It’s Wednesday, December 13th, 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
Evangelical Christians harassed in Nicaragua
A human rights group called Never Again reports Evangelical Christians are facing harassment and intimidation in Nicaragua.
In recent years, the Central American country shut down over 3,500 non-government organizations, including 342 religious organizations, of which 256 were evangelical.
Wendy Flores with Never Again said, “The government has gradually closed the evangelical associations, taken away their permits to legally exist in the country and to receive funds from abroad.”
Most Nicaraguans identify as Christian, with 45% of the population saying they are Evangelical.
Argentinian President Javier Milei shut down half government on first day
Meanwhile, in South America, Argentina’s new president is already taking on government bureaucracy.
Libertarian Javier Milei won the presidency last month, promising to shut down the central bank and most government ministries as the country faces nearly 150% inflation.
During his first day in office this week, Milei signed a decree to eliminate half of the government’s ministries. He said, “There is no alternative to a shock adjustment.”
British police dropped absurd “hate crimes” charges against Christian
In the United Kingdom, police dropped “hate crime” charges against a Christian councilman.
Anthony Stevens sits on the Wellingborough Town Council. Authorities arrested him back in August after he supported Christian free speech on social media.
With the support of the Christian Legal Centre, Stevens fought back against the charges. After they were dropped, he said, “Yes, I have been vindicated and I am relieved that no further action will be taken, but look what I have been put through. … My only crime had been supporting the only black local counselor in Northamptonshire and his freedom to express his Christian beliefs. … I believe my case is a worrying sign of potential things to come.”
Out-of-state abortion travel has doubled
Here in the United States, interstate abortion travel has doubled in recent years.
The pro-abortion Guttmacher Institute reports over 90,000 women travelled out of state for an abortion during the first half of this year, up from 40,000 during the first half of 2020.
The increase in interstate abortion travel comes as 15 states have passed near-total abortion bans.
Illinois experienced the largest increase of women traveling from out-of-state for an abortion. Other states that saw increases include New Mexico, Colorado, Florida, and Ohio.
70% of Americans say, “I’m spiritual.”
As more people are leaving organized religion, a new survey from Pew Research found that 70% of U.S. adults say they are spiritual. And about a third of those say they are not religious.
Those who identify as spiritual, but not religious, are less likely to believe in the God of the Bible compared with those who say they are spiritual and religious. The spiritual, but not religious people, tend to believe in some higher power or spiritual force in the universe. They also are more likely to believe that spirits and spiritual energies can be found in animals, parts of nature, cemeteries, and crystals.
Romans 1:21-23 says, “For although they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks to Him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.”
Lucy: A Ladybug’s Life: A great Christmas present for kids
And finally, do you need a fun, God-glorifying book for your kids for Christmas? Kayla White, author of Lucy: A Ladybug’s Life and Melody: A Monarch Miracle, shared with The Worldview about how Lucy the Ladybug mirrors the different seasons of growth a Christian experiences.
WHITE: “We all experience different seasons of change and new opportunities to serve the Lord. At times, we can also wonder if there is any way we can really be serving Him where we’re at right now. That’s why Lucy’s story is so encouraging because the Lord designed her to serve Him in varying capacities throughout her life.
“Each stage of her life was ordained by Him, including the active stages (those of larva and ladybug) and the ‘inactive’ stages of egg and pupa. It’s so encouraging to remember that there are both “big” and “little” ways we can serve Him, including simply by living fully where He has us at right now. Walking by faith, humbly with our God, is what He calls us to, ultimately.”
And Kayla commented on how the beauty of the ladybug’s metamorphosis reminds us of how our own growth can be hard to see, but the Lord is constantly working on and growing His children.
WHITE: “Lucy’s metamorphosis mirrors our experience in sanctification as Christians. It reminds us to be patient as the Lord works both in us and those around us. Lucy experiences the completion of a dramatic change when she hatches out of the pupa, but she also grows through slow, steady development during the larval stage.
“Sometimes it’s hard for us to recognize the Lord’s work because we’re “in progress,” but His work is all part of the beautiful tapestry that He is weaving together as He makes us more like Christ.”
To get your copy of the book, visit LucyTheLadybug.com. That’s LucyTheLadybug.com.
Psalm 104:24 says, “O LORD, how manifold are Your works! In wisdom You have made them all. The Earth is full of Your possessions.”
Close
And that’s The Worldview in 5 Minutes on this Wednesday, December 13th 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.