Melissa Etheridge, Lesbian Spouse Defend Pastor Rick Warren

By Eric Young|Christian Post Reporter

E-mail
Print
RSS
digg Facebook Twitter Stumble Reddit del.ico.us Buzz Share
Text

“Now if I apply that thinking to this situation, if they afford us the exact same rights, who cares what it's called?” she concluded.

In recent weeks, Rick Warren has been inundated with criticisms from evangelicals as well as gay-rights groups for accepting the invitation to deliver the invocation at President-elect Barack Obama's inauguration in January. Obama has also been blasted for his selection of the evangelical pastor for such a significant role.

Last Monday, in response, Warren posted a lengthy video message blaming the media for the destruction of America by "the demonization of differences."

"[T]he media often fans controversy and conflict to create a story and we start yelling at each other so much, nobody listens to each other anymore," Warren said in the video message addressed to members of Saddleback Community Church in Lake Forest, Calif.

As the media creates or fuels conflict, it's creating more polarization and causing people to be more rude and inflamed, the increasingly prominent pastor added.

Warren also blamed bloggers for contributing to the polarization of the country and said one of his three life goals is to restore civility to civilization.

Pages: 12

View article on single page

Next Story : Church’s Women Bishops Proposals Draw Mixed Response

Most Popular

Viewed
Commented
Blogged

Sort by: Newest | Oldest | Agree | Disagree

All comments on this page are subject to our Terms of Use and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Christian Post or its staff.

1 | 2 | 3

jester in the Kings court »

Mon Jan 05, 2009 10:59 pm Agree: 0 Disagree: 0

is it a faux paux to use three puns? should i not have hogged all the good puns?
jester in the Kings court »

Mon Jan 05, 2009 10:58 pm Agree: 0 Disagree: 0

oh you guys just keep caking it on. but you batter be careful or you'll get your just desserts!
Daniel Paul »

Mon Jan 05, 2009 10:26 pm Agree: 0 Disagree: 0

Doing puns here is such a cake walk....
Forgivensinner »

Mon Jan 05, 2009 9:58 pm Agree: 0 Disagree: 0

jester, 'bout time, but next time get your own pun! LOL!
jester in the Kings court »

Mon Jan 05, 2009 9:53 pm Agree: 0 Disagree: 0

sorry, i thought that last joke was the icing on the cake. sorry.
Forgivensinner »

Mon Jan 05, 2009 9:42 pm Agree: 0 Disagree: 0

jester, I have not know you to ice a good pun war before.
jester in the Kings court »

Mon Jan 05, 2009 5:16 pm Agree: 0 Disagree: 1

lets all sing!!!!

my bonnie lies over the ocean...
my bonnie lies over the sea!
my bonnie lies over the ocean!
o bring back my bonnie to me.

c'mon, don't be shy. join in on the chorus!

briiiiing back
briiiiing back
or bring back my bonnie to me to me!
Prophet »

Mon Jan 05, 2009 4:45 pm Agree: 0 Disagree: 1

Bonnie,

"Prophet, it is outright LYING to say that I said that. It is YOUR opinion, not mine."

So now you're stretching it too, I see...
mtgburrell »

Mon Jan 05, 2009 4:31 pm Agree: 0 Disagree: 0

The more I think about the same-sex marriage issue, the more I realize that churches should not be doing job of the government. Here is a sensible article from Oregon: http://www.dailytidings.com/2009/0105/stories/0105_marriage.php

If we could see clearly, we could get to a point at which Saddleback Church, for instance, would not perform gay marriages, and First Congregational Church of Ashland would.
steveh20 »

Mon Jan 05, 2009 3:27 pm Agree: 0 Disagree: 0

Well, one has to earn a crust somehow.
Forgivensinner »

Mon Jan 05, 2009 2:41 pm Agree: 0 Disagree: 0

Yeah, those pun wars are so crumby.
steveh20 »

Mon Jan 05, 2009 2:20 pm Agree: 0 Disagree: 0

Maybe ruby wants to have cake and eat it?
Daniel Paul »

Mon Jan 05, 2009 1:30 pm Agree: 0 Disagree: 0

Scones instead of stones, eh!!! It took my wife 2 hours on line to find a good recipe for Devonshire cream but BOY was it good. :)

At least Ruby hasn't been subjected to one of the pun wars yet....
steveh20 »

Mon Jan 05, 2009 1:17 pm Agree: 0 Disagree: 0

Seems to me that things have become a little heated, when I'm sure nobody really wants that....I have an idea, it always works..everybody goes away and has a nice hot cup of tea(milk first), and a biscuit..works every time, now don't you feel better.
Bonnie_Halfelvn »

Mon Jan 05, 2009 12:42 pm Agree: 0 Disagree: 0

Sorry if you or anyone else was insulted. I wanted clarification, but I didn't want words put into my mouth that I did not say (That to me is lying. I don't know what you call it.).

I guess it's OK to insult me, even though you don't know me, either.
Daniel Paul »

Mon Jan 05, 2009 10:45 am Agree: 0 Disagree: 2

Now, now Bonnie...you're acting like Clyde....

Your statement "Wow. Ramifications of hate crimes bills? Are you saying that it's OK to commit hate crimes against homosexuals?"

So far off legal and Christian logic that we were trying to be nice about it. Your statement made it sound like Christians would actually be interested in committing crimes against people. Please have a clue what you are posting about before you insult other people. You might want to get to know some of the folks here before you make too many judgements like saying someone is lying.
Bonnie_Halfelvn »

Mon Jan 05, 2009 6:00 am Agree: 1 Disagree: 0

Prophet, it is outright LYING to say that I said that. It is YOUR opinion, not mine.
steveh20 »

Sun Jan 04, 2009 11:42 pm Agree: 0 Disagree: 0

Hi Believer, quickly passing through before I go to work.

They showed a number of clips but the one song thay showed in its entirety we Witches Promise. Ian Andersaon was interviewed, he looks quite normal these days no staring eyes if you get my drift. They also talked about the albums Aqualung and Thick As A Brick. Never into them myself but might give these two a listern.

Genesis where lumpedin with prog and whilst there may be an overlap I have never had them in quite the same bracket.

Steve
Prophet »

Sun Jan 04, 2009 9:16 pm Agree: 2 Disagree: 1

Bonnie,

But it's really not stretching anything. That's where the homosexuals are trying to get with their hate crime agenda. They're trying to make it so that if you speak out against homosexuality, it will be a hate crime.
Bonnie_Halfelvn »

Sun Jan 04, 2009 8:54 pm Agree: 0 Disagree: 0

Quote Prophet: "Now I may have stretched it a little..."

More than a little, as that is not at all what I meant.

You have every right to your opinion, whether I agree with it or not, but in the future, please avoid "stretching my words a little" and then using them against me to make your point.
Daniel Paul »

Sun Jan 04, 2009 8:42 pm Agree: 0 Disagree: 0

Did you guys know that Jethro Tull were part of a Christian album. No kidding!!! When Kerry Livgren from Kansas got saved he did an album called "Seeds of Change" and 2 guys from Jethro Tull (buddies of his) were listed in the credits. I'm not sure what they did but Kerry doesn't really sing. He only sang on one song and that was a duet (kind of strange for his own album).
believer »

Sun Jan 04, 2009 8:26 pm Agree: 0 Disagree: 0

steveh20, did they perform live or were they past performances since Ian Anderson has got to be somewhat old, but if they were live did he do his one leg performance?
believer »

Sun Jan 04, 2009 8:24 pm Agree: 0 Disagree: 0

mtg, but as I said if same-sex marriage were to become the law of the land or the state I am living in I would still disagree with it, but at the same time I would respect the right of same-sex couples to get married. Where I would draw the line however is if ministers were required to perform those marriages in spite of their spiritual beliefs or if churches were forced to allow their sanctuaries to be used for these services even though they as a church were opposed to same-sex marriage for biblical reasons. But until they become legal I will continue to do everything legally possible to keep them from becoming legal and do it in a way that shows no disrespect or violence toward those who support it becoming legal.
jester in the Kings court »

Sun Jan 04, 2009 7:01 pm Agree: 0 Disagree: 0

i agree with proph and dp. all hate crimes do is let people know that certain ethnicities and lifestyle choices are more important than other people. i think equality is what we need. hold on.....we've already got it! if you kill someone you're a murderer, whether you or the victim is white, black, fuscia, ecru, straight, gay, quasi-semi-bi-tri sexual, male, female, other....
Daniel Paul »

Sun Jan 04, 2009 6:57 pm Agree: 0 Disagree: 0

"If you have not come across BBC Player yet, try it, its great."

It only works in Britian!!! (It says so when I tried it. Copyright stuff and all.) :(
Daniel Paul »

Sun Jan 04, 2009 6:56 pm Agree: 0 Disagree: 0

"Are you saying that it's OK to commit hate crimes against homosexuals?"

The laws are already there without the hate crime laws. Hate crimes happen to many people of all races, beliefs, sexual preferences, religious beliefs and the list goes on.

For example, setting a fire on the back steps of a Morman ward is a hate crime. Do you hear the "we need hate crime laws" people wanting to add that? Of course not. Don't be silly. Hate crime laws aren't about stopping hate. It's about targeting it. Many want churches to lose their tax status if they preach that gay is not OK as "hate speech" because they HATE THE CHURCH!!! Hate crime bills have never been about stopping hate so let's not kid ourselves.
mtgburrell »

Sun Jan 04, 2009 3:24 pm Agree: 0 Disagree: 0

believer: "mtg, depending on why you're opposed to gambling wouldn't you do your part to keep it from spreading such as to allow casino gambling in a state or region?"

Yes, I would - and I did. But the lottery (one of the worst forms of gambling) took hold in my state anyway. Now, poor whites and blacks and others, instead of buying food and milk, are sending middle-class white students (mostly) to the state's universities and colleges. If I were a cynic, I would say that racist, elite, old white men (like some in my family, actually) had actually hatched up this lottery as one more way to keep the lower classes low.

That's a very different thing from two people (of whatever sex) choosing to commit to one another (with hopes - not always realized, I expect, of being completely faithful to one another). Marrisge is actually quite a conservative concept. We should applaud gay people's wanting to commit to a faithful relationship.
Daniel Paul »

Sun Jan 04, 2009 11:01 am Agree: 0 Disagree: 0

"Hi DP, first of all, the new Dr will be this gentleman"

:)
Prophet »

Sun Jan 04, 2009 9:46 am Agree: 0 Disagree: 1

bonnie,
You said "Wow. Ramifications of hate crimes bills? Are you saying that it's OK to commit hate crimes against homosexuals?"

Now I may have stretched it a little, but as I pointed out, hate crime bill would make homosexuals worth more than anyone else. Or a black man. I get so fed up when a black man kills a white man and it's a "gang initiation" or just "a murder". But when a white man kills a black man? All hell breaks loose and it's this big huge hate crime. What's up with that? So under the hate crime, if a homosexual kills a heterosexual, the gay man can be tried under the hate crime bill? You really think that would happen? No. Because they would cast the gay man as the victim regardless of what happens.
Bonnie_Halfelvn »

Sun Jan 04, 2009 8:43 am Agree: 0 Disagree: 0

Quote Prophet: "You equated speaking out against homosexuality to a hate crime."

I did not. Show me where I did that!

Quote believer: "bonnie, so then the testimonies we hear from both men and women who were homosexual but are no longer homosexual, they are either lying to us or themselves or both?"

Yes.
believer »

Sun Jan 04, 2009 7:52 am Agree: 0 Disagree: 0

bonnie, so then the testimonies we hear from both men and women who were homosexual but are no longer homosexual, they are either lying to us or themselves or both?
believer »

Sun Jan 04, 2009 7:48 am Agree: 0 Disagree: 0

mtg, depending on why you're opposed to gambling wouldn't you do your part to keep it from spreading such as to allow casino gambling in a state or region? And that is what I feel my responsibility is as a Christian toward those issues that are contrary to God's Word.
steveh20 »

Sun Jan 04, 2009 3:37 am Agree: 0 Disagree: 0

DP

Its here on BBC Player

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00gqgtw/b00gqfsv/Doctor_Who_Confidential_The_Ten_Doctors/

If you have not come across BBC Player yet, try it, its great.

Believer
Thought about you yesterday, BBC 4 had a night of prog rock, lots of Jethro Tull.

Steve
steveh20 »

Sun Jan 04, 2009 2:31 am Agree: 0 Disagree: 0

Hi DP, first of all, the new Dr will be this gentleman

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7808697.stm

No'I don't know of him either, try to watch the Dr Who confidentil announcing him if they show it on BBC America, I'll be suprised if they don't.

Just one other comment, yes, space time is curved, thats a fact of which there are experiments to prove it, its the reason the planets orbit the Sun. Mass(the Sun) curves spacetime, the curve then directs mass(the planets)in their velocities.
BW
Steve
Prophet »

Sun Jan 04, 2009 1:25 am Agree: 0 Disagree: 0

Bonnie,
I know what you mean. I enjoy spending time with my family as well.

Now, to the subject. You equated speaking out against homosexuality to a hate crime. Those who killed Matthew should have been charged with murder. As far as saying that someone who killed another person because the murderer did it while robbing them is different than someone who murdered a homosexual, a african-american, or a jewis absurd. That is saying that a homosexual is worth more than anyone else. Sorry. All murders ends a life that shouldn't have been...regardless of why.

And as for Matthew Shephard...it was indeed a tragedy that should not of happened. But those who killed him were not Christians. And Christians are being murdered by the thousands every day, and no one seems interested in putting a stop to that.
Bonnie_Halfelvn »

Sun Jan 04, 2009 12:55 am Agree: 0 Disagree: 0

mtgburrell, thanks for the link.

Quote: Prophet

"Wow...way to backpeddle. First you call it hate crimes then you call it prejudice.

"I wonder who it was that did all those violent attacks on the LDS group after proposition 8 passed? Could it be the gay community? Were any of them charged with hate crimes? Most definitely not.

"Now if the tables had been turned....wow what a difference that would make. I think it's pathetic that the gay community tries to play the martyr, when they are the aggressor."

Wow, you folks have been busy. Way too much to reply to, as I am enjoying time with my family. But since Prophet, you are putting words into my mouth, I'll respond to you.

I agree that attacking the church in retaliation for the prop 8 vote was not the smartest thing the gay community has ever done. It just gives more fuel to your "the church is the real victim here" fire. And yes, there should have been more arrests than there were.

To believe something based on ignorance, hearsay, and myths rather than fact is prejudice.

Hate crimes that should be punished to the fullest extent of the law refer to things like the beating death of Matthew Shepherd ten years ago.

Show me where I ever said otherwise.

http://www.matthewshepard.org/site/PageServer?pagename=mat_Matthews_Life

And Daniel Paul, speaking of facts, no one has been able to scientifically prove that homosexuality is a choice. There is no known "cause." But for the real proof, ask people who are gay, and the overwhelming majority of them will tell you that they were born that way. Do you believe the "experts" in the various Christian counceling organizations or do you believe someone who lives it?

Anyone who claims to have been "cured" of homosexuality, when being honest with themselves will realize that they are still gay. They have simply denied their natural attractions and become celibate or married someone of the opposite sex whom they are incapable of loving the way they ought to love and be loved.

Every person has needs. Every person wants to be loved. I believe God wants this for all of His children.
mtgburrell »

Sat Jan 03, 2009 11:50 pm Agree: 0 Disagree: 0

believer, that's a good and thoughtful answer. Of course, as the Christian that you consider yourself to be, it is your duty to speak out against anything that you think goes against the Word of God. You do, of course, realize that there are many Christians today who do not read that Word the same way you do. Add these people as voters to the voters who do not even know the Bible (or care about it) and soon many of the hot buttons ballot items that some Christians are "personally opposed to" (abortion, gay marriage, polygamy, etc.) will be legalized and will become the norm. I, for instance, am personally opposed to gambling, but I cannot stop others who want to gamble. I am opposed to abortion, but I cannot stop a woman who wants to end her pregnancy. I am not opposed to gay marriage, and I suppose I'd better get used to polygamy. It is surely coming back. (And just as surely, for most of history, the standard for marriage has not been one-man-one-woman. It has been one-man-many women. Who knows, nowadays there may be more one-woman-many-men marriages. Neither polygamous plan will ever appeal to me, but I have no authority over other people's marriages.)

Another factor: Courts, both state and federal will in the future tend to follow religious principles less and less. It's inevitable.

Back to my point (which I've almost lost), you certainly must keep making your point of view known, supporting scriptural "norms," as you understand scripture.

(If I had not taken a dessert break mid-way through my comment, I might have been able to say all I had to say in about four sentences.)
believer »

Sat Jan 03, 2009 9:40 pm Agree: 0 Disagree: 0

mtg, while I can agree that all people should be protected from harassment and violence against them for whatever reason, I cannot agree with legitamizing practices that are contrary to the Word of God and if these practices were legalized I would respect people's right to practice them, but I would still be personally opposed to them. But I also believe our opposition should be voiced and carried out in ways that show respect to all regardless of their views in the matter.
mtgburrell »

Sat Jan 03, 2009 8:48 pm Agree: 0 Disagree: 0

Let's say that at 18 years old I chose to be gay. Shouldn't my government protect my right to choose this? Don't all of us make choices every day for which we expect - even demand - protection under the law? I personally dougbt that gay people have "chosen" their orientation anymore that I chose mine. But they still have a right to be protected by law, especially since our nation is not a theocracy, our common law is not Bible-based (at least, not to that extreme).
believer »

Sat Jan 03, 2009 5:09 pm Agree: 0 Disagree: 0

steveh20, I very much appreciated your 1:23 PM post, but when my son was in high school they had some speakers who came from a pro-homosexual group who were telling the teens that if they experienced the things you shared that they were clearly homosexual, but like you I do not believe that but see it more as you said a stage in a person's maturing process, but not that all people necessarily go through them. And that's what I also encouraged my son to share with his friends as well.
Tom »

Sat Jan 03, 2009 3:40 pm Agree: 0 Disagree: 0

Steve just take a look at the web sites Narth has what you seem to want plus more. While there may be exception to the rule, which I doubt, it is safe to say in light of the evidence out there that homosexuality is for the most part a product of the way we were brought up. Gods Blessing In Christ Tom
Prophet »

Sat Jan 03, 2009 3:17 pm Agree: 2 Disagree: 0

Bonnie

"I don't call that a hate crime. I call it prejudice.'

Wow...way to backpeddle. First you call it hate crimes then you call it prejudice.
I wonder who it was that did all those violent attacks on the LDS group after proposition 8 passed? Could it be the gay community? Were any of them charged with hate crimes? Most definitely not.
Now if the tables had been turned....wow what a difference that would make. I think it's pathetic that the gay community tries to play the martyr, when they are the aggressor.
Daniel Paul »

Sat Jan 03, 2009 3:04 pm Agree: 0 Disagree: 0

"so coming down on either side is a little presumptive."

One thing I learned in the news business is that there is way more faith than fact in the world. To some degree fact is based on what one believes as there is little proof to base most of what we say is fact. For example, until someone actually goes far enough out in space you can only assume you are seeing things correctly. Science has a curved space theory so one could say that those stars are actually not that far away or say they are even further out. We 'accept' some things as fact because they simply make sense but we do not have conclusive evidence to prove either way.
steveh20 »

Sat Jan 03, 2009 1:27 pm Agree: 0 Disagree: 0

Tom
I used "all" because of your post stating being gay is a choice so there seemed, no other option. Thanks for the sites though, do you have though any peer reviewd scientific tests etc...which really might count as proof.
Thanks
Steve
steveh20 »

Sat Jan 03, 2009 1:23 pm Agree: 0 Disagree: 0

Seems to me that theres no proof either way, so coming down on either side is a little presumptive. By gay though I'm not talking about those who go through gay stages, such as teenages who have same sex crushes, or those who are bi curious at diffrent stages of their life etc..
Tom »

Sat Jan 03, 2009 1:20 pm Agree: 0 Disagree: 0

Ah steve I find it interesting that you said all----Hmmmm What I can give you is web sites that can present you with evidence for Homosexuality being a choice. Again granted a hard one but a choice non the less. Narth, exodus international, Focus on the family, Love won out, this is where you can get good infomation if you want it. Homosexuality and the politics of truth Satinover, There are many studies that put the burden for same sex attraction on evinviroment, ie the way we were raised or not. Anyway this is a good start. Then to top it off the Bible is clear on where it stands. Gods Blessing In Christ Tom
Daniel Paul »

Sat Jan 03, 2009 12:30 pm Agree: 0 Disagree: 0

Hey Steve. Here's the bottom line. There are many people who were gay all the way but are now straight. They made a choice to be straight. If it was not a choice this could not happen. Their choice changed them. God released them and they are now straight. God released them the same way He has released people from alchohol and drug addiction.

The proof is in peoples lives. If being gay is not a choice then being straight isn't either. Yet, the evidence says choice can change. This is a dangerous concept to gays who trust in the misinformation that they are born that way. There is no medical proof they are born gay. Still, that is the criteria for protection under civil rights so they MUST have been born that way or they don't get the rights. This is the whole issue which has surrounded Prop 8.
Daniel Paul »

Sat Jan 03, 2009 12:25 pm Agree: 0 Disagree: 0

"It is not "chosen." "

Proof please.
steveh20 »

Sat Jan 03, 2009 12:14 pm Agree: 0 Disagree: 0

Thanks for the link mt, really good article. The writer certainly has their head screwed on the right way.
Cheers
Steve
mtgburrell »

Sat Jan 03, 2009 11:38 am Agree: 0 Disagree: 0

http://www.billingsgazette.net/articles/2009/01/03/features/life/22-gaymarriage.txt

Here's yet another well-put article on the "slippery slope" we are (so many of us) finding ourselves on these days.

Please help us to monitor our message boards by flagging comments that are unlawful, harmful, threatening, abusive, harassing, defamatory, vulgar, obscene, libelous, hateful, or racially, ethnically or otherwise objectionable.
Contact Us if you have any questions, comments, or concerns.

Comment on this story