It’s Thursday, December 26th, A.D. 2024. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard on 125 radio stations and at www.TheWorldview.com.  Filling in for Adam McManus I’m Ean Leppin.

By Jonathan Clark

Pew Research on Religious Liberty

Pew Research released a report last week entitled, “Government Restrictions on Religion Stayed at Peak Levels Globally in 2022.”

Governments and social actors harassed religious groups in 192 out of the world's 198 countries and territories in 2022.

Christians were the most harassed religious group, facing persecution in 166 countries.

China ranked as the worst country for government restrictions on religion, while India ranked as the worst country for social hostilities. The worst countries in both categories were Afghanistan, Egypt, Iraq, Pakistan and Syria. 

Even the United States was among 110 countries where some level of government intimidated religious groups.

Trump on U.S. Expanding Territory

President-elect Donald Trump is renewing calls for the U.S. to expand its territory.

Trump wrote on Sunday, “For purposes of National Security and Freedom throughout the World, the United States of America feels that the ownership and control of Greenland is an absolute necessity.”

Besides buying Greenland from Denmark, Trump also called for the U.S. to regain control of the Panama Canal if nothing is done about rising shipping costs.

Trump even suggested Canada become the 51st U.S. state.

Trump to Pursue Death Penalty for Violent Criminals

Donald Trump said he will pursue the death penalty for violent criminals.

He wrote on Truth Social on Tuesday, “As soon as I am inaugurated, I will direct the Justice Department to vigorously pursue the death penalty to protect American families and children from violent rapists, murderers, and monsters. We will be a Nation of Law and Order again!”

Trump was responding to President Joe Biden who commuted the sentences of 37 prisoners on death row. The federal inmates include five child killers and multiple mass murderers. 

Genesis 9:6 says, “Whoever sheds man’s blood, by man his blood shall be shed; for in the image of God He made man.”

Georgia Allows Christian College Students Financial Aid

Officials in the state of Georgia recently agreed to allow students who choose Christian college to receive financial aid.

With the help of Alliance Defending Freedom, Luther Rice College and Seminary challenged the state for excluding it from student financial aid programs. 

Ryan Tucker with Alliance Defending Freedom said, “Georgia officials did the right thing by allowing Luther Rice to participate in student aid programs while still adhering to its religious beliefs, character, and exercise. . . . The state should never limit educational opportunities for students based on their faith.”

Rand Paul's Report Highlights Inordinate Government Spending

Republican Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky released his annual "Festivus" report, calling out the government for wasting taxpayer dollars.

This year, the report highlights a trillion dollars in government waste.

The report includes everything from thousands of dollars for an ice-skating drag queen show in the U.S. to $20 million for a Sesame Street spin-off show in Iraq focused on “inclusion.”

Sen. Paul wrote, “No matter how much money the government has wasted, politicians keep demanding even more.”

Isaiah 56:11 warns of those who “have fierce appetites; they never have enough. and they are shepherds who have no discernment; all of them turn to their own way, every last one for his own profit.”

Kroger and Sam's Club Removed Online Listings of Mifepristone

Live Action News reports Kroger and Sam’s Club have removed online listings of the abortion drug mifepristone.

Both grocery stores claimed the online listings were the result of errors by third-party vendors. 

Live Actions News previously noted how “pharmacy chains are currently experiencing pressure to become certified to dispense the deadly abortion pill. In June of 2023, Democrat members of Congress pressed Walmart, Costco, Safeway, Kroger, and HealthMart to undergo the certification process to dispense mifepristone.”

The abortion pill made up about 63% of abortions committed in the U.S. last year.

U.S. Life Expectancy Rises

And finally, U.S. life expectancy rose last year to the highest level since the COVID-19 pandemic.

The latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found life expectancy at birth was 78.4 years in 2023. That’s up from 77.5 in 2022. Still, its down from 78.8 years in 2019 before the pandemic. 

Reported death rates, which don’t include abortion, decreased last year. Death rates for nine out of 10 major causes fell, including heart disease, cancer, unintentional injuries, stroke, and chronic lower respiratory diseases.

Close

And that's The Worldview on this Thursday, December 26th, 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. Filling in for Adam McManus ([email protected]) I'm Ean Leppin feel free to email me [email protected]. Seize the day for Jesus Christ.