Wouldn’t it be great if men and women who are dead in their sins would just stop being wicked and start respecting professing Christians? At first blush, the idea of transforming America’s ever-sickening, vile culture sounds like a great plan. And giving pastors a support network of Watchmen on the Wall to help them fight the culture wars would be a really good thing, right?
In Washington D.C. on Capitol Hill, The Family Research Council is hosting a Watchman on the Wall National Briefing for pastors to transform America. FRC President Tony Perkins says this is not a political event, but a spiritual one. He’s invited dozens of guest speakers, including Harbinger and Shemitah author Jonathan Cahn, Bishop Larry Jackson (part of Apostle Rick Joyner’s MorningStar TV Network), Word of Faith prosperity preacher Jentezen Franklin, David Barton, and radio host Dr. Michael Brown. Click on the image for the full list of speakers:
Says Perkins:
“Why would Family Research Council invest in pastors? After all, FRC is a Washington, DC based non-profit ministry that is focused on shaping public policy and informed civic activism. Good question.
Simply put, we believe that the problems we face in our communities and our nation are not just political and cultural, they are spiritual in nature (Eph. 6:10-13). Consequently, these problems ultimately require a spiritual solution administered by spiritual leadership. That is why we are championing pastors to transform America.”
Perkins says the mission of the Watchmen on the Wall network is to:
1) Pray for our nation, 2) Preach the whole counsel of God without apology, and 3) Partner with other pastors who will lead their churches to become the salt and light Jesus spoke about and make a positive difference in their communities, state, and our nation.
The first two make complete sense. Yes, let’s pray and preach the whole counsel of God! But what positive difference are we talking about when we talk of transforming our nation at the community, state and national level?
Here is a more detailed mandate:
“These band of brothers will stand with you” when you stand for cultural righteousness, promises Perkins in this this video. Watching this might set off some red flags for you, unless you think that this “Transform America” movement is akin to Moses demanding Pharaoh liberate the slaves, or Elijah challenging King Ahab on his “ungodly policies” (never mind that it was God Almighty telling these true prophets to speak and act for Him).
Is this what our pastors are supposed to be doing, networking to stand with each other in the culture wars? Or did Jesus give the Church a different mission? Matthew 28:16-20:
Watchmen need to be discerning about which mission they will follow.
Thoughts?
You’re stretching….
Let me start off by saying that I actually agree with and enjoy most articles I have read on Berean Research….so this is not an “attack” and I’m not trying to be snarky. I have actually had the pleasure of hearing Tony Perkins speak in person a couple of times. I personally attend Calvary Chapel Chino Hills and head pastor Jack Hibbs is a “Watchmen”. So this is where my opinion is coming from.
There seems to be an assumption that any church/pastor involved is “bad”. The article seems to read as though you are projecting and insinuating something that just isn’t there/happening in real life. At least not in my church. This watchmen ministry has never been a main focus in our church. For example, you can view http://www.watchmenministry.com/page.php?id=111.org/action-campaigns.php — this for example just keeps us informed and encourages us to get involved.
No dominion view…no one world religion…
It’s all a step toward ONENESS to bring or build the Kingdom of God/New Age. Warren B. Smith writes about it in his book False Christ Coming, and here is an article about it: http://amos37.com/nac/
Good point Molly; those who hold to a dominion view are bent are ushering the return of Christ in by making this world ‘ready’ and causing all to come under authority using politics as a means of pushing their agenda.
Speaking of Warren Smith, please keep him in prayer – https://ingridschlueter.wordpress.com/2017/05/22/the-light-that-was-dark-a-prayer-request/
The language of… all nations responding… doesn’t seem to come into play until at least the Millennial Reign of Christ and/or Eternity… the New Jerusalem. If it’s supposed to happen today… Abraham, described as a man of faith (Hebrews 11), had it wrong—he walked the Earth as a stranger… his heart was set on God’s City to come.
From the essay… Hearing at https://hopeishereblog.wordpress.com/writings/
The language… or, preaching of… make disciples of all the nations… means we must conquer the world for Christ… doesn’t match with… a falling away… shall deceive many… And many shall follow their [the false prophets] pernicious ways… narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it… two parts therein shall be cut off and die… The remnant of Israel shall not do iniquity… IT IS THE REMNANT THAT WILL BE SAVED… . How do we reconcile these messages that seem to contradict? (2 Thessalonians 2:2-4; Mark 13:5-7; Matthew 24:9-11; 2 Peter 2:1-3).
If we joyfully anticipate the … marriage supper of the Lamb… we can’t help but share this joy. However… the following language from God’s Word… They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD…
Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away… does seem to be in agreement with… Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence (Isaiah 11:9-10; Revelation 21:3-4; John 18:35-36).
Said another way… God describes through His Word… how… when… He will establish His Kingdom… and, what it will be like. To ignore this part of the story… seems… from what I’ve experienced… and, read in the Bible historically (i.e. King Saul, King Solomon, the rogue Kings of Judah and Israel, the Sadducees and Pharisees, the Romans, the Greeks, etc. Also see the Essay… Doctrines.)… is where idolatry and cults develop.
Civil disobedience based on God’s word, “Evil abounds when good men do nothing”
Has resulted in preventing the following:
Praying in Jesus name would have been outlawed
The war for Independance would not have been won
America would still have slavery
Blacks would still be repressed
“One nation under God” would not be in our pledge of alegence
Today’s sermons would be supeoned
Therefore as we are to examine the fruit – it looks good to me since all pastors are coming together to support each other as they uphold God’s word. They will help each other as iron sharpens iron i’m sure.
Amy, I believe you are spot-on with this post. I recently wrote about something like this as well. The problem as I see it is that this ‘watchman’ ministry, with its stated goal of ‘national renewal’, is one of many great-sounding but unbiblical missions for the church. As such, it can really only serve only as a distraction, making Christian’s believe they are doing God’s work when in truth they are actually neglecting it. The Great Commission is God’s only plan for renewal, and it happens by making one disciple at a time.
Pure irony, they use catch phrase “watchmen,” the purpose of watchmen in the Bible was to warn of coming danger! They would sound trumpets when the approaching enemy was spotted! Well, the real watchmen are not the NAR or it’s puppets, it’s those blowing the warning trumpets against the NAR! It’s a Trojan Horse!
The job of a pastor is to preach the word of God to Christ’s redeemed sheep, not to attempt to moralize pagans. Our nation is experiencing moral decay, and once decay begins it does not stop nor reverse. According to scripture, we are to expect deterioration of men’s actions. Only God can transform minds and hearts. How many years/decades now has America had the National Day of Prayer, leaning in error on the scripture “If my people who are called by my name…”? And have moral conditions improved? No. Satan is the god of this world until Christ returns to rule and reign in righteousness. In the meantime, pastors should be teaching scripture to those whom God has saved, not entertaining goats or trying to change them to act like sheep. God will send to join the sheepfold whom He will, but the masses will remain unchanged. This sounds way too much like the “dominionists” who think their mission is to change the world for the better for Christ to return. There’s no such theology in scripture…”perilous times shall come” is what scripture says and we’re seeing it happen now. People are too eager to follow personalities and wrongfully think that large numbers are an indicator of God’s blessing and correct teaching.
Sheryl, I couldn’t have said it better. Good post. The Body of Christ is vertical, not horizontal. We are a heavenly people, not an earthly people. Your 2 Chronicles reference was for Israel, God’s earthly people.
Amen Sheryl! So many can’t see the separation happening within Christendom! God is calling out, separating His from the world! Wheat and tares, untill Jesus returns expect things to get worse not better! Truly the Great Apostasy is unfurling before our eyes! Maranatha and God bless His people!
Well said Sheryl — amen and amen!
Wow! I will tell my adult children to stay away from this blind gathering. Thankful to be a “watch-woman” far away from this wall of deceit. It’s no wonder our churches are in the state they are in, with Ichabod written above many a door.
I clicked on guest list above, they have Rabbi “Blood Moons” Cahn, major huckster. No doubt in my mind, the whole pot is compromised. Politicians and known wolves……… I’d say keep away.
Rabbits dressed like celery
Foxes dressed like chicken
Wolves dressed like…. you get the picture
Yes, this thinly veiled dominionist theological movement is not furthering the kingdom of God but is actually harming the furtherance of it in my opinion. It is good to hear some believers who are not jumping on the political action method of instilling righteousness in our nation. One pastor friend of mine told me that when you tie the gospel to a political party then you are alienating 50% of the people that the Lord is calling us to evangelize. “Evangelicals” are perceived by the general public as mean, hateful, unkind, and unloving. As mentioned the blog here, the corruption of our nation is irreversible, the only hope for all of us is the imminent return of Jesus Christ, not political reforms that turns us from our wicked ways. We as Christians are not going to prepare the way for the return of Christ by taking power and authority over the cultural and governmental institutions. He will return to a hellish and hedonistic world to rule with a rod of iron, even so come quickly Lord Jesus