Rick Warren Doth Protest Too Much: I'm Not A Homophobe

This is from the Saddleback Church website of Rev.Warren, one of many like this - Separation of Church and State? (check out Saddleback website- Lake Forest site . It appears Mormons and athesists are on the list also. Really take time to research church site- this rule, that rule, must belief this....

Here is my issue #1 VOTE article found on site - Separation of Church and State?   Rick Warren per article reminded them of 5 key issues for Christian voters -. The church may have reworded some parts, but if one researched site - there is much to be learned. I do not like to be labeled in the same class as a pedaphile, molester, or living in incest.

Would President-Elect Obama like it if he was labeled @!$%#, drug king, slum lord, welfare recipient, molester, rapist, murderer - because he is African American.

I was raised a strict Catholic, I was told what to believe.  But even in some Catholic churchs there is welcome spot for Gays.  My Italian mother because of her church teaching lives by what the old church taught and I have lost a mother.  I tried the normal way as people like to put it , I married a man ~ and mind you there was no commitment to marriage on his part.   I lived a majority of my life in depression, until I chose to come out of the closet.   My depression went away, my life has a purpose.  Marriage a religious bond?  There are many churchs that would marry us if the law allowed.  My partner and I had a commitment service by a local minister.  I am committed to her.  Sometimes commitment means more than marriage - divorce is a style in our world.  Commitment means working together, communicating, loving, and working through all even in the mist of trouble and outside interference.   Do we have the same legal rights for health coverage, death benefits, Civil Union, and other rights ~ NO~ . 

 I just had the great opportunity to see a preview of "MILK" ~  would like to suggest  the movie ~ it really defines the GLBTQ movement    ~  Elisabeth Hodges   

#1 Honor God with Your V-O-T-E Worship while you are in the voting booth! In this election year, it seems like all the talk around the country is centered on political issues or candidates. Personally, I have a pretty good history when it comes to voting. I have always been steady with my commitment to the American political process at election time and making my opinion count at the ballot box. However, this year is somehow different.

One year ago, I did not know the impact that The Purpose Driven Life would have on my life. Could it be that this year I’m realizing even voting might be considered an act of worship? How then do I prepare myself before God when election day is here?

In Pastor Rick’s book, Principle #1 examines the concept “Worship That Pleases God.” If this includes voting, it’s the very first election where I will purposefully prepare myself to honor God with my vote. If God wants to be an important part of everything I do, He will equip me when I make these important choices as I yield to His direction. Christians throughout the country are wondering how they can be good stewards of their God-given right to cast votes which correspond with God’s teaching about civic responsibility and decision-making. How can we determine our vote in light of a Christian perspective before we enter the voting booth?

In order to prepare myself to be a purpose-driven citizen, a useful acronym came to mind:

 V-O-T-E.

V- The "V" of this acronym stands for verify. We are to verify the issues as they line up with scriptures. Pastor Rick recently reminded of the five key issues important to Christian voters this year: (1)Abortion, (2) Stem cell research from embryos, (3) Homosexual marriage, (4) Human cloning, and (5) Euthanasia. A good place to start our preparation is in prayer. Further, Saddleback’s Salt and Light Ministry can help us gain understanding of these issues. They have voter registration cards, petitions, and information that can help. They can direct you to organizations that gather and publish candidate voting records regarding these important five topics. Arming yourself with this information can play a critical role in the decision-making.

O- The "O" stands for operating on biblical values. According to Pastor Tom Holladay, Biblical understanding offers a good foundation for selecting our leaders and making political choices. Pointing to the Old Testament kings, Pastor Tom says, “The kings had varying degrees of political and management and leadership skills – NONE of which were the deciding factor in the way that the country was blessed under their leadership. The single determining factor was always their personal character. Their character guided their decisions, and those decisions charted the course for the country.” Additionally, he points to Proverbs 20:28 which clearly reveals “Love and truth form a good leader; sound leadership is founded on loving integrity.” Christians can, indeed, rely on the Bible’s guidance for their political decision-making.

T - The "T" represents our time management. Take time to vote. Find out in advance the location of your polling place. Schedule a time that is convenient for you. Some people, myself included, like to vote in the morning. There are fewer people at that time. With less likelihood of waiting in line, the voting experience takes only a few minutes. Life’s frequently hectic pace can keep us from remembering to take time to vote. Why not schedule it, like an appointment? Carve out a time on that day to check in and bring your voting information with you, including proof of registration and your pre-election guide. You can mark your choices on your guide in advance and use it as a reference when you make your final selections. Remember to let your employer know if you might be late because you stopped to vote on your way to work.

E - The "E" Encourage others to vote. We are told in scripture to encourage one another. 1 Thessalonians 5:11 tells us, “Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing.” This also applies to voting in elections. When you vote, you’re often given a sticker to wear as you leave the polling place. “I Voted!” it boasts, and can serve as a reminder to others to take advantage of this important American privilege. People can become passive through discouragement regarding world affairs. By encouraging them to worship God through voting, we can give them hope – whether those people are your family, friends are your small group.. I know a person who has a party on election night. Why not make it a night for your small group to watch and pray for the outcome of our country and its leaders.

Being prepared to V-O-T-E is an important responsibility of every Christian. Until I examined my copy of The Purpose Driven Life to refresh my thinking about it, I never thought of my voting as an act of worship before. Rick Warren pointedly states, “God is pleased when our worship is practical…Real worship costs. Israel’s King David knew this and said: ‘I will not offer to the Lord my God sacrifices that have cost me nothing.’” This voting year is an opportunity to vote as God leads you, based on His word. As I enter the voting booth, I will take my Friend and Savior with me. I picture Jesus looking over my shoulder and guiding me in my choices. Now I know that what was once only a civic exercise is now an act of worship and thanksgiving for the blessing of a free, democratic country. Susan R. is a native of California and has lived the majority of her life in the Orange County area. She has attended Saddleback Community Church for two years and is always blessed by the sermons and singing. A sixth grade teacher at a local Christian school, Susan loves to write and pursues it while raising her family of three children, one husband and a dog. "I like Saddleback Church because it allows you to take your God-given talents and give them back to God. Purpose-driven living is all about writing for me. I never thought that what I like so much could be my ministry to the body of Chris

Actually, people can obviously accuse Mr. Warren of anything they like.  If he is allowed to accuse others of absurd things, I fail to see the difference.  I suppose he would be more accepting of me if I contracted HIV and let it develop into AIDS?  And, by the way, how do you know if your house is gay?  Is there a spray for that?

I can see the method to Obam'a madness. He was just a bit over-zealous in wanting to be all-inclusive of every viewpoint, in what he sees as the dawn of a new day. This is supposed to be the part where everyone gets along(at least less divisive than the bush admin).

I think you're on to something, Ranger.  Thank you.  Your misspelling in 3.1 actually makes sense.  God would except me if I tried to be less than what he made me.  God accepts me as he made me.  Good one, Ranger.  What is that phrase?  "God don't make no junk."

Get over the ick factor.  Religion is a choice; one's sexual orientation isn't.

Hey, my dad is a homophobe. I certainly don't agree with it - and I let him know that fact whenever he spouts off.

But, I still love him and recognize that it doesn't make him a bad person. There are many great qualities to my father, besides his prejudice.

Now, I loathe what Rick Warren says about gay marriage and the homosexual lifestyle in general. However, a large percentage of Americans agree with him. We cannot pretend that they do not exist, or that they are worthless because of that viewpoint.

Should say:

"Rick Warren Doth Protest Too Much: I'm Not A Homophone, I just hate gay people and do everything possible to take away their inherent rights "

I love Rick, his books & his love for the Lord. People aren't understanding he does not hate or dislike gays, it's their lifestlye he doesn't believe in. You can easily love the person, & not like what they do.  I love my children, but I don't agree or believe in a lot they do. I love my uncle, cousin & my friend all who are gay... I don't agree or believe what they do is right. At the same time I have friends who do n't think things I do is right. Just because you don't agree or believe in something doesn't make you bad. We Christians believe in Jesus & we have laws that we try hard not to break. Because we hope to see everyone in heaven we want to share the "goodnews' w/ everyone. Some go about it all wrong.. but not everyone.

I simply do not understand how anyone can say he doesn't dislike gays when he compares their sex acts to pedophelia and beastiality.  Now, I hate pedophiles and I would like to believe that I have never met anyone that would commit a sexual act on an animal.  However, love among to consenting adults-regardless of sex-should be congratulated, IMHO.  And if it can not, does it really matter?  It has no effect on a homophobe's life whatsoever if they are currently living the life they want to live.

if everyone believed all the same things everything would be a lot duller.

homophobes are afraid of homosexuals it a weird psychological thing and also a word that people love to throw around

Pastor Rick needs to counsel Ted Haggert to learn about denying one's sexual truth. Personally I don't care if Warren hates gays, is gay himself or hangs out at Rick Santorum's kennel. But if your public statements through the years have been such that you have to promote the fact that you are not a homophobe (or a racist, ect) then you probably are what you claim not to be.

You can't take back years of gay bashing in a press conference.

I always thought gay bashing was one of those ignorant things bigots did when they tied an unfortunate soul to their truck and dragged them to death or an unfortunate soul whose body was set upon by baseball bats beating.

When I hear guys like Pastor Rick, I think about Mrs. Garrison.

Ranger!

Sin,Sin,Sin....you are breaking down and need to see someone who can help you. All that anger is going to kill you. Take a breath and make a phone call to your pastor. Peace, Ranger.

"He has gay friends and has even eaten dinner in "gay homes.""

What? He didn't catch the gay from any of that? Astounding!

"Pastor Rick protests that he's not a homophobe because he's given money to people with AIDS."

Clearly, Since some A's are B's, all B's are A's...infallible logic, Rick! Wonder what he got on his SATs (if he even took them).

Ranger! Seriously? Next are you going to tell us that every gay person is a pedophile? Or will you move on to talking about the minorities? Those wily jews, perhaps?

Here is goes again... redefining the meaning of "homophobe" -- cause HE IS ONE!

I know Warren and his wife... How can I listen or respect a hypocrite? He's fat as hell, living in the sin of obesity (which is not honoring his temple) and dares to point a finger at us? He is also willing to ignore some of the Bible's commands because they are "no longer culturally relevant" (i.e., Paul in the New Testament commanded women to wear hair coverings in church) -- there are more Biblical instructions being IGNORED by him (and his congregation), than there are passages against homosexuality (there is really only one in the New Testament...the other 2 are ACTUALLY mistranslations!)

Unfortunately, Warren is always talking AGAINST homosexuality, but never offers any solution... Are Gay Christians intended by God to BE ALONE? Catch his negative, hateful orientation when he says above that he is OPPOSED to gay-marriage (instead of being for "Traditional Marriage" and doesn't not support "Civil Unions"?), but does that mean he would rather they live in FURTHER sin of "shacking-up"?

The Religious Right are the ones who are REDEFINING Marriage as some sort of eternally defined, absolute practice -- but that is a lie! Marriage has NOT always meant the union of ONE man and ONE woman. The palygamists of the Old Testament probably used the SAME agrument AGAINST the "One-ers" of their day, saying, "Marriage is the union of ONE man and MANY women."

What the Religious Right are apparently really good at is taking the 99 percent which IS EXACTLY THE SAME about straight and gay marriage and focusing on ONLY the ONE SLIGHT DIFFERENCE -- the gender! Isn't that SEXISM in its purist form?

P.S., I'm still not sure why our constitution is taking its lead from Religious Sacrament and Doctrine -- is marriage even mentioned or "protected" in the constitution...NO! (It is not a protected right.)

The constitution is SUPPOSE to protect us from impossing one particular religious belief upon all! Now MY Religion and Ministers cannot practice OUR beliefs!!! This issue isn't really about the definition of "Marriage," since I could find a Minister to "Marry" me to another man -- IT IS ABOUT GOVERNMENT RECOGNIZING IT! (Besides, true Biblical marriage is consecrated in God's eyes. Not by a piece of paper issued by Government.)

Warren, stop acting like you speak for everyone. The Religious Rights' and Mormon's beliefs are not EVERYONE's religious beliefs!

Rick Warren does not hate anyone, he follows the Bible which he believes. The Bible teaches that we must love one another, but it also teaches us what sin is. Homosexuality is one of those sins. Rick Warren does not teach to hate homosexuals, in fact he teaches that they probably have a greater need for us to love them. But the homosexual behavior is still identified as sin. We all sin, but we are supposed to strive to avoid sinning. When we willingly deny something is a sin, that is also a sin.

Calling Rick Warren names and accusing him of propogating hate is short sighted and does nothing to further your cause, and just contributes to making gay activists look emotionally immature.

xxxciter, you can't call Rick Warren a hypocrite because he does live by what he believes and teaches. That doesn't mean he is perfect, just as you are not perfect. He isn't judging anyone, he is simply stating what the Bible says about homosexuality. Your characterization of the application of Biblical principles shows a tremendous lack of understanding of what the Bible is really saying. Yes, polygamy is in the Bible, but it still teaches that it is a sin. If you think that making gay marriage legal is going to make it right, you are misinformed. It will still be a sin. Making it a hate crime to say "homosexuality is a sin" will still not make homosexuality right. Actually, if it becomes a hate crime to say that, we will have more serious constitutional issues. We will be moving into the realm of the government limiting our free speech and our religious freedom. It will inadvertently criminalize Judaism and Christianity in this country, a move that would ruin freedom for everyone, religious or not. So be careful what you ask for. The Church has let homosexuals be in our society without pursuing them legally (there are laws against homosexual behavior still on the books), because the Church believes in free choice, you are free to make bad choices. The Church just teaches what is taught as right in the Bible and attempts to persuade people to follow it. You are free to ignore it. Just as the Church should be free to ignore the hateful personal attacks and immoral values you try to push on others. The Church is allowed by law to have an opinion in public issues. The only limitation that is put on a pastor is that they cannot endorse a particular candidate for office, so Rick Warren has nothing to worry about concerning his tax status. Before you start trying to snuff out what the Church is teaching about homosexuality, consider the limits it will put on your freedom if you are successful.