`Purpose' (Driven Life) pastor has pulpit for Obama (Rick Warren Courts Dems)

Chicago Tribune ^ | 11/16/06

[Mr. Brightside]

WASHINGTON -- Like many fellow Democratic politicians, Sen. Barack Obama is no stranger to the pulpit.

But in December, Obama will go where few progressive Democrats usually venture--to a large, conservative evangelical church that boasts a Sunday attendance of more than 20,000 people.

Even more unusual is that he'll attend at the invitation of megachurch Pastor Rick Warren, evangelical icon and author of the popular Christian book "The Purpose-Driven Life."

Aides to Obama say he will appear at Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, Calif., on Dec. 1, World AIDS Day.

"Sen. Obama has a deep respect for Mr. Warren's commitment to fighting AIDS and poverty," said Obama spokesman Tommy Vietor.

While he was working on his latest book, "The Audacity of Hope," Obama asked Warren to help by reading one of his draft chapters. Warren issued the invitation to Obama to speak at the church next month.

The messages that Friday will focus on AIDS and HIV, a key area of ministry for Saddleback Church. While many conservative Christians have shied away from AIDS because of their discomfort with its connections to premarital sex and homosexuality, Warren and his wife, church co-founder Kay Warren, have been vocal advocates for patients living with the disease.

Shortly before the release of his latest book, Obama issued a call to progressives to shed bias against religious people and to recognize "overlapping values."

[Just mythoughts]

Angry? LOL

See just to actually write what is WRITTEN and not repeat this sluggish slogans of love and giving makes you think anger. I did not write the warnings Christ spoke of, maybe you might read for yourself.

How about this warning....from that book of dreamed up fly away doctrine....

IIThessalonians 2:9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,

10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusions, that they should believe a lie:

12 That they all might be dammed who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

Sadly Christians have NO clue who the Assyrian king represents and why it is even necessary to have that foundation when one that claims to be a pastor would laud high praises of wisdom in the name of love and peace.

Christ said there would be NO peace yet on goes the circus in His name. Clintonism has spread like a virus.

[Cecily]

I love you enough to tell you the truth. Warren and his ilk don't.

[I got the rope]

Rick Warren is a self serving humanist financed by YOUR ignorance of the Bible

This thread is going to get interesting.

[Sunsong]

So why are you so obsessed with putting down a man who is out there doing good? It doesn't make sense to me.

[Sunsong]

I am interested in why you and other seem to hate Rick Warren so much? I would hope that you could rejoice in the help that the people of Rwanda have received. I just doesn't make any sense to me when I read the condemnation, judgment and attack. There is something that doesn't compute there.

There is so much pain and suffering in this world. I see no reason to condemn someone who is actually doing something to help.

[Just mythoughts]

Doing goood?????? What good is he doing if he is not teaching Christ, after all he is USING Christ's name.

Hey if he floats your boat go for it, but I choose NOT to be deceived by the delusions of his working for to be known as a do good-er, using Christ's Holy name. How much did Christ use profit buying and selling in His teaching for 'are you saved' do you love Jesus, NO, His teaching got him killed, not loved.

[Sunsong]

Doing goood?????? What good is he doing if he is not teaching Christ, after all he is USING Christ's name.

Seems to me that there are millions of people who use Christ's Name that probably shouldn't - but that doesn't take away from the good that they do.

When a Buddhist in China helps another - that is a good thing. And when Rick Warren helps a lot of people - that is a good thing. Love and forgiveness are good things. Kindness and charity toward others are good things.

[Cecily]

Jesus Christ and the Apostles warned us about people like Rick, and told us to sound the alarm when necessary. So we are. There is no special exception in the Scriptures for wolves who may also be doing good deeds and giving lots of money away.

[Just mythoughts]

Christ set the path, the standard by which we are to follow.

There are not millions of people sidling up beside the king of Syria calling him 'wise' in Christ's name.

Again if you knew historically what Damascus/Syria and/or Assyrian represented you might understand how Mr. Warren flushed his credibility as preacher in Christ's name.

Let him then find another method and means outside of selling his writings, claiming it Christian as helping. He helps no one if he misleads people away from Christ by preaching peace, peace, peace, when Christ Himself said there would be NO peace until He returns. Further the mark of the pretender Christ is that very thing peace, peace, peace and if Mr. Warren reallllllllly knew his Bible he would know this.

Christ is said to be returning with a two edged sword for a harvest, now that is not a picture of huggggs and kisssses, love, love, love, like some 60's hit song.

[Sue Perkick]

But the Buddhist in China is lost. Without Jesus there is no salvation. No hope. For HE is the only way. There's not enough good in the world to change that or get around it. None of us can do enough. Works won't get it done. An athiest can do so called "good deeds". Isaiah 64:6--But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

It is Christ who should be the focus. We must look to Him, not a man. Only He is worthy of our praise.

[MamaB]

I was not sure what all the fuss was about so I went to several sites which explain his views. I quit after reading many pages and they all had the same theme, he is a fake. I read one account of a man going to the church and he brought his Bible. He looked around and very few had theirs. When he listened to his "sermon" he said he understood why. He used many different versions of the Bible and no one could have had all of those. One complained about the attire at the church. Don't get me wrong, I think nice pantsuits are fine for ladies but he was complaining about the women in short shorts, short skirts, etc. He said they were dressed like they were going to a sporting event. Now, I believe God deserves our best and that is in our clothing, too. I was amazed at the errors in Warren's book that some people found. In other words it was not Biblical. He twisted the words so much that they did not have their original meaning. Some on this thread have complained about people complaining about the money he has donated to charities. But, a widow's mite is just as important to God as the thousands given by someone who has much, much more to donate. I will have to do more research before my final decision about him. There are many more sites out there for me to check into.

[Honorary Serb]

Rick Warren now supports the New World Order/Global Union, and the idea that implementing the UN Millennium Goals will "bring the kingdom of God on earth". Just like the New World Order feminazi heretic Katharine Jeferts-Schori, the new presiding "bishop" of the Episcopal Church!

His sharing his pulpit with the clinton surrogate Osama Obama is no surprise.

[Cecily]

Well done. All the information is out there for anyone who wants to find it.

[Binghamton_native]

Rick Warren on those who oppose "Purpose Driven" teachings in their church:

"Be willing to let people leave the church. And I told you earlier the fact that people are gonna leave the church no matter what you do. But when you define the vision, you're choosing who leaves. You say, "But Rick, yes, they're the pillars of the church." Now, you know what pillars are. Pillars are people who hold things up ... And in your church, you may have to have some blessed subtractions before you have any real additions."

In addition, if it is known what church the people that leave move to, the leaders of that church are contacted and are advised that the new-comers are troublemakers and should not be entrusted with any leadership position.

[MamaB]

I really did not know that much about him and some of the TV ministers until I did my own research. For instance, I use to listen to a guy on shortwave radio. When I heard him call a caller a dog for not agreeing with him is when I quit listening to him. Imagine my non surprise when I found out he had been arrested in Walterboro. Why people support such people is beyond my understanding.

[Sue Perkick]

A lot of people are simply looking for the easy way. But the Bible tells us something very different.

[MamaB]

Yes it does. I am very thankful that I go to a church who has had the same wonderful minister since about 1978. He teaches from the Bible verse by verse. I take the ones on TV with a grain of salt.

[MamaB]

Doing good will not get you to heaven.

[Sunsong]

I think I understand where you are coming from. Rick Warren does not believe what you believe and so you feel obligated to condemn him. It's a free country. You are free to condemn and hate all you want to.

I think that Mr. Warren is doing good things and I am pleased that he is out there doing them. I think good works count for a lot. That's my view. We are not going to agree.

I find condenmation and attack to be probably the most oppressive and harmful things going on in this world. I prefer those who are loving and forgiving regardless of whether you three judge and condemn them. As I say - you are free to spend all your time condemning others if it floats your boat. And I will praise those who I see doing good works and be thankful that they are out there doing them - even if they don't believe the same thing I do.

[pby]

:)