World Impact Ministries / Peter Youngren

So, is marriage supposed to be between one man and one woman or one man and one woman ‘at a time’.  Seems to me that gay marriage isn’t the only assault on the institution of marriage these days.  Many people get married then divorced, re-married then divorced, re-married yet again and then divorced.  It’s a good thing that our covenant with the Father isn’t as fickle as the ‘covenant’ we agree to when getting married.  We would all have been dumped by Him a long time ago.  I sometimes wonder about Christians who think it’s OK to get divorced and re-married over and over again - do they really understand what covenant is all about? 
Is the love of Christ really at work within them if they can’t even love their spouse?

I was thinking of looking up some of them newspaper websites, but am glad I came here instead. Although glad is not quite the right word… let me just say I needed this after the incessant chatter in the media, and am grateful to you for articulating something many of us are feeling - even from distant shores.

Amen, Pastor! The Scripture references to your article would be found here in Colossians 2:11-23 :)

The subject of marriage is today an inflammatory issue, setting groups up for dispute and confrontation rather than mutual respect and tolerance.  I like to remember Jesus when He was being baited by the Pharisees for a legalistic answer to the taking of the woman in adultery.  He said “let he who is without sin cast the first stone”.  Jesus believed in ” mercy not sacrifice”.  As always, He is the perfect example for us. 
Yes, the gold standard for marriage is one man and one woman in a deeply committed relationship with God as CEO.  However, for many reasons, there are many individuals for whom this is not possible.

On the terms of salvation from eternal separation from our Creator I agree with you when it comes to your outlook on the morning news situation.

What many Americans think however though is that they themselves and the majority of their ranks are already transfered from darkness to light, from far away to drawn near, and with this as their background assumption they comment on things like gay marriage, abortion, prayer taken out of school, and so on and so on. Just as there is still a manifesting of judgement to come on the earth, and just as seedtime and harvest still exist, you still can ruin yours, your friends, your familys, your cities, and your countries lives with sin - using sin as a blanket term for disobedience to the Creators word, or you can have what you termed as hidden sin, hidden between yourself and your creator until you die. The difference between these two scenarios is that on one hand a nation is affected, and on the other just one man is.

In short, there can be various measures of the same thing. You can have a shot of coffee and a bite of that cereal, or you can bath in that coffee and dry off in the multi-grain. In both cases you had coffee and cereal.
You’re a smart guy, I pray for you to have continual maturing of your faith - for you, and everyone you have influence overs’ sake.

It is interesting that so many apparently feel intimidated when it comes to talking about and defending marriage, and being able to state the scriptural view on homosexuality.  Scripture is very clear that it is a sin that it is not acceptable and is in fact refered to as an abomination.  That being said we are to love the sinner and hate the sin.  We are called to reach out to the World with the Gospel message which is a message of hope.  While it is important that we have them understand that they need to repent of their sins and recognize their need to be reconciled to God this does not mean that God would have us bash those that hold that homosexuality is acceptable.  We need to show them God’s love, build into their lives, so that we can be effective in sharing with them the Gospel, and be ready and available when they are looking for answers and help.  Point to God’s truths about them in contrast to Satan’s Lies which they are receiving.  help them to understand any underlying issues that are root causes, show a lot of tough love and above all bathe them in prayer.  Christ Died for all to free us all from sin despite how big or small. We have accepted God’s gift they havent yet.  They may not see the need or understand the need for Christ and his forgiveness but we can help point the way as we demonstrate Christ and His love and how we too have been pulled free from the bondages of Sin and Death.  My friends are by God’s grace slowly starting to understand this and I believe will repent turn from this lifestyle and come to Christ.  God bless.  Thank you for the Website

BRAVO TO THE BRAVE MISS CALIFORNIA

The USA at this moment is embattled in an escalating culture war on the issue of same-sex marriage. If the battle plays out as it did in Canada many Christians and many churches will run for cover instead of speaking clearly what the Bible has taught for 2000 years. But like a voice crying in the wilderness a little known beauty queen from California has stunned both Christians and secularists by her brave stand for traditional marriage.
In the final stages of judging at the Miss USA pageant on April 19,2009, twenty-one year old Miss California, Carrie Prejean, from San Diego Christian College was the only contestant thrown a political “bombshell. Judge Perez Hilton, homosexual activist and pundit, gave the question, “Vermont recently became the fourth state to legalize same-sex marriage; do you think every state should follow suit?”
Carrie’s remarkably brave answer included the words, “…I believe that a marriage should be between a man and a woman. No offense to anybody out there, but that’s how I was raised and that’s how I think it should be – between a man and a woman.”  With that response she lost her bid for the Miss USA tiara, and lit a fire of controversy that has not yet abated. On his website Perez Hilton, slandered her as a “b—-ch”, and defaced photos of her with sexually explicit drawings.  He reputedly commented that he had given her a zero, and if she had won he would have ripped off her crown and would have run from the building. Since then the radical left, much of the media, and many bloggers have scornfully attacked Carrie because of her politically incorrect views
Some conservative Christians don’t want Carrie defending marriage for they think she’s not pure enough. I think they’re wrong. If God in Old Testament times could use Rahab, a prostitute, to protect his spies, and later on a murderer like the apostle Paul to become his chief messenger, surely an imperfect, flamboyant beauty queen should pose no problem. Spiritual purists should beware of trying to be more spiritual than God.
Who can doubt that the question by Perez Hilton was deliberately chosen to expose Carrie’s beliefs?  Knowing she was from a Christian college he undeniably had a clear idea as to what she believed.  He knew that she couldn’t falsify an answer and still be true to her convictions.  Fact is, Hilton’s question was designed to out Prejean as a Christian who believed in biblical marriage. Who knew that a time would come when Christians would need to be “outed”? In any case his question hit the mark.

For while Carrie admits she was tempted to fudge the answer, she said to Dr. Dobson on his Focus on the Family program, “God was saying…Carrie do not compromise this—you need to stand up for me…you need to show you’re not willing to compromise this for this title of Miss USA”.

After three weeks of relentless media attack Carrie spoke out on May 12, 09 at a news conference called by Donald Trump. She publicly forgave her persecutors and those who had spoken maliciously against her, but she also held fast to her free speech rights as an American citizen, and insisted that the persecution inflicted on her was simply wrong.

This outright attack and bullying of a public figure because of their religious beliefs is more than a little troubling.  To put this in perspective we should note that Carrie simply stood up for basic Christian teaching on marriage (i.e. Jesus clearly defines marriage in Matthew 19 as involving male and female). And doesn’t it seem somewhat presumptuous to accuse Jesus of discrimination and hatred? Shouldn’t the Creator of all get to establish the basic ground rules of the institutions he created? 

Carrie was “outed” and her private beliefs (that had nothing to do with the beauty pageant) were held up to ridicule, scorned, and belittled. Christians all over America, and Canada would do well to take note. They can try and hide from the culture war by faithlessly keeping silent, thus hiding their truth.  But they will not succeed for there are legions of Perez Hiltons’ who will seek them out for exposure. No, no, far better to openly own the truth that has been given. Far, far better for timid, secret agent type Christians and churches to celebrate the goodness of God’s truth on marriage, and to share it faithfully and lovingly to all who have a heart to listen.

by Royal Hamel/ published in the Guelph Mercury, May 19, 09

God hates sin…the Homosexual act is SIN…He loves the people but hates the SIN.

Dear Pastor Peter:

I do not think that Mr. Reagan’s closing comment is: Neither a judgement or condemnation on New Hampshire; nor a declaration that God does not like the people living there.  Instead, I believe he’s saying the same thing that you’re saying, only in a different way.
God loves “everybody” - generally speaking, but not particularly.  We all have freedom of choices in choosing our lifestyles.  However, lifestyles have rewards and consequences - regardless of how much God loves us.
New Hampshire’s choice to legalize sin carries a particular result; and anyone who wants to go along with New Hampshire is free to go along with New Hampshire.  Likewise God’s decree to refrain from sin (homosexual or any other) carries a particular result; and anyone is free to go along with God.

Reagan realizes that God’s result is opposite to New Hampshire’s, as far as the legalizing of same-sex marriage goes; and he has made the choice to go along with God as oppose to New Hampshire’s new law.  I do not think that his statement was meant to say that God does not love homosexuals who live in New Hampshire; but that he (Reagan) has chosen not to live by New Hampshire’s recent law; and he’s leaving each person to make his/her own choice.
Now, I am amazed at how easy it is to misinterpret each other in the English language.  Why would anyone construe Mr. Reagan’s words to mean that he’s saying that God is not for the people in New Hampshire?  He did not represent himself as saying ‘Thus saith the Lord.’  He was stating that he will not accept the same-sex marriage law, based on the truth that it is contrary to God’s words.

In closing:  Let’s say that God loves the people in New Hampshire; but He does not accept the new legislation.  You see to love and to accept are too separate processes.  I love all my children, but I do not accept any ungodly lifestyle.  I would give my life for them, but I will still tell them when they are contrary/contradictory to the words of God, which is the whole truth.  To think that I do not love my children because I reject sin in their lives is to be naive/immature in thought.  It is because I love them why I resist sin in their lives.  I too want them to choose God over any man-made legislation to sin. 
I am certain God agrees with that, because He sent us the word that “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life.”  One cannot enjoy both positions at the same time.  You has to choose.  Choose God and live - eternally.

I have a question that I would really liked to be answered:  Where in the Bible does it say that God loves “sin,” “everyone” and “homosexuals?”  PLEASE do not send me St. John 3:16 unless you can prove that “sin,” “everyone” and “homosexual” is synonymous to “world.”  When it came down to the individual’s context it says “whosoever believeth in Him,” not everyone.
Everyone is free to be saved, because Jesus’ blood provides salvation for all; but why do we take that to mean that God loves everyone.  God has to provide for all - it’s His responsibility and obligation/duty.  However, that does not prove that He loves everyone.  I can show you scriptures where God says that He hates the profane person - like Esau - before he was even born.
I would love to keep this discussion going to our learning.

Thanks Peter.
I always enjoy reading your Blogs.

Dear Brother in Christ

Greetings from Pakistan.

I am from Pakistan. I have studied your web site, and I found it the most wonderful site to get right to the True Word of God. I found that all your material is full of knowledge concerning development of religious faith. Living in Pakistan we Christians is to face many obstacles to get the access to the word of God. Most of the people in Pakistan are not capable to understand the English language and they are hungry of the God’s words. It’s because our national language is Urdu.

My suggestion for you is to create your material in my language of Urdu and Punjabi also. It will bring lots of blessings of the Word of God for the Pakistani and Indian Urdu and Punjabi speaking people. For that purpose I as a translator will bring your material into Urdu languages and into Punjabi language as well. Although it will take your low expenses as well, as fund for the Word of God to reach out to the deserving people. As a translator I will take the expenses that will be spending just for the Word.

In Christ,
Mehwish
Email :  .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

I agree, God is not against anyone.  But, it did not sound to me that Mr. Reagan said at all that God was against homosexuals.  He just seemed to say that he was going to side with God’s view on homosexuals.  Even in the New Testament, 1 Cor. 6, Apostle Paul said that those who are “effiminate” would not inherit the Kingdom of God.  Effiminate literally means homosexuality.  And, of course, that’s not the only place where statements like that are quoted in the N.T.  But, grace and the free gift of righteousness do not merely just not impute sin.  Grace isn’t at all that weak.  Grace produces freedom and holiness.  So ya, God loves and accepts homosexuals just like they are.  But as long as they are hearing and receiving truth after salvation, they will at the very least, desire to change.  Or rather, be changed, by God’s grace.  Even if they struggle with it, for a 10 years or all of their life, the true grace of God will produce change from the bondage of homosexuality after salvation (or even possibly immediately)

Nice website. I will keep in mind those and tell my friends.