It’s Friday, August 28th, 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

Chinese Communists accuse Christians of “spreading evil religion”

Chinese officials raided Guangzhou’s Bible Reformed Church yet again recently, accusing the Christians of “spreading evil religion.” The authorities arrested three church members, but the church’s Pastor Huang Xiaoning said no matter what the government does “our worship will never cease.”

In the city of Shenzhen, four Chinese Christians are in detention after being arrested for selling audio Bible players.

And in the province of Anhui, Chinese authorities removed over 900 crosses from Protestant church buildings during the first half of this year.

China’s heavy rainfall kills hundreds, threatens thousands

Meanwhile, the regions of central and southwestern China have experienced heavy rainfall and devastating floods this summer, forcing tens of thousands of people from their homes and killing hundreds.

Flooding now threatens China’s Three Gorges Dam as water level’s reach record highs at the world’s largest hydro-electric dam.

Chinese human rights activist: Trump stands up to Communists

Chinese human rights activist Chen Guangcheng addressed the Republican National convention on Wednesday, praising President Trump for standing up to the Chinese Communist Party.

Guangcheng escaped to the U.S. after suffering imprisonment and torture in China for exposing the injustices of the country’s “one child” policy and forced abortions.

GUANGCHENG: “I am forever grateful to the American people for welcoming me and my family to the United States where we are now free. The CCP is an enemy of humanity. It is terrorizing its own people and it is threatening the well-being of the world.”

(Watch the Chinese dissident’s 3-minute speech.)

Pence to Americans: Set your eyes on Jesus

Wednesday’s Day 3 of the Republican National Convention featured speakers like South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany, Second Lady Karen Pence, and Vice President Mike Pence.

Pence gave his nomination acceptance speech at Fort McHenry in Baltimore, Maryland, highlighting the pro-life, religious liberty, economic, and military accomplishments of the Trump administration while criticizing the radical left.

PENCE: “The radical left believes the federal government must be involved in every aspect of our lives to correct those American wrongs. They believe the federal government needs to dictate how Americans live, how we should work, how we should raise our children—and, in the process, deprive our people of freedom, prosperity, and security. Their agenda is based on government control; our agenda is based on freedom.”

Pence ended the speech, asking Americans to set their eyes on Jesus, referencing Hebrews 12:1-2: “Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.”

(Watch Vice President Pence’s 35-minute speech.)

Trump to John MacArthur: “Thank you for taking a stand!”

This week, a California judge denied Los Angeles County officials a restraining order against Pastor John MacArthur and Grace Community Church for holding in-person services in violation of state coronavirus restrictions. It’s the fourth time the courts have ruled against the county.

During an interview, MacArthur said President Trump commended him over the phone earlier this month.

MACARTHUR: “He called me after the Sunday morning service, and he was very gracious and said, ‘I just want to thank you for taking a stand. Church is essential. I’m glad you’re doing what you’re doing.’”

Romans 13:3 says, “For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. . . . Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same.”

In his phone call with President Donald Trump, Pastor John MacArthur also emphasized how any Christian worth his salt would never vote for the pro-abortion, pro-homosexual, pro-transgender Democrats.

MACARTHUR: “We talked a little bit about why, from certainly a Biblical standpoint, Christians could not vote Democratic because there’s no way that a Christian can affirm the slaughter of babies, homosexual activity, homosexual marriage, or any kind of gross immorality. No way we could stand behind a candidate who was affirming transgender behavior, which of course, is really the reprobate mind of Romans one.

“I said, ‘These things aren’t even political for us, sir.’ I said, ‘These things are Biblical. These things are laid down by the Word of God. We love God, we desire to honor Him, and upholding righteousness in a society is what a church is supposed to do.’

“So, I said, ‘Any real, true believer is going to be on your side in this election.’”

CA wildfires kill 7 people, burn 1,400 building & 1.25 million acres

Meanwhile, 650 wildfires across California have burned over 1.25 million acres of land, killed seven people, and destroyed 1,400 buildings.

And on the Gulf Coast, Category 4 Hurricane Laura struck Louisiana yesterday, bringing destruction for hundreds of miles, killing at least four people, and knocking out power to over 875,000 people.

1 in 5 churches might close permanently due to COVID

And finally, a Pew Research study found a third of U.S. adults joined online church services during the coronavirus pandemic. Over half of respondents said they plan on resuming attending church in person at least as often or more often than they did before the pandemic.

However, Barna Group president David Kinnaman told NPR that as many as one in five churches may close permanently as many churches report a decline in giving during the pandemic.

Acts 2:42 reminds us of the example of the early church during difficult times, “And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.”

Close

And that’s The Worldview in 5 Minutes on this Friday, August 28th, 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.