Moral Decline

Rick Warren's prayer at the upcoming inauguration of Barack Obama is already most possibly the most anticipated prayer in American history. His choice has generated tremendous controversy on both sides of the political spectrum, and when he takes the podium to pray there is one word that people will be listening for more than any other: Jesus.

At the swearing in of George W. Bush in 2001, Franklin Graham and Kirbyjon Caldwell were both severely criticized for using the name of Jesus.

Now liberal activists will be ready to pounce on Warren if he does try to use that name, and conservative Christians will be ready to pounce on Warren if he does not use it.

When Warren was directly asked about this, he simply told the Associated Press this: "I'm a Christian pastor so I will pray the only kind of prayer I know how to pray."

Meanwhile, Rick Warren has complimented Barack Obama for inviting openly gay Episcopal Bishop V. Gene Robinson to pray at the inaugural kick off event on Sunday.

“President-elect Obama has again demonstrated his genuine commitment to bringing all Americans of goodwill together in search of common ground," Warren wrote in a statement that was quoted in Christianity Today.

Bishop Robinson, however, does not feel the same warm feelings for Rick Warren.

Bishop Robinson recently described his feelings this way to The New York Times: “we’re talking about putting someone up front and center at what will be the most watched inauguration in history, and asking his blessing on the nation. And the God that he’s praying to is not the God that I know.”

So will Bishop Robinson use the name of Jesus in his prayer? It does not sound likely.....

"While that is a holy and sacred text to me, it is not for many Americans," Robinson explained to the Concord Monitor. "I will be careful not to be especially Christian in my prayer. This is a prayer for the whole nation."

It will certainly be a very intriguing inauguration that is for sure.

How ironic is it that at one of the biggest celebrations in American history that some of the most highly anticipated moments are going to be the times of prayer?

Let's wait and see what happens - this is going to be interesting.