An Inaugural Prayer of Invocation
Thanks to YouTube I'm able to hear and watch an event I've been waiting for, one that I couldn't watch live.
I have already posted Joseph Lowery's prophetic benediction and Barack Obama's address. But I wanted to hear what Rick Warren would pray (see below).
My thoughts. It wasn't a bad prayer. It was evangelical in tone -- that is it was informal in its address. It wasn't eloquent or dynamic, but that's not really Warren's style. He's kind of down home. Yes, it called on the name of Jesus, but he did so in a way that reflected his faith and in doing so he did invite others to address God in their own way. He quoted from the Shema and from words of Muslim prayer.
It was, as Fuller Seminary President Richard Mouw suggested, about as "inclusive a prayer as an evangelical can give."
So, not a bad prayer after all. As one Rabbi noted, it was inclusive, even though it was also a bit exclusive. I think there was a place for him. It might have lengthened the day, just a bit, but a prayer by a Rabbi, a prayer by an Imam, a prayer by Buddhist Monk, would have expanded that sentiment. But that's for tomorrow.
Later in his own address, Obama spoke to our religious diversity.
I struggle with civic prayers -- such as these. I know that if I'm praying in such a situation, in my heart I pray to the God I serve, but I also know that others praying me may pray with a different subject in mind (I was going to say object, but God is no object). I'm sure we will continue the debate, but America is a religious land and so prayer will likely continue to have its place. But the important thing is that we learn to respect one anothers expression of faith (or the choice not to believe).
For more on this click here.
I have already posted Joseph Lowery's prophetic benediction and Barack Obama's address. But I wanted to hear what Rick Warren would pray (see below).
My thoughts. It wasn't a bad prayer. It was evangelical in tone -- that is it was informal in its address. It wasn't eloquent or dynamic, but that's not really Warren's style. He's kind of down home. Yes, it called on the name of Jesus, but he did so in a way that reflected his faith and in doing so he did invite others to address God in their own way. He quoted from the Shema and from words of Muslim prayer.
It was, as Fuller Seminary President Richard Mouw suggested, about as "inclusive a prayer as an evangelical can give."
So, not a bad prayer after all. As one Rabbi noted, it was inclusive, even though it was also a bit exclusive. I think there was a place for him. It might have lengthened the day, just a bit, but a prayer by a Rabbi, a prayer by an Imam, a prayer by Buddhist Monk, would have expanded that sentiment. But that's for tomorrow.
Later in his own address, Obama spoke to our religious diversity.
I struggle with civic prayers -- such as these. I know that if I'm praying in such a situation, in my heart I pray to the God I serve, but I also know that others praying me may pray with a different subject in mind (I was going to say object, but God is no object). I'm sure we will continue the debate, but America is a religious land and so prayer will likely continue to have its place. But the important thing is that we learn to respect one anothers expression of faith (or the choice not to believe).
For more on this click here.
Comments