California Pastors Pray With Legislators…

Good morning, fellow shepherds. The California Capitol Building is one of the most recognized structures in America. It has risen impressively amid the skyline of Sacramento for the better part of a century, host to some of the most powerful forces in American politics. Those of us who work in its environs simply call it “The Building”. It’s a place where the work of the people gets done, and unfortunately, in the current political climate, where the voice of conservative people of faith is seldom clearly heard. But that wasn’t the case on a recent afternoon as pastors from cities across California arrived with me to meet with legislators.

Our Pastors day at the Capitol was the occasion for these pastors to literally “speak truth to power” as they received briefings from a group of CRI’s legislative experts and then spent the afternoon in private meetings with legislators on issues and bills crucial to churches and families.

It was an extraordinary day in a number of respects. First, the pastors were amazed at how fast they were able to come up to speed on the issues and, in some cases, emerged knowing more about some legislation than the officeholders themselves. Second, the pastors discovered that, in spite of the trappings of their offices and their media images, legislators are in the end just regular people. Our visiting ministers were struck by one legislator breaking into tears several times as he addressed our group, speaking with passion about why he came to the Capitol to protect families, and how much it meant to him for us to come and show such solid support for what he does. Third, the pastors discovered that, behind closed doors, many legislators spoke candidly of their deeply held Christian faith, and were more than receptive to taking about the Biblical perspective on issues. One assemblyman said “As I work in this building, I carry Christ as my shield. Thank you for coming and helping me do that.”

When one Southern California pastor finished praying for a legislator as we sat together on couches around his office, I could tell that his perspective on the men and women who serve in elected office was dramatically affected. I know he’ll pray for them with renewed passion and compassion for the charge they hold and the challenges they work in. That alone made this particular Pastors Day at the Capitol a big success.

If you would like to be a part of our next pastors Day at the Capitol, just let me know by email at jpursch@capitolresource.org. Come and walk the halls of The Building with us, and see what God will do.

Keeping the Faith with You,

Joe Pursch 

You Live in a Battleground State

California is a critical battleground state.  One-eighth of the total U.S. population lives in California.  More supreme courts and legislatures from other states look to California to make their decisions than to any other state. 

We must fight for marriage, for our children, for our schools, for our religious liberty, and for the protection of innocent life.  We must do it today or it may be too late.   

One specific way you can help fight an important battle today is by printing off, signing, and returning a Save Our Kids petition. 

The Save Our Kids campaign is CRI’s effort to overturn SB 777, the most outrageous attack on our children, our religious freedom, and our parental rights to date. 

Since SB 777 passed the California legislature last year, no child in a California public school is safe from intensive pro-homosexual indoctrination. 

SB 777 will prohibit references to “mom and dad” because it would be discriminatory against homosexual couples. Boys would be allowed to run for prom queen if it “corresponds with their gender identity.” Boys would also be allowed to enter female locker rooms and restrooms. 

CRI has until August 29th, 2008 to gather 435,000 signatures for our initiative. It is crucial that we join together and turn back this assault on our families and values.

During the SB 777 referendum, we successfully gathered over 350,000 signatures in just 70 days. With double the time, and an enthusiastic volunteer base, we are confident we will qualify our initiative for the ballot.

We challenge you to take action today!  Your joining this effort can help to make the difference. 

For more information and to print petitions, go here.

Schwarzenegger: Protecting Marriage is “Waste of Time”

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger made headlines this week by declaring to a group of Log Cabin Republicans that an attempt to amend California’s constitution to ban same-sex marriage is a “total waste of time.”

Perhaps Schwarzenegger should ask children who are robbed of having both a mother and a father if it is a waste of time. 

“Californians want marriage to be preserved for one man and one woman because tampering with this time-honored institution is a disservice to our children,” stated Karen England, executive director of Capitol Resource Institute.  “The California Marriage Protection Act deserves its day at the ballot box.  This issue is too important and far-reaching to be left to the whims of activist judges and extremist politicians.”

Currently the California Marriage Protection campaign is boxing up petitions and submitting them to the 58 county election officials.  It will be close and more petitions are needed.  At this point, every petition counts! 

If you have a protect marriage petition that you still have not returned, please send it in ASAP so it can be counted!

Good morning, fellow shepherds. This week I’m concluding my response to the Evangelical Manifesto released to the press earlier this month by the NAE. Signed by a fair smattering of  evangelical leaders of note ( but notable also for those names that were absent, including James Dobson and Chuck Colson, who were not asked to sign), I’ve noted that it cast itself as a new declaration of “sensitive and sensible” involvement for evangelicals in the Culture War.

So far, however, the mainstream press has seen the Manifesto as a repudiation of the Religious Right by fellow members of the faithful. While this was probably not the main theological point of the authors, what has been most unfortunate is the silence of the Manifesto’s authors in speaking to this conclusion. If they did not mean to divide and, by innuendo but without names, condemn a whole movement within the Evangelical community, why have they not stepped forward to correct this press reaction?

 If the Manifesto was not really a veiled “bashing of one’s brothers” (i.e. of the Religious Right by more enlightened evangelical moderates), why haven’t the authors gone back to the press to clarify this? This is at the least unethical and at worst unsettling.

As I said last week, while I think we all need to think through how to better carry our message to the culture and how to more wisely exert political influence in the exercise of our freedoms, the Manifesto approached things in a manner which I fear will ultimately divide the Body of Christ on these issues, and become a tool for the anti-Christian Left to use against the church. The silence of the authors as the press has put this very dichotomy into practice seems to prove my point.

Let me review my previously stated reasons for concern about what they have written, and add two more.

1. The manner of the Manifesto was itself divisive. From what I understand, the reason James Dobson, Chuck Colson, Richard Land and others did not sign is at least in part because they were not asked to sign. They were pointedly left out of the process. The authors of the Manifesto seemed to have skipped the ethic of dialogue which they espouse and gone right to a hardened position, from which they categorized accused and labeled their brethren without the benefit of conversation. That’s sad. In this case, the world didn't have to work at dividing the Body of Christ; the disaffected believers did it for them.

2. The Manifesto embraces the concept of playing the political middle ground and applies it to theology. It calls for believers to consider moderate positions on some issues in order to encourage connections with both sides of the debate. Middle ground positions are fine in politics, which itself is an institution of compromise, but theology does not bend so easily, or at least it shouldn’t. I would like to think that any Biblical evangelical would not be able to articulate a “half way position” on partial birth abortion, for example. I would like to think the same impossibility would exist regarding a “middle of the road position” on gay marriage or on the emerging issue of hate crimes legislation that poses such a threat to Christians in particular. How in the world do you justify being Biblically ambivalent on these kinds of issues?

3. The Manifesto does not practice Biblical confrontation. Throughout the document, a case is made that the public voice of Christianity has been wrongly focused, the issues incorrectly and unloving presented, the non-Christian culture needlessly offended, and the evangelical faith severely politicized and in effect held captive to a particular political party’s point of view. Great damage, we infer, has been done to the integrity of the faith and the viability of our mission. But if that is true, why were no names mentioned, nor examples cited, nor appeals made to create dialogue within the evangelical movement itself with the brothers whom the Manifesto claims have led the faith into a quarter century of public error? With charges this serious, I would have expected a Matthew 18 type of confrontational process to have been followed and, only having failed, then seeing the names of the leaders and organizations made public so that the press and the secular world would know who the Manifesto was repudiating. Instead of practicing such Biblical confrontation, the Manifesto has had the effect of a broad brushed indictment of brothers by other brothers. Letting the secular press literally fill in the names of the Christian leaders that the Manifesto was criticizing has been depressing to watch. It’s been like a dark version of crossword--- let’s see, can you spell Dobson with six letters down if you try Perkins across? Sad.

4. The Manifesto sets up an impossible expectation for vocal believers to avoid being allied with any political point of view. You simply cannot be vocal on certain issues for very long before your positions clearly reflect the platform of some party or another. If you enter into the public debate, you run the risk of being allied with a position. This has been true of pro-life evangelicals being allied with the Republican Party for twenty five years simply because that party is the only one with a pro-life platform. If the passion for global warming and “creation care” continues to grow among certain evangelicals, would they silence themselves the moment the New York Times noted the fact that Rich Mouw or Os Guinness was warmly applauded by the Democrats or the Green party?  It is an impossible test to require that one make public stands and yet avoid public conclusions to be drawn. To apply the Manifesto’s principles would require an activism that was so careful of public alliances that it would never venture out into the public square at all, afraid of its own shadow.

To conclude, many of the points the Manifesto asked us to consider were good: our public manner of love, certain actual dangers of over -politicization, and the seduction of the engines and methods of politics that always threaten to drive our faith commitments into areas of compromise and confusion. But the division this same Manifesto has created could do as much damage to our image in the pubic square as it has hoped to confront.

We need a re-approach on this document, preceded by dialogue this time. Remember, one of the nice things about manifestos: you can always come up with a Manifesto II.

Keeping the Faith with You,

Joe Pursch 

Good morning, fellow shepherds. Last week I was attending a meeting of culturally concerned pastors, as I often do. One of the speakers got up at one point and said that winning the upcoming ballot decision on same-sex marriage is critical for conservatives in California. I agreed with him there. But then he declared “And once we win on marriage, then we’re going to take our culture back!” The last phrase is where he lost me a little.

You see, I have a theology that doesn’t allow me to believe that we are ever going to “take back” our culture. “Hold back” maybe, but not take back. My theology tells me that the Enemy has been given authority over the kingdoms of this world for a limited time, and that the only One who will be doing any taking back of the culture in ultimate terms will be Jesus at His final appearing. In the meantime the role of the church in regard to culture is two fold: holding back the forces of social evil so that believers are free to labor for the master with less hindrance; 2. hauling lost souls out of the clutches of hell into the Kingdom of Light.

Jesus taught this in Matthew 16:18. He answered Peter’s great confession of who He was with the promise “On this rock I will build My church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it.” The context of this statement was not “social reconstruction” but evangelism. The point of the statement was to say that the church would never fail in its ultimate purpose, no matter how far culture falls, if that ultimate purpose is evangelism.

The elements of the language bear this out. Gates, for one thing, are static objects; they don’t advance on anything. They simply stand in place and keep certain things out and other things in. What are they holding in? The souls of lost people.

The attacking entity here is the church, or more properly, the Gospel. It is pictured as a battering ram that is guaranteed to splinter the gates of hell anytime and anywhere, with one purpose: to reach into those shattered gates and lead captive people out.

That’s evangelism, friend. And Jesus here predicted that in this great work the church would never fail, and hell would never succeed in standing in the way. Ever. Shattered gates.

My point is that in times like these, Christians can tend to become either overly militaristic in their attitude toward the culture war or overly pessimistic. Neither attitude is really correct, because the culture war is not a battle Jesus said we would ultimately win. The culture is doomed at some point to succumb to the destructive influence of the evil one who has been given temporary rulership of it. But the “eternity war”, now that’s a different story. The gates of hell will reliably crumble before the telling of the Gospel, friendly culture or not, and every soul set for freedom will be liberated. Count on it.

Taking back the culture? Probably not. Holding back the culture so the church can more easily shatter the gates of hell in your town, and see lost folks set free? That’s more like it.

That’s why I’m in this game.

Keeping the Faith with You,

Joe Pursch 

Good morning, fellow shepherds. This morning I attended the first of many telephone conference calls for California pastors about the marriage amendment. As I listened to the great Christian leaders on the call including Miles McPherson, David Jeremiah and James Dobson, I realized again what a different world we might live in if this amendment fails. Huge aspects of how we do ministry and how we freely minister will be altered to the negative.

It all shed light to the falsehood most often used by gay partners in debating others about their desire to be married, and that is their question “How will my same sex marriage hurt your marriage?’ My answer is, “It will change everything.”

In point of fact, a validated marriage for the same sex couple down the block from me could theoretically not do much to my marriage. But we’re not just talking about these two people alone. Same sex proponents are asking everyone –all of society, me, you, my aging parents, my young children, your coworkers, everybody—to dramatically and permanently alter our definition of family, and to say that male and female are not essential for a marriage or as the basic unit for a society. They want us to believe that male and female are merely optional when it comes to defining a family.

That’s not just a quirky relationship that two people develop down the street; it’s a forced redefining of the nature and meaning of every marriage and every family in California. It’s a redefinition you and I haven’t asked for, don't want, and haven’t planned for our children’s future. So yes, this decision does affect me, thank you very much, and I will be speaking up. How about you?

Keeping the Faith with You,

Joe Pursch 

Save Our Kids Temporarily Suspends Campaign
Last week the Save Our Kids campaign to overturn SB 777 announced that we have suspended our campaign until after the November election. With the recent California Supreme Court decision redefining marriage, the highest priority for the pro-family movement is to restore the traditional definition of marriage. We have our opportunity on November 4th when the Protect Marriage initiative will appear on the California statewide ballot. The initiative will reaffirm the people’s vote and place in the state constitution Proposition 22’s language defining marriage as between one man and one woman.

“The Save Our Kids initiative would not have appeared on a ballot until the next statewide election, probably 2010, and it therefore makes sense to prioritize our efforts and focus on marriage,” stated Karen England, executive director of Capitol Resource Institute and campaign manager for Save Our Kids. “We know that citizens are just as passionate about overturning SB 777 as they are about restoring marriage. But we must prioritize our resources and save traditional marriage. We must unite together, focus our energy and pass the Protect Marriage initiative this year. Our children are counting on us.”

To assist Save Our Kids with preparing for the next phase of the campaign, volunteers are asked to send in the petitions they have already collected to the campaign headquarters:

Save Our Kids
660 J Street, Suite 250
Sacramento, CA 95814

U.S. Supreme Court Bans Death Penalty for Child Rapists
In a shocking 5-4 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled yesterday that laws allowing the execution of child rapists are unconstitutional. In Kennedy v. Louisiana, the court struck down a Louisiana law that provided for the death penalty in cases of child rape. The issue came before the court after Patrick Henry appealed his death sentence for raping his 8-year-old stepdaughter. The decision will also overturn the death sentence for fellow Louisianan Richard Davis who was convicted of repeatedly raping a 5-year-old.

The court overturned the death penalty law because it found it “cruel and unusual punishment” banned under the 8th Amendment to U.S. Constitution. Writing in his majority opinion, Justice Anthony Kennedy stated that “The death penalty is not a proportional punishment for the rape of a child.”

In his dissent, Justice Samuel Alito declared, “The harm that is caused to the victims and to society at large by the worst child rapists is grave. It is the judgment of the Louisiana lawmakers and those in an increasing number of other states that these harms justify the death penalty."

Rep. Pete Schneider, the Louisiana legislator who authored the law, was outraged by the decision, challenging the five Supreme Court justices, “When are you going to have the courage to stand up for what's right for all of the people — but especially the children under 12 that have been brutally raped by monsters?"

“Once again, millions of Americans are being held hostage by four or five black-robed tyrants imposing their social agenda on the rest of us,” stated Meredith Turney, legislative liaison for Capitol Resource Family Impact. “True ‘cruel and unusual punishment’ is the emotional suffering young children will endure for the rest of their lives after their innocence is savagely taken from them. The five justices who decided this case should be ashamed of their total disregard for protecting children from inhuman criminals and the people’s right to pass laws punishing such animals.”

City on the Hill is July 8-13!
The deadline for submitting City on the Hill applications is Saturday, June 28th. City on the Hill students are offered a unique opportunity that few citizens ever experience. Worldview training, learning the legislative process from the inside, meeting with elected officials, and impacting our culture are just a few of the priceless experiences students will remember for life. Don’t miss the chance to send your child to this unforgettable conference!

City has a high number of scholarship requests this year. If you would like to invest in the future of a student, please send donations to

CRI
660 J Street, Suite 250
Sacramento, CA 95814

Please write City on the Hill in the memo of your check.

You are being so tolerant, I can't hear you …

Good morning, fellow shepherds. As you know, California voters are going to have an opportunity in the general election in November to support Proposition 8, which will restore the wishes of 61% of California voters who supported the definition of marriage in 2000. A “Yes” vote on Proposition 8 is more needed than ever, after a group of activist judges on the California State Supreme Court overturned the will of the people in an outrageous decision earlier this year.

As the implications of same-sex marriage becoming permanent in California become clear, leaders from all realms of faith have been joining together to promote the Proposition. People of conservative religious belief, be they Evangelical Protestants, Conservative Jews, Moslems, Hindus or Sikhs, all understand that there is a distinct possibility of religious persecution emerging as the next stage of experience for churches if same-sex marriage is not defeated in the state.

That's why it was especially disappointing for me to read that all six bishops of the Episcopal Church in California have joined the forces on the homosexual left to work against Proposition 8. According to the Sacramento Bee, all six of the bishops in the Episcopal Church in California are going to officially protest the traditional marriage amendment. In fact, the Right Rev. Mark Handley Andrus held a press conference at the San Francisco’s Grace Cathedral this week to declare the church to be in solidarity with the radical homosexual movement

He stated that the reason the church is standing against traditional marriage and for the expansion of same-sex marriage is because the Episcopal Church has a “calling for compassion, love and equal protections for homosexual couples". In a previous statement Rev. Andrus praised a number of homosexual activists who attended a recent Episcopal Church conference in California for “coming to a place where there was significant negative energy aimed at them."

What bothers me most about this outrageous stance by the Episcopal Church in California is that it represents the spirit of conservative Christians who oppose same-sex marriage as “intolerant negative and hateful”. Believe me, the mood of the vast majority of concerned Christians who oppose same-sex marriage in this state is not one of hostility, but rather of committed belief and compassionate honesty.

In the maelstrom of conflicting opinions about the moral issues of our California culture, as a pastor I always battle the possibility that when I speak against certain lifestyles, I can be perceived as harsh, moralistic, or judgmental. That's why I seek to plan my words carefully whenever I am in public speaking contexts on issues like same-sex marriage and sex education for preteens.  I do my very best to scale down the intensity of my words when I'm involved in counseling someone who is sexually confused. In a relativistic culture, where the only wrong you can commit is to actually believe that something may be wrong, I am doing my best to be understood as someone who loves people in Jesus first, and only speaks into their lives out of a heart of love and not one of judgment. The vast majority of conservative pastors I know, leaders who would be lumped into the category known as the Religious Right, all feel the same tension and seek to show the same compassion.

Nevertheless, some of the fiercest attacks that I receive for speaking forth my understanding of moral truth comes from fellow Christians who seem to think that I can never be compassionate enough, and that in the interest of preserving relationship with lost people, I should bury my views on moral behavior. So it seems to be now with these six bishops.

The fact is, most of the conservative Christians I know who are for Proposition 8 and preserving traditional marriage would absolutely agree with the Episcopal Church's statement that calls for “compassion, love and equal protection for homosexual couples.” No conservative Christian I know wants any of these elements to be denied to homosexual people. The issue in our minds is not the denial of rights, but the preservation of an institution for the benefit of all. Its one thing to have your attitudes and your positions misrepresented by the non-believing world; it's quite another to be smeared in this way by those who claim the faith of Christ.

Why have the bishops of the Episcopal Church in California done  this? I believe that they have moved into an apostate position, meaning they have abandoned orthodox doctrine. This began a number of years ago, when they surrendered a belief in an inerrant Scripture. Since then, they have tumbled farther into liberal moral and theological views. Their greatest goal now is not a focus on the glory of God through obedience to the Scriptures, but a focus on the emotional experience of loving people by permitting any and all behaviors in the name of “preserving relationship”.

In fact, Bishop Stephen Charles, another Episcopal leader in the state recently said that he would accept a schism from the worldwide body of the Episcopal Church rather than abandon the homosexual agenda. In other words, he would rather be separated from his declared brothers and sisters in Christ and be united to the radical homosexual agenda. This indicates that their leadership has become entirely driven by a misplaced understanding of the meaning of love and tolerance. In a phrase, they have become so tolerant that we can no longer hear them. What I mean by that is that tolerance is now their greatest good; it is their number one moral goal, to the point where the non-believing world can now see no difference in the moral stance of the Episcopal Church and the angry rhetoric of the Homosexual Left.

What a sad but predictable turn of events to behold.

Keeping the Faith with You,

Joe Pursch 

See You at the Pole September 24th

Now in its 18th years, See you at the Pole is an annual event to “bring students to their school flagpoles to intercede for their leaders, schools, and families, asking God to bring moral and spiritual awakening to their campuses and countries.” Students all across America gather at their school’s flagpole to pray for our nation. “While prayer may be unwelcome inside classrooms, students still have the freedom to express their religious rights by fervently praying for our nation under the symbol of our freedom: the American flag,” stated Karen England, executive director for Capitol Resource Institute. “We encourage students to participate in this wonderful program that turns young people’s attention to the only power capable of saving our great nation.”

To learn more about See You at the Pole, visit http://www.syatp.com/

Stand for Marriage this Sunday!

With the assault on traditional marriage intensifying, it’s more important than ever to take a bold stand for this bedrock social relationship. To express your support for marriage, please contact your church about participating in Stand for Marriage this Sunday, September 21.

Similar to the National Day of Prayer, Stand for Marriage seeks to unite churches all across America for a day to remember, repent and reclaim marriage. This is a wonderful way to get your church involved in the cause to save marriage while focusing on the underlying need for spiritual aid.

To learn more about how to participate in Stand for Marriage, visit http://www.standformarriage.com

Need a Speaker for an Event?

CRI is frequently contacted by organizations, clubs and events about our staff members speaking to their gathering. Our staff is more than happy to serve as speakers at your event. We often address Republican Women groups, homeschool groups, and political events.

Want an entertaining and informative speaker? Executive Director Karen England’s years of experience in California public policy and politics will give your attendees an inside look at Sacramento and the pro-family movement.

For church meetings, Church Outreach Director Joe Pursch will provide a unique spiritual perspective on pro-family policy, American history, and the church’s involvement in politics.

Legislative Liaison Meredith Turney offers the latest news about legislation and pro-family policy. A graduate of CRI’s City on the Hill youth leadership conference, Meredith also speaks to the necessity of young people’s involvement in politics and government.

If you have an upcoming event and need a speaker, please contact CRI.

 Another Big Reason Why I'm Still in the Marriage Fight---

Good morning, fellow shepherds. In response to the people (including some pastors) who ask me why I have stayed in the battle against same-sex marriage for so long, let me continue with my key motivators, drawn from over twenty years of experience in the moral-issues battle in California .  Maybe my words can help give you an idea of what the legalization of same-sex marriage would do here in our state.

To review, last week I gave you my first reason. Key word: Confusion. When the State sanctions homosexual relationships and gives them its blessing, the younger generation quickly becomes confused about sexual identity and just as quickly loses its understanding of lifelong commitment.

Here’s the second reason why I fight for traditional marriage in California . Key word: Children.  Same-sex marriage will put children into a position of true suffering.

I hate to break it to you, but most homosexual relationships are not monogamous. In fact, different studies have brought forth some stunning statistics of just how many partners many homosexuals have, even when they are involved in what they would call a “committed” relationship. This is the tragic back-story to an alarming number of same-sex partnerships, in dramatic divergence from the “public image” of gay life.  The oft repeated images of long-faithful homosexuals being joined in show marriages on television are just that; “chosen” images to communicate something that is too often very far from the truth.

The merry-go-round of partners who are part of so many homosexual relationships has become so clear that the homosexual movement itself has created a new word for it. Traditionally, when someone commits adultery in a heterosexual marriage we call it “infidelity”. We also rightly condemn such behavior. In contrast, the homosexual community has a new name for their straying from the marriage bond. They call it “poly-amorous” behavior. Polyamorous. Sounds kind of adventurous doesn’t it?  In fact, it sounds like an almost innocent affair of the heart that’s fully understandable. It even sounds like something you might want to allow your same-sex partner to engage in if it helps them stay emotionally healthy, while at the same time still being involved in a relationship with you.

Now, such a bizarre relationship might not be damaging to the adult participants, though I doubt it, but consider how damaging it would be to the children who've been legally adopted into such a same-sex home. What would they grow up to think about faithfulness, about truthfulness, love or stability? How can we ignore the long-term probability that such kids will never have a home to live in that's truly healthy and sound when they see this kind of promiscuous behavior? 

You don't need to be a social psychologist to understand the damaging confusion this could cause in the thinking of a child. Same-sex marriage advocates clamor so loudly for their rights to choose; why aren't they talking about the rights of children to choose? Instead, in the name of their own selfish sexual ambition, they trample over the rights of all children to have a stable, traditional home. And if Proposition 8 fails in November, Christian adoption and foster agencies will be under greater pressure than ever to place children into same-sex homes or risk sanctions. Once again, the children lose.

I don't want to see a California filled with more sexually confused and relationally abandoned children. God knows we've got enough emotionally lost children wandering our streets already. This is why I battle to be heard on the issue of preserving traditional marriage. As pastors, what will your response be for the welfare of children?

Log on to www.yesonproposition8.com today to find out what you can do.

Keeping the Faith with You,

Joe Pursch  

Alternative Teachers Union Voices Concerns

This election season, the California Teachers Association (CTA) will spend millions of their members’ mandatory dues supporting radical liberal candidates and issues. But there is an alternative for teachers: the California Teachers Empowerment Network (CTEN). This non-profit organization offers a balanced perspective on education that is lacking in the current union-dominated school system.

In radio ads airing in the Sacramento area, CTEN president Larry Sand explains that the CTA doesn’t represent the values of so many teachers. As an example, he references the CTA’s support of SB 1322, the bill that would have allowed communists to teach in public schools and their $250,000 donation to No on Proposition 8.

If you are tired to participating in a teachers union that subverts your values, please visit CTEN’s web site and learn how you can support an organization that supports you: http://www.ctenhome.org/

October is LGBT Month

Did you know that October is LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) month? Homosexual organizations across the country are promoting their lifestyle to students by profiling a homosexual every day in October.

Homosexual heroes profiled include Olympian Greg Louganis, State Senator Sheila Kuehl and artist Michelangelo. The Gay/Straight Alliance Network (GSA), an organization that promotes homosexuality in public schools, is promoting their own “history month guide” to help students push their agenda on their peers. Activities include reading the profile for each homosexual in class or over the school speaker system, making an exhibit to display at school or hold an event celebrating gay history month. To read more of the GSA suggestions, click here. 

“New President, Same King”

A friend of mine who leads a national prayer ministry wrote a piece just after the recent presidential election that went under the above title. I liked it: “New President, Same King”. I've linked it here. Let me tell you why I’m sharing it with you today.

For those of us who take our cultural issues seriously and our politics passionately, this post election period may be a time of reassessing our expectations and even our involvement in the political arena. Let me help by simply listing the key responsibilities that Christians have always had to government, regardless of the politics of the person climbing the final stairs up to Air Force One on January 20.

The Scriptures remind us that we are responsible to:

• Pray for our government.

• Honor our public leaders and the offices they hold.

• Obey laws that are just, and actively work for justice.

• Work hard to provide financially for our families and give to our neighbors.

• Support common public services by faithfully paying our taxes.

• Be involved in politics and pursue government office.

• Speak out when government goes too far or fails to go far enough in protecting civil liberties.

• Obey God rather than men when the occasion requires it, even if that means resisting government direction or authority.

• Give our greatest focus to building the Kingdom of God and seeking His righteousness; in other words, to devote one’s greatest passion to the building of His church in the midst of the passing forms of human government and culture.

I wanted to list these things for you today because they are “Biblical constants”; they never change with any new administration or political wind, whether for good or ill.

In times past, conservatives have rejoiced when leaders who had moral commitments matching the Bible found their way to public office. Today, many of these same conservatives may be lamenting the current turn of opinion, and indeed may even fear the possibilities of a more liberal moral leader in the Presidency. But regardless of where you are in this conversation, remember, though we may have a new president, we still have the same King. We always have. And His marching orders remain unchanged.

Keeping the faith with you,

Joe Pursch 

New Legislators Sworn-in

For a blissful 12 hours on Monday, December 1, California had no elected state lawmakers. At midnight the preceding night, the 2007-2008 legislative session ended and at noon on December 1, the new 2009-2010 session commenced. There are 51 Democrats and 29 Republicans in the Assembly, with 10 Republican and 15 Democrat freshmen.  In the Senate, there are 24 Democrats, 15 Republicans and one vacancy. 

The same day legislators commenced the 2009-2010 session, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger declared a fiscal emergency for California and called a special session of the legislature to deal with the crisis. Facing a $11.2 billion deficit, the governor and majority party propose tax hikes and fee increases to cover the budget gap. However, Republicans have renewed their commitment to defeating any such tax increases, calling for state spending cuts instead.

Legislature Continues Assault on Proposition 8

Before the sun had set on the first day of the legislative session, the assault on Proposition 8 began. Senators Mark Leno (a former assemblyman now in the Senate) Christine Kehoe, along with Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg introduced a resolution calling on the California Supreme Court to overturn Proposition 8.

Echoing the lawsuits filed against the recently approved proposition, SR 7 claims Proposition 8 revises the constitution and will “eliminate a fundamental right only for a particular minority group” and would “severely undermine the foundational principle of equal protection.” 

Just last month 44 state lawmakers filed an amicus brief with the California Supreme Court, requesting the court to overturn Proposition 8. The 44 lawmakers believe that only the legislature should have the power to make policy decisions for Californians, despite their out-of-touch actions.

“We fully expected elitists in the legislature to challenge Proposition 8 at their first opportunity,” stated Karen England, Executive Director of Capitol Resource Institute. “They certainly wasted no time in expressing their contempt for the people of California and our initiative process. We call on every lawmaker in the legislature to oppose SR 7 and it’s arrogant disregard for the will of Californians.”

Hollywood Mocks Supporters of Proposition 8

It’s no secret that Hollywood is out of touch with the mainstream Americans they entertain. During the Proposition 8 campaign and its aftermath, many Hollywood celebrities expressed their disgust for the “bigots” that support protecting traditional marriage. Last week the director of the Los Angeles Film Festival Richard Raddon resigned his position after it was discovered that he donated $1,500 to the Yes on Proposition 8 campaign.

Now, several famous actors have joined together to mock supporters of Proposition 8 and their unenlightened beliefs. In a video posted on comedy web site Funny or Die, the actors sing and dance in a “Proposition 8: The Musical” spoof. During the musical, gays are seen celebrating Obama’s candidacy, but then dark-clothed religious zealots spoil their revelry by spreading “hate” and placing Proposition 8 on the ballot. These “bigots” cite Jesus Christ as their inspiration for Proposition 8. Comedian Jack Black then appears on stage dressed as Jesus Christ. He informs his followers that the Old Testament also tells readers that, like homosexuality, shrimp cocktails are an “abomination.” 

“The obvious intent of this video is to ridicule people of faith—Christians, Jews, Mormons,” state Karen England, Executive Director of Capitol Resource Institute. “Hollywood’s contempt for religion has reached an all-time high with Proposition 8’s passage. These actors should stick with acting—not mocking the people who pay their salaries by seeing their movies. Proposition 8 doesn’t spread hate and those who support traditional marriage aren’t bigots. Preserving the definition of a time-honored institution is essential to the strength of our families.”

To watch video click here

Join CRI’s Citizen Sunday Program

It’s never too early to begin preparing for the next election. In fact, it’s imperative that we start laying the groundwork for the 2010 election now. Depending on what happens with the California Supreme Court, there may be another marriage initiative on the ballot in two years. This means we must start registering citizens who share our values so they will be ready to vote for our values in the next election.

If you have an interest in starting a Citizen Sunday program in your church, or you have a similar program already, please contact CRI so we can help you. As we refine our Citizen Sunday program, we need your feedback so we can provide the best assistance possible. Please email La Tanya Wright: ltgwright@gmail.com

From Basic Instinct to Cross-Bearer for the Unborn: A Hollywood Faith Journey--

Good morning, fellow shepherds. So what do you think? Is the release in recent times of movies like Narnia a sign that the movie industry is finally bowing to the value of faith-related films? Nah. To paraphrase someone I heard recently, “If Jesus went to Hollywood, I’m pretty sure He (still) couldn’t get a job”

That’s the way I would phrase the real attitude of the “moguls of mind-shaping” that inhabit the ultimate influence center of the America worldview, Hollywood. We’ve always suspected that conservative Biblical religion is not welcome in the entertainment industry, given the wretched way that evangelicals are usually portrayed in movie scripts and sitcoms. But recently, a movie insider has shared his conversion story with the world and reveals that you can go from “A List to D List” overnight, not by writing a bad screenplay, but by embracing the wrong Savior.

I’m speaking of  screenwriter Joe Eszterhas, who until now was well known in Hollywood for living a raging party life that made even Malibu residents shake their heads, and who financed his lifestyle by writing boundary-breaking sex, violence and hatred into such films as Basic Instinct, Jagged Edge and Sliver. But several years ago, Eszterhas experienced a profound conversion to Christianity, and now lives a cleaned up life devoted to Christ, which he details in his new book Crossbearer, a Memoir of Faith.

I find the story of Eszterhas interesting because of who he was: an adored insider in the film industry. As such he would have a viewpoint of clarity on how film people actually respond to the reality of Jesus invading the personal world of one of their own. Their reaction can be summed up in one phrase: silent shunning.

Let me let Eszterhas tell it:

“When I talk about my faith experience to Hollywood people, they think I’m nuts. When they know I’ve found God and I’m living my life differently, they don’t really confront me on it; I just notice that I don’t hear from them anymore.”

“It’s a violation of the code to have a vague sense of God in your life, but the fact that Christ is so deeply in my life, and Christ is a figure I live with as a brother and as Someone who inhabits my heart, well, in terms of Hollywood thinking, that’s a special offense.”

That final phrase strikes me. “A special offense.” It is an illuminating reminder of the new contempt being shown for public figures of Christian faith in our society, whether you’re James Dobson or Sarah Palin. Too many secular people today, following Christ isn’t just a decision they would disagree with, it’s an offense. A personal crime. An action that ought to be stopped.

For all kinds of reasons that play out from the confusion of postmodern minds, it is more contemptible to be a conservative Christian today than in days past, no matter how much of an insider you were before. The energy for this revulsion has many sources, but I have to go back to the one that Jesus Himself gave about social hatred for faith: “Before I came, they had no sin. Now, they see their sin revealed. If they hated Me for that, expect them to hate you too.” Nothing can ruin a postmodern’s tolerant day like someone telling them they might be wrong. They complain we are offending their desire for a “nuanced acceptance of all points of view”. The Biblical writers had a different phrase for it: “stiffnecked”. But I digress.

I rejoice in Joe Eszterhas’ new faith, and I pray for him to have the courage to hold on to it as he stays in his industry and argues for more faith-honoring movie scripts. But I can’t help but hold him up as an image of the nonsensical new society we live in: we can enjoy movies soaked in sin, gobble down novels exploring sin, and exalt celebrities who excel in sin, but we won’t tolerate anyone who actually accuses us of living in sin. And we really won’t tolerate one of our own who tries to get free from sin. Keep it on the screen, but out of the conversation, or we won’t have lunch again. Ever.

In Hollywood, the voice of honest conviction gets left on the cutting room floor.

One other revealing postscript to this story: in a recent interview, Eszterhas was asked about what “social issues” were important to him. Now that’s a well placed question in this age in which even leading evangelicals are wondering if we need to back off our intensity about pro-life factors and learn to be more concerned with carbon footprints and wasted food at restaurants. Here is Ezsterhas’ answer:

“The 10,000 pound elephant in the room is abortion. I view myself as a baby Christian, but that's an overwhelming issue, and I don’t think there’s any way around it while still maintaining a love for Jesus.

Abortion is murder, and we’re killing people. Life begins at the moment of conception. I know that deep in my heart. Before I became a Christian, I did not know that.”

How revealing that Joe Eszterhas, an iconic video-sculptor of a generation’s violence, sexual excess and postmodern moral liberation, would meet Jesus Christ and emerge from that encounter with such moral clarity.

Joe, I can only say that you may have had an experience a lot like another life-size convert did on a Galilean seashore awhile back. When the Apostle Peter had his moment of clear insight into the meaning of it all, it was Jesus who reminded him “Flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but my Father who is in heaven”.

Keep listening to the Father, Joe. He’ll never lie to you. And He’ll always take your call.
 

Keeping the faith with you,

Joe Pursch 

Planned Parenthood’s Shocking Stocking Stuffer

Still searching for the perfect stocking stuffers for your female friends or family members? Planned Parenthood hopes you’ll give them the ‘gift’ of abortion. Indiana’s Planned Parenthood decided to offer gift certificates for “medical services” at each of its clinics, and now clinics across the country are following suit.

Pro-life groups immediately denounced the gift certificates as death certificates used to kill the unborn through Planned Parenthood’s abortions. Planned Parenthood countered that 95% of women visit their clinics for services other than abortion and the gift certificates were designed to aid women unable to obtain such services in difficult economic times.

“It is reprehensible to try and tie the horror of abortion to the Christmas season,” stated Karen England, Executive Director of Capitol Resource Institute. “Christmas is a celebration of the birth of a child and his life-giving redemption. Planned Parenthood is the very antithesis of this season because of their business of death.”

To counter this mockery of Christmas, we encourage those who support life to donate to Capitol Resource Institute and our activism on behalf of the unborn.

Donate Online Today

We also encourage supporters to volunteer at a local crisis pregnancy center to minister to the many young mothers who choose life.

Blacklisted Proposition 8 Supporters Receive Legal Aid

As Capitol Update reported recently, several businesses and individuals who donated money to Proposition 8 are being harassed by Proposition 8 opponents. The web site Anti-Gay Blacklist instructs visitors to boycott the businesses and individual proprietors listed due to the support of Proposition 8. The names were acquired by the web site through the Secretary of State’s web site which lists all the major contributors to political campaigns. Some of the people listed have received threatening phone calls and are now fearful for their family’s safety.

CRI’s ally Pacific Justice Institute has stepped in to provide free legal assistance to these victims of intolerance.  PJI’s staff attorneys are contacting each of the individuals listed to help those who have experienced “acts of violence, vandalism, interference with their places of worship, or dismissal from their jobs.” PJI is already representing a San Francisco resident who lost their job because of their support for Proposition 8.

“This type of harassment and intimidation is contrary to the message of ‘love’ that the anti-traditional marriage forces preach,” explained Karen England, Executive Director of Capitol Resource Institute. “We are grateful to PJI for offering their services to those who have the right to donate money to causes they believe in. We encourage anyone who has experienced discrimination due to their political beliefs to contact PJI immediately.”

Pacific Justice Institute

Are Your Sheep Hearing Your Voice?

Good morning, fellow shepherds. As the New Year begins, I'm sure you're beginning to make determinations about where to put your leadership energies. You may again be faced with the question: how involved do you want to be from your pulpit concerning the moral issues of the day?

Now I know, you may be tempted to come back with the standard answer, “I don't want to be seen as a radical. So I will keep my opinions private.”  Most pastors that I know who choose this response do so because, in their view, most of the voices from the Christian Right that they hear in the media are uniformly strident, sometimes judgmental, and occasionally downright harsh. As shepherds, they don't want their voices mixed with that kind of tone. As a pastor, I understand that point of view

But here's the thing. If you take that kind of reclusive view on the issues, you're actually putting yourself squarely in disagreement with the majority of the people sitting in your congregation on Sunday.

Let me show you want I mean. A recent LA Times poll revealed that in the areas of abortion, prayer in public schools, and homosexuality, a strong majority of the general public is actually in firm agreement with the positions of the Religious Right. You read that correctly.

Here are the numbers: 70% of Americans believe that the traditional family unit (one man committed to one woman and one marriage for life) is by far the best family structure. 76% of Americans favor prayer being returned to public schools. 55% are still against legalized abortion, and 61% think that homosexual relations are wrong. What this means, in the words of one expert who analyzed the data, is that “The Religious Right isn't so radical after all. In fact, the views of the Religious Right still reflect the mainstream of America.”

What this also means is that if you don't speak up publicly on the moral issues in the pulpit, you will in effect be non-supportive of the majority of your people. The LA Times study, in fact, would lead me to believe that the majority of your people not only believe you should say something, but would expect you to say something.

So why might you be among that sizable group of pastors who still holds back?

Could it be because you don't want your gentle pastor’s voice to be linked up with the strident cries of so many of the “radical” spokespeople from the Right on these issues? “Why do they have to be so intense and divisive on these issues?” you ask.  “Their intensity makes it hard for everybody.” 

I see your point, but as someone with experience on the battle lines, may I tell you that the biggest reason why many people on the Religious Right are so strident is because they are so few in number compared to the opposition. Thus, these dear folks feel they need to yell to be heard.

It's sort of like being in a crowded theater, and knowing that it's only you that sees the fire spreading in the back of the auditorium. You've got to yell at the top of your lungs if you think you're the only voice, no matter what people think.

So what's the solution for you in all of this, pastor?

Just this: you should add your measured, informed and gentle Shepherd's Voice to the discussion.

Why not let your tempered tones be added to the mix of voices? If you think the discussions on moral issues in public are too strident, why don't you bring them down a notch with the gentle voice of someone who is gifted to care for the people on both sides of these divisive issues?

If you do add your shepherd’s voice to the debate, you'll be surprised to find those on the Religious Right deeply grateful and hungry to follow your leadership. And you'll also find a resounding response in the hearts of the majority of the people in your congregation. You'll be admired for speaking for what they are already thinking, and doing it courageously.

Just like a shepherd should.

Keeping the faith with you,

Joe Pursch 

Top 10 Attacks on Christians in 2008

2008 was a particularly contentious year with the presidential election, Proposition 8 and numerous other controversial issues in the public debate. One of the most distressing trends last year was the brazen attack on Christians and their faith. Proposition 8’s focus on protecting traditional families drew attention to the Christian belief in a heterosexual, nuclear family unit and resulted in unprecedented Christian bashing.

The Christian Anti-Defamation Commission compiled a list of the most egregious attacks on Christians and published them on their web site. Included on the list was the internet video featuring several famous Hollywood actors in a spoof musical play that attacked Christians for supporting Proposition 8. Another finalist on the disgraceful list was the contemptuous assault on Vice Presidential candidate and Alaska Governor Sarah Palin’s Christian faith.

To read the full Top 10 list, visit http://www.christianadc.org/news-and-articles/125-top-ten-instances-of-christian-bashing-in-america-2008

First 2009 Lobby Day Scheduled!

CRI is excited to announce our first Lobby Day for 2009: Wednesday, March 11. Lawmakers are already introducing many anti-family bills so it’s more important than ever to come to Sacramento and express your beliefs directly to legislators. Lobby Day is your opportunity to receive training from CRI’s experienced staff and then meet with lawmakers.

Cost for the event is $10, and scholarships are available. To reserve your spot at this very popular event, email LaTanya Wright: ltgwright@gmail.com. 

Family-friendly Films on the Rise in Hollywood

The Christmas season is a popular time for families to go to the movies. To cash in on this opportunity, Hollywood typically releases a glut of films catering to every ticket-buying demographic. The week of Christmas, the PG-rated Marley & Me film was the top draw at the box office. Maybe Hollywood is starting to get the message that customers want more wholesome entertainment for their families.

The family-friendly Movieguide recently announced that in the past two decades, “the number of family movies has more than doubled and the number of movies with positive moral content has nearly quadrupled by 388 percent.” Moveguide founder and publisher Dr. Ted Baehr commented, "The surprising thing is, Movieguide®'s top picks turn out to be among the most profitable films Hollywood produced during the year.”

Before you head to the movie theatre, visit Movieguide’s web site to read a family-friendly review of currently playing movies: http://www.movieguide.org/index.php