The ugliest woman you’ll ever meet, but she’s mine and she’s ugly.- Elton John, Ugly
This past Wednesday, Saddleback Church’s pastor Rick Warren, along with gay pop star, Elton John, attended a Senate hearing in which they jointly addressed the issue of funding global health initiatives. And when I say “jointly,” I mean, literally, jointly. The two – who on many issues are on complete opposite ends of the religio-political spectrum – found common ground and seized the opportunity to make a spectacle of their accord. As they took their seats, they joined hands, and according to media present at the hearing, Rick Warren announced…
“If we kiss, it will be the kiss heard round the world.”
Rick Warren is known for his Global P.E.A.C.E. Plan, an initiative started by Saddleback Church that essentially travels the world to treat the symptoms of sin, rather than the sin itself (i.e. passing out condoms in Africa to combat aids, rather than preach the Gospel). For someone who claims to believe the Bible, and pastor a church, you would expect a different take on the issue of HIV/AIDS than Elton John, a God-hating gay activist that started an AIDS foundation which essentially does the same thing. But this common ground between the two of them was enough for Warren to violate 2 Corinthians 6:14, that says:
“Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?”
We have arguably the most influential pastor, of one of the largest megachurches in the world, who claims to hold to the biblical truth of homosexuality as sin, making a mocking joke of God in front of the whole world. Not only does this show our secular, unbelieving world that Christians aren’t really serious about their faith, he puts on this spectacle in front of our elected government officials. If there are were any senators on the fence about this hot-button issue of gay marriage present at this hearing, can you imagine how this little show may have swayed them?
If Rick Warren – “America’s Pastor” – doesn’t take the issue of homosexuality seriously, then why should they? But worse than that, Warren practically spit in the face of God. Homosexual activity, whether or not it’s in joking or outright, is an abomination to God. Period. Leviticus 18:22 says “You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination.” This is a moral law, and moral laws represent God’s character. It is against God’s nature to practice homosexuality in any way. God doesn’t say, “Well, as long as you’re kidding around about it.” The issue is bigger. I’m not suggesting that Rick Warren is gay, but this incident is beyond atrocious for someone who claims to stand on, and represent the Word of God.
Elton John is a sodomite, and Elton John, and his pro-sodomy followers are going to see this in a different light than Christians are. They are going to see this as a softening stance on homosexuality among the Christian community, and many others are going to follow suit. There will be many so-called Christians as well, who see it as a weakening stance. The trickle down effect of this seemingly small display may have grave consequences, and as usual, Warren was clueless. This sickening demonstration of Warren’s thoughtless and carelessness of God’s Word is just another indication of who he really is–an ecumenical chameleon. This isn’t the first time that Warren has “held hands” with unbelievers in order to accomplish something, though I believe this is the first time he did so literally. Last year, Warren traveled to the Vatican to engage in a joint mission (fellowship) with unbelievers on the issue of marriage. Christians are not called to be friends with the world. James 4:4 says that Rick Warren is a spiritual adulterer for doings so. Not only has Warren befriended the world, but he has downgraded himself to the fleshly, lustful ideas of the world to do so.
Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. – Eph 5:11
Instead of exposing the darkness of sin that Elton John is living in, Rick Warren has decided to take part in them. And perhaps it’s time the evil of Rick Warren be exposed.
[Contributed by Pulpit & Pen]
By the way, JD discussed this topic in this week’s second podcast here.
