Rick Warren enters the mash-pit of Muslim pudding

As if Warren has not jumped into deep water enough times, he has now done a two and a half backwards gainer into a shallow pool. Ignoring caution from fellow Christians, Warren on July 4^th, Independence day, was the keynote speaker to a gathering of 8,000 Muslim at the Islamic Society of North America’s 46th annual convention in Washington. ISNA is known to be a Saudi-backed Muslim group (Muslim Students' Association of the U.S. and Canada) it is reported to promote a radical strain of Wahhabi Islam found in large percent of U.S. mosques.

The Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) are no friend of Christianity nor of America. They were named as an unindicted co-conspirator in a Hamas terror funding case in 2007. Warren has intentionally ignored the obvious. In 2006 Warren went to Syria and met with Bashar Assad commending him for his pleasant treatment of Christians. Even stating in Syria, that the country “does not allow extremism of any kind!” He is among those that see the sky as green and the grass as blue.

Among the many speakers over the years at this conference - Steven Emerson reported that “when Siddiqi was President of the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) in 1997, his organization received special thanks from Hamas leader Mousa Abu Marzook.” The report points out, “Siddiqi has made numerous pro-jihad statements in the past and has denied that 9/11 was carried about by Muslims.” Muzammil Siddiqui has been a member of Fiqh Council of North America (FCNA), whose members have been connected to Islamic extremism and terrorism.

Among the speakers this year is Sheik Hamza Yusuf (a CAIR board member) who called Judaism the “most racist religion.” It has been reported that the founder of Cair, Omar Ahmad's, had allegedly asserted that Islam must one day dominate the U.S, (1998)

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=39229

Hamza Yusuf [Hanson], publicly declared his own extremism at an ISNA convention. In 1991, he reportedly delivered a speech titled “Jihad is the Only Way” to the Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA), which is an arm of the radical organization Jamaat-i-Islami in Pakistan.

The other speaker is Ingrid Mattson, Director of the Macdonald Center for the Study of Islam and Christian-Muslim Relations and President of the Islamic Society of North America. Her research is focused on Islamic law and society; among her articles are studies on slavery, poverty, and Islamic legal theory. Mattson denies there are sleeper cells in America and her loyalty to Islam certainly exceeds any to America (1)

Denying an agenda at work shows the lack of discernment and education on the subject. Each year brings further opportunity for a merging of religions. In 2007, Rick Warren was a leader among 100 “evangelical leaders” who signed a document asking forgiveness from Muslims for the evil deeds perpetrated against them by Christians. Admitting they are right about us and we are wrong about them.

Warren is not the first preacher to speak at ISNA, Roy Medley the general secretary of American Baptist Churches did the year before. What we need are leaders that are willing to directly address the problems not appease them, so that real change can take place. Did Warren do this?

The meeting began with a melodious chant from the Koran followed by several videos, presentations, tributes, speeches and a lengthy session of fundraising. (Source Washington Times Sunday, July 5, 2009 Rick Warren envisions coalition of faith)

Warren gave a 25-minute speech discussing the convention's theme “Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.” He began his speech with the Arabic greeting “Asalam alakum,” or “Peace Be Upon You” (as Obama did in Cairo). He told them “You know as an evangelical pastor, my deepest faith is in Jesus Christ,”“But you also need to know that I am committed not just to what I call the good news, but I am committed to the common good.” (these statements are not necessarily in the order they were given)

Did “America’s Pastor, Rick Warren share the gospel of salvation of Christ to the people of Islam? He believes he is obligated, right? He went on to say Scripture says 'love your neighbor as yourself.' I am commanded to respect everybody.” It is reported that his mentions of Jesus and God were intermittent.

This true but respect does not translate into acceptance or overlooking that which challenges the Christian faith or the very words of Jesus. Jesus' great commandment to the church is to preach the gospel, this is showing that we love them; our neighbor.

He called on the members of the two largest faith communities in the world to not only figure out how to live in peace and harmony with each other, but also to find a way to work together for the greater good without compromising each group’s convictions.

Warren Criticized the media for being “clueless as to what you believe as well as what I believe,” Warren called for a “coalition of people of good will to say we are not going to allow this stereotyping of anyone. It is the truth that sets us free and we're not going to allow this.”

Warren also stated “Talk is very cheap. You can talk and talk and talk and never get anything done. Love is something you do,” “It is something we do together.”

“As the two largest faiths on this planet - more than 1 billion Muslims and 2 billion Christians - as Muslims and Christians, we must believe in this. As more than half the world, we must do something to model what it is to live in peace, to live in harmony.”

“Muslims and Christians can work together for the common good without compromising my convictions or your convictions.”

“Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness” may be something we strive for in America but these values can only be found in Jesus Christ through God’s Gospel.

Warren said “I am not interested in interfaith dialogue but interfaith projects.” He gave a practical example of how Muslims and Christians can work together by offering them to work with his PEACE plan, which he is trying to engage one billion Christians to combat the five biggest problems in the world – spiritual emptiness, corrupt leadership, extreme poverty, pandemic diseases, and illiteracy - lack of education. Now he has personally opened the door for Muslims to join him in his effort of peace.

Amos 3:3 – “Can two walk together, unless they are agreed? Loving our neighbor is a moral necessity whether we agree with them or not. As individuals we can choose to meet certain needs but to make this a mandate for the church and enlist a majority of churches involved turns this into a different matter.

God is concerned with our being “justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, (Rom 5:1) “for the kingdom of God is… righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” (Rom 14:17). God’s peace plan is “Peace through the blood of the cross” (Col.1:20). “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, who bring glad tidings of good things!” (Rom. 10:15). God calls the evangelist who bring the gospel- beautiful. Paul goes on to say in v.16 “But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our report?” Certainly not Islam who is an enemy of the cross and Christ.

As we can see God’s peace plan has nothing in common with Warren’s. To implement this as a church mandate, something that any religion can join in, even atheists can participate in is not what we are called to. Jesus said to make disciples – how? By “teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you” (Matt 28:19-20)

Can Muslims and Christians can work together for the common good without compromising THEIR convictions? Maybe Muslims can, maybe Warren can, but if a Christian is true to the Lord, he cannot. The platform of “common values” that is presented here is the diaprax, that brings together Islam and Christianity. It appears the common good won out over the gospel.

Warren said Muslims and Christians should be partners in working for peace yet it is same people that resist Israel and promise to be the deliverers of their demise. None of this is a surprise, as it is prophesied in the Bible of a united religious front for the world. One only needs to read the Bible and they will come face to face with the reality we now see taking place. The Bible is over one quarter filled with prophecy, but one can only know this by reading it through.

So who is Warren representing with this solution he offers them? No doubt the Muslims now are engaged in a Jihad in the realm of media. This is where they can get the most mileage from advertising their desire to work with others for peace and societal improvements. Make no mistake about it, this is what this is all about, they use those who are naïve and liberal.

This common ground with American Muslims is sinking sand. This is humanism at work within the church. Can you see Jesus being invited to the Pharisees annual meeting at the temple and he spoke on how they needed to work together to make a more peaceful and productive Rome by working together. Lets put aside your flawed interpretation of the law and my claim to being the Son of God and make it happen.

How about the apostle Paul on Mars Hill - instead of giving them the gospel and correcting them for their worship of other gods he appealed to their better nature of working for peace. After all we all worship god and want the same things in life, lets work for the greater good of Rome.

The diaprax being presented is that Allah and Yahweh are the same God and that we can put aside the differences for a common goal of peace between us. Just to reaffirm that difference that has us as Christians parts ways. Muslims believe Muhammad is the final prophet of God and the model for their lives as individuals and communities, Jesus is another prophet in line with other such prophets like Moses.

Warren has solidified his position of being a humanist, that his humanism (a call to social reform) is far more important than being an evangelist (with a gospel call).

Every Christian needs to ask at least two questions on this matter. Can humanists solve the real problem of man, which is his breach with God? Can we achieve a better life without Jesus?

These solutions fit far better for politics, not the church. This is a humanistic effort to improve life but it cannot be connected to the churches obedience to Christ. They are unable to help in the more important matters of the soul which God is ultimately concerned with. A church uniting with other religions that are against Christ cannot resolve mans real problem, which is a severed relationship with God because of sin, only Christ can do this.