Southern Baptists expels Saddleback over female pastors, Alex Kendrick on Asbury revival: “Praise God!”, Sudanese authorities arrest Christian preaching to Muslims

It’s Thursday, February 23rd, A.D. 2023. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard at www.TheWorldview.com. I’m Adam McManus. ([email protected]) By Jonathan Clark Sudanese authorities arrest Christian preaching to Muslims Last Friday, authorities in Sudan arrested a church leader for preaching to Muslims. Officials detained Yousif Ayoub Hussein Ali during an open-air worship event in the southeastern part of the African...

It’s Thursday, February 23rd, A.D. 2023. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard at www.TheWorldview.com. I’m Adam McManus. ([email protected])

By Jonathan Clark

Sudanese authorities arrest Christian preaching to Muslims

Last Friday, authorities in Sudan arrested a church leader for preaching to Muslims.

Officials detained Yousif Ayoub Hussein Ali during an open-air worship event in the southeastern part of the African nation.

Local Muslims complained that Ali’s preaching would convert their children. 

The local General Union of Christian Youth condemned the arrest as a continuation of systematic persecution of Christians in the country. 

Sudan is ranked 10th on the Open Doors World Watch List of nations where it is most difficult to be a Christian.

Spain expands abortion access

Spain’s Parliament passed a new law last Thursday, expanding access to abortion.

The law eliminates a three-day waiting period before an abortion as well as requirements to give women information on alternatives. Health care providers that conscientiously object to performing abortions will now be listed in a public registry.

Currently, private centers do most of the killings since so many doctors in the state health system refuse to participate. 

The law also mandates the promotion of sexually perverted lifestyles in all educational levels.

Psalm 9:17 warns, “The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.”

Putin no longer abides by nukes treaty

On Tuesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin gave his state-of-the-nation address. His nearly 2-hour-long speech was the first address he’s given since the invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Putin announced Russia is suspending its participation in the New START treaty. It’s the last surviving nuclear-arms-control treaty between the U.S. and Russia.

The treaty put a limit on how many nukes both countries can have.

Will America default on its debt?

The Congressional Budget Office announced last week the U.S. would default on its debt unless Congress raises the debt ceiling this summer.

By September, the U.S. Treasury will have run out of emergency measures unless the $31.4 trillion debt limit is raised. These extraordinary measures allow the government to keep borrowing money for its obligations. 

House Republicans are demanding federal spending cuts in exchange for raising the debt ceiling.

The Congressional Budget Office estimates the U.S. deficit will reach $18.8 trillion over the next 10 years. 

Kentucky church still fighting against COVID lockdown

A church in Kentucky is still fighting for its religious freedom after being targeted during COVID-19 lockdowns.

Liberty Counsel filed a brief with the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals last Friday on behalf of Maryville Baptist Church. 

Back in 2020, police ticketed members of the church who were in their cars for a drive-in service. The brief states that the church is the prevailing party in the case and entitled to attorney’s fees and costs.

Southern Baptists expels Saddleback over female pastors

On Tuesday, the Executive Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention determined five of its churches are “not in friendly cooperation with the Convention.” Such terminology is used for expelling a church from the denomination.

The five churches continue to have female pastors in violation of the Southern Baptist Convention’s statement of faith.

In 1 Timothy 2:12, the Apostle Paul writes, “I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she must be silent.”

One of the congregations is Saddleback Church, the second-largest congregation to be part of the Southern Baptist Convention, reports The Christian Post.

Asbury Revival started from message on confession & repentance

Tens of thousands of people have flocked to Asbury University in Wilmore, Kentucky. A non-stop worship service has been going at the Kentucky college since February 8.

It all began after a chapel service with a message on confession and repentance. Afterward, students remained to continue worshipping. More and more students came, and the service just didn’t stop as people from across the country showed up for weeks.

Asbury University said that Monday was its concluding public worship service. From Tuesday onward, services would be held off campus. 

Kevin Brown, the university’s president, said, “We cannot fully express the profound gratitude we have for stewarding this outpouring in the life of our school and beyond. Ultimately, we pray that our efforts in these days point to our Savior.”

Alex Kendrick on Asbury revival: “Praise God!”

In God’s providence, this outpouring is also appearing at other colleges around the country. 

Christian filmmaker Alex Kendrick visited one of these spots on Monday at Lee University in Cleveland, Tennessee. He said there was no show or spectacle other than seeing hearts transformed. 

KENDRICK: “What’s going on in Asbury, Lee University, Samford University, Cedarville [University] in Ohio — there’s a number of colleges that are now seeking the Lord. Praise God for this generation that is seeking after God. Oh, it’s just good. Man, it fills my heart! P raise the Lord. Let’s pray that the Lord keeps moving as He wills.”

God said in 2 Chronicles 7:14, “If My people who are called by My name humble themselves, and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from Heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”

Close

And that’s The Worldview in 5 Minutes on this Thursday, February 23rd in the year of our Lord 2023. 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 ([email protected]). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.