Discerning The Times
NJ Family Policy Council
By Terrence Clark
Pastors and church leaders, from mostly South Jersey, met in Cumberland County via invitation, to be updated on issues affecting the church and the world. It was a fast-paced, meeting fitted into 2 hours and over lunch at a local hotel conference room.
Len Deo, President of the New Jersey Family Policy Council, organized the collection of speakers who briefly, but passionately addressed issues from abortion, Israel, pornography, business, and family. “We’re here today, said Len, to share information about what’s going on in our culture.” Len’s organization spoke on education and the schools. One current concern is transgender rights, which includes the use of bathrooms, locker rooms, and showers, in the schools, based on gender identity—not biological sex. Bill S3067, which Len described as horrific, is to go to the full NJ Assembly on June 29, 17. It would give the Commissioner of Education the right to pass policy that would impact every single school district in the state, taking the rights of the school boards away from them. Another concern—Islamic indoctrination. In school, the history of Islam is presented in a lie. The religion is taught in a tense that far from the historical truth. Christianity is painted as taboo, but Islam glorified. The message encourages parents to be involved in and challenge |
the curriculum of the schools. The ideology is allowed under Common Core and is government mandated. Through parental awareness and involvement, it has been removed in other school districts.
One speaker spoke about the 2020 Coalition, which is a project to have the law passed which would ban abortions after 20 weeks. It’s after 20 weeks when babies feel incredible pain. It is also at that time that they are viable outside the womb, adding strength to the movement. Although the goal is to ban abortions all together and protect the unborn, this law passed by 2020 would be a step in that direction. Sixteen states have laws saving pain-capable babies in the womb—NJ currently does not. (BabiesInTheWombFeelPain.com) Dan Bove, Pause Ministries (www.pauseministries.org) is helping men that are in bondage to sexual addiction—helping them get out of that lifestyle. “Lou Scheidt, from My Hope, which is connected to the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, acknowledged Len, is working alongside us. Along with prayer, we are helping people to understand that we as citizens and as Christian citizens, we are of two kingdoms—the heavenly kingdom and the earthly kingdom. We need to be involved in both.” Not only does Lens organization encourage pastors and their congregants to get involved in government and education, but they train how to run a successful campaign, with one such session available in August. The organization can be contacted on the web at www.njfpc.org or by phone at 1800.family1 for resources and whatever they need. In summary, Len says the most powerful thing that the church as a whole, or as individuals can do right now, is first---pray. “I mean that’s obvious, and it goes without saying, but maybe not. Maybe we need to say it. We need people and the body of Christ to pray against these of forces of darkness that are infiltrating our schools, our educational institutions, our electing institutions. Prayer---that’s number one. Number two, put action to your feet. The bullet to that, make sure you are registered to vote. Vote when you have the opportunity to do it—in the primary and general election. Third, if you feel the calling (get involved, run for office). How do you know if you feel the calling? When you talk about this stuff and your blood boils, that’s how you know you got the gift. |
Sons of Issachar in the USA ReportEvery teaching I heard before, on the sons of Issachar, was in a prophetic light. Using the tribe as a model, of the relevance, of understanding end time events. With that still being true, the context of scripture points more so to understanding the political times of the nation. In 1 Chronicles 12:32 reference it was when to make David king.
From the meeting in Vineland NJ, I understood the message was not just politcal awareness or spiritual discernment, but a call to action from the citizens of the kingdom God. The tribe of Issachar supplied 200 leaders, along with all of their relatives under their command. They kept up-to-date in their understanding of the times and knew what Israel should do. 1 Chronicles 12:32 International Standard Version |
In the Scriptures, where Paul talks about the giftings to the church, a lot of translations call it the gift of administration, but the old King James Version calls it the gifts of governments. So what I am saying, if you got that gift, we want to help you. We want to train you. Moreover, we want you to get involved.”
“I think that there are a lot of people in the church that don’t believe in Christ,” commented Lou Scheidt. Speaking offline personally, not really representing the organization that he presented. He had spoken on prayer and evangelism. His comments were still aligned. “I’m real concerned. I say that because, if everyone believed in Christ, we wouldn’t have 5% or 10% tithing and 5% evangelizing. If everybody in church really believed in Christ, and what he did for them, I think more people would give and more people would evangelize.”
Lou doesn’t believe that the glorious church will come on its own. “Only God can do it, he said. I don’t know how much better preaching there can be. I don’t know how much better support there can be. It has to be a move of God. It's people really repenting and having Jesus being Lord of their life.”
How does a member of the body of Christ assess the authenticity of their relationship with God? The evangelist’s responded, “That’s the tough part, I don’t have an answer for that.”
Other organizations and magazine represented Christians United for Israel Magazine—The Torch, NJ Family First, Business Leadership Alliance, NJ Family Magazine, Citizen—Focus On The Family, Washington Summit 2017, Leadership USA.
For more information on NJ Family Policy Council, NJ Family First and the other speakers and topics visit http://www.njfpc.org/
“I think that there are a lot of people in the church that don’t believe in Christ,” commented Lou Scheidt. Speaking offline personally, not really representing the organization that he presented. He had spoken on prayer and evangelism. His comments were still aligned. “I’m real concerned. I say that because, if everyone believed in Christ, we wouldn’t have 5% or 10% tithing and 5% evangelizing. If everybody in church really believed in Christ, and what he did for them, I think more people would give and more people would evangelize.”
Lou doesn’t believe that the glorious church will come on its own. “Only God can do it, he said. I don’t know how much better preaching there can be. I don’t know how much better support there can be. It has to be a move of God. It's people really repenting and having Jesus being Lord of their life.”
How does a member of the body of Christ assess the authenticity of their relationship with God? The evangelist’s responded, “That’s the tough part, I don’t have an answer for that.”
Other organizations and magazine represented Christians United for Israel Magazine—The Torch, NJ Family First, Business Leadership Alliance, NJ Family Magazine, Citizen—Focus On The Family, Washington Summit 2017, Leadership USA.
For more information on NJ Family Policy Council, NJ Family First and the other speakers and topics visit http://www.njfpc.org/