No Defense

Several weeks ago I was in my office and Carol was watching TV in another room. She yelled to me that Rick Warren was on Larry King Live so I went to watch it with her. I saw the entire program and was thinking at the time, "How great is this that Rick Warren is able to be on one of America's most watched TV programs a program that has a worldwide audience." What a wonderful opportunity for the Gospel of Jesus Christ to be explained and spread on a regular basis with little or no argument from the host Larry King. Rick has an open forum for the spreading of the Gospel to millions who would probably have no other way of being reached with words of Salvation and Eternal Life.

As I watched the program and listened to Rick explain how he had not taken a political stand on the Proposition 8 issue, little did I realize how this statement and his mention of his ministry to homosexuals would lead to such an outcry among evangelicals.

I remember remarking to Carol at the end of the segment how incredible it was that Rick had, the week before, 2,400 people in his new member class and had baptized 500. Wow!

When the debate over the interview began over the next few days, I was astounded, astonished, bewildered, and disappointed all at the same time. I have no right to defend Rick Warren simply because he needs no defense from me or anyone else. He has defended himself and his words but to me that was not even necessary.

I am somewhat confused about the political issue. We seem to spend an inordinate amount of time discussing politics but to no avail. In my study of the Bible I only recall Jesus taking one political stand and that had to do with paying taxes, in Matthew 22:21-22 Jesus says, "Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." NKJV My father used to say that there are two things you should never argue about; politics and religion. He was half right.

However, I do see Jesus spending a majority of his time taking care of people’s needs and preparing them for the Kingdom of God. In fact, Jesus commands us in Matthew 28:19-20, "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." NKJV In John 15:16 Jesus personalizes the same thought when he says, “You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.” NKJV So I guess that with 2,400 new disciples and 500 new baptisms, Rick seems to be accomplishing what God has called all Christians to do.

When I was recently confronted by someone who was critical of some of the general actions and statements of Rick and his ministry I said simply, “Fortunately, when I stand before God I will never be held accountable for anything that Rick Warren has ever done wrong. Unfortunately, I will never receive the rewards he will receive for what he has done right.”

R. Alan Cole in his commentary on the Book of Mark (p. 140)expresses this helpful insight, "It is a strange paradox that in any times of religious revival or obvious working of God's Spirit, it is often the religious leaders who oppose the work of God most strenuously, and seem to misunderstand it most willfully.

I don’t agree with everything Rick Warren does and says. But then I don’t agree with everything I say or do.