In choosing evangelist, Obama makes the right move

Some say it’s his first big mistake.

To me, it’s a refreshing step in the right direction.

Barack Obama’s decision to let evangelical minister Rick Warren give the invocation at next month’s inauguration is a welcome sign that the conservative Christian voice may yet be heard in our new government.

The president-elect was blasted this week by gay rights advocates who figure Warren is their arch-enemy. The Human Rights Campaign said his selection has “tarnished the view that gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Americans have a place” at Obama’s table.

The duplicity here is brazen.

Here we have a group that has long cried for tolerance of the gay agenda, yet shows itself blatantly intolerant of a viewpoint contrary to its own. Doesn’t the word hypocrisy seem to fit once again?

It seems gay advocates’ real beef is that Christians still have a good seat at the table, and are fighting to preserve America’s historically Christian morals. These foundational values are what the folks pushing the gay agenda have chafed at, and successfully eroded, over the last several decades.

Bryan Fischer, of the Idaho Values Alliance, puts it more plainly:

“Homosexual activists in particular claim to be all about tolerance, diversity, pluralism, multiculturalism and respect for differences. Well, their commitment to those values has just been challenged by President-elect Obama, and they have failed the test miserably.”

Well said.

Obama attended a pre-election forum at Warren’s Saddleback Church in Orange County, as did Republican rival John McCain. But what’s really rankled some gay advocates is that Warren publicly supported California’s Proposition 8 banning gay marriage.

That proposition was approved by a majority of California voters last month.

Warren has rightly taken the only biblical view of marriage: It’s a contract between one man and one woman. Religion aside, the notion that marriage is between a man and a woman is embraced by just about every major culture on the planet.

Said Warren: “For 5,000 years, every culture and every religion – not just Christianity – has defined marriage as a contract between men and women. There is no need to change the universal, historical definition of marriage to appease 2 percent of our population.

“This is not a political issue,” he said before Prop 8 was passed, “it is a moral issue that God has spoken clearly about.”

Yet, for speaking truth – and plain common sense – Warren is vilified as a person unworthy of a presidential invocation.

Why does this matter? Is a flap over a ceremonial event like the inauguration even worth our interest?

It is, because it shows just how high-pitched the battle for traditional American values will be under the Obama administration. Groups like the Human Rights Campaign will cry foul at the slightest hint that he is not toeing their line.

The president-elect’s choice of Warren is a shrewd political move. However tactical, it shows some guts, which is refreshing.

And it offers some encouragement to Christians to pray for their president, that he will continue to give an ear to viewpoints that square with the word of God and America’s traditional values.

No matter what we think of our leaders, our charge is to honor them and pray for them, encouraging them to lead us in the right direction.

Paul’s first letter to Timothy tells us “… pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity. This is good and pleases God our Savior, who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth.” (1 Timothy 2:1-4 – NLT)

I have no idea what words Warren will choose as he prays over Obama next month. I am sure they will be roundly criticized by those who already have decided he’s unworthy of the event.

But I hope his prayer begins an ongoing chorus of petitions to God on behalf of Obama and the rest of our leaders.

That, too, would be a refreshing step in the right direction.