Rick Warren’s Politics
Last week Time magazine put Rick Warren on its cover, calling him “unquestionably the U.S.’s most influential and highest-profile churchman.” If that’s true (and it almost surely is), then the face of American Christianity is changing, and I think for the better. Check out The Purpose-Driven Life author’s comments on politics from the article:
“I have never been considered a part of the religious right, because I don’t believe politics is the most effective way to change the world. Although public service can be a noble profession, and I believe it is our responsibility to vote, I don’t have much faith in government solutions, given the track record. It’s why I am a pastor, not a politician.”The mainstream press tends to look at Christianity through a political viewpoint, which is why many of them have been saying during this election season that the evangelical movement is splitting, or (even more offensive to some of us) turning more “liberal.” And who could blame them, with books releasing such as Jesus for President by Shane Claiborne and Chris Haw or A New Kind of Conservative by Joel Hunter?
But that’s not my read on the current situation. I think Warren spoke for many when he said that he doesn’t believe politics is the most effective way to change the world. These “New Evangelicals,” if you want to call them that, aren’t concerned with a move toward political liberalism; they’re concerned with a move away from the political sphere as a whole. They’re not as concerned about the issues we choose to defend as much as the way we defend them, because they don’t want Christianity’s public face to be a negative, condemning one that turns people off to Jesus’ good news (check out this issue’s cover story with Ken Wilson for a particularly articulate viewpoint on this).A lot of people in this camp are young evangelicals like me who have grown up with horrendous reactions from our non-Christian friends when we tell them about our faith because the main things they know about Christians are what they are against. Though we are against things like abortion, homosexuality and other sins, we want them to also know what we’re for. Specifically, we are for them and the changing power that Christ can have on their lives.
I always thought that Billy Graham handled the political thing well. When he expressed his views on issues, he never compromised the truth, but at the same time he was primarily a loving, inviting figure. Here’s hoping Warren and other public Christian leaders can find that same balance.
posted by Editor at 3:02 PM
20 Comments:
Amen!! Well written. Anyone who brings unity to the body of Christ is warmly welcome. There's tooo much division right now.
First off, tell me how anyone who is a born again believer in Jesus Christ endorse a book about hinduism. Rick Warren has. he is full of New Age thinking and he endorses eastern occult meditations. I do not believe he is a brother in Chriist whatsover. He is a deceiver in the body of Christ, and as an American, he is as big of a shame as Jimmy Carter.
Jesus said he did not come to unify.He comes as a sword. Rick Warren has caused vast destruction with his ignorance to sciptures, his half truths of twisting scriptures.
Paul warned of people like this. You do not compromise the truth for the sake of unity. Christians with discernment and biblical ubderstanding do not fall for people like Rick Warren. No, they expose them.
famechaser do not know the bible he is blind but i agree with dennis thompson rick warren is a deceiver he is full of the new age thinking he is leading the church away from the cross and into the occult read his book the pdl life if you know the bible you will see it the cross of jesus is the only way i the holy spirit will open the eyes of people understanding
i hope the holy spirit will open is what i ment to say
I am relieved to find that someone like dennis thompson has the direct link to God that he can judge Rick Warren. In my opinion, it is people like thompson that give Christians a bad name. Of course he probably thinks that Barack Obama is lying when he says that he is a Christian.
I find it ironic that men condemn other men of judging, by doing the same themselves. One major problem in Chrsitianity today, especially in the "mega-churches" is that we put men on a pedistal, focus on them, and look to them for guidance. Shame on us, we need to keep or eyes constantly focused on Jesus. He should be our standard when looking in the mirror.
Forget Warren, what are YOU doing for Christ? Be busy with the Lord's work, because He wants to use you every bit as much as Warren or any other man who has a heart for God!
If I could only do half of what Rick Warren has done. He lives off of 10% of his income. Paid back all of his money that was paid by the church to him. People want to say he is not a christian? This makes me think How many people with aides has he helped. Showed them love when the majority of socalled christians want nothing o do with them. Faith with out works is dead. He has both.
When yur ministry gets to as big saddle back. Reach as many people as His. Then yo have the right to judge the man.
I would like to questions why Rick Warren allowed an open homosexual to speak at an AIDS forum held at his church?
That causes me to wonder about him.
Brenda,
What if this man had insight on the disease; how to stop the spread, ways to raise awareness and money for research. Shoud he not be alloweded to be a part of the discussion? Should this man be shunned? We Christians love to close doors when we should be opening them to people in order for them to be exposed to our lives in Christ. It's narrow-minded thinking like yours that turns people away from Christians.
Brenda,
What if this man had insight on the disease; how to stop the spread, ways to raise awareness and money for research. Shoud he not be allowed to be a part of the discussion? Should this man be shunned? We Christians love to close doors when we should be opening them to people in order for them to be exposed to our lives in Christ. It's narrow-minded thinking like yours that turns people away from Christians.
Warren or Jesus
Let me say here that christians in america will be the first victim of the antichrist.The reason is because they no longer read their bible rather they follow what their clelebrity preachers tell them.They will rather obey a father in the Lord than Obey the Lord Jesus that died for them.NO MAN NO MATTER HOW ANOINTED,NO MATTER HOW GIFTED, NO MATTER THE AMOUNT OF REVELATION HE HAS RECEIVED CAN EVER REPLACE THE WORD OF GOD.whatever GOD SAYS IS WRONG IS WRONG.If the american christians want to know the truth they should read their bibleor we in africa will come and teach them .I begin to wonder the relevance of JESUS WHEN IT COMES TO ISSUES OF POLITICS.
PETER FROM NIGERIA amadasun4life at yahoo.co.uk
It's funny, Rick Warren goes about doing good and helping people while some uber-religious people throw rocks and seem to ask for an opportunity to throw him off a cliff. It obviously looks like Rick's the one doing the work of Jesus and some people are playing the part of the pharisees, doesn't it?
First, just because someone one the internet thinks he endorses new age philosophy and hinduism, doesn't make it so. I've read his books and know that it is not the case.
Second, even if he was wrong about something, the right thing would be to pray for him and for the body of Christ to restore him with gentleness (Gal 6:1). Obviously such public restoration has not been needed yet - not to say he doesn't have his misteps which he must be dealing privately with the Lord. Yet those who try to find any reason to shoot a brother down are the ones who clearly are not disciples of Christ. Jesus said, "they will know you are my disciples when you love one another". Not when all you do is in hatred to try to "expose" those who are not as good as you. That my friend, is the spirit of pharisaism and is what nailed Christ to the cross.
I'll use a paraphrase from a video about Rich Mullen's life: Rich made a comment during a worship session "We as men use the Bible to prove each other wrong, but I believe God gave us the Bible to prove the HE'S RIGHT and as men, we are ALL wrong"
Taking that for what it's worth should stop all our quibbling and point us to the ONE that is RIGHT all the time, Jesus Christ.
Jeff Plummer Cincinnati
People stop the bickering!
God gave us all a different finger prints right? We all have different opinions on what and how we should live.
Rick Warren spends His money and time trying to help and educate people about Aids. He brings in a person to talk about Aids so we are better educated, whats wrong with that? Do you go to a Doctor who is a nonchristian if they can help you? I bet you do!
WHY would a nonchristian want to become one when they see you backstab a fellow Christian who is trying to do good.
Why do we have to always attack our own? We need to look at ourselves, we can be the biggest Jerks out there!
JESUS siad "when you feed them and love them you are loving Me" Should I not help people because I know I'm not perfect and that some of you would love to pounce on me?
I Love Jesus - but there are not many christians I like. Sad but true. So many of you are just miserable...
Scott
Rick Warren is of the new brand of Christianity that is pulling the clear distinctions up from the moral issues of our day. Instead of helping to clarify and apply God's principles from the Word, he is politicizing them.
This is precisely the breeding ground for moral relativism. I believe figures like Warren, Oprah, Obama, and Cameron Strang (to a lesser degree) are contributing to a cultural defeat as we seek compromise with those whose values are drastically different. It reeks of the high school kid who keeps his mouth shut about the immoral actions of his peers to fit in and be taken seriously. This is the sort of behavior these figures lead to.
Christ didn't not talk of division and separation as a negative....rather frauds were railed against and those who were lukewarm. Find me any influencial prophet, apostle, saint, or politician who won their battle for the Kingdom by being moderate and ambiguous....they don't exist. We should encourage strong stances and clear witness, not ambiguous stances to somehow gain political approval from the New Age public.
The phrase "narrow-minded" is used by relativists in our culture to shut down arguments and points without actually having to discuss them. That course of action is truly "narrow-minded."
Brenda has a point. Talk about the point, don't attack the person. The pursuit / application of truly Biblical ideals (abstinence before marriage and lifelong monogamy after marriage) could EASILY erradicate the problem with AIDS and a number of other diseases in no more than 2 or 3 generations. (aside from unclean drug use)
Let us never compromise our values for anyone's politics, and as thompson pointed out...never compromise Truth for unity. I'd much rather have a healthy Nazarene, Baptist, Methodist, Catholic and any other kind of Church that is extremely STRONG in their convictions and disagree with each other about minor doctrinal issues than see a big non-denominational church that simply teaches love and unity...the Truth is not present there.
Of course this is no excuse for these churches to ignore the commitment to the larger Church or the doctrine of grace. Captitalism and sport competition show us that the healthiest system is one that is constantly challenged...not one that is coddled.
Christ wasn't killed because he was a nice guy who gave to the poor. None of our fathers of the faith or this country were timid and also impacted for the good.
Rick Warren is big and fat, much like Limbaugh--of course he's a republican1 and hey, he obviously doesn't care much about the where the Holy Spirit resides if indeed his fat arse really is the temple of the Holy Spirit as they profess!
--Been there, done that.
The original post implies the mainstream press is wrong for looking at "Christianity through a political viewpoint" or saying that "the evangelical movement" is splitting, or defining its public face as being full of hate. And yet, one need look no further than these comments to obtain evidence of all of those assertions. Here I see politics, splitting, and hate. Out in the world, I see the leaders our movement catapulted to power failing this country, and failing very badly. It's a disaster out there, folks, and we have to take responsibility for our part in creating it.
Jeremy is right. Now is a time for humility and prayer, not speeches.
I like Rick Warren as a person. I don't agree with his theology. I think he needs to use the New Testament more. I think the only way to change the world is one person, one heart at a time. We all need Jesus. Doylene
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