The latest hubbub surrounding Rick Warren and his invocation at the inauguration of the Obamination centers around the question: will he offer the prayer in the name of Jesus, thus offending muslims, Jews, Buddhists, Hindus, atheists, etc.?
President-elect Barack Obama's choice of Rick Warren to deliver the inaugural invocation drew one kind of protest. Whether the evangelical pastor offers the prayer in the name of Jesus may draw another. At George W. Bush's 2001 swearing-in, the Revs. Franklin Graham and Kirbyjon Caldwell were criticized for invoking Christ. The distinctly Christian reference at a national civic event offended some, and even prompted a lawsuit.
Warren did not answer directly when asked whether he would dedicate his prayer to Jesus. In a statement Tuesday to The Associated Press, Warren would say only that, "I'm a Christian pastor so I will pray the only kind of prayer I know how to pray."
"Prayers are not to be sermons, speeches, position statements nor political posturing. They are humble, personal appeals to God," Warren wrote. His spokesman would not elaborate.
For a Christian, is a prayer offered up without doing so through Christ effectual and worth the breath? Not really, which is why I believe that the Bible shows that those who pray outside of Christ are probably wasting their breath. Christ is the great High Priest, the sole mediator between God and man. He is the one at the right hand of the Father, He is the one who conquered death and sin by His cross. He is the one who made atonement for sin and at His death the curtain in the temple, symbolizing the separation between God and man, was rent in two.
In other words, what basis does anyone have to approach the Father other than through the intercession of Christ?
Let’s hope that Rick Warren offers a humble, sincere prayer in the name of the Savior. If he won’t do that, how can he claim to be a minister of the Gospel of the One who he will not name in front of believers and sinners alike?
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