandemic started. Economic fallout related to the pandemic cost the public school system nearly $200 billion.
Not surprisingly, homeschooling rates have doubled this year.
Close
And that’s The Worldview in 5 Minutes on this Christmas Day, Friday, December 25th, 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.