Breaking: Rick Warren to Offer Inaugural Innvocation
- Posted by: Todd
- Posted on: Thu, December 18, 2008
- Viewed 392
- (42) comments so far
What do you think?
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According to the New York Times, Barack Obama has selected Rick Warren to deliver the invocation at his inauguration, a role that positions Warren "to succeed Billy Graham as the nation’s pre-eminent minister and reflects the generational changes in the evangelical Christian movement".
The Times continues: "The choice of Mr. Warren, pastor of a megachurch in Orange County, Calif., is an olive branch to conservative Christian evangelicals. Mr. Warren is an outspoken opponent of abortion and same-sex marriage — litmus-test issues for Christian conservatives. In fact, his selection set off a round of criticism by gay rights groups angered by his support for California’s ban on same-sex marriages."
Matter of fact, many liberal blogs are on fire today, very upset that Obama picked an anti-homosexual to deliver the prayer. And, I assume that there will be many conservative Christians (haven't checked Slice yet today) that will take a ride on Warren for his acceptance to deliver a prayer for a pro-abortion president...
Comments
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Leonard on Thu, December 18, 2008
Good. I am glad.
Jim on Thu, December 18, 2008
Is there any Clergy left that will not pray a blessing over evil policies? I cannot picture John the Baptist pronouncing the invocation on Herod and his brother’s wife’s relationship. No, the Scriptures says he called for them to repent, and it cost him his head.
I am astounded that there is so little confrontation on moral issues by the clergy, and the Church as a whole. The Scripture is adamant that we are not to be unequally yoked, and to overlook the abortion, and homosexuality policies this man says he’s going to promote is not compatible with Scripture. So, to become all warm and friendly and pray a blessing on this man and his beliefs is beyond comprehension. The Proverbs is quite clear: He that justifies the wicked, and he that condemns the righteous are both an abomination before the Lord.
Where is the Spiritual discernment to call people to repentance, rather than invoking a blessing on evil? No wonder this country is full of thieves, crooks, and corruption (anyone heard about the financial crisis’ that are plaqing our nation due to corruption?) We overlook the evil of sin to our own demise and destruction, and today we do it with a Christian blessing.
I never cease to be astounded at the ability to overlook sin within the Church, and to even be a party to it. And anyone who thinks that Warren is going to be a positive influence on O’bama by befriending him is beyond rational thought. Obama and the Democrats hired evangelical leaders after the 2004 election to teach them to speak “evangelicalism”. The manipulation by this man and his party is rampant, and that is not to say that Republicans are without sin, either.
Apparently, Obama has decided it is not above his pay grade to decide to override 26 states efforts to limit and stop abortions. He has repeatedly said he is going to over ride them by a Presidential Order. I would hope Warren will take the opportunity to call him and his cronies to repentance before the nation, rather than blessing his evil plans.
jWinters on Thu, December 18, 2008
What the Times forgets to mention is that Warren has been on a Starbucks cup.
Starbucks trumps all.
CS on Thu, December 18, 2008
I checked Slice today, and barring the spicy language that Ingrid uses, she makes some valid points on how this action shows a dialectical / praxis type mentality that is being incorporated by having Warren deliver the prayer for Obama. Either that, or there is a severe does of cognitive dissonance involved. It does seem quite insidious.
Yes, this is a bad thing.
—
CS
sam on Thu, December 18, 2008
another head scratcher from Rick Warren.
He is also speaking at a Muslim event:
http://www.mpac.org/convention/index.php
and he supports the One Sabbath campaign:
http://www.one.org/onesabbath/
Why? what about 2 cor 6:14-18?
Why would he pray over a president that is pro-choice? Who voted against a bill 3 times that would protect babies who were born as a result of failed abortions?
Makes no sense. Seems like he wants to take Billy Graham’s place.
shane on Thu, December 18, 2008
First off-I am not a Obama or Warren apologist, however it seems like many of you are just presuming what is going to happen. Do you know the private conversations Rick has had with Obama? I didn’t think so. Are any of you hoping that Rick is hearing from God and is being used by God to have an influence in the next adminstration? I didn’t think so.
Why are so many Christians negative? Why do so many of us automatically jump to find fault and criticize?
I am going to give Rick the benefit of the doubt and pray he has an influence in this administration. Maybe we would be better off if an Imam gave the invocation and be Obama’s spirtual influence? Or how about the Rev Jeremiah Wright?
Again, Obama has yet to have any legislation passed. Jim, instead of throwing Rick under the bus lets pray that Rick is used by God to change hearts and minds so that that these sin issues are not even brought to legislative floors to be voted upon.
Jade on Thu, December 18, 2008
Why would we no want a man of God praying over our president to serve this country and seek God’s wisdom? I would accept the invitation if I was in his shoes and I did not vote for him. He will be our president shall we not pray for him?
Jim on Thu, December 18, 2008
One of the headlines on OneNewsNow.com for Dec. 18, 2008: “Obama plans one billion dollar bailout for abortion industry.” Who’s being thrown under the bus? It sounds like millions of the unborn. Pray for, yes, but pray a blessing upon the evil that is unfolding, I don’t think so.
shane on Thu, December 18, 2008
Obama might be planning alot of things, that doesn’t mean they will come to pass!! Again, maybe a reason even more to have someone like RW in that position to be able to give spiritual advice to Obama. I don’t think for a second that RW is going to pray for the evil of abortion to keep happening in our nation. I’m sure his prayer will go something like, praying for our nation, our troops, wisdom for our national leaders etc…he will NOT be praying for a blessing for the evil which is unfolding in our country….give me a break.
wendi on Thu, December 18, 2008
Remember Joe Wright’s prayer in the Kansas legislature?....go for it, Rick. Don’t be a wimp
We come before You today to ask Your Forgiveness and seek Your direction and guidance. We know Your Word says, ‘’Woe to those who call evil good,’’ but that’s exactly what we have done. We have lost our Spiritual equilibrium and inverted our values. We confess that; we have ridiculed the absolute truth of Your Word and called it pluralism; We have worshipped other gods and called it multiculturalism; We have endorsed perversion and called it an alternative lifestyle; We have exploited the poor and called it the lottery; We have neglected the needy and called it self preservation; We have rewarded laziness and called it welfare; We have killed our unborn and called it choice; We have shot abortionists and called it justifiable; We have neglected to discipline our children and called it building self-esteem; We have abused power and called it political savvy; We have coveted our neighbor’s possessions and called it ambition; We have polluted the air with profanity and pornography and called it freedom of expression; We have ridiculed the time-honored values of our forefathers and called it enlightenment. Search us, O God, and know our hearts today; try us and see if there be some wicked way in us; cleanse us from every sin and set us free. Guide and bless these men and women who have been sent here by the people of this state and who have been ordained by You, to govern this great state of Kansas. Grant them your wisdom to rule and may their decisions direct us to the center of Your Will.
I ask in in the name of your Son, The Living Savior, Jesus Christ
Katrina on Thu, December 18, 2008
Wendi,
I hate to say it because I know the rancor that will be stirred in this forum but Rick Warren is a man pleaser, not a God pleaser. He will, in my humble opinion, shore up his “relationship” with Obama by giving a very generic invocation that will not offend a single soul….except God.
Shane,
We are so “negative” as you put it because we know the character of Rick Warren and we know he will not confront sin even if it means media criticism and shunning by Obama. No character to stand on God’s truth regardless of the outcome. That is why Obama did not invite John MacArthur or John Piper, or Paul Washer, or Alistair Begg because these great men of God would tell it like it is. Obama doesn’t want controversy and he definitely doesn’t want someone to come and Biblically correct and reprove him in public yet that is exactly what he needs. Love tells me to plead with a sinner to change his ways knowing the eternal destiny of the lost….let’s not coddle a snake.
Jim,
Your “John the Baptist” example is priceless!! Wish I would have thought of it.
Peter Hamm on Fri, December 19, 2008
I think it’s hilarious that everybody lambastes RW for turning a blind eye to sin, and yet the people most upset about the fact that he is giving the invocation seem to be the people who are upset with him on his public stand against gay marriage recently. (Rick is also, as I recall, on the record as being pro-life.)
I’ve searched (honestly) RWs writings for some validation to the criticisms I’ve heard such as those leveled above, and honestly, I do not find heresy or man-pleasing in them. I know I’m not changing anybody’s mind, but I am so weary of hearing this stuff.
Rick, I join you in praying for wisdom for our new president, despite all the ways you (and I) might disagree with his politics or agendas. BECAUSE I disagree with him so much, I think praying for your wisdom for him is even MORE important…
Peter Hamm on Fri, December 19, 2008
Also…
Katrina writes…
[Love tells me to plead with a sinner to change his ways knowing the eternal destiny of the lost…]
It’s basic Christian theology… NOBODY is saved by changing their ways, so if they do change from their sin only, they might stay lost. (I’ve seen this.) Keeping the law saves no man. So my plea with the sinner is to come back to God in repentance, to embrace Christ and trust him. Behavior modification won’t do it. We know this from Scripture.
RIck was invited, and not those other folks that you mentioned, because nobody outside of certain Christian circles has ever heard of them. Is there some “political posturing” on Obama’s part in this choice? Doubtless. Is it still possible that RW can deliver a redemptive prayer for wisdom? Doubtless.
Leonard on Fri, December 19, 2008
This could be the first time ever that conservative Christians and Homosexuals are lined up. Too bad it is opposition to a brother in Christ. http://www.mondaymorninginsight.com/images/smileys/smile.gif
I am glad RW was invited to do this. Here is a pro-life and pro- traditional marriage guy actually there by invitation.
Katrina,your opinion is speculation and accusation. If there is anything truly humble about it, then in January, will you will come back and apologize if he prays a biblical prayer. He is not there to preach, he is there to pray.
To assault his character here in this forum is wrong. It is offensive and much different than saying you disagree with his theology or methodology.
Leonard on Fri, December 19, 2008
Also your statement is kind of weird to me.
You State: “He will, in my humble opinion, shore up his “relationship” with Obama by giving a very generic invocation that will not offend a single soul….except God.”
I didn’t know the goal of prayer was to offend people.
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