Obama Defends Invocation by Rick Warren
In this Aug. 16, 2008 file photo, then Democratic presidential candidate, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., left, joins Pastor Rick Warren of Saddleback Church, for a discussion on moral issues. (Richard Vogel / Associated Press)
Why are people all bent out of shape because Barrack Obama, thinking for himself, chose Rick Warren to give a short invocation? The hoopla over this seems silly. It’s Obama’s inauguration and he can do whatever he wants. Conservatives aren’t objecting to Joseph Lowery. Silly.
There is so much intolerance for people with different views in this country.
From the Washington Post:
By Jacqueline L. Salmon, Debbi Wilgoren and Peter Slevin
President-elect Barack Obama this morning defended his choice of evangelical megapastor Rick Warren to deliver the invocation at next month’s swearing-in, saying that although he differs with the conservative pastor on social issues, he wants to have diverse voices at the ceremony.“I am a fierce advocate of equality for gay and lesbian Americans. It is something that I have been consistent on, and I intend to continue to be consistent on during my presidency,” Obama said at a morning news conference to announce several financial appointments. “What I’ve also said is that it is important for America to come together, even though we may have disagreements on certain social issues.”
Gay rights advocates and progressives denounced the decision to associate with Warren, an outspoken opponent of abortion rights, same-sex marriage and stem cell research, immediately after inaugural organizers announced the lineup for the ceremony yesterday.
The Human Rights Campaign sent a blistering letter to Obama (D) in which it called the choice of Warren “a genuine blow” to gay Americans, who supported Obama overwhelmingly in his race against Republican nominee John McCain.
The letter noted Warren’s vocal support of California’s Proposition 8, a ballot measure banning gay marriage in the state that was approved by California voters last month. “By inviting Rick Warren to your inauguration, you have tarnished the view that gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Americans have a place at your table,” the letter said.
Obama emphasized today that although Warren will offer the opening prayer at the inaugural ceremony, the closing benediction will be given by Rev. Joseph E. Lowery, a civil rights icon who founded the Southern Christian Leadership Conference.
As Obama put it, Lowery, 87, has “deeply contrasting views to Warren on a whole host of issues.”
Read the rest here.
Anthony Bradley, 36, is assistant professor of apologetics and systematic theology at Covenant Theological Seminary (Creve Coeur) and Research Fellow at the Acton Institute for the Study of Religion and Liberty. He holds a PhD in Historical and Theological Studies from Westminster Theological Seminary and is frequently called upon by members of the broadcast media for comment on current issues and has appeared on NPR, CNN/Headline News, and Fox News, among others. 
I seem to recall that the Christian Right had a real hard time when Warren invited Obama to speak at Saddleback during a big AIDS conference a while back. The person who labeled Warren as “Dobson Lite” knows darn little about either of them
As far as it goes, I think Obama is doing just fine. He’s ticking off the hardliners on both sides.
Obama as a Christians is against gay unions being called marriages, as any Christian should be. Obama has not misled anyone concerning his beliefs and has always confessed to be a practicing Christian. Did these people think that he was lying?
Rick Warren is a Christian minister for God’s sake and a pretty honorable one who concentrates on teaching bible based only principles. These particular “gay and lesbian groups” want Christian leaders and other Christians to pervert the word of God but a true follower of Christ will do no such thing intentionally.
Gays should be ecstatic to have Christians in this world such as Obama and Rick Warren because they truly are Christ-like.
God loves homosexual people but he will not tolerate your sin. The Bible is clear that same gender sexual relations are an abomination to the Lord.
Holy Matrimony is a sacred and religious institution between one man and one woman. Marriage should not be redefined. For over six thousand years marriage has been the sacred covenant between a man and a woman. Until modern times, no culture on earth, has ever embraced same gender Marriage.
Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed by God because of the grevious sins they committed. One of the major sins was homosexuality. According to Genesis, God sent two Angels in pysical form to destroy Sodom, Gomorrah aswell as several neighboring cities to make them an example for all generations. The men of Sodom lusted after the Angels and desired to have sexual relations with them. The Angels struck them blind and God destroyed these wicked cities with fire and brimstone.
NKJV 2 Peter 2:6 and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemned [them] to destruction, making [them] an example to those who afterward would live ungodly;
NKJV Jude 1:7 as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities around them in a similar manner to these, having given themselves over to sexual immorality and gone after strange flesh, are set forth as an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.
Homosexuality is an issue of sexual perversion, not civil rights. Our society has become desensitized to this issue, due to the influence of Hollywood, aswell as the media.
God loves gay people, and his desire is to set them free from their bondage, and restore natural desires to them. I believe that if a person has a homosexual orientation they should remain celibate, repent of their sin, and pray that God will restore to them the desire for the opposite sex. I have met people that were set free from homosexuality and are now married to the opposite gender with children. With God all things are possible. This is not a message of hate, but one of honest love.
(NKJV) Romans 1:21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify [Him] as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23 and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man — and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.
24 Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, 25 who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
26 For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature.
27 Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.
28 And even as they did not like to retain God in [their] knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting;
(NKJV) 1 Corinthians 6:9 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites,
10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.
Moses wrote this:
Leviticus 20:13 ‘If a man lies with a male as he lies with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination. They shall surely be put to death. Their blood [shall be] upon them.
Leviticus 18:22 ‘You shall not lie with a male as with a woman. It [is] an abomination.
This passage addresses cross dressing:
Deuteronomy 22:5 ” A woman shall not wear anything that pertains to a man, nor shall a man put on a woman’s garment, for all who do so [are] an abomination to the LORD your God.
I’m with you Anthony. Silliness.
Consider the story of the woman, a sinner, presented to Jesus to be stoned by the mob.
Using righteousness and law to identify, judge, and persecute sinners seems to be busy work. I suggest it is a red herring to the call of Jesus.
Who are we in the story? The mob and the woman.
Who is Jesus in the story? The Lord.
What does the Lord request of the mob and the woman? Condem if you can and are free of sin, and stop sinning.
Does he condem her or the mob? No, of course not, that would just be more of the same.
He goes on to state that he does not judge, but if he did he would be right. Judging, condeming, and claiming to be right is the work of Jesus and God if it is to be done at all, not us.
Of course, Rick Warren is an appropriate choice to give the invocation. He wrote the most popular book in American history (using retail sales as the criteria), he was involved in the presidential election, he leads a phenomenal church, he’s smart, etc.
As somebody who DIDN’T vote for President-elect Obama, I applaud his decision…and contrary to what ‘hs’ mentioned, the ‘Christian Right’ DID NOT vocalize opposition to Warren inviting Obama to his church several years ago. Not a single mainstream voice of conservative Christianity denounced it.
My guess is that Warren and Obama, who most definitely differ on several issues, became friends years ago and have struck a relationship. Warren’s Presidential debate was, in my opinion, the BEST debate of the political season and offered a wonderful opportunity to see the candidates in unscripted fashion talking about issues that go to the heart. Although Warren will, and did, vote for the conservative candidate, he defended Obama routinely when interviewed. Is Obama trying to score points with conservative Christians?…or is he simply trying to honor Warren with this honor based upon their genuine friendship? I don’t know Obama’s heart, but he clearly has affection for this man, and it’s nice to see.
The smear campaigns on Warren, like those of Sarah Palin before him, are heinous to witness. ‘McCarthyism’ is most definitely alive and well…and apparently acceptable when conducted by the left…
Philosophical pluralism and disingenuous politicking do go hand-in-hand.