Politics and religion do indeed make strange bedfellows. How an evangelical can associate himself with the most pro-abortion, pro-gay President n our history is beyond me. I'm disappointed in Giglio. I knew him when he got his start as a nobody at Baylor University. My, how the mighty have fallen. .

Please Mr. Collins, do no assume that all believers share your views on what makes "strange bedfellows". I am continually amazed at the new gospel of salvation through being anti-abortion and homophobic. It is certainly not the Gospel of Jesus Christ crucified and risen for my redemption. I don't know anything about Louie Giglio, but your description of him as a "nobody" and "fallen" say much more about you than about him.

Mr. Collins: It is by grace that we are saved. One of the most prevalent themes of the Bible is “love”. Love one another. It is not to love only those you determine worthy. As a Christian, I believe we should take every opportunity to reach out to the sinners. It is only by love that they can be saved. Not our love but His.

I absolutely respect the gracious acceptance that Pastor Giglio has presented.

There was a time when my response would have been more on the order of Larry Collins'. In a society where all previously settled norms are being set on their heads, President Obama is right there in the midst of it all, helping turn everything over. It makes me uncomfortable. It even scares me. I dislike much of what's going on; the impetus for most of these changes is emotion-driven, mawkish, sentimental, very short on reason, on logic. I'm reluctant to have the gospel turn on these changes. Such a thing is first of all useless in reaching the very ones we're condemning. I'm also reluctant to apply a what-would-Jesus-do methodology in responding to Barack Obama's worldview. There is enough law in the world. While we're in this world, we remain under it for the sake of good order. And the false gospel being peddled by the left reeks of law. But the gospel remains pure and fragrant. Let's just offer them gospel, and see what the Spirit does with that.

I wonder if Peter or the Apostle Paul would have given the benediction at the crowning of Caligula or the Emperor Tiberius? I wonder if Dietrich Bonhoeffer would pray at Hitler's first inauguration? After all, Hitler claimed to be a Christian as he said in 1922, "“My feeling as a Christian points me to my Lord and Savior as a fighter." "In boundless love as a Christian and as a man I read through the passage which tells us how the Lord at last rose in His might and seized the scourge to drive out of the Temple the brood of vipers and adders." I mean, He called Jesus his Lord and Savior. He said he was filled with boundless love. Must be so, right? Obama has been the strongest supporter for the death by dismemberment of 53 million babies. He is also an ardent supporter of homosexual marriage and he is forcing his beliefs on Christian institutions like Wheaton Bible College at the point of fines and jail. I agree with Larry Collins, strange bedfellows indeed.

Hmmmm Jesus hung out with sinners. The Pharisees were extremely quick to judge Him.

So many (wild) assumptions being made. What if Louie accepted the invitation for just what it appears to be: an invitation TO PRAY... FOR THE NATION....AND FOR OUR PRESIDENT.

Seems pretty simple actual. And the only thing many of these negative comments prove is we live in a very cynical society.

And I did know Louie at Baylor; he was upstanding and outstanding for Christ then and now. If Louie, and in his considered opinion, accepted this invitation, I'm confident it's because God was leading.

I am greatly relieved that Obama chose some very strong Christians for this service! Whatever anyone thinks of Obama, he needs our prayers not our cynicism. Jesus hung out with sinners because they were the ones needing salvation, should we expect anything less from Christian leaders?

The most important and true words of the entire day may be spoken by Louie Giglio. I'm thankful he's got the opportunity to say them.
Go for it, Gig!!

From some of these comments it sounds like the the president could not do anything for his inaugaration that would endear them. If he were to choose a more liberal theologian, then he would be judged for choosing someone who is not orthodox enough. When he asks for an evangelical, then the evangelical pastor is condemned for accepting the offer. Clearly, in our society, even the selection of the president's pastor is politicized. :( Personally, I would pray and ask blessings for whoever is president regardess of who is elected. Mitt Romney would have faced the same dilemma. If he were elected and choose a Mormon to bless the office, he would have faced a different kind of critique.

"I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. " 1 Tim 2:1-2

One biblical commentary says that the idea of praying for kings (or national leaders) has a twofold emphasis. First, it is a specific way to pray for all men, because the actions of a king affect society as a whole. Second, it reminds believers that God is the ultimate Sovereign. He is in control, and our prayers affect decisions at the highest level.

Not only is Pastor Louie Giglio being a gracious and humble patriot by accepting the invitation by the White House to pray at President Obama's inauguration, Pastor Giglio is obeying the command of GOD by praying for the President of the United State of American.

Mr Obama's position on a number of issues that are not inline with God's Word does not in anyway negate our responsibility to obey God's command to prayer for our President. Nor those Obama's position on various issues negate God's power to answer our prayers and move our President's heart.

Why?

There is a difference in praying for a President and praying as a part of his investiture. I pray every day for President Obama. I bless him, pray that God would give him wisdom and lastly that he would repent from this bloody national tragedy of abortion and the sin of advocating homosexual marriage to the nation and oppressing Christian organizations. But I would not pray at his inauguration just as I wouldn't at Pol Pot's or Stalin's. Just as Peter would not pray as part of the pomp and circumstance at Caligula's coronation. Where are the critical thinkers here? Giglio is just being used for political gain. And of course Jim Hurlburt, we live in a cynical society. Hitler claimed to be a faithful Christian, full of love, charismatic, popular with the Germans, rose to power to bring them out of a depression. But Dietrich Bonehoeffer was cynical, as you should be.

Rick,

I just have to respectfully disagree. When you invoking names like, Pol Pot, Stalin and Hitler's into this discussion you have created a distorted image of our President which is not accurate. Abortion, is our nations greatest shame, has been legal in the country since 1973. Nixon, Ford, Carter, Regan, H.W. Bush, Clinton, G.W. Bush did not do anything of substance to eliminate this great evil. Obama's position on this issue is no different that Clinton's.
I am encourage you are not just encourage that you are committed to daily , fervent intercessory prayer on behalf of our President as you indicated. I too am praying for him that the Holy Spirit would convict him of sin, righteousness and judgement, and transform his heart. I don't agree with his positions on a number of the issues, but I believe God's word when it states;, "...for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God." Rom 13:1.

With respect to Pastor Giglio. Again, I think he is walking in obedience to God's word by accepting the invitation and praying for the President of the United States of America. God's word is crystal clear on the subject. " We are to show proper respect to everyone, Love the brotherhood, Fear God, Honour the king." I Peter 2:17

The president just withdrew his invitation for Giglio to pray because of this statement from Giglio in a sermon from the 1990s;

"Homosexuality is not an alternate lifestyle... homosexuality is not just a sexual preference, homosexuality is not gay, but homosexuality is sin. It is sin in the eyes of God, and it is sin according to the word of God." The recording continues: "The only way out of a homosexual lifestyle, the only way out of a relationship that has been ingrained over years of time, is through the healing power of Jesus."

Obama demands that you buy into his sinful agenda to pray at his inauguration. He was simply using Giglio. Giglio was foolish to agree to it in the first place.

Pam, the Pharisees were the religious mighty, like Andy, Charles, and Louie. They liked to be seen praying in public. They had mobs to use for their purposes. They rewrote the rules of engagement and made a profit exploiting those who came for worship. Lowly peons of the pew like Mr. Collins (no offense there, Mr. Collins) hardly carry enough clout, power or control to be mistaken for a Pharisee.

According to Wikipedia... "the Pharisees were eclectic, popular, and more democratic. (Roth 1970: 84) The Pharisaic position is exemplified by the assertion that "A learned mamzer takes precedence over an ignorant High Priest."

Pastor Giglio is a wise servant of the Lord. He knows that the battle is the Lord's, not his.