“The last time I looked, Rick Warren wasn’t Jesus.”
The logic, or lack therof throughout this thread makes my hair hurt.
Because Warren isn’t Jesus he shouldn’t follow his example (possibly metaphorical) of “eating w/publicans and sinners. However, the other things Jesus did, let’s say clearing the temple, is an actual, nay, a required call to arms for self-described holders of the Holy Grail of Truth to rise up against the government, society or whatever else tickles their fancy.
Seeing as how so many already have their knickers in a bind, to quote “The Bishop”: “We was too late...”
You are too eager to attribute what Warren is doing to his seeking to follow Jesus' example. You can buy that angle if you need to, but I reject it. In fact, think you're gullible for falling for it, and I think you cause harm by falling for it. Jesus was in it for each one of us, then and forever; it sure looks to me like Warren is in it for Warren and Warren's Church.
If Warren was following Jesus' example, he'd have been out quietly, soundly, effectively, selflessly "eating with publicans and sinners" long before this. It seems to me Jesus went about his business doing good and did not promote himself, but became promoted through the results of his work. Warren promotes himself before the results are in to sway the results; he markets himself on a grand scale, he wants you and me and the whole world to recognize him as one who Leads the Flock, and he is only a man, but Jesus was Lord. That raises a big red flag for me and should for you too -- Warren is not Jesus and if you begin to attribute goodness and authority to a self-proclaimed leader simply because he imitates Jesus in such worldly endeavors as what Warren will do for Obama, then you are leaving yourself wide open to being duped by a false prophet.
Appearance and reality are two very different things, and I think you fail to discern between them on this issue.