We Report, You Decide
Almost two years ago to the day (December 1, 2008), Pastor Warren was heatedly criticized by right wing religious and political groups for inviting then Senator Obama to speak at his church (Saddleback Community Church) during Warren’s second annual AIDS Conference. An open letter signed by Phyllis Schlafly, head of the conservative Eagle Forum, and 17 others contended “If Senator Obama cannot defend the most helpless citizens in our country, he has nothing to say to the AIDS crisis. You cannot fight one evil while justifying another.” The din became sufficiently loud that Saddleback posted a response stressing Warren’s disagreement with Obama on abortion but noting that “Obama was invited to share his views on AIDS, not abortion or any other issue.”
Unity in Opposition
For example, when Warren invited Obama, Dr. Wiley Drake, pastor of First Baptist Church in Buena Park, CA, and Second Vice President of the 42 million-member Southern Baptist Convention told the Los Angeles Times, “You can’t work together with people totally opposed to what you are. This kind of conference is just going to lead people astray.”
On the other hand, Richard Land, head of the denomination’s influential Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission and its principal Washington strategist, agreed with Warren. “Rick is having a summit on AIDS, and Barack Obama has said some compelling things about the issue. I work all the time in coalition with people to the right and left of me, when we’re in agreement on a specific issue. One of the markers of Evangelicals is the ability to walk and chew gum at the same time.”
Where Do You Stand?
So where do you stand on this issue and issues like them? Where do you draw the line?
Was Warren wrong to invite Obama to his AIDS Conference? By doing so, do you think Warren implicitly approved of all of Obama’s positions, even though he disavowed specific views publicly?
Was Obama inconsistent to invite Pastor Warren to deliver the invocation? By doing so, do you think Obama implicitly approved of all of Warren’s positions, even though he expressed public disagreement with some specific views?
Why is Obama reaching so far to the right on this? Why isn’t he going to his spiritual adviser of 20 years pastor Wright? To me this seems all to politically expedient. It also seems like a move that Warren can’t pass up, as the “Pastor of the World.” I’m not against Warren, and why not, if I was asked I’d probrably say yes too. I just hope that when/if the moral issues of difference come up, the truth will be spoken in love. Good point by the way about the fact that a completely liberal radical Democratic president elect and a conservative pastor are bringing the country together. We’ll see how successful that goes. I trust God is behind it all and will use it for His ultimate glory.
I find it distressing that a christian leader like Dr. Wiley Drake has such tunnel vision. Obama and Warren may have some opposing ideologies, but that does not mean that they are “totally” opposed on all issues. Even though we may have opposing views than someone else, we can still accept them as people worthy of equal concern and respect. I find it admirable that, despite their differences, Obama and Warren can work together for the common good of all citizens.