Rick Warren’s interview on CNN’s The Situation Room (see transcript) reveals Warren continues in his lean away from doctrine, and towards the world. In doing so, he must also continue to redefine both the role of the pastor and the responsibilities of the saints. In responding to a question over casing “a bit of a stir” by partnering with pro-homosexuality and pro-abortionist Barack Obama for his AIDS summit, Warren said: “Well, you know, if you can only work with people you agree with 100 percent, you’ve ruled out the entire world.” While that is a good point for a politician to keep in mind, those who would continue to call themselves pastors should consult a higher authority on this matter:
If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. But all these things will they do unto you for my name’s sake, because they know not him that sent me. (Joh 15:18-21)
Pastors are not called to work with, or for, the world, but to preach a gospel against the world and for Christ: to save some out of the world. Furthermore, real pastors are given by God for the perfecting of the saints (Eph. 4:11); and not for the promoting of the politicians. This is something “America’s pastor” hasn’t caught wind of yet. In responding to another question as to Obama’s fitness for the presidency, one reason Warren cites for believing Obama has got what it takes for the oval office is his “civility.” Warren then proceeds to elaborate on the type of civility he would impose, and it’s revealing:
And I’m so tired of the rudeness we’ve got in our society where people are just mean to each other. We need to return to civility, which says, I treat you with respect even if I violently disagree with you. That we’ve lost the ‘civil’ in civilization. (Warren, transcript)
Warren is no doubt referring here to those who call him on preaching a social gospel of benevolence and good works for Christians to perform as societies little janitors and nursemaids. Some have made note of his apostasy of training up servant-leaders by inflicting guilt and blame on those who are unsuspecting of harm and free from guilt (the simple: Rom. 16:18) by charging that they should be doing more to clean up the symptoms of the world’s sin. The apostle Paul had something to say in regards to the preaching of another gospel revolving around works as a justifier of souls, and it is appropriate to recall it here:
I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. (Gal 1:6-9; emphases added)
I think it is safe to extract two points from this text: 1) Paul “violently” disagreed with these apostates; 2) and he did not respect them in the least. Obviously, Warren dose not wish to return quite this far in search of civility. And that’s his shame.
