One need not accept the Christian teaching of the birth of Christ as the Incarnation in order to share the Christmas message of peace on earth and good will toward men. To that end, The Examiner commends President-elect Barack Obama and Rev. Rick Warren as examples of how to put that message into practical word and deed in the public forum. The occasion for their example is Obama’s invitation to Warren to deliver the opening prayer at the presidential inauguration on Jan. 20. Obama’s invitation and Warren’s acceptance have sparked intense criticism from both ends of the political spectrum, principally centered on the issue of gay marriage. Obama and Warren support the traditional definition of marriage as between a man and a woman. But the two men reached opposite conclusions regarding California’s Proposition 8, with Obama opposing it and Warren supporting it. A majority of California voters approved Proposition 8, which amends the state constitution to reflect the traditional definition of marrage.
The manner in which Obama and Warren have responded to critics in this situation is worthy of emulation. The President-elect has insisted that “it’s important for Americans to come together even though we may disagree on certain social issues.” And he promises an inauguration and associated events representing “a wide range of viewpoints.” True to his word, in addition to Warren, Obama invited Rev. Joseph Lowery, who supports gay marriage, to provide the closing inaugural prayer. “And that’s how it should be, because that’s what America’s about. That’s part of the magic of this country … we are diverse and noisy and opinionated,” Obama added.
For his part, Warren has emphasized his belief that “you don’t have to see eye-to-eye to walk hand-in-hand.” The controversy over the inauguration prayer invitation is not the first time Warren has taken heat for his relationship with Obama. He invited Obama to speak in his church several years ago even though, as a pro-life pastor, he strongly disagreed with the then-Illinois senator’s support of abortion rights. Warren has also taken heat from colleagues in the evangelical community for his emphasis on being open to gays and working to end the AIDS plague here at home and in Africa.
Peace on earth is most encouraged when men maintain good will toward one another even when they have profound disagreements on important issues. That is a lesson worth remembering every day of the year.
