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According to recent research by Barna, a majority of Christians say they came to the faith long before adulthood—usually before the age of 12.

American Pastors Network (APN) says the findings are interesting because they show the link between faith and heritage, but simultaneously, asks APN President Sam Rohrer, what does it mean for the future of the Christian Church in light of the knowledge that more millennials—today’s young parents—are backing away from Christianity.

“What will be the future of the church if we know that 59% of current practicing Christians say their Christian faith was ‘passed down’ to them from a family member?” said Rohrer, who hosts the popular daily radio program, “Stand in the Gap Today,” heard on several hundred stations nationwide. “With more and more millennials leaving the church—in fact, some studies say that, coincidentally, 59% of millennials have already left the faith—we might find a way to reach the younger generations so they can pass the hope of Christ onto their children.”

Rohrer added that a key may be the connection between the older and younger generation, especially among pastors.

“Most older, faithful pastors have a concern for younger pastors but don’t always have ways to connect with them,” he said. “And younger pastors tend to be divided into two categories: those who don’t necessarily see the value with connecting with other generations, or those young biblically faithful pastors who do long for the opportunity and are honored to be in the presence of those who have sustained, perhaps, a 40-year ministry and have remained true. Many from all age groups who truly want to connect just don’t know how.”

Barna also found that more than half of survey respondents say they grew up as a Christian (57%) and were Christian at the time of their birth. This response, Barna says, “is revealing either of their theology or of how extensively Christianity permeated their upbringing.”

“We must better connect pastors of all generations—both to each other and to younger generations,” Rohrer said. “If we don’t, how we can expect them to connect with their own people on the importance of having a biblical worldview they can pass on to future generations?”

Photo by David Beale on Unsplash

As the presidential campaign season unfolds ahead of the 2020 election, candidates and citizens alike, says the American Pastors Network, should consider this question: “What is truth?”

APN President Sam Rohrer, host of the popular daily radio program, “Stand in the Gap Today,” heard on more than 425 stations nationwide, as well as the daily radio feature, “Stand in the Gap Minute,” said some candidates for public office don’t even know the answer to the question, “What is truth?”

For instance, some time ago, Rohrer said, he interviewed a candidate and asked him to define truth. His answer: “I don’t know.”

“So I asked,” Rohrer recalled, “‘How will you make your decisions in office and know you’re right?’ The candidate said, ‘I guess I’ll follow my gut.’ Truth is not open for debate or found in the gut. Rejecting Jesus as truth ensures no moral compass. Rejecting truth results in confusion, moral bankruptcy, bribery and corruption. Rejecting truth guarantees that no person, be they Republican, Democrat or Independent, can lead with integrity, principle and consistency, as each desirable character traits hinges on truth as defined by God’s Word and modeled by Jesus Christ.”

As an example, Rohrer pointed to Isaiah 59:19, which says: “When the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against them.”

“As political campaigns overwhelm our land, lies and distortions are told, and truth falls in the streets, Isaiah declares that God’s Spirit will raise up a standard against it,” Rohrer said. “This standard, of course, is Jesus Christ—the Way and the Truth. But God often chooses to raise up His prepared Remnant as the salt and light—the truth standard to oppose evil and make clear the truth. Every true Christian is part of God’s empowered standard to stand against the enemies of truth. The real question is: ‘Are we doing our part?”

Additionally, because the culture has become morally sick—having defined good as evil and evil as good—is there a cure?

“When truth is rejected and division results, is there healing?” Rohrer continued. “There can be. To some, the Bible is inspiring—a good book. For others, the Bible is a source of truth. At the American Pastors Network, we lift up the Word of God as the final authority—the only source of truth—never in error and always right. It alone defines good and evil. It alone can point the lost and wandering to eternal life.  It alone, if obeyed, can heal the lonely heart and restore the broken family. Obedience to God’s Word alone can restore our nation and return God’s blessing to us. An absolute cure exists, but only if we embrace the truth.”

Likewise, in Matthew 10:36, Rohrer added, Jesus made a startling statement: “I have not come to send peace but a sword.”

“Why would God contrast peace with a sword?” Rohrer asked. “When pastors rightly preach God’s truth, citizens embrace truth, and those in office properly wield the sword of truth, it will instruct, bring clarity from confusion and heal the division caused by the enemies of truth who pit rich against poor, white against black and so on. You see, the sword of truth divides truth from lies, Christ from Satan and freedom from bondage. Accepting Christ as truth brings God’s peace and joy.  Rejecting Christ brings judgment and separation from God’s peace. Choosing truth or rejecting truth is a choice that brings healing or judgment, life or death.”

Rohrer also pointed to Joshua 24:15, where Joshua challenged the people by saying, ‘if you’ve got a problem serving the God of heaven, then be honest enough to state who you will serve.”

“Serving God requires purposeful choices with a life that proves it!” he said. “While most Americans say they’re Christians, their lives don’t prove it—and our culture unfortunately reflects it with saltless salt, little light and no morally prevailing influence.  It’s our lives, not our words, that matter. The time has come to reject idle speech and hearts that worship other gods. Living holy, having a compelling Christian testimony and embracing truth with no other gods before us is a choice. May we like Joshua declare, ‘but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD’—of Truth!”

Photo by Ronda Darby on Unsplash

by Sam Rohrer

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

Where are the fathers? A generation ago, the Supreme Court defied the God of heaven and declared legal the murder of our babies—and our fathers were silent. When the Ten Commandments were declared to be poison to our children’s minds—our pastors were silent. When the courts and culture continue to attack God’s model for family by redefining marriage and human sexuality, why is there such continuing silence?

At the American Pastors Network, we believe that God’s judgment on our nation is in part because fathers and pastors a generation ago refused to oppose evil and actively resist tyranny. The question is, what will our pastors and we as fathers do now? As Mordecai said to Esther of old, if we are silent now, evil will prevail, and freedom will be lost.

Father’s Day’s a good time to consider God’s expectation for fathers. As a father of six and grandfather to 14, I’ve thought much about my role and the fact that fathers create our children’s first image of God. Men, are we demonstrating that God is faithful, loving, patient and kind? Is our discipline consistent and just? Are our children learning God’s protection and provision of needs? Does our love for our wives model Christ’s love for the Church? Do we teach the fear of God in our home by living in the fear of God ourselves? Do we focus on character building in our children to live and think like Christ so His character and nature will be seen through them? Imagine the impact in our homes and our culture if we did.

Fathers hold the key to our families and nation. In Deuteronomy Chapter 6, God told fathers to teach our children five things.

1.     We must lead our children to faith in the LORD, because He is the only God.

2.     We must lead our children to a fervor for the Lord by loving Him with all their heart, soul and mind.

3.     We must lead our children to fear the LORD because that is the beginning of knowledge and wisdom.

4.     We must lead our children to a familiarity of the LORD by learning of Him daily and diligently.

5.     And, then when God blesses—as He will—we must lead our children not to forget the LORD and what He’s done.

If we as fathers would teach our children these things, our homes would be healed, families restored and the nation united. The more we men emulate God—the heavenly Father—the better the husband and father we’ll be. As our fatherhood model, God is the Wise Father. He’s the Great Counselor and Comforter—just, kind, merciful and patient. He’s the Instructor, Guide, Protector and Shield.  He firmly disciplines but does so in love. He loves so much, He gave His son—the perfect sacrifice—to save our souls. He’s the humble servant, yet the greatest leader.  He’s the model—in every way—of what an earthly father should be.

Photo by Sebastián León Prado on Unsplash