A New Perspective on Constantine

(Worthy News) – The White House is finalizing an executive order that would expand health plans offered by associations to allow individuals to pool together and buy insurance outside their states, a unilateral move that follows failed efforts by Congress to overhaul the health care system.

President Donald Trump has long asserted that selling insurance across state lines would trigger competition that brings down premiums for people buying their own policies. Experts say that’s not guaranteed, partly because health insurance reflects local medical costs, which vary widely around the country.

Moreover, White House actions may come too late to have much impact on premiums for 2018. [ Source: Washington Times (Read More…) ]

(Worthy News) – Russian operatives spent tens of thousands of dollars on ads across Google products, including YouTube and Google search, according to reports.

The Washington Post is reporting that the technology behemoth uncovered the Russian-backed disinformation campaign as it considers whether to testify before Congress next month. Social media companies Facebook and Twitter have already agreed to testify.

The report said the company discovered the Russian presence by siphoning data from Twitter. The Washington Post report is based on anonymous sources familiar with the investigation. [ Source (Read More…) ]

(Worthy News) – Russia on Monday threatened US media operating in the country with new legal restrictions after Kremlin-controlled broadcaster RT complained of persecution by Washington.

The Russian justice ministry sent letters to “a number of US media operating in Russia” warning them of the “unacceptability of breaching Russian law,” its press service said in a statement quoted by Interfax news agency.

It said the letter was “a tit-for-tat measure in response to the persecution of Russian media in the United States.”

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, which is US-funded, reported it received a letter warning its activities could fall under a controversial law that forces NGOs to register as “foreign agents”. [ Source (Read More…) ]

(Worthy News) – For 60 years, ministers and clergy in the U.S. have relied on an IRS law that allows them a tax-exempt housing allowance. Now that key exemption is at risk.

GuideStone Financial Resources calls it the “most important tax benefit available to ministers.” And Christianity Today reports, the congressional Joint Committee on Taxation estimates the break is worth $800 million a year to American ministers.

But a federal judge in Wisconsin has now ruled that the tax break violates the establishment clause of the First Amendment. [ Source: CBN News (Read More…) ]

(Worthy News) – On September 17, 2017, suspected Hindu radicals attacked an Assembly of God church in India’s Karnataka state. After the attack, church attendance has plummeted as Christians in the area fear another attack. It is not surprising that attacks are increasing in Karnataka as state elections are scheduled to occur early next year. Hindu hardline groups want to silence Christians and ensure that they are unable to practice their faith.

On the evening of September 17, the attackers broke into the church through the roof and proceeded to burn church furniture and Christian literature. Pastor Naga Raja told International Christian Concern (ICC), “I have lost everything that was in the church. They burnt Bibles, Gospel literature, song books, and DVDs that were stocked in the church. They have even destroyed the church furniture and took away the PA system including speakers…and carpets.”

The attack shocked Pastor Raja and congregants alike. “I was shocked to see the desecration of the church with broken things and ashes all around, the church had [a] deserted look.” Unfortunately, because the attack occurred at night, Pastor Raja has limited evidence to provide to police, “Even though I knew it was the work of people who did not like Christians and our activities, we could not give an evidence to the police.”

A First Incident Report (FIR) was registered at a local police station in Karnataka, but at the time of writing, the culprits have still not been identified.

After the attack, church attendance dropped significantly. “On [a] normal Sunday, more than 100 Christians worshipped in my church,” said Pastor Naga Raja, “but on the 24th [of] September 2017, not even 20 were at the church for worship. This is because they are terrified of the attack on the church.”

Such attacks are not new in Karnataka. A similar attack occurred on January 26, 2017. Pastor Basanna was brutally attacked by Hindu radicals who also burned his church’s Bibles, furniture, and building. Radicals dragged Basanna to the Hindu temple in order to forcefully convert him back to Hinduism. ICC contacted the pastor after the most recent attack and he told us that “the anti-Christian activities are geared up since January 2017, since when I was attacked, half of my congregation stopped coming to church ever since the attack took place then.”

Not only have the culprits not been caught and church attendance dropped, but there is no way for the remaining congregation to rebuild the church, “The loss is beyond repairable in any near future, for the rural congregation such as this, who are economically poor and the damage is very huge.” A rough survey reveals approximately $1,500 worth of damage.

In spite of India’s constitutional guarantee of religious freedom, Christians continue to face threats and attacks. Christians often cannot exercise their freedom of religion, due to fear of being attacked. Let’s pray that India’s government will seek justice for persecuted religious minorities and begin protecting the rights of all, regardless of their religious affiliation.