It’s Thursday, February 1st, A.D. 2024. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard at www.TheWorldview.com. I’m Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com)
By Jonathan Clark
Muslims killed 10 Christians, burned 200 homes in Mozambique
The Islamic State took responsibility for multiple attacks on Christians last month in Mozambique.
The attacks occurred over the course of two weeks, killing 10 Christians and burning 200 homes.
People have faced Islamic insurgency in the southern African country for years. Conflict has displaced over one million residents and killed around 2,000 civilians. While Islamic State attacks are decreasing in frequency, Christians still face targeted violence.
Mozambique is ranked 39th on the Open Doors’ World Watch List of nations where it is most difficult to be a Christian.
Germany cracks down on pro-lifers
Germany’s Federal Family Minister announced a new draft bill to crack down on pro-life expression near abortion mills. The bill would create censorship zones around mills. The U.K. adopted a similar measure last year.
Dr. Felix Böllmann with Alliance Defending Freedom International said, “Peaceful gatherings, prayer and offers of help should never be banned. The plans of the German government are alarming—not only do they put blanket restrictions on fundamental freedoms, but also they weaken civil society’s engagement for the protection of the right to life.”
French House greenlights abortion
Meanwhile, in France, the country’s lower house of parliament voted in favor of making abortion a constitutional right on Tuesday.
The bill now moves to the country’s Senate.
Psalm 94:20-21 speaks to the leaders of France and Germany alike. It asks, “Shall the throne of iniquity, which devises evil by law, have fellowship with [the Lord]? They gather together against the life of the righteous, and condemn innocent blood.”
California’s $200,000 settlement with church
In the United States, the state of California reached a $200,000 settlement with a church and preschool in a religious liberty case last month.
Church of Compassion and Dayspring Christian Learning Center were serving low-income families. State officials suspended them from a food care program over their biblical beliefs about human sexuality.
Jeremiah Galus with Alliance Defending Freedom said, “In the name of combatting discrimination, government officials excluded the church and preschool from serving the El Cajon community based solely on their religious beliefs and exercise. . . . now Church of Compassion can continue its vital outreach to needy children and families.”
Utah bans transgender bathrooms
Utah became the latest state to ban transgender bathrooms.
Republican Governor Spencer Cox signed the bill on Tuesday.
The measure requires people to use bathrooms and locker rooms in public schools and government buildings in accordance with their biological sex.
At least 10 other states have passed similar bills, including Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, North Dakota, Oklahoma, and Tennessee.
760,000 new businesses in 2023
The review site Yelp reports a record number of new business openings last year.
Over 760,000 new businesses started in 2023, up 20% from 2022.
Business openings for home services were up 32%, and openings for hotels and travel were up 28%.
Yelp noted, “For the first time ever, every U.S. state, including Washington, D.C., experienced an increase in new business openings, when compared to both 2022’s record numbers and pre-pandemic levels (2019).”
Religiously unaffiliated in America
A new report from Pew Research evaluated religiously unaffiliated U.S. adults.
About 28% of Americans are “nones,” calling themselves atheists, agnostics, or “nothing in particular.” That’s up from 16% in 2007.
Most “nones” believe in a higher power but do not attend religious services. They also believe religion does some harm but may also do some good.
Only 17% of religious “nones” are atheists; 20% are agnostic; and the vast majority are “nothing in particular” at 63%.
Speaker Johnson: We desire to walk in God’s ways
And finally, leaders from around the world met in Washington, D.C. yesterday for the National Gathering for Prayer and Repentance.
The event took place at the Museum of the Bible.
Tony Perkins with the Family Research Council co-founded the prayer event, which aims to “pray prayers of serious repentance for (1) personal sins, (2) sin in the church and (3) America’s sins, followed by praying for the Nations.”
Republican House speaker Mike Johnson spoke at the event.
JOHNSON: “I pray, and you’ll hear my colleagues come up here in turn will be praying, to the Lord. And that’s what is on our hearts, that that the Lord would give us all discerning hearts, to govern, to distinguish between right and wrong, to walk in His ways and to obey His statutes and commands.”
2 Chronicles 7:14 says, “If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from Heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”
Close
And that’s The Worldview in 5 Minutes on this Thursday, February 1st 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. I’m Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.