I agree with Matthew Dus who said in the Christian Post:

“[I]t’s alarming to hear Warren deploying his spiritual influence in support of the ultranationalist ravings of someone like Sean Hannity,”

Warren’s foray into the African Aids pandemic it was extremely admirable.  He called American Christians to become involved in something we should have been leading the way in.  Lately I think he has gotten a bit off track.  Anybody who agrees to such interviews should expect to be asked questions that will be unrelated to the primary mission.  It’s not that he isn’t entitled to his personal opinion on these issues, but using his influence on such things is, IMO, bad stewardship.

Wendi

First of all, Sean Hannity is not a hateful person.

Second, as for dealing with the Iranian President:  I think Warren should have left that one alone.  Just focus on preaching the Word, Rick.  Let the government decide on what to do with that.

Third, as for dealing with an intruder:  I would hope that any husband would do whatever he had to do in order to protect his wife and children.  This does not mean he is a “gun-totin’, trigger-happy redneck”; instead, it means he is taking responsibility for the well-being and safety of his family if they are physically threatened.  I don’t find ANY pleasure in the thought of hurting anyone; however, I also find no pleasure in sitting on my hands if my family is in danger.

Someone breaks into my home and threatens my family (which as far as I’m concerned, the break in is the threat), you better believe I’m gonna take them out.  My family is my FIRST ministry...I will protect that at all costs.

Actually, no surprise here.  For the most part, Warren is probably pretty conservative on most issues.  On some issues, the left will see him as an ally...yet on most, he’ll confirm the left’s belief that under all those good intentions and smiles lies a right wing bigot. 

And for the record, I agree with his answers.  He was spot-on regarding the role/s of government/s.

Wendi you are such a liberal

I think rick get’s so scrutinized that he must watch every word.  I have no trouble with self defense not being murder, but I did not really see enough on the Iranian president to think much of it.  I do not think he was trying to USE his sprirutal influence in the vein of some other people but that being said, I think caution is important.

Assasinating a leader of a government is NOT defending your country.

And what exactly is the exegesis that says that governments role is to carry out execution of the leaders of sovereign nations?  If they did that wouldn’t we call that terrorism or an act of war?

Speaking of Amadinejad, I want to be go to heaven with him.  What a win that would be for Christ and His kingdom!  I think, one could even brag alittle about that one.

There is every chance that assassinating him would put Mahmoud there long before me.

Yes, I would do all that was necessary to stop any intruder from harming my family, even if it meant taking a life.  The Bible condemns the murdering of the innocent, not the taking of life, if necessary, to protect the innocent.  As my late, very spiritually mature grandmother put it, if anyone breaks into your home while you’re there, they intend to do you harm.  So, what ever happens to them as a result, they have brought on themselves.  As far as the gun issue goes, that is the only item that I believe you can’t have to many of-I like to collect them. 

When in Seminary, we had a Chaplain/Sherrif speak to our Master’s class in Chaplaincy issues.  He spoke of the time that he was escorting a prisoner to court, and the prisoner asked: “if I tried to escape, and you being a Christian, would you shoot me?” His response is classic, he told the prisoner: “I will pray for you, with you, or over you-it’s your decision to make.” I believe that answer is both Biblical and explains the position well.

Evil can’t be negotiated with is biblically sound?  Are you reading the Republican Version?  Mine says, “Blessed are the peacemakers...” Someone’s doing evil if you’ve got to make peace - and not by killing them.

God DID NOT put government on earth so that one government could assisnate another leader.  NOT biblically sound.

Murder is not self-defense.  Sorry, but there are many, many Christians who believe it is wrong to take a human life.  They feel that’s the only biblically sound position.  Period.  Disagree with the position but don’t be so arrogant as to call the other position ‘biblically sound’.

I think answering the question of self defense reveals the amount of warfare we’ve been exposed to and whom we’ve been given responsibility for just as much as our Biblical understanding.  My convictions have changed over time but are still according to my understanding of Biblical principles.
If I am home, my wife and kids are asleep in the house with me or if I am home alone makes a difference.  Also, if the intruder is like some crazy dog I’ve been exposed to, yes I would take him out as quickly as possible.
For a pastor to answer questions about international political situations would be opinions that should be guided by Biblical principles.  It would be OK to defer to the “experts” if they were following the same principles.
I think the most important thing for Brother Rick Warren to remember is that God has given him this opportunity and to remember He is the only one who needs to be pleased.

Fishon, we get around don’t we?  Good to see you visit outside the NP world.

The quote comes out of the English Bible. 

Negotiate means: to deal or bargain with another or others, as in the preparation of a treaty or contract or in preliminaries to a business deal.

Evil separates all of us by the things we do or don’t do that we should.  Peacemaking requires some level of negotiation - dialogue - understanding.  There is no verse in the New Testament that tells us that the American government, or any human government, has been chosen by God to “punish” a world leader by killing them.

Brianmpei

Interesting comments.  Perhaps you should go to Auschwitz or similar and explain to those who’s ancestors were slaughtered that another government has no right (or responsibility) to oppose and take out another leader or regime.  I find your comments naive and born primarily of your political/ideological disposition (something you’re quick to point out in someone that you perceive to be Republican).

To all...there is a huge difference between recognizing that we are all depraved...it is quite another to understand that there are those that both embrace and leverage their depravity towards the slaughter and the destruction of others.  While all evil makes all of us law-breakers, not all evil is the same, nor should it be treated the same.

Whichever side of the issue you find yourself, you better have a clearly thought-out biblical view for why you do or do not deal with the different faces of evil in a similar fashion.

Fishon - I was replying to “evil” in the specific instance of the Iranian President and a home intruder in this discussion, not to temptation or evil spirits or any other sense.  “We wrestle not against flesh and blood...” was exactly the point.  We try to bring peace, not assasinate.  I understand Bonhoeffer’s struggle and would have joined his team.  As soon as Iran invades another sovereign nation or begins to turn Iran into Darfur I think we all should encourage involvement.  But perhaps blood shed should be a last resort the church and church leaders promote?

Rick - I had not heard that the Iranian president was organizing or running death camps.  Nor did I understand Warren’s comments to be based on the imminent destruction of a race of people.  But to argue that God has endowed certain governments to remove leaders or other governments or people is exactly what built and fueled Auschwitz, Dachau and the Nazi regime.  And up ‘til CS mentioned Ehud I’m the only one that’s been referring to what the Bible teaches.  Romans 13 contextually has NOTHING to say about taking out a government leader unless it’s applied in exactly opposite the way it’s being used by Warren.

CS - LOVE the Ehud story.  I agree that God has led people to assasinate individuals - Jael and Cisera, but one on one with an aggressor who is occupying or trying to take over your country and establish their own gods wouldn’t be a real parallel to Warren telling Hannity that God would be in favour of “taking out” a world leader who, as far as I am aware, is not occupying our country.  Neither has God left us in the time of the Judges but instead in the time of the Saviour.