Pennsylvania Pastors Network Leader Responds to Attacks on PA Rep. Stephanie Borowicz for Prayer

The opening prayer from Pennsylvania Rep. Stephanie Borowicz (R-Centre/Clinton) continues to make headlines, as the Christian has been attacked for her prayer that mentioned Jesus.

Pennsylvania Pastors Network (PPN, www.papastors.net) Executive Director Gary Dull said that, as one who has had several opportunities to open both the PA House and Senate in prayer, he is thankful there is still enough respect for God and America’s great Judeo-Christian heritage for those prayers to continue to be offered in the state and trusts that freedom will continue.

“As far back as the time of Pennsylvania founder William Penn, God’s Name and His Word have been prevalent in the official representations of our Commonwealth,” Dull said. “In fact, Penn dreamed to establish in Pennsylvania what was referred to as ‘The Holy Experiment,’ in which a colony would be founded that guaranteed religious freedom. But that freedom was based upon the truth of the Holy God of the Bible and His Son Jesus Christ, as it states in John 8:32: ‘And you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.’

“The preamble of the Pennsylvania Constitution states: ‘We, the people of Pennsylvania, grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of civil and religious liberty, and humbly invoking His guidance, do ordain and establish this Constitution…’” Dull continued. “Beyond that, it does not take long for a person to notice when visiting the State Capitol Building in Harrisburg how many Bible verses are posted throughout that beautiful edifice. Certainly, Jehovah Elohim, the God of the Bible, has been respected by many both in word and in voice within those walls over the years.”

Even though prayers are not offered simply to make public statements, they are offered to ask God for His wisdom and direction in doing His will, which is why the House and the Senate open their sessions in prayer, Dull added.

“Often in doing so, Scripture verses are quoted that may be an offense to some people,” he said. “In fact, Isaiah 30:9 says that spiritually rebellious people ‘will not hear the law of the Lord.’ So we should not be surprised when some people object to the Word of God when it is read, spoken or used in our prayers. When a person prays a ‘Christian prayer’ to the Christian God of the Bible, it only stands to reason that Christian and biblical terms will be used in that prayer. That may and will offend some people but that does not mean that such a freedom should be taken away. It has been reported that Rep. Stephanie Borowicz’s Christian prayer offended the first Muslim woman to be elected to and sworn into the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, Movita Johnson-Harrell, and that it was called ‘Islamophobic’ by some. But it was a Christian prayer that was given, and thus Christian words and concepts were used. Obviously, a Muslim prayer, if it was given, would have used Muslim terms. In our Commonwealth, as well as in our nation, people have the freedom to pray as they desire, and we all must pray that such a great freedom will last for generations to come. It is this freedom that has caused America to be blessed beyond any nation on earth, and if that blessing is to continue then the freedom to pray in the public square, including in governmental buildings, must prevail.”

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Parents Beware—Registered Sex Offenders Are Performing for Small Children at Drag Queen Story Hours in Public Libraries

Drag Queen Story Hours held at public libraries have made headlines across the nation. Community members are understandably upset about men dressed in garish drag queen costumes, some of them donning satanic symbols and reading to young children at publicly funded libraries and other public facilities.

The American Pastors Network is pointing out that others, meanwhile, aim to make a statement by resisting rational and responsible behavior by not only supporting the events but enticing their young children to be part of them.

The American Pastors Network believes this is a form of child abuse and, based on the reactions of children who are frightened and confused watching the drag queens perform at libraries with covertly sexual innuendo, many would agree that exposing young children to this type of entertainment is completely outside of safe parenting.

These parents and caregivers who are taking children to the events may think twice now that a Drag Queen Story Hour event at the Houston Public Library was shut down after concerned community members shockingly discovered that a drag queen who recently read to children at the library was a registered sex offender.

A spokesperson for the library confirmed that one of the program’s drag queens was convicted of assaulting an 8-year-old boy in 2008. The library admits it did not conduct a background check on 32-year-old Alberto Garza, or drag queen “Tatiana Mala Nina,” according to KHOU, a CBS affiliate in Houston.

APN president and nationally syndicated radio and television host Sam Rohrer says an underlying problem is that those who are permitting, encouraging and advocating for events like Drag Queen Story Hours in libraries nationwide are not only endangering young minds in multiple ways but clearly disregarding Christ’s biblical charge to protect children and lead them to a knowledge of God and Truth.

Rohrer points to Matthew 18:2-6 (ESV): “And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said, ‘Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.’”

Rohrer stated, “In all situations, but clearly in these cases, there is a very clear biblical mandate not to offend any of these ‘little ones.’ Christ’s warning is clear. Offending—or causing a child to stumble—by leading them to accept life choices contrary to the truth of God and His Word is so reprehensible that it would be better if that person was to be drowned in the sea. That is a mandate that should speak to every pastor, church leader, parent and every person who fears God.”

Events like the Drag Queen Story Hours are clearly opposed to Christ’s warning and endanger the lives and the minds of the youngest among us, Rohrer said, and that is a serious problem.

“Children already suffer from a confused culture with weak role models,” he added. “Why any person, parent or library official would grant a confused adult a position of leadership and influence of vulnerable children is a matter for grave public concern. Children are being affected. There is no question. Can we continue to not only protect but also to purposely endanger the lives and the minds of our young children and to not expect further cultural harm? It is illogical, irrational and immoral.”

Parents and concerned community members have been protesting these organized activities at libraries in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, New Orleans and New York, according to The Christian Post. Events were also planned for Pennsylvania, where APN and the Pennsylvania Pastors Network (PPN, www.PApastors.net), are based.

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“Where is the common sense in this?” asks PPN Executive Director Gary Dull. “With the serious problems that children in this generation are experiencing—drug use, high-anxiety, suicide and depression—why would parents and elected officials willingly put children in front of a drag queen to confuse them even more? These type of events should be a matter of grave concern for every person who genuinely cares about children. The underlying LGBTQ agenda in demanding dominance and seeking to silence those who would raise logical cultural and family should be a concern for all who care about children. The public library is not a place for activism, and a children’s story hour certainly isn’t the place to push a confusing message delivered by a confused individual and encourage our children to stumble.”

The Four Pillars of a Biblical Worldview

How we consider life and everything on Earth is shaped by our worldview, whether that worldview comes from Christianity, Islam, Secularism, Marxism, New Spirituality, Postmodernism or a host of other views.

The choice of that worldview dictates the overarching response to how we interact with others, serve, parent, vote and much more, says the American Pastors Network (APN).

APN President Sam Rohrer says when Christians go through life with a biblical worldview—through the lens of an accurately defined biblical lens—their outlook on every element of life is different.

“With 10 percent of American Christians overall embracing a biblical worldview and just 4 percent of millennials holding a biblical worldview, is it a wonder our nation’s so quickly departing from God and moral absolutes?” Rohrer said. “It’s critical we know what it is and intentionally shape our thinking and living.

“At APN, we encourage pastors to preach, parents to teach and children to embrace a true biblical worldview passionately, which in turn, impacts all areas for Christ—from family to education, from government to the arts, and from science to spending,” he added. “After all, if Christians think and act like the world, why would anyone around us want what we have?”

Rohrer emphasized four pillars of a biblical worldview that will help pastors, church leaders, people in the pews and Christians of all ages formulate their biblical worldview lens:

  1. “There is God and He is truth”—Not just any god, but One God: Jehovah God, supreme, eternal, unchanging, no beginning and no end. Not just any truth, Rohrer says, but absolute truth. In a humanistic worldview, God is rejected and truth is relative. By contrast, in a biblical worldview, truth stands strong, leads justly, and equips people to be preserving salt and guiding light.
  2. “There was a creation, an act of God”—The eternal God created all things, including human life. Therefore, life didn’t just happen or evolve. To cherish life, Rohrer says, one must believe that God exists, that He is the Creator, the Giver and Sustainer of Life and, therefore, that all life is sacred and accountable to Him. This worldview determines a divine view of life from science, arts, politics, education, marriage and human sexuality. It’s why those who reject God as truth reject the sacredness of life and God’s design for marriage and human sexuality.
  3. “There was a fall, where sin and death entered the world precipitated by the devil”—The fall includes the “bad news” of sin, death and a real live devil, with creation itself damaged, and all men born sinners, totally depraved, and hopelessly separated from God, Rohrer says. Understanding the fall includes the knowledge of God’s love, His perfect law designed to protect man and his property from each other, and to confirm mankind’s reaching God’s perfection on their own.
  4. “There is redemption and restoration, secured by Jesus Christ”—This is the “Good News.” That Redeemer is Jesus Christ, the sacrificial Lamb of God slain before the world began to redeem a depraved and sinful mankind. We can’t fully explain this Good News and all God did, but we can believe it and live it, Rohrer says.

To listen to the Stand in the Gap Minute Series on a Biblical Worldview, please click HERE.

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What Do Pastors Think about Illegal Immigration?

Debates about borders and immigration continue to be top of mind for lawmakers, among families and even in churches.

The American Pastors Network (APN) is highlighting a new survey from LifeWay Research that found that the majority of pastors want illegal immigration to end.

APN President Sam Rohrer says immigration is an issue that has been difficult for pastors and churches to grasp, as they may struggle with what the Bible says and what the culture demands.

“Immigration and border control issues dominate our news and divide our nation—and perhaps the people in the pews of America’s churches are split on this matter—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.”

  • 80 percent say the government has the responsibility to stop illegal immigration; 9 percent disagree and 11 percent are not sure.
  • 70 percent say they are in favor of an immigration reform that includes a path to citizenship for those who are currently in the country illegally; 17 percent disagree and 13 percent are not sure.
  • 76 percent say Christians have a responsibility to assist immigrants even if they are in the country illegally, while 14 percent disagree and 10 percent are not sure.
  • Almost 3 in 10 pastors say their churches are involved locally in assisting immigrants.

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.” The national “Stand in the Gap” television program has also delved into this important matter.

“Without borders there’s no order, no law, no justice,” Rohrer said. “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. Borders are essential to nations. 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.

“This is why God provided civil government with the sword of justice,” he added. “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.”

This article was originally published on the Charisma News website HERE

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PA State Leaders Go On ‘Weed Tour’ But How Will Legal Marijuana Impact Residents and Families?

Last month, the administration of Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf announced it wanted to start a “conversation” about legalizing marijuana in the Keystone State through a series of townhall-style meetings.

The Sharon Herald reported that Lt. Gov. John Fetterman, “himself an advocate of legalizing recreational use of the drug,” will hold “listening” sessions in each of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties in the coming months.

The Pennsylvania Pastors Network (PPN) and American Pastors Network (APN) are expressing concerns that legalizing marijuana is not the right move for the state, dangerous to residents and families, and certainly not biblical.

“As pastors’ networks, we are extremely concerned about legal marijuana coming to Pennsylvania,” said APN and PPN President Sam Rohrer. “Marijuana can be a ‘gateway drug’ and leads to harder and more dangerous substances. Beyond that, youth in our state are already faced with a variety of temptations that can affect them long into their lives. Why state leadership would push for the legalization of a drug that can harm our residents and our families is not only perplexing but also irresponsible.”

The Pennsylvania Family Institute (PFI) is calling the listening sessions a “weed tour” that serves as a public relations ploy aimed at giving the Wolf administration cover to support recreational marijuana and says that the lieutenant governor is trying—poorly—to hide his desire to legalize weed. Also, just as with expanded gambling, some state officials are motivated by money in supporting marijuana legalization, PFI reports. (Read PPN’s insight on a proposed casino in Morgantown HERE.)

Photo by Sharon McCutcheon on Unsplash