It’s Friday, April 17th, A.D. 2026. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard on 140 radio stations and at www.TheWorldview.com. I’m Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com)

By Adam McManus

Nigerian Government Convicts Nearly 400 on Terrorism Charges

A federal high court in Abuja, Nigeria, has convicted 386 people on terrorism charges in one of the largest mass convictions in recent times. Those convicted were linked to Islamic State West Africa Province or to Boko Haram, a deadly terrorist group founded in northern Nigeria, reports International Christian Concern.

The convictions come as the Nigerian government faces significant pressure from the United States to curb terrorism within its borders and to more effectively protect vulnerable Christian communities caught up in the violence perpetrated by these Islamist terrorist groups.

Reports indicate that the Muslim terrorists convicted received sentences ranging from five years to life in prison. Authorities originally charged 508 individuals. Two were acquitted, eight were discharged, and 112 cases were adjourned.

Former Virginia Lt. Gov shot and killed wife & self in murder-suicide

A Virginia police chief delivered disturbing news at a press conference yesterday about a murder-suicide, reports NewsNation.

DAVIS: “Former Lieutenant Governor Justin Fairfax shot and killed his wife inside of their home and then shot and killed himself.”

Fairfax County Police Chief Kevin Davis said the husband and wife were found dead at their home in Annandale, Virginia, on Thursday. Former Lt. Gov. Fairfax was recently served some paperwork associated with an upcoming divorce court proceeding which led to the incident. While they were separated they were still living in the same home.

Davis said the couple’s two teenage children were at the home when Fairfax shot his wife, Cerina, “several times” before running to a different part of the house and turning the gun on himself. The shooting took place shortly after midnight, and police said one son called 911. Both Fairfax and his wife were pronounced dead at the scene.

The police chief added, “Tragic for the children to lose both parents. Extra tragic for them to actually be in the home when it occurred.”

ABC’s Joy Behar: Jesus never claimed to be the Messiah

On April 14th, Joy Behar, the self-professed agnostic on ABC’s talk show The View, asserted that Jesus never claimed to be the Messiah, reports The Christian Post.

BEHAR: “Jesus Himself did not run around saying, ‘I'm the Messiah. I'm the Messiah.’”

SARA HAINES: "That’s exactly what Jesus said!"

BEHAR: "No he did not. Jesus was more modest than that. Jesus was not narcissistic like this guy [Trump]."

HAINES: "When you are the Messiah, it’s not narcissism to say it!"

BEHAR: “Yes it is.”

In John 4:25-26, Jesus had a conversation with the Samaritan woman at the well. “The woman said, ‘I know that Messiah’ (called Christ) ‘is coming. When He comes, He will explain everything to us.’ Then Jesus declared, ‘I, the one speaking to you—I am He.’”

In John 16:15-17, Jesus asked His disciples, “‘But what about you? Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus replied, “Blessed are you… for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by My Father in Heaven.’”

And in Mark 14:61-62, the high priest questioned Jesus and asked Him, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?” Jesus replied, “I am. And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One.”

More U.S. young men attend church

More young men in America report that they attend church, or other houses of worship, at least monthly, according to a Gallup poll released Thursday, reports The Washington Post.

Forty percent of men, ages 18 to 29, attend religious services monthly or more often. That’s a seven percentage point increase from 2023, and the highest percentage who have reported doing so since 2013.

Pockets of young Americans, especially men, are joining faith communities and driving increased attendance at church and religious gatherings. Although women have historically been more religious than men, male and female attendance at houses of worship, for people under 30, is now statistically tied.

Martin Luther refused to recant on April 18, 1521

And finally, 505 years ago, on April 18th, 1521, Martin Luther was called before Emperor Charles V at the Diet of Worms to recant his teaching which rejected the authority of the Catholic Church and underscored the authority of Scripture.

Luther uttered these immortal words that day that launched the Protestant Reformation, depicted here in the 2003 movie entitled “Luther.”

Listen.

LUTHER: “Unless I am convinced by Scripture and by plain reason, and not by popes and councils, who have so often contradicted themselves, my conscience is captive to the Word of God. To go against conscience is neither right nor safe. I cannot, and I will not, recant. Here I stand. I can do no other. God help me!”

Hebrews 4:12 says, “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”

You can watch the movie “Luther” for free through a special link in our transcript today at www.TheWorldview.com.

And that's The Worldview on this Friday, April 17th, in the year of our Lord 2026.