It’s Monday, August 5th, A.D. 2024. This is The World View in 5 Minutes written by Jonathan Clark and heard at www.TheWorldView.com. Filling in for Adam McManus I’m Ean Leppin.
China Sentences House Church Elder
A Chinese court sentenced a house church elder to five years in prison last month.
In 2022, officials accused Elder Zhang Chunlei of “inciting subversion of state power.” He has been in detention since then. Such treatment is part of China’s agenda to crackdown on churches that are not sanctioned by the government.
Mervyn Thomas with Christian Solidarity Worldwide said, “The charges against Elder Zhang Chunlei are completely unfounded. . . . We call for his immediate and unconditional release and for reparations to be made to Elder Zhang and his family for the years of injustice they have been subjected to already.”
British Christians are More Satisfied
Belonging Forum surveyed 10,000 people in the U.K.
The study found 72% of Christians said they were satisfied with their lives. Only 65% of people who identify as non-religious said the same.
Kim Samuel with Belonging Forum said the study underscored the “vital role that faith communities continue to play in nurturing social bonds and providing a sense of belonging and purpose in the UK. . . . Christian hospitality and compassion shone through the data, particularly a sense of neighbourliness and inner contentment.”
Northern Ireland Prosecutes Pro-lifer
Last September, Northern Ireland banned praying and offering help to pregnant women outside abortion mills. The next month, authorities arrested Claire Brennan for praying near an abortion mill.
She could be fined and even imprisoned for six months. The Christian Legal Centre is now supporting Brennan in her case. It’s the first case of its kind in Northern Ireland.
Brennan said, “I cannot go against my conscience and do nothing whilst innocent babies are aborted in this country. Praying is the most important thing I can do to help and I and everyone else must be free to do that.”
Proverbs 17:15 says, “He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous are both alike an abomination to the LORD.”
U.K. Cuts Interest Rates, U.S. Holds Rates
Last month, the Bank of England cut interest rates for the first time in over four years. The key rate is now 5%, down from 5.25%. The central bank expects inflation to increase to 2.75% this year before returning to its target of 2% next year.
Meanwhile in the U.S., the Federal Reserve left interest rates unchanged. The central bank’s benchmark overnight borrowing rate remains at 5.25%-5.5%, which is a 23-year high. The Fed noted inflation has eased over the past year but is still elevated.
Trump and Harris Spar over Debate
Former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris may not debate each other as they compete for the White House.
Trump was set to debate President Joe Biden next month on ABC. But with Biden’s withdrawal from the presidential race, Trump said he would instead debate Harris on Fox News or not at all. Harris said she would still appear on the ABC event.
Also, the latest polling from FiveThirtyEight found the race between Trump and Harris is a virtual tie.
20 States Challenge U.S. Treasury
Twenty Republican state attorneys general sent a letter to the U.S. Treasury Department last week.
The department has come out against states with de-banking laws. Such laws prohibit banks from closing accounts over the owners religious or political views.
The recent letter stated, “No consumer or business should be denied services based on political beliefs or religious views or because of some arbitrary social credit score derived from ideological agendas.”
New Film Features the Life of Ronald Reagan
At the end of the month a new movie will be released that covers the life and presidency of Ronald Reagan. The movie titled simply Reagan has actor Dennis Quaid taking on the title role. He recently told NewMax his thoughts on Ronald Reagan and what he thinks of this movie.
QUAID: “Playing Ronald Reagan is an honor, and it’s probably my favorite movie now, of my entire career, and quite a feat to do. It’s six years ago that I said ‘yes’ to the part, and four years since we finished shooting. And it’s finally coming out, and I think it’s the right time for it to come out as well.”
Dennis Quaid also told CBN News that Reagan was a man of faith and how much that resonated with him. Dennis goes on to talk about his own faith journey.
QUAID: “Over the last 30 years, it took me a while, because I was, for those that don’t know my faith journey… But I grew up in the Baptist church, and I became disillusioned with, what I call, ‘Churchianity’ in my teens, at a time. And I got into Eastern philosophy, which led me into Buddhism. And then I read the Q’uran. I read the Bible, cover to cover… And, twenty years later, I came to a place, where I got to do all those things in the world – cocaine and drugs and stuff. Got clean, and then went back to reading the Bible again, and what struck me were the red words of Jesus. That was the thing that got me, and that led me to a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. And that relationship has continued to grow and mature and get deeper, and it’s a continuing journey. But, that’s where I am. That’s what’s really different about my faith, and what you can’t find any other place is that relationship with Him.
Reagan will be released in theaters on August 30th.
Tennessee City Honors God
And finally, a city in Tennessee passed a resolution honoring God last month.
Mt. Juliet authorities supported their state’s resolution calling for July to be a month of prayer and fasting.
The city’s resolution stated, “We recognize that God, as the Creator and King of all Glory, has the authority to judge and to bless nations or states.”
Commissioner Ray Justice said, “I think prayer is something that is important every day, several times a day, and when you are living in as divisive of a world that we are living in, you should do it as often as possible.”
Psalm 33:12 says, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people whom he has chosen as his heritage!”
And that’s The World View in 5 Minutes on this Monday, August 5th, in the year of our Lord 2024. 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. Filling in for Adam McManus I’m Ean Leppin. Seize the day for Jesus Christ.