If you haven’t heard about it, Rick Warren has stirred up a hornet’s next over comments he may or may not have made in Syria. You can read about it here, and also check Warren’s blog for the “official” response.

To give you the short version of this Warren is alleged to have praised Syria and it’s thug president during a visit there. He denied it, said the Syrian press had distorted his comments, and then a video of him saying some of that appeared briefly on You Tube (the video has been taken down.).

I just hate it when things like this happen, and it’s not like Warren is the first high profile Pastor or leader has done this sort of thing. Billy Graham did much the same thing in a visit to the Soviet Union in 1982.

I’m not going to argue the issue of what Warren said or didn’t say here. I wasn’t there, don’t know, and ultimately don’t care. My view of Syria isn’t going to be changed one iota by what Rick Warren may or may not think.

Long time readers of this blog know I’m a believer in the basic Purpose Driven idea, and strive to keep the purposes balanced in my life and church. I respect Rick and owe him and his ministry a great deal, as it revitalized my ministry and preaching over the last few years.

But that doesn’t mean I just swallow everything he says either! There’s no one I respect more than Billy Graham, but thought he was horribly wrong in the 80’s when he said that about the Soviet’s, just I regretted much of what he said about Bill Clinton during the Monica scandal.

The real problem seems to be high profile, celebrity Christians if you will, seem to forget their calling and when they do always end up in trouble.

Neither Warren or Graham are diplomats, and ought to keep that firmly in mind. Dr. Dobson, Jerry Falwell, etc. aren’t politicians and ought to keep that in mind as well.

It’s a little surprising that Rick Warren of all people seems to have gotten off purpose isn’t it? I’m sure he sees these trips and talks with world leaders as a change to spread the Gospel, but look how it’s turned out.

Thinking about this I was reminded of the words of the Apostle Paul to the Corinthians. I freely admit Paul is talking about something different than I am, so I’m lifting this from it’s original context. I do so not to twist the Scriptures, but to say that Paul has a good point here.

Nevertheless, each one should retain the place in life that the Lord assigned to him and to which God has called him. This is the rule I lay down in all the churches. Was a man already circumcised when he was called? He should not become uncircumcised. Was a man uncircumcised when he was called? He should not be circumcised. Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing. Keeping God’s commands is what counts. Each one should remain in the situation which he was in when God called him. Were you a slave when you were called? Don’t let it trouble you–although if you can gain your freedom, do so. 1 Corinthians 7:17-21 (NIV)

Perhaps all of us ought to remind ourselves of gifts and callings that God has given us, and then try and stick to what He created us to do. Again in a different context, hear the words of the Apostle Paul: for God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable. Romans 11:29 (NIV)

I am weary to death of celebrities of all stripes and kinds, and especially Christian ones. As believers we ought to forsake the celebrity worship that obsesses and possesses our culture.

Let’s get back to doing what God has called us to do – and stay focused on that!