It’s Reformation Day, Thursday, October 31st, A.D. 2024. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard on 125 radio stations and at www.TheWorldview.com.  I’m Adam McManus. ([email protected])

By Jonathan Clark

The disturbing Chinese-Iranian alliance

China pledged support for Iran last week during the BRICS Summit in Russia. 

BRICS is an intergovernmental organization comprised of the countries of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. Other affiliated countries include Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia and the United Arab Emirates.

Chinese President Xi Jinping stated, “No matter how the international and regional situation changes, China will unswervingly develop friendly cooperation with Iran.”

International Christian Concern warns, “China and Iran are known persecutors of Christians, and their mutual support could lead to increased persecution as both countries work to eliminate the practice of Christianity within their borders.”

Growing Evangelical presence in Spain

The Observatory of Religious Pluralism in Spain released a report on evangelical places of worship.

There are 4,455 evangelical places of worship in Spain this year, up about 1,000 from 10 years ago.

With atheism and agnosticism on the rise in the country, many religious groups are shrinking or just maintaining their numbers. Evangelicals are among the few groups seeing growth in the historically Catholic nation.

Transit workers win lawsuit after being denied religious accommodation

In the U.S., transit workers won a $7 million lawsuit after being denied religious accommodations for the COVID shot during the pandemic.

The Pacific Justice Institute represented the former employees of the San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District. The public transit service provided no accommodations for the workers’ religious exemption requests. 

Kevin Snider, Chief Counsel with The Pacific Justice Institute, said, “The rail employees chose to lose their livelihood rather than deny their faith. That in itself shows the sincerity and depth of their convictions. After nearly three years of struggle, these essential workers feel they were heard and understood by the jury and are overjoyed and relieved by the verdict.” 

Supreme Court: Non-citizens in Virginia should be barred from voting

The U.S. Supreme Court sided with Virginia yesterday in the state’s attempt to keep noncitizens from voting.

Virginia officials had removed over 1,600 voter registrations of noncitizens over the last couple months. The Biden administration sued Virginia, and a federal court ordered many of the registrations reinstated.

However, conservative justices on the Supreme Court granted an emergency appeal to Virginia’s Republican administration. 

Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares responded, "I am pleased to announce that the U.S. Supreme Court granted Virginia's emergency stay to keep noncitizens off our voter rolls.”

800 million downloads of YouVersion Bible app

The YouVersion Bible app has surpassed 800 million downloads globally.

The app includes over 2,000 translations. Most downloads come from outside the United States like in Africa, India, and Latin America. 

Bobby Gruenewald, the founder of YouVersion, told CBN News that Bible engagement is growing around the world.

GRUENEWALD: “The narrative that people no longer read the Bible is simply not true. We have evidence and empirical data, real data, not just a survey that someone had somewhere, that indicates that there is momentum globally around Scripture engagement.

“So, we should be encouraged to know that that God's Word is very alive and well, and if anything, more relevant to today's culture than maybe ever before in human history.

Psalm 86:9 says, “All nations whom You have made shall come and worship before You, O Lord, and shall glorify Your name.”

2 final donors to Pakistani Christian orphanage

Special thanks to the final two donors who helped the Pakistani Christian orphanage. 

Since we had already raised $344.75 more than the cost to build the new $15,000 well at the Christian orphanage in Pakistan, the $50 which Jennifer in San Jose, California gave along with the $120 that Beth and her son, Ben, gave from Olympia, Washington will be used toward Pastor Michael’s monthly budget to feed, clothe and educate the 85 orphans.

To those who gave so sacrificially, thank you!

Happy Reformation Day

And finally, Happy Reformation Day!

October 31st, 1517 was the day when Martin Luther, a Catholic priest, nailed the Ninety-five Theses on the door of All Saints' Church in Wittenberg, Germany in which he listed the 95 ways the Roman Catholic Church had become corrupt.

Chief among them was the selling of so-called indulgences which were certificates which allegedly reduced someone’s temporal punishment in purgatory for sins committed by the purchasers or their loved ones before they went to Heaven. Needless to say, there is no Biblical support for either a place like purgatory nor the ability to change one’s eternal destination after death.

Hebrews 9:27 says, “People are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment.”

Little did Martin Luther know how the Lord would use him to ignite a movement, the Protestant Reformation, that would change the world.

Watch a 2-hour dramatic film entitled Luther with your family. Plus, your children might enjoy a 34-minute animated film called The Martin Luther Story from Torchlighters.  In addition, Ligonier Ministries has a free 90-minute documentary which you can stream entitled Luther: The Life and Legacy of the German Reformer.

Check out the three special links in our in our transcript today at www.TheWorldview.com.

Close

And that's The Worldview on this Thursday, October 31st, in the year of our Lord 2024. Subscribe by Amazon Music or 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 ([email protected]). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.