From Slice of Laodicea:
“I humbly ask this in the name of the one who changed my life, Yeshua, Isa, Jesus, Jesus (hay-SOOS), 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. –Rick Warren, from inauguration prayer
The following is excerpted from Daniel Cordell,
“Praying in the Name of Isa,” Loveforthetruth.com, Jan. 20, 2009:
“Today, in his Presidential Inauguration prayer, Rick Warren prayed in the name of `Yeshua, Isa, and Jesus.´ It seems the three names Warren used were to imply the three `Abrahamic Faiths´ (as they are so-called), Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. What´s significant is the name `Isa´ being prayed by the `evangelical´ Warren. `Isa´ is strictly Koranic and used by Arab Muslims. Even Arab Christians don´t refer to Isa,´ but to `Yesua.´ I´ve lived and studied Arabic in one of the same Muslim countries that Warren has visited, and I think he probably knows that the Arab Christian communities only refer to Jesus as `Yesua´ and not `Isa´ as the Muslims. `Isa´ was not Jewish, but Palestinian. `Isa´ did not die on the cross but instead had someone die in his place. `Isa´ is a Muslim prophet. `Isa´ is only found in the Koran. The name `Isa´ doesn´t have any Biblical support or any meaning found in Biblical scholarship. Yet, Rick prayed in the name of `Isa.´”
If anyone was still “on the fence” about the syncretism of Imam Warren after he signed the notorious letter begging forgiveness from Islam he let the cat out of the bag during his perverse and apostate Inaugural Prayer where he invoked the name of the Muslim anti-christ “ISA”.
I can only assume that those who continue to defend the utterly indefensible apostate Rick Warren do so from either sheer, wanton, willful, ignorance of the man or intellectual dishonesty, or some combination of the two because there’s simply no other grounds from which to presume that he may actually be fighting on the side of the Lord of Hosts.
Somebody close to Rick Warren needs to confront him with the Eternal Gospel of grace and plead that he would repent of his sin and trespass against the thrice Holy Lord God Almighty, the One True and Living God who laughs the false god of Islam and its demonically inspired blind prophets and adherents to scorn.
Pilgrim
thejunglemissionary
Bill
Manfred
abidingthroughgrace
Chris Hohnholz
Coram~ thank you for posting this! I tried to steer ‘Bill’ towards this on another post, http://defendingcontending.com/2009/01/22/prophet-of-baal-vs-spirit-of-elijah/.
This has been a major issue with me, although the whole prayer is a hoax.
One gentleman even went so far as to claim he didn’t really know Warren, but was defending him anyway because of such overly harsh criticism. I suspect there’s more to it than that.
When true followers of Christ really grab hold of the attributes of God, His Holiness; His absolute intolerance and hatred of sin- then they will understand why we must expose the wolves like Warren.
The prayer lifted to ‘Isa’ was very much pre-meditated by Warren. He is no dummy, he knows very well who he was calling out to with that name. In all its subtlety, Warren’s prayer seemed so ‘nice’ and ‘inclusive’ that folks salivated over it. Instead, they should have been going over it with a fine-tooth comb, picking out all the errors and flaws of this universal garbage.
Again, I appreciate your posting this piece from Ingrid.
God bless
1st Corinthians 9:22-23 (Purpose Driven Translation)–I have become all things to all men, that I may not offend any, and we can all just get along with each other; and by so doing, I have become everything to everybody, and nothing to anybody that I may by all means help everyone find their purpose because, doggone-it, God accepts you just the way you are and just wants you to be the best Muslim, best Mormon, best lost person you can be.
Rick Warren, in typical non-offensive and inclusive style, tries to be liked by everyone. The fallacy of that kind of thinking is evident. The radical left still hates him and now he has alienated a significant part of the Christian community.
The radical left still hates him and now he has alienated a significant part of the Christian community.
Spot on accurate, Ralph! But worse still by invoking the name of a demon in his prayer Warren has alienated the One True and Living God who alone is worthy of worship. Warren claims to be a minister of the gospel, but he’s proven himself over and over again to be a spiritual huckster and snake oil salesman of the lowest degree.
God help him and all those he’s leading astray with his non-gospel of nothingness.
Lyn,
Amen and amen to your comment! Warren’s smooth, soft words are pleasing to the ears of the world, and to those within The First Assembly of the Goats and Tares who manifestly represent vast swaths of the broader professing church. The modern day church of Laodicea has done a fine job of producing shallow, weedy false converts who utterly lack spiritual discernment.
In Christ,
CD
2 Peter 2:1-3
But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction.
2 And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed.
3 By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber.
The whole Purpose Driven, Seeker Sensitive, Emergent Movement was summed up by Paul here 2,000 years ago.
I have been following the commentary on this subject since inauguartion day and I have one observation that I have not seen mentioned anywhere. I just wonder if this has bothered anyone else besides me.
In his prayer to our god of our own imaginations, Rick Warren made this startling statement:
“I humbly ask this in the name of THE ONE WHO CHANGED MY LIFE, Yeshua, Isa, Jesus, Jesus (hay-SOOS), 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.”
While we have fixated on the various names of “that ONE,”
we seem to have missed the implication of the statement. Is Rick Warren testifying that “Isa” changed his life? Is he suggesting that a “changed life” in tantamount to regeneration?
There have been several people in my life who have “changed my life” but I would never suggest that those changes equated to salvation. If Rick Warren’s security is in his belief that ISA changed his life, he has a false security in a false god.
EDITOR’S NOTE: How true, Ralph! Rapists and murderers change people’s lives too! CD
Ralph~ I think by claiming to pray to both Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and Isa, the Islamic prophet, and uniting the two, Warren has just made his attempt at prayer null and void. He has joined good with evil, and by doing so, just like in the movie ‘Willie Wonka’…this ‘bad egg’ of a prayer went down the reject shute.
His attempt at unity proves he has no clue who the Jesus Christ is of the bible. Warren longs for acceptance and praises from men, he desires it. In doing so, he brings to mind this passage from the Apostle Paul, “For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ” -Galatians 1:10
I am reminded more and more lately of James 3:17 regarding the list of attributes contained in the true wisdom that comes from God.
This new gospel that is being preached by Warren and others seems to be more about appealing to human universalist values than about the person and salvation of Christ, and following the wisdom of scripture in leading Godly lives afterward.
There is common theme of pseudo religion in Warren’s preaching, and his followers, which is really the old brand of “I’m okay, you’re okay” pop physcology that does not address our sin, or the need to change. It offers acceptance without repentance, and confession without responsibility, just the opposite of what God intends for His people.
This soft gospel pedaled by Warren and peers doesn’t radically change people’s lives, at least as Christ intended – it’s popular exactly because it allows folks to continue in their sin a lot more comfortably.
It’s basically about trying to have our cake and eat it too.
Regarding the radical left I think you guys are missing something. First, If fame and fortune is what he wants then by pushing the “true” Christians away is to his benefit. For example, the ecumenical movement would provide him greater base support which equates to more money, fame, and influence. Also, he is making great in roads to the radical left by visiting Melissa Ethridge who is openly gay and assuring her of God’s love towards all. By doing this he is opening the possibility of being accepted in the Gay Christian Movement.
Also, Obama is pushing for hate crimes legislation and making it a crime to preach against homosexuality. Warren rightly (In mans eyes) made a logical move by meeting with Melissa Ethridge, speaking at Obama’s inaugural, and using the phrase, “And you are loving to everyone you have made.” in his prayer. He is protecting himself from what is coming for You and I.
Warrens prayer has given him a great opportunity for expanding his empire now that a flaming liberal is in the Presidency. From a marketing point of view he is doing the right thing and will be paid handsomely. From a biblical point of view he is setting himself up for eternal damnation.
Never think that what he does is not calculated and with his greatest self interest in mind.
Kyle
To concur with Kyle:
“The business of the world consult their own interest and seek their own benefit, not the benefit of those they deal with. Whoever heard of a worldly businessman doing business for the benefit of those he dealt with? It is always for his own benefit.
Christians are required to act exactly opposite to worldly business principles: “Let no man seek his own, but every man another’s wealth” (1 Corinthians 10:24). They are required to copy the example of Jesus Christ. Did He ever make bargains for His own advantage? Can His followers adopt the principles of the world, which contain in them the seeds of hell?
Conformity to the world is totally inconsistent with the love of God and man. The whole system recognizes only the love of self. Go through all the ranks of businessmen, from the man who sells candy on the sidewalk to the greatest wholesale merchant in the United States, and you will find this maxim–look out for number one. The norm is to do, as far as the rules of honesty will allow, all that will advance your own interest regardless of the interest of others.”
-Charles Finney
Respectfully, I think Warren was simply trying to build a bridge to Muslims. There was nothing sinister about his use of ‘Isa’. He thought he was using the designation for Jesus that Muslims would understand, as with the word “Yeshua’ for Jews.
I sincerely believe Rick Warren desires for people to come to Jesus and be saved. In the PDL he talks about his father urging him, while on his death-bed, to win more souls for Jesus.
I think at worst, his own desire to win people to Christ leads him to do things or say things (eg, ‘Try Jesus for 30 days’) that are a little controversial and provoke the ire of other Christians. But I personally don’t really think he is an apostate or infidel or heretic or heterodox Christian.
He’s our brother in Christ, and Jesus COMMANDED us to love one another and ‘wash one another’s feet,’ not bite and devour one another.
Chris~Please don’t take offense, but, unfortunately, your comment is filled with ‘I think’, ‘I believe’.
It is irrelevant what you or I think and believe, for we are not the final authority, scripture is. That is why we must not stray from it. To pray to ‘Isa’ is to pray to a false god, this ‘Isa’ is the Islam version of their Jesus, who is a prophet, but not the son of their god, Allah. Their god, Allah { a moon god} had no son {this is what their bible, the Qur’an teaches}. They do acknowledge that their Jesus was born to Mary, but again, we cannot say this is the same Jesus and Mary of the bible. This is the subtle deception Satan uses to lure and confuse. Either you believe in Jesus as He is revealed in scripture, or you don’t. To take away or add anything to the teachings on Christ found in the bible is to distort who He is, and make create a false god.
With that said, how can a lost Muslim be drawn to the real Christ through a false one?
We don’t ‘win’ anyone to Christ, God is the only one that can change a dead heart. We proclaim the Gospel to lost sinners; this Gospel holds the power to transform a life {Romans 1:16}.
You claim Rick Warren is a true brother in Christ, yet, Rick Warren has publicly stated that he has no problem with homosexual relationships, as long as they do not marry.
Again, go to the only source of truth we have, God’s word. You will find, in Lev. 18:22, 1 Cor. 6:9,10, and Rev. 21:8, exactly what God speaks about homosexuality. He calls it an abomination, it is abhorring, an offense in the sight of a Holy God. Who is Rick Warren to change what God established from the beginning? Al who continue in this sin will be cast into the lake of fire.
We are called to proclaim the Gospel, not side with sin, as Warren has done. Christ tells us we will know false teachers, believers by their fruit. A bad tree will bear bad fruit; by siding with sin, by compromising, by winking at sin… this type of fruit reveals that the tree is definitely bad.
Please remember, we are not to defend mortal men, we are to defend God’s word. If someone does otherwise, distance yourself from them.
We cannot build a bridge to Muslims using a false Jesus, we can only proclaim God’s truth as recorded in the scriptures and pray He will save lost sinners as the Gospel goes forth.
As for the command to love one another, true believers indeed do love one another. But, false teachers are to be exposed…from Ephesians 5:11-”And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose [them].” There is no brotherly love towards an apostate, just a plea to the Most High God to have mercy on their soul and save them. That is an act of love in itself. No one said anything about hating Warren, just his heretical teaching. That is what many professing Christians need to grasp. The attack is NOT on Warren, it is against what he spews out as ‘gospel’.
Please pray and ask God to help you understand; if a man claims to be a preacher of God’s word, yet does NOT uphold that word, he is no man of God.
A friend led me to this blog and I appreciate the desire for sincere, accurate, Biblical commentary. However, I have a few humble observations…
I have been to the Muslim world several times, worshipped Jesus Christ with former Muslims who were converted Christians on many ocassions, and seen them persecuted harshly for their beliefs. In every instance, these former Muslims who professed Christ as their saviour and had renounced Islam, referred to the Christ of the Bible as Isa. It was simply their word for Jesus. They were referring to the Jesus of the Bible whom they had come to know and love as the true Christ not the false Isa of the Koran.
To insinuate that because they, and Warren, use the word Isa, they are somehow worshipping a false god is an unreasonable stretch. I have also seen genuine, regenerate, believers in the Latin world refer to the Jesus of the Bible as “Hay soos” just as many of what I would consider to be heretical Catholics mired in syncretism do. The usage of the same nomenclature does not concretely indicate referral to the same individual.
Ralph – in every instance of testimony to the regenerating power of Christ in the New testament, was the word “regeneration” used? The woman at the well told other Samaritans to come see this man “who told me everything I had ever done”…while you might argue that she was not yet regenerate, it is clear she was testifying to the power of the Christ. Likewise, I believe Warren was testifying to the power of the risen Christ, who Im sure all of us would agree does indeed change lives.
Bill,
Thanks for your observations.
No one is saying that no Arab Christian ever refers to the Lord Jesus Christ (the real, Biblical God incarnate) as “ISA”, but rather we are affirming that the name “ISA” as invented by and propogated by Islam is an abomination, the name of the Muslim anti-christ, inspired by Satan.
What do you think Arabs called Jesus prior to the existence of the false religion of Islam and the Koranic name ISA? Hint: it wasn’t ISA.
Please take the time to read the snippet pasted below, and then if you are so inclined feel free to read the entire article which I have linked for the edification of the interested DefCon readership.
In Christ,
CD
The following excpert was taken from the article Is ‘Isa the true name of Jesus? by Jochen Katz of Answering Islam.
The traditional Arabic name for Jesus is Yasu’. Until very recent times, all Arab Christians used no other name for Jesus. And even today, that is the name used by more than 99% of all Arab Christians. Just walk into any Arab Christian church, turn on Arabic Christian broadcasting, read Arabic Christian literature written for Christians. You will only find Yasu’, never Esa. Only very recently (perhaps some 25 years ago) some Christians started to use the name Esa in Arabic publications written specifically for Muslims in the hope that they may more easily accept their message if they see the quranic name for Jesus instead of the traditional Christian one.[1] Nevertheless, among themselves, Arab Christians do not use Esa. Abualrub’s statement suggests that Arab Christians commonly use Esa, and that is simply wrong.
Clearly, from the word halleluyah, we know that God’s name is Yahwh. Also, from the following words & names:
1. Yahwhshua, 2. Isayah, 3. Jerimiyah, 4. Eliyahbeth (not Elizabeth), 5. Yahrusalem (the way the Jews today pronounce that city name), 6. Yahoodies (the Hoodies [Jews] who belong to Yahwh), and etc. Since when is YVHV pronounced Jehovah? Rather, YVHV = YaVHV (the “V” is a “W”). We are supposed to get His name correctly every time, not translate it from language-to-language, and Rick Warren’s filthy ecumenicism shows a very important reason why God’s name is not to be mutated from one culture to the next: now we are paying homage to different gods.