LAKE FOREST, Calif. – American voters were given a unique opportunity Saturday to hear the presumed Republican and Democratic presidential nominees speak on the issues of greatest concern to Christians around the nation at the very venue that will likely determine who will win in November – church.
-
(Photo: The Christian Post / Edwin Tsuei) -
(Photo: The Christian Post / Edwin Tsuei) -
(Photo: The Christian Post / Edwin Tsuei) -
(Photo: The Christian Post / Edwin Tsuei)
At the Saddleback Civil Forum on the Presidency, hosted by Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, Calif., Sens. Barack Obama and John McCain were asked nearly identical questions on stewardship, leadership, worldview and America’s role in the world. According to Saddleback pastor Rick Warren, who was the sole interviewer throughout the two-hour event, the goal of the civil forum was to “restore civility in our civil discourse.”
“Now, we believe in the separation of church and state,” Warren said in his introduction before heading into the first round of questions with Obama, “but we do not believe in the separation of faith and politics because faith is just a world view and everybody has some kind of world view.”
“And it’s important to know what they are,” he told the packed crowd of over 6,500 in Saddleback’s worship center, reiterating statements made prior to the forum.
Starting with Obama – who was selected to go first by a coin toss, Warren sat down for a one-hour interview with each of the presidential hopefuls, both of whom the megachurch pastor identified as friends, patriots, and “people who both care deeply about America.”
Warren’s questions – which were drawn from the input of pastors and church leaders throughout America and a team of experts on issues such as religious persecution and AIDS – ranged from personal questions on the candidate’s greatest moral failures and most gut-wrenching decisions they've had to make to “values” questions on issues such as abortion, marriage and stem cells.
While the responses from Obama and McCain contrasted on a number of issues, as expected, such as their opinions of the present Supreme Court justices, the two senators notably agreed on what America’s great moral failure is – the lack of selflessness.
“I think America’s greatest moral failure in my lifetime is that we still don’t abide by that basic precept in Matthew that whatever you do for the least of my brothers, you do for me,” responded Obama during his session with Warren as McCain waited in “a cone of silence.”
“There is a pervasive sense, I think, that this country is wealthy and powerful as we still don’t spend enough time thinking about the least of these,” he added.
McCain, in his response, said America’s greatest moral failure “has been throughout our existence, perhaps that we have not devoted ourselves to causes greater than our self interest although we’ve been at the best at it of anybody in the world.”
The presumptive Republican presidential nominee urged for greater American participation in the Peace Corps, AmeriCorps, the military, and faith-based and volunteer organizations.
“The first words of your very successful book is ‘This is not about you,’” McCain said, citing from Warren’s best-selling “Purpose Driven Life.”
“And you know that really also means, serve a cause greater than your self interest,” he added.
Aside from America’s greatest moral failure and the belief that marriage is a union between a man and a woman, responses from the two presidential contenders were largely divergent. Continue >>
RSS
"There is no seperation between them."
Actually, there is. God is separated from the sin of man. Only through faith in Him can that separation be broken. God takes no responsibility for the sins of man or the sins of the nations of man. He will, however, judge all men for their actions.
The concept of separation of Church and state in a democracy is very misunderstood. The term 'Church' used here is an entity and not the body of Christ. In England, the Church ruled the population even to the point of sinning against them. This is what our founding fathers came here to get away from.
With that said, the body of Christ is made up of individual people. Those people have a right to their religious beliefs and to vote according to what they believe. This is why it is so important for Christians to vote. We WILL be held accountable for how we voted (or didnt' vote). It is a responsibility given by 'Ceasar'.
Keith Ellison was the HR that was sworn in using the Koran, the first person either in the House or Senate to do so.
I probably will not bother to watch the debates. We'll see. At this point I could care less about Warren and what he stands for. I was pleasantly surprised to see how direct the questions were. They were not softball at all. I also see that the kind words Obama had towards McCain only lasted until the forum was over. Almost immediately he went after him. I did not appreciate his comments accusing Clarance Thomas of being incompetant. That is what liberals, including sad to say blacks, use when they disagree with a prominent black person. When it comes to whites they say they disagree. Pretty pathetic if you ask me.
True Christians know that he spent 20 years in a church that is unitarian in their leanings, that is, find your own path to God and you will get there. That is not the true gospel. Sad to say my FORMER pastor Bishop Carlton Pearson has joined this ungodly denomination. That right there told me that Obama probably has never accepted the true gospel. His mocking of the Bible concerns me greatly.
The fact that atheists have faith in the improbable odds and chance as the "creator" of the universe and life means that they are superstitious by definition.
Lets define the word Faith:
faith Audio Help /feɪθ/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[feyth] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation
â
Therefore with holito8's comment he has admitted that Atheism and secular humanism is a religion and it should not be mixed up within American politics. So what do you have? Answer: A whole lot of nothing.
I never stated such. Your surreptitious spin is not very clever. Please try again. Misquation Scripture does not make you wise, only foolish because you do not understand. Jesus is not apart of all of us. Remeber, you are not a beliver, and the Bible which you quote tells He is not in a nonbeliever.
Therefore with holito8's comment he has admitted that Atheism and secular humanism is a religion and it should not be mixed up within American politics. So what do you have? Answer: A whole lot of nothing.
Yes Jesus is Lord and that means he is King. And His kingdom is WITHIN US and is not of this world. Look it up for yourself.
Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here." (John 18:36)
Jesus said,"nor will they say, 'See here!' or 'See there!' For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you." (Luke 17:21)
He is so real that he makes an impact within us and takes away our old sinful nature in order to give us a new one by His power.
The fact that atheists have faith in the improbable odds and chance as the "creator" of the universe and life means that they are superstitious by definition.
http://www.evolutionfacts.blogspot.com/
The bible says that EVERY person will have the opportunity to learn the truth and then make a choice..... there is no other way to the Father but through the Son. I find that every time Obama talks he is in circles and hardly ever answers with a straight reply. He has an agenda........they all have agendas, though his is far more dangerous to christians. Do not be fooled, he is not what he wants to us to perceive. Rick Warren also happens to be affiliated with the masons so we know what where his agenda lies.......... In these times the bible tells of what we will be facing........nothing should surprise us! I know that as a christian God will protect me, but if I didn't have peace in Christ, I would be scared about my future! Our goal in life is to serve God, not other things.......no matter how serving it might be to others, it has to be done for the Glory of God!!! We as a nation have bent so much to others demands that we have lost the right to the freedoms we once enjoyed, God once was a cornerstone of this country, but no more and that is why we are in peril. Everything will happen according to God's will, but be ready and keep your eyes to the sky!!
â
You are distorting what Senator Obama said about there being other ways to get to heaven than Christ. He only mentioned that there were good people of other faiths. The fact is, none of us is in a position to say who is going up or who is going down. The Bible tells us not to do that. God gives people different gifts. Politicians cannot go as deep into their faith as pastors can. I think Senator Obama was the only one to mention Christ by name with Rick Warren."Christianity- What does your faith in Jesus Christ mean to you? Obama said I believe that Jesus Christ died for my sins and I am redeemed through him. I do not walk alone. Those sins that I have are washed way. I have an obligation to give back to society through deeds.
You are incorrect. No true believer would even or can even says there are other ways into heaven. If so, you migh as well says Jesus is a liar; Jesus said I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes unto the Father except through Me.... The Scriptures spoken by the prophets only spoke of Jesus. Nor is there salvation in any other; for there is no other name under heaven given among me by which we must be saved.
The fact is, none of us is in a position to say who is going up or who is going down. Actually that is not true, a true faith follower knows where he is going. Only those who are not true faithful question where they are going. The Bible tell us not to condemn because we have all sinned and fell short of the glory of God. If you condemn your sin will also condemn you, God does not have to forgive it.
Jesus said there will be many that come in My name. I tell them I know you not you workers of iniquity.
stanjz, what people have not had the opporunity to know Jesus?
Really great photo op for Pastor Warren. Not even Pat Robertson gets this and he's a known political figure.
All criticisms aside, congratulations to Pastor Warren on landing such an event.
I doubt this will change any polling numbers, but Pastor Warren has some political influence now....at least for the remainder of this election.
It's unbelievable that Obama cannot answer a simple quesiton about when he thinks babies have "human rights," instead dodging it by saying it is "above my pay grade." If he is president, who is above his pay grade?
As Not WRIGHT for America (http://www.notwrightforamerica.com) points out, Obama clearly does not believe life begins at birth, that's why he voted agains the Infants Born Alive Protection Act. So when does he think life begins, 1 month, 1 year? Oh, that's right, above his pay grade! What he means is we should ask Planned Parenthood. That's who he takes orders from on this issue.
You are distorting what Senator Obama said about there being other ways to get to heaven than Christ. He only mentioned that there were good people of other faiths. The fact is, none of us is in a position to say who is going up or who is going down. The Bible tells us not to do that. God gives people different gifts. Politicians cannot go as deep into their faith as pastors can. I think Senator Obama was the only one to mention Christ by name with Rick Warren."Christianity- What does your faith in Jesus Christ mean to you? Obama said I believe that Jesus Christ died for my sins and I am redeemed through him. I do not walk alone. Those sins that I have are washed way. I have an obligation to give back to society through deeds. McCain said he was saved and forgiven."
http://cards6.wordpress.com/2008/08/17/contrast-identified-in-rick-warren-civil-forum-with-obama-and-mccain/
It's well spoken about in the media that Barack is more comfortable talking about his faith than Senator McCain. Too many take the strong arm approach with Christ. They want to grab people by the arm(so to speak) and force them to say Jesus first and then teach them about Christ later. It doesn't work that way. There were hundreds of millions of people who lived and died and never had a chance to have the Gospels presented to them. Only Christ Himself is fit to judge those people. God gives all humanity a conscience. His truth is written in their hearts.
Even though I will NEVER be a fan of Rick Warren, I have to give him credit where credit is due. He, and his staff, did put on good forum and he did ask some good questions which, I believe, will enable us to better compare and contrast the two candidates.
Messages that contain flames, profanity or personal attacks may be edited or removed from the forum and your access to the forum may be terminated. Click here to create a message.
Diana626, please remember Matthew 7:1 "Do not judge so that you will not be judged".
You are passing judgement on Senator McCain, and that is not your role. He stated at the forum "My greatest moral failing, and I have been a very imperfect person, is the failure of my first marriage". This is now between him and God.
kmerci, as much as I disagree with Obama's politics, it's not fair to falsely accuse him of something. He did not use the Koran when he was sworn in to the Senate, he used a Bible. I believe it was a Congressman who used the Koran. I've checked this out on several hoax sites and they all say the same thing in this matter.