Thursday, April 21st, in the year of our Lord, 2016.
By Kevin Swanson
Chinese demolition workers buried a pastor and his wife while destroying their church building in Henan province. Li Jiangong and his wife, Ding Cuimei, were standing in the way of the demolition of the church. By God’s providence, Li was able to escape, but his wife was killed in the attack on the church. The Christian Post reports that the Communist government ordered the demolishment of the church. China’s Public Security Bureau has a team of criminal investigators reviewing the case. Bob Fu, president of China Aid, told The World View that the increasing persecution of Chinese Christians is evidence that the government is afraid of the rapid growth in Christianity. He said that the number of Chinese Christians now exceeds the number of people in the Communist Party there: “So the Communist Party, with their own language I can quote, said that the reasoning for the removing of crosses from over 2,000 [churches] already, is to, and I quote, ‘to contain the over-hated growth of Christianity.’”
David reminds us of the blessings for those who die in the Lord, “Oh, how great is Your goodness, which You have laid up for those who fear You, which You have prepared for those who trust in You” (Psalm 31:19).
CNN reports that at least 500 migrants died when a large boat sank between Libya and Italy in the Mediterranean last weekend. This looks like the worst tragedy in the past year for refugees. Only 41 survived, thanks to a merchant ship that rescued them on Saturday. The World View spoke to Chris Boian, public information officer for the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees, about the disaster: “So what we’re seeing happening is that very desperate and vulnerable people who are fleeing from various countries—Syria is just one of them—are taking their chances and paying human traffickers exorbitant sums of money to put themselves and their children on often unseaworthy boats, [with] uncertified captains, to make crossings in dangerous conditions.”
Hillary Clinton’s daughter Chelsea spoke out for abortion in Poughkeepsie, New York, this past Lord’s Day. She defined basic liberty as the right to kill other human beings. In her words, ”A woman’s right to choose is at the core of our human rights.”
Birds of a feather—they do flock together. The debauched pop star Miley Cyrus is selling pornographic pictures of herself in order to raise $250,000 for Planned Parenthood. She made the announcement, complete with ample usage of profanity, at the Planned Parenthood annual spring luncheon at the Pierre Hotel in New York City.
“Pride serves as their necklace; Violence covers them like a garment . . . They scoff and speak wickedly concerning oppression . . . They set their mouth against the heavens, And their tongue walks through the earth . . . When I thought how to understand this, It was too painful for me—Until I went into the sanctuary of God; Then I understood their end” (Psalm 73).
Utah Governor Gary Herbert has signed the state resolution that calls pornography a “public health hazard.” The governor noted, however, that he would not support a ban on porn.
However, Jesus said, “Whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart” (Matthew 5:27-28).
It is being called a “regression of modern man” towards paganism. Just last week, the Chinese Christian Union of San Francisco filed a lawsuit against the city of San Francisco for the removal of an open-air urinal. The group calls it indecent and unsanitary for a public park.
A federal circuit court in Virginia is forcing a public school in the state to open its boys’ restrooms to a girl. The court ruled that the school board was in violation of Title IX laws.
Christian parents, be aware that the Target corporation has just announced that they welcome transgenders to use bathrooms at their stores corresponding to their self-proclaimed gender identity.
“Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves” (Romans 1:24).
As of this year, over 100,000 people work in the U.S. cannabis industry. According to Marijuana Business Daily, the number of employees in the legal weed business is about equal to those working as insurance underwriters, web developers, or nurse practitioners.
Research by the Institute for Studies of Religion at Baylor University in Waco, Texas, indicates that nine out of ten Americans engage in prayer to God for healing. Many believe that prayer is an important part of the healing process, and medical professionals have confirmed miraculous healings associated with prayer to God.
The Apostle James tells us to “Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much” (James 5:16).
And that’s the World View in Five Minutes.