Monday, November 27, 2006

Rick Warren, Barack Obama and Partial Birth Abortion
...the false unity of the social gospel

"For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother’s womb. I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; wonderful are Your works, and my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from You, when I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth; Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; And in Your book were all written The days that were ordained for me, When as yet there was not one of them." -Psalm 139:13-16

The reality of partial birth abortion is shocking; it is disturbing; it is abominable; it provokes outrage; but it is necessary for us to see and ponder; for we must come to terms that it is nothing less than murder. I have taken down the graphic picture of PBA because of several who had emailed me to its disturbing nature and replaced it with this one courtesy of "littlegal." You may view the PBA photo by clicking here and be prepared for it is very graphic and disturbing..

Partial Birth Abortion (PBA) is the "medical procedure" where the abortionist, guided by ultrasound, grabs the legs of a healthy, normal baby with forceps and is pulled out into the birth canal. The abortionist delivers the baby's entire body, except for the head and then jams scissors into the baby's skull. The scissors are then opened to enlarge the hole. The scissors are removed and a suction catheter is inserted. The child's brains are sucked out, causing the skull to collapse. The dead baby is then removed. Does this make you boil with righteous indignation as it does I? This is murder; where healthy unborn babies are being slaughtered by the abortion-mill industry.

Not many politically support such a barbaric, inhuman genocide such as this. But one who does is the new darling of the Democratic Party, Senator Barack Obama (D-IL). (All who are familiar with this blog know that I am not given over to drawing attention to political figures on this blog; but in this case it needed to be done).

This is significant beloved, for Senator Barack Obama, who campaigned on and condones the practice of PBA, is scheduled to speak this week as a featured lecturer at Rick Warren's AIDS/HIV Conference held at Saddleback church Mr. Warren has invited several key religious, political and medical personalities participating from all sides of the political, social, and evangelical aisles. I do understand that for Christians to be well-equipped on this of AIDS that they need to have up to date information from many different sources pertinent to this issue. Not a problem. But the Rodney King school of theology approach (can't we all just get along) is not the solution here. There needs to be discernment on this issue from a biblical worldview as well. AIDS is not just a health related concern.

I applaud Mr. Warren that he has stated his "one supreme passion in life is to communicate the gospel of Jesus Christ"--for which we would all say, "amen." I wonder then why is it that there is such silence about the gospel when he has appeared recently in Syria and surrounding this conference? Maybe I haven't been listening carefully (though I don't think that is the case), but it seems the focus of this conference is not about the gospel. But as I understand it, this conference is a global, political, social, ecumenical approach to the HIV/AIDS issue to help better equip the church in its fight against AIDS. Time and truth walk hand in hand and we will see if this rises above the emotion of "let's all work together..." to really being "salt and light to a lost world."

Some of the unanswered questions surrounding this conference and Barack's participation are:

  • Why Barack Obama? He is not an AIDS/HIV expert; nor considered a key voice on this issue by anyone remotely familiar with it.
  • Is it purely because Obama is "hot" in terms of media and is a good draw for the conference? To my knowledge, Obama hasn't really done anything in his brief two years in the Senate that even addresses any legislation on HIV/AIDS or any health related crisis.
  • Why would Rick Warren consider a man like Barack who unequivocally supports the murder of late term healthy unborn children of the moral fiber worthy to address this gathering?
  • Apart from Oprah's "Obama for President" endorsement, there is no depth of political virtue that warrants giving him a platform. Does Mr. Warren not see this tension of ideals as moral/spiritual duplicity?
  • Is Mr. Warren prepared and willing to call out Mr. Obama publicly for his schizophrenic human life posturing or will he play politics with the lives of others--and all in the name of "global health unity"?
  • Lastly, what are the biblical foundations and qualifiers for this kind of approach to in addressing these kinds of cultural issues?
If Mr. Warren is really interested in proclaiming the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ then may he do so unashamedly, boldly, and without compromise. Senator Obama (who claims to be a Christian) needs to be held politically and morally accountable for his support of the ungodly practice of PBA. I find it terribly ironic that Senator Obama is concerned about helping dying people with AIDS, but is not for helping to insure life to all late term healthy unborn children. What this says ladies and gentlemen, is that if you are a person out of the womb, Mr. Obama will extend some aid to you; but if you are a person still in the womb, he will support your certain death--and do it with Oprah's full endorsement.

Currently, there exists no medical cure for H-I-V infection; but there is for S-I-N in the gospel of Jesus Christ. THIS is what the church needs to be focusing as the nexus of this issue. Medical aid, clean water, condoms, etc. all relate to the medical issues surrounding this disease - which are important and should not be ignored. BUT, at the same time, the spiritual condition of those infected with AIDS is vitally more important... for it has eternal consequences. Treat the physical AIDS - HIV; but don't ignore the spiritual AIDS - sin. The most unloving thing a believer in Jesus Christ could do, is to only give a renewed sense of moral human dignity to those dying of HIV/AIDS, while at the same time they watch those who have never come to know the Lord Jesus, slip into eternity--into a living hell forever without Christ.

May I encourage you to pray these words of the Apostle Paul for those attending this conference, for Mr. Warren that he would assume rightly his office as pastor and abandon his role as politician, for Barack Obama to come to know the Lord Jesus Christ, and for the many suffering from this disease that they would meet Jesus who alone can heal them, restore them, and gift to them eternal life.
Col. 1:9 For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, Col. 1:10 so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; Col. 1:11 strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously Col. 1:12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light. Col. 1:13 For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, Col. 1:14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins."
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19 comments:

littlegal_66 said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
littlegal_66 said...

And I see that Bono will also be appearing, albeit via a pre-taped segment.

Frankly, I wouldn't find it at all surprising to read or hear any day now that Mr. Warren has suddenly decided to test the murky waters of the political cesspool....I mean.....arena...by purposefully driving his own toe into its waters and announcing candidacy for some sort of political position. (How would the title, "Gov. Warren" strike you?)

(Sorry, got a little off-topic). You are correct (yet again, sir); appearing (or being asked to appear by the powers-that-be) in a conference such as this, while supporting the atrocity of PBA's, is just a "tad" contradictory at best; hypocritical at worst. BTW, Senator Obama is speaking during the "We Must Work Together" session of the conference.

It smacks of ECB, doesn't it?

donsands said...

"The first Reformation was about doctrine; the second one needs to be about behavior," best-selling author Rick Warren told a congress of the Baptist World Alliance last year. "We need a reformation not of creeds but deeds." ... Pastor Warren announced that a new movement is underway in the church, .... "It's time to stop debating the Bible and start doing it ... This is the new reformation I'm praying for."

I read these quotes from an article by Michael Horton in Modern Reformation (Nov/Dec).

I thought how this is Rick Warren's foundational error. It's his bad theology. He's human-centered, and yet how can he miss the sin of abortion. I would hope Rick hates abortion, and would confront this Senator Obama for the babies that are being killed in our nation.

"And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. ... But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light," Eph. 5:11,13

Bhedr said...

Never let it be said that you are political and a respector of persons. God bless you for boldly writting this.

Terry Rayburn said...

The overall point is well-taken, but we need to be careful not to argue too much against abortion on the basis of how gross and disgusting and degrading a particular procedure is.

Otherwise we lose the strength of the Biblical argument that abortion is murder, even if it could be done painlessly and cleanly, and no matter if it's in the first week or the ninth month.

Michele Rayburn said...

"Mr. Obama needs to repent of the unholy and ungodly murder of unborn, healthy, fully developed children as he hides behind the false claim that this is to protect the life of the mother."

It always irks me when I hear the extremely false and nonsensical claim that partial birth abortion is a reason to "protect the life of the mother."

You do not need to kill the baby to save the life of the mother. You can and should strive to save the life of the baby as well as the mother. Why would you need to kill the baby in order to save the mother? This just goes to show a very evil agenda that is being propagated.

Twenty years ago, my cousin's wife was dying with cancer and was nine months pregnant. There was no talk of aborting the baby to "save the life of the mother" back then. In fact, they knew that the mother was going to die and yet they "delivered" the baby hoping that he would live, but he did not. But he was a perfectly formed little boy, and they gave him a name and a burial. He was to be my cousin's first born son and I know he loved him dearly.

Marcia said...

It always irks me when I hear the extremely false and nonsensical claim that partial birth abortion is a reason to "protect the life of the mother."
You do not need to kill the baby to save the life of the mother. You can and should strive to save the life of the baby as well as the mother.


It more than irks me; it infuriates me. In my job I am called upon to help save the lives of babies born so prematurely they sometimes more resemble a fetus than a newborn.

The difference, of course, is that these babies are wanted.

The fields of obstetrics and neonatology are so advanced (too advanced, sometimes, but that's a discussion for another time) that it is ludicrous to propose this horrendous act as necessary, ever.

Marcia said...

And, okay, um, now that I've seen the picture, is there a way for me to block it? The point is made with me; I can't look at it every time I come to this site.

littlegal_66 said...

A little more irony:
“Onesies” for infants that were marketed during Obama’s campaign.

Stephen said...

What is equally tragic is that most people, including a lot of people who are pro-abortion, do not realize that PBA exists. Which isn't too surprising considering it isn't widely advertised.

Last year I got to talking with a classmate who was pro-abortion, at least in some circumstances, and he had never heard of PBA's. When I showed him on-line, he was completely horrified and shocked that people would actually do this to their kids. Hopefully news of this will get out, and more people will be shocked into realizing that abortion is wrong.

Sparks said...

Obama's support of "living abortions", the practice of allowing babies who are born alive but unwanted and are left to die of dehydration and malnutrition in storage closets in Illinois hospitals is even more disturbing and disgusting than his support of killing unborn babies.

I am sickened to be a resident of Illinois and have this man "represent" me in any way. Obama is an evil person despite his claim to be a follower of Jesus Christ.

I can claim to be an astronaut, but I doubt true astronauts are going to stand by silently while I do so.

How can any Christian support such things? How can any Christian pastors, leaders or churches allow such a man to speak in their church, whether it is Sunday, Tuesday or Friday?

What will it take for the thousands of churches who have been "Purpose Blinded" to say "ENOUGH! ENOUGH OF THIS ABOMINATION!" and reject Rick Warren, his unscriptural teachings and unequal yokings with the fallen world?

JoeL said...

I agree with 75% of your message Mr. Camp but I am very discouraged by the 25% that is hell-bent on discouraging and "policing" other Christians. You are not called to hold Rick Warren accountable. You are not called to police the evangelical world.

Your points are well taken on abortion and political involvement but your attacks and criticism of other evangelicals comes across as prideful and arrogant. Heaven forbid other evangelicals do something Steve Camp does not like. He will surely BLOG you to death.

What is very encouraging to me is that yo are not widely read by mainstream evangelicals so they are not hurt by your critical spirit and tone.

Marcia said...

Um, ccjoel? What about Titus 1:9-13?


9Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.

10For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision:

11Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake.

12One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, the Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies.

13This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith;

Terry Rayburn said...

counterculturejoel,

You wrote, "You are not called to police the evangelical world."

But I presume you are "called" to police Steve Camp? Or to inform others what God's calling is for them?

You wrote, "...your critical spirit and tone."

But I presume your spirit and tone are kind...with words like "prideful", "arrogant", "heaven forbid", etc.?

Tell me, am I "called" to point out your inconsistencies?

SJ Camp said...

Marcia:
Thanks for your comments as always. The picture has been changed thanks to littlegal's creative artwork. It is very disturbing and shocking to us all.

Littlegal:
Great thoughts and thank you for the excellent Photoshop work.

Donsands:
You hit the nail on the head. Good motives aside, Mr. Warren's foundational disruptions is his theology. he says he is monergistic, but is socially tolerant and liberal. Certainly this latest foray is ecumenism run a muck.

Terry:
I fully agree. Abortion of any kind at any stage from conception to full term is murder. The picture demonstrates the absolute severed conscience of those who perform such human slaughter when a healthy baby is at full term.

Sparks:
I didn't know some of these things--thank you. It is very disturbing how any Christian leader can support or give platform to any political candidate that in their worldview and religious ideology condones such barbaric practices such as PBA.

Countercultureljoel:
Thank you for your comments though they are a bit conflicted.

You support the reason for my post, but don't like the fact that it is critical of another evangelical leader who shows a tremendous lack of judgment on whom he endorses to be worthy to address the congregation at Saddleback. You seem more outraged that I point out this lack of discernment accurately - trying to address it biblically than the actual issue being discussed here--the condoning of the murder of healthy full term babies by Senator Barack Obama.

Rick Warren should be very thankful for loyal fans like you who are supportive of him having men like Barack Obama speak at his conference.

BTW, to echo Terry's words, do you call your careless words on this blog policing, arrogant, prideful, attacks and criticizing? Your own words sound obstreperous and duplicitous (that means surly, fractious, quarrelsome, and dishonest).

You said, "What is very encouraging to me is that yo are not widely read by mainstream evangelicals so they are not hurt by your critical spirit and tone."

And this from a man who has 1 (one), count them, 1 link on his blog :-).

In the meantime, I realize that the only audience you have is to comment on blogs like mine--and that's OK. If you honor the rules here, even people like you are welcome to say your lot and try to garner some opinion base.

FTR, I am very content, humbled and grateful with the readership and influence the Lord has afforded my by His grace on this blog and the A1M website.

Marcia took the words right out of my mouth. Titus 1:9-13 does say it clearly. Thank you Marcia--well done.

Grace and peace to all,
Steve
2 Cor. 4:5-7

Marcia said...

You're welcome. This blog has been a tremendous guide for me; more than you'll know. I'm glad to return the favor in this small way.

I have started a new blog of my own. It currently has one whole post. But if any of you would like to know where I'm at, stop by.

Sparks said...

Here is the link to article by an Illinois nurse who discovered the
infanticide taking place and the efforts by Obama to prevent an Illinois effort to outlaw the practice:

http://tinyurl.com/ydbkj8

Marcia said...

Owen said: "The Emergent crowd resonates with people who attend seminars such as this because the church for the most part has neglected mercy ministries. "

Except that they're leaving out the key piece to the puzzle.

I'll let Oswald Chambers take over from here.

The key to the missionary’s message is the propitiation of Christ Jesus— His sacrifice for us that completely satisfied the wrath of God. Look at any other aspect of Christ’s work, whether it is healing, saving, or sanctifying, and you will see that there is nothing limitless about those. But— "The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!"— that is limitless (John 1:29 ). The missionary’s message is the limitless importance of Jesus Christ as the propitiation for our sins, and a missionary is someone who is immersed in the truth of that revelation.

SJ Camp said...

Owen:
The ABC program the past few years has been very successful in Africa, i.e. Uganda.

It stands for:

A - Abstinence
B - Be Faithful
C - Condomes for high risk groups

The C for Uganda through the President and First Lady of Uganda (whom are both dedicated born again Christians) stands for Christ. That is why Uganda is the only African nation to have a radical decrease in HIV infection. IOW, they are experiencing the transforming power of the gospel of Jesus Christ.