MondayMorningInsight - Leadership & Encouragement for Church Leaders

Breaking: Rick Warren to Offer Inaugural Innvocation

Posted by: Todd
Posted on: Thu, December 18, 2008
Viewed 122
(42) comments so far

What do you think?

We’ll have a short, free, unmoderated video conference on this subject later this morning, if you’d like to come and listen or share.

Just come to ChurchStaffBreakRoom.com at 11:00 a.m. EST. We’ll see who all shows up…

(You don’t need to, but if you haven’t already checked out TokBox, go there and sign up for a free account. That’s the technology we’re using to bring the chat your way.)

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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Peter Hamm on Fri, December 19, 2008

Sam writes [Rick Warren is a pastor. His job, first and foremost is to preach the Gospel.] Actually, I think the gift of a pastor to the church is for the equipping of the saints for works of service. I read that somewhere… sounds like the pastor’s main job description. It is, imho, the first and foremost job of a CHRISTIAN to preach the Gospel.

In any case, we are really splitting hairs here. And Rick Warren is just as much a “public Christian figure” as a pastor these days. I see no dichotomy between him doing his job and him leading this prayer for our nation.
Eric on Fri, December 19, 2008

I read this blog quite often but have never posted. A couple of things:

1. In addition to this site, I also go to slice of laodicea each day. I do not agree with all that is included on either site, but slice has many good - and biblical - posts. Yet, I would be curious to see how this conversation would play out if Ingrid S. had been invited and accepted the offer to give the innaguration. From what I have read from regular posters here over the last two years, I’d be curious to see if several of you would give her the same latitude as Rick Warren. Just an observation.

2. Having said that, perhaps we ought to pray that Rick Warren spends considerable time going before God for the words to say in this prayer and then praying “exactly” what God gives Him to say. And, that Barack Obama might be impacted in a manner whereby He is convicted by the Holy Spirit in a way that leads Him to rexamine whether or not biblical Christianity is genuinely the foundation of his life (and decision-making), and that he would make the necessary God-driven, Spirit-led adjustments.

3. Being called to pray is indeed not the same as being called to “preach” a sermon. However, praying,

“Father and Creator of all, as we gather here on this historical day, we pray it might be historical in a number of ways: 1. We pray that Prersident Obama might share your love for all human beings - those you know out of the womb and those you have knit together in it so that our nation might set a worldly standard for the honoring of life as You do…”

and then moving on would still probably make a convicting point. I guess we’ll see…
bobby on Fri, December 19, 2008

If y’all don’t mind, I’m gonna go a different route than arguing over whether or not a pastor should pray.

What i find more interesting here, is what is already happening with Obama and his popularity. I believe he has already peaked in popularity. He almost started too big. There is no way that he can keep everyone happy. We already see this beginning to happen, as a portion of his liberal base will be ticked at his choice of a conservative pastor to pray.

I’m just saying it will be interesting to see what happens in the next four years in regard to his popularity level.
Katrina on Sat, December 20, 2008

Peter,

Repentence is changing the mind about sin…instead of loving it, you must hate it and that change comes from the regeneration by the Holy Spirit. I should have been more descriptive in what we should plead for but I take your correction humbly and appreciate it.

Leonard,

The goal of prayer is divine communication with the Lord and the singing of His praises as well. We are to pray in a method that puts God in the center and on His throne and us in humble adoration. As I am sure you are aware, there have recently been “politically correct” restrictions placed on public prayer by people who are afraid of “offending” others. Restrictions such as not invoking the name of Jesus. Prayers apparently do offend but then again, Scipture tells us that He is a rock of offense.

IF Rick Warren prays a prayer similar to the one Joe Wright prayed in the Kansas legislature then I will gladly come in this forum and apologize and sing Rick Warren’s praises. I hope I have to. It will surprise me if he mentions the Name above all names.
lulu on Sat, December 20, 2008

jesus” name would not offend obama, he was in the church for twenty years, i am sure he has heard it befour, an as for R W praying for him i think it is a good thing,i do not see the problem, i would pray for him if he ask me too, each and everyone on the blog should pray for him if he asked, he needs our prayers now more than any time , because god can and will direct his heart in the way to get us out of the mess we are in, but i was thinking if this is the end time things might not get better but worse, but still god answers our prayers even if it is end time, god said he would never leave us, nor forsake us, and i believe him, so pray for obama and believe god for the answer, and i do not believe anyone on this blog hates each other, we can have different openions about RW praying for obama and still love each other, love is not a feeling it is a choice.i can see the love you all have , even when you rant a little,
Duncan Aker on Mon, December 22, 2008

Rick Warren…A good christian leader who has simply driven off into a ditch. This man gives credence to the very bastions of evil entities at the heart of the destruction of humankind both in body and soul.

His attack on christianity for hurting Mohammedans a millenium ago.

His featuring and idolizing the very dregs of our society both in his church and publicly.

Man this guy sure mixes up his bible

When you smooze the booze you lose-everyone does.

Birds of a feather….

The scriptures teach the christian is to refrain from even the appearance of evil.

Warren could cater to his wishes and ideologies in a far better-more scriptural way than bashing christianity and attacking it by idolizing those very people who seek to destroy it.

I have removed Warren and anything to do with him from my life and our church. There is a way that seems right to a man…

I realize none of us ever get it all right, but we must take care. When you are in the spotlight and you are standing tall…to whom much is given, much is required-for God not for man.
Chad on Mon, December 22, 2008

Just a thought…All I am hearing from conservative Christians (which I am one) is bashing of Obama. Maybe, just maybe, if we began to pray for him, instead of bashing him, things may change. Last time I checked the God I serve is fairly large and He can even change the heart of our president elect.

So, as far as Rick Warren goes, good! We need people to pray over the next four years. If all you do is gripe and sound like a bunch of legalistic, ungodly individuals, not much progress will be made and we sure won’t be showing Christ to anyone.

Try to engage God on your knees and pray for the heart of Obama…God is capable of anything.
Jan on Mon, December 29, 2008

I truly think that no matter what RW does, there are Christians who are going to attack him.

If he were asked to pray at the inauguration and refused, there would be Christians angry at him for not taking the opportunity to be a witness.

I say go for it RW.

From what I’ve heard of him from those who know him personally, RW takes every opportunity to share the gospel one on one with those he meets. He’s not afraid to speak the truth and he does it pretty well in my opinion. It’s hard not to like him, even when he speaks the truth in an uncomfortable forum.

I personally am praying for him, that God will give him the opportunity to share Christ with those who need to hear it.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if he led our country’s leaders to Christ? I think instead of beating him up for this, we should be lifting him up in prayer and encouraging him in ministry. We would be a lot more effective.
John on Wed, December 31, 2008

The left and the GLBT community is still beating Obama up, day after day, for daring to invite an evangelical Christian to pray at the inauguration.

What’s interesting is that he’s not backing down from his association, just as he didn’t with Rev. Wright when the right wing was flaying him over that.
Randy on Fri, January 02, 2009

Go Rick. Pray in Jesus name. Call sin sin. Preach the Gospel during the invocation. Don’t be a wimp or compromise like eharmony.
lulu on Fri, January 02, 2009

it is people trying to stop rick from praying, or anyone using the name of god
Leonard on Tue, January 20, 2009

Katrina, you said you would apologize on this forum if RW prayed well. Well were waiting.