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God’s Definition of Marriage is Unchanging

The American Pastors Network  is responding today to the controversial statements of well-known pastor and Christian speaker Tony Campolo about the acceptance of gay couples in the church.

Campolo released a statement yesterday on his blog that after “hours of prayer, study, conversation, and emotional turmoil,” it’s time for the church to fully accept gay couples.

“For pastors or other leaders within the church to extend unconditional grace and love to all who walk through the church doors is Biblical and Christlike,” said APN President Sam Rohrer, who also serves as the president of the Pennsylvania Pastors Network (PPN,www.papastors.net). “However, to accept sinful behavior of any type when God does not is unbiblical, not Christlike and is itself sin. When the church leaders become an advocate for sinful behavior under the guise of extending grace or love, they subvert the very mission of the Church, deny the reality of sin, despise the Gospel and God’s plan of redemption, and incur the judgment of God. In the end, God’s Word and His standards for life, for actions, and of course for human sexuality have never changed because God does not change, and neither can His authoritative Word.”   

Campolo wrote that his position has changed over the years, now realizing that, rather than solely for the purpose of procreation, perhaps God intended marriage for “married partners to help actualize in each other the ‘fruits of the spirit.’”

“Our existence on Earth isn’t to self-actualize and legitimize,” Rohrer continued. “It’s not about us. It’s about God’s ultimate design and plan for all eternity, not the instant gratification of living on this earth. God specifically designed men and women in His likeness, with very specific chromosomes and DNA that guide their purpose in life. The choice of sexual preference is where sin enters, and to claim that God has changed His mind about marriage is blasphemy and a fearful position in which to place oneself and those around them.” 

Campolo went on to say that, “as a social scientist, I have concluded that sexual orientation is almost never a choice and I have seen how damaging it can be to try to “cure” someone from being gay.”

Both APN and PPN offer pastors numerous online resources that help clergy choose sermon topics and find information for other church ministries. With some free and some paid resources, topics include marriage, abortion, apologetics, creation, the culture war, economics, education, the environment, history, homosexuality and Islam, along with many others.

***This article was published on CharismaNews.com on 6/9/15 titled:“Tony Campolo, Don’t You Tremble at God’s Word?”

 

Countdown to SCOTUS Ruling

Like millions around the country, the American Pastors Network is awaiting the historic U.S. Supreme Court decision that could either protect or redefine marriage in America. 

“Regardless of the outcome, this important decision—with biblical, historical and constitutional roots—will affect both pastors and churches,” said APN President Sam Rohrer, who also serves as the president of the Pennsylvania Pastors Network (PPN, www.papastors.net). “The fact that this issue even made it to the Supreme Court of the United States is an indictment against American Christians and against American churches. For too long, instead of being salt and light in the culture, our churches and, sadly, many of our pulpits have aimed to simply blend into the culture—not changing it but being changed by it. Now, the very institution of marriage literally stands on trial, and regardless of how the Court rules, this fact alone must serve as a wake-up call to the American church. 

“This is just the beginning, and as the culture continues to change—and move even further away from the truth of God’s word and from our constitutional roots—it is crucial that pastors and churches know the truth, speak the truth and live the truth, not just on Sundays, but 24 hours a day, seven days a week.”  

Attorney Jeff Mateer of the Liberty Institute, who was a featured speaker at PPN’s “U-Turn” conference this spring, attended SCOTUS’s oral arguments in April and called same-sex marriage “the issue of our generation.”

According to Mateer, several scenarios are possible:

  • SCOTUS could affirm the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit’s decision that the 14th Amendment does not require states to redefine marriage or recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states.
  • SCOTUS could rule that states must recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states but not redefine marriage in their own state.
  • SCOTUS could rule that the 14th Amendment applies to same-sex marriage, and all states would have to recognize all same-sex marriages.

For the case, the Liberty Institute filed a brief on behalf of the National Religious Broadcasters, Billy Graham and Franklin Graham, Samaritan’s Purse, In Touch Ministries, along with several seminaries and theologians, stating that “for millennia,” we have believed in marriage between one man and one woman—and there has never been another definition of marriage.

The concern directed at the Supreme Court was, Mateer said, if the justices change the definition of marriage and mandate marriage be redefined and expanded beyond one man and one woman, they will eventually violate the religious liberty rights of many and intrude on the workings and beliefs of the church.

Above all, Mateer suggested that pastors and churches fervently pray over the coming weeks for the landmark decision, particularly for Justice Anthony Kennedy, who will likely be a deciding factor.

 

As America Becomes Less Christian, Pastors Must Proclaim Truth

According to a new study from the Pew Research Center, the number of Christians in America is dropping—a wake-up call to pastors and churches across the nation, says the American Pastors Network.

The study, released last week, found that the number of Americans who “identify with Christianity has dropped substantially in the last eight years, while those who don’t affiliate with any religion continue to grow in numbers.”

APN President Sam Rohrer says the findings are evidence of the greater impact pastors and churches must have on society.

“These statistics should alarm every Christian in America, yet they should serve to motivate every pastor and Christian to greater biblical obedience,” Rohrer said. “In the early Church, Christians ‘turned the world upside down’ because their faith in Jesus Christ had been put to the test and they experienced firsthand the transformative impacts of the Gospel and unconquerable power of the truth of God’s Word. Our nation is in desperate need of pastors and Christians with the early Church’s passion.” 

Pew also reported that between 2007 and 2014, the number of Americans identifying as Christians fell from 78.4 percent (178.1 million people) to 70.6 percent (172.8 million people). And the number of religiously unaffiliated Americans rose from 16.1 percent to 22.8 percent in the same time frame—or about 60 million unaffiliated (including atheists, agnostics or those who claim “nothing in particular”) Americans in 2014.

The decline in Christianity is exhibited across nearly all demographics, as the Pew report added, “While the drop in Christian affiliation is particularly pronounced among young adults, it is occurring among Americans of all ages. The same trends are seen among whites, blacks and Latinos; among both college graduates and adults with only a high school education; and among women as well as men.” 

“The decline in Christianity in America is a call not simply for Americans to return to church but for the church itself to return to God’s Word,” Rohrer continued. “We know from research that too many pastors are not preaching the whole counsel of God’s Word as it relates to societal issues, holy living and true discipleship. Therefore, many Americans are leaving the church because the church has left the authority of Scripture. It’s past time for pastors to take a stand for obedience to biblical truth if we are to see God’s blessing to return to our nation.”

According to research reported last August, many theologically conservative pastors believe the Bible speaks to societal issues, but fewer than 10 percent of these pastors are teaching people what the Bible says on these topics.

What Birthday Gift Can America Give Israel?

On May 14, 1948, Israel officially became a nation, recognized by the world in one of the most important pages of history. Now, 67 years later, Israel is a significant global presence, making headlines for peace processes, relationships with other nations and the protection of Jews everywhere.

Sam Rohrer, president of the American Pastors Network (APN, www.americanpastorsnetwork.net), says that despite waning support for Israel from some of America’s leaders, and even some Christians, America’s pastors and churches must continue to stand with Israel. 

“The simple reason we must support the State of Israel is because God does,” Rohrer said. “The Jews are His chosen people, and He gave His promise to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob that He would not only bless them but also bless every nation that blesses them and curse every nation that curses them. It was through the Jews that God brought the Messiah—Yeshua. The entire plan of redemption and all of Scripture came to us through the Jews. Throughout history, God has miraculously protected the Jewish people although the nations around them have sought to annihilate them. God forbid that America ever becomes a nation that Israel needs protection from.”

 APN Board Member Gary Dull echoed Rohrer’s thoughts. 

“God promised Abram in Genesis 12:1-3 that those who bless Israel will be blessed by God and those who curse Israel will be cursed by God,” Dull said. “All true believers today recognize that covenant is still active. The conviction of every real Christian is that the fundamental component for the Church to be strengthened and used by God is for the Church to have a genuine love for Israel.”

As Israel celebrates the 67th anniversary of its statehood, Rohrer says the best gift America can give to the nation’s strongest ally in the Middle East is the sincere pledge of unwavering friendship and support in the face of growing anti-Israel sentiment not only internationally but also, disturbingly, among America’s own leadership.

American Pastors Network Encourages Pastors, Churches to Be Part of National Day of Prayer

The American Pastors Network  is encouraging pastors and congregations around the country to participate in a National Day of Prayer event in their community and come together to pray on May 7 for the country in a time of turmoil. 

“The prayers of Christians have been critical throughout the history of our nation, and they continue to be so today,” said APN president Sam Rohrer, who is also president of the Pennsylvania Pastors Network (PPN, www.papastors.net), “It is so important that pastors encourage their congregations to pray for America, and the National Day of Prayer on May 7 is a time when Christians can come together in agreement and humbly repent of our sins, both individual and national, and petition God for his mercy and guidance for our nation. Find an event in your community, join the faithful in your neighborhood, and lift up our nation to God, that we would return to the biblical and constitutional principles on which our great country was founded.” 

To find a National Day of Prayer event in your community, visit http://nationaldayofprayer.org/event-finder/, where events can be searched by zip code or city. The National Day of Prayer is sponsored by the National Day of Prayer Task Force.

For the 2015 Day of Prayer observance, the theme is “Lord, Hear Our Cry,” centering on I Kings 8:28: “Hear the cry and the prayer that your servant is praying in your presence this day.”

“God has promised to listen to a people who come to him in humility and repentance,” Rohrer continued. “Our nation—including many who claim the title ‘Christian’—has arrogantly turned its back on God and on his word, and unless we humble ourselves before the Lord and reject our sinful ways, we will experience the judgement of God, which has already begun in America. Prayer is not a means to get God on our side; prayer is a means to align ourselves with God’s purposes, plans and will. We are running out of time in America to do this before God will remove his hand of blessing from our nation.”

The National Day of Prayer is an annual observance on the first Thursday of May, inviting people of all faiths to pray for the nation, according to the National Day of Prayer web site. It was created in 1952 by a joint resolution of the United States Congress and signed into law by President Harry S. Truman. The National Day of Prayer Task Force communicates the need for personal repentance and prayer, creates Day of Prayer materials and resources, and mobilizes the Christian community to intercede for America’s leaders and their families.

PPN Member Pastor Joseph Green Releases New Book on ‘Kingdom Business’

An American Pastors Network state chapter member, Pastor Joseph L. Green Jr. of the Pennsylvania Pastors Network (PPN, www.papastors.net), has released a new book called “Kingdom Business” that discusses race, religion and politics from a biblical perspective.

“The kingdom of God is a governmental system,” reads the book’s description. “It is a theocracy in which Jesus is our King, the Bible is our Constitution and we are its citizens.” In “Kingdom Business,” Green also looks at how the Church has failed to live up to the standards the Bible expects from its ambassadors.

“APN is happy to highlight the excellent and timely work of Pastor Joe Green, who serves as a member of PPN’s Leadership Council,” said APN president Sam Rohrer, who is also president of PPN. “Pastor Green’s book touches on extremely valid and pressing concerns that face all Americans. We applaud his willingness to take on critical topics and present biblical truth regarding them, and we are thankful for his commitment to faith-based cultural change, grounded in biblical and constitutional principles.”

“Kingdom Business” is available for order by clicking here: Kingdom Business Book

“I am honored to be part of the American Pastors Network and am passionate about sharing crucial information regarding the way in which the Bible, race and politics interact today in America,” Green said. “Headlines confirm this truth day after day, and as Christians, we are charged with proclaiming truth and never turning a blind eye to efforts to silence it.”

Green is the founder of Antioch Assembly (www.antiochassembly.com) in Harrisburg, Pa., and director of The Josiah Project, a faith-based initiative designed to empower at-risk young men between the ages of 13 and 18. He also serves on the Board of Directors of Bethesda Mission in Harrisburg.

Green is the author of three additional books: “From Kilos to the Kingdom,” “The Church That Will Turn the World Upside Down” and “Standing on the Rock.” A graduate of Harrisburg High School, Green attended the University of Pittsburgh and Towson University, and he holds a Bachelor’s degree in communications and a Doctorate in Philosophy in Humanities. He also served for four years in the United States Navy. Green is a member of PPN, APN and Healing Tree International. He and his wife, Gwendolyn, have three children.

The pastor was also a speaker at APN and PPN’s recent conference attended by more than 500 pastors and church leaders, titled, “U-Turn: A Roadmap for Renewal—A Conversation with Pastors on Society, Culture and Leadership.” The event answered questions about society, culture and leadership, with a focus on how cultural trends can be strategically impacted with the truths of God’s Word.

American Pastors Network Launching New Daily Radio Program on April 13

The American Pastors Network, the largest national network dedicated to equipping pastors to be a voice for truth in the public square, is launching a new one-hour, live daily radio program called “Stand in the Gap Today,” which will debut on several stations throughout Pennsylvania on Monday, April 13. To listen LIVE, please tune in to 1180AM WFYL in the Philadelphia area, or listen online from 12:00 Noon-1:00pm at: www.1180wfyl.com.

“Stand in the Gap Today” joins the lineup of existing APN radio programming—all of which focus on addressing the cultural and moral issues of our time from a constitutional and biblical perspective.

“We are looking forward to this new live, interactive program that will help Christians become informed about news, current events and moral issues that affect Americans everywhere,” said APN President Sam Rohrer, who will also co-host the program. “Especially today, there is never a shortage of topics surrounding how our daily faith and Biblical worldview relate to culture. When we can look at these issues through a biblical and constitutional lens, we can have the wisdom to consider these issues in a way that will enable us to better impact our culture for Christ rather than be an idle bystander in life. ”

“Stand in the Gap Today” will air daily from noon to 1 p.m. ET on multiple stations in Pennsylvania and will be available via satellite across the U.S.

Other APN radio programs include the daily one-minute radio feature, “Stand in the Gap,” which airs on more than 40 stations, as well as the one-hour Sunday program, “Stand in the Gap Weekend,” which features a sermon from a pastor within the Pennsylvania Pastors Network (PPN, www.papastors.net), followed by commentary by Rohrer and others. “Stand in the Gap Weekend” airs on 140 stations through American Family Radio.

Hosting “Stand in the Gap Today” along with Rohrer will be Gary Dull, APN board member and Executive Director and Vice President of PPN, and Dave Kistler, President of the North Carolina Pastors Network (NCPN, www.ncpastors.net). Rohrer, Dull and Kistler will discuss events of the day, as well as welcome guests to the program.

More Than 500 Are Re-energized in Quest to ‘Stand in the Gap for Truth’ at Pennsylvania Pastors Network’s ‘U-Turn’ Conference

More than 500 pastors, church leaders and laypeople came together for the Pennsylvania Pastors Network (PPN, www.papastors.netconference, “U-Turn: A Roadmap for Renewal,” on Thursday at Lancaster Bible College in Lancaster, Pa.—an event that answered questions about society, culture and leadership, with a focus on how cultural trends can be strategically impacted with the truths of God’s Word.

“At PPN’s ‘U-Turn’ conference, we were blessed to be able to communicate a coherent message to pastors and church leaders that was uplifting, inspirational, God-honoring and relevant, and have a real conversation about the most important issues of our day,” said PPN President Sam Rohrer, who also serves as President of the American Pastors Network (APN,www.AmericanPastorsNetwork.net). “We were also honored and humbled to hear many positive comments about the speakers, presentations and value of the conference. We commend all of our speakers who provided their unique perspectives on ‘standing in the gap for truth’ along with effective ways all of us can spiritually renew our nation. And we pray that the resulting fruit from all that the Lord did in the hearts and lives of those who attended will be lasting and will lead to cultural renewal in our nation.”

The powerful one-day conference, titled “U-Turn: A Roadmap for Renewal—A Conversation with Pastors on Society, Culture and Leadership,” united some of the top Christian speakers, along with pastors, leaders and laypeople so they could be inspired and committed to apply biblical principles in all matters of life, ultimately to “stand in the gap for truth.”

Conference headliners George Barna and David Barton were particular hits with the crowd.

Barna, who spoke on “The Necessity of Engagement: A Statistical Perspective,” founded The Barna Group, a leading research firm focused on faith and culture, in 1984 and sold it in 2009. Since then, he has continued to be involved in political research and strategy. He is the author or co-author of more than 50 books, including various best sellers and award-winning volumes such as “Growing True Disciples,” “Transforming Children into Spiritual Champions,” “Revolution,” “Revolutionary Parenting,” “ Pagan Christianity?,” “The Frog in the Kettle” and “The Power of Vision.” Barna has served as a pastor and has taught at several universities and seminaries.

Barton, who addressed the topic of “When Pastors Stand for Truth: A Historical Perspective,” heads WallBuilders, a national pro-family organization that presents America’s forgotten history and heroes, with an emphasis on America’s moral, religious and constitutional heritage. He is the author of numerous best-selling books, with the subjects drawn largely from his massive library-museum of tens of thousands of original writings, documents and artifacts from early America. He also addresses well over 400 groups each year. His exhaustive research has rendered him an expert in historical and constitutional issues.

Together, Barna and Barton shared critical components of “A Roadmap for the Future: Where Do We Go From Here?” The two have also teamed up to author a book that focuses on some of the same issues as the conference. Their work, “U-Turn: Restoring America to the Strength of Its Roots,” looks at what has happened to America since the country turned away from God and addresses how we can turn our nation around. The book was available at the conference at a 20 percent discount.

The impressive lineup of speakers and their topics also included:

  • Paul Blair of Reclaiming America for Christ on “The Pastor’s Impact:  A Biblical Perspective”
  • “How Can We Effect Change?”: A panel discussion with Rohrer, Barna, Barton and Blair
  • “A Ministry Perspective”: A panel discussion moderated by Dr. Gary Dull, PPN Executive Director, which included Ralph Drollinger of Capitol Ministries; Jeff Mateer of the Liberty Institute; Sandy Rios of American Family Association and American Family Radio; and Pastor Joe Green of Antioch Assembly
  • Gov. Mike Huckabee, Former Governor of Arkansas and former Fox News commentator, who offered a special video message to attendees
  • Sammy Tippit of Sammy Tippit Ministries on “Light That Shatters the Dark”
  • Pilot, author and pastor Steve Scheibner on “Living On Borrowed Time: A Pilot’s Story From 9/11/01”

Those not on the Lancaster Bible College campus were able to watch the conference via live streaming.

APN has recently received a $30,000 matching donation for all contributions made for this and future U-Turn events. Donations and sponsorships up to $30,000 will be matched, resulting in $60,000 to the American Pastors Network. Those interested may call APN at 610-901-3607.

Pennsylvania Pastors Network encourages pastors to bring together biblical and constitutional principles in their sermons and provides resources to pastors throughout the state. For more information on PPN, visit www.papastors.net or call 610.901.3607.

 

Matching Gift Sponsorship Opportunity for U-Turn America!

God has blessed us with a donor who will match every donation for the U-Turn America Series of U-Turn events, U-Turn projects and the American Pastors Network radio programs focused on turning America back to biblical truth through faith leaders who are courageous enough to stand in the gap for Truth.

Donations and Sponsorships up to $30,000 will be matched resulting in $60,000 to the American Pastors Network!  

U-Turn America donations will:

  • Fund U-Turn events across the nation in all 50 states
  • Provide American Pastors Network the ability to speak across the nation through media interviews, churches, and other speaking engagements
  • Allow for radio expansion across America to reach 100,000 pastors (50 states with 2,000 pastors each) through broadcasting of the APN radio programs “Stand in the Gap Today,” “Stand in the Gap Weekend” and “Stand in the Gap Minute” to apply the Truth of Scripture to every aspect of life, including family, civil government, and the Church.

Click here to make your matching donation gift today!

For more information, call Pennsylvania Pastors Network at (610) 901-3607.