The Purpose-Driven Middle-East Peace Plan

Here's the lastest from Orange County's own Rick Warren.  You won't believe it--well, maybe you will.

According to the Syrian News Agency (notice the headline--Click here: American Priest Says no Peace without Syria SANA , Syria) . . .

"American Protestant Pastor Rick Warren on Monday said there was no peace in the region without Syria, noting that 80 percent of the American people rejected what the US Administration is doing in Iraq and considered the US policy in the Mideast as wrong. 

Syria’s Grand Mufti Sheikh Badr al-Din Hassoun received the American Pastor in Damascus in which he referred to the importance of spreading culture of amity, peace and coexistence instead of the 'clash of civilizations'.

The Mufti called for conveying the real image of Syria, national unity and its call to spread peace, amity and justice to the American people which the US administration has distorted their image before the world.

Pastor Warren expressed admiration of Syria and the coexistence he saw between Muslims and Christians, stressing that he will convey this image to his church and country."

Lets assume that Warren is quoted correctly (he may not have been in an Islamic state-run newspaper).  80% of Americans oppose the war in Iraq?  American foreign policy in the Middle East is wrong?  Syria is a model for Islamic-Christian co-existence? 

Aside from the legitimate differences that American Christians have over the war in Iraq, my question is simply "when did Rick Warren become Secretary of State?"  Or is he acting as Billy Graham's replacement--the "official" evangelical spokesman?  Or (allowing for the obvious confusion of the two kingdoms) is he attempting to be both?

Your thoughts?

Update on Thursday, November 16, 2006 at 05:35PM by Kim Riddlebarger

Here's an update from Rick Warren and Saddleback on the trip to Syria.  As I suspected, Warren feels that he was misrepresented by SANA.  But I wonder how different this update would have been had the publicity been positive instead of negative.

"ABOUT SYRIA

Dear Saddleback Family

Tomorrow our team heads home from a three-nation P . E . A . C . E . plan tour of Germany, Syria, and Rwanda. Our trip began with a P . E . A . C . E . Plan briefing for 44 Christian missions organizations we'd gathered in Atlanta.

In hindsight, I wish we'd been better prepared for our visit to Syria . We would have handled some meetings differently, watched our words more closely, and been more aware of the agenda of their state press. We wanted to just slip in and out, but that's nearly impossible for me to do anymore. It's been a learning experience. Be sure to read the press release at the end of this note that gives you all the details.

Why did we go to Syria? The simple truth is that I was invited by my neighbor, Yassar. When we arrived, our first event was a home cooked meal with 20 of Yassar's family. Then , we were shown many of the historical Christian sites in Syria: the road to Damascus where Paul was converted, Straight street where the Holy Spirit led Paul, the house where Ananias prayed for his healing, the wall where Paul was let down in a basket to escape the Romans, the tomb of John the Baptist and the oldest Christian church building in existence.

Next, my neighbor arranged for us to meet some key Christian leaders, Muslim leaders, and government leaders - including the president of Syria. Franklin Graham has had years of experience with Lebanon and Syria, so I asked him what to say to the Syrian President. Franklin told me, `Thank him for protecting the freedom of Christians and Jews to worship there.'

As we left, the official state-controlled Syrian news agency issued some press release s that sounded like I was a politician negotiating the Iraq war by praising the Syrian President and everything else in Syria! Of course, that's ridiculous, but it created a stir among bloggers who t end to editorialize before verifying the truth. Does it seem ironic to you that people who distrust Syria are now believing Syrian press releases?

In our meeting with the president, I explained (as usual) the Saddleback P.E.A.C.E. P lan , and he gave us permission to send teams to Syria.

Friends, I am aware that inaccuracies, misquotes, and misperceived motivations get reported about me in the press daily. Most of the time, I just ignore them. Jesus said, `If the world hates you, remember that it hated me first.' ( John 15:18 - NCV)

I love the paraphrase of Matthew 5:11-12 (Msg) : `Count yourselves blessed every time people put you down or speak lies about you to discredit me. What it means is that the truth is too close for comfort and they are uncomfortable. You can be glad when that happens-for though they don't like it, I do! And all heaven applauds. And know that you are in good company. My prophets and witnesses have always gotten into this kind of trouble.'

Just don't believe everything you read on the Internet or hear in the media."

Fair enough . . . Does that go for these updates Saddleback sends out? 

Comments

[Alan Kurschner]

Fact is stranger than fiction.

[walt]

Clash of civilizations? What clash of civilizations? There's no clash of civilizations to be found in south Orange County, so there must not be one happening. There's no persecution in south Orange County, so there must be none going on elsewhere. He reminds me of how Billy Graham went to the USSR, got shown everything they thought he should see, and then reported that there was no persecution of Christians in the USSR.

[Toltec]

Rev. Warren should listen to the recent WHI programs on Islam.

[Carson]

http://www.raidersnewsnetwork.com/full.php?news=516

[walt]

Toltec,

Perhaps we could mail him a few MP3s?

[Ron]

Humph! Ricky's head has grown as big as all outdoors! Who does he think he is--preening himself as the Evangelical Pope, while seeking to become the new Ambassador to Syria???

How dare he presume to speak on behalf of the church and of the U.S. government and its citizens!

Muslims of the world, beware! You've no idea who you're dealing with...

["lee n. field"]

Send that Brian McLaren guy over.

[Robin]

This report coincides with Warren's new teaching on Christian humility: The R.I.C.K. plan: Remember others first; Imitate Christ; Create opportunities for service; and Keep your ego in check.

http://www.sacredsandwich.com/headline20.htm

[stayathomemom]

Ugh. As if Ted's capers weren't enough...

Could you invite Rick over for a little education on Islam (and on history)? For that matter, America in general needs to study history again. Redemptive history, not P.C. fiction.

[zrim]

i guess in a country in which a guy like george can cash in on political royalty buy a presidency, a guy like rick can write a book about stuff everyone wants to hear and may thus pontificate and ambassadorize (no, that is not a real word, just a bushism).

come on, is anyone really surprised?

zrim

[mholst]

This is yet another sad example of a prominent Evangelical who feels the need to comment on every issue under the sun. Could you imagine John describing the Roman Empire as a time of peaceful co-existence between Christians the the pagans? Give me a break. Let's hope that people in Warren's church wake up to the fact of what he is, a theologically weak and politically confused pastor who is trying to do too much and doing none of it very well.

[Douglas]

Maybe Rick is giving those folks in Syria a pile of his Invitation's on how to become a follower of Christ? Just make sure Jesus Christ is given another title instead of LORD. Maybe "boss," "manager," "director," "president," "the CEO," "the Chairman of the Board," "the one in charge," instead? Less offensive than LORD? And do not concentrate on the fear of God, the purity and holiness of God, the righteousness of God, the awesomeness of God, the wrath of God, the exceedingly sinfulness of sin, the awful transgression of God's laws, the brutal crucifixion of our LORD Jesus Christ and the shedding of his innocent blood, the wicked being cast into the lake of fire on Judgment Day, people like the 9/11 terrorists for an example, true full-orbed biblical repentance, downplay or ignore those aspects of the gospel when talking to the Syrians. Make sure God is all lovey dovey and not much else and that he created everyone to love them so that know they is very special critters? Just be upbeat and positive, God has a purpose for your life. Help Iran "nuke" Israel? Wipe Israel off the map?

How to become a follower of Christ
by Rick Warren
http://theinvitation.tv/

Easy believism. Just "believe and receive" then you will be born of the will of God, instead, those who are born of the will of God first are those who receive and believe on the LORD Jesus Christ. Regeneration precedes faith, Mr. Warren.

I transcribed the audio from the video, if anyone wants a copy I am more than happy to email it or post it.

[MrErr]

Sounds like you have a bias. You have called SANA an islamic newspaper, when in reality they are a state run paper. Syria is far from being an Islamic state. They do have majority of Muslims but they do not enforce sharia law. Also Christians find it safer in Syria. A lot of Christians are fleeing Iraq (after we made a mess there) and going to Syria where they are much safer.

I do not think Rick Warren has claimed to be a replacement for Billy Graham or for USA. You might be reading too much into what he said.

Also i have found that the on the average Christians are confused between the Kingdom of God and Kingdom of USA. Christians are more insterested in us as Americans being secure than sharing the Gospel with our enemies for the sake of the Kingdom of God. So where do you think the Christian's heart should be, for the Kingdom of God or for the Kingdom of USA?

[Albert]

I'll start out by saying that I am not a fan of Rick Warren, by any stretch. That said, I find equally vexing the general attitude of evangelicals, and reformed Christians toward the "Islamic world" however it's defined or ill-defined.

The attitude seems to be that all Muslims are by definition our enemies, and it seems we fail to see that we too were once enemies of God and that it was through his grace and mercy that we've been reconciled to him.

We as Christians ought to love our enemies and be concerned about their eternal destiny, whether it's the pope, the grand mufti of Syria, or the rabbi next door, and all those who follow them.

Although I wish it was one of our reformed leaders who met with the Mufti, I would rather have Rick Warren meet with the mufti than have no one whatsoever from the Christian community attempt to reach the lost in the middle east, and be left with the empty and dangerous rhetoric of an "us against them" mentality.

aL

[Robin]

"Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a person's enemies will be those of his own household. Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it."
--- Jesus (Matt. 10:34-39)

[turmeric]

He's trying to replace Pat Robertson as Secretary of State. So far, he's better. He hasn't called for any assassinations yet.

[timinator]

Could Rick be the antichrist?? His new plan is terrible. Who asked him to step in and talk for the church. I for one know many people who don't like war but understand it is necessary.

[walt]

Everyone call the church and complain: 949 609 8000. He's possibly guilty of treason.

[Robin]

The punch-line at the bottom of Rick's long (tap dance) letter to Saddlebackers is telling:

"I love you all and I'm praying for this weekend's FOR THE NEXT GENERATION OFFERING. I'm excited about getting back home to see you!"

Pastor Rick

Cha-ching! $$$ Damage control is expensive!

Dogbert: "Out! You demons of studpidity!"

[Robin]

....and you demons of misspelling, too!

r.