Rick Warren being attacked on left and right

Rick Warren is being attacked on the left because of his view on gay marriage -- especially after Barack Obama invited him to be part of the inauguration. But Warren is also getting heat from the right for his relationship with Obama. Especially from an Orange County pastor, according to the OC Register:

Southern Baptist Pastor Wiley Drake bashed Saddleback Church Pastor Rick Warren this week, saying "God will punish" Warren for agreeing to give the invocation at President-elect Barack Obama's inauguration next month. "I pray He is kind to you in this punishment that is coming," Drake wrote in a widely released e-mail. In it, the First Southern Baptist Church of Buena Park pastor criticizes Warren's "recent plan to invoke the presence of almighty God on this evil illegal alien," a reference to Obama. Drake, who made last November's ballot as a vice-presidential candidate for the American Independent party, is a party to a lawsuit claiming Obama was born outside of the U.S., and is therefore ineligible to serve as president. Obama has a Hawaiian birth certificate, which Hawaiian officials have said is genuine.

 

Comments

[Filmstocker]

Wow.

There's clearly no limit on crazy and mean, once you believe in a made-up God.

Drake and Warren, birds of a feather.

Here's an idea... Let's have a government that's totally separate from any church. Wouldn't that be swell? I wonder why the founders of our country didn't think of it...

[Christian]

Where in the Bible is it written to spread divisive hatred for political purposes while cowardly hiding behind one's supposed Christian faith?
Why don't we, as a people, publically shame behaviour like Wiley Drake's for being outright anti-patriotic (divisive and hateful) and anti-Christian (abusing the Word of Christ for political purposes)?
Seems nothing less then the right thing to do for me, honestly. We may disagree, but there are lines we shouldn't cross.

[Robby]

Well, he must be doing something right if he is getting heat from both extremes on the left and the right. Most people don't support gay marriage and we all pray that our next president is successful.

[Jo Ann Kunsman]

This is insanity at its worst. Obama has tried to reach across al lines and represent us all as one nation. All of this undermines this philosophy. I don't understand how we can ever begin to view all people in an open way if we exclude other viewpoints, in other words let it go and stop making mountains out of molehills.

[Sally Abeyta]

I was disappointed in Obama's choice of Rick Warren. I feel that a more moderate pastor would have been less objectionable regardless of what church they represented. Warren is best known for the controversy he projects rather than the all inclusive love for mankind. It's difficult to understand that Obama would want to highlight someone so full of hate.

I suppose any choice would cause criticism from some followers. But this is most unfortunate.

[lindsay]

Wiley Drake is not just a pastor. He's on the fringe with the fringy types. He's one of the people who's filed a lawsuit questioning the eligibility of Obama to be president. He's one of those who things Obama is a stealth Muslim terrorist, who's set to bring about the Apocalypse. He should not be equated with the Left, who are reasonable folks. He should not be equated with right, who are also reasonable folks. He is so far beyond the right that he's in a zone of his own.

[Kyleinkc]

Havc all southern Baptist lost their minds? I am beginning to wonder! Who left this man to judge others? Beware of false prophets and I hope the SBC considers kicking this man out of the fold.

[Mulling it Over]

I really have mixed feelings about this. On one hand, Warren did say a pretty terrible thing when he explicitly equated homosexual relationships with incest and polygamy. I wish Obama would've chosen an Episcopalian minister who has performed a same-sex wedding to offer the invocation at the inauguration. It would bring to light the fact that not all religions are bigoted, and the progressive churches are being discriminated against when their weddings aren't recognized by the state.

On the other hand, it does make me happy to see the bigger bigots like this Southern Baptist minister get snubbed. Obama could've done much worse than Warren, and Warren's a relatively moderate and progressive choice in the religious community.

[Mark]

Looks like Barack's judgement was correct.

[mensa7]

Team Obama's transition blog dropped the posts concerning Warren.
This didn't end the discussions concerning Warren SPITTING ON LGBTS on Day One. It will ONLY end ANY discussions on anything with Obama's blog.
Tammy Baldwin added to a NO WIN "honorary Inaugural committee, or convincing Melissa Etheridge to SING warren's praises, as she incidently hocks her Christmas CD, doesn't change the OUTRAGE.
michelangelo Signorelli, Rachel Maddow, Barney Frank, Joe Solomnese, Pam Spaulding, Americablog, Daily Kos, and Huffington Post....ain't taking this slight lying down.

[mensa7]

Warren's unoriginal coining of the phrase CHRIST-PHOBE really really didn't win him ANY support from gays and lesbians. As our community hears a 28yo lesbian GANG RAPED.....we don't need Warren posing as the VICTIM, when the HATE he and LDS elders bought for their G*D DAMN 22 million is why we get ATTACKED!

[Cesar]

Rick Warrner is correct in stating that Homosexuals are like pedophiles. Both enjoy a twisted style of sex. One with children the other with same sex. How weired.

[lee rice]

I don't believe there are any animals that den up with or have sexual relations with the sme sex.It blows my mind to think that people want to force there deviant sexual behavior on the rest of the population,its disgusting that on top of this they try to force there preference on children that have not even reached puberty.Please don't tll me I'm exaggerating as I have witnessed the disgusting GAY PARADES

[lee rice]

do es anyone with a sense of right and wrong get to post here. I must be too straight to have my opinion posted.O WELL God loves everyone even gays drunks and drug addicts

[Richard P. McDonough]

He, I would not have chosen Warren though I am amazed by the positive affect he has in a community of people who think al you have to do is embrace a god substitute called Jesus and your job is over. He is a progressive guy in a conservative community. Better to be in bed with him than the German Pope, don''t you think? Or old Billy Graham, or some other cracker.

Come on folks, this is astute, inclusive and open, just what we were supposed to be loking for...except for those who just wanted to promote narrow issues. This is not a narrow interest. Figure it out.

[Ms. E.]

I will ask Willy Drake, "then who is going to fire God for picking Obama for the President of the United States?" Is it not God who raises up kings and tears them down? Is he not the One who chooses whom He pleases for His way's and His Purpose'd? Do not forget that God has His plan for His purpose, and it is on time. We who call ourselves by the most Holy God are to watch and wait, and in doing so, we are to work with our hands, and to be kind toward others, as well as, share the Gospel. Many will come in His name but do not follow them. The Christ said how He will come back. So be watchful and pray.

[Seth Chandler]

Robbie, how the fact does the fact that he's getting heat from both sides mean he's doing something right? Do you really believe that people who have lunatic conspiracy theories are equivalent to people who want to have the same legal rights as everyone else? Puh-leeze.

[David the Reformed Presbyterian]

This Southern Baptist Pastor Wiley Drake is a heretic and an unbiblical whack.

The Bible clearly says (Paul, writing to his young friend and fellow pastor Timothy), in 1Timothy 2:1-4
"I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone-- 2 for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. 3 This is good, and pleases God our Savior, 4 who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth."

God has alllowed Obama to be President, a job not many of us would really want. Because of that alone he deserves our prayers and support.

[Caption Steve]

It's time to stick up for decency. Homosexuality = perversion. It's very simple.

[james]

How can Obama include this conservative evangelical preacher in his introduction to the world as a nations’ leader much less the inaugural invocation! Rick Warren publicly compares rape of a minor by an adult or sex between a brother and sister with two consenting in love adults of the same sex! He was a general in the war to push prop 8 in California which constitutionalized the exclusion of a certain right for a certain segment of the population which is afforded to the greater part of the population. This is not acceptable in a new America moving in a new direction not full of hate and disdain for anyone unlike ourselves which is what this preacher openly stands for. Obama disassociated with pastor Wright who married him and his wife, whose church he attended happily for a considerably long time - just because Wright had obvious difficulty controlling his painbody, built justifiably mostly if not entirely on being a part of a peoples who suffered through slavery Jim crow separate but almost equal etc to the point that it actually touched his lifetime. Yet Obama invites this preacher Rick Warren to give the inaugural invocation - someone who views with the worst disdain a segment of our population who at no time ever caused any harm to him or his family or friends - simply because they do not stand for the same principles as he does and he doesn’t approve of what they do in private which is no different than what he or others he DOES relate to do in their private moments. It is just not fair to allow him this celebratory platform which can not help but express his totality of beliefs including his candy-coated hate for the simple fact that he so openly expresses them elsewhere. And this is not the message the world and us need to hear. Not on such an important occasion for sure! Please reconsider letting Rick Warren speak or pray at your event. The passing of prop 8 was one of the few dark clouds that loomed and wrecked havoc on an otherwise phenomenal choosing of Obama as pres elect. Now that same threat threatens to rain on the opening ceremony of what should be one of the brightest days in American history. Rick Warren also openly admits in the past that anyone who does not believe in his god is well on the path of ultimate doom. In the words of Obama, "While we have come a long way since the Stonewall riots in 1969, we still have a lot of work to do. Too often, the issue of LGBT rights is exploited by those seeking to divide us. But at its core, this issue is about who we are as Americans. It's about whether this nation is going to live up to its founding promise of equality by treating all its citizens with dignity and respect." -- Barack Obama, June 1, 2007. How can Rick Warren be allowed this honor with such an acting divisive agenda at hand? There are so many god loving evangelical pastors and such who openly and inwardly express openness and compassion to and for all, seeing each and all of us as gods children. Obama should choose someone else other than Rick Warren. The nation is already sensitive about separation between church and state. As a non-follower of any religion myself , my heart and mind are certainly open to religious peoples who have love, kindness and blessings for all. It is not religion that is scary. What is scary is the teaching of intolerance and acting apon it, done in the name of religion or not. I would be open to meeting and acting friendly towards Warren if he were to treat me with the same respect I would expect of myself towards him, regardless of his personal views. But only to work together on building an understanding and respect for each other. Not to listen to him preach as if he were no part of limiting the rights and freedom of loving individuals who only wish to fully express their love for each other in the same way most others legally do. Rick Warren DOES deserve the dignity and respect he won’t himself afford the LGBT community – YES. That does not include just handing him a platform to show himself off for the whole world to see - along with all his past, present and future institutionalized hateful actions beside him. No matter how sugar coated his words may be for the inaugural invocation, elsewhere he is actively and successfully working against respect and dignity for all, even through changes in law and constitution (prop 8. Ca.). Rick Warren as mellow a demeanor he may have is an acting divisive evangelical who wants no part of equal respect, dignity and rights for all individuals – period. He not only gives a bad name to evangelicals - He also gives a bad name to all of us if allowed to cast his darkness of non-respect and disregard of dignity for all behind his words of inaugural invocation. There are so many god loving evangelical pastors and such who openly and inwardly express openness and compassion to and for all, seeing each and all of us as gods children. Obama should choose someone else other than Rick Warren to reflect the aspect of our society he is looking to showcase through Warren – please. It is offensive to all of us if he is allowed to give the inaugural invocation. As a straight person myself, I sense no separation between the suffering of others and myself. And I have seen many peoples’ lives affected by prop 8 first hand and find no comfort that their lack of full dignity and respect by people and now by STATE CONSTITUTION does not affect me the same. It still saddens my heart and mind and creates an oppressive environment for all of us. Even Jerry Brown AG of Ca. has now decided prop 8 is unconstitutional. Yet Rick Warren does not care about the constitution and only wishes to further his religiously oriented political agenda by maintaining his stance that any overturning of prop 8 would be a violation of the will of the voters – that is not how law and the constitution work. There are safeguards in place to protect majority rule over minority groups in areas such as assuring rights and freedoms are equal to all. Rick Warren does not reflect anything we as a nation or a world should be proud of other than his sugar-coated general appearance, tone and mannerism. When it comes to specific rights and freedom for all along with the dignity and respect they entail, Rick Warren has little to no regard for the dignity and respect of people who do not think like he does to the point of ACTIVELY limiting their freedoms and rights through INSTITUTIONALIZED HATETRED! Which not only brings great pain and sorrow to the LGBT community, but to their families and friends lives as well. Again, There are so many god loving evangelical pastors and such who openly and inwardly express openness and compassion to and for all, seeing each and all of us as gods children. Obama should choose someone else other than Rick Warren to reflect the aspect of our society you were looking to showcase through Warren – please