Posted on 11/17/2006 11:39:05 AM PST by Dark Skies
A trip to Syria that U.S. megachurch pastor Rick Warren says was inspired by a backyard chat with a Muslim neighbor has triggered criticism and questions that highlight the potential risks when preaching meets international politics.
But Warren's visit - which included a meeting with Syrian President Bashar Assad - also reinforced his credentials as a rising force in a new generation of globe-trotting evangelists following famous predecessors including the Rev. Billy Graham.
Warren, who shot to superstardom with his blockbuster book "The Purpose Driven Life," said he was not attempting to dabble in the hypersensitive world of Middle Eastern politics in the visit that ended last Sunday. Warren said he went to Syria as part of a three-nation trip of pastoral outreach and humanitarian efforts that began in Germany and wraps up in Rwanda on Saturday.
His statement, however, came too late to curb disapproval of his trip as word of it spread via the Internet.
Warren has been criticized by some evangelicals for holding talks with a nation long accused of abetting terrorism that is also one of Israel's fiercest foes.
Conservative Christians have been among the toughest advocates in the United States for a hard-line against Islamic extremism. And Israel is strongly supported by a vast evangelical network, including some American churches that believe biblical prophecy calls for Jewish sovereignty over the entire Holy Land.
The Crosstalk Radio Talk Show, part of a Christian radio network, called Warren a "mindless shill" for Syria and said he "owes an apology to Israel, to the American people and to the victims of Syrian-sponsored terror."
The state-run Syrian Arab News Agency reported that Warren's delegation supported Syria's role as regional leader and expressed concern about U.S. policies, including the war in Iraq.
"The trip seemed like a message that you cannot ignore Syria's role in the region," said Imad Fawzi Shueibi, a Damascus-based political analyst.
Warren could not be reached in Rwanda for direct comment.
But a statement issued for Warren, who founded Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, Calif., described the Nov. 10-12 visit to Syria as "neither official nor political" and said he expressed "support for President Bush, our troops in Iraq and the war on terror."
Warren, however, consulted with "Syrian experts" in the U.S. government before the trip, said his U.S.-based spokesman, Larry Ross. No other details of the discussions were available. Warren's visit comes at a time when the Bush administration is under pressure to reach out to Syria and Iran to create greater stability in the Mideast, particularly Iraq.
Warren said in the statement that the trip was initiated after his Syrian-born neighbor urged him to visit his homeland during a discussion "over their backyard fence."
Warren's meetings in Syria included representatives from Syria's Christian minority, professors and the nation's grand mufti, Ahmad Bader Hassoun.
"I believe it is a mistake to not talk to nations considered hostile - isolation and silence has never solved conflict anywhere, whether between spouses or between nations," Warren said in the statement Ross released Thursday.
In July, Warren postponed a planned visit to North Korea, which is under huge international pressures to suspend its nuclear weapons program. But he is still invited to preach in March at the first outdoor Christian event in North Korea since 1945, Ross said.
Straddling the worlds of faith and diplomacy is nothing new for religious leaders. In 1977, Graham preached in communist Hungary, the first of his pioneering forays in the Soviet bloc. Pope John Paul II, the globe-trotting pontiff who experienced totalitarianism firsthand in his native Poland, is credited with helping bring about the end of communism with his travels abroad.
Warren cited Graham and John Paul as models in an interview about his planned trip to North Korea with the PBS show "Religion & Ethics Newsweekly" earlier this year.
"People say, 'Well, you're being a pawn. You're being used,' and things like that. The truth is I want to get the Good News out," Warren said. "My reasoning is: why not? There are people in North Korea that have not heard for 60 years there is a God."
Mark Noll, an expert in American evangelical trends at the University of Notre Dame, said Warren may be reaching a crossroads.
His ministry and writings have only faint political undertones. But he may be drawn into a political arena by the weight of his own celebrity.
"There's a trend that religious figures - once they get a certain level of visibility and fame - seem to get pulled into politics," said Noll. "Warren is at this stage. The question is whether he is looking for new worlds to conquer."
wonderful, another liberal politician pretending to be "holy".
another Wallis idiot.
"Purpose Driven Jihad"
"There's a trend that religious figures - once they get a certain level of visibility and fame - seem to get pulled into politics," said Noll. "Warren is at this stage. The question is whether he is looking for new worlds to conquer."
Jesus said to peter eat of the snakes and lizards, aka preach to the gentiles, the unbelievers. So, if that's what this guy is doing, good for him, to assist in opening up missionary chances. What is everyone else doing on this thread to make a better world, besides getting finger callouses? I don't know this guy at all but, at first blush, cut him some slack.
If you want an example of Warren's name-dropping skills, read this transcript. Rick was on a roll!
http://pewforum.org/events/index.php?EventID=80
I suppose that unless you have experienced it, it may be difficult to comprehend the passion of those who criticize Warren.
Graham preached in Hungary...did Warren preach in Syria? That's the question I'd like answered.
When you have the time, I'd like to hear about this damage. We did the 40 Days program last year at a solid Bible-believing church. I never approved of our using it and I was underwhelmed with the book. That said, however, it did a lot of good, I think, for the church and brought in a lot of people interested in hearing about him who stayed on and have become believers.
"I believe it is a mistake to not talk to nations considered hostile - isolation and silence has never solved conflict anywhere, whether between spouses or between nations," Warren said in the statement Ross released Thursday.
What an unintelligent narcissistic gasbag this guy is! Comparing marital issues to those of a terrorist-supporting, insurgent-supporting totalitarian regime. I wonder if he has ever heard the term "non sequitur." I guess if only we could send Rick Warren to all four corners of the world he can solve all of our problems. I wonder if, in breaking the silence, he asked Assad to stop sending terrorists into Iraq to kill our soldiers.
Here's the SANA story, including picture:
http://www.sana.org/eng/21/2006/11/12/84711.htm
He loves them so much he even gave them "a memorial drawing as a gift to the Syrian people for their generosity and hospitality, thanking their efforts exerted for maintaining peace and harmony."
Whew, that was a long article, my assessment of him hasn't changed, he wants everyone to love him. Against gay marraige, has dinner with gay couple with aids. The environment is a moral issue, against activist judges.
I see a cocaine 3 hooker hotel orgy in his future.
Normally, I might. But he walked right into the enemy camp and gave them a photo op. Unless his trip was cleared by the WH and State (and I serious doubt it was), it really p!sses me off.
I will give him credit for standing his ground at the end of his meeting with the journalists when they started getting testy with him over church and state and lawmaking issues. He is still a wolf in sheep's clothing, though.
"Funny how he can put on a nice suit and tie for the dictator Assad and the Grand Mufti, but a sloppy Hawaiian shirt and khakis or jeans are good enough for the pulpit."
Good catch -- dress up for the kings of earth, dress down for the King of Kings!
Bingo. Wanting to be a celebrity more than anything.
I have seen more than one 'preacher' like this. I seen the people of their congregations. From the outside, their preacher is right up their with the Savior.
I'm sure they don't see it for themselves, but there's a huge difference between spreading the good news and making yourself the news.
I'm sticking with my prediction in post 32.
There will be an "I have sinned" moment!
Unless his trip was cleared by the WH and State (and I serious doubt it was), it really p!sses me off.
Good point. the law is the law. render unto caesar's what is caesar's.
He is receiving the same treatment as Paul? Are you kidding me? In his world, Rick is a rock star. The world loves him and can't praise him enough because he tells people what they want to hear and doesn't step on their toes too much. He is nothing like the Apostle Paul, and furthermore, if Paul were here today, he would set this self-promoting, sorry exegete straight in no time.
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