Posted on 07/04/2009 7:18:22 PM PDT by rawhide
WASHINGTON Speaking to a crowd of nearly 8,000 Muslims at the Islamic Society of North America's annual convention in Washington D.C., Saddleback Church Pastor Rick Warren called on Muslims and Christians to form an interfaith coalition to combat prejudice and stereotypes.
While Fourth of July revelers staked out seats to watch fireworks at the nearby Capitol Building, Warren addressed convention-goers – some of them from Orange County Muslim student associations – about the need for mutual respect.
"Tolerance is not enough," Warren said. "People don't want to be tolerated, they want to be respected, they want to be listened to. They want to be valued."
Armed with four ideas for action, Warren called on Muslims and Christians to work together to create respect, restore civility to civilization, promote peace and tackle major world problems.
"I am not interested in interfaith dialogue, I am interested in interfaith projects," Warren said. "Talk is very cheap."...
..."I think what he said was fantastic," said Shiran Elkoshairi of the Adams Center Mosque in Virginia. "Historically, that (interfaith co-operation) was the way things got done, but we have forgotten that over time."
Elkoshairi said he especially liked how Warren said that love is a verb, an action rather than an emotion.
"I am commanded to love and I am commanded to respect everybody," Warren said.
(Excerpt) Read more at ocregister.com ...
NO; instead of talking about “respect” Rev. Warren ought to talk about converting the Muslims (which does mean respecting them as persons, natually, but not as Muslims or Islam)-which is a false devils’ theology!
Rick Warren, you are commanded to love them and they are commanded to kill you. Now all you need to do is find the middle ground. Working together should solve the problem.
“Jesus commanded us to love our enemy. I believe he also commanded us to care and protect for our family.”
Yes, but we’re not asked to compromise our beliefs for the sake of unity. Jesus told us to follow him and forsake all others.
Agreed!
Agreed!
Sounds like a great plan.
Muslims need to convert to Christianity. That’s what they need, Rick.
“Yes, but we’re not asked to compromise our beliefs for the sake of unity. Jesus told us to follow him and forsake all others.”
Spending time with someone is not forsaking your beliefs. Besides how else would you convert them?
Jesus also told us to leave the 99 sheep in search of the 1 lost one.
“Be not overcome with evil but overcome evil with good...”
Also Paul wrote of the dangers and heresy of mixing beliefs such as was common with some of the early churches.
My Christianity needs no quotes, if he is teaching that faiths can work together in accordance then he is WRONG and his is “christianity”.
A Southern Baptist, Warren has a record of upsetting fellow Christian conservatives by calling old-guard evangelical activists too partisan and narrowly focused. Ahead of his speech Saturday, bloggers who follow Warren had already denounced his appearance at the convention as cozying up to extremists.
Warren acknowledged the controversy during his 20-minute speech.
"It's easier to be an extremist of any kind because then you only have one group of people mad at you," he said. "But if you actually try to build relationships — like invite an evangelical pastor to your gathering — you'll get criticized for it. So will I."
In his speech, Warren also urged Muslims and Christians to speak out against stereotyping of any group and to respect each other even while disagreeing. Addressing Muslims who "have been in America for many generations now," he urged them to help "the newcomers learn what it means to be American."
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5i-0awwqcG0uDzbrdzImYN76gqasQD9980P601
Exactly, the great commision was to go out into all the world and spread the Gospel which is salvation through Christ, otherwise his death and resurrection where in vain.
Rich is still wondering why the Jews were not nice to the Nazis. They all could have had such a nice relationship.
Ricky, time to grow up and get a real job and face reality.
Matt. 5 - from the sermon on the mount. The message from Jesus was an indication of His very high standards - of perfection. Of course, much like the OT law, it’s clearly a mirror to reflect back to us just how spiritually bankrupt we are in our own strength. Such a (correct) conclusion leads the right-thinking person to realize their extreme need for a redeemer who lived the perfect life (that we are are incapable of living) in our place.
You said it in a nutshell!
Spot ON!!! Rick Warren IMO is now doing the devil's work.
At the heart of the Christian faith are three fundamental beliefs that are not negotiable. First, that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He was born without sin, of the Virgin Mary. Second, Jesus Christ suffered and died for our sins on the Cross. After which, he rose from the dead conquring death freeing us all from sin. Third, as a result of his birth, death and resurrection which free's us from our sin the only way to Heaven and to be with Our Father is through accepting Jesus Christ as our savior.
There is no negotiation on these fundamental, basic tenets of the Christian Faith. Muslims routinely mock Christ. They do not believe he is the Son of God. They ridicule the Virgin Mary. They claim that Christ's death and resurrection was a 'hoax' perpetrated by his followers stealing his body from the tomb in which it was laid.
To this day, muslims around the world are persecuting Christians by driving them from their homes in Indonesia, Liberia, parts of Kenya and elsewhere. They are being forced to convert to islam or die.
In the history of the world, every major world religion has undergone a reformation and renounced violence EXCEPT for islam.
Now I have to ask a fundamental question of Rick Warren: Exactly how can any good, right thinking Christian ever allow themselves to be duped into having a "respectful" dialogue with the very muslims who belittle our faith or force Christians (and others) at the point of a gun to convert to islam in the belief that theirs is superior?
Rick Warren is truly lost IMO.
Agreed but we are not to “walk in the counsel of the ungodly” and that is what I get from this article. Of course we love all people but NOT their ways.
It is rather simple follow the example set by Jesus which means to go amongst the “sick” with charity and forgiveness but like he told the adultress “go and SIN no more.”
Also, all of northern Africa and the Middle East used to be Christian societies until the Muslims invaded, starting in the 600s, and massacred or drove out tens of millions of Christians.
Did the Prophet Elijah "respect" the priests of Baal? Did Lot "respect" the leaders of Sodom and Gomorrah? Did Jesus Christ "respect" Satan?
You’re right - spending time with someone isn’t compromising, but I had the impression from the article that Warren considered the two faiths to be equal. And the word “respect” was interesting, because I’m quite sure this word wasn’t used in this way in the Bible at all. So I don’t believe we were called to respect a way of thinking that is contrary to our belief faith. But, no, I’m not saying Christians and Muslims shouldn’t spend time together or be friends or colleagues.
“In the history of the world, every major world religion has undergone a reformation and renounced violence EXCEPT for islam”
Uhh you might want to talk to some Christians in India who have been quite oppressed by some Hindu natioanlists there!
“but I had the impression from the article that Warren considered the two faiths to be equal. “
My comments weren’t directed to his nonsense but to your post.
There are 4 main sects to the Islam faith. The violent one, Wahabism, has led to nearly all of the problems recently. The other sects are more peaceful and many followers are less than faithful. The big difference for them is they outlaw any other religions and kill muslims who convert.
Christianity has been at war with Islam since Muhammad (pig feces upon him) raped his first child and slept with his first camel.
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