Rick Invites Barry and Johnny to his House

I hope you got to see the broadcast from Saddleback Church today of the Civil Forum, featuring two one-hour dialogues between Pastor Rick Warren and the two major candidates for President of the USA, Barack (or Barry, as he was known when he lived here in Jakarta as a child) Obama and John McCain.

It was fair, balanced and very impressive. Rick's team at Saddleback put together an event that will have an impact, though what kind of an impact is not entirely clear. I watched most of it live and almost all of it (including the parts I missed earlier) on a rebroadcast.

Rick is a very smart guy, and his knowledge of things he cares about is extensive and deep. He was prepared, and he kept to topics where he had good questions to ask. The answers the candidates gave showed us a lot about them, as did the way they answered the questions.

I doubt if many will change their choice based on the event and the things they heard, but I suspect that many people will come away with a new respect for both candidates as people.

A few years ago, when Pastor Rick Warren held a Summit on AIDS as a part of an effort to get churches involved in fighting AIDS as a global problem, he invited Obama to speak at Saddleback for the event. I know Rick was surprised and hurt by the vicious attacks, some very personal, against him for extending an invitation to Obama to speak at his church. many of these attacks came from people who claim to be followers of Christ and his fellow evangelicals. It seems like some people have their minds so made up about people they are afraid to listen to what someone has to say on any topic!

I remembered what happened with the AIDS Summit today as I watched this important event. I recalled what I had learned about how this event was put together, that Rick has a personal relationship with both candidates and has touched both of their lives, so that when he reached out to them to do the Civil Forum, they both responded.

As often happens in life, Rick had done something he thought was important in inviting Obama to the AIDS Summit. Rick had taken a lot of criticism for doing that, but opening the door to Obama for that event placed Rick in a position to bring Obama to the Civil Forum, which will impact many more people. Rick's critics are proved wrong and Rick's gracious desire to listen and understand every perspective, and to be civil in every circumstance, has been vindicated.

Some people have asked me who I thought "won" the day. Who came out looking the best? My answer is simple.

Rick won.

He proved on the largest stage yet in this American political year that he is a man of grace, wisdom and a desire to touch peoples lives because of his faith in God.