RICK WARREN TAKE 2

Following up on my blog from last week about Rick Warren and his position on Larry King Live about the gay-marriage issue.

After the dust has settled a little I still have some issues.  It is not neccessarily what Rick Warren said, but what he did not say that is troublesome to me.  I still believe that the Purpose Driven LIfe has great merit, is Biblically solid and God has used this work to accomplish some great things and transformed lives.  I also still beleive that Rick Warren is a good man and that he does love the Lord.  However…

Let me first applaud Rick Warren for clearly defining marriage as between one man and one woman.  I can also understand him trying to not be associated with the anti-gay movement.  For we as Christian’s are not anti-gay people.  So what is the however?  THe however, is that Rick Warren is involved in many cultural aspects.  The mere fact that we find purpose from God (as he espouses in his book) means that we need to promote God’s purposes.  Rick did promote the definition of marriage.  In his mind he probably believes that he did enough.  But the problem is that when asked about the Iowa Supreme Court decision he said he was oblivious to that and then went on to say that is not on his agenda.  THis is the problem.  It is GOd’s purpose to establish God-honoring homes…homsexual marriage is not GOd’s purpose.  How can we live a purpose driven life when we cannot defend the purpose of marriage.  Rick had an opportunity to stand for truth…in my opinion he fail short.

So now what?  First, I believe my initial reaction was too strong.  Looking over the actual footage…not what others have said or written about it reveals that Rick does hold a Biblical view.  So the real issue is that there are many who beleive Rick did not take a firm enough stand and dodged the issue.  This is something that still bothers me, but it is not something that I can reject Rick Warren’s ministry upon.  I hope and pray that in the future Rick will not be oblivous to culturally relevant issues that the Bible clearly speaks about.  I also pray that Rick will be more forthcoming and supportive of pro-marriage issues instead of taking a back seat and declaring he never attended or supported them.  Lastly, may we realize that people who speak in public are allowed to make mistakes.  Rick lost an opportunity in my opinion.  I will give him the benefit of the doubt and say that I believe his intentions were good and that he does desire to glorify God…but along the way all of us that desire that sometimes fall short of GOd’s glory (Romans 3:23).  But in the end thanks for Jesus who gives us the victory (Romans 6:23).

*  I had told everone that in my assessment as more information came out I would be humble enough to change my position if neccessary.  That is what this write up is about.  If things change I will post more in the future.  God bless – PC