"Can't we all just get along?" No. Because there is an offense in preaching the cross of Christ inherit in faithful gospel proclamation. Rick wants to be liked and accepted by gays ad straights; Muslims and Buddhists; Jews and Hindus; Dems' and Reps', etc. If "Pastor" Warren was being faithful as a man of God preaching an uncompromised gospel, then those various political and religious groups wouldn't be applauding him, they'd want to stone him.
There is only one thing more sad than an elected official forgetting his constitutional charge and compromising his office for the sake of widening his own constituency and influence; and that is a pastor of the Lord Jesus Christ forgetting his biblical charge to preach the Word in season and out of season, dumbing down the gospel for the sake of widening his own constituency and influence.
How nice for Rick; both Obama and Etheridge really like him and accept him. Isn't that special... But mean while around the world Christians are being persecuted day and night, losing life and limb for simply saying, "I am a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ."
Rick's not a bad guy, he's just forgotten his purpose. Any good books on finding your purpose that anyone could recommend to him? Here's a few that come to mind: the books of Romans, 1 and 2 Corinthians, the pastoral epistles, the gospels, Acts, Galatians, etc. (well, you get the idea). Remember beloved, a man doesn't go soft by reading his Bible; he goes soft by reading everything else but his Bible.
The Apostle Paul at Corinth
"For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written,
"I sought to know nothing among you save Jesus Christ and Him crucified." -1 Cor. 2:2
"For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written,
"I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. -1 Cor. 1:18-25
and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart."
"I sought to know nothing among you save Jesus Christ and Him crucified." -1 Cor. 2:2
