Pray For Rick Warren
Pray for Rick Warren. The mega church pastor of Saddleback Community and author of "The Purpose Driven Life" the best-selling non-fiction hardback book in American history deserves our support, gratitude and prayer. Here's why. So far, Warren is refusing to snatch at politically correct respectability, however alluring such a stance might appear. The price for PC respectability is clear: deny the exclusive claims of Christ and embrace homosexual behavior as an acceptable lifestyle. So far, Warren just won't do it.
Meanwhile, Warren has launched a massive effort to alleviate poverty and address the spread of AIDS globally but with special focus in Africa. Such socially conscious activism puts would-be critics of conservative Christianity back on their heels just long enough for Warren to show his evangelical stripes, now clothed with the credibility that only walking the walk brings.
Charlie Rose opened a recent interview with Warren by thanking him for the kind note he received during a recent illness. In the course of the interview, both of the crucial PC litmus test issues surfaced and Warren stood firm in a gentle way on both counts. When Charlie suggested that by identifying Jesus as the only path to salvation, Warren condemns billions of good folk to the flames, Warren deftly and rightly noted that here we have to do with Jesus' own words, not Warren's and thus, the question is whether Jesus is a liar or not. Rose quickly changed the subject, apparently not anxious to get crosswise with Jesus.
Pray that Warren will continue to "do good," to love the sinner actively while hating the sin and that, as a result, many will hear the gospel.
Meanwhile, Warren has launched a massive effort to alleviate poverty and address the spread of AIDS globally but with special focus in Africa. Such socially conscious activism puts would-be critics of conservative Christianity back on their heels just long enough for Warren to show his evangelical stripes, now clothed with the credibility that only walking the walk brings.
Charlie Rose opened a recent interview with Warren by thanking him for the kind note he received during a recent illness. In the course of the interview, both of the crucial PC litmus test issues surfaced and Warren stood firm in a gentle way on both counts. When Charlie suggested that by identifying Jesus as the only path to salvation, Warren condemns billions of good folk to the flames, Warren deftly and rightly noted that here we have to do with Jesus' own words, not Warren's and thus, the question is whether Jesus is a liar or not. Rose quickly changed the subject, apparently not anxious to get crosswise with Jesus.
Pray that Warren will continue to "do good," to love the sinner actively while hating the sin and that, as a result, many will hear the gospel.
posted by Mark DeVine at 10:16 AM
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