It’s Thursday, September 26th, A.D. 2024. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard on 125 radio stations and at www.TheWorldview.com.  I’m Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com)

By Jonathan Clark

Russian soldiers destroyed 630 Ukrainian churches

A report from Mission Eurasia and the Institute for Religious Freedom of Ukraine documents the destruction of churches in Ukraine since Russia invaded the country in 2022.

The report found the war has destroyed at least 630 places of worship as of the end of last year. Over 200 of those were Evangelical properties. Russian attacks were responsible for most of the destruction.

Russian soldiers also raided and shut down church services. The government claims that minority groups, like Evangelicals, can fall under the category of extremist activities.

Ukrainian Pastor Sergey Nakul of Kyiv’s Grace Reform Church has a simple and courageous message for Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Listen.

NAKUL: “Vladimir, repent! Repent of all of your evil deeds because you're not God.”

Daniel 11:36 says, “The king will do as he pleases. He will exalt and magnify himself above every god and will say unheard-of things against the God of gods. He will be successful until the time of wrath is completed, for what has been determined must take place.”

Russian to ban adoptions for people from transgender-affirming countries

Speaking of Russia, the country is considering a ban on adoptions to countries that support transgenderism.

Russia’s lower parliament overwhelming supported the ban yesterday. 

The measure applies to countries that allow so-called sex-change surgeries or for people to change their sex on official documents.

Lawmakers said they want to preserve Russia’s “traditional values.” They also want to protect Russian children from being adopted into western NATO countries where transgenderism is accepted. 

8,000 Germans march for life

Last Saturday, nearly 8,000 people gathered in German cities to support life.

The National Association for the Right to Live organized the event.

Germany currently allows abortion up to 12 weeks of pregnancy, and the government’s leftist coalition is pushing to relax abortion laws.

Alexandra Linder, the President of Right to Live, said, “People have a sense of injustice. That’s why they keep a very close eye on how politicians deal with people in threatening situations at the beginning and end of life. And they have shown what they expect from politicians with two large, life-affirming demonstrations.”

Hurricane Helene hits Florida tonight

In the United States, Floridians are bracing for Hurricane Helene to roar ashore today in  Florida's Gulf Coast, likely in the Big Bend region, as a Category 3 storm, reports AccuWeather.

Hurricane Helene is still amassing strength over the Gulf of Mexico, and is moving northeast toward Florida with maximum sustained winds of 85 miles per hour, according to the National Hurricane Center. 

Court: Biden Administration must pay $200,000 settlement in religious liberty case

The Biden administration agreed to a $210,000 settlement in a religious freedom case.

With the help of Alliance Defending Freedom, the Christian Employers Alliance sued the administration for violating their religious beliefs.

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission wanted to force religious employers to provide health insurance coverage for transgender surgeries, procedures, and counseling.

After the favorable court ruling, Shannon Royce, President of the Christian Employers Alliance said, “We are overjoyed our members will not have to choose between the Biblically-based employee benefits and quality healthcare they provide, and the threat of federal enforcement and massive costs for practicing their faith.” 

Utah, Tennessee, Idaho and South Carolina ban indecent books 

The Utah State Board of Education released its first list of banned books last month. 

The state’s Republican Governor Spencer Cox signed a bill back in March requiring public schools to remove a book if enough school districts found it contained indecent material.

PARENT: “The parents of this nation have been awakened to what is going on in the public school system, and we're not backing down.”

Tennessee, Idaho, and South Carolina have made similar moves to ban indecent material from public schools. 

In Luke 17:1-2, Jesus said, “It is impossible that no offenses should come, but woe to him through whom they do come! It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.”

GenZ less likely to read the Bible

The American Bible Society released the latest chapter of its State of the Bible USA 2024 report about Gen Z.

The group includes people aged 18 to 27. Members of Gen Z are less likely than older generations to interact regularly with the Bible. They are also more likely to struggle with fear and anxiety. However, Gen Zers who engage with Scripture do better.

Only 11% of Gen Z is Scripture engaged, but those who are have much lower levels of anxiety even compared to older generations. 

1 Peter 5:6-7 says, “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time He may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you.” 

Bill of Rights anniversary

And finally, this week is the anniversary of the U.S. Bill of Rights.

Congress approved articles of amendment to the U.S. Constitution on September 25, 1789.

After approval by the states, the articles would become the first ten amendments to the Constitution.

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