Director of pro-family group urges pastors to influence public policy

Riskowski

Al Riskowski, executive director of the Nebraska Family Council, made a sober observation Wednesday afternoon about the sometimes-daunting responsibility pastors have in influencing public policy.

Riskowski was joined in his presentation by Sen. Mark Christensen in a forum for area pastors and members of the Red Willow County Ministerial Association Wednesday in the annex at the First Assembly of God Church in McCook. Riskowski challenged the audience to speak the truth in love; be salt and light; to dig deep spiritual wells in the Lord; to speak from the platform of God's righteousness; and to remember that everything that they do must be done in the name of the kingdom of heaven.

"It bears noting that the first ones excluded from the kingdom of heaven as recorded in Revelation 21:8, are not the sexually immoral, the idolators, murderers or thieves," he said. "First in line, at the top of the list are the cowards."

Riskowski, a former pastor, accepted the position with NFC only after a week of prayer and fasting in 2001. The NFC was established in 1988 to give a non-partisan voice upholding biblical values in Nebraska families, schools and government.

Over the past four years, the NFC has been working behind the scenes in the state's capitol on several issues introduced to the state legislature.

Working with Sen. Christensen's office, LB 19, a bill encouraging couples to take an eight-hour pre-marriage class, was introduced. If a couple completes the class, the cost of a marriage license would be $15. Without the class the cost of the license would be $75 and include a 10-day waiting period.

The bill specifies that the instruction must include conflict management, communication, financial management and parenting skills. Similar legislation in Oklahoma has contributed to a 7 percent reduction in the divorce rate.

LB 444, also introduced by Christensen, was the outcome of a search by Riskowski through the Lincoln Yellow Pages for an excavating contractor.

"I saw 12 to 14 large ads, some a half page, for escort services," Riskowski said. "It didn't say it in so many words, but it looked like advertising for prostitution to me."

Riskowski contacted Lincoln's chief of police, Tom Cassidy, who confirmed his suspicions. Further investigation revealed that there is a growing problem in human trafficking in the nation, including a pipeline along Interstate 80 where underage runaways, both male and female, are pressed into sexual service.

LB444 would require that an escort type service to have an address, keep records of clients, obtain a license to operate, have the employer and employees checked through a national fingerprint search and become subject to criminal actions.

Christensen spoke about another bill he has introduced before the legislature, LB443, which would regulate the location of and conduct within Nebraska's sexually oriented businesses.

Christensen also stated his deep appreciation for God's hand in his legislative career, and his commitment to maintaining his biblical perspective while serving in Lincoln.

"I'm not a typical politician," he said. "I don't know what the Lord has planned, but I do know that there is progression in his plan."

Christensen has prayer partners that contact him daily, and he cherishes those prayers, and prays that he won't lose his focus on God or on his wife. "What I do know is, if God lays something on your heart, you've got to do it."

Riskowski and Christensen both maintain that biblical principles are good for all of society.

"One of the phrases out there is that you 'cannot legislate morality,'" said Riskowski. "You cannot legislate anyone into the Kingdom of Heaven," he allowed, "but the laws of the land are moral guidelines."

Christensen added, "We all have to work together. The church is not in a bubble. Government isn't in a bubble. Family is not in a bubble."

Riskowski turned to the pastors then, saying, "You cannot underestimate the role of clergy.

"You are called to be salt and light.

"You are not to judge, but to help, to show people that biblical principles are for their benefit."

He explained, "Our bodies were not designed for immorality."

In the animal kingdom, the rooster, the bull, the Tom cat in the alley, they have no restriction to the number of mates they can have and it brings them no harm.

"This is not the case with human beings," Riskowski said, noting that multiple partners can and often do result in sexually transmitted disease.

"There are 50 identified sexually transmitted diseases," he said, making it obvious that the moral laws that originated in God's word are intended for our good, not our detriment.

"Morality will be legislated," said the Rev. Chris Atkins, pastor of adult ministries at McCook Evangelical Free Church during the question and answer period. "Either moral laws or immoral laws."

Riskowski agreed, adding "We can legislate laws to feed fleshly desires or we can legislate to the betterment of society."

"This can be the church's greatest hour," he said, "not her weakest."