Does Opposition Prove Rick Warren’s Right?

Jesus warned, “Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets” (Lk. 6:26 KJV). So is the opposite true? Are we better off being hated by a lot of folks, than being loved? The Bible seems to suggest that having enemies — maybe even lots of them — is a healthy sign. Of course, we’re supposed to be kind, gracious, and merciful, which will indeed net us friends. But we’re also called to speak the truth, and that’s bound to irritate some folks.

When pastor Rick Warren accepted Barack Obama’s offer to pray at the president-elect’s inauguration, opposition rose on all sides. Both Christians and non-Christians railed at the decision, both for different reasons. One group opposes Warren because he is too Christian, too intolerant. The other group opposes Warren because he is too tolerant, not Christian enough. And I’m wondering if this isn’t evidence that Warren’s actually doing something right.

On the one hand are the gay activists who have criticized Obama for selecting a man who openly opposes gay marriage. Ever since the passage of Prop. 8 out here in California, the homosexual community has grown increasingly shrill. Not only has it hurt their cause, it’s revealed where the real hatred and intolerance is nested. Either way, it is not surprising that the gay community should oppose an evangelical pastor. But don’t miss the important thing: The fact that gay activists oppose Rick Warren is because he has spoken the truth. We should be far more suspicious of Warren if radical homosexuals SUPPORTED his selection.

What is more interesting to me is the Church’s opposition to Rick Warren’s decision. It follows predictable lines. Joseph Farrah’s An Open Letter to Rick Warren, is representative of the “religious” opposition:

Yes, we are commanded to pray for our leaders. But there is no suggestion in the Bible that we are ever to be used as political pawns by praying at their events – especially when they are promoting the wholesale slaughter of innocent human beings.

I understand your yearning for civility.

I yearn for it, too.

But civility begins with the understanding that we are all made in the image of God. It begins with the rejection of the shedding of innocent blood. It begins with the church standing boldly upon its absolute convictions in the Word of God and in His laws.

I’m sure you would not want to invoke God’s blessing on the inauguration of a figure like Adolf Hitler, whose rise to power brought the destruction of millions of lives.

So, in principle, you agree there is a time for believers to stand up to elected leaders and rebuke them – even publicly. Apparently, you don’t believe that time is now – that the deaths of untold numbers of born and unborn babies is not justification enough for such a stance.

I disagree.

Like his opposition to gay marriage, Rick Warren has been outspoken about his pro-life views. And therein lies the rub. How can a genuine pro-life pastor support an obvious pro-abortion president? Perhaps even more to the point: Does publicly praying for a pro-abortion president compromise one’s pro-life position and hurt the cause? Must we withdraw ANY blessing, ANY show of support, from abortion advocates? Must people relinquish their anti-life views BEFORE we concede any of their positions? If the opposition to Warren is any indication, Evangelicals are much more comfortable with black and white, than gray.

While I am not a huge fan of Rick Warren and his brand of ecumenism, I pretty much agree with Franklin Graham that the criticisms about Warren consenting to pray at Barack Obama’s inauguration are ludicrous. Why not accept Obama’s invitation? Would you rather have Reverend Jeremiah Wright do it? Christians are supposed to pray for our leaders, so why not allow a Christian man to do so publicly? Now if Warren prays for Obama’s pro-abortion policies to advance, then we have something to complain about. But if he prays for wisdom, for humility, and for an open ear toward Heaven, what has he done wrong?

I believe what the great Welsh preacher, D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones said — that grace will always be misunderstood. Jesus was misunderstood when he dined with sinners, touched lepers, hung out with prostitutes, and forgave adulterers. And, in a way, I think part of the opposition to Rick Warren is due to a misundertsanding of grace.

Then again, we could be like New Age poobah Deepak Chopra who says We Don’t Need Rick Warren’s Blessing. Or Anyone Else’s. Now that’s a wet blanket!