Very recently, two significant statements were made regarding the controversial King’s Way Islamic partnership from Saddleback Church. First, Pastor Rick Warren denied ever launching the Islamic partnership, blaming it all on a few members who simply gathered to talk about it in a Bible study without consulting him or his staff.  We submit that “Rick Warren Falls off his High Horse Again…”  A brief history of the confusing world of Rick Warren and a lack of integrity.

Pastor Warren even denied what other Saddleback leaders told the local newspaper two weeks ago: That yes, King’s Way was indeed an official church ministry, and that of course, their boss Rick Warren did indeed know and approve of the partnership.

Dr. Warren also painted those who reported the story and questioned him as “hateful bloggers.” You can read Pastor Warren’s statement to his members this weekend here. 

Rick Warrens Denials Examined Play Audio Here 

The second statement  also published this weekend comes via the reporter of the Orange County Register. Jim Hinch first did that feature article about the King’s Way story, not realizing at the time that his positive piece would instantly throw out red flags to those who were concerned about the way the church seemed to be stating that Christians and Muslims worship the same God, and that both sides agreed not to witness to each other in the King’s Way initiative.

Today we’re opening the conversation to many who have been following the controversial pastor and these developments, including blogger Steve McConkey. You’ve seen his articles about Rick Warren on Christian Newswire,  and he also is the founder of  BigWorldWatch.com, a site dedicated to making Christians aware of the faith news from around the world that affects us all.

Rick Warren’s Letter to Church comes as Reporter Releases Second Article  

King’s Way? What King’s Way?

What partnership with Saddleback pastors? Nothing to see here. After all, pastor Rick Warren put this all to bed with his statement this weekend that there was NO King’s Way document, and NO King’s Way involvement with any Saddleback pastors. Right?

But Emperor, the internet holds up a different mirror. One that keeps records and reveals in full-length digital wide-screen display of embarrassing, buck naked evidence to the contrary.

First, there’s this sole-survivor photo, the only one that hasn’t been rounded up and exterminated — at least not before those “hateful bloggers” screen-captured and preserved it. Oops…What’s this official King’s Way information on the jumbo-tron?

And who are those two people? On the right is Saddleback Pastor Abraham Meulenberg. On the left is Jihad Turk, the Director of Religious Affairs of the Islamic Center of Southern California.  On February 22, Turk blogged about King’s Way and his relationship through the Saddleback partnership (which Rick Warren now denies), and the full awareness and partnership with Saddleback pastors (which Warren also denies). I’ve highlighted some of his words in red:

The Islamic Center of Southern California, Saddleback Church, and Our Friendship 

By Jihad Turk posted on Feb. 22 http://blog.icsconline.org/

When I was approached almost two years ago by Saddleback pastor Abraham Meulenberg who expressed interest in exploring ways that we can bring our communities together in friendship, I welcomed the initiative. In this time of great fear, mistrust, and ignorance, I perceive an important and transformative potential in bringing together our communities of faith, distinctive as they are in certain respects, to both bridge the gap of understanding by getting to know one another, and to become friends working together in an expression of our shared values. Many people, both Muslim and Christian, misunderstand why a religion such as Islam, which makes exclusive truth claims about the nature of God (i.e. that God is One, the Creator of all things and the Lord of Abraham, Ishmael, Issac, and of all humanity), prophet-hood (i.e. that Moses, Jesus, and Muhammad, may God bless them, are all Divinely inspired human beings), and revelation (i.e. that the Qur’an is the final Divinely inspired scripture confirming in essence the Torah and Gospels) would engage in interfaith relations in general and with Saddleback Church in particular. Some view our community with an eye of suspicion assuming that Muslims are focused upon world domination, the imposition of Shari’ah upon others, and the conversion of all of humanity to Islam.  The truth of the matter is different. Let me explain our theology.

Firstly, we believe that it is God’s will that there be diversity, both in our physical beings as well as in our beliefs and that all human beings were endowed with dignity by God Almighty.

Secondly, we believe that it is an affront to faith and contrary to God’s commandments to try to impose belief on anyone, for true faith comes through a direct relationship with God.

Thirdly and consequently, our role as Muslims is nothing more than to convey the truth about the Islamic religion (through both word and deed) and to work for the shared values of justice, compassion, freedom, and truth.

So, over the past couple of years, Saddleback Church through King’s Way has participated in a number of events with several local Muslim communities. I was invited to give a presentation at Saddleback Church alongside pastor Meulenberg.  You might have read reports that our friends at Saddleback Church have been under attack for their friendship with Muslims. Some of what has been reported is incorrect, namely, that a discussion paper drafted in preparation for a presentation at one of our gatherings was reported as an attempt to create a partnership for a new religion. Of course this is completely false.  Muslims and Christians have significant theological differences but we love our friends at Saddleback and they love us. We do not gloss over our differences. We simply do not allow our differences to prevent mutual respect. So we listen to each other and we value our friendship in spite of our different beliefs.

As Muslims, we know what it is like to face false accusations and irresponsible attacks by people who refuse to accept the facts. So we appreciate Saddleback’s desire to continue our friendship and love us in spite of lies and vicious attacks by others. Islam and Christianity are both monotheistic faiths. We understand that we each respectively are commanded to both love God and love our neighbors. Our communities are committed to becoming friends, building peace, and serving the world together.

If you would like to read Saddleback Church’s position on our relationship, click here . (Never mind; Saddleback has erased this statement and substituted its denial statement.)

More on this by Stand Up For The Truth, banner on everypage.

 

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