Friday, December 19, 2008

What are you thinking, Mr. President-Elect?

I find myself getting increasingly angry this holiday season. I'm angry that after a year of seeking medical assistance, BR is still in constant pain. I'm angry that Johnson & Johnson has chosen to kill the iBOT. I'm angry that a majority of Californians have chosen to put a "but not for them" amendment into the state constitution.

And now I'm angry that Mr. Obama has selected Rick Warren to deliver the invocation at his inauguration.

For those not familiar with invocations, here's an example delivered by the Reverend Billy Graham at the inauguration of George H. W. Bush.

This invocation starts by recognizing that we are "one nation under God." It also references the president's duty "to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution".

I can't imagine Rick Warren delivering these words with any credibility.

From the Saddleback Church website:
Because membership in a church is an outgrowth of accepting the Lordship and leadership of Jesus in one's life, someone unwilling to repent of their homosexual lifestyle would not be accepted at [sic] a member at Saddleback Church. That does not mean they cannot attend church - we hope they do! God's Word has the power to change our lives.
Does that sound like "one nation under God?" Even if you believe that homosexuality is "an enormous sin", Jesus himself said "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone" as an admission that we are all sinners. To refuse church membership based on this one particular sin seems arbitrary at best, and downright hateful at worst. There are lots of sins listed in the Bible. Pride is one of the seven deadly sins. Yet Reverend Warren's bio page seems to list only things one might be proud of, and nothing that might make him appear to be a sinner. Pretty ironic -- by not disclosing his sins and painting an accurate picture of himself, he has unashamedly committed a sin. Must he now repent his prideful lifestyle, or risk being thrown out of his own church?

And how am I supposed to take him seriously when he talks about the president's obligation to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution, when Reverend Warren worked tirelessly to remove a right from the California Constitution? Enough said.

1 comment:

Jayesh said...

Hi Steve, your anger is totally understandable. Recently I watched Jon Stewart's arguments on Daily show on this issue and I will definitely recommend any opponent of gay marriage to go watch it.

Here is the youtube link

Happy Holidays!