Let me begin by saying that the purpose of this post is not to pick apart Rick Warrens Inaugural Prayer. There are plenty of places in the blogosphere where these conversations are being held. I invite you to seek them out and post as many comments as you wish.
I would, however, like to focus attention upon one specific word used by Warren:
“I humbly ask this in the name of the one who changed my life, Yeshua, Isa, Jesus, Jesus (hay-SOOS)…”
A fair amount of debate and controversy has arisen over Rick Warren’s use of the word “Isa.” Isa, his critics claim, is a name (from the Qur’an) used for Jesus by Arab Muslims. Arab Christians, on the other hand, widely use the name Yasu’ for Jesus. Isa, a prophet, was not God-incarnate nor was he the son of God. He was neither crucified nor was he raised from the dead. Isa is not the Jesus of the Bible.
This is a problem.
By praying in the name of Isa, Warren has incorporated a Muslim concept of Jesus into a Christian prayer. Muslims have been allowed to define terms as they see fit while the Biblical truth of the nature of Jesus Christ has been lost in translation.
For the Jesus of the Bible is the son of God, fully human and fully divine. He was crucified and raised again, so that sins might be forgiven.
Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. (Hebrews 10:19-20, ESV)
It is only by the blood of Jesus that Rick Warren and other Believers might approach a most holy God with their prayers and petitions.
Jesus, Yasu’. Not Isa.
Now seems to be a very appropriate time for me to point out that I am not an expert on this topic. If you have further insight to offer on either side if this issue, please include it in the comments below. Please also note any helpful resources you may stumble across.
