Saturday, December 20, 2008

Talk about a lose-lose situation


Rick Warren pretty clearly styles himself to be this generations Bill Graham, the high profile pastor who is the one the Presidents call on when they want to look pious after some sort of calamity. Mr. Warren enjoys publicity. During the now famous Saddleback Forum, Mr. Warren simply was aglow with the cameras and both candidates there. He did a good job, but the performance transcended politics.

Now Mr. Warren finds himself in a tempest. It was recently announced that he would give the invocation during the inauguration of Barack Obama. Clearly praying on behalf of a man who supports abortion on demand is not going to win him many friends among the already skeptical evangelical Right. Nor is his choice winning many friends among the radical homosexual advocates. They have labelled Mr. Warren a "homophobe", perhaps the worst insult that can thrown at someone these days...

The Human Rights Campaign, the nation's largest gay rights organization, said Warren's opposition to gay marriage is a sign of intolerance.

"We feel a deep level of disrespect when one of the architects and promoters of an anti-gay agenda is given the prominence and the pulpit of your historic nomination," the group said in a letter to Obama, asking him to reconsider.

Obama's selection of Warren is seen as a signal to religious conservatives that the president-elect will listen to their views. During the campaign, Warren interviewed Obama and Republican John McCain in a widely watched television program that focused on religious concerns.

Gay rights advocates say they are troubled that Obama would give Warren such a visible role at his swearing-in. "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.

Well, it should come as little surprise.We live in a "all or nothing" age in politics. Homosexual activists, ironically, tolerate nothing but complete acceptance of any lifestyle and complete rejection of any view that questions their lifestyles. The choice of Mr. Warren means little. Homosexuals will have access to the White House like never before, and this bone thrown to evangelicals doesn't mean that they will have any voice in the Obama White House. That may be a good thing. Evangelicals have gotten far too comfy in the world of politics and public policy to the detriment of their Gospel witness. There is no room for trying to fit in with and be accepted by the culture (see Dr. Mohler on The High Cost of Being (and Staying) Cool -- Rick Warren in a Whirlwind).

Hopefully Mr. Warren will give an invocation that honors Christ in keeping with Romans 13 and not some pandering, vague ecumenical prayer that would be acceptable to Muslims, Hindus and agnostics. What a great opportunity to proclaim Christ in front of millions, even billions around the globe. The inauguration is a public forum but I would hope that Mr. Warren remembers that he is minister of Christ first and a public personality second. We will see.

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