It’s Wednesday, January 24th, A.D. 2024. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard at www.TheWorldview.com. I’m Adam McManus. ([email protected])

By Jonathan Clark

Chinese Communists claim: State greater than any religion

The Chinese Communist Party implemented its so-called Patriotic Education Law this month.

International Christian Concern reports the government guidelines say that the state is greater than religion, and the state law is greater than religious rules. Officials originally intended the law for schools, but then expanded it to all parts of Chinese life.

The rules not only pressure religious groups to accept socialism, but to actively promote it. This will only increase the persecution of Christians in China. Open Doors ranks the country 19th on its World Watch List of nations where it is most difficult to be a Christian.  

China’s stock market dropped by 3%

Speaking of China, the country’s stock markets fell about 3% on Monday. It’s the largest drop since 2022. The world’s second largest economy has struggled since the COVID-19 pandemic.

Chinese stock market indices crashed about 10% so far this year. It’s the country’s worst start to a year since 2016 and the worst start of any country this year.

A variety of factors have damaged the confidence of foreign investors in the markets. These include China’s real estate downturn, plummeting birthrates, and policies driven by loyalty to President Xi Jinping’s ideology. 

U.S. stock markets closed at all-time highs

Meanwhile in the U.S., stock markets closed at all-time highs on Monday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 0.4%; the S&P 500 was up 0.2%, and the Nasdaq was up 0.3%. 

This marks the second year of growth for the S&P since its low in 2022.

The gains included tech-company growth. Investor optimism comes as big companies prepare financial updates and as the Federal Reserve may slash interest rates this year.

1 Timothy 6:17 reminds us, “Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy.”

Trump wins New Hampshire

Former President Donald Trump won the New Hampshire Primary yesterday, reports Reuters.

According to Fox News, with 81% of the vote tabulated, Trump won 54.8% over former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley who earned 43.6%.

TRUMP: “Hello New Hampshire.  (cheers) New Hampshire, I'm thrilled to be back! You know, we won New Hampshire three times now, three. (cheers)  We win it every time. We win the primary. We win the generals.”

Vivek Ramaswamy, the entrepreneur presidential candidate who had dropped out of the race after Iowa and endorsed Trump, said this last night in New Hampshire.

RAMASWAMY: “What we saw tonight is America First defeating America Last. (cheers) That's what we saw tonight. If you want America Last, you can go to Joe Biden. You got another candidate still apparently in the Republican primary. Cut your Social Security to fork over more money to Ukraine so some kleptocrat can buy a bigger house, go to Nikki Haley. But you know who delivered a double digit victory tonight? (cheers)  Donald J. Trump, the leader of America First.”

Nikki Haley says, “This race is far from over!”

Nikki Haley, who performed well, aided by both independents and Democrats who switched parties, vowed to continue the fight for the GOP presidential nomination.

HALEY: “Now you've all heard the chatter among the political class. They're falling all over themselves saying, ‘This race is over.’ Well, I have news for all of them. New Hampshire is first in the nation. It is not the last in the nation. (cheers) This race is far from over. There are dozens of states left to go. (cheers) And the next one is my sweet state of South Carolina. (cheers)

“At one point in this campaign, there were 14 of us running, and we were at 2% in the polls. Well, I'm a fighter, and I'm scrappy, and now we're the last one standing next to D