It’s Wednesday, December 23rd, A.D. 2020. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard at www.TheWorldview.com. I’m Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com)
By Jonathan Clark
Britain’s Christian Envoy of Freedom of Religion
Britain’s new Special Envoy on Freedom of Religion or Belief is Fiona Bruce, a committed Christian.
Bruce said that she would make persecution cases her top priority, referencing kidnapped Christian girls Leah Sharibu in Nigeria and Maira Shahbaz in Pakistan.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian government secured the release of 344 school boys who were kidnapped earlier this month by suspected Muslim jihadists. Sadly, the government appears to have stopped trying to rescue Sharibu who was taken in a previous mass-kidnapping in 2018.
Argentinian Catholic Bishops condemn pro-abortion politicians
Roman Catholic bishops in Argentina released a statement on Monday, condemning their nation’s leaders for trying to legalize the murder of unborn babies.
Last month, President Alberto Fernandez introduced a bill to legalize abortion, and the country’s lower house passed the bill earlier this month. The senate is set to vote on the bill by the end of the month. Over 60 percent of the population in Argentina oppose the bill.
L.A. County Health Dept. sees the light
Praise God! California’s Los Angeles County Health Department finally dropped their coronavirus restrictions on indoor worship services.
The change comes after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled against New York’s coronavirus restrictions on churches.
$900 billion COVID-19 relief package passes
On Monday, Congress passed a $1.4 trillion spending bill and a $900 billion COVID-19 relief package.
Americans will get $600 handouts under the relief bill, but the spending package also includes over two billion dollars in foreign funding to over 20 countries across South America, the Middle East, and Asia.
Psalm 146:3 says, “Do not put your trust in princes, nor in a son of man, in whom there is no help.”
68% of Republicans believe presidential election was rigged
A Reuters/Ipsos opinion poll found that 68 percent of Republicans thought the 2020 presidential election was rigged, while 16 percent of Democrats and one-third of independents also thought so.
Overall, 55 percent of Americans thought the election was accurate, down 7 points from the 2016 election. And 28 percent thought the election was rigged, up 12 points from 2016.
Mississippi Gov.: “I felt the need to go to God in prayer for our state.”
Last week, Mississippi Republican Gov. Tate Reeves called for this past Sunday to be a day of prayer, humility, and fasting in light of the trials of this year.
REEVES: “As we close out this year, I felt the need to go to God in prayer for our state. Ever since the beginning of this pandemic, we’ve tried to hold opportunities for our fellow Mississippians to pray, to pray together so we can be together. We know that there is power in prayer. In fact, it is what God commands us to do. In the twelfth chapter and the twelfth verse of Romans: ‘Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, and faithful in prayer.’”
Young American adults likely do not believe in God
A survey by the American Enterprise Institute found that the most common religious identity among young American adults is “none” at 34 percent.
Although 87 percent of Americans say they believe in God, only 53 percent say they believe in God without any doubts.
White Evangelical Protestants and Black Protestants were the most likely to say they believe in God without any doubts.
Southern Baptists: “Critical Race Theory” incompatible with Bible
The Council of Seminary Presidents of the Southern Baptist Convention recently denounced Critical Race Theory as incompatible with their statement of faith.
The Baptist leaders acknowledged their opposition to any form of racism, but emphasized the need for teaching biblical truth not the unbiblical ideologies of secular culture.
8 million Americans fell into poverty
Nearly eight million Americans fell into poverty over the summer. The poverty rate increased to 11.7 percent in November, up 2.4 percentage points since June.
It’s the biggest jump in the poverty rate since the government started tracking it 60 years ago.
However, overall poverty levels remain low by historical standards.
Trump thanks “Almighty God for sending us Christ, His Son”
And finally, President Donald Trump not only wished Americans a Merry Christmas during the National Christmas Tree lighting ceremony earlier this month at the White House, but he was wonderfully evangelistic about the Christian message.
TRUMP: “Above all, during the sacred season, our souls are full of thanks and praise for Almighty God for sending us Christ, His Son, to redeem the world. Tonight, we ask that God will continue to bless this nation. And, we pray that He will grant every American family a Christmas season full of joy, hope, and peace. On behalf of Melania and the entire Trump family, Merry Christmas to all and best wishes for a very, very great and happy new year. Thank you.”
CHOIR: “O come let us adore Him. O come let us adore Him. O come let us adore Him, Christ the Lord.”
Close
And that’s The Worldview in 5 Minutes on this Wednesday, December 23rd, 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.