Evangelical Pastor Rick Warren will deliver the invocation at Obama’s inauguration next month. Leftists groups are angry and upset.
Obama’s inaugural choice sparks outrage
Prominent liberal groups and gay rights proponents criticized President-elect Barack Obama Wednesday for choosing evangelical pastor Rick Warren to deliver the invocation at the presidential inauguration next month
Warren, one of the most influential religious leaders in the nation, has championed issues such as a reduction of global poverty, human rights abuses and the AIDS epidemic.
But the founder of the Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, California, has also adhered to socially conservative stances — including his opposition to gay marriage and abortion rights that puts him at odds with many in the Democratic Party, especially the party’s most liberal wing.
The tolerance of the Left is on display. They hate Christians and want to do anything to silence Christians. I bet if Obama had selected a Muslim Imam, the Left would applaud! Tolerance for anyone except Christians!
Tags: Anti-Christian, Inauguration, Rick Warren
Moderate-to-left Christian here, not all of us hate Christianity! I can’t say this enough. Honestly. My Bible study consists of three very conservative evangelicals (one Southern Baptist and two members of an Evangelical Free Church) and we get along just fine discussing the Gospels. If we stop imagining divisions they will vanish as they really don’t exist except as constructs.
Obama’s bound to hack some people off with this, but on either side of the debate the single minded issue thinking regarding abortion makes me sick. (And I’m pro-life) Obama needs to show that he’s willing to work with everyone and this helps to show that. Admittedly I don’t know anything about this particular pastor, but I’m sure to hear all about it regardless of my wishes in the days to come.
Oh MY! What happens if Rick Warren slips and mentions Jesus in his prayers like Franklin Graham made the mistake of doing?
Libs might wet their pants, rant and threaten anarchy. And let us remember, it was the Obamessiah who called the Sermon on the Mount to radical for our Defense Department would survive its application. He openly mocked God’s Word and not to be trusted.
“Prophet” Obama is the biggest religious phony to ever take the stage.
Obama’s gay band linked to lewdness
The American Catholic News Agency (CNA) has linked a gay band scheduled to march in Barack Obama’s inauguration parade to a festival “infamous for its public lewd acts”.
CNA says the Lesbian and Gay Band Association’s website also lists them as appearing at the Southern Decadence festival.
http://mcv.e-p.net.au/news/obamas-gay-band-linked-to-lewdness-4678.html
Obama Inauguration is a lewd public act, so the band playing the venue is appropriate.
“Prophet” Obama is the biggest religious phony to ever take the stage.
Comment by Tex Taylor — December 18, 2008 @ 8:19 am
Tex check out this exchange between Obama & Keyes.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qg2KHaFGhg4
Tex–Obama said what?!? I missed that part somehow. Linky?
Here Lex,
Let us hear your smug hero talk about the Bible you profess to believe in:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4FCNKwHRCQM
Like I said, never a bigger hypocrite has walked across the Presidential stage – including the serial raping President Bill Clinton.
Revparadigm,
Excellent commentary, as usual. The sad fact is, when Keyes isn’t demagoguing political issues, he is actually an excellent speaker – far more effective than MLK wannabee President Elect “Present”.
Lex, Agent of Chaos,
There are Christians of all political strife. Politics and Religion are 2 separate issues fro me. When I mean The Left I mean the Anti-Christian left. They support Islam and anything not Christian. That’s what i meant.
Hell, I don’t know what the issue here is. Obama’s not a Christian anyway as Black Liberation Theology is by no means a Christian sect. No matter what the Chicago Jesus would have us believe.
Rodan–I know, and I defend my Faith a lot with that crowd, but not as much as you’d think. None of them really have any issue with the words of Christ. That’s just people I know though. Keep in mind too, just as many on the right go out of their way to sound politically incorrect for shock value (on top of their core beliefs as conservatives) many on the left do the same regarding Christianity, gay rights, etc. It’s become a sorry pissing match IMHO and I seem rather stuck in the middle. But I know what you meant.
Tex–I’ll go listen to the whole thing. The commentary on your version made me want to puke. I thought that video made Obama look that much the better. Or would you rather we start stoning people in public? LOL. OK, start your usual slew of insults against me again Tex, go ahead.
Here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B2Kh-xzerjE
At least listen in context. GObama!!
Tex, think you can behave yourself while I’m at the gym? I know you’re dying to try and rip me a new one, but I must go maintain my hotness whether you acknowledge that hotness or not…..HEEHEEHEEHEE…..
Why are they mad? He’s one of them.
Obama is definitely not a Christian and this by his own words, he denies the faith.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2150091/posts
I mean I don’t even have to bring out the witchcraft, the baby killing and all other evil deeds this man is for, he does an excellent job destroying himself.
and no GWB is not a Christian either.
http://www.cuttingedge.org/news_updates/nz1086.htm
and Rick Warren is a heretic:
http://www.wayoflife.org/fbns/rickwarren-judgenot.html
http://www.wayoflife.org/fbns/review-rickwarren-purposedriven.html
http://www.wayoflife.org/fbns/rick-warrens-peace-plan.html
http://www.wayoflife.org/fbns/rick-recommended-book-calls-opponents.html
so what they are whining about I don’t know, stop whining he’s your man and so is Rick Warren.
Christians seem to have a serious lack of discernment for the wolves in sheeps clothing that walk around, usually a product of making light of what Jesus said.
Obama is not a Christian by his own speech:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2150091/posts
GWB is not a Christian:
http://www.cuttingedge.org/news_updates/nz1086.htm
Rick Warren is a heretic:
http://www.wayoflife.org/fbns/rickwarren-judgenot.html
http://www.wayoflife.org/fbns/review-rickwarren-purposedriven.html
http://www.wayoflife.org/fbns/churchgrowth.htm
http://www.wayoflife.org/fbns/rickwarren-globalvision.html
http://www.wayoflife.org/fbns/rick-warrens-peace-plan.html
http://www.wayoflife.org/fbns/rick-recommended-book-calls-opponents.html
Matthew 7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
2 Peter 2:1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
2 Peter 2:2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.
Read this interview with Obama it will show all:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2150091/posts
Lex, knowing you the leftist wind bag but no dummy, I’ll leave it to you decide if I’m right that Obama is the most self-righteous phony this side of Robert Tilton.
But if you can’t thru this hypocrite’s baloney, then you are willingly blind IMHO. As blind as those that say Obama is clean as a whistle, while being surrounded by nothing but scum, from his spiritual adviser and mentor, to his personal relationships with thieving politicians and anarchists.
oops…see thru
Also I don’t see what they are so upset about with Rick Warren, Mr.Warren is very leftist and a heretic in my eyes:
RICK WARREN’S DANGEROUS JUDGE NOT ECUMENISM
http://www.wayoflife.org/fbns/rickwarren-judgenot.html
Rick Warren is bad news, one of the bringers of apostasy.
The latest junk from Warren:
RICK WARREN SAYS TRY JESUS FOR 60 DAYS (Friday Church News Notes, December 12, 2008, http://www.wayoflife.org fbns@wayoflife.org, 866-295-4143) – The following is from A Little Leaven, Dec. 4, 2008: “Rick Warren’s December 3, 2008 appearance on Hannity and Colmes was a mixed bag. We’ll give Warren props for not caving in on the issue of Jesus being the only way. But, once again Warren stoops to new lows in his quest to remove the offense of the cross by asking Alan Colmes to give Jesus a 60 day trial and ‘see if he won’t change your life.’ Warren, like a bad used car salesman is trying to sell the gospel via bullet point benefits. Once again Warren skirts the issue of man’s sin and rebellion against God and he doesn’t call men to repentance and faith in Jesus Christ but instead asks non-believers to ‘give Jesus a 60 day trial,’ claiming that ‘if Jesus doesn’t change your life then you can get your money back.’ Is there a way for us to have a recall on Rick Warren? We want a different representative. We want one who is not ashamed of the Gospel and will boldly condemn men’s sins, call men to repentance and placard Jesus Christ’s death on the cross for the forgiveness of sins. Warren’s seeker-sensitive, mushy, non-offensive approach to ‘selling’ Christianity is truly embarrassing.”
http://www.wayoflife.org/fbns/fridaynews/news/2008/fridaynews081212.html
I wonder if Billy Graham will be at Obama’s inauguration? That man has been to every inauguration since Ike.
I hope he is not to old to travel. I admire Reverend Graham.
Tex–I never said these weren’t politically savvy words, I just find that I rather agree with them. And there are different “versions” of Christianity out there. My Southern Baptist relatives don’t even believe that alcohol consumption is OK, meanwhile we have a portable tap at my church (what else could you expect of a German and Irish Catholic congregation? Heck yeah we have a beer stand in the basement!!). The important thing, and Obama hit on this is that we can work together. Call that my “kumbaya” statement of the day if you will, but it’s certainly better than the religious divisions in Europe which led so many to become Americans in the first place.
The words of Christ are important. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had discussions with friends and neighbors who categorize themselves as “Evangelicals” in which the Gospels end up ignored in favor of rules from Romans. Some Christians want a rule book out of the Bible and that’s OK in terms of exegesis but this is not the only interpretation. I always equate that need to the Qur’an somehow. If you want just rules get into Islam. Just MHO.
“Evangelicals” in which the Gospels end up ignored in favor of rules from Romans.
I have no earthly idea what this statement means Lex. Am I to understand you think Romans is in contradiction to the Gospels? I think I need to talk to the leader of your Bible study.
Lex said:
Obama’s bound to hack some people off with this, but on either side of the debate the single minded issue thinking regarding abortion makes me sick. (And I’m pro-life)
Makes you sick eh? Imagine how it makes the baby feel. If this were about the health of the mother it would be a different thing. Instead it is the practice of Baal and the sacrifice of the innocents to the gods of fertility. And how can a Left leaning Christian exist? What scriptures or teachings of Christ denies personal responsibility and advocates bigger government? I remember Israel started Hell for themselves when they demanded a King (to be like the other nations). Paul said if a man did not work, let him not eat. Conservative values are derived from the Bible, secular humanism and every flavor of the Left is derived from Friedrich Nietzsche, Marx, and all manner of Utopians.
Lex, I just reread your statement.
You can be a hateful little shit sometimes. Here, let me rephrase your ignorant statement about me becoming Muslim with one explaining your stances…
Some
Christiansliberals like Lexwantonly want to follow the rules when and where convenienta rule book out of the Bibleand that’s OK in terms of exegesis but this is not the only interpretation. if you want to call yourself secular but your kidding yourself if you think you really get it by simply calling yourself Christian.Jehu,
Lex justifies her vitrolic support of Obama the Prophet and his unwavering support of any abortion, any time, because according to Lex, abortion is only a single issue – say about on par of importance with the bailout of Ford.
Why, Lex can’t just “blow” her vote for Obamessiah because for instance, he’s going to provide health care for everyone. Kind of like you won’t have to pay your mortgage anymore now that Pres. Elect Obama has won.
How, only she and Obama know.
Tex,
Lex is apparently another Leftist educated beyond her intelligence. I find these people ignorant of history, ignorant of the Bible, and lacking in any ability to judge character. They don’t really believe in a God that is active in the affairs of men, so they don’t think either individual actions, or the actions of nations come under God’s scrutiny. Yet evidence is piling up that we are, as a nation, and the West, as a culture, under judgment right now for both our immorality and allowance of militant homosexuality, rampant abortion practices, and our pressure on Israel to sell land for peace.
As John Mcternanpoints out on his site (I have some of it summed up on my site). The dates for natural and financial disasters are linked to state visits to Israel to sell land for peace, add to that now natural disasters are hitting us on the same days governors sign bills to advance the homosexual agenda. Here are three amazing dates coinciding with the three greatest Jewish Holidays, celebrating Jewish feasts from antiquity:
The following are links to show the worst stock market declines fell on the days of biblical holidays.
Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year) 777 points: http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/080929/wall_street.html
Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) 679 points: http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/081009/wall_street.html
Tabernacles (The Greatest of the Jewish Feasts) 733 points: http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/081015/wall_street.html
And why are people expecting the same damn fools that wrecked this economy are going to fix it? God is telling us all, “We made our money into God.” He is showing us no amount of money will fix this economy. Does anyone realize that the Feds have thrown 8 trillion dollars at this problem, has anything changed? Other than Treasury Bonds are returning 0 interest, unemployment is expanding, every industry is coming to Washington like blind men with tin cups. And we have not even see what the States and Cites are going to try to get.
Here is a prediction, maybe even a prophecy: The economic situation will worsen until the churches in America declare a week of fasting, prayer, and repentance as a nation. Every attempt by Obama and his crew will worsen the depression, because they are stupid blind guides of the blind. One thing this crisis has done is awaken millions of Americans to the fact that those that are in positions of leadership know less than the general population as a whole.
I used to think these “masters of the universe,” were really smart. But now I realize they are dim intellects made even worse because they are intellects uncoupled from a moral anchor. Because their minds are not anchored to anything absolute or real, they have created an economy that is not anchored to anything real. The are now chasing this helium balloon of an economy and their fix is to pump more helium into the balloon, what extraordinarily stupid men.
Tex–I’ve made it clear that I’m very opposed to abortion. Voting against Obama wouldn’t have gotten rid of the practice of it in this country. Sad but true.
BTW, I’m actually watching a bio of George Michael on the Biography channel….what memories….
Born Again Bible Believer from Sweden —
Opposing obvious false doctrines is one thing…but that site “www.wayoflife.org” is WAY over the edge and look like nothing more than self appointed condemners of anybody who doesn’t fit into their little box of interpretation. They take pot shots at ANYBODY is isn’t Baptist basically. Check out their “Apostasy” section talking about music. What a load of crock!!! They even go after Darlene Zschech of Hill Song!!! What the??? Man that is insane. Hillsong is about as “cutting edge” as Lawrence Welk in music and very general and actually quite bland in presentation of doctrine. Hardly controversial.
Yes I would agree Rick Warren’s “trying Jesus for 60 days” is odd and generally is off the mark of scriptures saying something like “taste and see that the Lord is good”, and most people who diligently seek God outside of Warren sphere of influence can easily see it. Is Warren purposefully trying to mislead people into apostasy? Hardly. BUT lobbing “spiritual hand grenades” at fellow believers just because of some questionable is just plain wrong. Someone who openly confesses Jesus as their Lord and Savior has to be treated different because they are members of the same spiritual every fellow believer in Jesus is. If your finger is not working right, you don’t smash it and demand it works correctly, you deal with it in proper context that would bring about change. Whoever runs way of life is way, way, way too critical of many things, and so much amounts to flat out lies about some believers.
When Jesus said “judge not lest you be judged”…is not talking about putting up with wolves in sheep’s clothing and never examining people closely. If you look at rest of the sentence, it says and by YOUR STANDARD OF MEASURE, it shall be measured to YOU.” Its about reaping what you sow AND the manner of judgment you use, its not wrong to judge, its the type of judgment! John 7:24 tells us to use righteous judgment. “Righteous judgment” offers correction without close ended critical condemnation, which means there is mercy & grace present for repentance…something that site is sorely lacking all in all.
I am finding the liberal outrage against Obama very entertaining.
Obama promised them ‘change,’ he was supposed to be their Messiah.
I knew Obama was going to let them down- I knew he would not (or could not) keep all his promises to the left. (I just figured it would take longer than it has to see this come into play.)
I also knew that far left folks have so many dreams and hopes that there was no way Obama could possibly make them all come true (he is, after all, only human, and not the Messiah).
As a result, I knew that we’d see liberals getting angry and fed up with him, but it’s their own fault!
They bought into all his fakey PR crap about being new and different, about bringing change, etc.
#1 Lex Agent of Chaos
Moderate-to-left Christian here,
Mmmm. I’m uncomfortable with that. Usually, it means someone who rejects biblical, true, historical Christianity.
It means people who actually put the the Gnostic Gospels on par with canonical Scripture, who actually are willing to give the “Da Vinci Code” book and movie a fair shake, or who regard it as historically plausible or accurate.
“Liberal” or “leftist” Christian to me means people who insist that Jesus did not literally, physically die and get resurrected; people who insist that the Bible contains errors, etc, and who compromise God’s moral code by accepting homosexuals in the pulpit, abortion on demand, etc.
To me, it brings to mind someone who jettisons doctrine as being unimportant, who emphasizes unity / feeling warm and fuzzy / ecumenicalism at the expense of truth and doctrinal purity.
Don’t know if that is you in particular, but that is what crosses my mind anytime someone says that he (or she) is a Christian, but one who is “left” or “liberal.”
To me, where “liberal” Christianity departs from God’s Word (the Bible), it’s not Christianity.
Posts #12, 13, 17, 18, etc:
As the audio on my computer does not work, I cannot listen to any of the videos you linked to.
I know some Christians have issues with Rick Warren, but I read his “Purpose Driven Life” book (a few years ago) and do not remember seeing anything un- or anti- biblical in it.
I’m not comfortable with the “seeker sensitive” approach for churches that Warren helped to usher in and popularize, in that it waters down the Gospel-
(i.e., potential converts are told about God’s love and forgiveness, but not about sin and Hell),
-but I don’t think I’m ready or prepared to label Warren as a heretic, a wolf’s in sheep’s clothing, etc. (Ditto with the other favorite Christian target du jour, Joel Osteen.)
As for post #18, one of your sources is wayoflife.org, and if I remember rightly, that site is run by a “King James Version Onlyist” (or the KJV Only guy at least contributes many articles to their site, if he doesn’t run it).
KJV Onlyism is not biblical or true.
I’m not saying that endorsement of “KJV Onlyism” automatically makes their views on other topics incorrect, but it is something to keep in mind when reading material at their site.
The Left: This is Not the Obama We Knew
Snippets:
rainy–I didn’t mean “liberal Christianity”, I meant that politically I’m left of center and I’m also a Christian. I certainly don’t put any Gnostic texts on the same level with the Canonical Gospels and am rather Gospel obsessed in my beliefs. I do not believe that the Bible is the absolute end of story Word of G-d nor in the doctrine of sola Scriptura nor in taking the entire Bible literally, however. Then again, neither does the Catholic Church, the Eastern Rite Churches or the Orthodox Churches. We’re not from an American outgrowth of the European Reformers, in other words Evangelicals. We’re still Christians. As for my fellow Catholics, they vary quite a bit from politically liberal to very conservative.
I do feel the same way about “liberal Christianity” as you do, mixing so many modern ideas with the Traditions and Scripture to suit certain political positions. I try to hold my Faith up higher than my politics, however.
Now Tex will yell at me some more…..LOL.
#32, Lex AofC-
I do believe in sola scriptura.
I reject placing Roman Catholic Tradition, dogmas by the Pope, or the rulings of the magisterium (however that’s spelled) on the same level as that of the Bible.
Placing tradition and what the Pope says on the same level of authority of the written word has in practice caused the Roman Catholic Church to ‘cancel out’ or contradict the Bible’s content – and Jesus Christ warned against this very thing in Matthew 15: 1-9 (click here to read Matthew 15)
I also believe it a mistake to allegorize (spelling?) or to symbolize (spelling?) those parts of the Bible that are meant to be taken literally.
Once you do that, you can allegorize away any part of the Bible you want to, which again, nullifies and cancels out God’s clear intent, and what He plainly states in His written word.
I’m not Roman Catholic, Protestant, or Orthodox, though I probably have more in common with Protestants than with the other two groups.
I don’t see how one can be a Christian and be left politically, since so many leftist positions are contrary to the Bible, (e.g, support of abortion, homosexuality, pacifism, etc., all of which the Bible condemns or does not support).
Even a concern over the “social gospel” within a leftist context is dubious.
It’s fine to care about and help the poor and needy, but I don’t see using secular government (socialism, taxing people and giving the funds to another group) as necessarily being biblical or Christian. (Someone above in this thread explained it better than me.)
rainy–just because I don’t believe that way doesn’t mean that you’re not perfectly free to. I could argue the points but it takes so darned long and probably wouldn’t change your mind anyway. Regardless, not taking everything literally doesn’t mean that the Church I belong to allows wholesale revamping of the meanings in the Bible, rather they go on centuries of theological studies. Views of the Bible have changed over time among all sects, BTW, with a major change brought in by Darby and those following in his footsteps. His notions were a man made tradition (the “Rapture”) yet many have no problem extrapolating that notion out of Scripture.
I could crack out the Catechism but in short we believe in the Traditions as well as Scripture because the earliest Christians did. They’re referred to in Scripture. This is all being debated by far greater minds than ours (no offense) as well.
I fail to see how pacifism is contrary to the Bible as a whole though I agree on your other points. I’m not sure about the “social gospel” ideas you refer to, but most Churches I know of (any denomination) have Social Concerns groups and help out with the poor and even community service (a local Baptist Church here is particularly good about that one). I fail to see how helping out our fellow humans isn’t in line with Christ’s words , but I’m hoping that’s not what you meant. I do go to a fairly conservative Church, BTW. I’m just not a Republican (or a Democrat until this election).
Either way, peace. I believe in “Church swapping”, though I can’t do so with you, but going to services with my Evangelical neighbors and learning about their worship and then taking them to Mass and letting the Priest answer their questions. It’s all around a nice learning experience and has led to greater understanding among us. Not really a computer suited idea, but still.
I grew up in a Baptist household…I went to a catholic Jr high school and a Methodist college. But when I turned 17 I had the courage and the curiosity to seek out my own spiritual path..I read books on everything from Rastafarianism to Islam and for the next few years I began to respect and understand the cultural beliefs of others. I know a little bit about most common religions and I gathered this knowledge first hand by attending various religious services and asking my friends openly about their beliefs and discussing the similarities and differences to what I learned in a Christian household. These days I don’t label myself as anything. If asked if I believe is a God or higher power the answer is yes but that’s where I stop. This thought that Christians have it 110% correct and that everyone else falls into the category of an unbeliever is akin to racism and class-ism. Its says to others that I’m right and you’re wrong and that its not my fault – God made it this way…therefore that’s pretty much the final word. I’m better than you therefore my decisions are more sound, my values are of a higher standard and you and the rest of the world should adopt them.
Akin to racism?
What race are unbelievers?
What class are unbelievers?
That comment is crazy nonsense, I respect other cultures yet those nasty Christians and their thinking are an outrage way beyond what Muslim head-choppers do, its akin to racism and classism.
Wacky stuff.
Bar, note how after learning about all these religions, the view is that Christians believe they are 110% correct. None of those other religions are like that I guess. Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight.
Arwyn
No, I think Christianity is the only one that does that “racist” stuff?
mister carter—-
Christians don’t believe they are “110% right.” We know that we “see through a glass darkly” and we believe that there are mysteries far beyond our comprehension and our interpretations are not perfect. We simply believe that the Bible gives us sufficient understanding of God to enter into a relationship with Him and accept His grace.
Christians don’t believe that every other religion is totally wrong. Many religions express a lot of wisdom. We do believe that some (Sikhism, e.g.) are a whole lot closer to the truth than others (Islam, e.g.), but then, it doesn’t really take Christian faith to determine that. All is requires is a functional brain.
Well… yeah.
Christians think they have it right and that’s racist alright!
?
I wonder what our guest thinks about the “kafir”, sharia, death to infidel marches, death sentences for apostasy, honor killings in the name of …
sshhhhh!
Anastasia, I’m a girl but I think I love you.