Barack Obama's decision to have Rick Warren deliver the inaugural invocation, will no doubt frustrate or infuriate many Obama supporters.
In a recent interview with Beliefnet and the Wall Street Journal, Warren equated gay marriage to incest, pedophilia and polygamy and repeated the inaccurate charge that without Prop 8, conservative preachers could be prosecuted for hate crimes. He described "social gospel" Christians of the 20th century has closet Marxists.
But I respect Warren and believe he has earned his status at the top of the evangelical heap. Obama was wise to ask him to deliver the invocation at the inauguration.
First, Warren has used his fame and fortune primarily to help the most destitute people in the world. He reverse tithes, giving away 90% and keeping 10%. Please contemplate all the religious figures who have gotten rich off their flock and pocketed the money. Who among you reverse tithe or would if you were rich? I know I don't, and every time I think about what Warren has done it makes me question whether I'm giving enough. That is a Christ-like example.
Second, he's worked hard to get other conservative evangelicals to care more about poverty. Some on the left had hopes that Warren would somehow move evangelicals to the left on social issues. They were confusing temperamental with political moderation. Just because Warren is a nice guy, greets you with a hug, used to wear Hawaiian shirts, and cares about the poor, doesn't mean he's a political liberal or even moderate. He's not. But it's in part because he's conservative on everything else that his views on poverty carry such weight in the evangelical community.
Third, he has voiced his own spiritual doubts. This is hugely important. So many religious leaders view expressions of doubt as signs of weakness at best and heresy at worst. By admitting his own doubts, and explaining how he worked through them, Warren gives permission to the rest of us to have an intellectually honest spiritual journey.
Finally, he's mostly about God. Yes, he says things that are controversial and, I believe, is sometimes ill-informed and insensitive. But The Purpose Driven Life and The Purpose of Christmas barely mention the hot-botton culture war issues. He has his views on those issues but really believes that getting right with God is most important thing.
For Obama, picking Warren for the inauguration is a smart move. George W. Bush chose Franklin Graham, a hard-right evangelical to do his prayer. Instead of retaliating by choosing a liberal preacher, Obama opted for spiritual bipartisanship. The move helps to depoliticize prayer -- which, of course, is very politically shrewd.
Click here for the full transcript of the Warren interview
Click here for video of the interview
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As we speak, the agents of intolerance continue their drumbeat:
http://edition.cnn.com/2008/US/12/19/california.proposition/index.html
Barack Obama, who I lost a lot of respect for already, must disinvite Mr. Warren.
Why not choose and evangelical like this one: http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/10/national/10evangelical.html
Second, Rick Warren is a multi-millionaire. He doesn't miss a meal, he sleeps in a warm bed, does not sacrifice beyond his comfort. I will laud him for giving away a majority of his fortune but he's still beyond most people's wildest dreams rich and that is hardly Christlike.
And finally, you list all the insulting, disgusting things Mr. Warren stated about gays and then in your next breath say you respect him? That's like saying you respect a certain German leader for his military brilliance because he was pretty good at taking over Europe inspite of his other flaws. Or a certain Arab fellow supposidly living in the caves of Afganistan because of the brilliant plot he pulled off using airliners even though, gosh, they killed a bunch of people.
I understand why Obama picked Warren. It's political. And Obama is a political animal. The upside of this doltish selection is that it keeps the struggle for equality for all - not just the majority -brewing. Maybe one days when we cite the Pledge of Allegiance, when we arrive at the line, "With liberty and justice for all," we can all actually mean it without it being grossly hypocritical.
Infuriated as I am regarding the choice of Warren for the honor bestowed on him by Obama, it would probably be much better for all if we elevated Lowery's preaching and made HIM the star, not Warren.
Got info?
Obama says that his record speaks for itself with respect to his support of gay rights. Well, although I am straight and an Obama supporter, I reply that actions speak louder than words. He will need to come up to the plate early in his first term and demonstrate through his actions that he supports gay rights. Otherwise, it is mere rhetoric.
I think having Rick Warren give this invocation is the same as having Rev Wright give it. Both have done lots of good work in their communities to support HIV AIDs and poverty - however, would we want to see Rev Wright on that stage - the answer is No. Bot hministers are equally controversial but for different reasons.
However, the one thing this Rick Warren episode has uncovered is change is really coming to America! I cant remember when the blogs or journalists have been so emotionally invested in a President's actions or selections. People sat for eight years while our constitution eroded and had little to say! Now we have all found a voice and feel we really can express it - I think that is change!
I look forward to the upcoming Obama Presidency. Let us continue to be as committed to other issues as we are to this one.
1 Corinthians 13:3
Obama is honoring Warren by allowing him to be our representative moral voice. WRONG WRONG WRONG.
Why reward hateful behavior and slap the face of the gay community who overwhelmingly rallied to support Barack Obama? It’s unsettling and incongruous. Are we supposed to embrace Creationists now? Do we pat the backs of people fighting to stop any stem cell research?
The day will be marred by Warren's elevation to such an honored position.
I believe best efforts should be made to listen to the other side of policy debates and that there should be a focus among our leaders on common-ground solutions. I understand that this is the "change" Obama stands for. However, the worth of a gay man or woman is not a policy issue. When there are disagreements regarding individual human worth, the act of exhibiting tolerance amounts to a sacrifice of character.
The only saving grace is this is just a symbolic gesture and not a political appointment, but it certainly cheapens Barack's very first day in office and I had much higher hopes than that.
You make his opinion worth more than they actually are. It means nothing to me that this man will stand up there and give a prayer. Only God matters and Rick speaks to the same God that other Christians do, and we all don't believe the same things. No matter if he is on that stage or not, the administration does not rely on his opinions, thoughts, etc. to regulate any of our lives, so what does it matter? This whole argument is a true waste of energy to me. I've got bigger, more important and real battles. This is not going to distract me.
On what planet does a Christian clergyman get to lie about gay marriages, demonize gay people by equating us with pedophiles and polygamists, and spread known disinformation about a state proposition? This man is a smiling enemy of gay people and of all freethinkers. Your statement in defense of him falls very short, as his behavior and Obama's selection of him are both indefensible.
I agree, Warren's statements on gays are absolutely wrong and even bigoted; but i think the article is trying to point out that Warren knows he has failings and struggles with his faith - in other words, he could be reached and might even change his thinking on his issue with gays.
That's the hope, isn't it? That we can all become enlightened enough to accept each other for who we are?
What contortions you Obama worshippers twist into to defend his idiotic choices.
I gave $500 to a candidate that picks Rick Warren to speak on his first day in office?
Rev Wright who supports gay marriage got thrown under the bus so he could hear f-ing Rick Warren deliver the invocation an his pupil's inauguratiuon????
Audacitly of NO LOYALTY!
Rick Warren is a nobody, and people are spending hours and hours online crying the blues about how this boogeyman is going to ... what? What exactly is he going to do to our country if he says a prayer for the Obama administration's success? After his prayer, he is gone. Done. Outta sight. He wasn't selected to be part of the administration. Get over it already. It's not worth the drama. It's just not that important.
AS CORETTA KING FREQUENTLY STATED IN HER DEFENSE OF GAY MARRIAGE :"THEY (gays) WERE THERE MARCHING FOR US WHEN THEY DIDN'T HAVE ANY RIGHTS THEMSELVES." AND... "ANTI-GAY MARRIAGE IS GAY-BASHING"
SO YOU OK A GAYBASHER TO BE THE SPIRITUAL VOICE OF THE INAUGURATION????
NOBODIES DON'T GET PICKED TO DELIVER INAUGURATION INVOCATIONS. WARREN'S BULLY PULPIT IS MAGNIFIED BY HIS SELECTION.
THERE HASN'T BEEN ANY DRAMA AROUND BLACK CIVIL RIGHTS?????????????????
DRAMA BRINGS THE ISSUES TO THE FORE FRONT.
QUIT GIVING OBAMA FREE PASSES OR YOU'LL SOON BE DIAGNOSED W/ STOCKHOLM SYNDROME.