Friday, December 15th, in the year of our Lord 2017
By Jonathan Clark
Pastor in Indonesia Arrested for Sharing the Gospel
Over 100 people in Indonesia have been convicted under the country’s blasphemy laws between 2005 and 2014, reports UCA News. Now, the first Christian pastor has been charged under these laws after a video went viral of him witnessing the Christian faith to a taxi driver.
The Protestant pastor, Ben Moses, has been detained for over a week at a Jakarta police station, and Indonesia’s second largest Islamic organization filed a police complaint last week against him. Pastor Moses could receive five years in prison.
The Gospel Keeps Growing in Somalia Despite Persecution
The Gospel is growing in the 99-percent Muslim-majority country of Somalia, the second worst nation in the world for Christian persecution based on the Open Doors World Watch List.
Martyrdom is common for converts to Christianity there. Greg Kelley of World Mission has shared the example of one man who came to Christ from Islam in Somalia and fearlessly preaches the Gospel now.
Kelly said, “This guy goes around, ministering to Muslims, understanding what’s at stake and the recent report that we received . . . is that three new house churches have formed, and 15 new families have come to know Christ.”
The Apostle Paul declared in 2 Corinthians 4:11, “For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.”
Nigerian Government Procures Armaments to Fight Muslim Extremists
Northern Nigeria has experienced increased suicide bomb attacks from the Islamic extremist group Boko Haram in recent weeks. The group’s eight-year insurgency has left at least 20,000 people dead and millions displaced.
Governors of the country’s 36 states met to approve the transfer of $1 billion in oil savings to their federal government to procure armaments in their fight against the Muslim extremists, according to an official announcement made yesterday.
Hundreds of People March for Life in New Zealand
About 600 people joined in New Zealand’s National March for Life last Saturday in the country’s capital Wellington, remembering the lives of over half a million babies murdered in the womb. The march is the first at the capital since 1974 when the first abortion mill opened in Auckland and marks 40 years since New Zealand’s Contraception, Sterilisation and Abortion Act of 1977.
March for Life spokesperson Michelle Kaufman said people “leave the March energised, ready to continue serving women and families and be a voice for the unborn out of love.”
National Health Service in England Drops Gender Identity Question from School Survey
England’s National Health Service has dropped a gender identity question from a primary school survey after pushback from parents, reports The Telegraph. The question asked if the 10 and 11-year-olds “feel the same inside” as the gender they were born with.
24 Percent of American Teens Say They Have Used Marijuana
Nearly one quarter of American teens are using marijuana, according to research by the University of Michigan. The study found of 8th to 12th graders, 24 percent say they’ve used the drug in the past year. This makes for a 1.3 percent rise in marijuana usage among teens, the first significant increase in seven years.
This comes as an increasing number of states have legalized the drug for recreational use, including Alaska, California, Colorado, Massachusetts, Maine, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington, plus Washington, D.C.
Roy Moore Says We Are in a Spiritual Battle
Exit poll data from the special Senate election between Roy Moore and Doug Jones shows Moore led among evangelicals, white women, anti-abortion voters, and Trump supporters.
Jones led among African Americans, young voters, women, and supporters of the murder of the unborn. The data also showed about 51 percent of voters believed the allegations against Moore were probably or definitely true, while 44 percent thought the allegations were probably or definitely false.
Moore released a video Wednesday, saying the final vote count including military and provisional ballots has not been certified. Moore also said the nation faces a moral and spiritual battle.
“Many do not share the vision of those who built this country. Today, we no longer recognize the universal truth that God is the author of our life and liberty. Abortion, sodomy, and materialism have taken the place of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. . . We have stopped prayer in our schools. We have killed over 60 million of our unborn children. We have redefined marriage and destroyed the basis of family.”
Moore said the battle is ultimately not between political parties but it is a spiritual battle, quoting Ephesians 6:12-13.
“In the words of the Holy Scripture: ‘We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore, take unto you the whole armour of God that you may be able to withstand in the evil day and having done all, to stand.’”
Dr. R.C. Sproul Goes to Be with the Lord
And finally, the Lord called one of His own home yesterday afternoon – Dr. R.C. Sproul. Dr. Sproul died peacefully at 78 after 12 days of hospitalization due to severe respiratory difficulties.
As a pastor, teacher, author, and founder of Ligonier Ministries Dr. Sproul proclaimed in his life the great truths of God and the doctrines of God’s immeasurable holiness, grace, and glory.
Theologian Sinclair B. Ferguson said, “R.C. was never afraid of or shrank from the fray. He fought well, and his faith conquered. Now he beholds the Lord in His glory and is fully like Him. We do not begrudge our friend the fulfilment of his heart’s desire to behold the Holy One.”
Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 4:16-17, “Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.”
Please Consider Prayerfully Supporting The World View
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As the Lord has blessed you this year, please consider blessing this ministry with a much-needed, year-end donation right now as we continue to declare Jesus as Lord over all. Go to www.TheWorldView.com/give. That’s
Closing Line
And that’s The World View in 5 Minutes on this Friday, December 15th in the year of our Lord 2017. Subscribe by iTunes to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldView.com. I’m Kevin Swanson. Live for the Lord Jesus Christ, today.