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Showing posts with the label Saddleback Church

Should Christian clergy stop signing marriage certificates?

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The next several years are going to be messy for Christians. We already know that some who claim to be within our fold will continue to challenge the historic, orthodox teaching about sexuality, marriage, and the essence of what it means to be made in the image of God. But even those of us who agree that marriage is what the church has always thought it was, will disagree on how best to move forward in a culture hell-bent on denying it. Case in point: Over at First Things , a premier publication of Christian thought, Ephraim Radner and Christopher Seitz have offered what they refer to as “ The Marriage Pledge,”  calling clergy of all stripes to no longer sign government documents of civil marriage. To be a “clear witness,” they have decided they “will no longer serve as agents of the state in marriage” because to do so would be to “implicate the Church in a false definition of marriage.” This is an idea that has been kicked around for some time.  Past First Things  articles hav

Rick Warren won’t change on gay ‘marriage,’ because ‘I fear God’s disapproval’ not CNN’s

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NEW YORK, December 20, 2013 ( LifeSiteNews.com ) - Evangelical pastor Rick Warren told CNN 's Piers Morgan that he won't change his position against same-sex "marriage," because "I fear the disapproval of God more than I fear your disapproval or the disapproval of society." Warren appeared on CNN's Piers Morgan Live on December 6. After a conversation about Warren's admiration of Pope Francis, Morgan asked the megachurch pastor if his views on same-sex "marriage" had changed since the two had discussed the issue on the program two years ago. "Have you moved at all now? Are you recognizing that there is this seemingly unstoppable movement?" Morgan asked. "Well, I don't get to change what God says is right and what God says is wrong," Warren responded. "And I think God is real clear that all sex outside of marriage is wrong." "But the issue here is the issue of respect," Warren continu

Rick Warren on Homosexual Marriage: I fear God more than your disapproval

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Pastor Rick Warren spoke a line to CNN's Piers Morgan that has resonated with people who, like him, have tried repeatedly to explain why they won't change their stance to support same-sex marriage. "I fear the disapproval of God more than I fear your disapproval or the disapproval of society," Warren, of Saddleback Church in Lake Forest , Calif., told the host of "Piers Morgan Live." Warren appeared on the show amid a media blitz for his new book "The Daniel Plan" about getting healthy for the glory of God, but his stand for biblical marriage continues to draw attention. A discussion of Warren's admiration of Pope Francis turned to same-sex marriage when Morgan asked whether Warren's views had evolved during the two years since the two discussed the issue on air. "Have you moved at all now? Are you recognizing that there is this seemingly unstoppable movement?" Morgan asked Warren during the show that aired Dec

Rick Warren: tolerance towards homosexuals does not mean approving homosexuality

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Saddleback Church pastor Rick Warren has said that being tolerant of homosexuals does not mean one approves of their choices, while appearing on " CBS This Morning " Tuesday to promote the re-release of his book, The Purpose Driven Life , on the 10th anniversary of its publication. Warren, whose book has sold over 60 million copies worldwide, a record for a non-fictional devotional book, was asked by "CBS This Morning" hosts Charlie Rose and Norah O'Donnell a number of questions regarding morality, politics, and same-sex marriage. The California megachurch pastor said that according to the Bible, people need to be tolerant of all views, just like Jesus was – but that does not mean approving of all choices. "Gay marriage is a very personal question," Warren responded when asked why he does not support it. "I have biblical views regarding what marriage is about. I am not in favour of redefining marriage, I'm not. It's not illegal to h

Homosexuality is crime against humanity

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"Marriage of persons of the same sex is a serious crime against humanity," Victor Tonye Bakot, told followers on Tuesday, Reuters reported. "We need to stand up to combat it with all our energy. I am particularly thankful to our local media that has been spreading this message of it as a criminality against mankind." Gay activities in Cameroon are considered illegal, punishable by fines and prison, with the nation's Catholic Church strongly opposed to gay marriage. Like many other countries around the world, however, younger people are more willing to support a change in attitudes towards gay people, Reuters noted. At least 12 people have been convicted of homosexuality in Cameroon this year, the most recent case concerning 32-year-old Jean-Claude Roger Mbede , who was handed a three-year prison sentence for sending another man a text saying he loves him. Catholics make up nearly 40 percent of the Cameroon population, with Protestants counting up to 26 perc

Top Christian leaders targeted by gay activists for beliefs

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Pastor Rick Warren at Saddleback Church. (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) Defending what the Bible teaches about homosexuality can often lead to public condemnation from gay activists. In recent years especially, Christians have been ridiculed and called bigots for their beliefs. Here are five well-known Christian leaders who have been targeted for their beliefs. Rick Warren When President Barack Obama invited Rick Warren, head pastor at Saddleback Church in Southern California and author of the best-selling A Purpose Driven Life , to deliver the invocation at his 2009 inauguration, gay rights activists were furious. About 100 protesters demonstrated outside Warren's church the Sunday before the inauguration. "There is no substantive difference between Rick Warren and James Dobson ," Kathryn Kolbert , then-president of People for the American Way , a liberal advocacy group, told CNN. "The only difference is tone. His tone is moderate, but his ideas are radical."

Obama ‘bullying summit’ invites Dan Savage who blamed Christians for gay bullying

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Image via Wikipedia Among those invited by the Obama administration to attend its conference on bullying today is one of the most vitriolic leaders in the homosexualist movement, whose gay bullying initiative laid blame for the violence squarely at the feet of Christianity.  Multiple gay websites today highlighted Savage’s attendance at the conference. In a  video released Wednesday , the President and the First Lady introduced the summit as part of an effort “to make our schools and communities places where no one’s made to feel alone or afraid for being different.” Gay columnist Dan Savage posted on Seattle’s  The Stranger blog  Wednesday that he had been invited to the White House Conference on Bullying Prevention scheduled for Thursday, which the administration announced was attended by 150 advocates and policymakers. Savage praised a video taped by President Obama last year after a number of suicides by young people related to bullying incidents. Savage founded the It Get