It’s Friday, February 21st, 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
India’s 328 violent attacks against Christians in 2019
Since Prime Minister Narendra Modi came to power in India, his Hindu nationalist government has seen the significant rise in persecution against religious minorities, including Christians, reports The Telegraph.
New data from Alliance Defending Freedom shows a record 328 violent attacks against Christians in India last year. Of those, only 36 incidents resulted in police filing a case, and none of those resulted in a prosecution.
Instead, police will often arrest the Christian victim and charge them with trying to convert Hindus to Christianity.
Indian Pastor Jai Singh told The Telegraph that he was beaten, imprisoned, and now faces criminal charges. He said, “For me, it just made my faith stronger and I pray to God to forgive the people who attacked me.”
Massive church growth in Africa and Asia
There are an estimated 660 million Evangelicals in the world at the beginning of 2020, and they represent 26 percent of the world’s 2.5 billion Christians, according to French researcher Sebastian Fath.
Asia had the highest number of Evangelicals at 215 million (mostly in China and India). Africa came in second at 185 million, followed by South America at 123 million. North America and Europe came in fourth and fifth at 107 million and 23 million respectively.
The numbers represent the massive growth of the church in Africa and Asia and the shift of Christianity away from being centered in the West to covering the whole globe.
Psalm 2:8 says, “Ask of Me, and I will give You the nations for Your inheritance, and the ends of the earth for Your possession.”
34-foot cross can remain in Pensacola, Florida on public land
A 34-foot cross can remain on public land at Bayview Park in Pensacola, Florida, according to a ruling on Wednesday by a three-judge panel with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit.
A district court had ruled the removal of the cross because its maintenance by the city supposedly violated the First Amendment.
However, after the Supreme Court ruled a cross in Bladensburg, Maryland could remain on public land, the Eleventh Circuit court ruled the Bayview Park cross could remain.
Luke Goodrich, vice president and senior counsel at Becket which represented Bayview, said, “The Supreme Court has now made clear that religious symbols are an important part of our nation’s history and culture.”
Pro-life journalist in court over exposure of Planned Parenthood
Sandra Merritt appeared in court yesterday in San Francisco, facing 10 felony charges brought against her by California Attorney General Xavier Becerra for her undercover journalism which exposed Planned Parenthood’s sale of aborted baby body parts.
Liberty Counsel represents Merritt and is working to get the charges dismissed. Judge Christopher Hite already dismissed six of the original 15 felony charges, but Becerra continues to hound the pro-life journalist with new charges.
Psalm 14:4 asks, “Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge, who eat up My people as they eat bread, and do not call on the LORD?”
Warren attacks Bloomberg, NYC Mayor punches back at socialism
On Wednesday, Democratic presidential candidates faced off for their ninth debate in Nevada. Billionaire former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg made his first appearance at a Democratic debate.
The heated debate focused on Bloomberg, as the other candidates took shots at the newcomer, especially over allegations that he made disparaging remarks about women in the past. Senator Elizabeth Warren came out fighting.
WARREN: “I’d like to talk about who were running against — a billionaire who calls women fat broads and horse-faced lesbians. And no, I’m not talking about Donald Trump. I’m talking about Mayor Bloomberg.
“Democrats are not going to win if we have a nominee who has a history of hiding his tax returns, of harassing women, and of supporting racist policies like redlining and ‘stop and frisk.’ Look, I’ll support whoever the Democratic nominee is. But understand this, Democrats take a huge risk if we just substitute one arrogant billionaire for another.”
The candidates sparred over healthcare, socialism, and climate change. Bloomberg went after Senator Bernie Sanders over his embrace of socialism.
BLOOMBERG: “I can’t think of a ways that would make it easier for Donald Trump to get re-elected than listening to this conversation. (laughter applause) It’s ridiculous. We’re not going to throw out capitalism. We tried that. Other countries tried that. It was called communism, and it just didn’t work.” (Warren and Sanders groaned loudly)
Federal government collected $1,178.8 billion in first quarter
The federal government set records for the amount of taxes collected and money spent in the first quarter of fiscal 2020.
The government collected $1,178.8 billion in taxes from October 2019 through January 2020 and spent $1,567.9 billion during the same time.
God spared the life and health of NASCAR driver Ryan Newman
And finally, God spared the life and health of NASCAR driver Ryan Newman as he walked out of the hospital on Wednesday after a horrific crash on Monday during the final lap at the Daytona 500.
The fiery crash left many worried that Newman may die or be permanently disabled.
But a beautiful picture tweeted by his team, Roush Fenway Racing, showed Newman walking out of the hospital with his daughters, hand in hand, linked in our transcript today at theworldview.com.
(Watch NBC’s Today show story.)
Close
And that’s The World View in 5 Minutes on this Friday, February 21st 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.