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Leaders of the church in America are signaling its decline into apostasy. Compromise is the word of the day as it is disguised in words such as "civility" and "common ground for the common good." In fact, some of America's most popular Christian leaders are leading many Christians down the road toward accepting everyone's views even if they personally disagree to arrive at an agreeable solution-which compromises God's word in the long run. Here are two statements. They were made by men who are considered Christian leaders of the evangelical community-the community that says it evangelizes the word of God.
Here is the first one made December 2: "I'm shifting, I have to admit. In other words, I would willingly say I believe in civil unions. I don't officially support redefining marriage from its traditional definition, I don't think." And the second is much similar made December 21st: "I am not opposed to gays having their partnerships. I'm opposed to gays using the term marriage for their relationship." The first statement was made by National Association of Evangelicals Vice President Richard Cizik. Cizik promptly lost his job for essentially endorsing homosexuality. In announcing his removal, NAE president Leith Anderson said that despite apologies by Cizik, his credibility was irreparably damaged.
The second statement was made by Rick Warren, pastor of Saddleback Church. Warren, through a video posted on the Saddleback website, said that he believes the Bible teaches that God created sex exclusively for marriage between a man and a woman. Yet he said in the same context that he was not opposed to gays having their partnerships so long as they didn't try to redefine the definition of marriage. He goes on to say that he favors gays being beneficiaries of health rights and having hospital next of kin visiting rights. He touted that California has the strongest gay partnership rights in America. In other words, Rick Warren's position is the same, if not stronger for homosexuality than that of Richard Cizik.
Warren justifies his position saying that "We have to stand up for two things: the Good News and the common good." He sees a world of civility-one of "unity without uniformity." Where Richard Cizik lost his job over endorsing homosexual partnerships without redefining marriage, Rick Warren is doing the very same. Compromising the word of God in the interest of civility and unity is akin to heresy. Hebrews 4:12 says, "For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." Like Cizik, Warren no longer should have credibility among evangelicals.
