World Vision, the humanitarian relief organization, has crafted and sent to President Trump and Vice President Pence a stinging criticism of the President’s immigration policies. (To read the letter from World Vision, please click HERE.)
Calling for Christian compassion and the unmitigated acceptance of refugees, World Vision has missed a KEY biblical point, thus placing themselves in opposition to God and His word.
While it is the ministry of the church to act with compassion with respect to legitimate refugees, that is NOT the purpose of civil government! According to Romans 13, government exists for the purpose of enacting justice–the punishment of those who do evil and the praise of those who do good.
By extension, if justice is the role of government, then keeping the citizens of the nation safe is definitely a part of that God-ordained mandate. Thus keeping out of our nation those who are determined to harm us would be a given.
I Timothy 2:2, states that we are to pray for our leaders with this end in view–“that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life.” In other words, we pray for our leaders that they will fulfill their God-ordained duty to keep us safe, so that a “quiet and peaceable” life may become a reality.
When a President takes his God-ordained duty seriously, as well as his oath (“to protect against ALL enemies, foreign and domestic), we in the church community should NOT be criticizing him and calling on him to
take on/adopt the church’s responsibility. This is a matter of jurisdiction. The church operates in one arena of jurisdiction. Civil government operates in another. To superimpose the church’s jurisdictional responsibility on civil government, or vice versa, is to pervert, corrupt, disobey God’s clearly stated word.
Tragically, World Vision has done precisely that. In all candor, they should know better. Even more tragic are the 5000 plus pastors, ministry leaders, lay leaders, who’ve signed on to the letter to the President.
The appearance of the letter is designed to make it look as if they (World Vision) speak for ALL evangelicals/evangelical leaders in America. Let me assure you that they DO NOT! They definitely don’t speak
for me! The implication that they speak for all evangelicals is problematic to say the least. Their confusion about the church’s role versus the government’s role is unbiblical.
Dave Kistler
President, HOPE Ministries International/HOPE To The Hill
President, North Carolina Pastors Network (NCPN)
Co-host, Stand In The Gap Radio
Stand in the Gap Today 2/16/17
/0 Comments/in Stand in the Gap Today /by News RoomIs the time ripe for reshaping our culture? #GeorgeBarna with American Culture and Faith Institutes shares the latest survey findings on the desire and opportunity for Christian Conservatives to make a difference-right here, right now. Host: Gary Dull
Stand in the Gap Today 2/15/17
/0 Comments/in Stand in the Gap Today /by News RoomIn light of General Flynn’s resignation earlier this week, what constitutes true leadership and what are the steps for crisis management in a situation like this? Has President Trump shown some real skill in these areas so far? Host: Dave Kistler
Christian Humanitarian Organization Gets it Dead Wrong!!!
/0 Comments/in Blog /by News RoomWorld Vision, the humanitarian relief organization, has crafted and sent to President Trump and Vice President Pence a stinging criticism of the President’s immigration policies. (To read the letter from World Vision, please click HERE.)
Calling for Christian compassion and the unmitigated acceptance of refugees, World Vision has missed a KEY biblical point, thus placing themselves in opposition to God and His word.
While it is the ministry of the church to act with compassion with respect to legitimate refugees, that is NOT the purpose of civil government! According to Romans 13, government exists for the purpose of enacting justice–the punishment of those who do evil and the praise of those who do good.
By extension, if justice is the role of government, then keeping the citizens of the nation safe is definitely a part of that God-ordained mandate. Thus keeping out of our nation those who are determined to harm us would be a given.
I Timothy 2:2, states that we are to pray for our leaders with this end in view–“that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life.” In other words, we pray for our leaders that they will fulfill their God-ordained duty to keep us safe, so that a “quiet and peaceable” life may become a reality.
When a President takes his God-ordained duty seriously, as well as his oath (“to protect against ALL enemies, foreign and domestic), we in the church community should NOT be criticizing him and calling on him to
take on/adopt the church’s responsibility. This is a matter of jurisdiction. The church operates in one arena of jurisdiction. Civil government operates in another. To superimpose the church’s jurisdictional responsibility on civil government, or vice versa, is to pervert, corrupt, disobey God’s clearly stated word.
Tragically, World Vision has done precisely that. In all candor, they should know better. Even more tragic are the 5000 plus pastors, ministry leaders, lay leaders, who’ve signed on to the letter to the President.
The appearance of the letter is designed to make it look as if they (World Vision) speak for ALL evangelicals/evangelical leaders in America. Let me assure you that they DO NOT! They definitely don’t speak
for me! The implication that they speak for all evangelicals is problematic to say the least. Their confusion about the church’s role versus the government’s role is unbiblical.
Dave Kistler
President, HOPE Ministries International/HOPE To The Hill
President, North Carolina Pastors Network (NCPN)
Co-host, Stand In The Gap Radio
Stand in the Gap Today 2/14/17
/0 Comments/in Stand in the Gap Today /by News RoomIn an open letter to President Trump, #WorldRelief has rallied Christian leaders to oppose his immigration policies. What’s problematic about this and what is #FaithLeadersofAmerica doing to defend these policies from a truly biblical and constitutional position? Host: Sam Rohrer
Limiting Immigration
/0 Comments/in Stand in the Gap Today /by News RoomIslam Just as Violent as Other Religions?
/1 Comment/in Release /by News RoomA new CBS poll published in Breitbart.com found that two-thirds of Democrats believe that Islam does encourage violence—but to the same degree as any other religion.
The February 2017 poll also found that just one in seven Democrats believe that Islam is more violent than other religions, such as Christianity, Mormonism, Judaism and Buddhism, reported Breitbart.
That’s a position the American Pastors Network (APN, www.americanpastorsnetwork.net) desperately wants to refute. The topic of Islam is a frequent discussion on the APN radio ministry, “Stand in the Gap Today,” which airs on 425 stations nationwide. “Stand in the Gap Today” hosts, which include APN President Sam Rohrer, have welcomed numerous experts who educate Christians about the dangers of Islam.
The poll also found, Breitbart reported, that Republicans have a far colder view of Islam, with 63 percent seeing Islam as aggressive compared to other religions. Additionally, about one in 10 Democrats believe that Islam is less violent that other religions, according to the poll of more than 1,000 adults.
Stand in the Gap Today 2/13/17
/0 Comments/in Stand in the Gap Today /by News RoomWhat’s the difference between biblical justice and social justice? And how is the misunderstanding of these concepts playing out worldwide with the release of convicted criminals and the coddling of known terrorists? Host: Dave Kistler
The Founding Fathers on Immigration
/0 Comments/in Stand in the Gap Weekend /by News RoomWhat would our Founding Father’s have said about the current controversy over President Trump’s immigration policies? Historian and Author, David Barton, founder of WallBuilders, joins the program as guest to answer this question and more.
Stand in the Gap Today 2/10/17
/0 Comments/in Stand in the Gap Today /by News RoomSupreme Court Justice nominee Neil Gorsuch’s confirmation hearings are about to begin. Peggy Nienaber with Faith and Action ministries in DC joins the program to tell us what happens during this process and give an update on the climate of Capitol Hill. Host: Dave Kistler
Stand in the Gap Today 2/9/17
/0 Comments/in Stand in the Gap Today /by News RoomFox News commentator and best selling author #ToddStarnes joins the program during the second segmentto discuss his latest book, “‘The Deplorables’ Guide to Making America Great Again.” Also, Constitutional Attorney, David New, shares insights on true biblical justice during the latter half of the broadcast. Host: Sam Rohrer
Here’s more on Todd Starnes’ new book:
Published by Frontline, an imprint of Charisma House, and available to order today fromwww.DeplorablesBook.com, as well as other national booksellers, “The Deplorables’ Guide to Making America Great Again” is full of Starnes’ Southern humor to take readers on a wild literary ride through the culture.
Legendary preacher and cultural leader Franklin Graham said this about the book: “Todd Starnes has a pulse on today’s culture and shines a discerning light on political correctness that has indoctrinated the minds of people from every walk of life. I am grateful the Lord has given Todd a platform that he faithfully uses to declare Christ’s truth.”
In “The Deplorables’ Guide to Making America Great Again,” Starnes reports from the front lines of the culture war and provides insights on what Americans can do to bring about real and lasting change in our nation.
“The overall theme of my new book is that change may start at the White House, but it finishes at your house,” Starnes said. “Winning was just the beginning. The election is over and the Inauguration regalia is wearing off, but there is still work to do. With the election of Donald Trump, the American people have spoken, potentially saving the Supreme Court and vowing to defend American sovereignty.”
Starnes has been at Fox News Radio for more than a decade. His daily commentary is heard on hundreds of radio stations, and his syndicated column is read by millions. He is a frequent contributor on many Fox News Channel and Fox Business Network programs. Social science researcher George Barna also included Starnes as one of the top media influencers for Evangelical Christians in the 2016 presidential election.
He has covered some of the biggest stories of the past decade—from presidential campaigns to the culture wars—interviewing an array of newsmakers and celebrities. Starnes is also the author of three other books—including “God Less America,” a collection of essays documenting the war on religious liberty—and is the recipient of a regional RTNDA Edward R. Murrow Award and the Associated Press Mark Twain Award for Storytelling.