Why Gambling and Casinos Violate God’s Law

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This Opinion piece was published in numerous local Pennsylvania newspapers regarding a proposed casino in Berks County.  However, the information this article is valuable for those who wish to know the moral and ethical problems of gambling.

A Casino in Morgantown—Out of Place

By Hon. Sam Rohrer

A gambling casino located in Morgantown, Pennsylvania, is about as incongruous as a Planned Parenthood office in the basement of a church or a physician intentionally injecting a healthy patient with tuberculosis. The rural and religious heritage of the Morgantown area, the pristine nature of the area as a gateway to Amish-dominated Lancaster County, and the conservative western Chester and Southern Berks Counties are clear and obvious.

These deep cultural values reflected in the work ethic, historic moral standards, committed family life and neighbor-helping-neighbor lifestyles of our community stand in sharp contrast to the nature and results of gambling and the destructive addictions resulting from gambling, as well as the associated by-products of increased alcohol consumption and the frequent degenerating impacts on family life.

Our historical and carefully nurtured culture is now at risk, intentionally or unintentionally created by the decision of the Caernarvon Township Supervisors to ‘open the door’ to a major gambling facility. What would compel the supervisors to encourage such a risk is a clearly unanswered question. Why would the supervisors consider the unique nature of this community and the culture of the people who voted for them to be of such little value? Short of promising some elusive tax revenues to citizens of the township, what value to the community do the supervisors offer in exchange for a casino? What cultural value does a major gambling casino contribute to our community? What upstanding values of character, integrity or work ethic does gambling in any form offer to our children? Our families? What upstanding and personally strengthening moral attributes can a gambling facility ever offer a community, and specifically our generally God-fearing culture? There are none.

Whereas the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board will hold a public hearing on March 4—a requirement of law—these hearings will likely resemble most public hearings held by similar entities of government: short on objective evaluations and often much more greatly influenced by monied interests than serious consideration of ‘the best interest’ of the community or the prevailing and historic culture of the area immediately impacted by it.

A gambling casino in Morgantown simply does not fit. It counters the prevailing culture. It cannot inspire an enhanced climate of work ethic or greater financial, personal or family morals. It cannot guarantee that people will not become addicted to the fast-money allure of gambling and that it will not contribute to the weakening of families and individuals. The simple reason is that historic results and impacts of gambling can only guarantee a disastrous ‘get rich quick’ mentality and predictable crippling addictions that undermine children’s lives and weaken families already under assault by a media and culture bent on destroying the Judeo-Christian worldview underpinning our laws and our nation.

When the gambling industry bought its way into law on July 4, 2004, it was on Independence Day and it was a Sunday morning! I know. I was there. I verbally opposed in floor debate opening the door to gambling in Pennsylvania, arguing against it on the floor of the Pennsylvania General Assembly. I even hearkened back to the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Virginia, which listened to a sermon from Pastor William Stith in Williamsburg on Mar 1, 1752.

At that time, Pastor Stith made a most compelling case against the ‘Pernicious Nature of Gambling.’ His reasons then are the same now because truth doesn’t change. We’d do well to familiarize ourselves with them. The very nature of gambling is:

  • Against one’s neighbor (Exodus 20:17)
  • Against one’s country (Proverbs 14:34)
  • Against one’s family (Ephesians 6:4)
  • Against oneself
  • Against God (Ephesians 2:5)

These arguments prevailed in the Virginia legislature, and they prevailed in Pennsylvania until 2004. While gambling may now be legal, it still remains opposed to all that is good for a community and a nation. While we can do nothing to limit the expansion of gambling in other parts of the state, we can here. The Gaming Commission, and particularly the Caernarvon Supervisors, can and should consider well a final decision to inject this community with a gambling casino.

 (Hon. Sam Rohrer is a former Pennsylvania State Representative for the 128th District and current President of the American Pastors Network and Pennsylvania Pastors Network.)

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American Pastors Network: Many Will be Shocked at What God’s Word Says About Immigration and Borders

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Borders and immigration are the top issues across the country right now, and Americans are viewing the headlines from moral, political, constitutional, humanitarian, financial and defensive perspectives.

The American Pastors Network (APN), however, says the answers to these hot-button issues are found in God’s unchanging Word—the Bible.

APN President Sam Rohrer has shared insight about the biblical guidance available on border security and immigration on the APN daily 60-second radio feature, “Stand in the Gap Minute,” heard on hundreds of stations nationwide. Rohrer and his radio co-hosts also frequently explore immigration and how it relates to both the Bible and the Constitution on the daily, live, one-hour radio program, “Stand in the Gap Today.”

“Immigration and border control issues dominate our news and divide our nation, but God is not divided nor is He confused on this or any issue—and we should not be either,” Rohrer says. “In fact, there are clear, biblical principles on why no one should be confused about God’s position on immigration and borders.”

In Acts 17:26, for example, Paul says that God established nations and borders. Daniel 2 says God raises up leaders and nations, and He puts them down.

“Without borders there’s no order, no law, no justice,” Rohrer adds. “Without borders, God’s promise to bless the nation whose God is the Lord could never occur. God’s plan of redemption revolves around nations. In time, God will judge all nations who reject Him. Is it any wonder that the coming antichrist and globalists demand open borders?”

If borders or walls are immoral—as even some religious leaders contend—then Nehemiah was wrong. And even more so, God Himself is wrong, because heaven has walls and gates, and Jesus says that whoever circumvents one gate and climbs in another way is a thief and robber.

“Borders are essential to nations,” Rohrer says. “In fact, the definition of nation includes a common language, a common view of God and common borders. God’s blessings and judgment are bestowed on individuals and nations. Therefore, borders and border control are essential to protect a nation’s citizens and should rise to the highest of concerns for those in civil authority.”

Additionally, the immigration controversy is not only political but moral. The Scripture passage most used to justify open borders and weak immigration policies is Leviticus 19:34, Rohrer says, where God commanded Israel to welcome the stranger or sojourner as one who’s native born.

“By itself,” Rohrer asserts, “this verse sounds compelling and unconditional, but it’s not. The Hebrew word for stranger in this text is ‘ger,’ and it means the immigrant wanting to assimilate—to embrace the God of Israel and their laws. King Solomon in II Chronicles 6:32 repeated this: ‘If a sojourner comes to the land ‘because of our God’ and prays in the temple … then welcome them in.’ To be welcome, immigrants must submit not rebel, fear God and not fight for atheism or Allah.”

The government has a unique duty to God and to the citizen—one might even call it a moral duty. Different from the Church’s duty to care for the sick and reach out to those who don’t yet know the God of heaven, government’s duty according to Romans 13 is to enact justice, enforce the law and protect the citizen.

“This is why God provided civil government with the sword of justice,” Rohrer says. “This is, in part, why we are to pray for those in authority—that we may lead quiet and peaceable lives and because they are accountable to God. God’s Word does hold all the answers about borders, immigration and much more, we just need to read God’s instruction for our lives and our nation, take them to heart and follow them.”

Additionally, Rohrer was featured in a commentary for Charisma News, which asked: “What Is the Truth Concerning Americans’ Wants and Needs for Immigration and Secure Borders?”

Winning the Spiritual Victory

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By Sam Rohrer

Note: This article was originally published on the Christian Post website HERE.

When we consider the biblical principles tied to Christian living, do we think about spiritual victory? We should. Victory begins when we believe there is indeed an enemy and a battle. Ephesians 6 says we battle not against flesh and blood but principalities and powers in high places; therefore, we are to put on the whole armor of God.

Living victoriously as effective salt and light includes identifying the enemy as the world, the flesh and the devil. Victory requires believing that the devil is fighting hard to keep us defeated, ineffective and without influence in our culture. Sadly, the latest surveys indicate that 74 percent of Americans say they’re Christians, but of these, over half live in daily defeat because they don’t believe the Holy Spirit or the devil are real.

Because of our beliefs, are our spiritual lives marked more by victory or defeat? If we are more than conquerors through Jesus, as Romans 8:28 declares, then victory is a choice. So, what is the winning strategy? Victory over the devil is possible. James 4:7 says that if we submit ourselves to God and resist the devil, he will flee.

The order here is vitally important. Submit to God first—then resist the devil. To submit means yielding our will and desires to God in obedience, permitting the power of God through the Holy Spirit to flow through us. Then James says to resist the devil and he will run away from us—not because of our will or actions, but because of God’s power working through us. We must submit to God then resist a real devil through the power of a real Holy Spirit and be real salt and light as Christ expects.

Additionally, too many Christians live in defeat because they don’t know the enemy or the biblical strategy to win against him. A real battle, a real devil, a real evil world and real sinful flesh do exist. The Bible is clear. For victory over the temptations of the world and the flesh—like sexual impurity, idolatry and the love of money—we must submit to God and then from these things we must flee.

Run. Run away fast. We must not dialogue with the devil. We can’t play footsie with temptation, but instead we must use the legs God gave us and flee. We must also remember that we are no match for the devil or temptation, especially if we purposely sit in their presence.

Recognizing the battle, knowing the enemy and putting on the whole armor of God is essential, but there’s more. Christ describes evil people and their tactics as ‘wolves’ in Matthew 10:16. These warnings are critical for every pastor, parent and those in authority. The devil will work through wolves to destroy, persecute, and ravage the sheep. We can easily see this in America today.

Pastor and Christian leader, when is the last time you warned your people about a wolf? When is the last time you stood on the wall and warned your people about the advancing enemy? When is the last time you contended for the faith and warned about the false prophet as commanded by Jude?

Until we commit to biblical obedience, vow to put on the armor of God and engage the enemies of God and His truth, the Church, our families and our nation will remain weak and divided. Yes, resisting the devil and fleeing from temptation is critical for victorious living, but pursuing righteousness, faith, love and peace with a pure heart and following the Lord in obedience, as in II Timothy 2:22, is essential.

Living victorious Christian lives requires the power of the Holy Spirit, and that power can only be experienced when we’re pursuing holiness and righteousness—God’s will not our will—and engaging the enemies of truth according to God’s plan.

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What Is the Truth Concerning Americans’ Wants and Needs for Immigration and Secure Borders?

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Note: This article was originally published on Charisma News website HERE.

Open borders or a barrier? Strategic migrant infiltration or innocent altruistic immigration? Good for America or the strategic slow death of the Western world?These are all part of the ongoing immigration debate, the current border barrier standoff in Washington, D.C., and the current impasse being waged in Congress. The American Pastors Network (APN) frequently explores issues of immigration and how they relate to both the Bible and the Constitution on its daily, live radio program, Stand in the Gap Today.

“These topics are especially important, says APN President Sam Rohrer, with another government shutdown looming this week—dependent on agreements reached on these urgent matters.”The majority of the American people want an orderly society and understand that the security of the American people is a high duty of the president and those in nationally elected offices,” Rohrer said.

“What is the truth on these concerns? Do we have facts, on-the-ground observations and honest evaluations? Or emotion-driven opinions and politically pushed policies? Americans, and especially American Christians, crave the truth in these matters, and the American Pastors Network seeks to provide it by going back to the Bible and the Constitution. With history available and facts pouring in, it is possible to objectively begin quantifying and measuring the real cost of open borders. “Historically, Rohrer added, immigration into Europe or the United States was the hope for people seeking a better life in a Western culture society; most often, people came from totalitarian-ruled cultures. Over the past years, however, the welcoming attitude and policies of Western nations toward downtrodden, freedom-seeking people has been identified as a tool for strategic manipulation by ideologies who have no desire to assimilate but to invade and collapse.”

“In effect, the goal for totalitarian ideologies, be it Marxism, communism, Islam or globalism, has been to capitalize on the ignorance of the Western societies, and exploit this ignorance and infiltrate their enemies like the Trojan horse of history past,” he continued. “The reality of the high cost of open borders, while downplayed by those wanting to weaken and destroy Western culture and the United States as we know it, should be obvious to people who are truth seeking and observant. The question is, what can we do in light of what is becoming so obvious on the European continent and the great divide becoming wider here in the United States on this issue?”

Listen to “Stand in the Gap Today” clips regarding this timely topic below:

Rohrer hosts “Stand in the Gap Today” with Pennsylvania Pastors Network Executive Director Gary Dull and North Carolina Pastors Network President Dave Kistler. The three discuss cultural issues and headlines from a biblical and constitutional perspective on the program that airs on over 400 stations. Besides “Stand in the Gap Minute,” the “Stand in the Gap” radio ministry also includes “Stand in the Gap Weekend,” which re-airs the most engaging segments from the previous week on about 240 stations.

To read the BIBLICAL reasons for national borders, please click HERE.

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Celebrating “National Marriage Week”-Making the Case for Marriage

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To watch a KDOV interview with APN President, Sam Rohrer, about “God’s Plan for Marriage”, please click HERE.

Defending marriage between one man and one woman is easy, says the American Pastors Network (APN). Whether examined historically, physiologically, emotionally, economically or morally, biblical marriage is best. But the moral argument is strongest because it precedes and underpins the others, says APN President Sam Rohrer.

Leading up to National Marriage Week Feb. 7-14, Rohrer is sharing five principles of marriage on the daily, 60-second radio feature, “Stand in the Gap Minute,” which airs on more than 400 stations nationwide.

“Marriage has taken a beating in our culture over the past several years, but if we seek to honor God with our marriage, we must stay true to five principles of godly marriage,” Rohrer said. “Making the case for marriage is easy—if we fear God. No nation can be blessed by God without strong families. No family can be strong without strong marriages. No marriage can be strong without following God’s plan for marriage. And by the same token, strong marriages yield strong families, and strong families yield strong nations. At the American Pastors Network, we emphasize the authority of Scripture for deciding all issues, including marriage. And we urge pastors and parents to defend and live out God’s model in their pulpits and in their homes.”

Rohrer will share the following five principles about godly marriage this week on “Stand in the Gap Minute.”

PRINCIPLE #1: Marriage is God’s Model—Marriage is God’s idea. God’s plan is best because God alone is Truth, Creator and Judge. Our opinion doesn’t really matter. We have no vote, but we do have a choice. As the Source of all authority, God’s plan for male and female, marriage, human sexuality, children and family prevails. Only He has the right to legitimately define it and to demand that we observe it.

PRINCIPLE #2: Marriage is God’s Foundation for Society—Not only is marriage God’s idea, His plan establishes biblical marriage as foundational for strong families—the cornerstone of authority in human society. God’s foundation for societal order is upheld first by the pillar of family authority, then civil, then church authority, all nurtured by God’s purpose and limitation for each.

PRINCIPLE #3: Marriage is One Man-One Woman—God’s design for marriage presumes that one man and one woman—united and committed—will join as one flesh before God. No other combination works in God’s plan. Therefore, no government possesses the authority to legally alter or redefine marriage or family. It has no more moral or jurisdictional authority to redefine marriage than to declare invalid natural law, or declare moral such immoral actions as theft, murder or rape.

PRINCIPLE #4: Marriage Must be Kept Holy—To preserve the integrity of marriage and the family, it must be kept holy. No violation or variation of marriage or human sexuality, other than within the bounds of marriage between one man and one woman, is acceptable without bringing predictable consequences to individuals, communities and nations. Heterosexual infidelity, sex outside marriage, homosexuality or marriage between multiple men or woman all violate God’s order.

PRINCIPLE #5: Marriage is the Picture of Christ and the Church—God declares in Ephesians 5 that physical marriage between one man and one woman is holy and depicts the spiritual relationship between Christ and the Church. God’s plan of redemption through Jesus Christ is the picture of true love and unity between God and man. It’s why all efforts to redefine God’s design are direct attacks on God Himself, His plan of redemption and Jesus Christ.

National Marriage Week is a national observance that seeks to celebrate marriage in a non-commercial way around Valentine’s Day and serves as an ideal time to highlight the importance of marriage for individuals, families and the nation. The week was first observed in 2010 to encourage individual and group efforts to raise the issue of marriage to the national agenda and support marriages across the country.

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Helping Make Sense of a Complicated Economy Through ‘Money Mission Friday’ Radio Programs

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January is Financial Wellness Month, and the American Pastors Network  has been helping faith-minded listeners think about their money in a godly way through its weekly “Money Mission Friday” radio programs.

To close out each week on “Stand in the Gap Today,” host and APN President Sam Rohrer, along with co-host Gary Dull, welcomes regular guest William Parker. He is an authority on Biblically Responsible Investing (BRI), a Kingdom Advisor, wealth manager and Principal of Biblically Responsible Investing (BRI) with the website, www.BRIinvesting.com. Recent program titles have included: “Down But Not Necessarily Out,” “Understanding the Debt Trap” and “The Case for Cash.”

“No matter how you look at today’s financial and economic news, analysis is hard, and predictions are even harder but ignoring the news is disastrous,” Rohrer said. “That is why we not only highlight the major economic issues but uncover the underlying principles and connect them to corresponding biblical principles each week on ‘Money Mission Friday.’ We believe these programs are answering key questions not only from an economic perspective but providing analysis regarding biblical stewardship of finances, saving, spending and Biblically Responsible Investing.”

Economic matters, Rohrer added, impact everyone, and are a major factor in all areas including foreign policy, war and peace, market fluctuations, national security, oil prices, energy dependence and much more.

“The main fact to keep in mind is that it all belongs to God,” Rohrer said. “We might think it all belongs to us because our name is on the account. But is it really ours? What does the Bible say about money? Actually, a great deal—about wealth, ownership of that wealth and the duty to use it properly. The Bible also speaks about investing, looking ahead and laying up treasure—not here on Earth but in Heaven. There are duties, of course, to our families and children here, but there’s an emphasis on the eternal. At the same time, God promises blessings to those people and those nations who follow God’s commands and fear and trust in Him.”

Money Mission Friday programs, as well as others from throughout the week, can be found HERE.

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