Contact: Troy Newman, President, 316-841-1700; Cheryl Sullenger, Senior Policy Advisor, 316-516-3034; both with Operation Rescue, info@operationrescue.org

WASHINGTON, Dec. 19 /Christian Newswire/ -- Operation Rescue issues the following statement, attributable to Troy Newman, regarding Rick Warren's role in the upcoming Obama inaugural ceremonies:

Yesterday, Pastor Rick Warren issued a statement attempting to excuse his act of support for Mr. Obama, an ardent supporter of abortion, by saying, "The Bible admonishes us to pray for our leaders." However, Pastor Warren's participation in Obama's Inauguration is tantamount to placing his stamp of approval on Obama and his policies that stand in direct opposition to Biblical truths.

The Bible clearly states in Ephesians 5:11 that as Christians we should have "nothing to do with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them."

Barack Obama not only supports the grievous sin of abortion, but has vowed to promote, subsidize, and protect it. The hands that shed innocent blood are among the things God particularly detests. As a minister of the Gospel, it is a betrayal of innocent children and, more importantly, betrayal of the God in whose image they are created to turn a blind eye to the shedding of innocent blood and join hands with those that are responsible for shedding it.

Instead of lending support to a man who clearly stands in opposition to God's Law on the critical matter of child-killing, we fervently urge Pastor Warren to instead follow the examples of godly men who, throughout the Scriptures, boldly proclaimed God's truth and exposed the sin of leaders in order to protect the people from that sin.

Just as Elijah rebuked King Ahab and John the Baptist rebuked King Herod, we urge Pastor Warren to have nothing to do with Mr. Obama's administration, but rather, expose him and his sin to the world, so there might be repentance.

It is possible for Pastor Warren to pray for our leaders without giving his blessing to Mr. Obama's administration with his participation in his Inaugural ceremonies. We urge Pastor Warren to, for the love of God, honor Jesus Christ instead of taking honor for himself, and decline to participate in Mr. Obama's Inauguration.
 
About Operation Rescue®
Operation Rescue is one of the leading pro-life Christian activist organizations in the nation.  Operation Rescue recently made headlines when it bought and closed an abortion clinic in Wichita, Kansas and has become the voice of the pro-life activist movement in America.  Its activities are on the cutting edge of the abortion issue, taking direct action to restore legal personhood to the pre-born and stop abortion in obedience to biblical mandates.