It’s Wednesday, January 11th, 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
Open Doors USA becomes Global Christian Relief
Open Doors USA is relaunching as Global Christian Relief after leaving persecution watchdog group Open Doors International.
The rebranded ministry retains the same board of directors and CEO, David Curry.
Global Christian Relief’s new website says, “For 50 years, Open Doors USA has supported persecuted Christians. We need a larger vision to mobilize dedicated Christians to support our persecuted family in new and life-changing ways that will expand God’s Kingdom for the next 50 years. Our vision is to create the most extensive, covert network serving persecuted Christians.”
Open Doors International will continue to maintain a presence in the U.S. and publish the annual World Watch List of the top 50 nations where it is most difficult to be a Christian.
1 Corinthians 12:26 says, “If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.”
British survey reveals only 3% are sexually perverted
A new census from England and Wales asked the population, for the first time, about so-called gender identity and sexual orientation.
Ninety percent of respondents answered the optional questions.
The 2021 census data found 89% of citizens said they were heterosexual.
In total, those living sexually perverted lifestyles represented 3.1% of the population. This number comes in contrast to estimates by liberal activist groups that claim 5-10% of the population is non-heterosexual.
Scottish Catholic church in decline
The Roman Catholic Church in Scotland is facing a wave of closures in the face of falling attendance and rising costs.
A spokesman for the Scottish Catholic Church told The Times U.K., “With a few exceptions, attendance and income in every diocese are down significantly following the pandemic.”
Scotland’s largest archdiocese of Glasgow runs a deficit.
One Edinburgh priest said parishioners appear more interested in spending money on Netflix subscriptions and football season tickets than supporting their local parish.
Decline in American church attendance
Meanwhile in the U.S., a new report by the Survey Center on American Life shows a decline in church attendance since the pandemic.
Thirty-three percent of Americans said they never attend religious services last year, up from 25% before the pandemic.
Religious identity remained the same for most adults despite the increase in those who didn’t attend church.
The report found that young adults experienced the greatest change in religious attendance of any group.
Psalm 84:10 says, “For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness.”
Pastor and hymn writer Jack Hayford went to Heaven
Jack Hayford, a prominent pastor, author, seminary chancellor, and the man who wrote the popular contemporary Christian worship song “Majesty,” among 600 others, died this past Sunday at his Los Angeles home at the age of 88, reports The Christian Post.
The ministry said, “We mourn his loss but celebrate the homecoming of a great leader in God’s kingdom. We know that this great servant and worshipper is now experiencing the greatest worship service of all.”
On Family Talk with Dr. James Dobson, where Hayford addressed the importance of praying for your family, he explained how God told him to honor the Sabbath after 20 years of disobedience in that regard.
HAYFORD: “The most profound impact on me came when I realized that there was a subtle form of idolatry in my violating the observance of a day of rest each week. The idolatry was the supposition that I was wiser than God or had more strength than Him.”
Man, pretending to be a woman, burned down Portland church
A man, who pretends to be a woman, confessed to burning down a 117-year-old church building in downtown Portland, Oregon last Tuesday.
Police arrested 25-year-old Cameron David Storer and charged him with multiple counts of arson and burglary.
Storer told police that voices in his head were threatening to mutilate him if he did not burn down the building.
The structure once housed the Portland Korean Church and has been vacant for 10 years.
Virginia parent acquitted of bizarre trespassing charge
Last Wednesday, Virginia’s Loudoun County Circuit Court acquitted Jon Tigges of trespassing charges.
The military veteran was one of 700 who showed up for a county school board meeting in June of 2021. Concerned parents and citizens came to protest the school’s transgender policy, COVID mandates, and the teaching of the critical race theory.
After hearing from 50 of the 250 parents who signed up to speak, Superintendent Scott Ziegler took a recess and then announced that the gathering was an “unlawful assembly.” When Tigges insisted that he had a right to be in the room and explained that he would not leave, he was arrested and charged with criminal trespassing.
After last week’s ruling, Tigges said, “I hope this victory only encourages more parents to speak out and get involved to take back their children’s education and reclaim their basic rights.”
Pro-life laws are being challenged
State supreme courts are hearing cases against abortion bans enacted in response to the overturning of Roe v. Wade.
Last Thursday, Idaho’s Supreme Court upheld two anti-abortion laws. One of the laws banned abortions in the event that Roe was overturned, and the other one banned abortions after six weeks of pregnancy.
In contrast, South Carolina’s Supreme Court struck down a similar six-week abortion ban last week.
Farmers vs. John Deere tractors
And finally, U.S. farmers won a long-sought victory this week to be able to repair their own John Deere tractors.
Farmers have complained for years about the company’s repair limitations and software locks, saying they interfere with timely planting and harvesting.
Under the new agreement, farmers now have the same documentation and diagnostic tools used by John Deere authorized repair shops and can fix their equipment themselves or use an independent shop.
Close
And that’s The Worldview in 5 Minutes on this Wednesday, January 11th 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.