I think Haggard had some help.
And one who many people don't know about who talked a LOT about inclusivism outside his crusades:
Posted on 01/05/2008 7:53:53 AM PST by ZGuy
Some prominent evangelical leaders are criticizing the heads of the National Association of Evangelicals for signing a letter to Muslim leaders containing controversial language.
The critical leaders include Dr. Albert Mohler, Gary Bauer, and Dr. Patrick Sookhdeo who voiced opposition to the apology in the letter for the sins of Christians during the Crusades and for “excesses” of the global war on terror, without mentioning Muslim acts of violence.
Moreover, the leaders contend the letter compromises the importance of Jesus in Christianity in order to appease Muslims.
Mohler noted that the letter “sends the wrong signal” and contains basic theological problems especially in “marginalizing” Jesus Christ, according to Focus on the Family’s Citizenlink. He also rejected the apology for the Crusades.
“I just have to wonder how intellectually honest this is,” he said. “Are these people suggesting that they wish the military conflict with Islam had ended differently – that Islam had conquered Europe?” asked the president of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.
In November, over 100 theologians, ministry leaders and prominent pastors signed a response letter issued by the Yale Center for Faith and Culture. The Christian letter was a response to an unprecedented letter signed by 138 representative Muslim leaders that called for peace between Muslims and Christians.
Among the Christian response signers were NAE president the Rev. Leith Anderson and the NAE vice president the Rev. Richard Cizik.
When signing the letter, Anderson had qualified acknowledged in a public statement that there were parts of the letter that he did not support.
He also explained that it was “nearly impossible” for more than a hundred busy theologians and Christian leaders to “keep going back [and forth]” with the “addition and subtraction and rewriting of words and paragraphs.”
In the end, Anderson said, “Sometimes we all sign onto things that are not all that we would like them to be.”
According to Citizenlink, the name of the Muslim letter, “A Common Word between Us and You,” is from a verse in the Koran that condemns “people of the Scripture” (Christians) for polytheism (the belief in the trinity).
Campaign for Working Families, Gary Bauer, responded to the NAE leaders’ support by saying he has been lately concerned with the NAE’s recent involvement in social issues, such as global warming, and that the Muslim letter was another such cause for concern.
“Many of us have been concerned about the NAE getting into all sorts of areas where it has had no previous expertise,” Bauer said. “And now, I’m afraid, I see signs that they’re going down the same road that the National Council of Churches (NCC) is going.”
NCC has been criticized by many Christian conservatives for being too liberal and partnering with socially liberal organizations.
Meanwhile, Islam expert Dr. Patrick Sookhdeo, an Anglican priest and director of the Institute for the Study of Islam and Christianity, called the letter a “betrayal” and a “sellout.”
Sookhdeo called for the Christian leaders to withdraw their names from the response, saying the admittance of guilt betrays the Christian faith and puts fellow Christians in the Muslim world in danger.
However, Anderson said other evangelical leaders more knowledgeable in Islam than him had encouraged him to sign the statement and said it would help Christians who live and minister in Muslim majority countries.
“In fact, some suggested that not signing could be damaging to these Christian brothers and sisters who live among Muslims,” the NAE president recalled.
“So, I agreed to add my name to the letter,” he said. Yet he admitted that, “There simply was not an easy way to process the complexities of this inter-faith communiqué on short notice.”
The NAE leader further noted in his explanation letter that he anticipated misunderstandings and criticisms about his support for the letter and ended by stating that he believes Jesus Christ is his savior and Lord. He also said he wanted Muslims to know about the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
“Anderson said other evangelical leaders more knowledgeable in Islam than him had encouraged him to sign the statement”
That is the real problem. People like Anderson blindly accept that these so-called leaders know more simply because he knows nothing.
By the way, the comment by Gabriel F at the site shows precisely what is wrong with sending such a letter. Placating Muslims is wrong. Perhaps if evangelicals went after Muslims with the same fervor they think it’s ok to go after Catholics, they could actually do some good. I’m glad Pope Benedict is smart enough to confront, rather than appease.
I see NAE is still headed down the liberal path blazed by Haggard.
Time for the Christians to start pulling out.
God Bless Pope Benedict XVI for not being afraid to confront the Muslims and to stand up to the truth of Jesus.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Why are you using such a broad brush?
Do you honestly believe that ALL Evangelicals are “going after” Catholics?
If I find some Catholics “going after” Evangelicals, should I automatically blame ALL Catholics?
What should a good Christian do?
[God Bless Pope Benedict XVI for not being afraid to confront the Muslims and to stand up to the truth of Jesus.]
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Yes. It was a good thing to see.
Islam
Resolution 04-04The war on terrorism has created unprecedented interest in the religion of Islam. Many of the pundits are reluctant to suggest that Islam is anything but a moral and peaceful religion. While it is true that millions of Muslims lead quiet, peaceful lives, both Islam's history and its holy text, the Quran, undermine this view that is mainly driven by political-correctness and a stampede to pluralism. Bloodshed and conflict have accompanied Islam since the beginning of the 7th Century AD. After all, it is the Quran that admonishes Muslims to "fight and slay the infidels wherever you find them. And seize them, beleaguer them and lie in wait for them"(Sura 9, Verse 5). That instruction is followed faithfully by the terrorist groups in Afghanistan, Iraq and by the Republic of Sudan.
From its very beginning, Islam viewed Christianity as a religion of idolatry and contamination. For Muslims, one of the greatest sins is to believe that God could share His nature with humanity. Therefore, Islam denies the Christian beliefs of the Trinity, the divinity of Jesus Christ, the crucifixion and death of Jesus for the sins of the world, and the resurrection of Jesus from the tomb. Thus, the very heart of Christianity is perceived as false.
The American Council of Christian Churches, meeting at its 63rd Annual Convention in Orono, Maine, confirms its belief that anyone who does not hold fast to Jesus Christ as the Son of God and Savior will perish and not have eternal life (1 John 5:12). Further, as the great clash of civilizations between Christianity and Islam unravel before our eyes, we urge all of our churches and all Bible-believing Christians to pray that the Lord may cast down the strongholds of Islam and bring the thoughts of the Muslim people into captivity to obey Christ. We remind our constituency that our response to the dangers of Islam must be regulated by the truth of Scripture. We believe that people from every nation, ethnic group, tribe and language will be found amongst the innumerable company of those redeemed by the blood of Christ.
I’m glad to see this. It’s difficult, because there’s really no one person “in charge” of Evangelical churches in general, but I’m glad these writers at least made it clear that the other (presumably leftier) group was way off base.
I never trust “National Associations” of anything. I guess this bunch must be the Protestant version of the dysfunctional Catholic USCCB...
AND RICK WARREN.
Tell me, did the man of the shining white teeth sign it too?
When signing the letter, Anderson had qualified acknowledged in a public statement that there were parts of the letter that he did not support.
Which parts? Do they sign contracts this way too?
Well they know how to attract a crowd, that's gotta be worth something! (sigh /sarcasm)
I think Haggard had some help.
And one who many people don't know about who talked a LOT about inclusivism outside his crusades:
Hey... I'm not a Catholic but I can see both your points. :-)
“Do they sign contracts this way too?”
Wouldn’t that make life interesting? Imagine signing loan papers or mortgage with that point of view. LOL
Actually, if you think about it Rick Warren only accepts certain parts of certain translations of the Bible in his book, so this is consistent for him.
I didn’t even see Col Freeper’s response. I rarely see Catholics here at FR (or anyplace) doing anything but playing defense. One Evangelical went after everyone who was non-evangelical the other night and there’s one at Hot Air who bashes Catholics and the Pope when religion isn’t even the subject of the thread. I rarely get involved or respond, unless these types of people get too nasty.
I’m still wondering why You used such a wide brush in post #3.
It puzzles me why, when asked the “broad brush” question, some posters will ignore the question about themselves, but point out how “others are doing it”.
Hopefully, next time you see a post by, or referencing to, an Evangelical that does not meet what a good Christian should be saying about another Christian, you will phrase your comment as “Some Evangelicals say ..... “ as opposed to “Evangelicals say .... “
At any rate, have a nice evening.
Point taken and I apologize. You are right. I used the wording from the headline, rather than the wording from the opening sentence. I don’t care for generalizations either, so you have my apology.
If I do, I hope you will gently chide me to correct myself. We Christians are, and will continue to be, under attack from many non-Christian sources, and it is my hope that we can stay focused on The Lord and his word, instead of differences that could separate us from him, and each other, in this earthly realm.
The best to you and your family on this beautiful night the Lord has made for us here in Mississippi.
Yeah. I’m not one to bash Catholics but I am not going to say I think we’re all one big happy family and do the ecumenical thing either. :-) I think ColFreeper was just saying that it does go both ways (and I have seen those types of Catholics too). But I know that it’s not all of them.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.