After much speculation, Rick Warren, pastor of the Saddleback Church, delivered the invocation at the inaugural ceremony – a prayer that was heartfelt and true to his faith tradition.
Warren offered an inclusive prayer for a nation comprised of many faiths. “Help us, oh God, to remember that we are Americans, united not by race or religion or blood, but to our commitment to freedom and justice for all,” he said. “Help us to share, to serve and to seek the common good of all. May all people of good will today join together to work for a more just, a more healthy and a more prosperous nation and a peaceful planet. And may we never forget that one day all nations and all people will stand accountable before you.”
You can read the transcript of his prayer here or watch the prayer here.
You may not realize it with all of the controversy surrounding his appearance, but Pastor Warren’s invocation also had the backing of most Americans. According to a new poll released today, more than 60% of the American people approved of Obama’s invitation to Warren to participate.
In the days leading up to the inaugural, Barack Obama defended the Warren pick saying “during the course of the entire inaugural festivities, there is going to be a wide range of viewpoints that are presented. That’s how it should be, because that’s what America is about,” he said. “Part of the magic of this country is that we are diverse and noisy and opinionated and that’s hopefully going to be a spirit that carries over to the administration.”
Before concluding the invocation with the Lord’s prayer, Pastor Warren acknowledged that there’s much work ahead during these challenging times: “And as we face these difficult days ahead, may we have a new birth of clarity in our aims, responsibility in our actions, humility in our approaches, and civility in our attitudes, even when we differ. Help us to share, to serve and to seek the common good of all.”
And, yes, Rick Warren ended the prayer in the name of Jesus, which is consistent with his Evangelical Christian faith. There is nothing wrong with that. It would be ironic, indeed, if the government were to dictate the content of the prayer at the inaugural event. That is not the role of government.
posted January 21, 2009 at 4:11 pm
Amen! The documented history of our nation has been intrinsically Christian in origin and anyone who denies the evidence of it is either
ignorant of the facts, from another world or simply can not read.
All one has to do is read George Washington’s inagural address if anyone wants to take the time.
posted January 21, 2009 at 7:20 pm
I attended the inauguration and was at the bank of the Capitol reflective pool after many months of excitement, a max campaign contribution, and immense pride in my country and the people very tightly packed around me. As a straight white male in a sea of salt and pepper diversity, with wet eyes and the writings of Malcolm and Martin fresh in my mind, I thanked God I was experiencing a moment of such tangible and historical unity. I sincerely and emotionally thanked my maker.
Until my personal gratitude to God was interrupted by the officially sanctioned beliefs of Rick Warren.
I was truly saddened as many in the crowd around me shouted “amen,” “Yes Jesus” and “that’s right.” I honestly felt like I wasn’t a true American.
It wasn’t just the prayer. Had it been non-sectarian I would have disagreed with it but it wouldn’t have evoked the emotional response it did for me. It was the sectarian nature and, mostly, the charge I would be judged before Jesus. As the crowd around me vocally agreed I felt like hundreds of thousands of fingers were pointing at me with thoughts of eternal torture for my poor soul for not choosing the evangelical vision shared by them.
If I could have physically left I would have. I felt like I didn’t belong there.
But as our President began speaking my joy began to return. I’m not a liberal or a homosexual that were calculated to be offended by Warren’s prayer. I’m a libertarian military officer that has taken life for my government. I’m not perfect and I know he’s not either and I can understand why he let Warren represent him and our nation in an attempt at unity. Unlike many that share my affinity for the separation of church and state endorsed by Jefferson I realize the first amendment says nothing about what occurred that day. I realize our nation has a history of such sectarian events.
But I didn’t vote for that history. I voted for change.
He could have simply left prayer to the many church services open before and after his inauguration.
President Obama is my President and I’m filled with respect and love for him with all his flaws. I just hope his desire for my love and respect, and that of my countrymen, doesn’t keep him from doing the right thing.
posted January 21, 2009 at 9:10 pm
cenco,
None of our founders were Christians and none of our founding papers mention the Bible, Christianity or the Christians God. I challenge you to name just one of our founders who was a professing Christian. Our founders were deists and when they mentioned God they were speaking of the God of Nature, the God of the deist. Christians point to any mention of God and assume it’s their God who is being referred to, but it isn’t. To counter the lies of Christian apologists and people like cenco we have the words of our founders themselves.
posted January 21, 2009 at 9:41 pm
Cenco: “The documented history of our nation has been intrinsically Christian in origin and anyone who denies the evidence of it is either ignorant of the facts, from another world or simply can not read.”
The “documented history of our nation” does not start until 1789 with the ratification of the Constitution. Article VI — which every State agreed to comply with — specifically kicks the church out of the government when it eliminates all religious tests for every government trust. And the First Amendment clearly states that the Government cannot even “respect” (that means even acknowledge) any institution of religion. The only connection between Christianity and the “documented history of our nation” is that the primitive colonies of our prehistory were so sectarian in nature that any dissent from the strict rules concerning the requirements of adhering to the colony’s religious convictions were often met with violence. Eliminating that conflict of religious conviction was one of the first things that needed to be resolved by the Constitutional Convention, which was composed mainly by adherents of the Enlightenment, Deist Freemasons, and Universalists. You would do better to stop reading the revisionist propaganda of the Religious Right and start reading the actual minutes of the Constitutional Convention (available at the Library of Congress).
posted January 22, 2009 at 12:29 pm
Jay, You really need to leave women’s rights alone. Believe it or not – women actually have a brain & can choose what’s right for them!! Really!! I answered the phone a couple of nights ago & was asked to listen to something (insuiniating it was Obama)and come to find out – it was you. Spewing your stupid, opioniated crap about abortion. Quit wasting my time – cause I DO have a life – and quit spreading your lies. DO NOT call me again!! You are a judgemental man who thinks he knows what’s right for women. Well, you DO NOT. Most of the comments you made during your little session, are not true, but that’s why you do it that way, right. Then no one can argue with you, can they? You seriously need to find something to do with your time – why don’t you help change the bad economy, or feed to homeless, or volunteer somewhere – instead of spending so much time worrying about my body.
posted January 22, 2009 at 1:56 pm
Hi Jay,
I love your ministry and I appreciate your blog. I listen to you often at 9am and I am blessed by your stance on important matters vital to the Christian faith.
Although my pick for President was not chosen, I am glad that Warren’s prayer was in Jesus name. I am blessed that Warren sticks to the tough political issues of pro-life and Protecting Marriage.
I think he did a great job.
God bless you Jay!
posted January 22, 2009 at 2:21 pm
“And, yes, Rick Warren ended the prayer in the name of Jesus, which is consistent with his Evangelical Christian faith. There is nothing wrong with that.”
Except for the fact that Jesus Christ never existed.
posted January 23, 2009 at 6:53 am
In response to Boris’ comment about our Founding Fathers, Thomas Jefferson was an active Unitarian Universalist. He was the one who wrote the Constitution insisting in religious freedom. Our Founding Fathers were aware of the dangers of having the country run by one religious group and strove to avoid this by the words of the Constitution. That is also why they picked “E pluribus unum” as our national motto. And I think we should go back to using that motto to include all people.
posted January 23, 2009 at 10:54 am
I understand your feelings, Rick. I was not privileged to be on the Mall… I had to work… but I did take time off to go over to the student center to watch the inauguration with our students and quite a few professors. It may encourage you to know that there were no “Amens” or “That’s rights” in that crowd… only dead silence followed Rev. Warren’s invocation. But as a Jewish person, I too felt excluded.
I do take notice that Rev. Lowrey did not mention Jesus even once when he delivered the benediction. That was good. Proves it’s possible NOT to mention Jesus and at the same time to deliver a reverent and relevant prayer, even though I’m sure Rev. Lowrey does personally believe in Jesus.
posted January 23, 2009 at 7:37 pm
Mary-Lee, If Rev. Lowery does believe in Jesus and the Bible then he needs to be asking for forgivness becuase he did not follow the teachings of Jesus when He instructs us to pray this way, ask anayhting in my name and it shall be given. So he not doing that is a slap in the face of every Christain everywhere.
posted January 25, 2009 at 5:56 pm
“Mary-Lee, If Rev. Lowery does believe in Jesus and the Bible then he needs to be asking for forgivness becuase he did not follow the teachings of Jesus when He instructs us to pray this way, ask anayhting in my name and it shall be given. So he not doing that is a slap in the face of every Christain everywhere.”
But didn’t that same Jesus instruct his followers to pray in private? Seems to me that if Rev. Lowery needs to ask forgiveness for not saying Jesus’ name, then all of the ministers need to ask forgiveness for breaking his commandment to pray in private, not in public.
Of course, we can rationalize that commandment out of existence, can’t we? After all, it inconveniences us, and that isn’t what the Bible was meant to do. It was meant to inconvenience others…right?
posted January 26, 2009 at 2:53 am
to: RJohnson
But didn’t that same Jesus instruct his followers to pray in private? Seems to me that if Rev. Lowery needs to ask forgiveness for not saying Jesus’ name, then all of the ministers need to ask forgiveness for breaking his commandment to pray in private, not in public.
I’m “Laughing Out Load”
You’re out of its context… again if u said something about it or quote statements from the Bible, make sure you understand it. (u Stupid)
posted January 28, 2009 at 4:43 pm
Matthew 21:13 Them refers to many at a house of prayer, Corporate prayer.
13″It is written,” he said to them, ” ‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’[a] but you are making it a ‘den of robbers.’[b]” The Transfiguration
28About eight days after Jesus said this, he took Peter, John and James with him and went up onto a mountain to pray.
Matthew 6:6 (New International Version) 6But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
Acts 1:13 13When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying. Those present were Peter, John, James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James.
14They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers. We have corporate prayer and their is private prayer. Jesus took 3 up to a mountian to pray. He often prayed alone and with others.
posted January 28, 2009 at 5:06 pm
A Few Declarations of Founding Fathers and Early Statesmen on Jesus, Christianity, and the Bible
(This list is by no means exhaustive; many other Founders could be included, and even with those who appear below, additional quotes could have been used.)
John Adams
SIGNER OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE; JUDGE; DIPLOMAT; ONE OF TWO SIGNERS OF THE BILL OF RIGHTS; SECOND PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
The general principles on which the fathers achieved independence were the general principles of Christianity. I will avow that I then believed, and now believe, that those general principles of Christianity are as eternal and immutable as the existence and attributes of God.1
The Holy Ghost carries on the whole Christian system in this earth. Not a baptism, not a marriage, not a sacrament can be administered but by the Holy Ghost. . . . There is no authority, civil or religious – there can be no legitimate government but what is administered by this Holy Ghost. There can be no salvation without it. All without it is rebellion and perdition, or in more orthodox words damnation.2
Without religion, this world would be something not fit to be mentioned in polite company: I mean hell.3
The Christian religion is, above all the religions that ever prevailed or existed in ancient or modern times, the religion of wisdom, virtue, equity and humanity.4
Suppose a nation in some distant region should take the Bible for their only law book and every member should regulate his conduct by the precepts there exhibited. . . . What a Eutopia – what a Paradise would this region be!5
I have examined all religions, and the result is that the Bible is the best book in the world.6
John Quincy Adams
SIXTH PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES; DIPLOMAT; SECRETARY OF STATE; U. S. SENATOR; U. S. REPRESENTATIVE; “OLD MAN ELOQUENT”; “HELL-HOUND OF ABOLITION”
My hopes of a future life are all founded upon the Gospel of Christ and I cannot cavil or quibble away [evade or object to]. . . . the whole tenor of His conduct by which He sometimes positively asserted and at others countenances [permits] His disciples in asserting that He was God.7
The hope of a Christian is inseparable from his faith. Whoever believes in the Divine inspiration of the Holy Scriptures must hope that the religion of Jesus shall prevail throughout the earth. Never since the foundation of the world have the prospects of mankind been more encouraging to that hope than they appear to be at the present time. And may the associated distribution of the Bible proceed and prosper till the Lord shall have made “bare His holy arm in the eyes of all the nations, and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God” [Isaiah 52:10].8
In the chain of human events, the birthday of the nation is indissolubly linked with the birthday of the Savior. The Declaration of Independence laid the cornerstone of human government upon the first precepts of Christianity.9
Samuel Adams
SIGNER OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE; “FATHER OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION”; RATIFIER OF THE U. S. CONSTITUTION; GOVERNOR OF MASSACHUSETTS
I . . . [rely] upon the merits of Jesus Christ for a pardon of all my sins.10
The name of the Lord (says the Scripture) is a strong tower; thither the righteous flee and are safe [Proverbs 18:10]. Let us secure His favor and He will lead us through the journey of this life and at length receive us to a better.11
I conceive we cannot better express ourselves than by humbly supplicating the Supreme Ruler of the world . . . that the confusions that are and have been among the nations may be overruled by the promoting and speedily bringing in the holy and happy period when the kingdoms of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ may be everywhere established, and the people willingly bow to the scepter of Him who is the Prince of Peace.12
He also called on the State of Massachusetts to pray that . . .
the peaceful and glorious reign of our Divine Redeemer may be known and enjoyed throughout the whole family of mankind.13
we may with one heart and voice humbly implore His gracious and free pardon through Jesus Christ, supplicating His Divine aid . . . [and] above all to cause the religion of Jesus Christ, in its true spirit, to spread far and wide till the whole earth shall be filled with His glory.14
with true contrition of heart to confess their sins to God and implore forgiveness through the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ our Savior.15
Josiah Bartlett
MILITARY OFFICER; SIGNER OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE; JUDGE; GOVERNOR OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
Called on the people of New Hampshire . . . to confess before God their aggravated transgressions and to implore His pardon and forgiveness through the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ . . . [t]hat the knowledge of the Gospel of Jesus Christ may be made known to all nations, pure and undefiled religion universally prevail, and the earth be fill with the glory of the Lord.16
Gunning Bedford
MILITARY OFFICER; MEMBER OF THE CONTINENTAL CONGRESS; SIGNER OF THE CONSTITUTION; FEDERAL JUDGE
To the triune God – the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost – be ascribed all honor and dominion, forevermore – Amen.17
posted October 28, 2009 at 10:04 pm
Seeing how the Obama Administration has consistently tried to silence free speech of particular groups (i.e. pro-lifers, veterans, medical professionals who are pro-life through the attempted abolishment of the Conscience Clause, Flag Your Neighbor Campaign at flag@whitehouse.gov), we can look at the quote, infra, and see how far Pres. Barack has strayed from his compass:
“Part of the magic of this country is that we are diverse and noisy and opinionated and that’s hopefully going to be a spirit that carries over to the administration.”
posted October 28, 2009 at 11:40 pm
truth
January 26, 2009 2:53 AM
to: RJohnson
But didn’t that same Jesus instruct his followers to pray in private?
———————————————————–
No.
For instance, just before His Crucifixion, He prayed in the open.
He prayed, “Our Father…” in the open, in public, in front of people.
When He ate with His Disciples, He prayed aloud.
So, did Jesus contradict Himself?
truth
January 26, 2009 2:53 AM
… all of the ministers need to ask forgiveness for breaking his commandment to pray in private, not in public.
———————————————————–
Which one of the two commandments did Jesus give is that one?
truth
January 26, 2009 2:53 AM
I’m “Laughing Out Load”
You’re out of its context…
———————————————————–
Which context? Historical? Literary? Which?