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.

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

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.

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.

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

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…

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. 

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 & Peter I find it amusing as well that Christian conservativves and homosexuals are lined up on the same side against RW, who is on record as being AGAINST abortion and gay marriage...hhhhmmmm?

I am still not getting or understanding the outrage by Christians & some on this forum against RW and his willingness to give the invocation.  No one has even heard the prayer yet, the words that God ( I believe) will lay upon RW heart to say that day, and yet many of you are angry?????????

Sorry Katrina, but it sounds to me that you “knowing” the character of RW allows you to judge him and the words/prayer he has not even prayed yet.  I do not “know” RW personally, I do not agree with everything RW says, however once again, I will WAIT to hear him give the invocation before criticizing!

All, Rick Warren will be interviewed on Dateline NBC tonight and from the excerpt that I saw, he does speak out rather plainly against homosexuality if that helps those of you who don’t think he’s outspoken enough about sin.  I’m not a fan, but he does seem to not mince words in this interview.

The scripture tells us to fear god and honor the king.  We get this backwards too often.  We tend to fear the king… Obama is not our enemy anymore than Nero the enemy of Paul or Peter.  For Rick Warren to Pray for the inauguration of a president is actually kind of cool to me. I mean for someone who has been outspoken against abortion and same sex marriage to be able to stand there and pray for God’s best to happen.

Maybe the bible is true and the Holy Spirit does hear the prayers and greenings of his kids and maybe the Holy Spirit does translate that to the Father.  Could it be that God is still Sovereign?  Rick was asked to pray not preach.  Do not confuse the two.

Sam, thanks for the link.  I understand hi position, but if I were asked I would do it.  I think the rhetoric over at slice and a few comments here are what frustrate me more than Ric doing this.

Dave Z,
A point of distinction. People can change their ways without Jesus. There are moral Mormons, Muslims, etc. who have all changed their ways.

Leonard,
why would you do it in light of Eph 5:11 and 2 cor 6:14-18

Yes, we are to pray for our leaders. But there is a difference between private prayer for our leaders which often includes praying for a change and repentenance in them and praying in public at a political event. I do not see where a pastor is called to publicly pray for a leader in such a venue as the inauguration. Especially a leader who holds to the murder of the unborn.