The Power Of Prayer

What I find sad is not the idea that Obama invited Warren to give the invocation; is is to see that they feel the need to talk to their imaginary friend, that old bronze-age god that should have been abandoned long ago. They are still perpetuating the oldest scam on the human race. There are no gods, we are responsible for our own fate, so let's face it.

You want to be considered equal? Procreate without medical help, and since procreation was central in God's vision of marriage, that kind of limits the arguements.

Also LGBTs of "faith" is an oxymoron.

I challenge any opponent of gay marriage to cite chapter & verse where Jesus himself says or implies that being homosexual is wrong or that gay marriage is wrong. As far as I can tell, no mention of homosexuality is ever hinted at by Jesus himself. The only references used to oppose GLBT rights are old testament or paulinesque in nature. Most would not take literally other old testament texts and I, for one, am not a Paulian. I am a Christian who believes in the love of God for ALL created. Where is the love of God shown in the deliberate rejection of any part of God's creation?

Lets have some Nazi's and KKK members give some diverse views at the inauguration. Same logic. Rick Warren's hatred is the same and fosters the violence that people have against gays and non-christians. Obama should be ashamed and apologize to all his supporters!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Lets have some protests at the inauguration!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am confused about Leah McElrath Renna's comments. How can she quaote rick Warren when she doesn't even know him. As Rick Warren has stated many times... He has many friends who are gay and lesbian. If we all acted upon our natural instincts and feelings, our world would be much more corrupt and cynical than it is right now. Millions of people obey God and do what is asked of them, instead of being selfish. God does exist and I pray that many people like Leah will be ready to explain herself when she meets him face to face and God offers her grace, forgiveness and a place in Heaven!

Really when we talk about Scripture, we are talking about Paul and, quite possibly and very likely, we are talking about pagan temple rituals. Jesus says nothing about homosexuality, Peter, John and the other authors of Scripture likewise are silent about homosexuality. I am a heterosexual and a Christian but I do not agree with Warren on many points, not just regarding LGBT people. If anything, I am not thrilled to have Warren praying the invocation but as Chris mentioned, Warren has been asked to pray. The good thing is that God is larger than our prayers and larger than our theology and our points of Scriptural interpretation. I give Obama credit for seeking unity among people from right and left, that is, at any rate, what unity is. While as a Christian minister I have room for LGBT people and for same sex marital unions, likewise I honestly believe that God has room for people of every sort and for people of other religious perspectives. People like Warren will probably never come to affirm the legitimacy of homosexuality as a human orientation that is acceptable. Like Chris, I don't think that ultimately he or his generation will have the affirming voice in history, maybe his kids, or his kid's kids but the reality is that having open conversations and relationships with people who disagree without extreme over-reaction will bring that day sooner not later.

Response to timahlen

You show your true colors when, in the midst of your "Christian love for everyone," you assume all homosexual contact is merely genital (and in the same category of "deviancy" as violent sex among heteroseuxals). Your experience is so limited--or "bible-blinded"--that you can't conceive that two people of the same gender could feel love for each other in every sense, on an exact par with the most beautiful heterosexual relationships. It's so easy to say that, when it comes to homosexuals, it's only about sex. But it isn't, just as your own relationship with your wife (if you're married) isn't.

What would Jesus say? Since he never once commented on homosexuality, we can only paraphrase what he'd say the same thing as he said about one of God's other "holy institutions, " the Sabbath: sexual orientation was made to serve humans, not humans to serve sexual orientation.

I think we should chalk Warren up to being what most "ministers" are -- propagandists out to make a buck by selling god to the lost, lonely. and weak. Far more outrageous is the fact that there will be any prayers or religious authorities involved in the inauguration at all, since Church and State are supposed to be separate in this country. We've had a Christian theocracy for the past 8 years and look where it's gotten us: we've become the most reviled country in the world, little better than the Muslim zealots we're fighting. It's time that we return to the secular country our forefathers intended, and I hope President Obama will be the one leading the way.

No true Bible believing christian, can and would endorse the gay lifestyle. God proclaims it to be an Abomination, and his word is forever settled regardless of the supreme court ruling what ever that is or may be. Billy Graham, Rick Warren, Oral Roberts, Copeland and all the rest can not alter what the word has declared sin. Christ loves the sinner, but hates sin. An abomination always remains an abomination,period. Sin seperates from God, in spite of his love. That is where rpentence comes in.

This debate will be over as soon as Obama calls a white-supremacist and an anti-semite up to the podium. Until then, I will continue to be outraged.

Leah (in the original article) states that we need to accept homosexuals as "whole & perfect children of God", however, as a Christian, i know that NONE of us are "whole & perfect". We are ALL children of God (even if you are an atheist, you are a child of God. He loves us unconditionally. However, in His word (the Bible), He shows quite clearly what He thinks of ALL moral sin. He destroyed whole cities that were consumed by moral sin, which include adultry, bestiality, homosexuallity,incest, etc. Homosexuals like to say that they were "born homosexual". We ALL have "crosses to bear" in this life. I, myself have battled drugs, alchohol in the past, and still have to battle overeating and stubbornness (all sins). My brother has to battle alchohol, my husband, anger. My father, the power, the "powere" of money. (All sins, again); These (including homosexual feelings) are all tests. As we battle thes evils and, with God's help, we overcome them we become stronger "children of God" God gives us the "power" to overcome evil ways. What a wonderful freedom this is! I have, in my years on this earth seen people overcome so many battles, yes, homosexuality as well as all the other evils I have mentioned. In the Bible it states that we are either for God or for Satan. You can't have it both ways.

It's really time to get GOD out of politics -- There are too many GODS to keep track of and they''re tearing the human race apart -- let's just let it be something we carry within us, enough of the public displays of devotion of GOD. We've got real work to do and all this GOD fuss is just a big waste of time.

What Gays and Lesbians do not realize is this, it is appointed unto each individual once to die and then the judgment, and flesh and blood will not judge at the judgement seat of Jesus Christ. Christ will judge and give judgement to those whom he sees worthy to help judge. All have come short of the glory of God, which means there is no one righteous, no not one! And everyone will eventually stand before Christ and have to give account of whatever they did in their body. I do get tired of anyone who does not give full understanding to what God actually hates. God does not hate a gay or lesbian individual anymore than he hates a liar, a cheat, a thief, or a murderer. Anyone who does any of these sins including the homosual sin, will not inherit the kingdom of God, nor will they go to live with God. Sin is sin, no matter which one it is. God has declared what sin is. Rick Warren knows that God says that to do a homesexual act is just as much a sin as any other sin including murder. God is the Creator and since He says whats right and wrong morally, then no man can make it right, just because they disagree with God. We will all stand before God someday and give an account of what we did in our b odies. I must say that I don't like it that some individuals make it out that gays and lesbians are worse than other sinners. Anyone who sins breaks God's law. And we will all stand before the judgement seat of Christ. My answer to gays and lesbians is this. God still gives you the chance to discover who He is and what He says on the subject. If a gay or lesbian individual wants to find out the truth, all they have to do is to as Jesus. They need never be afraid to do this, because God welcomes gays & lesbians into His arms to repent just like He does liars, cheets, thiefs, and murders. God is no respecter of persons. You gay & lesbian individuals, need to recognize your fight is not with Rick Wareen. You disagree with him because He says that homosexuality is wrong. Rick didn't make the rules, God did! You have an argument, take it up with Jesus Christ. You will be surprised to find out God is willing to give you the truth...that is if you want truth!

No. Gays forget that Warren does not and has never committed hate or arson crimes [the tossing of burning Bibles on the church steps of LDS churches in Lansing Michigan],commiting acts of terrorism that included mailing envelopes of white powder to LDS church headquarters in Salt Lake City,Utah,acts of violence including assault and battery in instances in both San Francisco and Los Angeles,and using intimidation to threaten Prop 8 supporters in the same cities.

These actions are those carried out by gays and their supporters. As irrational in their applications as is the hypocritical charge that somehow Warren is the one who is invested in ''hate''due to his peaceful,law-abiding opposition,shared by Obama,to gay marriage. This is the twin-edged strategy of the gay movement,one,which advances the ''loving caring God'' and the ''goodwill'' of ''human rights''. The other,footsoldiers carrying out acts of violence and shout-down intimidation and threat. Obviously,you cannot advance the currency of the one,if you willfully allow the other. Especially as it exhibits intolerance and religious bigotry that is carefully and deliberately aimed [i.e. Going after what they deem to be ''white'' conservative Christian sects,but not Jews, [ or black churches] and never Muslims,whose Arab states rose in a single body at the UN Assembly two days ago in New York City to oppose and shelve a resolution put forth by EU states ''decrimininalizing homosexuality''].