Emerging From The Dark, Blinking: The Purpose-Driven Blog

A cave. That's what I've been living in for weeks now. How else to explain my complete surprise at seeing John McCain and Barack Obama being interviewed last night on CNN and FoxNews, you know, BIG CABLE, by an evangelical pastor, I mean, "mega-pastor?"

All I've read of pastor Rick Warren's book, The Purpose-Driven Church, is the title. I've heard him speak for all of two minutes on the telly. I don't know a thing about him other than that he is the founder of what seemed to me a new evangelical fad. His book, and the para-church programs born of it, struck me -- and I admit I'm being superficial here -- as more of the same kitsch and gimmickry to which evangelicalism seems particularly prone. When I think of Rick Warren, I unfairly think of the Prayer of Jabez, bobble-head Jesus dolls and WWJD shoe laces. And I am always prone to cynical mutterings, like, "What about the Jesus-driven Church?" or the more philosophical "What about the Church-driven Church?" or, in light of certain prayer techniques, "What about the Prayer of our Lord?" But such questions get you nowhere; and they will certainly never get you the sort of broader cultural approval one can get standing between two presidential candidates.

I have not yet watched the "debate" or interview from Saddleback Church. I recorded it for later digestion; it's comfortably sealed in digital Tupperware just waiting for me to plunge in and get my fill. Of course, not having yet watched it, I will hold my tongue on its merits.

But last night, as I flipped over the news channels carrying the debate, I could not help ask the rather profane question, "Who the hell is Rick Warren?" Now don't get me wrong; this is more confession than polemic, so please know that I don't think the question a particularly thoughtful, moral or proper one. I would rather ask, if I was not prone to profanation, how it is that Rick Warren has climbed such heights that he is able to play James Lipton or Sir David Frost to two of the nation's most important men, historically and politically speaking. How does this happen? Yes, yes. I know that Mr. Warren's story is quite amazing; it is inspiring to learn of his many achievements and great generosity: his Wikipedia entry informs us that he "reverse tithes" at his church: due to the overwhelming success of his book, Mr. Warren has returned all of his many years' salary and gives 90 percent of his earnings to his church, leaving himself 10 percent on which to live. That is a decent and inspiring thing to do (and that is one fine book).

Part of me, the really cynical, jaded, fallen, and ineluctably corrupted part of me, believes that Mr. Warren was just using his platform to introduce his preferred candidate, Barack Obama, to a broader evangelical audience. Cover for this motive, of course, was to involve Mr. McCain. Besides, having both men appear gives the event the necessary gravitas to garner broad media attention. (One telling irony is that Charles Krauthammer said after the event that it was perhaps the best sort of political debate he had ever seen; if it is, what does that say about BIG MEDIA, who usually host these big-ticket political events?) But, I admit, this is me only guessing.

I admit my cynicism is utterly unjustified, though I know two things: there is a push on in the Obama campaign to truly secure the evangelical vote (and he appears to have it, according to polls), and Mr. Obama has appeared at a forum at Mr. Warren's church before -- sans McCain -- all to great applause and approval (and no small controversy).

But enough. I must simply stop, wait, listen, learn. Besides. I am late for church.

Peace.

©Bill Gnade 2008/Contratimes. All Rights Reserved.