Update: More quotes from Vicki Gene Robinson.
Bishop Robinson said he had been reading inaugural prayers through history and was “horrified” at how “specifically and aggressively Christian they were.”
“I am very clear,” he said, “that this will not be a Christian prayer, and I won’t be quoting Scripture or anything like that. The texts that I hold as sacred are not sacred texts for all Americans, and I want all people to feel that this is their prayer.”
Bishop Robinson said he might address the prayer to “the God of our many understandings,” language that he said he learned from the 12-step program he attended for his alcohol addiction.
This kind of religious pluralism is intellectually bankrupt. It is not a prayer for everyone, it is a prayer for no one. He obviously doesn’t take prayer seriously or he couldn’t say such a thing. To whom does he think he is praying? He is making God in his own image.
If he read the texts he holds as “sacred” he might notice that worshiping other gods gets the Israelites in serious trouble in the Old Testament and the New Testament teaches about 100 times that Jesus is the only way to salvation. Jesus is not a pluralist.
In a weird way I’m glad he is so transparent with his complete apostacy. While pro-gay theology is thoroughly flawed regardless of who endorses it, when they put someone like Robinson out front they can’t even pretend that they are otherwise orthodox.
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Original
By which I mean, not shocking at all. Obama picks Bishop Gene Robinson for pre-inauguration event. He’s the priest who left his wife and kids to be with his boyfriend and was punished by his denomination by promoting him to Bishop. That’ll learn ‘em.
This is supposed to balance the selection of Rick Warren for the inauguration prayer. I’m hoping that Warren grows a . . . spine before then and prays to the real God with a real prayer, unlike what Robinson has promised to do:
“While that is a holy and sacred text to me, it is not for many Americans,” Robinson said. “I will be careful not to be especially Christian in my prayer. This is a prayer for the whole nation.”
Well, he’s been very careful to not be especially Christian thus far. And just who does he think he’ll be praying to? And will that person be listening when you are explicitly denying him, not to mention how you teach the opposite of what He says? Does Robinson even know what prayer means? Has he read that text he is so fond of?
Robinson said he doesn’t believe he was asked to participate to calm criticism of Warren.
Uh, sure.
I remember when the Robinson thing first was announced about five years ago. I was in Kenya and our church friends there just shook their heads and said how disappointed they were in the U.S.
If you had a chance to speak to millions, wouldn’t you work in some truth? Does anyone read the Book of Acts any more to see how we’re supposed to act before leaders and individuals?
From a previous post on Robinson:
It turns out that I agree with Gene Robinson on a religious topic.
Gene Robinson of New Hampshire, the first openly gay Episcopal bishop and an Obama supporter, was upset about Obama’s choice of Rick Warren to lead the invocation at his inauguration.
Gene was quoted by the Times as saying, “we’re talking about putting someone up front and center at what will be the most-watched inauguration in history, and asking his blessing on the nation. And the God that he’s praying to is not the God that I know.”
That’s what we’ve been saying all along! I’m glad we agree on this.
I found Robinson’s comments ironic on multiple levels. He spoke the truth for a change, even though he probably didn’t realize that.
But consider how wounded liberal theologians get when you point out how they hold seriously different views from orthodox Christians. Will they criticize Robinson for being so divisive?
And don’t people like him think that all religions lead to God? Why is he being so critical of “another” faith now? Or is his claim that all religions except Rick Warren’s lead to God?
I wonder if Robinson would have complained if a Muslim Imam or some other religion would have said the prayer?
Amazing stuff, isn’t it? I was wondering when he stated that…
““While that is a holy and sacred text to me, it is not for many Americans,” Robinson said. “I will be careful not to be especially Christian in my prayer. This is a prayer for the whole nation.”
….Does it matter so much who the prayer is for as who the prayer is to?
When it is all about you and not God or your family or your church, it apparently doesn’t matter who you are praying to.
Aww, I was considering blogging about that very article which I also read today, but you beat me to the punch! You also used the same gag-reflex-inducing quote I would have, “I will be careful not to be especially Christian in my prayer. ”
The irony of that statement is many-layered, coming from an openly gay bishop. If it weren’t so sad, it would be humorous. Reminds me of the time my then-pastor, a UCC devotee, dissed evangelism and asked us how many of us feel “comfortable” sharing Christ at the family reunion.
Umm…Pastor John? Without evangelism, there’d be, like, no Bible; no Church; no Christianity.
I generally avoid blogging about politics, but believe me, this morning I was tempted. This administration isn’t even in office yet, and already seems to be reaching new spiritual lows of hypocrisy.
I see this as President Elect Obama’s attempt to balance things. And a view of things to come….
Sad, Very sad.
I wonder if this is an example of what’s to come in terms of how easily he is swayed by the whining of his looney lefty base. I hope Barry O shows more spine than this during his one term presidency.
Let’s see: a non-Christian man becoming president wants a false teacher and a heretic for saying the prayers. Wow, sounds like a real good start of a presidency!
A gay bishop is no different from any other so- called minister who does meet the requirements the bible gives for being a minister. What gets me is how he is not going to ” especially christian”. I thought Christianity was either you or your not. Nothing about the statement or gay bishop should be shocking it’s all about the spirit of confusion.
I am not up on every thing but I think personally since our president elect is bi-racial he should have selected one black religious leader and one white. I did hear something about woman religious leader being at some of the activities.
Too much…
To answer your parting question.
I don’t think he would mind at all. Seems like everything goes with him.
Balance is a good word. I wonder how many non-Christians were offended by him claiming the prayer wouldn’t be specifically Christian.
The Christians that did have a problem with it dare I ask why? This country has its foundation in religious freedom yet every President since its inception has pushed Christianity as the religion of the US.
If we want this country to be Christian then we have to stop saying people are free to choose.
Mizclark, I used the word balance, but in this case, I don’t see it as a good thing. When you’re right, there’s no need to “balance”. If the president belives a Christian prayer is right, there’s no need to balance it with something that is wrong.
I think the next president sees “balance” as a perfect fit. Life and death, Christian and non. In doing so, he’s proving that he’s not Christian. Jesus himself said that he would cause division.
Hi Mizclark,
Just so my perspective is clear, I don’t care if Obama invited any pastors to speak or pray. Of course people should be free to choose their religion. Christianity doesn’t teach us to coerce belief from anyone.
But anyone claiming to be a Christian should not say the kinds of things that Robinson does.
It is quite common that presidents invite someone to be their spiritual adviser during their presidency. Billy Graham has fulfilled that role for past presidents. Will Barak Obama choose someone for that role? Gene Robinson appears to be much closer aligned theologically with Obama than Warren.
It is just another example of the direction the US is going. It may also be a giant step towards this country’s non-relevance in the world. Without this nation under God of the Bible, it loses its greatest Advocate.