Liberals are outraged over President-elect Barack Obama’s selection of Pastor Rick Warren to give the Inauguration Invocation. The website Think Progress had this to say, “Pastor Rick Warren will deliver the invocation at President-elect Barack Obama’s inauguration on Jan. 20. While he is a recognizable celebrity and best-selling author, Warren also advocates a number of deeply anti-progressive views. He supported California’s anti-gay marriage Proposition 8 and has likened gay marriage to polygamy and incest. He is strongly anti-choice, and has equated abortion to the Holocaust. Warren also supports the assassination of foreign leaders. Appearing on Fox’s Hannity and Colmes on December 3, Warren agreed with Sean Hannity’s assertion that ‘we need to take him [Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad] out,’ saying that stopping evil ‘is the legitimate role of government.’ He added, ‘The Bible says that God puts government on earth to punish evildoers.'” Pretty strong feelings and for me as a Christian Conservative I can honestly say that I’m pretty upset as well.
David Brody from the Christian Broadcasting Network said, “It makes a whole lot of sense…This move is also classic Obama because it is a signal to religious conservatives that he’s willing to bring in both sides to the faith discussion in this country.” What does he mean by both sides? I’m assuming that he means liberals and conservatives, but as a Bible believing Christian I only see one side – God’s. And does anyone believe that Obama will embrace Christian conservatives? I mean his theology is Marxist Black Liberation so I really don’t see that happening, nor do I think that he is a Christian although I cannot see his heart. I agree that this is a good move on Obama’s part, but my focus is on Rick Warren. Just as I went after Joel Hunter about praying at the Democratic National Convention in Denver, I’m going after Rick Warren on this. Why did he accept? If you follow my blog, you know I have very strong feelings about mega -churches. I often wonder about the message that is given inside that would be so attractive to so many people. Is it just that people are really hungry for Jesus and the salvation He provides or are they getting a touchy, feely, self-help talk? When it comes to Rick Warren all one needs to do is read his bestselling book, “The Purpose Driven Life”. The message is the latter with Warren quoting heavily from mainstream Bibles like “The Message”. The full gospel message, which includes admitting that we are sinners and recognizing that we need salvation, is absent. Just telling Jesus that you believe in Him is not enough. Even Satan believes in God.
I also question how someone could appear to endorse a President who supports infanticide and Marxism. We should all pray for our President regardless of who that person is, but should we endorse that person? Of course, I do not know what Pastor Warren will be praying. I hope that he sticks to praying for God’s guidance and I hope that he uses the world stage that he will have to talk about Jesus (as Billy and Franklin Graham always do) and a need for this country to return to its Judeo-Christian roots before God shakes the dust of us from His robes.
And speaking of Billy Graham, this “shift” seems very significant to me. Billy Graham has given the Inaugural Invocation for as long as I can remember and even before I was a spark in my parents’ eyes. I believe Billy Graham to be a true man of God who has not used his celebrity for personal gain. Franklin appears to be following in his father’s footsteps and would seem the likely heir to the Inaugural Invocation in the spirit of tradition. I’ll never forget Katie Couric interviewing Franklin Graham and how he used the opportunity to minister to her directly and tell her the gospel message personally as if no one was watching. That is someone who has their heart in the right place. So is this shift coming perhaps from God Himself? Have we turned our backs on Him to such a degree that He is handing us over now? Of course, I would expect both Grahams to either decline the offer or use the opportunity to spread the gospel and strongly condemn the areas of disagreement with Barack Obama, yes even the gay marriage stuff.
But what we will get is a feel good message about America having a chance to save the world now – instead of Jesus. We’ll get to see Rick Warren taking over the mantle of “America’s preacher” and having his bloated ego stoked even more. For those Christians that will attack me on my feelings just remember how harshly Rick Warren went after Barack Obama after Obama’s answer on the whole abortion question and when life starts answered, “That’s above my pay grade.” Oh wait…he didn’t go after him. And that shows the true colors of this “man of God”.
Freedom's Wings 
This Rick Warren thing reiterates to me that, at heart, Obama is a politician, and this was nothing more than a political move. I don’t think that he’ll start reaching out to conservative Christians any time soon, although it’s my responsibility to pray for his conversion.
I agree and I definately will be praying for him, although in a different way then I have for other presidents. Never before have I felt afraid of what a president might do. I know both Clinton and George Bush had some real issues, but I still maintained some level of trust. Not so with Obama.
We know Obama has his agenda, and it doesn’t surprise me that Rick Warren is doing this – he has an agenda, too. I want to think the best of him but he and his mega church have just gotten so big it worries me somewhat. The celebrity aspect of mega-churches is one of my pet peeves. This is turning into a bigger and bigger circus every day. Cheers!
Hey – here’s an interesting clip on this subject…
go to:
http://www.realcatholictv.com
then click on “The Vortex” for 12-18-08
“You can please some of the people all of the time but you can’t please all of the people all of the time” that is a fact. Barak is making an attempt to LOOK like he is doig this. He wont please any real christian. Mainly because we believe in black and white. Abortion is wrong period. Gay marriage is wrong period.
I am saddened but not surprised that Warren made this move. I have always thought that mega churches are the McDonald’s of Christianity. The pastors have no substance and should really just be motivational speakers. At least that way they wont be religious hacks. Always beware of smooth talkers like Warren. He has most definitely lost his way.
I guess I don’t see Rick Warren as a pillar of Christian society the way I don’t see Obama as a true representative for the black community or the mini messiah come to set the rest of us captives free. But Warren, I believe, has stepped into mucky waters once too often now. He should have stopped at that Q&A with McCain and Obama which was actually a pretty straightforward. He didn’t come across preachy -he was just there as a facilitator of sorts and it worked. But when he gives interviews on his beliefs as a Christian grounded in the word of God – he seems to have lost his way. “HE” is under public scrutiny and because he has lended himself with such latitude, ie. the recent interview with Ann Curry, he is teetering on the verge of juxitaposition in Jerry Falwells’ shadow. The thing is… I don’t think Warren is a bad guy but given that he is a pastor of a “mega” church and has drawn interest to himself in the public eye – he now has to answer questions. He seems to believe by making himself available to the media to answer such questions as, ‘ what do you believe about gay rights’ and the slew of others that follows, he is doing the Christian world a favor. Yet he tripped up horribly when one of his answers to Currys’ questions was, to paraphrase, that (as a male) he wanted to sleep with every beautiful woman he saw. If I were an intolerant person I would only see that answer as a hypocritical, gay hating or womanizing statement. I am not, therefore I can only go as far to say that the statement he made when drawing parallels to the gay lifestyle as having a “choice” – was ICKY indeed. And this is what I mean by mucky waters. Warren is not prepared for this scrutiny nor is he, unlike Billy and Franklin Graham, a man who draws directly from the Bible in what he sources. He is merely a commentator with a huge mega church who has with gaining speed been “stepping in it” ‘left and right’ lately. I would suggest Mr. Warren stop trying to be the benevolent yet open minded sort and stick to Gods words when he answers such questions or simply….don’t answer them. Afterall, you are playing ball with the sharks now when you set yourself up in the Media who thrives and dwells on controversy and exploitation. Surely you don’t want to be pegged the Falwell? Surely, your love for the gay community doesn’t have to be touted in these interviews when you aren’t prepared to speak of the heart of God but instead are trying to please your Christian constituency as well as those “you think” can be made to understand that through your own ‘humaness and infallibility – you are just a regular (christian) guy. Really? Do you really think the world cares that you are a just a ‘regular guy’ with struggles and issues all of your own? Do you really think that by taking interviews and having lousy responses to questions meant to exploit your beliefs, NOT UNDERSTAND them is working for you or those you espouse to represent? Rick Warren go back to the bible and then see if you can come back and walk in wisdom. Until then, please no more interviews. Or before long you will finally realize you are talking out of both sides of your mouth and be reduced to apologizing for it. My final message to you: Stop exploiting the Christian faith.
Liberals will not get Christians and Jews to throw over the teachings of the Torah or the Bible.
On the other hand, people of faith will not browbeat or strong arm those seeking same sex marriage into their worldview.
When two guys from opposite viewpoints decide to bow their heads before the creator of the universe – look out!
The long knives come out.
May I invite you to consider my personal “outing?”