World Impact Ministries / Peter Youngren

I was recently having my coffee and multigrain cereal, when I turned on the TV to catch the morning news. Talk show hosts Michael Reagan, son of late president Ronald Reagan and Stephanie Miller were on CNN’s early morning show discussing gay marriage. The segment was triggered by a beauty pageant where the American contestant was asked by one of the judges concerning her view of marriage, to which she replied that it is the union between one man and one woman. They showed the video clip and I thought the American beauty queen expressed herself rather well. Her statement had however received a furious and, in my opinion, degrading response from one of the judges.

There are a lot of offended Christians these days. Some of the things which seem to cause outrage and offense are; profanity on television, open display of homosexuality in movies and on television, humor that degrades Christian values. Well, that’s just for starters. When Christians express outrage, shock and offense, it is as if that expression in itself is a badge of spirituality. “Look at me; how shocked I am at the sin and worldliness around me. Shouldn’t you react in a similar way? Aren’t you equally shocked? Well, maybe your spiritual sensitivities aren’t as fine-tuned as mine”.

My fall happened in a split second. In my last blog I commented on how spectacular the third night of our Kisumu Gospel Festival was. I couldn’t possibly describe all the glorious details of the testimonies of healings, salvation and freedom. There is one other small detail that I didn’t mention. At the end of the night I was engaged in a conversation with the Mayor of Kisumu, when Megen Thurber, head of our Media department, waved to let me know some people wanted to take our picture.

March 27, 2009
My last blog ended with my meeting at the home of Kenya’s Prime Minister, Raila Odinga. A lot has happened since.

March 24, 2009
The days go by quickly, and much happens in a short time. Here is a 20 hour segment that I just got to enjoy.

March 22, 2009
Good morning! I’m writing from the backseat of a car en route to western Kenya. Our Gospel Revolution Seminar has really brought a revelation of God’s grace to pastors. Last night’s closing session was attended by Kenya’s Vice President, Mysukha Kalonzo. Pastors from every district of Kenya, as well as Rwanda and Tanzania are reporting that their lives have been radically changed.

March 18, 2009
I’m in my room now recuperating from the morning sessions and getting ready for the evening at our Pastors’ Gospel Revolution Seminar in Nairobi. We have delegates from every district in Kenya, as well as Tanzania, Uganda and Rwanda. Scott McIntyre from Celebration Bible College and Mary Felde from Oslo Christian Center are sharing in the teaching with me. When I say “recuperating” I don’t want you to think I’m sick. I inherited open pores genetically from my mom and grandfather, which means I perspire very easily; it really “pores” from me. When I preach in hot climates I get myself near dehydration after every session. So to recuperate is to fill up on H2O and get my electrolytes back; we have a lot do yet today.

March 16, 2009
After three wonderful services at the Celebration Church yesterday, I left for Africa at midnight. Now I have a seven hour layover in London, and, I must admit, I don’t think I will ever get fully adjusted to air-travel, security checks, lineups and your biological time-clock being turned upside down. I’ve found a quiet spot in a corner of Heathrow airport to try to sleep sitting in a chair: it’s not working very well. You can see the effect of the financial situation—-a lot less travelers than normal.

The title seems contradictory. Is there really such a thing as Christianity without the Gospel? It depends how we define Christianity. If it means to be born-again, saved and a follower of Jesus Christ then there is no Christianity without the Gospel. If on the other side we look at Christianity as an institutional religion, a doctrine or a mere Judeo Christian heritage, then it has little to do with the Gospel. Many today speak about threats against Christianity. There is a sense of being under attack from our secularized society, or from other religions, like Islam. We’re encouraged to fight against these forces if Christianity is going to survive, and many are doing just that: battling immorality, corruption and the secularizing forces.