I don't usually comment on political or religious/political topics, but in the case of Rick Warren's inaugural prayer, I feel I must.
Typically I let these kinds of things go, not out of any particular desire to avoid controversy (I'm not that organized), but simply because they are well below the horizon line of my calling, which is to seek to teach the Word of God in a faithful manner.
But in this instance, I would like to take a public stand for Jesus Christ in the political context in which we find ourselves.
Simply put, Rick Warren's prayer was not a 'Christian' prayer. Sorry, but it wasn't.
Now I'm not saying that Rick Warren is not a Christian. Praise the Lord that isn't my call to make on anyone except myself.
What I am saying is that Rick Warren had a wonderful opportunity and not only did he not take advantage of it, he did much worse. On a world stage that was larger (due to President Obama's popularity) than anything I've seen in my lifetime, Rick Warren had the opportunity to proclaim Jesus as God's one and only Son - the only name given under Heaven to men by which we must be saved.
He had a chance in that prayer to thank God for sending His sole redeemer, Jesus, as the full and final sacrifice for our sins, so that those that trust in Him, rely on Him, that cast themselves upon Him can be saved.
He had a chance to humbly ask for God's forgiveness of our nation. He had a chance to acknowledge that in a national, collective way our country has turned away from God and His redeemer. He had a chance to ask God for revival.
Instead, the pleas for forgiveness he did voice sounded more like commands to me. Instead, in referring to Jesus as 'Isa' (as Islam names Jesus), he confirmed the Islamic view of Jesus - that Jesus was 'just another prophet' - the last prophet before their 'prophet' - that Jesus was 'just another prophet' that Muhammad was sent to correct. A name carries with it character and nature. Islam may refer to Jesus as Isa... but Isa is not Jesus.
In declining to proclaim Jesus as God, Rick Warren instead (through omission) proclaimed Jesus as simply a man. Perhaps a good man, a spiritual man, a man that changed Rick Warren's life. But he certainly did not proclaim Him as who He really is.
That is why Rick's prayer was not a Christian prayer. In trying to reach out to everyone, for what purpose I cannot discern (it certainly wasn't our charge from Christ), he only succeeded in diminishing Christ. He only succeeded in reinforcing an incorrect belief about Christ among those who heard him that are not Christians.
Christians pray to the one and only God in the name of His one and only Son. It is only through Jesus' completed work on the cross that we
can converse with God as His children. To do any less, to intimate that Christ is any less, is to deny Christ's person and His nature.
