As many of you know by now, President-elect Obama has chosen Rick Warren of Saddleback Church and The Purpose-Driven Life fame to deliver the invocation at the January 20 inauguration.
As you also know, the reaction from some groups has not been positive. I’d direct you to the links but the language in them has been “colorful.”
The primary objection is that Warren is too conservative on a variety of issues, primarily abortion and gay marriage. Although Warren and the church he serves are unparalleled in their works of mercy and justice, his stands strike some as “intolerant.”
So they won’t tolerate him.
Isn’t it ironic?
That in the name of tolerance there are some folks who simply won’t tolerate the presence or the voice of others?
I think President-Elect Obama made a wise and tolerant choice. I believe it will be the first of many.
————————————————
Homosexuality in general and gay marriage in particular are such volatile issues. In yesterday’s talk, which you can listen to here, I cited the Liquid Church in Morristown, New Jersey. Their town had a Gay Pride Parade not long ago. The Church crafted what I think is the perfect response: they gathered some volunteers together, gave out water bottles, picked up trash, and hauled off garbage. No protests, no hatred, but simply a loving witness to the God they serve. You don’t yell anyone into the faith anyway; you can only love them into it. Something tells me the Liquid Church does a good job of just that.