Posted by
Young Democrat on Monday, January 05, 2009 10:47:35 AM
I don't like Rick Warren. He just comes off kind of sleazy, but I guess I'm kinda tele-evelaglisiticphobic. This is a common condition, known to many old time Christians like me, who just do not like the whole mega-peacher phenomon that seems to have overtaken Christianity. With the exception of Billy Graham, almost all of these pastors use their fame and power to get themselves mansions while preaching the word. It feels dirty, like those who exchange money in the temples before Jesus threw their tables over.
Many people including the majority of Christians get uncomfortable around the mega-preacher because of course, the preacher is simply a vessel to speak to our spirtual condidtion, of ourselves and our world. There are many mega-preacher-phobes out there including Geroge H.W. Bush, Barbara Bush and Chuck Grassley. I have problems with Rick Warren politically, I'm pro-choice and pro-gay marriage but my bigger problem is with him spiritually. And for those who are about to have an anerisum let me clear it is his style that disturbs me not his philosphy which many good people agree with.
My grandparents, the Eckles, (who many long time readers will note I love dearly) and I had a discussion about Rick Warren's book "A Purpose Driven Life". We were not kind in our reaction, Warren would seem to be a Charleton who uses basic psychology and hand picked "feel good, think less" scripture to present a worldview that is certainly less than challenging.
Warren also feels the need to interject himself into every discussion. Abortion, stoping equal rights for gay people, global warming, poverty, Darfur. No matter where you stand on these issues, do we really need to focus on Rick Warren? His sermons are like a lot of mega-preachers, the hot topic of the day and forgotten the next.
And who can forget his pathetic Presidential discussions he held at his church. A political debate at a church. This bothers the bejebbers out of me, one on the obvious level of seperation of church and state but more deeply on the level that a church is a holy place for worship and spiritual thought not where you host a Presidential forum with cameras from CNN, FOX, and MSNBC. It's wrong but not with the new breed of Christian that gives us Rick Warren.
While many like Star Parker in her recent smut piece are angry that Warren would allow Barack Obama in his church at all (what a nasty person) to many on the left who don't want Warren at the Obama inaugration (who cares?... Obama will keep Roe legal and make signifant progress on gay rights, if a two minute prayer for a homphobic preacher is what bothers you get over it) it would be a shame to miss the bigger point, it isn't Warren's views or his friends that make him a person less than diserable. It's his constant use of God to build himself up and not Jesus himself.
It's for that reason that he is the Jesse Jackson of the right.