From the AP wires, and posted at AOL.com, there is clear evidence of purple politics. And blurring lines often creates tension. Rick Warren has a summit on AIDS and has invited both Barack Obama (Democrat) and Sam Brownback (Republican), but Rob Schenck, president of the National Clergy Council, asks his folks to protest the event because Obama supports abortion.
My own comment, however brief, is this: Evangelical Christians must cooperate with anyone and everyone on the AIDS issue; cooperation on AIDS does not mean agreement with the moral and theological and political stances with everyone with whom we cooperate; refusing to cooperate with someone like Obama to stamp out AIDS indicates, not careful theology, but infective ideology.
Pastor Defends Invitation to Obama Some Object to Democrat's Support for Abortion Rights By NEDRA PICKLER, AP WASHINGTON (Nov. 30) -
Famed pastor and best-selling author Rick Warren on Wednesday defended his invitation to Sen. Barack Obama to speak at his church despite objections from some evangelicals who oppose the Democrat's support for abortion rights. Obama is one of nearly 60 speakers scheduled to address the second annual Global Summit on AIDS and the Church beginning Thursday at Warren's Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, Calif.
Obama, who is mulling a run for president, plans to take an HIV test during his appearance Friday and encourage others to do the same. The Illinois Democrat will be joined by a potential 2008 White House rival - Republican Sen. Sam Brownback of Kansas - and is urging unity to fight AIDS despite differences on other issues.
Conservative evangelical Rob Schenck, president of the National Clergy Council, e-mailed reporters Tuesday to protest the visit because of Obama's support of abortion rights. "Senator Obama's policies represent the antithesis of biblical ethics and morality, not to mention supreme American values," Schenck wrote. Saddleback responded with a statement acknowledging "strong opposition" to Obama's participation. The church said participants were invited because of their knowledge of HIV/AIDS and that Warren, author of "The Purpose Driven Life," opposes Obama's position on abortion and other issues.
"Our goal has been to put people together who normally won't even speak to each other," the Saddleback statement said. "We do not expect all participants in the summit discussion to agree with all of our evangelical beliefs. However, the HIV/AIDS pandemic cannot be fought by evangelicals alone. It will take the cooperation of all - government, business, NGOs and the church."
Obama did not respond to interview requests. But he issued a written statement saying while he respects differing views on abortion, he hopes for unity "to honor the entirety of Christ's teachings by working to eradicate the scourge of AIDS, poverty and other challenges we all can agree must be met. It is that spirit which has allowed me to work together - and pray together - with some of my conservative colleagues in the Senate to make progress on a range of key issues facing America," Obama's said.
Brownback, who has close ties to conservative Christians, did not respond to requests for comment on the dispute. Though still in his first term in the Senate, Obama has attracted national attention for his fresh face, commanding speaking style and compelling personal story. He also has encouraged liberals to engage in religious discourse and not leave the topic to conservatives to claim as their own.
While in California, Obama also plans a Friday night appearance on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" to promote his best-selling book, "The Audacity of Hope." As part of his consideration for a presidential run, Obama will make his first political visit to New Hampshire on Dec. 10 for a celebration of the state Democratic Party's victories in the congressional, gubernatorial and legislative races. Obama has traveled to Iowa, site of the leadoff presidential caucuses, but New Hampshire hasn't been on his itinerary. The race for the 2008 Democratic nomination is considered wide open, and at least a dozen potential contenders are weighing formal bids, including front-runner Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York.
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Bryan,
WOW! Maybe the most amazing thing is that you are publicly stating that you are following a portion of my comments. Makes me think that Scot might have slipped something into your coffee! Irish coffee does have a slight Kick to it!
You stated....
"Now, having said all that, I don’t really see that being the issue with this conference. ....... If to participate we first had to sign a creed that said I will not teach the Word of God, then I would say we should find an alternative way to join the battle against AIDS, but I haven’t heard that such mandates are being made an issue here."
You are right. The reason it is not an issue is that this issue is already settled. Upon being granted status or recognition as a corporate entity or organization, the issue of full cooperation and/or compliance with government regulations is presumed. There's no need for anyone, Obama, Brownback or Warren, to come in and make a point of cooperation or compliance, when compliance with the government's creed is a given.
The problem arises when their is resistance, if any, to such cooperation. Many churches have failed on various issues when it comes to fighting in court because they are not aware of their legal status and duty before the courts.
Scot is also right when he states that "refusing to cooperate with someone like Obama to stamp out AIDS indicates, not careful theology, but infective ideology."
Scot is right because careful theology would lead us, as God's people, to understand who we are in relation to the World and its institutions. A lack of careful theology is truly "infective ideology" because, in this particular case, it would put us at odds with the law of the government, causing God's people to "suffer as evildoers," and not for righteousness. When we fail to understand such foundational truths, we should not be surprised when we reap what we sow.
So, as you hear of the fallout from this conference and opposition expressed against it, realize that a certain number of people, especially from the side of the church, probably have no clue about what is taking place.
And give Rick Warren credit for understanding much more than most leaders do. After all, it is his duty.
I think there is a disconnect somewhere between the role of Scripture and how we read it,and what "we actually do on the ground." This is more complex than we think,biblically. I'm always drawn to Jesus parables,which called his audience to think in terms of real,visceral,issues things from real life to embody to them how YHWH's kingaom was about and how YHWH worked. WHen Jesus told the parable of the Good Samaritan,it must have deeply troubles (and infuriated!) many of Jesus disciples:he chose the the perfectly wrong people to embody the right thing.The Jewish levite and priest,to uphold their purity, pass by the victim,while the Pharisee becomes the merciful helper.Then Jesus asks the perfect question:Which of the three was the neighbor(ie,part if the covenant people of YHWH who fulfilled his obligations to his brother) to the Israelite who was mugged? The Pharisee discovered that the heretic,hated Samaritan was the "neighbor." The boundaries that we often set up to demarcate who's "in" with God and therefore who's acceptable to be considered a part of our working,were ripped apart by this parable. Jesus doesn't go on to elucidate some doctrinal criteria to redraw this line to make conversation partner feel more comfortable,he tells him to do likewise.Proper praxis(being a neighbor,walking the walk)is the key here.The Samaritan was still a Samaritan,hw worshipped a different temple and was still a "heretic" but by his actions proved who he was.What's more alarming is the implication that those thought they were in the "in" group(ie,those like the Pharisee who into boundary setting to judge who's a part of the people of God and those outside) may not be in God's sight because of their actions,not their so called doctrine.On some level I think Rick Warren understands this,and that's why he invited Sen. Obama to make a presentation at the AIDS Conference.Get ready!There are going to be some real shockers at the Last Judgement!
Sorry for the typos in the previous post!It was a quick and dirty.It should have been "Samaraitan" instead of "Pharisee"in a crucial sentence.Thanks!
Scott (#118),
Speaking for myself only, I don't see this parable as particularly relevant to my concerns about Rick's summit and its involvement with politicians (not limited to Sen. Obama)...or at least not in the way you seem to be making the connection. The samaritan took action, not in concert with the local establishment, but on his own, and in defiance of the social and politcal norms of the day.
You seem to be comparing Sen. Obama to the Samaritan...that Rick Warren can see past 'doctrinal' boundaries, and recognizes that Sen. Obama (and, presumably, also Sen. Brownback) are Samaritans eager to get their hands dirty in God's work.
Well, perhaps...but I don't share that view. Personally, I see Rick Warren as a guy with a Samaritan's heart, but playing with fire by mixing his compassion with the perpetually shifting and fickle winds mainstream political power. I see this matter less through the lens of the samaritan passage, and more through that of the passage of sheep and wolves in Matt. 10.
My problems with Mr Obama aren't his 'doctrines'...I don't know what they are. They're with his actions...his statements and his votes on the abortion issue. These lead me to believe he's trying to play both sides of the compassion street for the sake of political expediency. I applaud Sen. Obama's activism on AIDS...and perhaps Rick Warren can leverage that for good. I think, on the other hand, that Sen. Obama's position on partial birth abortion is appalling, and transparently political.
The problem with mixing compassion with politics is that the compassion will always get politicized, it's values and goals subverted for the sake of political goals and values. We can neither wait for nor trust governments and legislators to do the right thing...it's great if and when they do, but we can't depend on them to do so.
Whether it's Rwanda, Sudan, New Orleans or wherever...I don't bank on the notion that my taxes will ever achieve anything good in those kinds of places. I give money to NGO's that work, sometimes under the cover of darkness, often risking their lives to do things that governments passively or actively oppose with laws and/or bullets. I do work to send supplies to orphans in Honduras where the local government really doesn't give a rat's backside about what happens to them.
We are admonished over and over again to be discerning.So, in keeping with Matt 10:16, my prayer is that Rick is as wise as a serpent, because Sen. Obama is playing a high stakes games now. Sen. Brownback, I've heard, is considering dealing himself in as well.
Benjamin, the only compliance one must have when a 501(c)(3) corporate entity is with the IRS regulations; it isn't a carte blanche submission to every government authority or to a single politician. I still don't see why it is bad to discuss issues in a forum with all interested parties, whether their interest arises from reasons different than our own. And, it would be my prayer that the distictives of a true Jesus follower will be noted by any who may be in attendance who aren't and seeds of faith will be planted.
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