Now that President Donald Trump has officially taken office, will pastors and churches be affected at the pulpit and in the pew?
American Pastors Network certainly thinks so. In fact, one action by President Trump will return decades of freedom to churches.
For more than 60 years, the Johnson Amendment, proposed by then-Senator Lyndon B. Johnson and passed by Congress in 1954, has prohibited tax-exempt organizations—including churches and other nonprofits—from lobbying elected officials, campaigning on behalf of a political party and supporting or opposing candidates for office. The Johnson Amendment has instilled fear in pastors, wary of losing their church’s tax-exempt status if they speak truth into cultural, societal or political issues.
“For six decades, the Johnson Amendment has restricted the free speech of pastors and churches,” said APN President Sam Rohrer. “On the campaign trail, Donald Trump and Mike Pence vowed to work on behalf of pastors to restore their pulpit freedoms, especially at a time when Christians need biblical truth and God-centered guidance spoken into their lives regarding the pressing issues of the day.”
New research by George Barna of the American Culture & Faith Institute found that three out of four SAGE Cons (Spiritually Active, Governance Engaged Conservatives) turned to resources such as voter guides, websites and other resources to gain information about their choices on the ballot this election season. Overall, 61 percent specifically identified voter guides as a resource they used to help them decide how to vote.
The research, Rohrer says, is a telling indicator that Christians are looking for guidance on important issues, and will likely look to the church.
On “Stand in the Gap Today,” a radio ministry from APN, co-hosts Rohrer, Dave Kistler of the North Carolina Pastors Network (NCPN, www.ncpastors.net) and Gary Dull of the Pennsylvania Pastors Network (PPN,www.papastors.net) recently discussed the Johnson Amendment and how a repeal of this legislature will affect pastors and churches.
“The Johnson Amendment is believed to have stifled and stymied many Christian leaders from being more outspoken with respect to what are deemed ‘political issues,’ when, really, these are moral issues,” Kistler said during the program. “If President Trump is successful in removing or repealing the Johnson Amendment, will that affect the speech of pastors in the pulpit? Some say yes, while others say no. In some cases, it may not be solely the Johnson Amendment that has muzzled preachers across America. Those in the pulpit who have not spoken out forthrightly have not been motivated by fear of violating a tax code law. They have been motivated by fear of something else.”
The Johnson Amendment does a number of things, Kistler noted, but it does not do the following:
- It does not prohibit pastors from speaking out against political corruption.
- It does not prohibit pastors from speaking out against LGBT activism.
- It does not prohibit pastors from speaking out against controversial subjects such as abortion or marriage.
- It does not prohibit pastors from speaking out against other moral or culturally relevant issues.
“So if pastors are not speaking about these things and addressing them from the pulpit now,” Kistler asks, “then the question is, if the Johnson Amendment is repealed, will they speak out about it at all? This is a question we will be addressing through the pastors’ networks and on our radio program, and we pray that pastors are emboldened by these truths.”
Stand in the Gap Today 2/8/17
/0 Comments/in Stand in the Gap Today /by News RoomWhat is the ticking time bomb in Europe and why do they want to ban it? Dr. Jimmy DeYoung, host of Prophecy Today answers this question and shares some exciting news from Israel. Host: Sam Rohrer
Evaluating the President’s Immigration Policies: Are They Biblical? Are They Constitutional?
/0 Comments/in Blog, Release /by News RoomThe policies President Donald Trump set forth on immigration last week certainly stirred debate across the nation, from riotous protests on college campuses to government leaders strongly stating their opposition or support.
Now, Christians are asking themselves some very important questions—safety or being a good Samaritan? How would Jesus approach the refugee situation the country is facing?
The American Pastors Network is attempting to explore some of those answers on its nationally syndicated radio program, “Stand in the Gap Today,” heard on 425 stations around the country.
APN President and “Stand in the Gap Today” co-host Sam Rohrer welcomed noted historian and WallBuilders leader David Barton to the program last week, when they discussed the ongoing immigration debate and the biblical and constitutional perspectives therein.
“Immigration in this country is certainly a polarizing issue,” Rohrer said. “But the main questions to explore are these: Are President Trump’s immigration policies in agreement with or in opposition to the historical ideology set in motion by our Founding Fathers? What did our founding fathers envision for the immigrant and how did they perceive this issue? David Barton’s valuable insights and knowledge of the historical and biblical precedent for our laws on immigration helped shed great light on this dilemma. After all, this is an issue that touches every American, with many looking to their pastors and the church for guidance.”
These three questions, and others, were explored on a recent program, with David Barton’s answers following:
Question 1: What did George Washington and our founders think about immigration and controlling it and would they have agreed with the concept of extreme vetting-similar to what President Trump is putting in place?
Answer: “It’s not somebody that just shows up at your border and says, ‘I’m going to live here.’ No, you have to say, ‘I want to live according to your rules. I want to become one of you’ … our immigration (policy) was based on was the biblical concept of ‘come in and be part of us.’” Read more
Question 2: When did the view of immigrants change to bringing in people who don’t ever want to become Americans but actually want to change America?
Answer: “The seeds of that change began in education in the 1920s, as Progressives shifted the way we taught. Prior to that point in time, we taught about individuals. We did not look at groups, we looked at individuals. Every individual had God-given inalienable rights. Every item in the Bill of Rights is given to every individual, it’s not given to groups…” Read more
Question 3: What other characteristics of a nation did our Founders understand and build within the framework of our Constitution?
Answer: “If you look at the Declaration, it starts with 155 words that set forth the entire philosophy of American government in six principles. Of those six principles, four of the six are absolutely God-centered. If you don’t get that right, you don’t get the philosophy of the government right … In America, you’re an American because you adopt a certain philosophy. You can come from any country to be an American if you’ll become part of that philosophy.” Read more
Stand in the Gap Radio 2/6/17
/0 Comments/in Stand in the Gap Today /by News RoomToday’s program: An analysis of the statements by Judge James Robart, a Federal official who blocked President Trump’s travel ban. Also, live commentary from former Marine Steve Gern in Iraq on the immigration issue,and finally, what is the role of Government vs. the role of the church when it comes to refugees? Host: Dave Kistler
A Christian’s Perspective on Radical Islamic Terrorism
/0 Comments/in Stand in the Gap Weekend /by News RoomIn President Trump’s Inaugural address, he used strong words to address the issue of radical Islamic terrorism. Expert John Guandolo with Understanding the Threat organization gives an assessment of the threat, steps necessary to deal with it on the federal level, and practical ideas for citizens and churches to wisely and graciously understand and prevent terrorist situations.
Stand in the Gap Today 2/3/17
/0 Comments/in Stand in the Gap Today /by News RoomWhat do you think of President Trump’s first 10 Days in office? IQ al-Rassooli, Middle East expert, joins the program to analyze the world’s reaction to the rapid changes taking place under the new administration. Host: Sam Rohrer
APN Conference Call on President Trump’s Immigration Policies with John Guandolo
/1 Comment/in Blog /by News RoomThis recording was made during a conference call on Feb. 3rd. Sam Rohrer, President of APN, hosted guest speaker John Guandolo with Understanding the Threat Organization.
The main points of the call were as follows:
TOPIC: President Trump’s Immigration Limitation Directive
KEY QUESTIONS:
TOPIC: Potential implications to Churches, citizens and Christians in the US
KEY QUESTIONS:
Q and A
Contact Information for John Guandolo and UTT
Stand in the Gap Today 2/2/17
/0 Comments/in Stand in the Gap Today /by News RoomDr. Jimmy DeYoung, host of Prophecy Today, joins the program to talk about the significance of Bible prophecy for this current age. Also, Sam Rohrer, APN President, gives a live update from the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, DC. Host: Gary Dull
Stand in the Gap 2/1/17
/0 Comments/in Stand in the Gap Today /by News RoomGod has established three institutions to impact the world and reveal His glory. What are they and how are their roles similar yet different? Guests Jim O’Bryon, Keith Wiebe, and David New give insights and expertise on these topics and more. Host: Gary Dull
Stand in the Gap Today 1/31/17
/0 Comments/in Stand in the Gap Today /by News RoomDavid Miranda and Michael Ramey of #ParentalRightsOrganization join the program to discuss the erosion of parental rights and how the government continues to seek more control over the welfare and education of children. Host: Dave Kistler
How Will the Johnson Amendment Repeal Free Pastors and Churches?
/2 Comments/in Release /by News RoomNow that President Donald Trump has officially taken office, will pastors and churches be affected at the pulpit and in the pew?
American Pastors Network certainly thinks so. In fact, one action by President Trump will return decades of freedom to churches.
For more than 60 years, the Johnson Amendment, proposed by then-Senator Lyndon B. Johnson and passed by Congress in 1954, has prohibited tax-exempt organizations—including churches and other nonprofits—from lobbying elected officials, campaigning on behalf of a political party and supporting or opposing candidates for office. The Johnson Amendment has instilled fear in pastors, wary of losing their church’s tax-exempt status if they speak truth into cultural, societal or political issues.
“For six decades, the Johnson Amendment has restricted the free speech of pastors and churches,” said APN President Sam Rohrer. “On the campaign trail, Donald Trump and Mike Pence vowed to work on behalf of pastors to restore their pulpit freedoms, especially at a time when Christians need biblical truth and God-centered guidance spoken into their lives regarding the pressing issues of the day.”
New research by George Barna of the American Culture & Faith Institute found that three out of four SAGE Cons (Spiritually Active, Governance Engaged Conservatives) turned to resources such as voter guides, websites and other resources to gain information about their choices on the ballot this election season. Overall, 61 percent specifically identified voter guides as a resource they used to help them decide how to vote.
The research, Rohrer says, is a telling indicator that Christians are looking for guidance on important issues, and will likely look to the church.
On “Stand in the Gap Today,” a radio ministry from APN, co-hosts Rohrer, Dave Kistler of the North Carolina Pastors Network (NCPN, www.ncpastors.net) and Gary Dull of the Pennsylvania Pastors Network (PPN,www.papastors.net) recently discussed the Johnson Amendment and how a repeal of this legislature will affect pastors and churches.
“The Johnson Amendment is believed to have stifled and stymied many Christian leaders from being more outspoken with respect to what are deemed ‘political issues,’ when, really, these are moral issues,” Kistler said during the program. “If President Trump is successful in removing or repealing the Johnson Amendment, will that affect the speech of pastors in the pulpit? Some say yes, while others say no. In some cases, it may not be solely the Johnson Amendment that has muzzled preachers across America. Those in the pulpit who have not spoken out forthrightly have not been motivated by fear of violating a tax code law. They have been motivated by fear of something else.”
The Johnson Amendment does a number of things, Kistler noted, but it does not do the following:
“So if pastors are not speaking about these things and addressing them from the pulpit now,” Kistler asks, “then the question is, if the Johnson Amendment is repealed, will they speak out about it at all? This is a question we will be addressing through the pastors’ networks and on our radio program, and we pray that pastors are emboldened by these truths.”