Rick Warren: they're shouting in heaven
The choice of the evangelical pastor Rick Warren to lead prayers at today's Inauguration was controversial in the United States, but his actual prayer, delivered with passion and in a style that was both conversational and authoritative, may win him some friends. The pastor said in advance of today's ceremony that he would reach out to America's religious diversity while maintaining his own integrity as a traditional Christian believer. With references to "the compassionate, the merciful", and various forms of the name of Jesus, he has sought to do that here. Needless to say, it was a classic, prayer. A transcript:
Almighty God, our Father:
Everything we see and everything we can't see exists because of You alone. It all comes from You; it all belongs to You; it all exists for Your glory. History is your story. The Scripture tells us, 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord is one.' And You are the compassionate and merciful one; and You are loving to everyone You have made.
Now today we rejoice, not only in America's peaceful transfer of power for the 43rd time: we celebrate a hinge-point of history with the inauguration of our first African-American President of the United States. We are so grateful to live in this land, a land of unequaled possibility, where the son of an African immigrant can rise to the highest level of our leadership. And we know today that Dr. King, and a great cloud of witnesses, are shouting in heaven.
Give to our new president, Barack Obama, the wisdom to lead us with humility, the courage to lead us with integrity, the compassion to lead us with generosity. Bless and protect him, his family, Vice-President Biden, the Cabinet, and every one of our freely elected leaders.
Help us, O God, to remember that we are Americans: United not by race or religion or by blood, but to our commitment to freedom and justice for all.
When we focus on ourselves, when we fight each other, when we forget you, forgive us.
When we presume that our greatness and our prosperity is ours alone, forgive us.
When we fail to treat our fellow human beings and all the earth with the respect that they deserve, forgive us.
And as we face these difficult days ahead, may we have a new birth of clarity in our aims, responsibility in our actions, humility in our approaches and civility in our attitudes-- even when we differ.
Help us to share, to serve, and to seek the common good of all. May all people of good will today join together to work for a more just, a more healthy and a more prosperous nation -- and a peaceful planet.
And may we never forget that one day, all nations, all people, will stand accountable before You.
We now commit our new president and his wife Michelle and his daughters, Malia and Sasha, into your loving care.
I humbly ask this in the name of the one who changed my life--Yeshua, Esa, Jesus, Jesus--who taught us to pray:
Our father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil, for thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
Comment number 1.
At 21st Jan 2009, Orville Eastland wrote:Wow. It covers all bases. It could be a lot less wordy, though.
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Comment number 2.
At 21st Jan 2009, MarcusAureliusII wrote:We no longer need to worry while we wait around for the second coming of Jesus Christ when we have the first coming of Barack Obama to tide us over until he arrives.
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Comment number 3.
At 21st Jan 2009, MarcusAureliusII wrote:Jesus may have fed 5000 with two fish and twelve loaves but that will be child's play compared to the miracle Barack Obama will have to pull off if he is going to straighten out the American economy given what has happened to it. More along the lines of rising from the grave like Lazarus. Too bad for the UK it doesn't have a Barack Obama of its own. It's economy may already be in its grave from the echoes we hear.
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Comment number 4.
At 22nd Jan 2009, MarcusAureliusII wrote:Nobody even caught the error that it was five loaves, not twelve. It's a good thing I don't depend on you people for salvation of my immortal soul or I'd be going to hell for sure. Where's minister what's his name? Off writing a sermon or .....no don't go there. That's the fastest route to hell.
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Comment number 5.
At 22nd Jan 2009, Heliopolitan wrote:Mark, you're a thread killer - that's the problem :-)
The real miracle (for Jesus) was that 5000 people pitched up in the middle east, and only one of them had brought his packed lunch!
Does the UK need an Obama? It depends on what the US Obama is capable of. Let's see, and if it works, we can clone him.
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Comment number 6.
At 22nd Jan 2009, gveale wrote:H
This is the middle east we're talking about. It's a miracle 5000 people didn't turn up and start a civil war.
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Comment number 7.
At 22nd Jan 2009, petermorrow wrote:The bigger miracle for me, on this thread, is that a Christian leader actually used the word 'Jesus' in his prayer.
H - BTW 4000 or 5000? And 7 loaves or 5?
;-)
Which could mean Marcus, that you were right all along, 7 add 5 equals 12.
Oh, and Marcus, you aren't relying on me for the salvation of your immortal soul, phew, that's a relief.
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