Obama at Saddleback

UPDATE: If you're looking for the story about Obama's 2008 scheduled appearance at Saddleback Church, that story is here.

The media is making a big deal of Barack Obama's scheduled appearance at Saddleback Church this Friday:

IN THE latest sign that the “God gap” between Republicans and Democrats is narrowing, one of America’s biggest evangelical churches will this week welcome Senator Barack Obama, the rising African-American star of the Democratic party who has become a leading contender for the 2008 presidential elections.

Obama will appear on Friday at the Saddleback church in Lake Forest, California, where at least 20,000 conservative Christians gather each week for services led by Pastor Rick Warren, the evangelical author of the bestselling inspirational book The Purpose Driven Life.

At first glance Warren and Obama appear the unlikeliest of allies — the conservative white preacher and the liberal black Democrat — yet aides to both confirmed last week that they have formed an intriguing friendship that may prove a key element in the next presidential campaign.

Although the media would love to see an endorsement of Obama's politics from a prominent evangelical, don't look for it this week. Obama isn't speaking to Saddleback Church, but to an AID conference being hosted by Saddleback Church. There is a difference.

There will be many speakers involved in the fight against AIDS that do now have anything to do with evangelical churches or their politics. AIDS has become an important issue to Rick and Kay Warren after Kay's visit to Africa a few years ago. This 2nd annual conference is part of that effort, and it would be a mistake to try and make more out of it and the appearance of the media's new darling Obama than that.

I will make one prediction: Rick Warren is a hugger, and either when Obama is first introduced, or when he leaves the stage after his remarks, Warren will plant one on him. Look for that photo, with accompanying misleading caption, in the media this weekend.

UPDATE: Warren defends his invitation to Obama:

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Famed pastor and best-selling author Rick Warren on Wednesday defended his invitation to Sen. Barack Obama to speak at his church despite objections from some evangelicals who oppose the Democrat's support for abortion rights.

Obama is one of nearly 60 speakers scheduled to address the second annual Global Summit on AIDS and the Church beginning Thursday at Warren's Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, Calif.

Obama, who is mulling a run for president, plans to take an HIV test during his appearance Friday and encourage others to do the same. The Illinois Democrat will be joined by a potential 2008 White House rival -- Republican Sen. Sam Brownback of Kansas -- and is urging unity to fight AIDS despite differences on other issues.

UPDATE2: More info from Saddleback's weekly note:

Thursday and Friday, The Global Summit on AIDS & the Church will take place on our campus. This is an international summit between world leaders who are fighting AIDS and pastors. Leaders from churches, denominations, health, NGOs, Christian organizations, governments, businesses, and entertainment will meet together to discuss how they can work with churches to end AIDS. Most AIDS conferences never invite or involve church leaders, so this will be a unique experience. Participants at the summit will include Republicans and Democrats, Christians and non-Christians, pastors, business leaders, and leaders from around the world.

The following disclaimer was printed at the front of the Summit syllabus: "We do not endorse everything every speaker might say. With nearly 60 speakers representing different backgrounds and expertise, you'll undoubtedly hear statements you disagree with. We will too. Each speaker represents himself or herself, not Saddleback Church or the Purpose Driven Network."

Participants will hear messages from First Lady Laura Bush, Sen. Bill Frist, Sen. Sam Brownback, Franklin Graham, the President of World Vision, the President of World Relief, the President of Compassion, notable pastors, and about 30 other speakers who are fighting AIDS in some way. Also speaking will be Dr. Robert Redfield, the renowned physician and devout Christian who discovered AIDS transmission heterosexually, and Dr. Ted Green, the Harvard professor who did the landmark studies on abstinence and faithfulness to one's spouse as the best prevention against AIDS. Video messages by Bill and Melinda Gates and Bono will also be heard.

Kay and I will speak four times - including: "How God Got Our Attention", "C.H.U.R.C.H.-Six Ways Every Church Can Show the Love of Jesus to Those with AIDS", "The PEACE Plan for Churches", and "Because Of Love." Rick Warren will share what it will take to S.T.O.P. the pandemic: S-Save sex for marriage, T-Train men to treat women & children with respect, O-Offer treatment through churches, P-Pledge yourself to one partner for life.

Of course we expect criticism of the summit. Jesus loved and accepted others without approving of everything they did. That's our position too, but it upsets a lot of people, so we get attacked from both sides. We've already heard criticism from Democrats because of our 4 Republican speakers and from Republicans because of our 1 Democrat speaker! With all the media attention, pray that criticism will be muted and love will win out.

Unfortunately, our civilization is losing its civility. Rudeness rules today. People feel no shame in demonizing and demeaning those who believe differently today. But Jesus taught that is not what Christians are to do. We are commanded to "Show proper respect to everyone." (1 Peter 2:17) This doesn't mean you water down your convictions. Not at all! It means treating others with dignity even when you completely disagree with them. This summit will put people together who normally won't even speak to each other. But if you can only work with folks you completely agree with, you've ruled out most of the world.