Thursday, 18 December 2008
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Obama Chooses Rick Warren to Deliver Invocation at Inaugural Ceremony
Guest post submitted by sirnickdonGay rights activists as well as the pro-abortion lobby are openly angry and critical of President-elect Obama for choosing Rick Warren to deliver the invocation at the inaugural ceremony in January. The liberal critics are concerned that Warren is a "symbol of division," by which they mean (I assume) that he disagrees with them. They are concerned that Warren's status among Democrats and liberals will be elevated as a result of Obama's decision, and that Warren's voice will resonate more loudly with the party - a problem, they contend, because he supported Proposition 8, opposes the homosexual lifestyle in general and is staunchly pro-life.
What do you think? Is this an example of Obama being true to his word in reaching out to those whose views differ? After all, he could have chosen, say, Bishop John Shelby Spong, whose political views more closely match his own, without creating any political fervor. Or is this a sign that Rick Warren is not really a Christian after all, as some hyper-conservatives have long contended?
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About the Author
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- From: sirnickdon
- Name: Nick-Don
- About Me: I like tea, poetry, jazz and riding my bike. I graduated from college last year with a double-major in English and Christian ministry. In February my wife and I are moving into a new monastic house in Findlay, OH, to pursue a more gospel-centered lifestyle.
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Comments (112)
I believe it means Rick Warren is a politically powerful preacher, as are Billy Graham and John Hagee.
An interesting choice. It's good to see our future President not just catering to one radical percentage of the population, but also connecting with mainstream America and the values our country was built upon
You know what would be awesome? If there was not invocation at the inauguration! Its unfortunate that every president has had to pay lip service to religion. aren't we a secular nation after all?
@zodtheimpeccable@xanga - lol, that was meant to be sarcastic, right? ;) our nation was founded on the principles espoused in God's word, the Bible.
This is just another attempt Obama is making for the favor of the Christian right before he reveals himself as the anti-Christ, fooling the world into believing he's God, and asks us to follow him.
Just kidding.
I'm surprised the gay community has been so vehemently opposed to this. There's a gay marching band performing, so it's not like they're being left out of this. It's just further evidence to me that they just want what they believe to be approved of in everyone's morals.
I think that it's great to have an invocation, but greater that if we ever had a Muslim president, a Muslim prayer was read or something. This is supposed to be a day that celebrates the president-elect and his culture, so I believe Rick Waren is appropriate, because he and Obama are both Christians that are socially progressive. Also note that Obama doesn't support gay marriage despite being pro-choice.
It seems to me that Obama was very much for "reaching across the isle" and other efforts towards uniting people.
So it hardly surprises me that he would tap people who don't necessarily align with his own views.
Why it is seemingly shocking others is beyond me.
I just hope Obama doesn't sign FOCA.
@greenbird321@xanga - Wrong! Many of the founding fathers were deists and the philosophy they followed was based on Enlightenment values which opposed the traditional Christian philosophies that had turned Europe into a wreck over the centuries.
@zodtheimpeccable@xanga - and yet, they still found it the best choice to come together and found the country on the values laid down in the Bible.
@Ancient_Scribe@xanga - I hope not, as well...my uncle(my political sounding board) thinks it's 'too radical' to go through...but these days, you never know.
A lot of people voted for Obama on the assumption that he was going to force through as US law their exact views on everything and everyone else be damned. Now some of those people are discovering that he isn't a clone of them and won't make everything happen immediately. Obama is learning that we are an extremely divided country and that there is no way that anyone can ever please everybody.
It means Rick Warren is a sell-out.
@mrcolorful@xanga - very well put!
He could've picked Jeremiah "God damn America" Wright.
So pretty much activists are angry because the view that they're trying to get people to consider is not the only view that people consider? It seems a bit ironic and contradictory to me.
You can't please everyone, period. Any idiot can see that.
@greenbird321@xanga - You're still incorrect. The values that the country was founded upon are similar to those in the Bible yes. However this country was created in an attempt to escape religion. Just because someone has values that doesn't mean they're religious.
While I don't LIKE Rick Warren and I don't agree with him in most any sense I think it's a good thing he was chosen. Obama's keeping his promise; we're seeing moderation and deal making.
I will have a bowl of popcorn ready however; should Warren start inseritng his won rhetoric into his speech I can do target practice.
I personally think they are enraged because he said he would fight for equality for all as in get equal rights for all, but I think by saying that, they assumed he meant he is agreeing with that kind of a lifestyle, which he didn't say. Big difference there, :)
@misswonderj@xanga - actually, this country was founded in an attempt to escape religious persecution--the persecution of one sect of Christianity being forced to practice the way that another sect wanted them to.
@FreakSaphhic@xanga - It's not a speech, it's an invocation. It would be in pretty poor taste and an offense to our new President, and God for that matter, for him to put any kind of rhetoric in it.
Obama's doing whats best for him. .maybe for the country-- I don't know. Either way, my position has been, as long as Obama becomes more conservative with his political appointees and in choices, conservatives will accept him but the extreme liberals who supported him during the election will begin to hate him. That is what's happening.
I also think it is time for "conservatives" to step back and out of politics. It can go too far as thats whats happened in the climactic representation of conservatives in the last years. Perhaps its time to give unto Caesar what is Caesar's and God what is God's. Christianity has been too politicized and as history has shown, that has never been a good thing. We are to pray for our leaders whoever they are as the Bible instructs.
As for Rick Warren, there are many Christians who disagree with his doctrine. I do not agree with it either.
"disagree without being disagreeable"?
no matter how good your intention is behind trying to make a statement like that work, it's still contradictory.
That makes me chuckle to myself.
What astonishes me is that President-elect Obama has been repeatedly clear on his view of how we all should behave. In his speeches, in the debates, in his books, he has been clear...We need to stop demonizing those who disagree with us and have honest discussions of complex issues and understand that no American should be our enemy. His selection of Paster Warren is a shining example.
I won't presume to know the eternal destination of Paster Warren's soul, esp based solely on his acceptance of a request from our newest president. I will not speculate on his motives, for good or evil. I will merely say, "Thank you, sir for answering the President's call."
goinggreenaccidently.blogspot.com
I think Obama is doing what he said he would do. I respect the guy for it. I appreciate the message of Rick Warren. I think he is balanced and aware of the world we live in.