MOVING FORWARD - pastor mike landry

The inauguration of President Barack Obama was historic and remarkable. It highlights not only the fulfillment of Martin Luther King's dream but demonstrates our national commitment to the truth that, before God, all men are created equal. The bar has now been raised and Americans believe, as never before, that even our highest national office, the Presidency, can be pursued and obtained by anyone, regardless of color. That is worth celebrating!

Another highly visible moment during the inauguration was when Rick Warren offered the invocation. Amidst the controversy of President Obama's choice of Rick Warren was the discussion by many over whether he would pray in the name of Jesus. He did, and did so in many languages. Was that being intolerant? Was that being exclusive? Was he being divisive? Was it unpatriotic? I don't think so. Let me explain.

Our pluralistic society is composed of people of many faiths. But the freedoms insured by our Constitution enable people to exercise their faith without restriction from the state. Tolerance should never require the adjustment of religious convictions nor the personal embrace of another belief system. In other words, it is unconstitutional to require or even expect a person of faith to compromise their faith and mandate that they use a more generic name for their God.

Rick Warren is an American citizen who was asked to pray during the inauguration of President Obama. I would expect and hope that Rick Warren, and any other Christian who is asked to pray, would pray in the name of Jesus, as their faith prescibes. If someone of another faith is asked to pray I would expect them to pray to their God by the name they have been taught to address him with. I may not agree nor believe in the God they follow, but constitutionally, they have every right to do so, and it would be wrong to expect them to embrace my faith and use another more generic name for God just because I am listening in.

We should celebrate that fact that we live in a nation where anyone can call on their God by name without reprisal. Intolerance, by definition, is demonstrated not by the one who prays in the name of their God, but rather, by the one who would expect a man or woman to change the name of their God to generically include all faiths.