Dec 31 2008
I will pray the only kind of prayer I know how to pray
President-elect Barack Obama’s choice of Rick Warren to deliver the inaugural invocation drew one kind of protest. Whether the evangelical pastor offers the prayer in the name of Jesus may draw another. AtGeorge W. Bush’s 2001 swearing-in, the Revs. Franklin Graham andKirbyjon Caldwell were criticized for invoking Christ. The distinctly Christian reference at a national civic event offended some, and even prompted a lawsuit.
Warren did not answer directly when asked whether he would dedicate his prayer to Jesus. In a statement Tuesday to The Associated Press, Warren would say only that, “I’m a Christian pastor so I will pray the only kind of prayer I know how to pray.”
“Prayers are not to be sermons, speeches, position statements nor political posturing. They are humble, personal appeals to God,” Warren wrote. His spokesman would not elaborate.
Evangelicals generally expect their clergymen to use Jesus’ name whenever and wherever they lead prayer. Many conservative Christians say cultural sensitivity goes way too far if it requires religious leaders to hide their beliefs.
“If Rick Warren does not pray in Jesus’ name, some folks are going to be very disappointed,” Caldwell said in a recent phone interview. “Since he’s evangelical, his own tribe, if you will, will have some angst if he does not do that.”
Advocates for gay rights protested Obama’s decision to give Warren a prominent role at the swearing-in. The California megachurch founder supported Proposition 8, which banned same-sex marriage in his home state. Obama defended his choice, saying he wanted the event to reflect diverse views and insisting he remains a “fierce advocate” of equal rights for gays.
The Rev. Joseph Lowery, a United Methodist who is considered the dean of the civil rights movement, said he hasn’t yet written the benediction for the Jan. 20 ceremony. But he said “whatever religion the person represents, I think he has a right to be true to his religion.”
Caldwell, also a Methodist, said no one from the Bush team told him what to say in his 2001 and 2005 benedictions.
The Houston pastor said he had “no intention whatsoever of offending” people when he quoted from Philippians and delivered the 2001 prayer “in the name that’s above all other names, Jesus the Christ.” In 2005, he still prayed in Jesus’ name, but added the line, “respecting persons of all faiths.” In the 2008 election, Caldwell supported Obama.
Read more here.
[From me]
Why does a prayer need to be approved? He is offering a blessing, not a political statement. If Obama asked a Christian pastor to pray then he should pray in the only way they know how.
What do you think?
![[del.icio.us]](http://images.del.icio.us/static/img/delicious.small.gif){kind=small}
