Today, in his Presidential Inauguration prayer, Rick Warren prayed in the name of “Yeshua”, “Isa” and “Jesus”.
It seems, the three names Warren used were to imply the three “Abrahamic Faiths” (as they are so-called), Judaism, Christianity and Islam.
What’s significant is the name “Isa” being prayed by the “evangelical” Warren. Isa is strictly Koranic and used by Arab Muslims. Even Arab Christians don’t refer to Isa, but to Yesua. I’ve lived and studied Arabic in one of the same Muslim countries that Warren has visited, and I think he probably knows that the Arab Christian communities only refer to Jesus as “Yesua” and not “Isa” as the Muslims.
Isa was not Jewish, but Palistinian. Isa did not die on the cross but instead had someone die in his place. Isa is a Muslim prophet. Isa is only found in the Koran. The name Isa doesn’t have any Biblical support or any meaning found in Biblical scholarship. Yet, Rick prayed in the name of Isa.
Read - Transcript of Rick Warren’s prayer
Watch - Video of Rick Warren’s prayer
Learn - Detailed explanation of ‘Isa’
January 21st, 2009 at 2:31 pm
Tell that Joshua to get a haircut.
January 21st, 2009 at 2:31 pm
Tell like Joshua to like get a like haircut. (free translation)
January 22nd, 2009 at 10:12 am
Written @ - http://charismamag.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=45&t=3615&start=0&st=0&sk=t&sd=a
Indeed, the election of Barack Hussein Obama (44th President) is a “hingepoint” in history. The door has officially swung wide to embrace the New World Order as promised to us by President George H. Bush (41), and as implemented by both President Clinton (42), and President George W. Bush (43).
But what is not commonly known is that Obama and Bush are two sides of the same coin: One is a committed socialist (who seeks to enslave the working class by “spreading the wealth around”), while the other a committed fascist (who recently gave us federalized banking, federalized insurance, and federalized automakers, not to mention federalized airline “security”). So in this sense, the “change” we have been promised is really no change at all.
It is also not commonly known is that neither Bush (43) or Obama are “christian” in the orthodox sense of the word: Credible reports indicate Obama was likely born in Kenya and schooled as a Muslim in Indonesia; he has yet to produce an original, official birth certificate identifying him as a U.S. citizen. His discredited pastor of 20 years preaches “Black Liberation Theology” which actually denies spiritual “equality” by painting whites as responsible for all black suffering in the world (what of black Muslims mass-murdering other black Muslims?)
Bush, on the other hand, states that he believes all paths lead to “God,” and that prayers to Allah and Yahweh are the same. This, of course, is impossible, since the Qu’ran clearly states that “Allah has no son,” while by contrast, Christian salvation is based in John 3:16, which clearly states that “God gave his only begotten Son….”
Furthermore, the Qu’ran commands the extermination of Jews and Christians, and labels as “infidels” all who will not submit to Allah. The Bible, however, reveals God’s future plan for both Jews and Christians, and forbids the murder of anyone. In fact, God’s Word declares that he desires salvation and eternal life for all of humanity, and is “longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9.
Clearly, Allah and Yahweh cannot be the same!
In what should have been a shocking wake-up call to evangelicals, Bush 43 also admitted he did not believe the Bible was the only, exclusive, divinely inspired Word of God, and believes that it contains error.
Now, at B. Hussein Obama’s inauguration, “America’s Pastor” Rick Warren prays in the name of “Yeshua”, “Isa” and “Jesus” — which Daniel Cordell at “loveforthetruth.com” points out is a problem. He writes,
“What’s significant is the name ‘Isa’ being prayed by the ‘evangelical’ Warren. Isa is strictly Koranic and used by Arab Muslims. Even Arab Christians don’t refer to Isa, but to Yesua…Isa was not Jewish, but Palistinian. Isa did not die on the cross but instead had someone die in his place. Isa is a Muslim prophet…yet, Rick prayed in the name of Isa.”
How can a leading evangelical be so blind as to pray in the name of a false christ? Such a prayer, in fact, is not only heretical, but an abomination before the One who “gave his only begotten son….”
Yes indeed, Obama’s “coronation” is a hingepoint in history—the election of a man whose pro-abortion doctrines are the bloodiest on record in the history of our nation, and whose flagrant pro-homosexual support and “celebration” is unrivaled since the fall of the Roman empire. These signs of the times indicate a change has come, for certain. B. Hussein Obama’s open embrace of a culture that is both pro-death and pro-perversity indicates that America is now “one nation…under the gods of self, sex, and socialism.”
“If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?” (Psalm 11:3). God’s Word has the answer: “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?” (2 Corinthians 6:14). “And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them…redeeming the time, because the days are evil” (Ephesians 5:11, 16).
January 22nd, 2009 at 10:13 am
I didn’t write the above, just copied and pasted it with permission.
January 23rd, 2009 at 11:49 am
Thank you for pointing out the problems with this heretical prayer.
I would also like your thoughts on the fact that he used the phrase “You are the compassionate, merciful one,” which is a reference to the invocation at the beginning of every chapter of the Qur’an except one.
http://www.jihadwatch.org/archives/024478.php
January 23rd, 2009 at 7:59 pm
A young, born-again-Christian friend of mine who spent several months last year studying in Turkey tells me that most of the Turkish believers he met there use the Arabic word “Isa” when referring to Jesus. Perhaps the statement, “Even Arab Christians don’t refer to Isa, but to Yesua,” is much-too-general. Why Rick Warren used “Isa” is, of course, speculation at best without a statement from him revealing his motives. I am not one of Warren’s adherents, nor do I approve of what I know about his methods. But the fact not a little speculation was voiced concerning whether or not he would pray in the Name of Jesus gave me leave to be pleased when he did. The Apostle Paul rejoiced when Christ was preached even in pretense (Philippians 1:18). We should do the same!!!
January 23rd, 2009 at 10:42 pm
Mr. Cordell, In all kindness, this information is not accurate. This morning, I called a returned missionary to Lebanon and asked “what do Arabic Christians call Jesus?” and he immediately replied “Isa.”
According to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isa_(name), the name Isa is used to refer to Jesus in the Arabic Bible.
January 23rd, 2009 at 10:44 pm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isa_(name) is the correct link.
In his inauguration prayer, Rick Warren announced the name of Jesus to the millions of Arabs watching the ceremony.
Differ with Warren on many issues, but on this issue, Warren held high the name of Jesus.
January 29th, 2009 at 11:42 pm
I appreciate the clarification from John Killian above. It does seem that there must at least be some variance across the Muslim world regarding this subject. I’d like to bring a little perspective from the Muslim world of Southeast Asia, and post here what I’ve already posted at a couple of other sites that are discussing this same issue:
I certainly do not support Rick Warren. I read and appreciated the excellent book, “Deceived on Purpose” by Warren Smith, exposing Rick Warren’s New Age leanings. Having said this, though, I hesitate to assail him for his use of the name “Isa” in his prayer.
I lived in Malaysia, a Muslim country, for six years, and “Isa” is the one and only word in the Malay language used to refer to Jesus. This word was borrowed from Arabic hundreds of years ago, and has long been a mainstay in the Malay language. The handful of former Muslims I had the privilege to know, who are now genuine followers of Christ, continue to use “Isa” to refer to Christ. Their understanding of who He is, of course, has dramatically changed, and they affirm with conviction that He is God and the Son of God.
In my interactions with Muslims there (speaking in the Malay language), I did use “Isa” to refer to Christ. With many of my friends, quite honestly, I would have received a blank look had I attempted to use the English name “Jesus” or any other alternative to “Isa.” [Any other alternative would have involved the use of a language foreign to them. Many of my friends there did not speak English.]
Question #1: Should the Malay believers in Malaysia (still a small number, by the way) introduce a new term for Christ other than “Isa”?
Question #2: Isn’t it true that many Americans also have misconceptions about who Jesus is? As we share our faith, is it not our responsibility to help clear these up, and to share who Jesus is according to Scripture?
P.S. I have very little knowledge regarding whether or not Arabic Christians use the name “Isa” to refer to Jesus. I only know that Malay speaking believers in Malaysia and Indonesia do. Incidentally, they also refer to God as “Allah.” The only other alternative in the Malay language (which is spoken in Malaysia and Indonesia) for God is “Tuhan.” However, “Tuhan” often denotes “Lord” when coupled together with a reference to “God.” So, for example, “Allah Tuhan” = “Lord God” in numerous Scripture texts in the Malay-language Bible.
P.P.S. While there aren’t yet very many Malay believers in Malaysia, there is a very significant number of Malay-speaking believers in Indonesia. Unless my reasoning is flawed (and it certainly could be), it seems to me that if Rick Warren is preaching another Jesus because he prayed in the name of “Isa,” then more than 10 million believers in Indonesia are guilty of the same.
January 29th, 2009 at 11:43 pm
I need to make one small correction to my post above. There are a limited number of people in Malaysia and Indonesia who would understand if I referred to Jesus as “Jesus Christus” (Portuguese pronunciation). This is true because the Portuguese once colonized the region many decades ago. However, I quickly gave up trying to use that phrase when I lived there because, as I said, I received so many blank stares and it created a significant language barrier. New Malay believers would likely encounter the same language (and cultural) barrier if they tried to share their faith with Muslim family members, while using “Jesus Christus” rather than “Isa.”