It’s Tuesday, December 22nd, A.D. 2020. Only three more days to Christmas for those of you counting down. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes. I’m Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com)
By Kevin Swanson
Christian pastor in India martyred for his faith
International Christian Concern reports of another Christian evangelist-pastor martyred in India.
While on his way home, Pastor Stephen Surin was martyred after visiting new believers in a nearby village. He was shot and killed by three assailants in the presence of his wife, Tarsis, who was with him at the time.
She reported to ICC, that, “They killed my husband in front of my own eyes. I was terrified seeing my husband collapse having been shot in the chest. I started to think about my children and loudly cried out to God to save me and take care of my children. I pushed the man who was pointing the gun towards me. I ran into the thick bushes and the nearby forest. I probably walked for more than ten hours to reach my home. I purposely did not take the road to avoid the attackers.”
Pastor Stephen had been threatened numerous times by villagers where he was serving as an evangelist.
Acts 7:59 tells of the first martyr in the church. And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not charge them with this sin.”
Thousands of Chinese pastors have gone into hiding
Christian Headlines reports that thousands of Chinese pastors are going into hiding — which involves disconnecting from phones and computers, and destroying their ID cards.
Also, Asia Harvest reports that the Communist government is producing their own copy of the Bible, in which Jesus claims to be sinful and “socialist characteristics” are added.
Franklin Graham: I believe Trump when he says election was stolen
American evangelist Franklin Graham, son of Billy Graham, facebooked a message on Saturday, indicating his support of President Trump’s position on the election.
In Graham’s words, “When President Trump says that this election has been rigged or stolen, I tend to believe him. He has a track record of being right. Pray for President Trump, pray for Joe Biden, and pray for our nation—that we will get through this, and for God’s will be done.”
Paul exhorts in 1 Timothy 2 “that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.”
Spain set to legalize euthanasia
Spain is looking to become the sixth nation in the world to legalize euthanasia — or the killing of the elderly and infirm.
The nation will join the Netherlands, Belgium, Colombia, Luxembourg, Western Australia, Spain and Canada.
The Netherlands has been killing about 6,000 elderly per year. Tragically, the nation approved euthanasia for terminally ill children earlier this year. That’s about 3% of the total deaths in the country. Added to 168,000 surgical abortions each year, 53% of the deaths in the Netherlands in any given year are murders at the hands of doctors.
In addition, assisted suicide is now legal in eight American states.
San Francisco sees uptick in Despair Deaths
The City of San Francisco witnessed a massive increase in despair deaths in 2020 — some 621 people dying of drug overdoses.
That’s almost four times the number of people who have died of COVID-19 during the same timeframe in the city. According to the San Francisco Chronicle, the number would have been much higher, if it had not been for 3,000 life-saving interventions on the part of emergency workers.
Congress approved a $900 billion COVID-19 bill
The U.S. Congress has approved a $900 billion COVID-19 aid bill, which is to include more “free” money for American taxpayers.
Most will receive $600 checks plus an additional $600 per child. In 2020, the federal government spent $6.6 trillion or 31% of the GDP, up from 20.7% in 2019. That’s the largest increase under any president, Republican or Democrat, since FDR.
The $900 billion stimulus package kicking loose in January would put 2021 federal expenditures somewhere around $5.8 trillion, or 27.4% of a steady state GDP (from 2020).
Previous to these huge increases, federal spending per GDP has remained between 17% and 23% — since 1965.
Pope Francis approves vaccines made from aborted children
Despite opposition from some Catholic bishops, the Vatican has approved use of all COVID 19 vaccines, regardless of whether they were manufactured using the cell lines of aborted children.
The announcement was explicitly approved by Pope Francis, reports the Vatican News.
Betsie ten Boom: “There’s no pit so deep that He is not deeper still!”
And finally, this Christmas week marks the 76th anniversary of the death of Betsie ten Boom, Corrie’s sister.
Betsie died in the German Ravensbrück concentration camp. She was taken by the Nazis on charges of helping to save the lives of thirty Jews in their home in Haarlem, Netherlands. Betsie reminded Corrie while in the camp: “Give thanks in all circumstances. It doesn’t say, ‘in pleasant circumstances.’ Even fleas are part of this place where God has put us.” The ladies conducted secret prayer services in the prison camp.
And, Betsie’s last words before she died were: “We must tell them what we have learned here. We must tell them that there is no pit so deep that He is not deeper still. They will listen to us, Corrie, because we have been here.”
Close
And that’s The Worldview in 5 Minutes on this Tuesday, December 22nd in the year of our Lord 2020. 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.