This is a comment from Pastor Warren about the article:
“I deeply love my Muslim neighbors but this article contains multiple errors – factually and theologically that neither our dear friends in the Muslim Community nor the Christians at Saddleback Church would agree with.”
I'm always amazed at how fast people charge into these conversations with their fists up and expecting to find glory by beating up other ministries. We should never besmirch the ministry or name of a person based on poor information. Though I appreciate Pastor Warren's ministry, and believe it is Gospel centered, there are things that I don't necessarily agree with (which hopefully doesn't make me a mindless sycophant.) But here, shouldn't we give him the benefit of the doubt and await his reply before tearing down his ministry.
Right now our church is reaching out to the growing Muslim population in our region. I attend multiple interfaith conversations because they are important and we need to have them. We take groups of our people and go on a city wide tour of various places of worship (syangogue, Mosque, Hindu temple, etc) to expose our people to the various religions in our backyard. We then take the second step and equip them with how to lovingly respond to those outside of Christianity. Our next door neighbors are Muslim and we have eaten with them, enjoyed time with them, and even cut their grass while they're out of town. Too many believers think we can just hole up and pray for the rapture without actually engaging those outside the church. It is leading to our ruin.
Listen, I don't know everything about Saddleback's efforts or even what went on at this interfaith meeting. It isn't my place to savagely comment based on a less than charitable peice in a secular media source. Perhaps we can all step back and take a deep breath.
