A Different Kind of Preacher

Cal Thomas | Syndicated Columnist | Published: Aug 18, 2008

A Different Kind of Preacher


August 19, 2008

I hope you were able to watch the Civil Forum at Saddleback Church Saturday night. I watched the entire two hours with presidential candidates Barack Obama and John McCain.

While I believe one of them did better than the other, I was especially grateful that Rick Warren was able to put this event together. He says he is friends with both men. This is a departure from those preachers in the past, who seemed only to be friends of republicans.

Warren has said he serves a different kingdom and better king, but this exercise was a contribution to both kingdoms. At a minimum, the forum provided a witness to unbelievers who may have tuned in to hear about politics, but who saw a different kind of Christian than they are used to. Warren asked tough questions, but he left it up to the audience to make up their own minds as to who best represents what Scripture says.

I hope there will be other forums like this. A civil conversation in politics is needed now more than ever.


Cal Thomas is a nationally syndicated columnist based in Washington, D.C.

A Different Kind of Preacher