What Say You to These Things?

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Last evening, at the Pentagon in Washington, DC, Muslims, their families and other specially invited guests (including Keith Ellison (MN), the first Muslim elected to Congress) gathered for an “Iftar Dinner.”  During the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, from sun up to sun down, fasting and restraint from other activities is to be observed.  At the end of each day (after sunset), family and friends gather for a meal called “iftar.”

On June 22, President Obama hosted such a dinner in commemoration of Ramadan at the White House.  Imagine the outrage if a meal honoring Christianity, or a Jewish seder were to be observed in either location!  The ACLU, Military Religious Freedom Foundation, CAIR, and a host of other anti-God, anti-American entities would be screaming to the heavens about the egregious violation of the First Amendment!

Yet, for 17 years, this iftar meal has been observed at the Pentagon.  My friends, the infiltration of Islam into the highest levels of our government is on full display!  What is even more tragic than the allowance of such events, is the fact that we have been so stunningly silent about these things and even the expression of OUR faith!  Even we preachers have tamed our sermons, and tempered our speech to the point that we are toothless lions!

Well, I submit that the time for doing that has well nigh passed!  NOW is the time for God’s preachers to sharpen their tongues (and minds) and unharness their lips for full engagement with the truth!!!  No longer let us fear the faces of our well-dressed and well-heeled congregations!  No longer let us even consider who may be “offended” by our bold, unflinching declaration of the truth!  No longer let us check the giving reports before deciding to say what desperately needs to be said from God’s sacred desk!

No, men of God arise!  Fling the scabbard of political correctness to Hades from whence it came, rare back and thunder “Thus saith the Lord!”  Rather than attempting to “massage the Millennials” with palatable words, honor the Holy One by declaring in Elijah-like fashion the whole counsel of God!

At the expense of being hung at sunset, let me say that I am grieved beyond words at the incessant emphasis on God’s love, to the exclusion of His Holiness and truth!  May I remind us ALL of the Apostle John’s repeated use of the phrase in his epistles, “whom I love in the truth!”  “Love” without truth is NOT love!  There can actually be no love, if truth is excluded!

The fact of the matter is this!  America is where she is because truth has been minimized and marginalized!  And, the ones tasked with proclaiming truth have been emasculated!  When the preachers of a nation are known for their “prettiness” rather than their “prophet-like” nature, there is a problem!  When a ministry is known more for it’s buildings than for it’s bold declaration of God’s word, there is a problem!  When the first thought is, “What will people think?”, rather than “What does God think?”, there is a problem!

I am SO thankful for the preachers I know who stand ready to engage the Wicked One with God’s truth!  Men, I love you!  I appreciate you more than I can say!  I thank God for you and anticipate the day when we stand before our Mutual Savior, trusting to hear the “Well done!”  Till then, let’s build up our spiritual muscles for the battles ahead!  Through Christ and the power of His Holy Spirit, we are MORE THAN capable of boldly fulfilling our calling!  With passionate love for Him, and the same for those to whom we preach, let’s engage!!  Though these may be “the times that try men’s souls”, these are also incredible times for God-pleasing ministry!  I don’t know about you, but I’m more determined than ever to stand up and speak up!  As said Evangelist Billy Sunday about the sin of his day, so say I!  “I’ll kick it as long as I’ve got a foot, and I’ll fight it as long as I’ve got a fist. I’ll butt it as long as I’ve got a head. I’ll bite it as long as I’ve got a tooth. And when I’m old and fistless and footless and toothless, I’ll gum it till I go home to Glory and it goes home to perdition!“

Dave Kistler
President, HOPE Ministries International
President, North Carolina Pastors Network (NCPN)

Stand in the Gap Today 7/1/15

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Hosts Sam Rohrer and Gary Dull discuss the Pope’s upcoming visit touching on a number of problematic questions plus the announcement by Gov. Chris Christie to join the growing list of Presidential candidates.

Stand in the Gap Today 6/30/15

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Hosts Sam Rohrer and David Kistler bring clarity to the chaos created by the court decision on same-sex marriage.

  1. How should we respond to the fact that the SCOTUS can not “make law,” but only render an “opinion?”
  2. What is the practical difference between what is “legal” vs “lawful?”
  3. What is the impact of understanding the separate jurisdictions of “Moral law” and “Civil/Constitutional law?”
  4. How should we view the matter of “civil disobedience vs biblical obedience?”
  5. Can we just simply “move on to economic issues” as many would like? Should we measure Presidential candidates on how they respond to these rulings from SCOTUS on ObamaCare and Marriage?
  6. What if States/Governors/State Supreme Court Justices etc Push back against the SCOTUS opinions? Should this be encouraged? What happens if they do? What happens if they don’t?

Supreme Court Decision And Civil Disobedience!

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Tonight on FOX News’ Sean Hannity program, Pastor Robert Jeffress
(Pastor, First Baptist Church of Dallas, TX) was as animated as I’ve
ever seen him as he spoke of the path ahead for all believers in Jesus
Christ.  Said Pastor Jeffress, “We will not be intimidated by the
liberal left, President Obama, or the Supreme Court of the United
States!”  Pastor Jeffress’ comments came in the midst of a discussion on
what will be the future of First Amendment liberty for Christians, whose
beliefs are diametrically opposed to degenerative societal norms.

Additionally, former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, when asked whether
the Supreme Court’s decision on marriage necessitates “civil
disobedience” said, “I see no other way!”  In all candor, I completely
agree!  As a preacher who has already made his decision, I am prepared
to practice civil disobedience and to experience the persecution and/or
incarceration for my “firmly held beliefs” relative to the topic of
homosexuality!

The reasons for my unequivocal stance on this is two-fold.  First, to
comply with the Supreme Court’s errant decision on same-sex marriage
would be completely antithetical with the Scriptures teaching on the
topic.  On something as fundamentally basic as what constitutes
marriage, I MUST obey God rather than man (or any man-made
institution)!  Second, I believe that disobedience to the High Court’s
damnable decision is constitutionally consistent. According to the 10th
Amendment, the powers not granted to the (federal) government by the
constitution are reserved to the states, or to the people!  When the
federal government (i.e. the Court) steps out of it’s constitutionally
prescribed position of authority, that same government should EXPECT
kickback from authority on the state level!  It is this precise thought
that is motivating Texas Governor Greg Abbott to stand so clearly,
powerfully and aggressively against the High Court decision!  In
essence, he has said to the Supreme Court, “thanks, but no thanks!”
“We, in Texas, have both legislation and an amendment that defines
marriage for our state!”  So, it is obligatory that the Texas Governor
fulfill his oath of office, to protect and defend the Texas
constitution.  I pray that other state leaders will be equally committed
and forceful in their response to Friday’s decision!

So, the decision rendered on Friday is NOT the final word on this
issue!  A constitutional crisis (states authority vs. federal authority)
looms on the near horizon–one that has the potential to eclipse the
divisiveness of the Civil War!  May God grant us (those of us who stand
where God stands on this issue) His wisdom to know the path ahead, and
the courage to accept the consequences!

Dave Kistler
President, HOPE Ministries International
President, North Carolina Pastors Network (NCPN)

Landmark Decision At High Court–Comments!

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My friends,

It is with great duplicity that I write to you this morning. Moments
ago, I landed in Philadelphia, PA from two PHENOMENAL weeks in Israel!
Never have I felt safer!  And, space doesn’t permit me, at this point,
to remark on all that we saw, heard, sensed, smelled and experienced
while in the Holy Land!  More on that later!

I write with duplicity because of the tragedy that was the Supreme
Court’s decision yesterday!  Though in some ways shocking, it was not at
all unexpected!  In addition to redefining culture’s definition of
marriage, the High Court’s decision will have dramatic and long-lasting
repercussions for the United States–a land founded on a clear
Judeo-Christian, Biblically-based foundation!

While the highest court of the land may redefine an institution, they
cannot/have not changed God’s mind on the issue!!!  No, marriage is
still God’s institution and He ALONE has the right to define it!  He
ALONE has the right to decide it’s participants!  He ALONE has the right
to determine the future of ANY nation that flaunts it’s sin and shakes
it’s fist in the very face of a thrice holy God!  So, from a Divine
perspective, we have entered into even more treacherous territory!

From a legal perspective, we’ve certainly entered into uncharted
waters.  This decision has pitted the 14th Amendment against the
treasured 1st Amendment!  In doing so, there will be a litany of cases
that will ultimately make their way to the Supreme Court! Justice
Kennedy’s broad (and incredibly weak) comments about those with “firmly
held religious beliefs” being able to continue to live and advocate
those beliefs, is NO protection for those of us who love righteousness!

Amid so much that seems negative, there is an incredible silver lining
in all this!  This may be THE moment for the church of Christ to stand
up, tall, and unequivocally clear with regard to truth!  No matter what
this may/will mean, this is our moment for courageous commitment to the
One Who is The Truth!  Additionally, actions like those of Texas
Governor Greg Abbott (declaring that Texas will continue to guard,
protect, and defend the First Amendment liberties of the residents of
that state) signal what may happen in other liberty-loving states!  In
other words, another “state’s rights” battle is brewing!

So, church of Christ/men of God, ARISE!!!  Stay tuned!  Much more to
come on this!

Dave Kistler
President, HOPE Ministries International
President, North Carolina Pastors Network (NCPN)

Revival = God’s Eternal Purpose (Heart Cry for Revival Conference) Part 1

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With Richard Owen Roberts.

Court Contradicts Constitution

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The fundamental rights of the U.S. Constitution were at the core of today’s Supreme Court announcement of its long-awaited landmark same-sex marriage ruling. And the Court chose to declare that gay marriage was indeed a fundamental right, thus stripping states and voters of their rights to make their own marriage decisions.

Sam Rohrer, President of the American Pastors Network  and the Pennsylvania Pastors Network , says the ruling puts churches and pastors in a difficult position.

“This landmark decision had deep biblical, historical and constitutional roots, and unfortunately, our justices chose to redefine marriage for the entire nation, ignoring other constitutional rights and opening the door to a dangerous infringement on religious liberties,” Rohrer said. “The fact that this issue even made it to the Supreme Court of the United States was an indictment against American Christians and against American churches. Even though some churches have sought to blend into the culture rather than change it, this ruling serves as a wake-up call for pastors and churches who are committed to being the salt and light of our society and standing up for truth.

“This is just the beginning,” Rohrer added, “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, doing all they can to preserve God’s Word and protect the religious liberties of Christians across the nation.”

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.”

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. Mateer added that today’s decision will eventually violate the religious liberty rights of many and intrude on the workings and beliefs of the church.

50 Pennsylvania Teachers Educated About Islam—A Dangerous Endeavor at Taxpayer Expense

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Fifty educators in a Lebanon, Pa., school district recently attended a daylong training event about Islam and Arabic culture during an in-service workshop that came at taxpayer expense.

According to WND.com  (article HERE), the training session included a comparison of U.S. and Arab education, a visit to a local mosque to learn more about the Islamic religion and the participation in an Islamic prayer service. Teachers and administrators removed their shoes at the mosque and mingled with the congregation, discussing God, Islam and Christianity.

The seminar might seem like a harmless learning experience to the casual onlooker, but American Pastors Network  President Sam Rohrer says events like these underscore the increasing threat to our constitutional freedoms represented by the insidious  infiltration of Islam into America’s schools and communities.

“Slowly but surely, Islamic ideology is creeping stealthily into classrooms and local governments across America,” said Rohrer, who also serves as the president of the Pennsylvania Pastors Network (PPN, www.papastors.net). “What may appear to be an altruistic and innocent isolated incident is in reality part of an aggressive and dangerous strategy to undercut the biblically based and constitutionally guaranteed freedoms in this nation. Pastors and churches must wake up and begin educating their congregations of the extreme danger that Islam poses to Christianity and freedom as we have known it.”