Posted on 07/06/2009 6:52:03 AM PDT by IbJensen
WASHINGTON, DC – Defying some of his fellow conservative Christian critics, one of the most prominent religious leaders in the country told several thousand American Muslims on Saturday that "the two largest faiths on the planet" must work together to combat stereotypes and solve global problems.
"Some problems are so big you have to team tackle them," evangelical megachurch pastor Rick Warren addressed the annual convention of the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA).
Warren said Muslims and Christians should be partners in working to end what he calls "the five global giants" of war, poverty, corruption, disease, and illiteracy.
Warren, founder of Saddleback Community Church in Orange County, California, is the author of The Purpose Driven Life, which has sold more than 30 million copies worldwide. His willingness to show support for U.S. Muslims is a huge gain for the community, which has endured intense scrutiny since 9/11.
Islam Jihad dominateA 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."
Based in Plainfield, Indiana, ISNA is an umbrella organization for Muslim groups across the country. The annual convention, now in its 46th year, regularly draws more than 30,000 people for lectures, prayer, and socializing.
Many in the crowd were drawn to the session by prominent Muslim scholars such as Sheik Hamza Yusuf of the Zaytuna Institute in Berkeley, California.
Ann Zahra, 42, said she had never heard of Warren before Saturday but agreed with much of his speech. "The basics are the same," said Zahra, of McLean, Va. "No religion teaches cruelty or disrespect or hatred."
40 Days Of Purpose very nearly killed the church I attend—the Hawaiian shirts and pre-packaged Powerpoint presentations didn’t work...
To paraphrase a quote from The Christian Attitude Toward War; the problem with liberal Christians is they put reform ahead of regeneration.
I wonder if Warren has any awareness at all of exactly what it is that he is doing and what it is that he's participating in?
This is an Obama bait and switch.
I had never heard of the guy either before the inaguration. So Zero’s adminsitration presents him as the prototype Christian minister, pumps him up nationally, and he is the one selected for the inaguration, then, Voila.
The next we hear from the guy he is pushing Islam down everyone’s throat.
As Gomer would say...surprise, surprise.
Well, if he is pastor he needs to get away from globalism and every other ism and start preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the one thing the entire world needs more than anything else! Maybe take some guidance from First Corinthians 2:2 would help him.
Well, if he is pastor he needs to get away from globalism and every other ism and start preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the one thing the entire world needs more than anything else! Maybe take some guidance from First Corinthians 2:2 would help him.
I actually think that you are being too kind. His religion is commercialized Rick Warren which will bring money and fame.
I don’t claim to know the words or even to be a great Christian but I do know right from wrong and globalism is all about control. (See Honduras)
His religion is “Get Rich Quick and Be Happy”. Olsteen is the same.
Anyone who says Christians should be “partners” with muslims isn’t practicing from the Bible I read. It tells me to pray for my enemies but it does NOT tell me to break bread with them.
Partnership? Partnering with people who favor and support slow neck-slicing ceremonies of Jews and Christians that are videotaped and broadcast on the internet for other neck-slicers to see and enjoy?
“”If he wants to see how Muslims can work with Christians he should ask Brigette Gabriel, any Copt, or CHristian Sudanese and Nigerians.””
After that he can talk to parents in Pakistan who are SELLING their children so they can become suicide bombers for the Islamists and BLOW UP CHRISTIANS!
Warren has always been a phony - a meglomaniac with a megabusiness which he calls a ministry!
Warren just wants to be loved by all! Obviously the love that Jesus has for him is not enough. Now, I do not know if Warren preached the gospel at the Muslim convention — but I am guessing that he did not. And if he did not, then he didn’t do the Muslims any favor.
Because, Mr. Compassion just saw a convention of 40,000 souls that are going to hell (if Warren even believes Jesus’ words — they’re the ones in red in case he didn’t catch that) and he did nothing to stop them from continuing down the wrong path.
My pastor, who I think is a GREAT teacher and does talk about sin, repentance and hell — uses some Rick Warren materials in a class my wife is taking at church.
It irritates the heck out of me — because Warren often seems like a fraud.
Rick Warren is just showing us what his “Purpose Driven Life” is for - fleecing as many people as possible. He's a Christian like Al Gore is an environmentalist. It's a shame that so many people have been blinded by his deception. Rick Warren is only concerned with lining the pockets of Rick Warren.
CHUCK YOER SPELLANG!!!
Some materials that Warren has produced really could be helpful and biblical. But, finding out that the flawed human sinner that is Rick Warren has publicly declared his apostasy, you have to now check all these teachings against “The Source”, ie, God’s Word.
No, Unless Warren tells them that the must be saved by the one and only, and not by their own efforts, or Mohammed, then he is doa as a Christian minister..and derelict in his responsiblibites toward the Gospel.
Warren suffers from “statist-itis”. He needs to find an angle so that he’s perceived as “too big to fail”.
Simply, he’s a self-aggrandizing heretic.
Besides, it didn;t look to me like this jerk was trying to convert them.
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