Jan
20
2009
Rick Warren’s Inauguration Prayer
I thank God for Rick Warren and his prayer:
Almighty God, our Father:
Everything we see, and everything we can’t see, exists because of you alone.
It all comes from you, it all belongs to you, it all exists for your glory.
History is your story.
The Scripture tells us, “Hear, O Israel, the LORD is our God, the LORD is one.” And you are the compassionate and merciful one. And you are loving to everyone you have made.
Now today we rejoice not only in America’s peaceful transfer of power for the 44th time, we celebrate a hinge point of history with the inauguration of our first African American president of the United States.
We are so grateful to live in this land, a land of unequaled possibility, where a son of an African immigrant can rise to the highest level of our leadership. And we know today that Dr. King and a great cloud of witnesses are shouting in heaven.
Give to our new president, Barack Obama,
the wisdom to lead us with humility,
the courage to lead us with integrity,
the compassion to lead us with generosity.
Bless and protect him, his family, Vice President Biden, the Cabinet, and every one of our freely elected leaders.
Help us, O God, to remember that we are Americans–united not by race or religion or blood, but to our commitment to freedom and justice for all.
When we focus on ourselves, when we fight each other, when we forget you–forgive us.
When we presume that our greatness and our prosperity is ours alone–forgive us.
When we fail to treat our fellow human beings and all the earth with the respect that they deserve–forgive us.
And as we face these difficult days ahead, may we have a new birth of clarity in our aims, responsibility in our actions, humility in our approaches, and civility in our attitudes—even when we differ.
Help us to share, to serve, and to seek the common good of all.
May all people of good will today join together to work for a more just, a more healthy, and a more prosperous nation and a peaceful planet.
And may we never forget that one day, all nations–and all people–will stand accountable before you.
We now commit our new president and his wife, Michelle, and his daughters, Malia and Sasha, into your loving care.
I humbly ask this in the name of the one who changed my life—Yeshua, ‘Isa, Jesus [Spanish pronunciation], Jesus—who taught us to pray:
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name.
Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil,
for Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.
Amen.
HT: Brad Greenberg for the initial transcript.
Video here:
97 Comments
Astoundingly good!
-Keith
I agree. Thanks for posting it, Justin.
Yeah, I dunno.
I’m going to think about it after lunch and give my arm-chair QB of the prayer after I have eaten something.
I am more ornary on an empty stomach.
Not without its “ouch” moments (the part about MLK in heaven shouting with the cloud of witnesses)…. but stil, so much better than I had feared.
He didn’t cave. Let’s keep praying for him also.
Better than I expected. Not the Gospel though. Only “Jesus changed MY life”. Interesting that Obama didn’t seem to know the Lord’s Prayer.
I thought it was excellent. He clearly and sincerely called upon the God of the Bible to help this man lead our nation.
Question is, should we as Christians support this type of prayer?
Frank wants to arm-chair-QB a brother’s prayer. That’s real easy to do from an armchair.
Rock on Rick!
Hi Justin,
Sorry to be pendantic but I think Esa should read ‘Isa.
Thanks for posting this,
Matt
Thanks, Matt. I changed it; I saw it spelled both ways online.
JT
Thanks for posting the text of this wonderful, inspiring prayer…
May the God of Heaven, hear and answer this marvelous petition.
hard to go wrong with the Lord’s Prayer
Well…at least it’s not addressed to the “god of our many understandings.”
@ undercovertheologian
you mean pedantic? :-)
at least it did not contain the words “mellow yellow”
obviously it could have been way way worse. but i thought it could have been much stronger. I would have prefered to have heard the gospel in the prayer. “the one who changed MY life…” …sigh…
Seems Rick prayed a prayer from hiw heart; from his theology, and for his world view, as a brother in Christ. Rick is a man-centered pastor, and it shows.
May the Lord grant America repentnace as a nation, and His Church repentance as His people. Amen.
This was about what I expected. Very middle of the road so as not to offend anybody.
What was it God said about someone who wasn’t hot or cold but rather they were just tepid?
It is easy to be an arm-chair quarterback, but to be in Rick Warren’s shoes is much more difficult. With that said, I was quite disappointed with the prayer for the following reasons: (1) No doubt this is a historic day but to think that a “great cloud of witnesses is shouting in heaven” over the election of Obama is quite staggering. My knowledge of the Triune God of Scripture is one who does not support the destruction of the unborn, the endorsement of alternative lifestyles, etc.(2) Warren had a huge opportunity to define what he meant by “fellow human beings who deserve our respect,” — e.g. from conception to death — but instead he did not do it. (3) He distorted the beauty of “new birth” by using the term in a highly unbiblical manner, which really undercuts the clarity of the gospel. (4) He prayed for wisdom, courage, etc. for the president — all good things — but what about praying for him to be a person with a transformed heart to pursue God’s standards of righteousness, etc.(5) His praying in Jesus’ name was incredibly weak — including Jew, Muslim and then turning to the Lord’s prayer — which, sadly, for most is meaningless. There was nothing of Christ in terms of his Lordship and rule. Oh well, there is much to be thankful for and to stand in his shoes is not easy, but there was much that was lacking and, in my view, a clear testimony to the gospel was absent.
“I thank God for Rick Warren and his prayer”
Justin: Thank you for saying that despite your differences with Rick Warren.
Fellow bloggers: Thank you for illustrating how not to respond to a God-honoring prayer. I hope all of your private prayers display the absolute perfection that you demand for this public one. Sometimes it suffices to just praise God.
“I thank God for Rick Warren and his prayer”
Why?
Amen, Clint…
Although personally I wish I was as good as some of the other commenters.
Just a note from a Brit. I hope you all noticed a reference to the Jewish and Islamic statements of faith in the first few lines. The shema and ‘ in the name of God the compassionate and the merciful.’
Some smart footwork as befits a walk in a minefield. But God bless you all over there.
Chris Walley
Because he prayed in the name of Jesus and in the way Christ taught us to pray. He prayed for the President (as we are commanded to do). He acknowledged God’s sovereignty and glory.
Scripture says we are to give thanks in all circumstances, and this seems like a circumstance! :)
Finally, I can’t think of places in Scripture where a fellow believer’s prayer is criticized. But maybe I’m missing something, so I’m open to correction.
JT
JT,
Christ taught us to pray in front of 2 million people on national TV?
I don’t recall Jewish closets being that big…
If you listen carefully, I believe brother Rick uttered “Yehoshua,” not “Yeshua,” as has been transcribed. Check your hebrew, and listen again carefully, because there is very distinct and very divine difference between the two names – true Christians realize this (and referring directly from scripture – in the Gospel of John) when Yehoshua Messiah states with authority, “…before Abraham was, I AM…” Yehoshua Messiah declares HE is THE NAME (our Jewish Brothers and Sisters refer to HIM as: HASHEM) above ALL names: YHWH. As the LORD (YHWH) gave Abram the name “Abraham,” and Simon the name “Peter,” have no doubt, that calling HIM “Yeshua,” is demoting HIS’ Divinity – if you’re going to say HIS’ name in hebrew, say it clear, say it proper, and say it with reverence towards the ONE WHO was, and is, and is to come…Yehoshua Messiah YHWH (Jesus Christ the Lord).
JT says: “Finally, I can’t think of places in Scripture where a fellow believer’s prayer is criticized. But maybe I’m missing something, so I’m open to correction.”
But don’t you see that we must show that our team prays better than the other team?
David,
By your comment are you saying that we are to only pray in private?
“Thank you for illustrating how not to respond to a God-honoring prayer.”
You want to elaborate on that? I simply shared my heart as to how I understood the contnet of Rick’s prayer. I’m guessing you’re saying we can’t share our heart, and our mind about someone’s prayer, is that correct?
All the comments on these prayers only exemplify the point I made in the article I referenced earlier.
I noted someone wanted Warren to define in his prayer what counts as a human life…really?! Rick Warren has to inform GOD what counts as a life?
A prayer is a conversation with God not a political address…it isn’t an opportunity to thumb our noses at atheists or attack other religions.
What is so hard to understand about that?
Whether one agrees with Rick Warren’s prayer or wish he would have prayed in a manner satisfactory to YOUR liking, I commend the Word of God to all as the commenting begins…
-Alando
Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear. Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.
-God
David,
Make sure you tell your pastor that about praying in front of his congregation. I’m sure Jewish closets weren’t as big as your church building either.
Hayden,
I tried give my view on this matter in the article I mentioned above.
I would not say all prayer must be in private, but there are definite issues here Christians should take into consideration.
My first reaction was that it wasn’t bad, although the reference to Allah was unnecessary and troubling as were the qualifications he put around Jesus’ name.
@ Darryl. Reference to Allah? Did I miss that?
Great avatar, BTW
Clint,
It is unwise to so flippantly ignore Christ’s words on this matter, and I’m absolutely positive you can think of significant and real differences between the two.
Furthermore, is that really the logic you want to employ “The church does it all the time, so it must be okay?” Would you have asked Luther to ignore his concerns with the Papacy based on that? Or do you think it is okay that he was willing to indicate something was not quite right based on an interpretation of scripture?
Donsands,
I didn’t mention you specifically. I think sometimes it suffices to just thank God for the positives before “sharing your heart” about the negatives.
David,
It is perfectly acceptable to answer a question with an answer instead of side-stepping.
richard,
“And you are the compassionate and merciful one.”
I take that to be a reference to “Allah, the merciful and compassionate”.
Perhaps not, but the terminology is too similar.
It jumped right out at me in any case.
But it’s true so it was a good tactful choice of words.
JT: Because he prayed in the name of Jesus and in the way Christ taught us to pray. He prayed for the President (as we are commanded to do). He acknowledged God’s sovereignty and glory.
So do Roman Catholics.
I have no comment on Warren’s prayer.
But what did you think would happen when you posted Warren’s inauguration prayer with open comments?
JT:Scripture says we are to give thanks in all circumstances, and this seems like a circumstance! :)
If I had a nickel for everytime someone said “give thanks in everything” I would be rich!
The passage that you quote is not a command that we give thanks for President Obama anymore than it was a command for German Christians to give thanks for Adolf Hilter while he was exterminating Jews or that we should give thanks for the rapist raping your loved one or giving thanks for the abortionist.
The passage is a passage teaching that Christians should be marked by thanksgiving.
There really is nothing in President Obama’s case to give thanks for because he hasn’t done anything yet, but when he does, and whatever persecution that results from his actions in our own lives or the life of the church, we should give thanks because persecution builds endurance. The Thes 5:18 is not a passage to give thanks for President Obama or his inauguration anymore than it is a command to give thanks to the rapist or the abortionist.
It really urks me that someone of your caliber does not understand this.
After I get done thinking about Paul rebuking Peter to his face in Galatia, I’m going to follow up Dan’s objection here to JT with a post at TeamPyro.
And I do that recognizing the somewhat-shaky ground of poking my finger into other people’s prayers to God — which is a crass practice at best and an exercise in spiritual arrogance at worst.
“Though our iniquities testify against us,
act, O Lord, for your name’s sake;
for our backslidings are many;
we have sinned against you.
O you hope of Israel,
its savior in time of trouble,
why should you be like a stranger in the land,
like a traveler who turns aside to tarry for a night?
Why should you be like a man confused,
like a mighty warrior who cannot save?
Yet you, O Lord, are in the midst of us,
and we are called by your name;
do not leave us.” Jeremiah’s prayer to the Lord
And the Lord responded by saying there would be great disaster, and even if Moses and Samuel prayed, yet God would not hear.
Once Jeremiah told God, “You deceived me, and I’m not going to make mention of You any more.’ He also prayed that God would take vengence on the wicked. He also told the Lord he wished he had died in his mother’s womb.
I think there’s a lot to be said for how Jeremiah prayed to the Lord, and how the Lord is not simply a God who wants to bless and bless, but a God who may be bringing a big time trial upon this nation. I hope not.
I hope God heard Rick’s prayer, and surely he did, as He heard Jeremiah’s, but will God bless America, and our leadership, or not?
JT: This was no mere ordinary prayer, This was a crafted prayer! It is fine to pick apart his prayer. For the reason that this was not off the cuff! This prayer was carefully put together and was meticulously worded. Therefore, it can be analyzed as such. Had this been a prayer not been so thought over and prepared FOR WEEKS it may be given some room for “maybe that’s not what he meant” or “maybe he forgot” …. So yes we should not criticize a fellow believer’s prayer when it is an ordinary prayer. But Warren knew exactly what he was saying and intended every word to be delivered exactly as he did. To call someone out because of bad theology in a prepared prayer is not unkind, nor can Scripture be used to say we should only use words of edification, for warning believers of the truth is edification itself.
CR,
I notice that being “irked” seems to be your default in blog comments!
I’d ask that you try to read me a bit more carefully and charitably. I didn’t say anything at all about thanking God for Obama (though we should: 1 Tim 2:1-2).
JT
Michael’s point is a good one.
Those objecting to any part of Warren’s prayer are doing so based on the content of what he said.
Those objecting to objectors are only doing just that. They are not responding positively to the content of Warren’s prayer at all. There’s no substance.
If you don’t like the comments, show why they’re invalid based on what Warren said. Don’t criticize people solely because of their crticism.
JT: I didn’t say anything at all about thanking God for Obama (though we should: 1 Tim 2:1-2).
I rest my case.
Am I the only one who finds it off that so many people are upset about what was missing from this prayer? As though Warren’s goal was to somehow include enough “party platform points” to clearly differentiate his prayer from soft-Christianity or other belief systems?
Since when is that the point of a prayer?!!??!!
“Dear God, let me tell you all the things you know already for the benefit of all the viewers so they know I am not a total liberal sell-out….”
People need to evaluate this as a conversation with God, not as a missed opportunity to blacken the unchurched eye.
Actually, strike that….people don’t need to evaluate this at all, at least not based on “how many exclusionary doctrinal confessions did he get in there.”
The closest thing to an evaluation or comment on Warren’s prayer that makes any sense is to say “this is what I would have prayed for instead.” But that is hardly the content of most of the criticism here.
“…there is much to be thankful for and to stand in his shoes is not easy, but there was much that was lacking…“
Well, put Chaitea. It could have been better, but it could have been so much worse.
My comment is more for the easing of my own pricked conscience:
By no means do I ever want to “poke around” in another Christian’s prayer. God forgive me if my intent was to do so; honestly, I was thankful that Warren did mention Jesus, and even prayed the Lord’s Prayer.
By the estimation of some, it could be a real challenge to be in this position. Personally, I’m uncomfortable about the idea of public prayer in general, and in particular, a public prayer at a political event of this magnitude. But then again, who am I?
God bless Rick Warren, and may God bless President Obama!
Just as a clarification to my resting of the case (I do recommend JT re-reads the ESVSB which he is one of the editors of) that the 1 Tim 2 passage is not a passage for commanding to give thanks for all people in all circumstances – so e.g., we would not give thanks for Hitler when he was exterminating Jews.
Sometimes it is appropriate to give intercession or supplications. The point is we are to pray for those in high positions – but those prayers should be appropriate to the occassion – so, we are to pray for President Obama’s salvation. When he does things that are godly, we are to give thanks. As the ESVSB notes state, the passage is a call for all sorts of prayer for all sorts of people. It is not a command to give thanks for everyone in high position in every circumstance.
It is not a command to give thanks for everyone in high position in every circumstance.
Brother, of course I agree and didn’t say differently.
JT
CR wrote “I do recommend JT re-reads the ESVSB which he is one of the editors of”
Snidest, most pompous comment yet.
Frank – “…Dan’s objection here to JT…”
Well, at this point, all I said was “Why?” Normally my objections have more words, and sometimes pictures.
I had presented a starkly different response to Warren’s prayer over at my place, however.
Ironically, my verification word is “sonice.”
Chaitea,
I”m intrigued that you juxtapose these two lines
“then turning to the Lord’s prayer — which, sadly, for most is meaningless. There was nothing of Christ in terms of his Lordship and rule”
The Lord’s prayer includes the petitions “Thy Kingdom Come and Thy Will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”
thanks Justin for posting this prayer.
I am probably one of the more conservative commentators on JT’s blog (though hopefully not rapidly so).
With that said, I was quite proud of Warren’s prayer. Don’t misunderstand, I have been a great critic of Warren’s methods and truncated gospel message. But the prayer was bold at certain points. He clearly maintained that each of us would have to give an account before God one day. He prayed in the name of Jesus—in a few different languages just to make sure people knew and recognizes the Christ is Lord and Savior. He made the wonderful comment that Jesus had changed his life. He reaffirmed to Christian ethic of justice and mercy.
Where there elements in the prayer with which I disagreed? Absolutely. Did he address the horrible injustice of abortion? Sadly no. Did he call upon the nation to turn from its sin towards the cross of Christ. To his shame, he did not. But, under intense public and political pressure not to, Pastor Warren invoked the name of Jesus Christ.
Come on guys, this is something we should be rejoicing about. So, please continue to assess and critic his prayer, as we should. But the naysayers must learn to see the good, too.
I wonder if the pharisees and the teachers of the law critiqued the prayer that Jesus taught his disciples to pray. Can you imagine all the pertinent things that they would have recognized as being absent from His prayer?
Yes, that’s right. People who yearn to hear a clear reflection of the Gospel with all its crucial edges, and a word in defense of the unborn in Obama’s crosshairs, is just like the Pharisees. Brilliant.
For those of you who are thankful for the prayer that Warren prayed, I would suggest not commenting any longer on whether it was a Christian/Biblical prayer or not. There are many here who will go on and on and on and on about what was wrong with it and even if you stop commenting, they’ll eventually turn on each other over their view of what was wrong. It’s interesting to watch…Ever read Machen’s Warrior Children?
DJP,
I ask you… why on earth does GOD need to be told of the gospel with all its sharp edges?
Should I start incorporating every confession of faith into my blessing before dinner?
“Heavenly father. Thank you for this food and all the blessings you give me. And, just in case you’ve forgotten, I just want to let you know that Jesus is the only path to you, and please do not forget to damn all other people to hell, as well as those who loosely believe in Jesus but not the Jesus I believe in…and in case you were wondering what Jesus that is, here are the things you should require:
1. Jesus…”
The prayer is not a performance; we are not its audience.
I cannot say that I have your same enthusiasm when instead of just praying ‘in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior’ – Rick Warren had to list many names given to Jesus through different religions – namely Muslim’s ‘Isa – who was not and is not our Jesus of the Holy (Christian) Bible.
Shame on Mr. Warren – and please pray for him.
David,
Prayer is not a performance but pastoral prayer is different in some ways than say our personal devotions.
For example, when a pastor gives his pastoral prayer, he can’t just consider himself but he must realize that his prayer is pastoral.
The pastoral prayer does actually have two audiences: God and the congregation. In this case, Warren’s prayer had two audiences: the Lord and the nation.
KeepItSimply,
I think you may have misunderstood Warren’s intention. In spite of pressure not to pray in Jesus name, he uttered that name in several languages. I thought this was actually an “in your face to you anti-Jesus folk” moment for Warren. As if to say, “I will leave no doubt in anyone’s mind that I am a Christian, and I will utter a Christian prayer to Jesus”.
I might add to my previous post, that since the nation including the President was an audience, there were some important things that were left out: the gospel, the plight of the unborn, and last but not least a reminder for President Obama that he is now a minister of God and that while that the church and state are separate institutions, nonetheless, the state is still under God and that he will be held accountable for actions he takes in office.
Now, President Obama is by Romans 13 considered to be a minister of God, but he will be a minister of God in a way that will be very painful for our nation unless the Lord chooses to convert him. (We have one or two examples like that from Scriptures – Nebuchadnezzar and Manasseh where the Lord showed great mercy).
Unless the Lord chooses to convert him, God will use him to judge our nation to give us over to our desires even more so than what He has already allowed. Abortion laws will be eased either through legislation or judicial fiat. It’s really hard to measure the impact the federal judges he’ll appoint, maybe homosexual marriages will be legal by judicial fiat.
I say all this, that many believe Warren had an obligation to consider this prayer and warn the President of his responsibility under God (he did not).
But I think the point is, what some are saying, is that in addition to his prayer to the Lord with the nation as an audience, he had a duty and a obligation to include the gospel, the plight of the unborn and the President’s responsibility to God.
Warren did none of that other than a general “we’re all accountable to everyone.”
My own reaction to Warren’s prayer was {shrug}. But the reaction by some that it was astoundingly good or that they thank Warren’s prayer because he mentioned Jesus’ name (???) is puzzling.
Warren had a duty and obligation to consider his audience but he didn’t. MSM pundits are already making comments that they thought Warren’s prayer was inclusive. This should be troubling.
I love the blog that JT does but it becomes wearisome to read the comments of people that look for anything remotely wrong with a “prayer” by a brother in the Lord—Jesus save us from ourselves!!
CR,
I reject in general the notion that prayer ever has an audience other than God, and see no biblical basis to support the rather unnatural opposite view [after all, in prayer we are addressing God formally, and the natural situation is for our audience to be that which is addressed.]
It sounds to me the contrived idea that prayer has multiple audiences is a rhetorical device to shoehorn a sermon into a prayer.
But, for sake of argument, even if prayer can be conceived of as having multiple audiences, it would not follow that Warren’s prayer does.
Warren was asked to perform the invocation, which addresses God and asks for blessings.
How often has your pastor tried to mix the “harder edges of the gospel” or politically incendiary content into the invocation at your church? My guess is that it is not a frequent event. Is your pastor failing every time he does not push the gospel into your invocation?
The closest one can reasonably get to articulating how the nation is an interested party is to see Warren as praying on behalf of each of us (which was not really being done, for that is not the purpose of an invocation. An invocation is supposed to call God into the presence of the assembly, but for the sake of argument, we’ll pretend each of us has a vested stake somehow in this prayer.)
Seen in that light we have to give Warren some leeway if he is to provide a prayer that is palatable and reasonable even for all Christians to feel enfranchised by. Conservative Christians are, all things considered, those least in a position to be upset by the prayer given.
If there were a sermon scheduled for the inauguration, and Warren gave one of similar timbre to his invocation, then you would have reason for being irked.
But as an invocation (and therefore not even a representative of all believers praying for Obama), I don’t think the things you say are missing are legitimate criticisms.
Does your pastor make politically pregnant or “gospel edgy” remarks during the invocation at your church?
My guess is no, because that is not the place for it.
As we say where I’m from, some of y’all are bein’ tacky.
I suspect there’s nothing Warren could have said to make some of you guys happy, other than “God, please kill or convert Obama,” followed by a Gospel outline (assuming he could find one that you’re OK with).
You don’t lay out your entire theology every time you pray, and neither did he. He addressed God in biblical language, prayed for wisdom for our leaders, referred to the sanctity of human life, prayed in the name of Jesus, and closed with the Lord’s Prayer. (It doesn’t matter that it’s meaningless to most people; it’s in the Bible.)
What more do you want? Did he need to deliberately poke his finger in Obama’s face or clarify that he didn’t vote for him? Give us a break, guys. You’re making us all look like asses.
So Jesus changed his life. I think the key phrase in this whole prayer was that line. I have talked to people who can tell me Buddha changed their lives or AA etc… it may make them more moral but it will not save them . We don’t need Christ to change our lives , we need Jesus to save us from our sin and wrath of God to come. Don’t get me wrong a changed man we will be as we walk in the Spirit but this prayer was pragmatic and seeker sensitive , something we expect from everyone’s pastor. Doesn’t this in a way fit under the “god” of our understanding mantra. Jesus becomes just another commodity to be used to make me happier , give me purpose or whatever. Having read Dr.Mohler’s prayer on his blog , now that is a prayer that is both truly christian and at the same time respectful of President Obama. Just my 2 cents worth but hey what do I know , I’m a Canadian.
As a Canadian I am amazed that a pastor is asked to pray on public television for your leader. Even during major tragedies there are no prayers allowed, only moments of silence.
I agree with JT, thank God. While his prayer wasn’t perfect (I cringed a little with the cloud of witnesses shouting in heaven remark) given the restrictive circumstances I thought it was well done. And I also agree with Nick Hill above, that here in Canada, such a prayer would either be not allowed at all or result in tremendous outcry and controversy.
It is a great prayers for those who are regenerate, but what hope does it offer to those who are dying in their sin? I am disturbed that a minister of the gospel failed in his calling ….. to herald the Gospel of Grace in Christ!!
Larissa
best qoute of the day…
As though Warren’s goal was to somehow include enough “party platform points” to clearly differentiate his prayer from soft-Christianity or other belief systems
Even if RW had, the truly reformed would of found something to criticize. He is eeeeeeeeeevvvvvvvvviiiiiiiilllllll.
If you discuss Rick’s prayer, and don’t see it the way someone else’s does, basically in a good way, then you are slammed, and your comment is not discussed, which is what you were doing.
So who is worse, the commentor commenting on Rick, or the commentor commenting on the commentor.
If I were asked to pray at President Obama’s inauguration, I would consider myself insulted.
We’re all discussing the content of Rick’s prayer, but has anyone discussed the fact that he was asked to pray in the first place?
If I were him, I hope that my first question (to myself) would be,
“What in the world am I doing wrong as a pastor, that someone like Barack Obama would ask me to pray at his inauguration.”
Yes yes, I know, it was a political move on Obama’s part. But the fact remains that a Mark Dever or a John Macarthur would NEVER be asked this by Obama. Yet Rick was. Why?
Btw, friends, what kind of a pathetic Christianity are we representing if we get pumped that an evangelical pastor actually “invokes the name of Jesus” publicly.
Pardon me if I give little more than a twirl of my finger and a “whoopty-do.”
You remind me of Lewis’s Dufflepuds, cheering on their leader’s brilliance.
Maybe Rick should pray in the Name of Jesus, “the only Name under heaven whereby we must be saved.” “The One who changed my life?” Sounds like more of “My own personal Jesus” Gnosticism-lite-speak. Ineffably weak. Where has our civil but prophetic boldness gone?
SBC — “But the fact remains that a Mark Dever or a John Macarthur would NEVER be asked this by Obama. Yet Rick was. Why?”
Because O knew he could count on getting a prayer like this one. Symbolic inclusivism, with no Gospelly aftertaste.
I have to confess I haven’t read all the comments ( over 70 right now) but although I think it’s alright to have an opinion on the prayer, I don’t think I shared the expectations of many here. It seems to me that some folks expected a sermon, something border line political activism with mention of the policies we (conservative Christians) hold dear. Maybe it’s because I am personally turned off by prayers that are aimed at people and not God, but I really didn’t expected a political discourse but a heartfelt prayer to God. Obviously his theology and seeker sensitivism came forth in his prayer but I don’t think I heard any deal breakers. The “Solas” all survived I guess.
I would like to see one comment that demonstrates that his prayer was in conflict with the teaching of the bible
All other complaints are an exercise in spiritual arrogance at best.
JT
I thank God for Rick Warren and his prayer.
That is very sad to read.
Do you guys feel that the Lord’s Prayer itself offers insufficient gospel?
JT
Someone somewhere along the line, I think it was CR, mentioned that the reason Warren’s prayer needed to be more ‘preachy’ (I don’t mean that in a negative sense; just can’t think of a better word) was because he was offering a pastoral prayer, which is supposed to engage the congregation.
The problem is, there was no congregation. When a pastor gives a pastoral prayer during a church service, his goal is to focus the prayers of the congregation. The assumption is that he is praying with a body of believers that are at least trying to be of the same heart and mind. Warren was praying in front of however many hundreds of millions of people were watching/have watched the inauguration–people from all sorts of different views on every imaginable topic–and so he had to take that into account.
I agree that his prayer shouldn’t be judged by the standards of personal private prayer, but it can’t be judged by the standards of pastoral prayer either. The situation doesn’t fit into either of those categories, so it’s completely useless to complain about it’s failings based on those standards.
What standards should we judge the prayer by? Well, I’m not sure that Christian pastors have any business standing up and praying before the inauguration of a new president at all so I don’t know if there are any good standards to judge by. But it seems like the proper attitude from the church would be more one of gratefulness for what he said right and for the fact that he didn’t say anything patently wrong, rather than complaining and engaging in so much in-fighting over all the things that he didn’t say.
@JT: That’s a good question. I have no idea.
I think its a disgrace that Rick got to speak at this event……
KeepItSimple you said,
“Rick Warren had to list many names given to Jesus through different religions – namely Muslim’s ‘Isa – who was not and is not our Jesus of the Holy (Christian) Bible”
Arabic Christians call Jesus “Isa”. Islam doesn’t own Arabic. Jesus was called ‘Isa’ by Arabic speakers before the Koran . English “Jesus” is a imperfect rendering of the original name found in your Bible and that doesn’t make you a pagan.
Im glad RW chose to include Jesus’ name as used by Christians of other heart-languages. I thank God Christ is known and cherished around the globe and is not just a god of english.
Peace be with you,
السلام عليكم
In Jesus’ name
ਹਜ਼ਰਤ ਇੱਸਾ ਦਾ ਵਸਿਲਾ ਹੈ
JT: Do you guys feel that the Lord’s Prayer itself offers insufficient gospel?
Roman Catholics recite the Lord’s Prayer in every mass.
whatchrislikes,
I’d like to respond to your post but it’s just too late and I’ll don’t think I’ll get to you before the comments are moderated (closed).
Sorry.
Truly amazing.
“Roman Catholics recite the Lord’s Prayer in every mass.”
And the Apostle’s Creed. I used to go to Catholic Mass, when I first came to Christ.
“Christ has died, Christ has risen, Christ will come again.”
Another Catholic saying during the mass.
But the bottom line is that the gospel of Catholicism is a works gospel.
Rick Warren’s gospel is a grace alone through faith alone gospel, which he tries to not offend anyone with.
On the contrary, SBC, what kind of pathetic Christianity are we representing when a brother in Christ gets the opportunity to pray in the name of Jesus in front of the entire nation and other believers skewer him for it?
My suspicion is that people are speaking here out of blind hatred for Rick Warren– if Piper or Macarthur had said these same things there wouldn’t be 92 comments. That’s pathetic, and no different than the idiots who go bonkers every time they hear Bush’s name.
Also, since Rome uses the Lord’s Prayer and the Apostles’ Creed, what else do we need to jettison? I think they have the same New Testament as us. Can we use that? This line of reasoning is absurd.
JT: Do you guys feel that the Lord’s Prayer itself offers insufficient gospel?
CR: Roman Catholics recite the Lord’s Prayer in every mass.
So yes? It is amazing that you fault Christ for not teaching his follower to pray well enough to fit into your(truly?)Reformed mold. If any Roman Catholic earnestly prays the Lord’s Prayer he or she is most likely saved.
Also, people should note that prayers are not sermons. They can be instructive, of course, but they were mainly an address to God that gives praise, thanks, and humble requests. Let’s not make it more complicated than it is, folks.
I thought that he did as well as one could in this situation to focus the attention on the power of God on the office of the President. He did not offer a “wherever you find God” feeling and pointed to Christ alone, who yes, saves us, but he does change us into his likeness. If he would have pushed harder on the “issues” being discussed here, I believe no focus would have been put on God, or Christ, but rather focused on Rick Warren “pushing his agenda.” This guy has probably led more people into a relationship with Christ (through Saddlback, PDL, etc.) than every commenter on this blog combined, so lets give him some grace.
From across the pond, here in the UK, I never cease to be amazed at how quick some of you guys are to criticize, correct and comment on your brothers in Christ. It’s like, milliseconds…and the knives are out.
Since when have we been commanded to minutely analyse someone’s prayers? Were you praying with him, or just listening in so you could criticise him?
Suppose Rick Warren had stood and prayed just the words of the Lord’s Prayer – nothing else – would we then have had so many negative comments? My sad suspician is that we would still have had some!
Makes me glad to be in Scotland since it sounds like church in the US can be a scary place for a pastor with congregations of “we know best” critics.
If you’ve read Sinclair Ferguson’s “Twenty Resolutions from James” you’ll know that Resolution 7 reads: “That I will never stand on anyone’s face with my words.”
Hmmm.
Peter Humphris, Scotland, UK
JT, how about shutting this thread down? It’s embarrassing and a poor display.
Sinclair Ferguson:
“I sometimes wonder if this is a distinctively evangelical sin. Of course it is by no means exclusively so. But how commonplace it seems to be to hear a fellow Christian’s name mentioned in some context or other—and the first words of response demean his reputation, belittle him, distance him from acceptance into the fellowship—although this is a brother for whom Christ died!”
CR,
You didn’t quite answer JT’s question about the Lord’s Prayer. It seems like you are implying that the Lord’s Prayer contains insufficient gospel.