Before you come down on him too hard — I'd do it!
But they'd never have me back a second time.
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Rick Warren to pray at The One's inauguration
Clickety-click.
Before you come down on him too hard — I'd do it!
But they'd never have me back a second time.
Before you come down on him too hard — I'd do it!
But they'd never have me back a second time.
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17 comments:
Absolutely. Why wouldn't you do it? What a tremendous opportunity to be persecuted for righteousness! Simply pray an actual Christian prayer instead of a nonspecific spiritual prayer to the ether, and you're guaranteed to be slandered and reviled for years to come. What a tremendous blessing - let's pray he makes the most of it.
Yeah but see there's a reason why they invite the likes of Warren to pray... They would never invite someone like you Dan. ;)
Hey Dan,
I think I'd do it too.
By the way, regarding America's Pastor, I posted over at our blog (www.christiansincontext.org) today on another "why did you have to say it like that?" Rick Warren moment, and I linked to your last post on him. It seemed in line with what you said there.
Just thought you might be interested. Here's the permalink, by the way: http://www.christiansincontext.org/2008/12/does-rick-warren.html.
Love your blog and your writing on Pyro.
Andrew
Somehow I don't think praying for the President to repent in sackcloth and ashes is what the Inaugural Committee has in mind - and I doubt Warren would be up to it anyway. The prospect of DJP praying at the inaugural, on the other hand, would be most amusing - Elijah vs Ahab would be nothing in comparison to it.
Yeah, I'd do it too, but I'm a woman and I will not pray to the masses in mixed compamy.
If I DID pray, you can be sure it would be prayer that invoked the Gospel.
Don't hold your breath for Mr. Warren to do the same.
PC = Pastorally Correct
My fear is I will dislike Ricky more than I already do after his "America's Pastor" Prayer.
I wonder why he didn't ask Gene Robinson? Now that would have been change!
Unnngh.
Interesting to see the MSM turning against The one over this choice.....
"Why such a controversial (anti- gay-marriage) choice?"
eeesh
I hope that RW truly makes the best use of his opportunity; maybe he'll surprise us!
yeah, right.....
It could happen. He surprised me by asking some good questions when he had McItsmyturn and The One in that non-debate at his church. I didn't ever think he'd put The One in a corner on abortion. Not that it did much good.
Put him in a corner, but let him wiggle out pretty easily with the snide "above my pay grade" answer.
Would have been nice to see RW push him for an answer, and for how it relates to the overall abortion "issue"....
Well, Dan, I don't plan on watching (except what's on the evening news) or recording the inauguration. It's on a workday anyway.
So, do let us know on Rick Warren does. Thanks.
Great to know Obama reads your post and took my suggestion very literally! Surprise, Surprise!
"I now offer up this prayer to the god... i mean demon of many understandings".
Good start Obama.
I fear that this dialogue is providing quick, cliché-minded replies without really digging into the true dynamic Pastor Warren is facing. Pastor Warren has been asked to intercede for the incoming President. This responsibility is not only a personal privilege but a Biblical command:
I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, 2 for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. 3 This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior... (I Timothy 2:1-3).
Some of you have said you would reject the invitation. Why? God tells you to do it and you are called to obey. Others have said that unless I can do it "in Jesus name" I wouldn't. Why? Is it because you fear looking like you are compromising? Is it because you don't want to be looked at favorably by people who are living in sin?
John the Baptist and Jesus faced the same reality and yet didn't let it detract them from ministry. In Matthew 11:18-19 it says, "For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ 19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds.”
If John the Baptist and Jesus couldn't please everyone and yet wisdom shows us that they impacted people, why would we expect Pastor Warren to reject this opportunity? So, now we are left with trying the answer what is the standard by which every public prayer can and should be judged by. This is where the dialogue should be and not the pedantic, "well, I wouldn't do it" type of argument. Frankly, that sole response in its substance has more to do with being lazy than with being a radical, thoughtful follower of Jesus Christ.
As a pastor, I try to engage those under my care on issues just like this. I welcome your participation with us.
Did I miss something? Or did you copy this from a comment you made on another blog?
Did anyone in this meta say he wouldn't do it?
My apologies. It is true that no one in this string said they would not pray except for the woman who won't pray "to the masses in mixed company." So, everyone would pray at the celebration with no hesitancy at all and support Pastor Warren to do so as well? Great. It's good to see people of faith support Pastor Warren and his praying for the upcoming Obama administration.
I don't want to speak for others, but here and Pyro I don't mostly get disapproval for Warren accepting the invitation.
But I do think we fear he's not going to use it as an opportunity to pray "prophetically," but instead will pray appeasingly — with an aim, not to point the nation to Christ in repentance, but to himself in admiration and affection.
Having said that, we pray he will pray as a Biblically-faithful Christian pastor committed to God's glory above all.
Agreed. The difficulty is determining if Pastor Warren's prayer is appeasing or prophetic. Let's face it, there is a wide spectrum of evangelicals making this determination. After all, the only way to satisfy your standard of good or bad is to know the very heart of Pastor Warren. How do we know his sincerity level? He may even speak prophetically to simply appease fellow evangelicals?
I would suggest using a different litmus test. When I hear Pastor Warren, I will be listening to his expression of need. A need not for unity or courage or strength, but a need for God. A humble expression of need for God on every level of our existence as a nation. I believe that this would be a fundamental expression of a God-centered person functioning in his role on this type of day. I do expect people who don't feel they need God or simply reject God to be up in arms if this should occur. I welcome the persecution that should come to Pastor Warren (and us by extension) since this is the basic distinction between everyone who will hear this message. There are those who need God and those who do not need God.
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